The Eye of the Llama
by Gary D. Snyder
Part 22:
After ensuring that he would not be seen or overheard Khormak activated a private handset. Almost immediately Skeets' voice answered. "We're listening."
"Good. How do things look?"
Rocco's voice came back. "Well, personally I think that champ was going down when the bell rang. I'd have to say that the human was the winner."
"What are you talking about?" Khormak heard Skeets say. "The human barely threw a punch until the last round!"
"He had Vermax cold even in the second round. If the official hadn't taken so long to begin the count -"
Khormak was just barely able to control his temper. "I'm not talking about the fight, you idiots! Is everything in position?"
"We're sorry, sir," Skeets apologized. "We picked them up on long-range scanner just a few minutes ago. They're moving into close orbit right now."
"Excellent. They're a bit late, but the important thing is that they got here. Keep this channel open and wait for my signal. Things will be happening very fast and I want things to move as soon as I give the word. We'll only have one chance at this." He switched off the handset and strode towards the ring where Sheen was still arguing with the officials over the outcome of the fight. A number of spectators had joined him and were voicing their agreement with him, while nearly as many were supporting the decision of the judges. Cindy, Libby, and Princess Leama had also moved to the ring and were watching the argument with some interest. The princess noticed Khormak's arrival and frowned, but he ignored her and moved to the microphone. "May I have your attention?" he announced over the public address system.
No one seemed to pay any attention to him, being too absorbed in the argument over the winner of the fight to listen. Khormak waited a few seconds before trying again.
"Your attention, please!" he repeated in a louder voice. This time those closest to him stopped arguing and turned to face him. Encouraged by this Khormak went on. "I'm afraid that I've have information of the most shocking nature. Information of activities so heinous and vile that they threaten the very existence of Felangie itself!"
This had the desired effect. Gradually, like ripples spreading across a pond, the spectators in the ring fell silent. What's he up to? Cindy wondered.
"I arranged this competition," Khormak continued, "in an attempt to comply with the princess' stated policy of promoting good relations with other races. I did so believing that I was truly helping my people." He paused for effect, letting the curiosity of his audience build. "But now," he resumed as he turned slowly to face Princess Leama, "I find that I have been duped as thoroughly as every one of you. Deceived by one whose plans were nothing less than to destroy our very existence." He suddenly pointed an accusing finger at the princess. "Princess Leama is a traitor to her own people!"
At these words a stunned silence enveloped the crowd and every Felangian turned to face Princess Leama. In response the Princess Leama crossed her arms, her face coldly impassive. "Those are dangerous words, Minister Khormak," she said in a warning tone that carried through the arena. "What proof have you of this accusation?"
"Proof enough," Khormak replied smoothly. He turned again to the crowd. "You are all familiar with Her Highness' many attempts to change our ways. She cannot deny this. And you are all aware that she wished for the off-worlder to win this competition against the champion of her own world."
"I only did so because I came to respect his courage and honor!" Leama called out to her subjects in a voice shaking with rage. "Nothing more!"
"You did so because you wished to demonstrate to the humans that they could conquer this world!" Khormak retorted. "This was no simple act of good will. Her actions speak clearly. She wishes for Earth to take this planet!"
Liar! thought Cindy fiercely. She desperately wanted to deny the charges but feared that anything she said would be twisted to support Khormak's claims.
"You lie!" Princess Leama spat. The crowd began to buzz with worry, this division between their leaders both confusing and frightening everyone there.
Khormak's voice was like silk. "Do you deny that your personal guards trained this human?"
Leama looked somewhat discomfited. "No," she admitted.
"And it was by your command?"
"It was. But as I –"
"And do you deny," Khormak interrupted, "that this training revealed Felangian weaknesses for the human to exploit?"
"That is irrelevant!" was the princess' angry retort. "It could hardly be a matter of great concern."
"Were it limited to one exhibition match with one human, I would agree. But do you deny that many humans could also exploit these weaknesses? Possibly even an army?"
Cindy could stand no more. "That's absurd!" she said angrily. ""There's no army –"
"Silence, human," Khormak snapped. "These charges are for Her Highness to answer."
"My intent," the princess replied stonily, "was to help Carl train for the fight. Nothing more."
"That much is clear. But your intent was far from innocent. It is no secret that you wished the human, rather than your own champion, to win and to demonstrate our weaknesses to the humans. It is also no secret that you personally intervened when my assistants sought to interrogate the humans upon their arrival here. And deny, if you can, that your Royal Guard has been shielding them from scrutiny during their stay."
"I deny nothing," was the princess' defiant reply.
"So much the better. Your guilt is clear." Khormak turned and signaled to some uniformed Felangians within the crowd. "Officers! Arrest the princess and the humans for treason!"
The military officers moved forward uncertainly. Khormak was their commander, but even so his order went against their ingrained loyalty to the ruling house. As they did so a half dozen other Felangians, their loyalty undivided, immediately moved into the ring and surrounded Princess Leama and the humans in a protective circle. As Carl; Sheen, and Libby eyed their saviors Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. Royal Guards, she thought. The military officers ceased their advance, having no wish to confront the guards.
"It is you who is a traitor, Khormak!" the princess called in defiance. "Both you and all who stand with you. You've planned for this a long time, and now your treachery stands exposed!"
"Treason is simply a matter of dates," Khormak sneered. He turned again to the crowd. "She calls me a traitor for opposing her twisted plans to destroy our world and culture with her alien and subversive ideas. But I've long been aware of her intent. And I offer you all a final chance to save yourselves and all you hold dear. Behold!" He activated his handset. "Now," he said quietly.
At spoken command the roof of the arena began to unfold like the petals of the flower. As the roof opened the bright light of the Felangian afternoon flooded into the building, temporarily blinding everyone. As their eyes adjusted to the daylight dozens of shapes began to take form in the sky above them. Cindy's heart sank as she recognized the giant metallic chicken-shaped vessels hovering overhead.
Carl's voice quavered. "Yolkians," he managed to say.
Khormak turned triumphantly to the crowd. "You see?" he crowed. "Knowing the princess' evil plans I acted to protect Felangie. The humans thought to conquer, but we strike first. With the aid of the Yolkians we can put an end to that mudball planet and restore Felangie to her former glory before it is too late! With their assistance we cannot fail! Who is with me? Who is still a friend of Felangie?"
At the War Minister's cry a shout of support rang out from the crowd. The Royal Guards in the ring eyed the mob converging on them, but although they were outnumbered well over a thousand to one they stood their ground. The princess felt her eyes tearing at this final display of unswerving loyalty and attempted to find some words that would fit past the lump in her throat. "Thank you," was all she could manage.
As the ring of guards prepared their stand against he mob Cindy moved forward and flipped over the guards in front of her to land in a martial arts stance. "You want to fight humans?" she called out defiantly. "Well, find out what you're going to be up against!" The crowd slowed its advance, but did not stop.
At that Carl pushed his way past the guards and raised his gloved fists, determined to do what he could to protect Princess Leama. "All right, bring it on!" he screamed angrily. "Do you want a piece of me? Do you want a piece of me?!"
The crowd already within the ring easily outnumbered the princess and her defenders ten to one. There were also a number of Felangian military veterans who dwarfed Carl and had braved numerous savage combat missions. On the other hand, they had seen this one human fight their planetary champion to a standstill. The crowd halted their advance, uncertain what to do.
Khormak scowled. "Arrest them!" he ordered angrily, pointing to the small group of defiant defenders.
As the crowd milled about in indecision a voice familiar to the humans rang out, causing everyone to turn in bewilderment. "Arrest yourself!"
Jimmy had finally arrived.
End of Part 22