by Hoover, Gary
The crowd’s movement had slowed, and their cheers had dropped in pitch.
The effect was ominous.
Jeff tried to maintain his pleasant smile. He was approaching the obelisk and took a moment to glance over his shoulder. He couldn’t see Feezzteetreezz, but he didn’t take the time to look for him. He rounded the obelisk, and then he could see Feezzteetreezz in the distance. Feezzteetreezz appeared to be only about one third of the way to the obelisk. Jeff continued a steady jog, and by the time he passed Feezzteetreezz going the other way, he could see the finishing point. With that relatively small distance left to cover, he decided to bring his speed up to a near full-on sprint and give the crowd a show. Their movement and cheers got slower still, and he imagined he was an impressive blur to them at that point.
By the time he reached the finish line, he was badly out of breath but tried to stay composed as he sucked air.
He turned to watch Feezzteetreezz who was off in the distance but hadn’t reached the obelisk yet. Jeff followed the lead of those around him and began slapping his thighs to cheer on his competitor.
By the time Feezzteetreezz was halfway back, Jeff could see that he was moving at an impressive speed – much faster than Jeff would have been able to run under normal circumstances.
Feezzteetreezz crossed the finish line with his head down, and while pheerion emotions were difficult to read, Jeff felt fairly sure he was dejected and embarrassed.
Jeff remembered something Rasp had shown him once – a gesture of respect used in competition. He wasn’t sure if it was appropriate, but he decided to go for it. He approached Feezzteetreezz who looked up enough to see him approaching but then quickly turned his eyes back down.
Jeff rested his right hand on Feezzteetreezz’s left shoulder. Feezzteetreezz looked up at him, raised his left hand and tapped Jeff three times on his right shoulder.
At that, the crowd went absolutely crazy and erupted in a thunderous ovation.
Jeff smiled and felt that even if he had been the bad guy, he may have made some progress in winning them over.
Chapter 77:
After the race, a street party ensued. Jeff was impatient and wanted to get on with the remaining tasks – which made him more nervous than the race. Zzteezazz assured him they would start the strength test as soon as they finished lunch, but after his experience the night before, Jeff dreaded a formal lunch.
The pheerions milled about in the streets, gathered in small groups and talked with one another. Jeff stayed near his friends who seemed to enjoy both the novelty of it all and their unique status; Jeff, however, wasn’t in the mood for socializing. He just wanted to keep going and wasn’t comfortable with his uncertainty of where he stood with the whole thing.
After a long, uncomfortable hour or two, some pheerions began setting up long tables on which they placed trays of different foods. Pheerions crowded around the tables and filled wooden bowls with different items. Jeff was glad the outside setting seemed to offer a less formal environment than the evening before.
He planned to avoid eating anything, but when the crowds had cleared away, he decided to take a look. Most of the trays were filled with the sort of mushy, foul-smelling foods that had made Jeff sick the night before. He was disappointed that there were no insects and smiled at the thought that he ever would have been disappointed at a lack of insects to eat.
One tray looked promising. It contained brown strips that appeared to be similar to fried oysters. They were about the size of small french-fries with irregular curves and textures.
He put a few of those in his bowl and tried to find a quiet spot to eat. He popped one in his mouth and was very pleased. It seemed to be some sort of meat that had been breaded and deep-fried. He filled and then re-filled his bowl until he had compensated for the food he lost the night before, then he went back to stand with his friends and wait for the next test to start.
A female pheerion – at least Jeff inferred she was a female, he had been going with the assumption that the ones dressed in blue were female, but other than clothing, he had absolutely no way to tell males from females – approached Jeff slowly and tentatively. Jeff smiled, trying to be as nonthreatening as possible, but he still wasn’t sure if his facial expressions were understood in any way.
Are you… are you the one? Are you the one who will remove that awful king? she asked.
“I hope so,” Jeff said. “I’ll do my best.”
We hope so too, she said, then quickly turned and walked away.
“I don’t get you,” John said from behind him.
Jeff turned. “You don’t get what?”
“You’re like a god. Why don’t you have fun with it? I’d be all over that plooch.”
“I just want to go home,” Jeff replied.
John nodded and patted him on his shoulder. Jeff thought he noticed a brief, uncharacteristic moment of real human weakness in his eyes.
Then John turned back toward the others. “Hey, they got any more of those fried rodent penises? Those things are delicious.”
Chapter 78:
When lunch was over, the villagers walked as a large group toward the range of rolling hills and mountains. Some pheerions carried large sticks and walked outside the edges of the group. Jeff assumed they were guarding against animal attack, but he wasn’t sure how effective long sticks would be against some of the animals he had seen.
He felt he could protect himself with his bat, but he doubted he could protect the whole group.
Zzteezazz led Jeff to a large boulder in the center of a ten-foot wide path that wound its way up a large, tree-covered hill. As Jeff, Zzteezazz and Jeff’s companions paused at the boulder, the other villagers continued up the path.
The boulder was roughly spherical but with the typical edges and irregularities of a natural rock. It was three feet in diameter and hadn’t been carved or modified in any way Jeff could detect. If he had been on Earth, he was sure he wouldn’t have been able to move a boulder that size, but he knew he was much stronger than he had been on Earth. He knew his task would be to roll it up the hill, so he hoped his increased strength would give him a chance. If not, we’re done, he thought.
Jeff tried to remain calm and relaxed as the pheerions made their way up the path. When most of them were out of sight, the remaining ones took up spots on either side of the path.
Like with the race, it seemed that Jeff would have an audience the whole way. He felt a little more comfortable than he had been before the race. After his performance in the race, he felt the pheerions wanted him to achieve the task and prove he was the one for whom they had been waiting.
Though he felt better about that aspect, it still looked like a tough task. The more he thought about it, the faster his heart pounded. He could feel his breathing becoming shallow as adrenaline pumped into his system, preparing him for the task. He wanted to get started, but Zzteezazz and others still seemed to be arranging things and making sure everyone was in place and ready before they could begin.
Come on, come on, let’s get on with it.
When Zzteezazz seemed assured everyone was ready, he approached Jeff.
This task is relatively simple, Zzteezazz said. You will roll the rock to the top of the mountain. I will be waiting for you at the top. I will start up now and be there to indicate your final spot and confirm conclusion of the task.
Jeff nodded, as Zzteezazz headed up the hill.
You may begin when you are ready.
Jeff examined the boulder and tried to find a good handhold to get started. He bent his knees, placed his hands under the rock and lifted. The rock rolled much easier than he had expected, but it still didn’t feel light.
He got under it and rolled a bit more, then again and again. He turned it about one-sixth of a turn each time, and it had enough natural contours he was able to do that, let it rest and then get a grip to do it again.
He was moving quickly with little rest between each roll.
After
five minutes, he looked back and saw he had travelled approximately 150 feet – good progress, but he was beginning to get out of breath and feeling the strain in his muscles. The path ahead curved out of sight so he didn’t have a clear image of where he was going. But from what he had seen when they approached and based on how few pheerions were left with the rest lining the path ahead, he assumed he had at least a couple miles with much steeper climbs than he had experienced up to that point.
I better slow down and pace myself.
Chapter 79:
After what Jeff estimated to be three or four of his hours, he was more tired than he had ever been and more tired than he had ever imagined possible. His limbs were shaky and quivered with each move.
The pheerions who lined the path slapped their thighs and shouted words of encouragement. It was the only thing that kept him going. He felt he had become their champion, and he no longer had the sense of ambiguity that had been so troubling previously. They clearly wanted him to pass these challenges and prove he was the one who could remove the oppressive tyrant from power. You’re doing it! one pheerion shouted. You’ll be the one, another said.
Jeff tried to concentrate on each move. The path was steeper than it had been. It not only required more force per roll, but he had trouble finding spots where it would rest. He would often have to use one hand to balance it while he groped for a handhold with the other. He was filthy and sweating heavily even though the mountain air was cool. He could taste the dirt, and muddy sweat stung his eyes.
As it had been most of the way, he could only see forty feet or so ahead of him before the path curved out of sight, and tall trees prevented any view beyond the path.
He had no idea how much farther he had to go, and he felt it was to his advantage. If he knew there were more than a few hundred more feet to go, he feared he would give up. He hoped each turn would reveal the end just ahead, but instead, it seemed each turn just revealed an endless pattern of trees and pheerions.
A small pheerion girl – about the size of a four or five year old human – started running toward him, but her mother held her back.
I want to help, the girl said.
You can’t. He has to do it by himself, her mother told her.
Jeff pushed the boulder onto a stable surface and then carefully started to remove his hands. When he was confident it wasn’t going to roll away, he stepped away and walked toward the girl.
When he was a few feet away, he got down on one knee so he could look her in the eye. “Do you really want to help me?” he asked.
Yes, she said, looking him in the eyes and seemingly fascinated by his alien features.
“It will help me if you can tell me you think I’ll be able to do it.”
I KNOW you’ll be able to do it! she said, and then she stepped forward and threw her arms around his neck.
Jeff flinched at first. He was concerned both about how dirty he was and that he might be breaking some social taboo, but after a few moments of doubt, he responded to her embrace, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight. He held her like that for several seconds as a roar of approval rose through the crowd. It was so loud, it seemed like it was shaking the trees around them.
The crowd continued to cheer as he went back to his boulder and began pushing with a renewed energy. It wasn’t just a mental lift. He felt as if an energy washed through his body, removing the lactic acid and flushing the pain and weakness from his muscles.
Chapter 80:
After two more hours of pushing, there was still no end in sight, and Jeff’s previous energy surge was nearly depleted.
Does it ever end?
He rolled the boulder, repositioned and rolled again.
The tall trees provided abundant shade even at mid-day, but the sun was sinking. It’s going to be night soon. A short time before, pheerions on either side had lit small torches. As Jeff passed, they tilted their torch to light the one held by the pheerion uphill from them. Apparently, everyone had come armed with a torch.
Does that at least imply they expected it to take until after dark? Does that mean I’m at least not behind schedule?
Jeff thought if he weren’t so distracted, it would have made an interesting sight – seeing the flames travel slowly up the path. How safe are these woods after dark? What kind of animals are out here? I guess the pheerions have some idea what to expect.
Jeff continued to roll. He tried to focus on each movement and not dwell on how much farther he might have to go.
I’m going to find my father, I’m going to go home. I’m going to find my father, I’m going to go home. We’re going to Pizza Star. We’re going to get a large with everything.
He reached with his left hand, found a good hold, then slid his right hand down, got a good hold, heaved it up to a new resting place and then repeated the process.
I don’t know. I can’t go much farther. He lifted his head above the rock and stretched his neck to get as good a view as possible without losing hold.
Nothing but trees.
I think I’m done. Jeff felt panic wash over him. Is this it? What happens if I just stop here? We can’t storm the castle alone. We need the pheerions or the guards will stop us before we can get within 100 feet.
Just a couple more rolls. I can manage just a couple more rolls.
He went through the motions again, willing his muscle not to dissolve into jelly.
He pushed again, and the sun began to shine in his eyes.
Jeff squinted and pushed again.
Wait a minute. The sun?
Jeff lifted his head and peered over the rock.
A clearing!
He felt a renewed energy and pushed a few more quick rolls to try to get closer.
There’s definitely something more open up there than the relatively narrow confined path I’ve been on, but is it the end or just a clearing?
Jeff continued to push, taking breaks to peer over the rock.
This better be the end. If I get there and find out that’s not it, I think I’m done. I think I’ve gone about as far as I can physically go.
Jeff continued – painful step by painful step. Every muscle in his body ached in a way he never could have imagined prior to the experience.
This is it. This must be it.
If it’s not I can’t go any farther.
His emotions vacillated from hope that he was nearly done to fearful desperation that he couldn’t handle it if he saw the path continue beyond that point.
Then he recognized familiar faces. There’s John… and Dave!
Chapter 81:
He continued pushing with everything he had left. He could see a crowd gathered around an open area. There was a six-foot diameter metal bowl raised on a tripod of wooden posts.
As the rock rolled onto the flat surface of the clearing, it became easier to push. The gathered pheerions cheered.
The flames that had been lit on either side as Jeff progressed hit the plateau and traveled the circle of pheerions who surrounded it. When every pheerion had a lit torch, the last one stepped forward and touched her torch to the large bowl. It erupted in a spectacular flame. The bowl contained some sort of highly flammable material, and the flames burnt brightly and flickered more than four feet above the rim of the bowl.
Zzteezazz approached and indicated to Jeff that he was done and didn’t need to push the boulder any farther. Jeff stood shakily and rubbed his hands against his pants to remove some of the dirt. He examined his hands and saw large blisters. He had resisted the urge to examine them prior to that moment.
Nahima approached and put an arm around him. “Are you okay? Can you stand?”
Jeff realized he was still hunched. He had started to stand but stopped halfway up.
Nahima had one arm around his shoulders. She placed her other hand under his arm and lifted him into a standing position.
Jeff’s body shook and shivered as he tried to let his muscles relax. He had a strong urge to stretch out on the
short weeds and dirt that covered the plateau, but he resisted. He didn’t think such an action would look dignified for a savior.
The sun was setting beyond a mountain in the distance, and Jeff focused on it. He walked toward the edge of the plateau to get a better look.
You can see it from here, Zzteezazz said.
Jeff looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Zzteezazz pointed at something to the left of the setting sun, and Jeff thought he saw some sort of structure on the ridge.
He reached for his pouch but realized, before he opened it, that he had left his magnifying viewer on his bed.
“Hey, can I borrow your viewer,” he asked Nahima.
She removed her viewer from her own pouch and handed it to him. He raised the viewer and tried to find the structure again. He found it and then focused in.
He saw a building that looked similar to a tenth-century castle.
“Pheerion Rex?” he asked.
Yes, Zzteezazz answered.
Chapter 82:
Power over life and death? What is life? It seems like it could be defined in different ways, Jeff thought as he considered his plan. Is it dishonest? Should I just tell them the truth?
They were halfway back to the village, which was in sight. Lights flickered on as the pheerions who had been at the front of the pack were already arriving at their homes.
“I would like to thank you,” Rasp said to Jeff.
“Thank me?”
“You have given me a… home again.”
Jeff turned to look at him as they walked. He thought he might have detected a flash of emotion on Rasp’s face. “I haven’t done anything yet.”
“I have faith. You will prevail.”
Jeff felt a sudden surge of nervousness and guilt. I’m not the one they’re hoping for. I don’t have the power over life and death. What would Rasp say if he knew I planned to cheat?