Chapter 10 - competitive eating

Our feeding frenzy continued as a healthy competition. I'd have to make two dozen eggs for breakfast, because he'd feel let down if I let him have just half a dozen. It would be followed by a stack of pancakes, slabs of butter and maple syrup. One day he called me up to his bedroom (which served as his office nowadays) and asked me to be blindfolded. When the blindfold was removed a sparkling new kitchen was in front of me. The leader smiled at me, and said that way he could keep up with me in the kitchen. With this change we basically became inseparable. I'd wake up and have to take care not to wake him while preparing breakfast. Breakfast would stretch into brunch which would then become lunch. By that time the leader was usually quite exhausted and would take a nap; I'd usually wake him for supper around 4:30p and we'd continue a buffet that would last late into the night. He'd have champagne (usually Veuve) with breakfast, beer with lunch and then a bouquet of lovely wine starting at happy hour.
After two months humoring the Leader, I needed a break. He told me that I could have a day off which I spent mostly sleeping. I hoped to visit one of the hot springs, but honestly did not want to leave the couch. After days of gluttony even the smell of food was anathema to my stomach. Being quiet and by myself for the first time in a while was lovely. I had no way to tell how much weight I had put on, but it was clear that a new uniform and sweats would be needed soon. Even my shoes no longer fit, and I was stuck wearing flip flops while waiting for an order of European size 47 shoes. Late in the evening I woke up and had a piece of toast, my first food of the day. Watching some inconsequential DVD, I fell asleep on the couch shortly after setting the alarm for the next morning.
I awoke around 3am that evening to see lights in the sky and wondered if something was up. I figured it was one of the periodic military exercises and had work in a few hours, so I went back to sleep. Waking before dawn, I went to the kitchen/Kim's bedroom to find him not in bed. Apparently he decided to get out of bed and walk to the main kitchen...and his bodyweight broke both ankles. Some military officers tried to pick him up in a gurney, and apparently the gurney broke. They were able to lift him up into his bed and transfer him onto some sort of hardware to be brought to a hospital for care. Later that afternoon he was brought back to his room, and looked all black and blue. He looked at me and make a joke about trying to beat up one of his enemies; he then said that after his ordeal he was both exhausted and famished. He went to sleep shortly thereafter after I started making him beef bourgeon.
I made three pounds in hopes we might have enough left overs for his staff. He demolished it, and then demanded that we share a gallon of ice cream. I asked if he really wanted to do this based on his medical conditions, but he insisted. He also said I should first make a one pound hamburger and eat it for him. Since I was quite hungry, too, I happily complied. He then challenged me to a weigh off. He said that the way I was filling out was impressive, but that he thought I had more potential. I was a little disturbed, but also a little turned on. The dials spun to 159 kilos. He looked at me, licked his tongue, and said that it would be really impressive if I could join him in the 200 kilo club. Now I did have six inches on him, but already was a little worried for my own health. Before I could say something he asked if I wondered how much he was up to. I looked at him and saw a young man who had a kind heart that was struggling to deliver blood to the body of a 5'8 giant. He told me that he had me beat by a good 100 kilos. I looked at him and wondered what he could do to induce me. He said that if I agreed to his challenge (and remained his cook until it was over) I'd get $1m right now, and $5m when it was finished. Thinking I'd be set for life, I told him deal.