Post by John Darnacan on Dec 12, 2005 21:50:16 GMT
Part 3 – Gauchos & Scientists
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The Doctor and Faye were quickly spotted by the four black-bereted gauchos, who immediately galloped toward them. Two of them were carrying rifles. They quickly surrounded them, so no escape was possible. The heaviest of them was pointing his rifle at them.
“Hola, Señor” said the tallest of the four gauchos.
“Hola,” answered the Doctor.”
“Quiene unsted?”
“I am the Doctor. And this is my companion, Faye.”
“El doctoro?” the men repeated to one another.
Finally, the tall gaucho spoke in broken English “My apologies. Me llamo Paco….. Señor Hernandez has been…expecting you…. I will take you to him now.”
Paco issued some orders to two of his men, who promptly dismounted and brought their horses over to Faye and the Doctor indicated they were meant to ride somewhere, presumably to meet someone named Hernandez.
“I think there’s been some mistake.”
“There is no time to waste” said Paco sternly, motioning them to mount the horses.
“Very well” the Doctor breathed. So Paco, Faye, the Doctor, and the heavy-set gaucho named Raymundo followed Paco to a hacienda approximately a mile away. It was an impressive home. An Argentine flag hung in the foyer, next to a photograph of Juan and Eva Peron.
“How was your journey from Buenos Aires?” called a strong clear voice. The Doctor and Faye turned. The voice came from a tall aristocratic man in his 60s. His accent was clearly Argentine, but his English was impeccable. “I am Eduardo Hernandez, Welcome to my home.”
“Why, thank you. Señor Hernandez. You are most kind” answered the Doctor.
“No, it is you who are kind. To be honest, with the postal service in such disarray, I was not sure you received my letter. And even if you did, I was not sure you would come, given your busy schedule and all the superstitious…nonsense going around.” He gave a sharp look at Paco and the other gaucho.
“Well, what exactly seems to be the problem?” asked the Doctor.
“My cattle are dying” answered Hernandez in surprise, since he had explained it in his letter.
“Yes, but what exactly are the specific trans-symptomatic expression of their deterioratory decline?” asked the Doctor. Hernandez seemed perplexed, as even his English was insufficient to understand what the Doctor said.
“Perhaps you should examine the cattle directly” Señior Hernandez suggested.
“Yes, I suppose that would be best” concluded the Doctor. Hernandez ordered Paco and Raymundo to escort the Doctor to the sick herd.
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In the place that was no place. Thoughts had flowed for the first time ever. The one whose thoughts had dominated had finally departed. Thoughts of the remaining ones were more relaxed at first. Then came the realisation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ranchero Hernandez had over 20,000 head of cattle. The gauchos had taken the sickest to a special sick pen. Many of the heifers and steers were sadly emaciated. The Doctor walked among the docile cattle slowly and quietly like a seasoned gaucho. The Doctor pointed at one in particular, signaling he wanted that one pulled aside. The gauchos separated the heifer from the rest of the herd, pushing her into a smaller side pen.
The thin animal had several bumps under it’s haircoat. The Doctor asked Paco for the knife he wore on his belt, and made a small incision into one of the bumps, and squeezed out a thick wiggling worm about 4 inches in length.
“Oh my god, what is it?”
“A parasite” answered the Doctor. “Quite a resilient one at that.”
“It looks disgusting? Is it alien?”
“It is from the demons?” asked the rotund Raymundo.
“Demons?”
“Si, they come over the hills or over the lake at night! I have seen them” insisted Raymundo.
“I have seen the lights too. But I think they are angels!” said another gaucho.
“Do not mind them, Doctoro. They see a few shooting stars and get spooked” Paco explained, slightly embarrassed by his fellows.
The Doctor chuckled. “No Faye, not everything disgusting is extraterrestrial. Neither demons nor angels produced these. I think it’s quite terrestrial. Admittedly, they are unusually large, but still quite terrestrial. I think it’s a relative of the common cattle grub.”
“Si, grub bovina grande, muy grande” said Paco. The Doctor and Paco talked about the grub epidemic. Apparently, their usual treatments for such things had been ineffective. The Doctor confirmed he would be able to help. The gauchos were very happy at this news. Apparently, these parasites had created an epidemic throughout the valley.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johann Krueger was finishing writing in his notebook. His study was decorated in an odd combination of Bavarian and Argentine décor. A tall young blond man in his mid twenties entered through an oak door.
“Ah Deiter. You were late getting back from Bueno Aires” said Krueger.
The young man stood straight up, not quite standing at military attention, but enough to reveal his former vocation. “I’m sorry. I vill not let it happen again” answered Deiter in a thick German accent.
Krueger smiled. “I was not admonishing you, Deiter. Just curious.” Said Krueger in a less-pronounced accent.
“Ja, zere vas a political rally for the President and his vife. It created congestion in the streets.”
“No doubt, Presidente Perón was espousing his Justicialismo policies. But I’m sure the ever-popular and charismatic Evita was the real draw. Eh Deiter?” Krueger smirked. “Never underestimate the power of a woman.” Deiter smiled politely. “Were you able to get all of our shipments from England and the United States?”
“Ja, 14 cases, mein Herr.”
“Excellent. Sir Avery has been driving Professor Lochley to distraction over the power conversion unit. Soon, we’ll been back on schedule.”
“There was one other item.” Deiter pulled an envelope out of a leather satchel. “I picked zis up at zee post drop.” Krueger took the letter, opened it, and read it intently. His face drooped.
“Apparently, Professor Einstein has declined our offer.” Johann Krueger slumped into his chair disappointed. “Of course, Professor Lochley did say that Einstein wouldn’t join us after Hiroshima. Besides, I suspect he is far too comfortable at Princeton to leave. I suppose my hopes were too high.”
“I could go to Princeton and ‘persuade’ Professor Einstein to join us” offered the blonde man.
“No Deiter; that will not be necessary.”
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To be continued...
====================================================================
The Doctor and Faye were quickly spotted by the four black-bereted gauchos, who immediately galloped toward them. Two of them were carrying rifles. They quickly surrounded them, so no escape was possible. The heaviest of them was pointing his rifle at them.
“Hola, Señor” said the tallest of the four gauchos.
“Hola,” answered the Doctor.”
“Quiene unsted?”
“I am the Doctor. And this is my companion, Faye.”
“El doctoro?” the men repeated to one another.
Finally, the tall gaucho spoke in broken English “My apologies. Me llamo Paco….. Señor Hernandez has been…expecting you…. I will take you to him now.”
Paco issued some orders to two of his men, who promptly dismounted and brought their horses over to Faye and the Doctor indicated they were meant to ride somewhere, presumably to meet someone named Hernandez.
“I think there’s been some mistake.”
“There is no time to waste” said Paco sternly, motioning them to mount the horses.
“Very well” the Doctor breathed. So Paco, Faye, the Doctor, and the heavy-set gaucho named Raymundo followed Paco to a hacienda approximately a mile away. It was an impressive home. An Argentine flag hung in the foyer, next to a photograph of Juan and Eva Peron.
“How was your journey from Buenos Aires?” called a strong clear voice. The Doctor and Faye turned. The voice came from a tall aristocratic man in his 60s. His accent was clearly Argentine, but his English was impeccable. “I am Eduardo Hernandez, Welcome to my home.”
“Why, thank you. Señor Hernandez. You are most kind” answered the Doctor.
“No, it is you who are kind. To be honest, with the postal service in such disarray, I was not sure you received my letter. And even if you did, I was not sure you would come, given your busy schedule and all the superstitious…nonsense going around.” He gave a sharp look at Paco and the other gaucho.
“Well, what exactly seems to be the problem?” asked the Doctor.
“My cattle are dying” answered Hernandez in surprise, since he had explained it in his letter.
“Yes, but what exactly are the specific trans-symptomatic expression of their deterioratory decline?” asked the Doctor. Hernandez seemed perplexed, as even his English was insufficient to understand what the Doctor said.
“Perhaps you should examine the cattle directly” Señior Hernandez suggested.
“Yes, I suppose that would be best” concluded the Doctor. Hernandez ordered Paco and Raymundo to escort the Doctor to the sick herd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the place that was no place. Thoughts had flowed for the first time ever. The one whose thoughts had dominated had finally departed. Thoughts of the remaining ones were more relaxed at first. Then came the realisation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ranchero Hernandez had over 20,000 head of cattle. The gauchos had taken the sickest to a special sick pen. Many of the heifers and steers were sadly emaciated. The Doctor walked among the docile cattle slowly and quietly like a seasoned gaucho. The Doctor pointed at one in particular, signaling he wanted that one pulled aside. The gauchos separated the heifer from the rest of the herd, pushing her into a smaller side pen.
The thin animal had several bumps under it’s haircoat. The Doctor asked Paco for the knife he wore on his belt, and made a small incision into one of the bumps, and squeezed out a thick wiggling worm about 4 inches in length.
“Oh my god, what is it?”
“A parasite” answered the Doctor. “Quite a resilient one at that.”
“It looks disgusting? Is it alien?”
“It is from the demons?” asked the rotund Raymundo.
“Demons?”
“Si, they come over the hills or over the lake at night! I have seen them” insisted Raymundo.
“I have seen the lights too. But I think they are angels!” said another gaucho.
“Do not mind them, Doctoro. They see a few shooting stars and get spooked” Paco explained, slightly embarrassed by his fellows.
The Doctor chuckled. “No Faye, not everything disgusting is extraterrestrial. Neither demons nor angels produced these. I think it’s quite terrestrial. Admittedly, they are unusually large, but still quite terrestrial. I think it’s a relative of the common cattle grub.”
“Si, grub bovina grande, muy grande” said Paco. The Doctor and Paco talked about the grub epidemic. Apparently, their usual treatments for such things had been ineffective. The Doctor confirmed he would be able to help. The gauchos were very happy at this news. Apparently, these parasites had created an epidemic throughout the valley.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johann Krueger was finishing writing in his notebook. His study was decorated in an odd combination of Bavarian and Argentine décor. A tall young blond man in his mid twenties entered through an oak door.
“Ah Deiter. You were late getting back from Bueno Aires” said Krueger.
The young man stood straight up, not quite standing at military attention, but enough to reveal his former vocation. “I’m sorry. I vill not let it happen again” answered Deiter in a thick German accent.
Krueger smiled. “I was not admonishing you, Deiter. Just curious.” Said Krueger in a less-pronounced accent.
“Ja, zere vas a political rally for the President and his vife. It created congestion in the streets.”
“No doubt, Presidente Perón was espousing his Justicialismo policies. But I’m sure the ever-popular and charismatic Evita was the real draw. Eh Deiter?” Krueger smirked. “Never underestimate the power of a woman.” Deiter smiled politely. “Were you able to get all of our shipments from England and the United States?”
“Ja, 14 cases, mein Herr.”
“Excellent. Sir Avery has been driving Professor Lochley to distraction over the power conversion unit. Soon, we’ll been back on schedule.”
“There was one other item.” Deiter pulled an envelope out of a leather satchel. “I picked zis up at zee post drop.” Krueger took the letter, opened it, and read it intently. His face drooped.
“Apparently, Professor Einstein has declined our offer.” Johann Krueger slumped into his chair disappointed. “Of course, Professor Lochley did say that Einstein wouldn’t join us after Hiroshima. Besides, I suspect he is far too comfortable at Princeton to leave. I suppose my hopes were too high.”
“I could go to Princeton and ‘persuade’ Professor Einstein to join us” offered the blonde man.
“No Deiter; that will not be necessary.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued...
