Post by John Darnacan on Dec 29, 2005 22:14:20 GMT
Part 4 – Lifting the Spirits
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The Doctor had the gauchos collect soil samples from as many locations as possible, 37 in all. Each was carefully numbered as to where is came from. Señor Hernandez provided him with a small shack to work in. The Doctor was working diligently in his ‘lab’, when Faye brought in some chorizo for lunch. She looked at the numbered soil samples.
“Are these to find the source of those worms?”
“No, I’m trying to isolate a compound called avermectin, which is an excellent parasiticide.”
“Why all the soil samples?”
“Strepomyces avermetillis is the soiled-based bacterium that creates the compound. Earth scientists will discover it for themselves in the soil on a Japanese golf course in the 1970s. Ten years later, it will have a formidable effect on livestock production. But for now, it will just be our little secret.”
“Doctor, if you’re not a veterinarian, how do you know about this ever…aver..mac”
“Avermectin. Well, 400 years after that, it will be essential to defeating a Traynoidian parasitic infection on an Earth colony.”
“Found on a Japanese golf course?”
“Quite.”
Over the next few days, the Doctor was able to create enough avermectin to treat all of the Ranchero’s sick cattle with enough to spare for the entire valley. Faye was pleased that the Doctor had found something to take his mind off his regeneration. And she was particular grateful it was not some alien crisis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krueger and his long-term houseguests had been quite irritable the last few days. The delayed shipments of materials and Einstein rebuffing their offer had put everyone into a bad mood. So the invitation in the post could not have come at a better time.
“My friends” announced Krueger. “Our neighbor, Don Eduardo Hernandez, has invited us to a party he is throwing tomorrow night. I think it would be good for us to attend. It may lift our spirits.”
Sir Avery shifted in his chair. “I thought we agreed that we should keep to ourselves. Keep a low profile and all that.”
“Yes, yes, but it may seem suspicious if we are too isolated,” replied Krueger.
“What is the cause of Señor Hernandez’s sudden festiveness? I thought things were pretty grim across the countryside. Cattle sick and all that.”
Deiter stepped forward. “I had heard in town zat Herr Hernandez has found a veterinarian who had cured this cattle,” reported the young German.
“Really?”
“Ja, Paco zee ranchero foreman told me himself.”
“Ah well, then I must attend,” concluded Krueger
“Why?” asked Richard Lochley, a tall American who had been sitting quietly.
“I too have sick cattle on my land, not that I care about them. But as a rancher myself, it would seem suspicious if I were not curious.”
Lochley reflected smiled. “Actually, I agree. It would be good to get out. A little fun wouldn’t kill us old codgers.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eduardo Hernandez’s party was of the kind not thrown in a long time. There was music, and food of all sorts, from chorizo sausage to braised beef to roast pork turned on a spit. The women wore colourful costumes. Although there was debate over President Peron’s policy of Justicialismo, it was friendly debate, not enough to upset their current good mood. Now that they had healthy cattle again, Juan Perón would see that they got the best price for it overseas. It was a party of special significance and joy, celebrating the return of a healthy livelihood. Laughing and dancing were everywhere. Johann Krueger and his houseguests arrived at the Ranchero Hernandez and were greeted warmly.
“Eduardo, I congratulate you on what I’ve heard is your good fortune.”
“Gracias, I mean Danke, my German friend” They both laughed.
“I understand you now employ a miracle worker?” asked Krueger.
“Employ? No, he will not accept a single cruziero. But si, he is a miracle worker. He won’t even tell me his name. I originally thought he was from Buenos Aires, but he’s a quite a mystery. But I did not press. I just assume he is one of your countrymen who joined us after your war in Europe.”
“Really? I must meet this compatriot of mine.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faye was thoroughly enjoying herself. Eduardo Hernandez’s wife Carla even loaned Faye a festive party dress so she could fit in. She had lost track of the Doctor momentarily. Usually, this would not have concerned her, but since his regeneration, he had been acting oddly. Faye finally spotted him on the edge of the party. She walked up to him casually.
“I’m glad we stayed” she commented.
“I beg your pardon” responded the Doctor.
“Usually after you solve a problem, we’re off in the TARDIS never to be seen again. I’m glad we stayed for the party.”
“Well, a little fun never killed anyone.”
The music suddenly stopped. Eduardo Hernandez stepped up on a stool to make a speech, in Spanish, English and German. He was both eloquent and sincere in his gratitude to the Doctor. The speech turned into a toast. With tears in his eyes, Hernandez hugged the Doctor. The music started again, and dancing resumed. Many of the local ranchers also came to thank the Doctor. He seemed slightly embarrassed by this sudden mass gratitude. Hernandez quickly returned with some other men in tow. The Doctor was trying diplomatically ease away, but Hernandez trapped him.
“Doctor, may I introduce my neighbour, Johann Krueger and his friends. Johann is an engineer, who has been doing some excellent work helping build Argentina’s new hydro-electric plants. I thought our top benefactors should meet.”
“A pleasure to meet you” the Doctor said reflexively. Then, he looked at the faces of these new acquaintances. A strange but subtle look came over the Doctor’s face.
“These are my houseguests Avery and Richard,” Krueger introduced.
“A pleasure to meet you” he said again, but more slowly, as he observed the three men.”
“I’ve heard you’re the great veterinarian who cured all of Eduardo’s cattle. Perhaps you could share your miracle cure with my herd?”
“Actually, I’m not a veterinarian, I’m a scientist. But don’t worry; I’ve given Señor Hernandez enough of the cure to share, and he’s promised to do so.”
“That is wonderful news. Eduardo is a man of his word. May I ask what type of scientist you are?”
“Oh, a bit of everything,” the Doctor answered, eyeing the three men carefully.
“Really? What scientific discipline interests you most Doctor?” asked Richard. The Doctor gave Faye an odd look. She thought it was his “time-to-leave” look, but wasn’t sure. She hadn’t figured out the nuances of the Doctor’s new face yet.
Before the Doctor could answer Richard Lochley, there was a woman’s scream not far away.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued
====================================================================
The Doctor had the gauchos collect soil samples from as many locations as possible, 37 in all. Each was carefully numbered as to where is came from. Señor Hernandez provided him with a small shack to work in. The Doctor was working diligently in his ‘lab’, when Faye brought in some chorizo for lunch. She looked at the numbered soil samples.
“Are these to find the source of those worms?”
“No, I’m trying to isolate a compound called avermectin, which is an excellent parasiticide.”
“Why all the soil samples?”
“Strepomyces avermetillis is the soiled-based bacterium that creates the compound. Earth scientists will discover it for themselves in the soil on a Japanese golf course in the 1970s. Ten years later, it will have a formidable effect on livestock production. But for now, it will just be our little secret.”
“Doctor, if you’re not a veterinarian, how do you know about this ever…aver..mac”
“Avermectin. Well, 400 years after that, it will be essential to defeating a Traynoidian parasitic infection on an Earth colony.”
“Found on a Japanese golf course?”
“Quite.”
Over the next few days, the Doctor was able to create enough avermectin to treat all of the Ranchero’s sick cattle with enough to spare for the entire valley. Faye was pleased that the Doctor had found something to take his mind off his regeneration. And she was particular grateful it was not some alien crisis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krueger and his long-term houseguests had been quite irritable the last few days. The delayed shipments of materials and Einstein rebuffing their offer had put everyone into a bad mood. So the invitation in the post could not have come at a better time.
“My friends” announced Krueger. “Our neighbor, Don Eduardo Hernandez, has invited us to a party he is throwing tomorrow night. I think it would be good for us to attend. It may lift our spirits.”
Sir Avery shifted in his chair. “I thought we agreed that we should keep to ourselves. Keep a low profile and all that.”
“Yes, yes, but it may seem suspicious if we are too isolated,” replied Krueger.
“What is the cause of Señor Hernandez’s sudden festiveness? I thought things were pretty grim across the countryside. Cattle sick and all that.”
Deiter stepped forward. “I had heard in town zat Herr Hernandez has found a veterinarian who had cured this cattle,” reported the young German.
“Really?”
“Ja, Paco zee ranchero foreman told me himself.”
“Ah well, then I must attend,” concluded Krueger
“Why?” asked Richard Lochley, a tall American who had been sitting quietly.
“I too have sick cattle on my land, not that I care about them. But as a rancher myself, it would seem suspicious if I were not curious.”
Lochley reflected smiled. “Actually, I agree. It would be good to get out. A little fun wouldn’t kill us old codgers.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eduardo Hernandez’s party was of the kind not thrown in a long time. There was music, and food of all sorts, from chorizo sausage to braised beef to roast pork turned on a spit. The women wore colourful costumes. Although there was debate over President Peron’s policy of Justicialismo, it was friendly debate, not enough to upset their current good mood. Now that they had healthy cattle again, Juan Perón would see that they got the best price for it overseas. It was a party of special significance and joy, celebrating the return of a healthy livelihood. Laughing and dancing were everywhere. Johann Krueger and his houseguests arrived at the Ranchero Hernandez and were greeted warmly.
“Eduardo, I congratulate you on what I’ve heard is your good fortune.”
“Gracias, I mean Danke, my German friend” They both laughed.
“I understand you now employ a miracle worker?” asked Krueger.
“Employ? No, he will not accept a single cruziero. But si, he is a miracle worker. He won’t even tell me his name. I originally thought he was from Buenos Aires, but he’s a quite a mystery. But I did not press. I just assume he is one of your countrymen who joined us after your war in Europe.”
“Really? I must meet this compatriot of mine.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faye was thoroughly enjoying herself. Eduardo Hernandez’s wife Carla even loaned Faye a festive party dress so she could fit in. She had lost track of the Doctor momentarily. Usually, this would not have concerned her, but since his regeneration, he had been acting oddly. Faye finally spotted him on the edge of the party. She walked up to him casually.
“I’m glad we stayed” she commented.
“I beg your pardon” responded the Doctor.
“Usually after you solve a problem, we’re off in the TARDIS never to be seen again. I’m glad we stayed for the party.”
“Well, a little fun never killed anyone.”
The music suddenly stopped. Eduardo Hernandez stepped up on a stool to make a speech, in Spanish, English and German. He was both eloquent and sincere in his gratitude to the Doctor. The speech turned into a toast. With tears in his eyes, Hernandez hugged the Doctor. The music started again, and dancing resumed. Many of the local ranchers also came to thank the Doctor. He seemed slightly embarrassed by this sudden mass gratitude. Hernandez quickly returned with some other men in tow. The Doctor was trying diplomatically ease away, but Hernandez trapped him.
“Doctor, may I introduce my neighbour, Johann Krueger and his friends. Johann is an engineer, who has been doing some excellent work helping build Argentina’s new hydro-electric plants. I thought our top benefactors should meet.”
“A pleasure to meet you” the Doctor said reflexively. Then, he looked at the faces of these new acquaintances. A strange but subtle look came over the Doctor’s face.
“These are my houseguests Avery and Richard,” Krueger introduced.
“A pleasure to meet you” he said again, but more slowly, as he observed the three men.”
“I’ve heard you’re the great veterinarian who cured all of Eduardo’s cattle. Perhaps you could share your miracle cure with my herd?”
“Actually, I’m not a veterinarian, I’m a scientist. But don’t worry; I’ve given Señor Hernandez enough of the cure to share, and he’s promised to do so.”
“That is wonderful news. Eduardo is a man of his word. May I ask what type of scientist you are?”
“Oh, a bit of everything,” the Doctor answered, eyeing the three men carefully.
“Really? What scientific discipline interests you most Doctor?” asked Richard. The Doctor gave Faye an odd look. She thought it was his “time-to-leave” look, but wasn’t sure. She hadn’t figured out the nuances of the Doctor’s new face yet.
Before the Doctor could answer Richard Lochley, there was a woman’s scream not far away.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued
