Jauja

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The Ancient Ones said that Jauja

was a mythological land of

abundance and happiness.

Many expeditions tried to

find the place to verify this.

With time, the legend grew

disproportionately.

People were undoubtedly exaggerating,

as they usually do.

The only thing that

is known for certain

is that all who tried to find this

earthly paradise got lost on the way.

Father, why can't I have

a dog of my own?

You will, Inge.

But not until we return home.

What kind of dog would you like?

One that follows me everywhere.

I see...

One like that...

That certainly won't be easy.

I'm sure we'll find a way.

My sweet girl.

Would you like a drink?

Aquavit.

When are we leaving

for the desert fort?

In two weeks.

- It's high time we left.

- Yes.

I'll be in charge of the convoy.

There are several wagons.

I'll prepare a special carriage

for Ingeborg.

So she can travel comfortably.

Or are you leaving her here?

No, she'll come with me.

Is it true, everything they're

saying about Zuluaga?

He's an extremely competent officer.

And brave.

- But isn't he a bit crazy?

- People around here talk too much.

Do you know him?

Have you spoken to him?

Many times.

We've covered many

miles together

and fought side by side.

He's very brave and

level-headed.

He's dependable

and law-abiding.

And now we're going

to his fort, right?

Is he there now?

I heard news that he was

in the big fort nearby.

But as soon as the invasion took place,

he rushed to be with his men.

He must be there by now.

He's a very experienced soldier.

In the desert, he can make himself invisible

and travel at the speed of sound.

And he's a very disciplined

military man.

You will like him.

Does he live alone?

Alone?

Does he have a wife?

Children?

Or is he like you?

On the desert frontier,

one is alone.

Relationships and comforts

are debilitating.

As you well know,

it's a strange way of life,

to build up a place, a country,

a family.

But one must embrace an idea

and push ahead with it.

That's what sets us apart

from the coconut-heads.

They wander from place to place,

stealing and killing

like complete animals.

Why do you call them

coconut-heads?

That's not a tribe, a coconut...

We consider all of them

coconut-heads.

But it's not a proper name.

The name doesn't matter.

But if we don't know their name,

how can we understand them?

We don't need to understand them,

we have to exterminate them.

We have to kill them all.

I see...

Lieutenant Pittaluga,

I have a little problem

between my men

and your soldiers.

There's a lot of... hostility...

Could you talk to my

surveyors tomorrow?

Of course.

- Thank you.

- Of course.

You remember tomorrow there's the ball

being given by the Minister of War?

- It is quite an event.

- Yeah?

I'd like to invite your daughter.

My daughter?

Birrita could come

along as chaperone.

No, but she...

She's not a...

She's my daughter.

Captain Dinesen...

It would be an honour for me

to give you a horse as a gift

for your daughter.

In these parts,

the man who rides is king.

I could teach her to ride.

No, she already

knows how to ride.

All the better.

I'd like to invite you to the

ranch where I breed them.

- Thank you.

- I have some gorgeous horses.

I'll give it some thought.

I have a chestnut horse.

A real beauty.

Thank you.

But first we have

work to do, right?

Ingeborg!

Inge!

You know Lieutenant Pittaluga,

don't you?

You know who I mean?

Yes, the man with

the short assistant.

Exactly.

Wherever he goes,

his assistant follows.

Or else the assistant leads the way.

And he follows.

Yes, that sounds right.

In any case...

The other day,

just as I was returning

to the house with Dora,

the little man was at

the fort waiting for us.

What did you say?

And the Lieutenant was sitting inside.

He said he was waiting for you.

Really?

Is that what he said?

He was in full dress uniform.

No!

I'll be damned!

It wasn't me he was waiting for!

It was you he came to...

He came to see you.

Now, you listen to me.

He is much too fond of young girls.

He's a filthy pig!

I won't have you anywhere near him!

- Is that clear?

- Why would I go near him?

Well...

Yes, of course... you're right.

Why would you?

Forgive me.

But...

Oh, my poor girl.

We don't belong here at all.

We'll go home to Denmark soon.

I love the desert.

I like how it fills me.

I beg your pardon?

Captain!

- Your horse is ready, Captain!

- Yes, yes! Just a moment!

Ingeborg!

Wait a moment!

Damn it!

Birrita!

Corto, come here!

Take your boots off!

Miss Ingeborg,

please return to the camp.

This I shall keep.

Good day.

How are you, ngel?

Thank you.

Corto...

Would you like some cold "mate"?

We drink cold "mate" here.

Father.

Not now, Ingeborg!

Look what I found.

Yes... that's fine. But now you can go...

go back to the tent.

Go on!

Move along!

Tell us what you told

the administrator.

I want to hear it from you.

Speak up!

You've much to tell us.

- About the colonel?

- Exactly.

Zuluaga is leading

a band of thieves.

The strange thing is he's

dressed like a woman.

I already told this

to the other officer.

Did you see him?

No, I heard it from some locals

who were with the coconut-heads.

Listen to me, Corto.

Colonel Zuluaga disappeared

in the desert

while trying to reach his

fort to help his soldiers.

He was later seen in

two relay stations,

where he changed horses

and had a meal.

He was in perfect shape.

That is all we know.

No news since then.

He never arrived,

and no one saw him again.

Nor has a body been found.

We infiltrated the coconut-heads,

but we learned nothing

from them, right?

Either they've hidden him,

or Zuluaga just vanished into thin air.

The second search party

returned yesterday,

all experienced men,

empty-handed.

One of Zuluaga's horses was

spotted up near the forest.

The horse was in good condition,

grazing calmly, with saddle intact,

carrying the colonel's saddlebags

as if its master were nearby.

But they never found him.

I find it strange that such

an experienced man

could get lost in the desert.

Perhaps we overestimated him.

The desert devours everything.

That's when people began

spreading rumours.

You're telling us

that they told you

they saw him leading a band of men,

dressed like a woman.

And what's even stranger,

- the dog... his dog...

- Jersey.

His dog Jersey disappeared

from his pen

the same day as his master.

And therefore,

I'm now asking you...

why would Zuluaga desert?

Why would he dress

up like a woman?

What kind of sh*t-for-brains

are you people?

Search for him.

Go into the desert and bring

back something from Zuluaga.

Something tangible,

something material.

Use your contacts.

Something material?

Yes.

Something material.

Do you understand?

Material.

Something like...

Something like...

the dress he's wearing.

Birrita!

Any news on the supplies?

Yes, they're on

their way, Pittaluga.

It's always the same story.

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