The Black Scorpion Page #2

---

travel might have been impossible.

Then the Tiburcio family

simply vanished.

The farm, as you have described,

ravished as by some giant being.

- But there were no bodies.

- None until last Thursday.

Since then, a young girl.

She was crossing the field

to spend that night...

...with cousins, was found in the morning.

Horrible.

And the Dominguez brothers, ranchers...

...were discovered in a gully with

that look of horror on their faces...

...and no blood.

It's small consolation, Father, I admit...

...but as a scientist, I know where

the effects are so similar...

...there must be a simple, logical cause.

I wonder how simple, Dr. Ramos,

or how logical.

Father, what about that story

about the demon bull?

That seems like a strange superstition.

Oh, the demon bull is a symbol of evil

among many ancient civilizations.

About two days ago, all the workmen

on the big Miraflores ranch...

...that's a huge estate on

the other side of the foothills...

...decided to leave their work

and come here to San Lorenzo.

Now, these men,

usually frightened of nothing...

...said they wouldn't work there

a day longer.

- They brought the tale of the demon bull.

- Has Miraflores been attacked also?

Cattle had been found dead

in various areas of the ranch.

They hadn't been rounded up yet this year.

And for miles around, cowboys came upon

one dead steer after another.

One of them had heard the tale

of the demon bull of the Maricopa.

Now, gentlemen, I do not believe it, but it is

as good an explanation as any other one.

Well, I'd like to think that our research

up here might be of some help.

As do I, but this is no time to begin.

I know you're exhausted

from your journey and listening to me.

Tonight you'll stay here, and maybe in the

morning, things won't seem so mysterious.

Indeed, I hope so.

Here we are isolated,

almost cut off from civilization...

...having lost family or friends

to something absolutely unknown.

We could be in another world.

- Good night, Father.

- Good night.

Thank you for everything, Father.

- We really appreciate it.

- That's all right.

See you later this afternoon.

Dr. Ramos, Dr. Scott...

...I will ask you one more time

not to begin this unnecessary expedition.

Major Cosio, we have answered

all your questions.

- I don't see how we can be of any service.

- No, I don't require you for my work here.

I only know that if you start for that crater

and find yourself in any difficulties...

...men who are much more badly needed

here will have to go find you.

I'm sorry.

So that's why you must come back safely,

and before sundown...

...with all the answers

to your questions and mine.

Now you've got me.

What do you say, doc? Shall we try

around over that side, or over here?

Neither one of them looks

exactly like a Pan-American highway.

Everyone's always said that

the best fissures are on the eastern slope.

You can see the lava there.

Maybe we can get close enough to get

some pictures and plan our best approach.

You see a trail up around those rocks?

I don't know about that, but I've found

something a lot more interesting.

- So?

- So?

S, s, seor. Here, have a look.

It'll do you more good

than that bottled water.

Ah, yes. Now I see him.

Doc, you haven't got that thing in focus.

They're focused...

...and it's a handsome horse,

and I'd like to get started.

Horse?

There was a girl on that horse!

Come on, we've gotta get started

and find her.

Now, don't move too much.

I said don't move.

We've got to find out if you're all right first.

Oh, I'm all right, really.

Except I could have been more graceful

if I'd known spectators were around.

- Don't worry about that.

- Gently, now.

No broken bones, seorita? No sharp pains?

No, really, I'm all right.

I've fallen off Lucero before.

Not for many years, but...

I really can ride, gentlemen.

I'm Teresa Alvarez, of Miraflores.

Hank Scott.

Dr. Arturo Ramos.

The luck of the Alvarez. Tumble off a horse

and land right next to a doctor.

Doctors of geology. We operate only

with little hammers on rocks.

How about the horse?

I saw him gallop off.

Oh, don't bother.

Lucero always goes back to Miraflores...

...but, the saddle, I don't know...

- I'll get it.

- You're very kind.

- No bother at all.

- Do you happen to have a canteen?

- Oh, sure. Right on the jeep. Come on.

- There's a mirror you can use.

- Great.

Well, we'll be here several weeks at least.

We're conducting a sort of

preliminary survey...

...and then the other boys

will join us here next month.

You make it sound like

a very intriguing occupation.

Oh, it is. You meet

such interesting volcanoes.

Hey, Hank!

Thank you, doctor.

I ought to thank you.

I found this near the saddle.

- Oh, is that good?

- I'll say it is. It's obsidian.

That's lava that's cooled.

Well, I wouldn't know.

Cattle, yes, but rocks...

- Could I ask another favor of you?

- Well, sure.

Would you mind taking me

back to San Lorenzo?

- Be glad to.

- Thank you.

I must get there today.

The telephone isn't working, and I have

to hire some riders to help with my cattle.

That old volcano is really causing

a lot of trouble this time.

Yeah, we heard in the village

about your cowboys.

Well, if I lose my cattle, I lose everything.

- How are things in San Lorenzo?

- Oh, so-so.

I don't know what's gotten

into my vaqueros at Miraflores.

So there was an earthquake...

...and the cattle started eating some

poisonous weed we haven't learned of yet.

Is that any reason

to act like frightened children?

I don't think it's just

a poisonous plant, seorita.

You don't grow them that can push in

the side of a building and wreck a car.

Oh, don't forget. You've promised

to use Miraflores as your headquarters.

It will be a great convenience, seorita.

- Then we'll meet later?

- Right.

Chamoco, Felipe, Jose.

All of you.

Let me ask you this.

If your patron, my father,

were alive today...

...would you be frightened of sounds in the

night and run like children to the village?

- Seorita Teresa, I understand you need us.

- I say only this, muchachos.

I have known you all for all my life.

We have always worked together.

- Many of you were born at Miraflores.

- That's right.

If you don't wish to return just

to help me save my cattle for me...

...then return to save Miraflores.

- We'll return.

- Gracias.

Dr. Ramos. Dr. Scott.

- Major Cosio wants to see you.

- Where is he?

- In the laboratory with Dr. Delacruz.

- Laboratory?

You'd be surprised at the experiments

that go on there.

- Where is it?

- This way.

Doctor, is that the patrolman?

Yes, Sergeant Vega...

...who lived doing his duty

and who may perform a greater one now.

Please.

Well?

Looked like subcutaneous cells

that had just burst or run rampant.

My analysis also, Dr. Scott.

Not from any poison I can identify

with this equipment.

Lopez, your help again, please.

In this, pure alcohol.

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes