The Black Scorpion Page #3

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In this, distilled water.

In this, tequila.

In this, water with so much salt.

- You think it is a poison, then?

- I do.

Not a chemical poison, doctor?

No, but I believe for many reasons

that this is an organic poison.

I have had a little experience with them:

The venoms of the snakes,

the wasps, the spiders.

But I will prepare the slides

and the specimens...

...and take them to a man in Mexico City

who will be sure to know.

- Velasco?

- You know Velasco?

Who doesn't, doctor?

Well, as you say, if it's an organic poison...

...anything from nature,

the great Velasco will identify it.

You said for many reasons.

What other reasons?

Well, there was only one wound. Here.

But no blood.

Then the situation of the tissues,

the strange bacteria...

...bacteria I think, found in

the soil samples near the footprints.

- Footprints?

- Footprints?

You are amazed.

Where something knocks down dwellings,

flattens corn fields...

...it would be amazing

if there were no footprints.

I never saw a moulage of a print this size.

Whatever it is, my friends...

...I don't believe anyone has ever seen

a foot, a claw this size...

...except those poor unfortunates

who wish they never had.

- One question, doctor.

- I hope I can answer it.

Well, the alcohol, the distilled water,

the salt solution, I can understand that...

...but what's the tequila for?

Well, in your country,

I believe you call it a coffee break.

- There's the hacienda.

- Hey, that really looks like quite a place.

It looks like you were pretty lucky.

That thing really came close.

Yes. We were blessed

that it didn't go any further...

...or our plantation would have been

ruined like the rest of the land.

Seorita, thank heaven you're safe.

When Lucero came back to the stables

without you, I began to search the hills.

Oh, Pio, I'd already been found

by someone else.

This is Dr. Scott and Dr. Ramos.

- This is my foreman, Pio.

- Hi, Pio.

This way.

Not only comfortable, but cool too.

Yes, sometimes I think being cool is by far

the most important on days like this.

Well, I know you'll want showers.

Florentina, show Dr. Ramos

to the Blue Room.

S, seorita.

And Juanito, you show Dr. Scott

to the left wing.

I'll take care of them.

Well, I'll see you later, and you can

tell me all about your expedition.

Not bad, doc.

For half a day's work, Chamoco, not bad.

- Tell the boys.

- Yes, Pio, yes.

We get them all brought in by Thursday.

Why put on such a face?

We will do it if I have to stay

in the saddle without sleep myself.

Pio, don't you understand?

Can't you see the cattle know that

something evil is carried in the wind.

- Let us wait, Pio.

- Old women, Chamoco.

Now let us have a good supper

and forget these superstitions.

Would you like some brandy, sir?

- Yes, thank you.

- Just a minute.

Juanito, hurry with the brandy.

- Would you like some too?

- Please.

I'll take care of them.

Muchas gracias.

May I make a complaint, Teresa?

Oh, I'm sorry. What was not done suitably?

Well, that's just it.

Everything was done beautifully.

You know, you're making it very difficult

to think about settling down to work.

- Well, is that so bad?

- That all depends.

It might be very bad if I stopped thinking

about work altogether...

...and just started concentrating

on pleasure.

Hank, those volcanoes have been there

for hundreds of years.

I'm sure they wouldn't mind

waiting just a little longer.

I didn't expect you two

to be discussing volcanoes.

I've got something to show you.

I noticed it last night at the village.

See anything? Hold it up against the light.

That's fantastic, doc.

Why, there's a scorpion trapped in there.

I think so. A few hundred years old,

but there he is.

I wanted to show it to you

before I broke it open.

Alive!

Lmpossible! Juanito, bring a jar.

- Life enduring for centuries like this.

- And under all that heat!

Velasco will certainly be interested in this.

Here, Juanito.

Pardon me, seores.

Do you like to keep scorpions?

I know a place where there are millions.

Not like this one, Juanito.

Pancho.

Pancho, if you don't know how to behave,

I have to send you out.

I want a magnifying glass

to watch this little monster.

I could throw this scorpion out the

window, and we'd really be alone.

It's simpler than that.

Why don't we go outside?

Why don't we?

Oh, excuse me, the line's been fixed.

- Hello. Hello.

- Hacienda Miraflores? Just testing the line.

- Oh, is the line all fixed?

- All clear, ma'am.

Miraflores was the last one, seora.

- Gaetano!

- What?

What's under the bridge?

No, in the arroyo!

Hank, come here.

Listen to this.

Hello. Hello.

- Hello, what's wrong?

- Look out!

Run, Gaetano. Get to the truck.

- Where's the arroyo bridge?

- I'll show you.

Pancho, what's happening

to you tonight? Keep quiet.

Doc, we have to go to the bridge.

There's some trouble.

And you be a good boy.

Come back here! Pancho!

Pancho, come back here.

Pancho! Pancho! Pancho, come back here!

Pancho, what's the matter

with you tonight?

Pancho, come back!

I'll get you.

Seorita.

- What's wrong with the cattle, Pio?

- I cannot say.

- Help, Mr. Hank!

- That's Juanito.

Run, Juanito!

Give me your gun. Call for help.

- It's a gigantic scorpion.

- Where is Juanito?

He's safe.

Operator. Operator. Operator!

Please, hurry, operator!

- I shot at that thing a dozen times.

- Must be after the cattle.

- Mr. Hank.

- Juanito, come on, quick.

Teresa, Florentina, come on

into the jeep. Quick.

- Dr. Velasco.

- Dr. Ramos, I hoped I'd find you here.

This is fantastic.

- Dr. Velasco...

- Thank God, Father.

We thought you were all dead.

This is all that remains.

Even the animals.

I cannot speak of this night.

Eaten. Devoured.

I have been sent here

in charge of emergency arrangements.

- All that are left will be moved to safety.

- Certainly.

Tell everyone to be ready

to leave San Lorenzo.

Father, they may only take

what they can carry in their arms.

- Very well.

- Where is the laboratory?

It's over there.

As soon as I received the samples,

I identified the poison...

...as that of a scorpion, but I had

no concept of the creature's size...

...until I saw this.

And this.

This specimen found by Dr. Ramos...

...is of a species thought to be extinct

since the Triassian era.

We have known it in a fossil state,

but never alive.

Now from the bowels of the earth, it has

come forth again to plague the earth.

What can we do? I emptied

the machine gun at one of them.

I beg of you all, not to lose your head...

...in any sense of the word. But we have

a few advantages against this enemy.

First, they come out to eat only at night.

Thus we have the daylight hours

to try to find and destroy them.

Secondly, they are somewhat

slow and lethargic...

...until inflamed by the smell of blood.

- I still ask one question, sir.

- Yes?

- What weapon do you intend to use?

- Gas. Poison gas.

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