THE SERPENT
click on pic for 800 X 600 imageNeedless to say, El Serpiente is miffed over the murder of his guard and his general lacking in respectful fear on the part of the peasant populace. He shows his displeasure by strafing a poor 'burb of whichever early California town they decide this series is set in. Helms is tearing himself apart in a dilemma which pits his oath of silence against his oath of healing.
The Doctor meets the Queen on his way home and the dilemma immediately develops into a verbal argument between them, the Queen trying to make him reveal enough about the Serpent to catch him, and Helms trying to explain why he can't ethically say anything. Neither he, nor the Queen, is quite convinced.
click on pics above for 500 X 500 image The dons are still on Montoya's butt about his not catching the thief and this latest offense with the burning of the village. Don Hidalgo urges action. This is a crisis! Sooooo...the crafty Colonel tells the dons that he is declaring marshall law--cancelling Hidalgo's party that eve--and, while Grisham and the main part of the troops are scouring the northern country for the bandit, the dons are all enlisted to go with Montoya on southern patrol, oh-dark-hundred hours the next morning. When Hidalgo complains about a childhood injury which prevents him from undergoing such an arduous ride, Montoya reminds him that they must all sacrifice, it is, after all, "a crisis." There is some mention about the woeful injury...too many sugar buns as a child...but perhaps he refers to Vera.
The Doctor indulges in a little creative self-medication and Tessa walzes up, volunteering her services as nurse for all the wounded and injured who will no doubt be turning up when the dons return from patrol. Hey, depressed guy drinking here! See, one glass (and a filthy one, at that), but Tessa prattles on, undaunted. Helms rises and leaves, but Tessa follows after, gushing about how proud he must be to be a healer. Maybe only vain, he suggests.
"Someone told me that," he explains. "Must have been a callous, ignorant fellow," Tessa notes.
"No, she is not!"
"A woman?" "She is possibly the most remarkable woman I've ever met."
Mmmmmmm.
Helms makes his way back to the bandit's camp, with the Queen following not far behind.
click on pic for 500 X 500 image Helms tends to the Serpent's wound and tries to talk him into leaving the area.
The Serpent accuses him of killing Alejandro. Helms starts to deny, but, really, he can't betray the Queen. He says it was an accident."Yeah, right through the heart," the Serpent hisses. "You are about to be venison."
" But my death will be to no purpose!" Dr. Helms complains.
You're wrong, Doctor. I feel better already. The Black Angel considers the good doctor's fate. So much for living long enough to write the great western novel. click on pic for 500 X 500 imageThe Serpent...page four
