The Argo Goes West

11, Giant boar hunting in Calydon, part 8

The Mad Bomber was over 6.5 feet tall, but he could move like a monkey on vertical cliff faces. He also removed the lifeline he had put on for safety, saying it would be troublesome to get entangled in it. He stuffed a bunch of dynamite into the crack in the wall and moved on to the next point.Bonnie and the others offered to cooperate, but were turned down. So they just watched him nervously as he worked from above and below the cliff.

After half an hour of work, Bonnie and Orpheus began preparations. Orpheus noticed Sir Granger's memento elephant gun and asked everyone, "Who wants to use this?"

"Show me," said Slim. A square device the size of a matchbox was attached to the barrel.

"What is this?"

"An optical sight," replied Orpheus.

"Never heard of it."

"Well, please take a look."

As Slim looked into it, he could see the distant scenery magnify.

"A kind of telescope?"

"That's about it. It was manufactured by Grubb Parsons, a telescope maker. It was a prototype, but we were allowed to use it as a test."

"May I use it?"

"Sure."

Like a child who was given a toy as a gift, Slim enjoyed looking here and there through the sight.

Meanwhile, Bonnie receives a proposal from Lou.

"Take my horse, too."

"What do you mean?"

Bonnie looked displeased.

"I know your horse is a good horse," said Lou. "It depends on where you find it, but if it's far away your horse will have to run quite a distance. I'm worried about her endurance. I don't mind abandoning mine."

"Can I do that?"

"Yes. I can buy any number of horses with the prize money," Lou winked.

"Thank you."

Bonnie went to Lou's chestnut horse, stroked its mane and said hello. The horse shook its head confidently.

"Can you tell me his name?" Bonnie asked Lou.

"He doesn't have a name. I don't name horses."

"Why?"

"I don't want to become attached"

Lou decided to tell which direction to go with a card. His method is simple. Cards use only the odd number of spades, excluding face cards. Pick any card you like. Pinch it between your index and middle fingers. Flick the edge of the card with your thumb while releasing your index and middle fingers. Then The cards roll and fall to the ground. (Do this in a place where the wind is not as strong as possible). Look at the picture of the fallen card. (If it's the back side, flip it sideways.) The direction the tip of the spade is pointing is the direction to aim. According to Lu, club cards are used for winning and losing matches, and heart cards are used for love divination.

"What is the diamond card for?" asked The Mad Bomber.

"What do you think it is?"

The Mad Bomber grinned, "It's time to look for gold, isn't it?"

"No. There is no distinction between top and bottom in the diamond card."

"Exactly."

Most people will agree, like The Mad Bomber. However, there is actually only one card that has a top and bottom. It's the 7 of diamonds. However, looking at Lou's current situation, it seems that the fortune-telling never came true.

Bonnie continued north-north-west, keeping the monotonous scenery firmly in her memory so as not to lose her way home.

Orpheus remained silent, fearing that speaking would disturb her.

They reached a wide open plain. Since there was nothing to mark for a while, Bonnie spoke to Orpheus.

"Where did you meet Sir Granger?"

"Africa."

"Where in Africa?" Bonnie didn't know much about Africa, but she asked.

"Kenya in East Africa."

Bonnie knew Kenya. She was relieved and said, "Were you born there?"

"Yes," Orpheus nodded. "I was born in the Maasai tribe."

"What tribe?"

"We live nomadically, but we also hunt. When Sir Granger came to Kenya, my brother was his guide.

"So he liked you and adopted you?"

"No. There was nothing at the time. Shortly after Sir Granger's return, white slave traders raided our village. My father and brothers resisted but were killed. The village was burned to the ground, and I, my mother, and my sisters who survived became slaves. We were sold separately and I was the only one left unsold. It was when I was being auctioned several times in the slave market. It happened that Sir Granger was passing by. Sir Granger immediately recognized me and made a successful bid for me. I thought I would serve him as a slave. But he told me that you are free, go wherever you like. But my village was burned and I had nowhere to go. I asked him to stay with you. He kindly accepted my request. he said to me Don't think of yourself as a slave, you are a Maasai hunter, be proud. I was taken to London, where I studied language, mathematics, art, and social etiquette. We spent half the year in London and the other half traveling around the world."

After hearing Orpheus' story, Bonnie quipped. "I feel for you."

"But I am one of the lucky ones," continued Orpheus."Actually, this was my first time coming to America, but as soon as I arrived, I was approached by a black man here. When I couldn't catch his Black Vernacular, he got mad at me because he thought I was being pretentious. Anyway, there was discrimination against black people in London, but discrimination in America is different. They are not treated as human beings. They are treated like animals or bugs. After the Civil War, the United States officially abolished slavery. However, it remains in a different form. Jim Crow laws, right? Inheritance is still in the future, but if I inherit it, I would like to use it for black people in America. I heard about an educator named Booker T. If possible, I would like to help him financially."

"Good idea," Bonnie nodded in approval. It is understandable because American women are oppressed just like black people.

Bonnie also told her story. But she didn't mention the re-organization of western shows. If Orpheus said let's invest in a western show, she'd be sorry, and if he didn't say so, she would resent him for being stingy.