The Argo Goes West

21, Creeping whirlpool, part 1

The Argo traveled south through Springfield and into Texas.

Paris, Texas. It's spelled the same as Paris, the city of flowers, but there's no Arc de Triomphe, no Eiffel Tower, no handsome men and women, no fancy cafes, nothing. There is only a desolate wasteland. Sheriff Sidney Pike, with his assistant Gus, was perched on high ground looking down at the railroad tracks that ran straight across the monotonous desert landscape.

"I'm sleepy," Gus let out a big yawn, so he could see his throat. "I didn't sleep much last night."

"I guess," Sheriff Pike smiled wryly and didn't ask him why. If he asks, Gus will bluntly tell him what he's been up to all night with his new wife, Sam. The bachelor Sheriff Pike didn't want to hear such a story.

"But Gus, no matter how sleepy you are, don't fall asleep. I don't think anything will happen, but keep an eye on it."

"Of course."

Gus hunched over and saluted.

Pyke said so, but the scenery with little terrain change made him sleepy, and he bit his lip tightly to endure it. He took out his pocket watch and looked. The scheduled time had already passed. He told Gus he was going to piss. It was at that time.

"What?"

Gus let out a stupid voice.

"What happened?"

"Boss, look at that"

Gus pointed to the hollow to the east.

Pike wondered. There wasn't a hollow until just now, but there was a hollow. And it's not just a hollow. It swirled. It looked like a vortex of ant‐lion. However, the size was more than nine meters in diameter.

"What is it?"

"I don't know, but I can't miss it."

"What are you going to do?"

Sheriff Pike went to the wagon before answering. He tried to unload a large mirror that was piled up there, so Gus helped. They set the mirror upright on the ground. Sheriff Pike shook the mirror from side to side. White light raced across the ground and reached a swirling hollow. So he fixed the mirror.

"Gus, hold the mirror up."

"Eh?"

"I'm going to urinate"

"Oh yes"

When Sheriff Pike returned from a bust of bunched grass, the gas was jerking the mirror.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"That's strange. The vortex is moving."

"Don't be silly."

Sheriff Pike looked at the whirlpool. When the light from the mirror approaches the vortex, the vortex runs away as if it doesn't want to be restrained.

"You're right. The vortex is moving!"