The Argo Goes West

35, Dorothy and Giles in Wichita

Wichita, Kansas. Musicians played merrily on the boulevard, and factory workers sat on the edge of the pavement listening. In the back alley, Giles was wearing trousers that Dorothy bought at a thrift store.

"Hey, why do I have to get dressed? If you ask me to wear it, I would wear it, but something like Chiton is better. These trousers are hard to put on because my hooves get stuck in them."

Giles complained like a puppy or kitten that doesn't want to be brushed.

Dorothy decides to help Giles dress. They got him through his pants, but then his tail got in the way.

"I don't want to wear this."

"No," Dorothy interrupted Giles.

"Why?"

Dorothy said in a mother's tone of voice to a naive child. "We're going to a crowd of people. They'll be surprised to see you naked."

"I'd be happy if they were surprised, because that's my job."

"If they startle too much, bad things happen."

"For example, what kind?"

"Do you know the meaning of the word Lynch?"

"No." Giles shook his head blankly.

Dorothy explained it politely so that Giles, who was neither American nor even human, could understand, but as she spoke, she started to feel sick. But Dorothy kept talking. Fear of crowd psychology, cruelty of punishment. If Giles finds lynch scary, he'll wear the clothes without complaint. With that in mind, she tried her best to keep talking.

"I see," Giles replied after listening to the end of the story in silence. "Your story reminded me of Marsyas, who fought Apollo on the lyre. He was defeated and skinned alive. It's a hair-raising story. But it's humans who lynch, not gods. Then it's okay. I won't lose to humans."

Giles didn't appear to be bravado. He thought that even if 100 humans were to attack him, he would easily win.

Dorothy changed strategy. She let out a big sigh and said, "If you say so, let's say goodbye here."

"Why?" Giles' reaction was exactly what she expected. Dorothy stifled a chuckle and continued her act.

"I really have to go to San Francisco. If you're going to get in my way, I can't be with you."

Dorothy knew it didn't make sense. She had big tears in her eyes to make up for it.

"Okay. I'll get dressed. So don't cry, Dorothy."

Dorothy had to keep her head down for a while so that he wouldn't see her smile. Maybe I have a knack for lying. When I can't make a living as a newspaper reporter, I wonder if I'll become a tavern woman or a fraudster. Oh, please forgive me, God. I'm kidding. Why would Giles want to be with me anyway? Even at the time of the desert church, he helped me in the end, even though we broke up. maybe he likes me?

Giles forcibly tucked his tail into his pants, then put on his boots. In addition, he wore a baggy angora wool knit jacket, and finally an oversized newsboy cap to hide his two horns and pointed ears.

"It's perfect. Whoever sees you is a human newspaper boy."

"What that?"

"Not to worry."

They left the back alley and walked down the main street toward the sheriff's office. This is to issue a search request for Old Wally and Beau. It was then that Dorothy realized she didn't know their full names or addresses. The sheriff said, "It would be difficult and hopeless to find it," but she still asked. She wanted to do whatever she could.

Leaving the sheriff's office, their next stop was the train station. A large banner hung from the platform of the station. It read, "Welcome, Argo."

Dorothy made Giles wait outside and went inside alone to ask the station attendant. "What is Argo?"

"Argo is our hope."

"Huh?"

"Aren't you looking at the newspaper? It's a train, a battle train that looks like a warship. It's said that Argo destroyed monsters attacking from the front and back in Texas."

The elderly station worker blushed like a boy and taught her.

Dorothy wondered when such a thing was made, but she wanted to ask more than that.

"I want to go to San Francisco. Can I buy a ticket?"

"No," the station employee shook his head.

"How far can we go?"

"There are no westbound trains. Military trains or goods transport trains run irregularly."

"Where is the Argo train going?"

"I hear it's San Francisco."

Dorothy's face was flushed with joy as she emerged from the station.

"Did something good happen?"

Asked by Giles, Dorothy smiled. "Do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Actually, I found a train to San Francisco."

"That's good. Did you get your ticket?"

"No, but I'll ride. No matter what I do."