In reply to Brie O'Malley (msg # 593):

Grimsby responds, "If he did come through town, he must have done so secretively; it is clear he would not have walked into a bar and proclaimed himself Dr. Solar. However, it might be worthwhile to inquire if any strangers did stop to eat, drink or stay the night about the time that Fidalgo was frozen."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 594):

"Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit!" Joseph says, pushing his hat back on his head and looking down at the tracks, "She was right--wagon tracks right here by a white rock, just like Miss Brie said.  How the Hell did she know?"

Joseph squats down and looks closer at the tracks--the trail left by wagon wheels may look the same no matter what direction the wagon travels, but the hooves of the horses pulling the wagon will definitely show their direction of travel.

First Joseph attempts to locate where the wagon had sat longest, by looking for where the tracks are deepest--that will be the place (presumably) Senor Fidalgo was attacked from.

From there, Joseph will try to determine the direction the wagon left in.

---

"So 'Doctor Solar' was being secretive" Catherine said, pleased with herself for being right. "I shouldn't like to be going around to bars, but I suppose we should ask about strangers. Though if no one has seen the wagon, either he wasn't here or he's got some fellow working with him. He wouldn't leave a new invention alone." She was enjoying the search. It was nice to think about other things and get her mind off the sad events of the past.

While the wagon wheels don't have any distinctive features that would differentiate them from any other wagon wheel, at least locally, Aubrey, who has a bit more experience in the area, realizes that the wagon wheel tracks do not appear to match any local wagons or carts. They are a bit wider, more like those made in Romania.

Joseph can easily follow the tracks backward to tell that they came from a crossroad about 40 yards up the dirt road that Fidalgo traveled. Following the wagon tracks forward is almost as easy until they get obscured by all the subsequent travel. Since it hasn't rained since the incident, the tracks are all but obliterated by the trail dust kicked up. They head into town. There's no sign that they turned off anywhere.

"Well, that's an interesting observation there, Joseph," Felicity says when Joseph relays his observation. "I don't see what good that information will do us. The signage on the wagon should make it stick out like a sore thumb!"

"On the other hand, just dropping a canvas over the side would hide it fairly easily. If the wagon isn't obviously in sight, it's probably in a barn or stable by now."

"I think we'd probably be better off looking for the horse. The covered-up wagon might not be noticed, but that palomino is going to draw attention."

"Coming from Romania opens up a new can of worms," Aubrey suggests.

"I've been thinking about this 'cold snap'. We've assumed it's some sort of ray gun... mainly because that's the only thing so far that makes sense. Fidalgo passed the wagon, and... what? Within a hundred yards, froze in place? The block of ice makes sense in a way... the cold effect caused the moisture in the air to condense and solidify. Although it makes me wonder how effective it would be in dry environment, like the desert."

"My second thought was to wonder why this Dr. Solar targeted Fidalgo. Generally, there's three reasons for doing such a thing: love, money or revenge."

"We don't have enough information about either party to figure out how love might fit into it. It also doesn't fit with what we do know."

"The same applies to revenge. If Fidalgo had been killed, that would make more sense."

"That leaves us with money. Sure, every inventor in the world wants to make a fortune from their invention. There's a new invention every day! So, where does the money come in here? How was freezing Fidalgo getting him money? Since this is the first and only such incident so far, I'm thinking this must have been a demonstration... rather than a trial run. Solar was trying to impress someone... possibly investors."

"That probably means those would-be investors are still around... waiting to see the final results of the demonstration... making sure that Fidalgo doesn't die in a day or two."

Brie thinks as she looks at Grimsby and Catherine "Well, if he came into town, he either covered the wagon or hide it someplace. So where were would he then go? How many taverns are there I wonder, not a lot but if he hide the wagon in a barn, maybe he rented a room there, people rent out rooms and stuff" she will look around as they walk around, hoping to see the 'Doctor Solar'

In reply to Brie O'Malley (msg # 600):

Grimsby replied, "I suppose he might have rented a room if he meant to spend much time here, but my feeling is that if he was not visiting here openly, he would not stay long. He might have just paid a bed for the night in an inn. At all events, he would need to eat, so inns or taverns would be the most likely places to find news of him." He looks around the town plaza for any likely inns or taverns.

Joseph smiles at Felicities words, "Felicity, darlin, the Palomino coloring can, and has, appeared in just about every breed of horse, all across the world.  There's even some old Nipponese paintings showing their warriors riding on pale golden horses, and the Crusaders fought against Muslim Turks mounted on horses like palominos.  In fact, if I recall, King Richard the Lion Heart was given one such horse as a gift of respect from the Muslim leader, um, Salazar--no!  Saladin!  The Muslim kings name was Saladin."

"And, I'm sorry to tell you, my dear friend Felicity, that the Texas Palomino that is so dear to your heart ... is not a native of Texas.  I've heard tell of a book, written a little over a hundred years ago, now, over in Barcelona--that's on the coast up in northeast Spain--that tells a bout how The word "Palomino" is derived from an old Spanish Royal surname--Palomina--and that these splendid golden horses were favored by her Majesty Ysabella de-Bourbon; in the Remuda Real of Spain, Queen Ysabella kept and ran a breeding program a full herd  of these animals.  As the chosen favorite horses of the Crown, only the members of the royal family and the nobles of the household were permitted to ride them."

"It has been recorded that Queen Ysabella sent a Palomino stallion and five mares to her Viceroy in New Spain--which is to say Mexico--to perpetuate the Golden Horse in the New World.  From there, the blood spread to the Texas plains, and from Texas to California.  There are many folks who feel that Palomino is only a color and not a breed--and it is true that the color of Palomino comes in all breeds--but the Spanish have brought the Palomino as close to being as true a breed as any other strain of horse.  Mixing Arabic-Moorish-Spanish blood and breeding, the best of the best of the Spanish Palomino lines is the Golden Dorado--which is closely akin to the Arabian and the Moorish Barb."

"So the wagon being pulled by a Palomino draft horse isn't all that special, I'm afraid--Spain breeds all kinds of Palominos.  Sorry, Darlin."

Joseph listens to Aubrey make his points.

"All right Aubrey, I follow your logic, and I agree that it makes a lot of sense that this might have been more of a demonstration, rather than a field test.  Senor Fidalgo, while he does seem a likely candidate for a field test--few folks would miss him if he disappeared--the venue for the test is just to public.  Senor Fidalgo is fairly guaranteed to be discovered, over there, on the road."

"So it makes sense to assume that this 'Doctor Solar' wanted Senor Fidalgo to be found.  For the headline 'Man Frozen In Solid Block of Ice and Lives!' to hit the newspapers.  The question is, as you mention, are the people Dr. Solar is demonstrating this device for here, in Sidonia, now?  Or are they elsewhere, watching the papers for the headline, to confirm Dr. Solar has done what he claimed?"

"And there is another possibility that you did not consider, my dear Aubrey, which might also explain these circumstances--that being that while Dr. Solar might be brilliant enough to create such a device, he may also be totally insane, and his use of the device upon poor Senor Hidalgo was an act of complete and total random chance."

"He may not have been noticed. But it's all right, we'll get to meet new people" Catherine said happily.

"Thank you for the lecture on horses, Joseph," Felicity replies, "but, as usual, you miss the point. I never said that there would be only one palomino in the city."

"Do you think it is easier to find a covered wagon hidden in a barn or a palomino in a pasture? Even if there are a dozen such palominos, it'll be easier to check them all out than every single barn and shed in the city."

"OK, I could use a drink" she looks for the closest inn or tavern and starts walking over to it.

In reply to Catherine Harston (msg # 603):

Grimsby replies cautiously, "I daresay the Spaniards may be delighted to meet you, my charming ward, but I hope you will be careful in meeting strangers, particularly men in taverns. Still, nothing should befall you so long as we are with you."
He follows Brie towards the nearest inn or tavern.

Catherine blushes, afraid she sounds unladylike. "Oh, yes. I'll be careful" she says demurely, dropping her gaze. She follows along after Grimsby and Bree, adjusting her mourning clothing slightly.

"Yes, just like anywhere, people like attractive woman and lots of men like exotic woman, like both of us Catherine.  As you are not from Spain, you are sorta exotic as you are not local. But I know your guardian will keep you safe." she will head into a tavern.

In reply to Brie O'Malley (msg # 608):

OOC: As a matter of fact, we are in the country where the word, and concept, of "machismo" were invented...^_^

In reply to Brie O'Malley (msg # 608):

Grimsby offers, "I shall certainly do my best to defend my ward, and if you find yourself subject to unwanted attentions, Miss O'Malley, I shall do what I can to come to your defense as well, though I know you are more than ready to defend yourself."

"I've never thought of myself as exotic" Catherine says with a bit of a giggle. She nods gratefully at Grimsby, and casts a curious look at Brie. I wonder where she learned to fight.

She followed into the tavern, but stayed behind Grimsby.

Brie grins at Grimsby "I may not be able to fight to your standards but I can defend myself. Now lets go in and see if we can find out anything"

"Right you are," answered Grimsby, and entered the tavern, not precisely boldly but with the confidence of a British gentleman who knows himself to be entitled to go wherever he pleases.
Having passed through the door, he surveys the interior in search of of an innkeeper or at least a waiter who might serve him.

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 613):

Still squatting on the ground inspecting the tracks, Joseph responds to Felicity, "Good points, my friend." Joseph says, reaching out to gingerly run his finger along a faint impression of a horseshoe.

"Whatever this Snake-Oil Salesman--Doc Solar--is doing, and whatever his ultimate destination is, the tracks of this wagon head off in that direction..."

Joseph points in the indicated direction.

---

OOC: and is that direction towards or away from the town?

The tavern that Grimsby, Catherine and Brie enter has a sign on the door that's painting of a bull in red paint, thereby signifying that the tavern is El Toro Rojo. At this time of day, there are only a few patrons in there--three, to be precise.

So, the tavern-keeper comes over and asks if he can help you.



The road where Joseph, Felicity and Aubrey were looking over the terrain was a rather narrow dirty road, but gets narrower about 50 yards away... in the direction where Fidalgo's ranch apparently lives. Just as it narrows, though, there is a side road turns off to the north. There's even a crude wooden signpost put up that reads 'Paterna'.

The horse tracks, rather than the wagon tracks, head into town.

Brie will order some ales and ask if he has seen a man that looks like the man from the wagon. She describes him.

Grimsby draws out a chair for Catherine at a convenient table, and another chair for Brie (in case she chooses to sit), seats himself on a third chair and awaits his ale. He remarks to Catherine "I've no notion what Spanish ale will be like in a place like this, but it will serve to pass the time while Brie is asking around."

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 615):

Joseph stands up and brushes the dirt from his gloved hands, looking back towards the town.

"Dang it.  I wish I'd paid more attention to that old Comanche when he was trying to teach me tracking." Joseph mumbles, before turning to Felicity and Aubrey.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that there was a wagon sitting right here for a good bit." Joseph says, pointing at the ground, "And that it was here round about when Senor Fidalgo said all this stuff happened."

Joseph reaches up and pushes his hat back on his head, "Ah, thing is, though, I'm also pretty sure that the horse that was here went back into town, but, um, I don't see any trace of the wagon heading that way."

"Now, if'n the horse went into town, it kinda goes without saying that the wagon must have, too, or else it would still be here.  And I haven't found any trace of another horse coming along to take the wagon away--I don't think."

Joseph turns and points back up the road,

"Senor Fidalgo's place should be down the road a little ways." Joseph says, "Though I don't recall him mentioning a side road.  And I do recall us asking if there were any houses anywhere near here that might have observed the incident.  I mean, I think we asked, didn't we?"

Joseph produces his pocket watch and looks down at it, "Almost time to think about heading back." he says, snapping the watch closed and replacing it in his vest pocket, "Might just have enough time to ride out to that 'Paterna' place--I think, loosely translated, it means 'Grandfathers Place' or maybe 'Fathers Place'--if'n it ain't too far out, and ask if they've seen the wagon hereabouts.  Or we could head back now and confirm with the others that there was a wagon here, and it's likely that either it, or maybe just the palomino, are in town."

"Felicity, Aubrey?  What's your preference?"