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Doc's party arrives at the presidential mansion in Hidalgo. They are immediately granted an audience. |
The President expresses his condolences for Doc's loss, telling of the disease which left bizarre red and green blotches on the elder Savage's skin. Doc asks if any might have had reason to murder his father. |
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President: "On the contrary, the professor was loved and respected by the people of Hidalgo. He set up a hospital here in the capital city, established schools in rural villages, and even taught first aid and sanitation to remote tribes. In fact, one of the tribes, out of gratitude, gave him several kilometers of their hereditary land. Undoubtedly, the land is mosquito and snake infested jungle-- worthless. But it was a sincere gesture."
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Ham respectfully asks if the land grant was officially recorded and if he could examine the documents. |
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A call is made to the land recorder's office. Don Rubio Gorro answers. |
He has one of the clerks, Mona Flores, pull the proper file, but... |
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Don Rubio: "This is the way my secretary found it, señor presidenté-- empty. Perhaps it will show up," he suggests weakly. |
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Doc: "No, it will not. I'm not surprised the deed is missing. In fact, I rather expected it. But we will not turn around and fly back to New York. We are going to visit that tribe who so graciously gave that land to my father. Now, if someone will be kind enough to explain how we get there." |
Don Rubio waffles, saying that they don't really know which tribe it was or exactly where it was at. |
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Seeing that Doc isn't willing to give up so easily, he continues nervously, "Of course... I could try to locate a guide. Uh, maybe a native who traveled with your father. It may take a few days."
"We'll wait," says Doc. |
The president offers Doc and his crew quarters while a guide is being found. On the way out, Doc pauses.
Doc: "Oh, there's just one more thing. May I respectfully request an autopsy be performed upon my father?"
The president agrees.
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In his giant cradle, Don Rubio makes a call. |
Don Rubio: "Yes, I am positive. Doc savage and his men are alive. I was with them less than an hour ago in the office of el presidenté. No, I am not dreaming! Their photograph will be in the newspaper tomorrow. Yes, but fortunat... yes, but for... fortunately, I think quickly! Will you listen to me? They are not leaving Hidalgo for a few days, understand? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes. I guarantee it. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir!"
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At the other end of the call, an angry Captain Seas. "That... That no-good pilot Borden!" |
Seas summons Kulkan. |
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In his cabin, Borden is relaxing with a drink until... |
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He tries to escape, but the mysterious serpents are everywhere. |
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They strike repeatedly, leaving ghastly welts. |
Borden finally collapses under the onslaught. |
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Doc undergoes his daily exercises... |
...much to the delight of the maid staff. |
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Noticing the female servants reaction to their leader, Long Tom comments, "That is one good reason not to neglect daily exercise, my friends."
Johnny: "Singularly remarkable. No matter where he is, no matter what he's doing, two hours of exercise every day."
Ham takes the opportunity to make a dig at Monk: "Now, if you'd follow Doc's good example, you might lose some of that ugly fat and start to resemble a human being instead of a clumsy baboon." |
Monk's pet, Habeas Corpus, jumps onto the table. Ham draws his sword cane. |
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Monk springs at Ham, only to be restrained by Renny. "You touch one hair on that piglet," Monk yells. "And I'll crisp your bacon!"
"You know ham wouldn't hurt a fly," Renny says. "His sword will only put you to sleep for awhile."
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As Monk and Ham settle down, a stranger arrives. |
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"Juan Lopez Morales is my name. I am the coroner of hidalgo." |
Morales explains that he found a strange residue during the autopsy. |
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Seeing the new arrival, Monk and the rest head out to the pool. Morales recognizes Monk from a picture in Time magazine.
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Morales has brought slides with samples of the residue, expecting that Doc and Monk would want to examine it themselves. |
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Doc is studying the slides in his make-shift laboratory when... |
...he catches a strange reflection in the glass. |
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Doc grabs a shotgun from the wall and fires at the apparitions. |
They break apart, but then reform and contine to come after him. |
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Responding to the shots, Monk bangs on the door, wanting in. Doc yells at him to stay out.
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Doc defends himself with a chair he then throws through the window. |
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Using a fan, he drives the gaseous green snakes out the window, the pulls the curtain shut. |
When it's over, he lets his friends into the room.
Ham: "What happened, Doc?"
Doc: "I don't know. I really don't know." |
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