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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

WANTED EXECUTIONER:
The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

FIRST PART The Road To Failure

- Chapter I -

- THE BEGINNING - 25 MILLION YEARS IN 5 MINUTES The glow is everywhere. It is both attractive and blinding. It is so stunning; it is difficult to determine its origin. It seems to come from everywhere, while still trying to adjust vision. But then, gradually, the edges of the large central focus are becoming sharper. The sun is the center of the first image, as it is for life in our system. No sound lived up to such an image in the center of our vision. Its brightness invades everything for a while; any other form by his side would be reduced to an insignificant nebula in a path assured of disintegration. In his worthy leading role, being the source of all life, the sun is all that can be seen. Then, just like a bird, we take a certain distance, and we can observe it in a diaphanous sky, and we see the sun in January between the two main shades of blue, light and dark, the sky and the sea, both loyal companions of the sun. The reverent silence, until now prevailing, departs allowing some exceptions. The flapping of a shorebird goes by way of introduction announcing his intention to rise to great heights. But the sound of the waves is the perfect grace note to this vision. Just a moment, and then see a coast from the sea, land where there is a beach, rocks, and further inside, trees and vegetation of all kinds, and prairies. The breaking waves gives rise to the predominant sound, but heard also are sounds from gulls and other birds. In a low-flying, we enter the land and go into a forest of pine and eucalyptus trees, shrubs and various acacia trees that appear to be planted there ages ago. And in the midst of human silence, all the rhythmic sounds of the natural fauna of Uruguay. Some animals come to be seen, while others betray themselves by their movements between branches, and running around in the grass. As in a series of snapshots, we see images of all animal and plant species, both native fauna and flora, as well as other animals of exotic origin, many of them in danger of extinction. Thus, fish, birds, mammals of various kinds, all of them in wild state, they parade before our eyes, as in the story of the evolution of life on Earth: hares, wild cats, elephants, tigers, lions, horses galloping across the fields, also an occasional ophidian, and so on to gorillas and chimpanzees. All of them in their respective habitats, living their wild lives quietly. Soon, these images are replaced by wheat fields, orange groves, and wooded areas, where everything is obviously somewhat more "neat", commanded by the hand of the man. Other nature sounds are heard now, in what would be a rural area. Other animals now occupy the place of privilege in our vision, which is not without natural character, by the fact of being domestic animals, called "cattle" at the service of another higher mammal: the critter human, who has intelligence and hands, fundamental tools for wisely managing the gifts of the generous Pacha Mama. 3
Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

And just like that, what comes next is very different from our bright sunny day in January in Uruguay. A great storm is unleashed. The storm rages with a whole array of special effects, which are highlighted in the roar of thunder; and the impressive lighting design of the lightning in the countryside. Then it lessens a bit, and it becomes a gentle and persistent rain, which drowns everything. Everything. So that we soon see...the sea again, yes, but on a cloudy day. Very slowly, watching the sea going calmer, with a not so overcast sky, but still covered, until the first sparrow trills begin to be heard. The nature sounds are back. Squawks, roaring, mooing are heard; and a rooster cackles confused, believing it dawns. Frogs and crickets. Many crickets. The sound of crickets is increasing, until it becomes almost deafening, and it mixes with other sounds, all very natural, as the sound emitted by a benteveo, and another sound, a very interesting one: a man imitating the Great Kiskadee. Still with the natural landscape, the human voice speaks words now. " Hoo! ...", "Giddy up! ...", "Sooo! ..." Human voices express not only signs, but also ideas and emotions in a range of verbal and pre-verbal languages, but more than anything else, articulate words. You hear laughter and voices of children playing: - "Come on! - "There it goes!" - "Pass the ball!"... Voices of impatient mothers: - "Well ... - "Let us go! ..." The natural landscape fades away, and we see a house, very well built indeed; then several houses, a village ... with a green background, and are heard the voices of men, women, youth and elderly women, setting with words their everyday life. Although not understanding what they say, but we know that these words are an essential part of their present moments, and futures as well. ------- The city of Montevideo appears as if by magic, in an aerial view of the metropolitan area. Some green areas can be seen in suburban areas, and as a backdrop, the sea, an estuary, the Rio de la Plata, which is actually where the Atlantic Ocean begins. To provide of characterization data, these are the sounds more own of the Capital: - "Good morning! - "Flowers! ... there are carnations!" - "Water Bearer", - "Newsboy! ... there are newspaper, magazine, newspapers!" - "Milkman", - "Leave me two liters, please ...", while elsewhere: - "... And half a pound of crackers", while the hooves of a horse impact the cobblestone street, and cart wheels announce the baker. Other urban echoes are felt: - "Coffee, coffee!", - " A los panchos, panchos, calentitos los panchos! ( ) - Come to the hot dogs, hot dogs!"... An emotional football reporter transmits an event, a broken voice to the point that it seems as if he will break down in tears: - " ... and he touches the ball ... Oh ... and here he comes, bringing that ball ... it is indescribable ..., gentlemen, what it feels like here! ... At this moment ... Its impressive to see him run! ..., Dribbles! ... as if on wings in those boots! ..., and kicks! to the angle, and GOOOOOAAALLL! ... Goo-o ... hohojh-ooalll!... Ha!.., snif, great goal! No fans in the stands ... of the Maracana Stadium, but there's a whole country together, excited!

Calentitos los panchos is a typical Uruguayan phrase, meaning Hotdogs. The word Pancho is a short name derivate from pan, i.e. bread in Spanish, and cho (the short name for chorizo), i.e. sausage in Spanish. Both together, bread and sausage are called panchos in Uruguay. This popular phrase is often heard in football stadiums from the travelling seller who announces himself with this cry.

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

shouting and celebrating in the Dieciocho de Julio Avenue! Uruguay, World Champion! ..." A loud but reliable noise of a whistle blown by a traffic officer, directs the movement of cars at an intersection downtown. The voices that are listened to, in the course of time change their intonation; their styles acquiring other meanings and new intentions. For example, in a radio station one speaks singing: - It - is five o'clo-ock, its a good time - to set your watch - , it - is five o'cloock!, and inviting they sound: - "Your Air Palmolive soap opera ... presents: Love has a female face..." Montevideo darkens. In a second a few years have passed. - "Its twelve oclock! Happy New Year!" And sounds reveal a festive atmosphere, laughter, glasses hitting a cheerful jingle for a toast. - "And may the year '73 bring you a boyfriend! Ha! Ha! . A little of this, a military march precedes an untimely notice: - "The following is a special communiqu of the Joint Forces Command". Its a Uruguayan cold harsh winter midnight, and for a few seconds people stop talking. No more voices are heard, just for a little while. ------- Again it is daytime throughout the country. Montevideo buildings have grown in number and height. The urban bustle is entirely another now. Although car engines are more silent, the murmur is constant and growing, and all the sounds fill the air with ... whatever! ... rushing in their struggle for space: - "A small step more! ... Please, lets try going back! Come on! There's room in the back of the bus!", - "Taxi!", - " Travel happy, travel with ... " - " CAUTION! " - "...to a dream place ...", - " where they found the dead bodies of ..." - "The Flintstones!" - "... cut up ... diced, and fried in corn oil ...", - "Till tomorrow", - "... but wait! That's not all, there's more!" - " ... and the kids love it. Try it! It's delicious!", - "At all times ..." - " ... and to give that unique touch of flavor... " - "a new car accident was registered ..." - "against a traffic light because of ..." - the presence of troops of soldiers .." - "... of lead, to speed cooking ..." - "... of this majestic ..." - "... unemployment ..." - "... which increased by eighteen percent ..." - "due to the drought ...." -.... that generously provides us with ..." - " the cri ...", - "cri ", - "cri ", "cri ", - "crisis" - "global crisis!", - "that we have the pleasure to share..." - "... armed with shotguns and high caliber rifles ...", - "A luxury!" - "... In a gesture of solidarity...", - "A man killed his wife of eleven stabs ... " - " ... with the knife to cut bread ... " - "... because did not respect the sign of 'STOP ...", - "... and so, friends, we have the pleasure to announce ..." - " ... a deep financial recession at the level ..." "World! World Cup that is already in the playoffs, now with the elimination ... " - " of the civil rights ..." - "On which we will be expanding ..." - "In a mega-festival, which ..." - "... provides a weather alert ..." - "... and a great deal of production ..." - "... we are trying to improve the situation ..." - "... of criminals in maximum security prisons ..." - "... To pay less those who have ..." - "more! ... more and better conditions, more comfort, and more...", - "pleasant temperatures, ideal for ..." - " ... reporting that there will be strike in all secondary education, every high school will stop..." - "with all the claw, and unparalleled courage ... " - "... shouted expletives to force to a deaf mute to hand over the money, and in ... " - "... A great example, worthy of admiration ..." - "... the man fled after ..." - "... announcing his candidacy next ..." - "... as a result of ..." - "... the winning numbers of the pool on today ..." - "In other news angle," - we warn that this may affect the sensitivity of the beholder, - "a dog was saved from being struck 5
Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

by a train, thanks to ... ", - "Another dog!" - " ... because the recessive economic climate ... " - "... favors the meat exports ...", - "There is also an increase in the use of telecommunications ..." - "... and drug use, which is considered ..." - "of high cultural interest", - "... for being one hundred percent snuff smoke free ..." - " ... and this is due to the fall in stock markets..." - at all - raised the price of - Potatoes - " ... no potatoes ... " - " ... in all ... " - " ... European markets ... " - " ... richly ornamented with ..." - " ... 3D special effects ..." - " ... for the social fringe submerged ..." - "to more than thirty-two thousand eight hundred and eight feet below level sea " - " yes, very salty ..." - "... there you can see the magnificent ..." - ".. Slum, site of the fact ..." - ".... Indeed much of the tomato sauce, and let's spice it up ..." - "... 'Singing in ..." - "... the hail! ..." - "... and do not miss the spectacular ..." "... cri ...", - "criteria of the criticism for the acclaimed film... " - " ... cri ..." - "... sys ..." - "... themes to fight inflation, and these systems will endorse ..." - "... insecurity ..." - "... but most of all the financial crisis at the local level ... " - "... we believe we can increase ..." - ".. the magnitude of the terrible fire ..." - "... unprecedented in the entire history ..." - "... well browned in an oven hundred and eighty degrees, so very soon we will be ... " - "...bringing to every home ..." - "... to share .." - "... bombs and shells ..." - ... for entertaining friends ..." - "with all the splendor of ..." - "... the crisis ..." - "... crisis ..." - " ... crisis ... " - "... it is very economical..., - really pays off ..." - "... very convenient for kids to grow up healthy ones, in a ..." - "... world ravaged by global energy crisis ..." - "Have we lost him? ..." - ... It's 10:14 pm ..." - "Turn off everything." While these isolated sentences are heard, in the theater of the world, contradictory images are alternated in the form of flashes regarding the beautiful and the destructive in contradistinction. These flashes are perceived effortlessly, as they are drawn from normal everyday life. In this sequence of images, there are large cities, tourist attractions, car crashes, attractive gastronomic recipes given by a chef in a five-star restaurant, soccer stadium scenes, firefighters entering a burning building, idyllic family scenes, couples of young lovers, wild horses tamed by experienced riders still falling to the ground, automobile police chases, some culinary delights, among several. a dish of chicken with grilled potatoes, ants and insects fighting each other, and picturesque scenes in the Rambla of Pocitos. There it can be seen a lovely entertainment scene on the beach, and a traffic jam on the same street, just a few steps from the sand of the beach. Other various contradictions, as a body lying and bleeding, and another body, sculptural physique of a top model parading down a runway, followed by a scene of work at the counter of a public office, followed in turn by a rave party in some hot springs of the East, and also in turn it is topped with scenes a robbery at a minimarket being captured by a video surveillance camera, as we frequently see, either moving through the streets, or by any means of mass communication. Throughout this dizzying sequence of images, what predominate are the abrupt contrasts. Suddenly, there is a natural landscape somewhere on the coast of Rocha Department, and then an artificial landscape with details of manorial buildings, which are part of the national patrimony of the entire Uruguayan cultural heritage. The old and the new, refined and what remains from modernity, the solemn and the relaxed, all mixed into a salad of contemporary culture inherited from the late twentieth century. 6
Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

In the latest images perceived by human consciousness can be appreciated a beautiful camera shot of the Reserve of Cerro Pan de Azcar, followed by a toast among friends, followed in turn by a fairly lighthearted scene of a young boy talking on the phone with another that is exactly at his side, both looking at each other, dying of laughter. And lastly, the final image of the sequence, which lasts for more than two or three seconds. It is the image of a young man sitting on the edge of his bed wearing a towel tied around the waist. This last young man seems to have come out of the shower, his body is soaked and still wringing hair drops. This guy can not be seen clearly; just between the first lights of day in a very dim backlight effect, but enough to see that he is sitting on the edge of a bed. Seeing him slightly on his side and back, one can see that his naked torso is projected forward. His head is bent over his chest as if turned in on itself, with elbows on the knees. It seems as if too relaxed or engrossed. His attitude is very quiet. Except for one thing. When lifting his right hand, the boy reveals what he is holding, wielding a dark and shiny revolver. For a moment, he raises it up slightly, and then lowers it as if the weight of the weapon made him drop his hand. But then raises it on impulse, and stays with his forehead resting in the cylinder head. The boy puts the gun down again. Then he is thrown slightly back, and now it is no longer possible to see the head. Only wet bare torso with part of the towel covering his thighs, and his right arm raised. The armed hand is lifted pulsing, just at the moment when is heard the last sentence: - " in a world ravaged by global energy crisis ..." A resounding thud, as the sound of a gunshot or the crash of a heavy door slamming, perhaps by the sudden passage of an air stream, or a strong wind. The latest voices from medical emergency are heard like a distant echo. Everything is dark. ------- The light turns to be seen, with the brightness of the sun in an open sky, and seemingly very clear. Occasional small clouds pass, like a loose cotton thread. From the sky, vision slowly descends on the city of Montevideo. It's like the aerial view of a postcard. In the center of the "card", can be seen a set of buildings, probably one of the most central areas of the capital. The image is closed to concentrate on a small group of buildings, such as trying to focus on one of them. It could be any of those ..., since the three buildings that can be seen in the foreground are of a similar style. But only one of them is the one that concentrates all the attention, from the point of view of who might be on some roof, contemplating that image. Elsewhere, perhaps not so distant, open sky can be seen, but it looks different from all previous ones. It is as if the light is affected differently. The picture is very bright, radiant in that rare blue, that colors the shadows lilac and pink. The blue is becoming clearer until almost white, iridescent hues, ranging from pink to a purplish tint. A peaceful viewer finds solace in that sky, stopping at the occasional little cloud of orange tint, wandering vaguely from that little cloud to any bird that flies out there accidentally. It is as if seen through the eyes of Siddhartha himself, lying on his back on the green grass at the foot of a tree, devoting his energies to such contemplation. As if it were the state of Nirvana, a soft, ethereal music, performed by harps and strings with the mastery of a seraph, fills the air with peaceful vibrations. It may well be music from a New Age, but rather sounds like heavenly music. It is paradise.

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

The sky turns completely white, until look like the glow emitted by some very powerful white light source, with undulating shades ranging from pink, violet and something of Prussian blue that will stay still a little more. -------------

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes Jacqueline Petingi Labastie