Horsing around...

[Andreas Jansson]

Having read the new Barks/Van Horn story (Horsing around with history) 
a couple of hours ago, I simply couldn't resist giving my own opinions 
about it.

I agree with the person who said that Van Horn is better at "gag-
stories" and I would rather have read this story with Daan Jippes 
as the artist. Anyway, all in all I'm very pleased with the result!

I don't really agree with David Gerstein when he says that there is a 
big logic flaw in this story. He doesn't understand how the BB find 
the Trojan Horse. That couldn't be so difficult since they hear 
everything the ducks say, after having replaced $crooge's button with 
a microphone. I then presume (although I'm not quite sure It's 
obvious in the story) that the device carried by the BB's pet 
albatross is a recorder, which the albatross returns to the BB every 
night or maybe even more often. The albatross disappears from the boat 
as it hears the ducks talking about going home (the BB returns home 
too, with the albatross). One of H, D and L says that it couldn't 
have flown by itself, indicating that the BB where nearby all the 
time. 
One of them also saw the albatross on some sort of radar equipment as 
they came to Greece (BB knew excactly where they were to go).

I can more easely agree with Fabio Gadduci's point: why didn't the 
Beagle Boys take the Trojan Horse for themselves? but I can think of 
three explanations:

1) The value of the horse is extremely high. But why? It's not so 
much because of the gold but for the historical value! 
(Indeed, I find the fact that $crooge seems to intend to keep this 
fantastic discovery a secret revolting and unethical, thus also making 
it possible for the BB (or anyone else) to steal the horse and claim 
they found it.)
So when I think of it maybe you're right Fabio, at least IF $crooge 
intends to keep the horse a secret, and I presume he'll have to 
unless he likes to mess with the Greek authorities. 

2) Plated(?) gold is very thin and wouldn't give much money on the 
market and the horse is also very big and hard to steal for the BB.

3) Trying to rob $crooge is what the BB live for. This is the 
strongest argument. 

By the way, I found the last half-page in the story most inviting!


Andreas Jansson, Boraas, Sweeden
A dark and rainy day in Boraas... Christmas is getting closer...