Chapter 9
Teal'c followed the woman through the crowd. He would lose her and then suddenly see her again. Short and plump with gray hair and carrying the rhisocandria. He was regretting eating all that food with Jonas earlier. It was slowing him down. But he had to keep going. He had to get the rhisocandria. Countless lives depended on it.
Jack and Sam put the 'aliens' in the truck and went back to the carnival. They bought some elephant ears and ate them as they walked along. Jack stopped in front of a booth and smiled.
-I want one of those.
He pointed to a cute little blue bear in the corner of the booth. Sam laughed.
-You want me to get it for you?
-Yah.
She sighed with resignation and approached the booth. It was one of those impossible things where you have to knock over a pyramid of cups that are of course glued together. Jack walked up beside her and sighed.
-You know, Carter, you really don't have to do this. These things are impossible.
Sam smiled.
-Don't worry, sir. I can do it.
-Ok.
Jack stepped aside to let her work She was handed three baseballs. Sam took a deep breath and chucked it at the pyramid. The ball glanced off without leaving a dent. Sam sighed, wound up and threw the second ball. No change. Only one left. Then, she set her jaw, sent a glance heavenward and threw it with all her might. The pyramid of cups came toppling down. Sam breathed a sigh of relief. Jack looked at her with admiration.
-Wow, Carter, that was amazing. I didn't think you could do it.
Sam smiled.
-Well, sir, it just took me a couple of tries to warm up my pitching arm.
-Your pitching arm?
-Yah. I played baseball for the city league in high school. Granted we moved around a lot so it was a lot of different city leagues but…
-They actually let a girl play?
Sam laughed.
-The coaches were always reluctant until they saw me pitch. Then all the league teams fought over whose team I'd be on.
-Really?
-Yup.
-Wow. I guess you learn something new every day. So…my bear?
Sam sighed and asked the still shocked man who ran the booth for her prize. He wordlessly handed her the bear and she in turn gave it to Jack.
-Do you wanna put it in the truck?
-Absolutely not. Sammy wants to enjoy the carnival with us.
-Sammy?
-Yah. Named after my two favorite baseball players: Sammy Sosa and Samantha Carter.
Before Sam had a chance to respond Jack continued.
-Come on. Sammy and I are hungry.
-But we just ate.
-Sammy didn't.
Sam rolled her eyes and sighed. It could be a fun night if they did what 'Sammy' wanted to do. They headed for a nearby café.