Sample Sight Translation Lesson (from The Interpreter's Edge Turbo Supplement)

Sight Lesson 3

Interview Report

Date: October 30, 1992
Time: 0645, MST
Place: Our Lady of Perpetual Trials Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Subject: Dennis R. "Buck" Stalwart
Interviewing Agent: Vincent Q. La Guardia, Supervising Agent, Denver Field Office

Upon arrival at OLPTH, this agent was advised by attending physician Graciela T. Cuervo that Mr. Stalwart's condition was extremely grave owing to a large-caliber bullet wound to the lower abdomen, said wound having perforated both the small and large intestines. Dr. Cuervo's prognosis was that Mr. Stalwart was unlikely to survive another 24 hours because of massive infection and peritonitis. When asked by this agent if Mr. Stalwart was 1) conscious and 2) could be interviewed without prejudice to his chances of survival, Dr. Cuervo stated that the subject was conscious and that a brief interview would be unlikely to influence his condition.

This agent therefore requested of Mr. Stalwart that he submit to an interview. Mr. Stalwart consented to be interviewed regarding the events of the previous evening aboard Flight 613. When advised that this agent would be recording his responses on audio tape, Mr. Stalwart assented to that procedure. The remainder of this report is based on the transcripts of that taped interview.

Mr. Stalwart is a male caucasian, aged 34. He is currently unemployed, having recently been laid off from his job in the timber industry. Mr. Stalwart is a resident of the state of Oregon. Mr. Stalwart states that he and his wife Doreen were present on Flight 613 as a result of Mr. Stalwart's desire to seek employment opportunities in Alaska.

When asked by this agent to describe in his own words what occurred on Flight 613, Mr. Stalwart, who was partially sedated but coherent, replied as follows:

"Everything was fine... real nice. They were about to dish up the chow... your choice of tube steaks or burgers, I think. Then I noticed these two broads, the dyke... I guess they were both dykes... these two dykes sort of bump into each other in the aisle... and it's like they're sort of fumblin' around or gropin' each other or something... and then all of a sudden this diesel dyke is wavin' a piece around and shoutin' all sorts of nut-case, environmental-whacko, green-peace sort of crap about respecting the rights of green slime, or some damn thing... and I'm thinkin', Jesus H. Christ, we aren't gonna get fed, are we?"

This agent asked Mr. Stalwart to clarify the meaning of the word piece. Mr. Stalwart confirmed that by piece he meant hand gun. Upon further inquiry, Mr. Stalwart gave a description of said hand gun consistent with a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

When asked to continue his narrative, Mr. Stalwart replied as follows:

"So then the other bimbo... the good-looking dyke with the big hooters--look, if my wife asks, I didn't say that, all right?--the other broad and this little weasely-looking guy... he jumps up. And they've both got these little joke blades... look like nail files or something. And they're yellin' at everybody to stay calm... that nobody's gonna get hurt as long as their `just demands' are met... And I'm thinkin' oh, yeah, right... like the friggin' feds are gonna stop blowin' up sheep in Utah because these dickweeds say so."

When asked to enumerate the hijackers' demands, Mr. Stalwart was unable to give precise details. His recollection was that the primary demand had to do with the cessation of all animal testing in the United States.

Mr. Stalwart was unable to clarify his reference to `the feds blowing up sheep in Utah' beyond a vague statement of his general belief that sheep are routinely destroyed in weapons tests carried out by the federal government somewhere in Utah, possibly at the Dougway Proving Grounds.

This agent then asked Mr. Stalwart what, if anything, he did in response to the actions of the hijackers. Mr. Stalwart replied as follows:

"I didn't do anything... not right away, anyway. I'm tryin' to stay real calm... I don't want any more grief than I've already got, OK? But I'm steamed, all right? I'm sittin' there, and I'm thinkin' about it, and I'm gettin' more and more pissed. I mean, as far as I can see, these guys are the same bunch of shitheads who put me out of a job for some mouse eatin', bone barfin' owl, for chrissakes!"

Upon further questioning by this agent, Mr. Stalwart indicated that his reference to an owl was not to any particular individual owl, but rather to the Northern Spotted Owl as a species, the protection of which Mr. Stalwart blames for his current unemployment.

Mr. Stalwart then resumed his narrative as follows:

"And then... this is the corker... you're not gonna believe this... and then the head honcho bull dyke says they're gonna start trying passengers for species something-or-other and some other goddamned thing... And they're gonna whack 'em... They're gonna honest-to-Christ start whacking passengers if they're demands aren't met! And they're gonna start by pickin' out passengers wearin' animal products, or some goddamn thing... And I'm sittin' there in my buckskin vest, fingering my lucky rabbit's foot, and I start sweatin' and shakin' like a dog passin' peach pits, and I think ... I've had about enough of this shit."

Mr. Stalwart indicated to this agent that by whack he meant kill--that the hijackers had, in fact, made death threats against the passengers and crew of the aircraft. When asked what he did next, Mr. Stalwart replied:

"I'll tell you what I did... The next time she comes by, I jump up and I grab the bimbo with the pistol. I'm tryin' to get it away from her, and it goes off... Jesus! It felt like... I don't know what it felt like... but it didn't feel good, I can tell you that... and I'm startin' to fade out like... and I hear another big KA-WOOM!... and it gets real windy and noisy... then nice and quiet... and I'm floating... I see my mom on the beach... I say, Mom!... and then... I don't know... I'm here. That's all I remember. Can I sleep now?"

This agent assured Mr. Stalwart that his cooperation had been very helpful and that he should, by all means, sleep.

Submitted,

Vincent Q. La Guardia