"Lieutenant Winters!" the colonel liked to say, "Go take a look! Take the things over!"
One of the colonel's goals was to gather intelligence—but Andre thought that was pure nonsense. In his view, the real purpose was for the mutton, sheep's milk, and sheep cheese.
Shepherds of Paratu primarily tended to the renowned Merino Sheep, known for their soft and smooth wool, which even Winters, Andre, and other Venetians had heard of.
Merino Sheep were considered a controlled commodity in Paratu, and it had been strictly forbidden to let the breed spread since ancient times, with violators subjected to the death penalty.
There was another less famous type of sheep called Jura Sheep, whose wool wasn't as good as that of the Merinos, but whose meat and milk were far superior to their relatives.
Colonel Jeska was particularly fond of Jura sheep cheese.
