The very last of the few - Wegenercom

The very last of the few
Tony Sanchez Ariño was born into a wealthy, respectable
family in Valencia, Spain, on the 16th February 1930.
His father was a famous private surgeon, and from the
day he was born, it was in the cards that Tony would
one day follow in his father’s footsteps and become a
doctor.
In those circles at that time, it was generally considered
appropriate to obey father’s will, but Tony was not quite
like the other good middleclass parents’ boys. In physi-
cal appearance, he also differed from his contemporary
Spanish friends. Already as a big boy he was considera-
bly taller than them. Muscular, athletic – and blue eyed!
His fi elds of interest also went in different directions
than those of his friends. As a child he would build
dens in the garden like all boys do, imagining that he
was a fearless hunter of savage beasts in the jungle. But
unlike his friends, Tony never quite let go of the dream.
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He became a frequent visitor to the local library and he
started reading books about famous big game hunters
in the darkest Africa. He used to fantasise about what it
would be like to be face to face with a mighty elephant.
Just like his heroes, Jim Sutherland or Karamojo Bell
had been so many times in the books – as in real life.
Slowly the idea took form in the young man’s head: He
wanted to go to Africa and become a professional ivory
hunter himself. Come what may.
As with most boyhood dreams, the realities of life
pushed them aside. He fi nished high school and, like
everyone expected him to, he began studying medicine
at the Valencia University. In his spare time he was
helping out at his father’s surgery where he demon-
strated a good understanding of the medical profession.
Just like his father, he would become a very good doctor,
everyone agreed.