Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 222)

//Panel 1//
Old Hannah:
I must say…
//Panel 2//
Old Hannah:
I had no intention of telling you in such a fashion.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
You…
Edgar:
…killed her, didn’t you?…By sucking blood from her neck…
//Panel 4//
Old Hannah:
I didn’t suck blood. I transmitted the Poe life force into her, you see.
After all, Frank chose her as his bride…
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah:
The clan’s “richest blood” is imparted during a formal ceremony…
She appears as dead, but will regain consciousness shortly----
Baron:
When she awakens, we will live together in eternity.
//Panel 6//
Baron:
In this way, we add to the clan.
The happiness she had hoped for…raising children and so forth…will be impossible for her. However…
Baron:
We love each other—it should all work out.
//Panel 7//
Man:
What is this longwinded talk!? How about taking care of the kid!
Man:
He’s in on the secret!
//Panel 8//
Old Hannah:
I have no desire to kill him…

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 221)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
WHEEEE
HAHAHAHAHA
Baron Portsnell:
Come out, come out, Edgar!
Baron Portsnell:
If you don’t, I will throw Marybel up into the sky…!
//Panel 2//
Remy:
Shhhh—
SFX:
GASA
Boy:
Hurry, let’s go!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
…I…can’t leave.
//Panel 4//
Marybel:
Brother!
Marybel:
I found my brother!
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
…Put her down!
//Panel 7//
Baron Portsnell:
…Come, then.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 220)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
And they suck blood from your neck…
Remy:
That’s right. They suck your blood, and you die—
//Panel 2//
Remy:
And then the dead come back as vampires…
In search of more blood—
Edgar:
Then the whole place will be crawling with them!
//Panel 3//
Remy:
That’s why we’re going to wipe them out!
Edgar:
How?
Pepe:
You drive a stake through their hearts…! When you find them sleeping.
Edgar:
A stake..
Remy:
They turn to dust and scatter—
//Panel 4//
Remy:
WHO’S THAT?
SFX:
SHOCK
Boy:
HIDE!
//Panel 5//
Baron Portsnell:
Raise your voice even louder.
Marybel:
Bro—ther—
//Panel 6//
Baron Portsnell:
Marybel’s going up into the sky!
Panel 7//
Baron Portsnell:
The sky!
Marybel:
Wheeee!

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 219)

//Panel 1//
People:
Get him
Don’t let him escape
Kill him
Kill him
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Ah, those people…
Edgar’s Narration:
…Those people…!
//Panel 3//
Edgar’s Narration:
Aah—
//Panel 4//
SFX:
GYAAA
WAAA
//Panel 5/
Edgar:
Georgy! Rod! Remy! Pepe!
Remy:
Wh—what’s this!
Pepe:
Wait—it’s Edgar from the manor!
You startled us.
//Panel 6//
Pepe:
What were you doing? Are you here to see the graves too?
Edgar:
G-graves!?
Remy:
He’s not coming with us.
/Panel 7//
Edgar:
I’m coming! Take me with you—anywhere!
//Panel 8/
Remy:
We’re going to see vampires! So you’re saying that they exist now?
Edgar:
Vampires!?
Pepe:
Mmm.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 218)

//Panel 1//
Old Hannah:
Calm down! That child will come straight back here.
Don’t meddle. He is the child of my manor!
Man:
Old Hannah!
//Panel 2//
Man:
From the start, I can’t stomach the way you’re handling this. What if the boy were to run off into the village…?
Old Hannah:
Frank…
…Bring Marybel here.
//Panel 3//
Marybel:
Hnnnn…?
//Panel 4//
Marybel:
It’s the tall man…
Baron Portsnell:
Say…let’s go for a walk, shall we?
Baron Portsnell:
Edgar’s hiding in the forest. Whoever finds him, wins…
//Panel 5//
SFX:
PANT PANT GASP GASP

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 217)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
WHO IS THAT?!
//Panel 3/
SFX:
CRASH
SMASH
WAAA!!
//Panel 4//
Person:
A child! It’s a child!
SFX:
BASA
//Panel 5//
People:
Grab him!
He witnessed the rite!
Kill him!
Don’t let him escape!
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah:
Wait!

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 216)

//Panel 1//
Sheila;
Heading forth together
Growing old together
Dying together
Until, as one, we turn to dust…!
//Panel 4//
I hereby transform this woman into one who shares with us eternal life…
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah:
I consign the blood of my direct lineage…my life force…
Old Hannah:
That you enter into
//Panel 6//
Old Hannah:
Our clan
//Panel 7//
The Poes……
//Panel 11//
SFX:
CLONK
Sheila:
AAAAH!

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 215)

//Panel 1//
Sheila:
It’s dark…I can’t see my own footsteps.
Baron Portsnell:
There’s nothing to be afraid of. This is a rite the clan performs.
Baron Portsnell:
Now then—
//Panel 3//
Baron Portsnell:
Old Hannah is calling…
//Panel 6//
Edgar’s Narration:
Is that…Old Hannah?
Edgar’s Narration:
She’s not like the Granny she always is!
//Panel 7//
Edgar’s Narration:
Something’s different here.
It’s too quiet. Too dark.
Edgar’s Narration:
Even if it’s not that, the color of the air is different…
//Panel 10//
Old Hannah:
You love Frank, don’t you?
Sheila:
From the bottom of my heart, Old Hannah!
Old Hannah:
For all eternity?
Sheila:
For all eternity!

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 214)

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 213)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
There are lights burning in the pavilion…
Servant:
They’re calling forth the members of the clan. That’s where the Poes traditionally hold an engagement ceremony.
//Panel 2//
Servant:
Miss Old Hannah has at least explained the family precepts, hasn’t she?
Now, now, time for sleep!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Engagement ceremony?
Poes?
//Panel 4//
Edgar’s Narration:
I wasn’t invited—because I’m a child?
Edgar’s Narration:
Hmph! That’s not fair. After all, I’m a kid from Granny’s manor!
//Panel 5//
SFX:
CREAK
//Panel 6/
SFX:
RUSTLE
//Panel 8//
Edgar’s Narration:
…aaahh!
//Panel 9//
Edgar’s Narration:
Lots of people...!
…From where?
Edgar’s Narration:
Are they all Poes?

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 212)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
Oh—oh—I like that lady. Please have her be my mommy.
Old Hannah:
Little one, it’s time for bed.
Marybel:
Granny can do anything, can’t you? Please, please do it.
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Come here, Marybel.
Marybel:
If we have a mommy, we won’t be foundlings anymore.
//Panel 3//
Old Hannah:
So you want to be adopted by the Baron, and go off to the city?
You may do that.
//Panel 4//
Old Hannah:
You might run into your parents somewhere.
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
If we leave, you’ll be lonely. Won’t you, Granny?
//Panel 6//
SFX:
CLACK CLACK
//Panel 7//
Edgar’s Narration:
A misty night…
//Panel 8//
Edgar's Narration:
The carriage tearing away…
//Panel 10//
Edgar’s Narration:
A hazy memory from some distant place…
Cradle…hawthorn tree…white window…
Servant:
Well, she’s fast asleep. Hand her to me, please.
Edgar’s Narration:
That…
//Panel 11//
Edgar's Narration:
When did these memories come to be?
Edgar:
Hey—

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 211)

//Panel 2//
SFX:
STOMP STOMP STOMP
//Panel 3
Pepe:
Dad…
Bill:
Oh, you’re back—hand it over.
//Panel 4//
Pepe:
Hey, Grandma said to keep it in moderation.
Pepe:
You gotta stop digging up graves!
//Panel 5//
Bill:
OH…OH…
WHO THE HELL UNDERSTANDS HOW I FEEL, HUH!
Bill:
Give me back my wife!!!
SFX:
SLAMMM!
/Panel 6//
Boy:
Pepe!
//Panel 7//
Is Bill drinking again?
Pepe:
As usual!
Remy:
Hey, Pepe, tonight…
/Panel 8//
…we’re going out to spy vampires at the cemetery!
Remy:
Actual vampires!
/Panel 9//
Pepe:
…You’ll all get killed!
//Panel 10//
Remy:
Well, we’re gonna have a huuuuge cross…
…spot the graves that vampires emerge from…
Boy:
And then when it’s daylight, we’ll have Bill help us dig them up!

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 210)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell’s Narration:
I brought her straight to Old Hannah’s manor to announce my intention of marriage, then waited for five years, until she would be fully grown. Still, I only had eyes for her.
She too…
Baron Portsnell’s Narration:
…had never hoped on her part to marry into that family—
Baron Portsnell’s Narration:
So whatever she had given up, it could not compare to losing this love…
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
So she joined me.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
You waited five whole years?
Edgar:
You couldn’t have gone off with her before that?
//Panel 4//
Baron Portsnell:
…Time…
I needed more time…

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 209)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
Sheila? I’ve loved her ever since she was fifteen.
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
This sort of thing isn't right, but…
Baron Portsnell:
When she was sixteen, she was to marry into a certain earl’s family for financial reasons. However—
//Panel 3//
We both loved each other.
Well, on the spur of the moment, we eloped…she threw everything away.
//Panel 4//
Baron Portsnell’s Narration:
The first time I met her was on the occasion of the earl’s announcement of their engagement.
Baron Portsnell’s Narration:
Sheila was only fifteen, but had her hair done up, fringed like a noblewoman’s, a corset narrowly cinching her hips, and she flirted coquettishly—yet she spoke in the voice of a young girl.
Baron Portsnell’s Narration:
Then at once I felt it—
That it was she who would be my wife for eternity.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 208)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
Sheila!
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
Old Hannah has agreed to meet you tonight!
Sheila:
OH!
//Panel 3//
Sheila:
Thank goodness—I…I…
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
What do you mean—‘Old Hannah will meet you tonight’?
Sheila:
It’s marriage.
Permission to marry. Oh, but…
//Panel 5//
Edgar's Narration:
Ahh…
//Panel 6//
Sheila:
Will Old Hannah be pleased with me…?
//Panel 7//
Edgar's Narration:
Oh, I see…
//Panel 8//
Edgar's Narration:
…That's it.
//Panel 9//
Baron Portsnell:
It should be fine, without a doubt!
Sheila:
……
//Panel 10//
Sheila:
When we marry, I want some adorable children.
Baron Portsnell:
Boys? Girls?
Sheila:
Both!
//Panel 11//
Edgar:
Do you love her a lot?

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 207)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP
TWEET TWEET
//Panel 5//
Edgar’s Narration:
She’s so pretty…
So pretty.
Edgar’s Narration:
—I don’t know my mother…
—But surely she must have been like this, I wonder…
//Panel 6//
Sheila:
Um, Edgar, what is that cluster of flowers?
Edgar:
Oh…that…
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
That…those are garlic flowers planted by the idiots from Scotty…
Edgar:
…who are scared of things like vampires that don’t exist.
SFX:
GRRR GRRR GRRRR

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 206)

//Panel 1//
Sheila:
Please don’t be so formal. Let’s chat, shall we?
What a charming village.
Edgar:
There are lots of pretty places around Scotty.
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
There’s a bluejay nest, and a little stream where you can float a water wheel…
And some cliffs…if you fell off them, you’d probably die!
Sheila:
Well now, that’s something!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Oh, I’ll take you around tomorrow morning.
Sheila:
Really? Do you promise?
//Panel 6//
Baron Portsnell:
Do you remember?
Baron Portsnell:
How I asked for your permission the last time?
//Panel 7//
Old Hannah:
Have you touched her yet?
Baron Portsnell:
I haven’t laid a finger on her!
Baron Portsnell:
I tell you, I waited for her to turn twenty! Five years…!
//Panel 8//
Old Hannah:
Do you still love her?
Baron Portsnell:
Now, and forevermore!
Baron Portsnell:
As a member of our clan!

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 205)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
So—it’s true, then! You’re Edgar and Marybel! How many years has it been? How old are you now?
Edgar:
Now? I’m eleven and Marybel’s seven.
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
I’ll bet you don’t remember me. All right, then…up you go!
Marybel:
Wheeeee!
Maid:
Heh heh, that would be impossible. This gentleman is Baron Frank Portsnell.
Edgar:
Portsnell……?
//Panel 3//
Maid:
He visited the manor one time, five years ago.
Edgar:
Hnnnn.
Baron:
Hmm, you’re a good girl. You’re going to be a beauty.
Marybel:
Oooh, your mustache hurts!
//Panel 4//
Baron:
Now, is Old Hannah well?
Baron Portsnell:
I would like to greet her, but before that, Edgar…
I ask that you keep the lady company.
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
……

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 204)

//Panel 1//
Sheila:
You shouldn’t fight. Don’t you see how you startled your little sister? She’s crying.
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
Sheila!
//Panel 3//
Baron Portsnell:
The wheel alignment is finally repaired.
Please get in…we’ll be at the manor shortly.
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
The…manor?
//Panel 7//
Baron Portsnell:
You are—
Baron Portsnell:
The two of you are—
Edgar:
!!

In Panel 3, Baron Portsnell uses the word 轍 (wadachi), which literally means "wheel tracks" or "wheel ruts." Because it is difficult to imagine all carriages having the same exact width and thus fitting in the same ruts or tracks, I'm convinced that this was an error in her (or an editor's) choice of vocabulary. But I had to make an educated guess that she meant to refer to alignment of the wheels.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 203)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
WAAAAA!
SFX:
SHRIEK
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Don’t frighten Marybel, you liar!
SFX:
SHOVE
Remy:
Hey, you—
//Panel 3//
Remy:
When did I lie, huh?
SFX:
PUSH
Edgar:
OW
//Panel 4//
Marybel:
Brother
Brother
Edgar:
That’s crazy!
Remy:
No, it’s not!
Edgar:
Ouch! You—
Remy:
Everyone in the village says so!
//Panel 5//
Sheila:
Stop that!
SFX:
WHA—
//Panel 6//
Remy:
Woo-hoo! Foundling, foundling
Fall down, break your neck and die!
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
All of you from Scotty are idiots and fools!!!
//Panel 10//
Sheila:
Don’t move. You’ll get dirt in your eye.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 202)

//Panel 1//
Boy:
Wha—over there! Oh, damn!
Boy 2:
Oof, you let it get away! Get ready for the next one—it’s b-i-i-g! Okay—
//Panel 2//
Remy:
Edgar! Help us out here!
Edgar:
Wait a second!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Here you go. Now try it out on the river.
Marybel:
Uh-huh.
//Panel 4//
SFX:
CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP
//Panel 5//
SFX:
GLUG GLUG
//Panel 6//
Remy:
Shee—!
//Panel 7//
Remy:
It’s Old Bill!
//Panel 8//
Remy:
He must be going grave-digging!
Edgar:
He’s crazy.
Remy:
He’s not crazy.
//Panel 9//
Boy 2:
They say Old Bill’s wife was killed by vampires a long time ago!
Edgar:
My granny says there’s no such thing.
Remy:
Old Bill saw them.
They sleep in their graves during the daytime, and go out to suck blood at night. They have faces like this…

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 201)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
Edgar! Edgar!
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
What is it?
What? What is it, Marybel, what?
Marybel:
SOB
Servant:
She spent the whole day looking around for her naughty brother.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Oh, sorry, Marybel! I'm sorry!
//Panel 4//
Old Hannah:
…You say they were driving stakes in the forest…?
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah:
Well.
//Panel 6//
Old Hannah:
That’s all right. Let’s forget about what you saw in the forest.
Old Hannah:
There’s no such thing as evil spirits.
That’s what cowards dream of.
//Panel 7//
Good night.
Good night.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 200)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
STRIKE
SHRIEK
Villager:
Evil spirits, be gone!!
//Panel 2//
SFX:
Ha!
Villager:
Who’s that!
//Panel 3//
SFX:
RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE
//Panel 4//
RUSTLE!
//Panel 5//
Villager:
You damned village brats!!
//Panel 6//
SFX:
PANT PANT
//Panel 7//
Boys:
PANT
GASP
PANT
Remy:
What a shock!
Edgar:
Th-that woman was already dead, too!
//Panel 8//
Remy:
--------It’s protection against vampires-------
She must have gotten attacked by them.
Edgar:
Vampires?

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 199)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
L-let’s go back, Remy.
Boy 2:
I’m…scared.
Remy?:
Quiet. You can't go back now!
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
That’s the drunkard priest.
The Mayor.
All the officials from the village.
Remy:
The woman on the cart—that must be Seb’s young wife, who died in childbirth two nights ago.
Remy:
They’re not burying her in the cemetary—what could they be doing?
Where are they going?
//Panel 3//
SFX:
KARA KARA KARA KARA
//Panel 4//
Villager:
Around here should be good……?
//Panel 5//
Boy:
Are they going to eat her?!
Remy:
Shut up, fool!
//Panel 8//
Villager:
With one thrust of this stake…
//Panel 9//
Edgar:
GASP

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 198)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
Brother!
//Panel 2//
Marybel:
Brother!
Marybel:
Ohhh!
//Panel 3//
Old Hannah:
Now, now. Did he leave you behind?
Marybel:
But he promised he’d make me a water wheel.
//Panel 4//
Old Hannah:
What a bad brother.
Don’t cry, don’t cry.
When he comes back, let’s scold him, eh?

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 196-197)

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 195)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Why were we left in the forest?
Old Hannah:
So you’re old enough to think about such things, now.
//Panel 2//
Old Hannah’s Narration:
I myself wonder. Whose children are you—and from where?
Old Hannah’s Narration:
You were both dressed nicely. You said your name was Edgar, and that you were four. Your sister Marybel had just been born. You said so yourself.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
What’s this?
Old Hannah:
Soup made from roses.
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
YUCK
Marybel:
SLURP
Old Hannah’s Narration:
But you know, that’s not what matters, who you are and where you come from.
//Panel 5//
Marybel:
Are those bluejays?
Old Hannah:
They're mommy and daddy bluejays.
Old Hannah’s Narration:
You were brought up in this manor, and I’m so fond of you both.
//Panel 6//
Marybel:
Doesn’t Marybel have a mommy and a daddy?
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
Don’t you see…
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
You have a big brother, right? And your granny, too.
Edgar:
And we all love Marybel. We love her so much.
//Panel 9//
So much.
So much.
So much.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 194)

//Panel 1//
Old Hannah’s Narration:
------stopped time.
Old Hannah’s Narration:
So the girl lives on, tomorrow
And the next day
Villagers:
Ready your stakes. Don’t stop praying!
Kill them!
Kill those evil spirits! Kill them!
//Panel 2//
Old Hannah:
Sleep……
Good little children.
Keep growing, growing.
Old Hannah’s Narration:
Her lovely silver hair caressed by the breeze…
Old Hannah’s Narration:
Forever a young maiden.
//Panel 4//
Bill:
Old hag…old crone…
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
What are vampires?
Old Hannah:
They are a legend in this village… such ridiculous talk…
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
How old are you, Granny?
Old Hannah:
Heh heh, how old do I look to you?

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 193)

//Panel 1//
Villager:
…They’re saying that the old mistress Hannah Poe from the manor…
…brought back some children from the forest.
How compassionate of her.
//Panel 2//
Bill:
That misty night?
That was the night my wife died.
Bill:
In the forest?! What was that old hag doing in the forest?
//Panel 3//
Villager:
Calm down, Bill!
Your wife died from illness, in her very own bed!
Bill:
SOB
//Panel 4//
Bill:
That’s a lie! That was no normal face of death...
Bill:
She was strangled by vampires!
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah’s Narration:
There was a girl with translucent silver hair.
Old Hannah’s Narration:
So beautiful that the gods
Old Hannah’s Narration:
Stopped time for this young girl.
Old Hannah:
Sleep…
Sleep…
Villagers:
Keep the fires blazing at the doors.
Hang garlic and crucifixes from the windows.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 192)

//Panel 3//
Old Hannah:
Oh, you’re awake, eh? Little foundling.
Edgar:
……Where’s Marybel?
//Panel 4//
Old Hannah:
Leda the maid came back with some goat’s milk. She’s feeding her now.
You must eat, too.
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah:
You look at me, so astonished.
I am Old Hannah Poe. From today, this is your home.
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
……What’s that?
Old Hannah:
Those are roses.
In Spring, they will bloom.
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
What’s that?
//Panel 8//
Old Hannah:
That’s Scotty’s Village.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 191)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Marybel
Marybel, Marybel, don’t cry.
SFX:
WAAAAIIIIILL
SOB
CRY
Edgar:
I’m here.
Your big brother’s here with you.
Don’t cry!
//Panel 2//
SFX:
MURMUR MURMUR
SFX:
CRY CRY CRY
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
……
//Panel 4//
SFX:
RUSTLE
STARTLE!
//Panel 5//
Old Hannah:
Well! Here’s the source of all the crying.
This way, Leda.

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 190)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
WAIL CRY WAIL
//Panel 2//
Marybel:
CRY WAIL
//Panel 3//
Marybel:
WAIL WAIL
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
Sniff
Why?
//Panel 5//
Edgar’s Narration:
Why?
Why?
Why?
//Panel 6//
Edgar/s Narration:
Why is it so dark here?
Edgar's Narration:
Why? Where did they all go?
Edgar:
Marybel...
Edgar’s Narration:
Nanny, where are you?
Where did you go, Nanny?

Marybel and the Silver Roses (Page 189)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Oh, Nanny! Nanny!
Adult:
Please, don’t use the knife, all right? If you just leave them there, they’ll die.
Hurry! Start up the carriage!
SFX:
NEIGH
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Wait, wait! Oh, Nanny, don’t leave us here!
Edgar:
Nanny, wait!
Nanny!
SFX:
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
WHIP!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Nanny!
SFX:
WAIL

Moto Hagio Perfect Selection

Moto Hagio Perfect Selection (萩尾望都パーフェクトセレクション) went on sale last month. So far Vol 1 and Vol 2 are available. All color pages are being reproduced in their full glory! It's very interesting that this anthology starts with Tooma no Shinzo. Is that perhaps more popular in Japan than Poe?

Vol. 1 [on sale]
Tooma no Shinzo I (トーマの心臓 I)
Contains Tooma no Shinzo (Thomas' Heart)

Vol. 2 [on sale]
Tooma no Shinzo II (トーマの心臓 II)
Contains Tooma no Shinzo (Continuation), The Visitor (訪問者), and The November Gymnasium (11月のギムナジウム).
accompanied by a separate, full color volume: On the Lake - Summer of Fourteen and a Half (「湖畔にて」十四と半分の年の夏)

Vol. 3 [Aug 2007 release]
They Were Eleven! (11人いる！)
Contains They Were Eleven, Horizon of the East, Eternity of the West (東の地平　西の永遠), and Space Street (スペース・ストリート)

Vol. 4 [Sep 2007 release]
Mesh (or Meches) I
Contains Mesh (or Meches), Rouge, Blanc, Spring Bone (春の骨), MontMartre, MOVEMENT, Revolution (革命), and Plan de Paris

Vol. 5 [Oct 2007 release]
Mesh (or Meches) II
Contains Listening (耳をかたむけて), Thousand Arrows (千の矢), People You Can't Stand (苦手な人種), Carnival(謝肉祭), Realistic Death of Surrealistic Love (シュールな愛のリアルな死), and The Boat (船)

Vol. 6 [Nov 2007 release]
Poe no Ichizoku I
Contains Translucent Silver Hair (すきとおった銀の髪), The Village of the Poes (ポーの村), Glen Smith's Diary (グレンスミスの日記), The Clan of the Poes (ポーの一族), Marybel and the Silver Roses (メリーベルと銀のばら), and The Little Birds' Nest (小鳥の巣)

Vol. 7 [Dec 2007 release]
Poe no Ichizoku II
Contains Evans' Will (エヴァンズの遺書), Penny Rain (ペニー・レイン), Liddell in the Forest (リデル・森の中), Lambton speaks (ランプトンは語る), Piccadilly at Seven (ピカデリー7時), Flowers and Little Birds of Faraway Lands (はるかな国の花や小鳥), Holmes's Deerstalker Cap (ホームズの帽子), A Week (一週間), and Edith (エディス)

Vol. 8 [Jan 2008 release]
Star Red (スター・レッド)

Vol. 9 [Feb 2008 release]
Hanshin
Contains Hanshin (Demigod 半神), Iguana's Daughter (イグアナの娘), The Mimicry of Angels (天使の擬態), The Drug to Go to School (学校へ行くクスリ), The Afternoon Sun (午後の日射し), Catharsis (カタルシス), The Returning Child (帰ってくる子), The Yukata That Sayo Sews (小夜の縫うゆかた), Friend K (友人Ｋ), The Pretender (偽王), Greenhouse (温室), Marine (マリーン)

On "The Clan of the Poes"

Wow, what a curious epilogue after such an dramatic ending! We are now transported back into the "present" (as this work was published), with the same characters reappearing in a new settings. We will know more about what happens there in later episodes. But for now, let me share a controversy I had about the ending - why did Allan run away from home and decide to join Edgar?

The pressure from Mother's worsening conditions mounted to a breaking point for Allan. I just thought that his mother consenting to his uncle's plan was too much to take for Allan, and the dramatic fall of his uncle finally pushed him over the edge.

My husband says that the dialogue between Allan's mother and uncle — where they address each other by "darling" and "dear" on Page 178 — hints that they were on much more 'intimate' terms than just brother and sister in laws, and that's the real reason. What do you think?

Finally, the relationship between Edgar and Allan, as well as the characters themselves, are really well-delineated with the conclusion of this story. The gothic tone of the piece is also very striking. However, Hagio is not the sort of author to sit complacently within her well-established universe...she will surely change the environment and the mood, as well as the time period, with her continuation of the Poe saga, "Marybel and the Silver Roses."

As you will see, Hagio is not interested in telling the Poes' story in a time-sequential manner. However, this artistic decision does not create confusion (it is clear that each of her stories are complete within themselves, not relying on the other stories within the series to make sense). What this does create, however, is the sense that puzzle pieces are being added slowly, deliberately, and the painting or storyline is gradually receiving a brushstroke here, a bit of landscape there, to cast and reflect light back on what was previously narrated, and add to the whole. I myself have no experience reading Poe out of the order I am currently translating and blogging, but I am sure some readers have done so, and their experiences and feelings regarding the piece must be somewhat different...though surely there is no "wrong" or "right" order in which to read this work.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 187)

//Panel 1//
Professor:
It took much time for people to journey in the old days.
//Panel 2//
Professor:
Now, it takes a tiny portion of your lives to span the globe.
Space travel was nothing but a dream...
//Panel 3//
Professor:
And now it’s steadily becoming a reality.
Professor:
In our own Germany...
//Panel 4//
Professor:
That’s it for today!
Student:
I like Professor Groff!
He always wraps things up five minutes early.
//Panel 5//
Student:
Here’s the new single by Paul Anka…hey!
Another student:
First I have to call my Mom…huh…?!
//Panel 6//
Student:
Who are those two over by the gate?
Other student:
What? Where? Where—
Whoa, don’t push!
//Panel 7//
Student’s Narration:
I bet they’re transfer students. Wonder what year they are? Where could they be from?

The End, The Clan of the Poes
(first published October, 1972)

The Clan of the Poes (Page 186)

//Panel 1//
Narration:
Moments we pass through now and then
Whispering, laughing
Exchanging glances
Narration:
Running, running amongst the people as they weave their dreams
Narration:
What might there be at the ends of this flow of Time……

The Clan of the Poes (Page 185)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
RATTLE RATTLE
//Panel 2//
Servant:
Master Allan! Your Uncle is fine!
Servant:
Your Uncle is…Master Allan?!
//Panel 3//
Servant:
Master Allan!
//Panel 4//
SFX:
BAN
AHAHAHAHA
//Panel 6//
Servant:
Was he spirited away on the wind…?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 184)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Me, I’m going…
//Panel 2//
Allan:
Going where?
Edgar:
Far away.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
And you, what will you do?…Will you join me?
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
Come.
//Panel 6//
Come with me. It’s lonely on my own.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 183)

//Panel 2//
Allan:
Marybel? Where is she?
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Do you know where people come from before they’re born?
Allan:
No…
Edgar:
Neither do I. So I don’t know where Marybel has gone.
//Panel 5//
Allan:
…Before they're born?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 182)

//Panel 1//
Servant:
Master Allan—wait!
Someone:
Allan!
Aunt:
Darling!
Margot:
Father! Father!
//Panel 2//
Servant:
Master Allan!
//Panel 4//
SFX:
SLAM
//Panel 5//
SFX:
BANG
BANG
Servant:
Master Allan!
Master Allan!
//Panel 6//
Servant:
Please stay right there; do you understand? Right away, right away, the doctor will be…!
//Panel 8//
Allan:
…Ah…Marybel, Marybel……Someone……
Allan:
Help me, Marybel!
//Panel 9//
Edgar:
Marybel is gone.

There was a challenge in attributing dialogue in the first panel, since the dialogue balloons were coming out of visual range where you could see who was speaking. So I had to speculate a bit. Obviously it would only be the servant who would refer to Allan as "Allan-sama" or "Master Allan." The second balloon, mentioning only "Allan", was really hard to pin down so I just let it go as "Someone." Presumably, Uncle is injured and can't speak, Margot is probably too hysterical, and it could be the Aunt, though I wasn't positive about that. The next balloon, which states, "Anata" or "Darling", is presumably the Aunt, comforting her injured husband. And obviously the shrieking cries of "Father, Father," must belong to Margot.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 181)

//Panel 2//
SFX:
SCREAM
AAAAA
//Panel 4//
Margot:
Murder!
//Panel 6//
Margot:
Murder!
//Panel 7//
Servant:
Master Allan!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 180)

Panel 1//
Uncle:
Regarding the marriage—
//Panel 2//
The marriage between you and Margot.
Rachel was terribly disappointed.
//Panel 3//
Uncle:
Rachel was—
Allan:
Don’t…
//Panel 4//
Allan:
DON’T TOUCH ME.
SFX:
SHOVE
//Panel 6//
SFX:
SCREAM

The Clan of the Poes (Page 179)

//Panel 1//
Uncle:
ALLAN.
//Panel 5//
Uncle:
Wait. I want to talk to you…Allan. I’ve just spoken with Rachel.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 178)

//Panel 1//
Uncle:
You know, Rachel, it’s best if you speak to him yourself. He’s still a boy, after all.
Uncle:
He doesn’t understand. Not about business, or any of it!
//Panel 2//
Mrs. Twilight:
Don’t grip me so tightly. My chest will start hurting again.
Uncle:
Will you speak to Allan for me, darling?
//Panel 3//
Mrs. Twilight:
All right, dear, I will.
Uncle:
I’m counting on you, darling.
//Panel 5//
SFX:
BAN

The Clan of the Poes (Page 177)

//Panel 1//
Edgar’s Narration:
Curtains. It's all over!
I’m free now.
I'm alone in this world.
Edgar’s Narration:
No need to go on
For Marybel’s sake, to protect her.
No need to go on……
//Panel 2//
Servant:
Master Allan.
Is it alright for you to be out of bed?
//Panel 3//
Allan:
Ah. My fever’s gone.
//Panel 4//
Allan’s Narration:
I’d better tell Mother; otherwise she’ll worry.
//Panel 5//
Allan’s Uncle:
Allan…objects to marrying Margot.
//Panel 6//
Allan:
It's Uncle.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 176)

//Panel 1//
Bystander 1:
An accident!
Bystander 2:
It’s awful!
Edgar’s Narration:
Farewell
Farewell
Bystander 3:
What a mess. Traveling this blind curve downhill at such a speed!
//Panel 2//
Bystander 1:
One person fell beneath the carriage. I saw it!
Bystander 2:
Liar! No one’s there.
Move that out of the way.
Edgar’s Narration:
Farewell, ties to my distant past…
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
Huh…
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
Ha ha.

Edgar's last line in Panel 2 translates literally as "Farewell my far-off/distant days/past." However, this doesn't have much meaning in English (or Japanese). It makes more sense interpreted as "TIES to my distant past," meaning that Marybel, Sheila and Baron were the only ones who had any connection to Edgar in the days before he became a vampire.

In the last two panels, Edgar appears to be laughing, but is really reacting in sheer stress and shock to the absurdity of the situation...all the efforts he has made up until now have been for nothing.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 175)

//Panel 1//
Edgar’s Narration:
Ahh, at least for me…
Baron Portsnell:
Sheila—
SFX:
PSSSSSTTT
//Panel 2//
Driver:
AAH…
//Panel 3//
SFX:
CLONK
//Panel 4//
SFX:
WHIP
//Panel 6//
Baron Portsnell:
WAAAAA—
Baron’s Narration:
My wife
My love
Those who shared my destiny

In Edgar's line from Panel 1, which is repeated from the last panel of the previous page, the implication is that at least for Edgar, he had one singular purpose: to take care of Marybel.

In Panel 6, Baron Portsnell is referring, of course, to members of the Poe clan, many of whom have shared a fate similar to Sheila's.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 174)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
SMASH!
SHATTER!
//Panel 2//
Edgar’s Narration:
Why are we alive?
If only I knew!
//Panel 4//
Edgar’s Narration:
There's nothing we create, or give birth to.
//Panel 5//
Edgar’s Narration:
Nothing we pass on to later generations.
//Panel 6//
Edgar’s Narration:
Why do we live on and on like this?
//Panel 7//
SFX:
STUMBLE!
Edgar’s Narration:
At least for me…

The Clan of the Poes (Page 173)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
This is the pistol you used to shoot Marybel.
//Panel 2//
Clifford:
Evil spirit…! Be gone! You don’t exist!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
We do exist. For much longer than you do……
Do you have any last words?
//Panel 4//
SFX:
RUMBLE
Clifford:
Be gone! Why on earth are you demons here?!
//Panel 5//
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
Clifford:
Why on earth are you alive…why do you exist? You demons!

If I were directing this scene for a movie, I have no idea how I would have the Clifford character read these lines. He seems to be putting up a front, trying to be forceful and in control, but I might instruct the actor to have his tone waver in and out of a higher range, betraying his likely hysteria. He is still fighting with his rational view that none of this can be possible. Isn't it a little late for these mixed assessments, after he has shot Marybel and gravely injured Sheila? Has he accepted his fate? Does he expect the rational world to rescue him at the last second? But he is all alone……apart from Edgar.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 172)

//Panel 1//
Bike:
Do something about those wet clothes! I’ll put Miss Jane to bed.
After that, you’ll explain to me what is going on here!
Clifford:
I welcome the chance! After all, Jane saw it too.
Clifford:
Even Dr. Caster would have to believe it.
//Panel 2//
Bike:
Believe? Believe what!
Clifford:
Believe in demons!
//Panel 3//
Dr. Caster:
Has he gone mad?
Bike:
It can't be!
//Panel 4//
SFX:
CREAK
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
If this lightning is sent by God, then let that house on the cape be shattered to pieces!
//Panel 6//
Clifford:
Aren't they also God's creatures?…But why?
//Panel 7//
SFX:
SLAM
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
I heard Marybel’s screams from outside.
…I didn't make it in time.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 171)

//Panel 1//
Dr. Caster:
Jane? What’s wrong?
Bike:
Miss Jane!
Clifford:
Jane!
Clifford:
She’s only fainted from the shock!
//Panel 2//
Jane:
Aah…aah…aah
//Panel 3//
Jane:
SCREECH
AAAAH
SHRIEK
//Panel 4//
Clifford:
Grab pitchforks and stakes! Raise up your crucifixes!
Bike:
Clifford.
Clifford:
Crush those demons!
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
Those demons!

It's odd how in Panel 4, Clifford himself looks like a stereotypical Hollywood vampire.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 170)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
BAZA
//Panel 4//
Clifford:
Jane!
//Panel 5//
Dr. Caster:
What’s going on? What’s all this noise?!
SFX:
SLAM
Clifford:
Jane saw it too!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 169)

These still-unfamiliar characters will play a large part later on...

The Clan of the Poes (Page 168)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
Jane:
Marybel!
//Panel 2//
Jane:
What are you doing, Marybel? Fetch the cross!
//Panel 3//
Jane:
Pick it up!
//Panel 5//
Marybel:
Edgar! Edgar!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 167)

//Panel 1//
Jane:
Jean…why…you…what’s going on?…Such…
Clifford:
I killed Sheila!
//Panel 2//
Jane:
GASP
//Panel 4//
Jane:
Jean! That’s a gun for warding off evil spirits!
Clifford:
Exactly.
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
It should be loaded! With silver bullets!
Jane:
Jean! Please! Calm down and look at me!
Jane:
You don't know what you’re saying!
//Panel 6//
Clifford:
The house on the cape is occupied by a family of demons!!
Jane:
Jean! What are you blurting out?!
Clifford:
I’m not insane.
Clifford:
…If you disagree, then wear this cross! Go on!!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 166)

//Panel 1//
Jane:
Jean!
SFX:
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
//Panel 2//
Clifford:
JANE, GET AWAY FROM HER!
//Panel 3//
Jane:
……
…Jea—

The Clan of the Poes (Page 165)

//Panel 1//
Jane:
Now, now, everything's fine. Just stay like this. You’re scared of lightning?
Marybel:
Yes. I hate it. The flash…the flash of light…
//Panel 2//
SFX:
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
//Panel 3//
Jane:
Such pretty curls…
//Panel 4//
Jane:
Oh, I’m no match for Lady Sheila.
Jane:
You take after your mother, and will grow up to be a lovely woman.
//Panel 5//
Jane:
Oh dear. I’m whining yet again.
Marybel:
…about my mother…
Marybel:
I don’t know anything about her. I heard she died right after giving birth to me.
Jane:
…Oh, Marybel…I…
Marybel:
Just that I’m told I look exactly as she did as a child.
//Panel 6//
Marybel:
Jane, do you like Sheila?
Jane:
Pardon? Oh, yes. She is truly an adult, and so feminine…
Eventually you’ll be a grown-up, too.
//Panel 7//
Marybel:
…I wonder…Do you really think so?
Jane:
Tomorrow you’ll be even better than today…
//Panel 8//
SFX:
SLAM!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 164)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
The bubble’s burst. Look what has happened to Sheila!
Baron Portsnell:
And if we run up against a massive wave of local citizens? What will we do?
Baron Portsnell:
Scythes…stakes…crosses…people screaming!
//Panel 2//
I’ve seen that specter countless times!
You must remember when Old Hannah died.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Marybel!
//Panel 4//
Mother, where is Marybel?!
//Panel 6//
Marybel:
SHRIEK

Baron Portsnell's first line in Panel 1 literally means, "The circle's broken." He is describing to Edgar how all their painstaking efforts to protect themselves and keep up a good facade have ended suddenly, all for naught.

It is weird (at least for me) how you can never feel entirely one way about this family. Baron definitely is portrayed as cold, and yet here there is a sadness to what he is describing, and it is possible to feel some sympathy for him. But then again, he and his wife, and even Edgar, are fully capable of being predatory and self-serving, and so they are really to blame for their predicament in a way. Also, could what happened to Sheila have been so unpredictable? They are playing with their own fate by this cat-and-mouse game they engage in with humans.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 163)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
……
Get me a cloth!
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Horrible. She’s cut wide open from the left shoulder to her chest.
Sheila:
…Cliffo…
//Panel 3//
Baron Portsnell:
Clifford?
//Panel 4//
Baron Portsnell:
That doctor? …The doctor?
Baron Portsnell:
Sheila! Did he detect…?
Sheila:
Yes.
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
There’s at least one person who believes in folk tales.
Baron Portsnell:
We’ll leave this place immediately.
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
We ought to kill the doctor.
Baron Portsnell:
Immediately…put on your coat. We’ll hire a carriage at the station, and find another city.
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
It’s no good to move her now. We should wait at least a day, till the bleeding stops.
Baron Portsnell:
If we don’t leave now, it’s over!


Hagio has a beautiful way of depicting the glow of candlelight in this scene, and its contract with darkness and shadows.

It is interesting to speculate on whether Baron Portsnell and Sheila (and possibly Edgar) had ever discussed a contingency plan for this very type of situation...or whether they had always assumed they would evade such a critical fate. It doesn't seem here that they were prepared for injuries, or are ready to smoothly implement their plan of escape.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 162)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
…!
SFX:
ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
What is it, Edgar?
Edgar:
The door…I don’t know, but—
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
It can’t be…Allan?
SFX:
CREAK
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
FATHER!
//Panel 5//
SFX:
CRASH

The Clan of the Poes (Page 161)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA


Again, the distant sound of driving rain. Edgar looks peaceful, entirely unaware of what is about to unfold...

The Clan of the Poes (Page 160)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
FLASH
GASSHAN
//Panel 4//
Did she escape? Or…
//Panel 5//
Did I finish her off?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 159)

//Panel 1//
Clifford:
I must destroy…this is my duty.
//Panel 2//
Sheila:
Aah!
Clifford:
This…phantom…
//Panel 3//
SFX:
BAZA
//Panel 4//
Clifford:
Ooo
//Panel 5//
SFX:
ZAZA

The Clan of the Poes (Page 158)

//Panel 2//
Allan’s Narration:
Do you believe in folk tales?
//Panel 3//
Edgar's Narration:
Excuse me, Dr. Clifford.
//Panel 4//
Bike's Narration:
Who knows? They’re vampires!
Bike's Narration:
Miss Jane loves you from the bottom of her heart.
//Panel 5//
Clifford’s Narration:
Her pulse is dead.
Sheila:
How will you explain this to Jane?
Clifford’s Narration:
No blood circulating at all.
She’s not human.
Not human!!
//Panel 6//
SFX:
CLATTER
//Panel 8//
Clifford:
…It’s like a dream! You’re not real. Why are you here?
Clifford:
…For your sake, as well…

I had a lot of difficulty in Panel 8 in determining which character is responsible for the first dialogue balloon. The arrow for this balloon points directly at the head of Sheila, but it turns out that Japanese manga can be much more vague about this than American comics.

Even trying to judge by the words themselves, I was not quite sure...I thought that this could be Sheila, excited and in awe to finally be in such close physical contact and alone with the doctor she admires so much, so that it feels to her like a dream.

But I finally had to make a decision based on the context of the entire scene. Clifford is a rationalist, a man who has always leaned toward believing in what can be scientifically proven and backed up. (Although it is also true that he acknowledges being visited by a ghost many times as a boy, so there is that conflicted part of him as well that makes him not quite entirely sure that a vampire could not exist.) Still, when he is confronted with undeniable truth that this woman in front of him is actually a vampire, he is truly shaken to the core. It all seems like a dream to him. How could this be real?

His final line echoes this sentiment: If you are something that should not exist, then I am doing you a favor by cutting short your existence. So interpreting this in the broader view, I was able to determine for sure that those first lines in Panel 8 were spoken by Clifford.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 157)

//Panel 5//
Clifford’s Narration:
NO PULSE…!!
Sheila:
Ah…ah…
//Panel 6//
Jane:
What a shame……
Your mother may have gotten drenched.

In a much earlier scene, Baron Portsnell had sharply reprimanded Edgar and reminded him of things he must never forget in order to pass himself off as human (reflecting in mirrors, making sure to fabricate a pulse when necessary, and so forth). So it seemed strange that a mature adult such as Sheila would forget such a basic thing. Perhaps being caught up unexpectedly with the doctor threw her off and she was careless. Or else she did not find it necessary in such a case, and her lack of pulse was only noticed by Clifford because he happened to be a doctor.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 156)

//Panel 1//
Clifford:
Jane?
Sheila:
Yes. In blue she is quite……
SFX:
CRACK
SHRIEK!
//Panel 2//
Clifford:
It’s all right. Don’t worry.
Clifford’s Narration:
Sheila
Your cheeks are pale. Long eyelashes, lips—
//Panel 3//
Clifford's Narration:
Right now I am holding her in my hands.
The woman I’ve wanted so badly. Why…even for an instant…
//Panel 4//
Clifford’s Narration:
…did I suspect anything diabolical of her?
Sheila:
Cli—
//Panel 5//
Sheila:
—ford……
//Panel 6//
SFX:
CRASH

The Clan of the Poes (Page 155)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
Draw the curtains, Edgar. I just don’t like that flash of light!
It pierces my eyes!
(SIDEBAR NOTE:)
In some areas which practice Christianity, it is believed that God’s wrath strikes an evil person dead with a bolt of lightning.
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
I like it. It gives me chills, though.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
So Marybel and Mother went out to shop for hats?
Baron Portsnell:
Old Dr. Castor’s house is behind the hat shop. It’s the plan that Jane will be there.
In other words, they’ll get a good look at the place.
//Panel 4//
SFX:
ZA
//Panel 5//
Allan’s Narration:
I feel listless……
//Panel 6//
Allan’s Narration:
Thunderstorm……
Winter is coming.
//Panel 7//
Clifford:
Does lightning frighten you, Lady Sheila?
Sheila:
Yes…as if…it were headed right for me!
//Panel 8//
Clifford:
You speak as if you were a sinner.
Sheila:
Ah, no. Let’s distract ourselves with a different subject. I ran into Jane at the hat shop.

As for the "ZA" that appears here in Panel 4 and prominently in the next few pages (also as "ZA ZA"), rather than the gentle, tapping noise of "pitter-patter", it refers to the constant, relentless sound of driving rain. I just can't come up with an English equivalent. I am not sure an English onomatopoeia for this sound even exists.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 154)

//Panel 1//
Sheila:
Shriek
SFX:
CRACK!
//Panel 3//
Sheila:
I left my carriage to cut through the beach.
Clifford:
There’s a hut over there.
//Panel 4//
SFX:
FLASH
//Panel 5//
SFX:
RUMBLE RUMBLE
FLASH

The Clan of the Poes (Page 153)

//Panel 1//
Clifford:
Lady Sheila!
//Panel 2//
Sheila:
Hello……Are you back from visiting patients? We run into each other so often.
//Panel 3//
Clifford:
The clouds are moving quickly. We’d better hurry.
//Panel 4//
SFX:
CLAP

The Clan of the Poes (Page 152)

//Panel 1//
Jane:
My home is close by. Why don’t you rest there?
Sheila:
Why, to bother you like that……oh, well.
I’ll use this chance to bring the hat over to you. I won’t be long……
//Panel 2//
Jane:
But Lady Portsnell! You shouldn’t……
Sheila:
Not at all. After all, I’ve found someone who suits the feathered hat so well. I couldn’t let this chance slip away.
I will be back quickly, then!
//Panel 3//
Jane’s Thoughts:
What a friendly person! And I’d been thinking she was stuck-up……
Jane:
Oh, Marybel. Are you all right? It’s at that corner. Can you walk?
//Panel 4//
SFX:
RUMBLE RUMBLE
//Panel 6//
Clifford:
It looks like rain.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 151)

//Panel 2//
Sheila:
Lift up your hair…
//Panel 3//
Sheila:
Pull it back a bit tightly in the traditional style.
…No, not the green…that’s it, the blue suits you.
Jane:
Um…
But whatever I wear looks unbecoming.
//Panel 4//
Sheila:
Nonsense! There is no such thing as an unbecoming young lady.
Let’s start by fixing your hair.
For the latest style in bustles
Of course a narrow waist, and enhancing the bosom…! Perfect for a young woman!
Sheila:
As for the color…why, blue of course! Blue taffeta.
Sheila:
A blue bonnet……Ahhh! I have the perfect one. Decorated with white wings!
//Panel 5//
Sheila:
Well, now. You can be captivating. Wearing blue, you come to life!
Jane:
……
Sheila:
Now, leave everything to me. First of all…
//Panel 6//
Marybel:
Mother…
//Panel 7//
Sheila:
Oh, dear.
Jane:
Is something the matter…?
Sheila:
It’s nothing to worry about. This child has a delicate constitution.……Do you feel lightheaded?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 150)

//Panel 2//
Clifford:
……Hahaha
//Panel 3//
Sheila:
Oh!
Jane! It’s been a while!
//Panel 4//
Sheila:
This is my daughter Marybel. She begged me to let her come along.
Are you also shopping for a hat?
Jane:
……Yes.
//Panel 5//
Sheila:
Oh, Jane, shall we help each other out with our purchases?
Shopping! This is what a woman’s privilege is. Let’s go.
//Panel 6//
Jane’s Narration:
Oh no. I'd merely be serving as a foil for such a beauty.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 149)

//Panel 2//
Clifford:
……I don’t know. I’ve never seen one.
But I believe in spirits. As a child, I saw one often.
Allan:
Spirits!?
//Panel 3//
Clifford:
Even in daylight I could see one, you know……
With a narrow face and long, black hair……
Much later, I realized that it was my mother. What strange talk.
//Panel 4//
Allan:
Were you frightened?
Clifford:
Even in the daylight I was scared. Though I can’t exactly say why.
The oddity of seeing something you shouldn’t be able to see…
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
What’s this? It looks like finger marks.
//Panel 6//
Allan:
Ah…I told Edgar my throat was sore, and as a joke he pressed my throat……just lightly.
Clifford:
Lightly? It’s red.
//Panel 7//
Allan:
Well, Doctor, do you think vampires exist?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 148)

//Panel 1//
Clifford:
Oh…
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Are you examining the patient now, Dr. Clifford?
//Panel 3//
Clifford:
Ah……uh…y-yes…
Edgar:
Then I should be going home. We’ll meet again at school.
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
Excuse me, Dr. Clifford.
//Panel 5//
Clifford’s Narration:
I have goose pimples……what is this?
SFX:
SLAM!
Clifford:
……
Clifford’s Narration:
……This eerie coldness……!
//Panel 7//
Allan:
Do you believe in folk tales?
Clifford:
Eh? What do you mean?
//Panel 8//
Allan:
Folk tales…For example, do you believe that vampires really existed?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 147)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
You came…
//Panel 2//
Marybel’s been terribly worried. She insisted I come visit you.
//Panel 3//
Allan:
My throat’s slightly sore, when I talk, that’s all.
Edgar:
That’s not good…
//Panel 4//
Allan:
But the fever’s gone down……
//Panel 5//
Allan:
Tomorrow I’ll be up and about.
//Panel 8//
SFX:
SLAM!

The last panel on this page is incredibly shocking and sudden. It is not until reading on into the first panel of the following page that you realize that it is only a mental image or imagining of Dr. Clifford as he stands at the door, shaken out of his horrid "daydream" to see Edgar standing in front of him. Note that in the second panel of page 148 Edgar looks creepy and devilish, which is also Clifford's subjective feeling, now that doubt has set in completely.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 146)

//Panel 1//
Marybel’s Narration:
Will you go with us, traveling through time? Allan.
Allan’s Narration:
No
No
I don’t like it, don’t speak to me
Allan’s Narration:
Who’s that over there?
Who’s that over there?
Allan’s Narration:
I’ll give you everything
I’ll give you everything
Take it and go away, Margot
Allan’s Narration:
You think I don’t know.
Edgar, you’re a vampire.
//Panel 2//
Clifford:
It’s an ordinary cold. His fever isn’t high.
Margot’s mother:
Troublemaker!
//Panel 3//
Allan:
Let’s go.
Let’s go.
Marybel
Where did you say we're going?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 145)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
Allan! Will you go with us, far away?
//Panel 2//
Marybel:
Far away, traveling through time?
//Panel 3//
Allan’s Narration:
Traveling through time?
//Panel 4//
Servant:
Welcome home, Allan…!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 144)

//Panel 2//
Allan:
I’m serious! Truly! Your promise is good enough……! Marybel…!
//Panel 3//
Allan:
Two years, four years from now, it’s fine. Please, just promise me now……
Once you’ve grown up a bit…
Marybel:
That’s……impossible……
//Panel 4//
Allan:
WHY!?
//Panel 6//
Allan:
I’m sorry! I got ahead of myself, all of a sudden…sorry to upset you…
/Panel 7//
Allan:
But it is true that I love you.
……I love you.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 143)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
Where’s Edgar?
Marybel:
Huh?
//Panel 2//
Allan:
Edgar! Is he here?
Marybel:
No. He’s not yet back from school.
//Panel 3//
Marybel:
I’ll bring a cloth. You should dry yourself off.
Allan:
NO. STAY WITH ME.
//Panel 5//
Allan:
I’m sorry. You’ll get soaked.
//Panel 6//
Marybel:
What’s wrong? Did something happen?
//Panel 8//
Allan:
If I propose, will you be angry?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 142)

//Panel 6//
SFX:
TAP TAP TAP
//Panel 7//
Marybel:
Allan!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 141)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
No thank you!
//Panel 3//
Margot:
Eh! What’s the matter? I was just trying to console you!
//Panel 4//
Margot:
What’s that expression on your face? You ought to be happy, getting kissed by a such beauty!
//Panel 5//
SFX:
CRASH BREAK

The Clan of the Poes (Page 140)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
I won’t!
Uncle:
Wait! Is there something about Margot that’s lacking!
Don’t you understand that I’m doing this out of concern for you, who are about to become an orphan!
Margot’s mother:
Dear…
//Panel 2//
SFX:
SLAM!
Uncle:
Allan—you ungrateful son!
Margot’s mother:
That won’t do. Right now you should be soothing him…
//Panel 3/
Margot:
Why not simmer down? Father’s made up his mind, you know.
Allan:
Margot!
//Panel 4//
Allan:
You ought to say something, too!
You like Dr. Clifford, don’t you?
Margot:
HA HA HA!
What an idiot!
The doctor has a fiancée, didn’t you know?
//Panel 6//
Margot:
I did like him. It’s true. He kissed me three times.
I wouldn’t waste a thought on a little brat like you.
//Panel 7//
Margot:
But I’ll be kind to you, seeing as you’re about to become a rich, pitiable orphan.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 139)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
CLICK
Allan:
Uncle, you wanted to speak with me?
Uncle:
Well, now. Come here, Allan.
Last night was very difficult.
Although we can relax for the time being……
//Panel 3//
Uncle:
Rachel will not be with us much longer. It’s a painful situation, but……
For a long time now…
//Panel 4//
Uncle:
I’ve been saying this. Of course Rachel is in full agreement……
//Panel 5//
Uncle:
How would you feel about marrying Margot while your mother is still alive?
SFX:
SPRING!
//Panel 6//
Allan:
I won’t marry Margot!
Margot’s mother:
Now, Allan. Don’t you want to put Rachel’s heart at ease?
Your mother worries only about you!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 138)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
What are you doing, Edgar?
//Panel 2//
Nothing…come here. The rain is falling on the ocean.
It’s a pretty sight.
//Panel 4//
Marybel:
Nothing unusual, but still it’s mysterious……
Edgar’s Narration:
Life……
Life amidst those waves……
//Panel 5//
Edgar’s Narration:
Born of water…passing through time and dying…returning to water
Coming to life anew
On and on, for eternity
//Panel 6//
Edgar’s Narration:
If our clan dies, we'll alight on the wind
Vanishing into dust
Vanishing……
//Panel 7//
With no place to return……
SFX:
CREAK

The Clan of the Poes (Page 137)

//Panel 1//
Clifford:
That boy looks like he won't last as long as his mother.
Dr. Caster:
At any rate, whatever happens, children can go on.
//Panel 2//
SFX:
SLAM
//Panel 3//
Allan's Narration:
Anyhow, it's safe for now.
Thank you, Lord.
//Panel 5//
…I’m sorry. Did I wake you?
//Panel 7//
Mrs. Twilight:
ZZZZZ

The Clan of the Poes (Page 136)

//Panel 1//
Allan’s Narration:
Someone stay with me. I can’t bear this on my own……
//Panel 3//
SFX:
CREAK
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
You were here the whole time?! Without sleeping?
Allan:
Can I go inside?
//Panel 6//
Clifford:
Listen. Your mother’s heart is very weak.
//Panel 7//
Allan:
How many more days…?
Clifford:
I don’t know. It should be safe for now.
//Panel 8//
Clifford:
If she suffers a major seizure—
Allan:
……

The Clan of the Poes (Page 135)

//Panel 2//
SFX:
CLICK
//Panel 3//
Servant:
Your uncle is home; he's in the salon with the others.
Allan:
Well, then, I’ll stay out of the salon.
//Panel 5//
Mrs. Twilight’s Narration:
…Allan …
//Panel 6//
Mrs. Twilight’s Narration:
…Allan.
…Oh Allan,
you’ve become the very image of your father……
//Panel 7//
Mrs. Twilight’s Narration:
Come stay by my side.
So I won’t mind whenever the Lord comes calling for me.
I’m not at all sad, because you’re here.
Because you’re here.
Allan
……Allan……
Oh Allan……

The Clan of the Poes (Page 134)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
ZA ZA
//Panel 2//
Servant:
Master Allan!
//Panel 3//
Allan:
How is Mother?
Servant:
Right now the doctors are……
Allan:
What’s going on?
//Panel 4//
Servant:
Please don’t enter her room…
Master Allan!
//Panel 5//
Allan:
……
SFX:
CLICK

The Clan of the Poes (Page 133)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
What do you mean, sulking……?
Edgar:
But then when I got home, Marybel was cross with me. She wanted to come along!
//Panel 2//
Allan’s Narration:
……Was last evening just a dream?
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
So next time you must come visit! ……Marybel’s expecting you……
Allan’s Narration:
Blue eyes, almost glistening……
Lips red like blood.
……Was it just a vision brought on by the mist?
//Panel 4//
Edgar’s Narration:
I won’t let this prize escape.
For Marybel’s sake.
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
For my sake, too.
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
But though I may be lying low for now…
SFX:
SWING
Teacher:
Allan Twilight.
//Panel 7//
Teacher:
Your mother is critical. A carriage is waiting outside. Return home!
SFX:
SPRING

The Clan of the Poes (Page 132)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Is this a gift?!? Then you’re not angry about last night.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Thank goodness! You pushed me away so I thought, surely…
A cross…thanks! I’ll treasure it.
Allan:
……
//Panel 5//
Allan:
Yesterday, you……you were strange…!
Edgar:
……
/Panel 6//
…It’s just that…I just thought I’d give you a kiss.
//Panel 7//
Allan:
On the neck?
Edgar:
…Don't you see?
I was kidding around because you looked so miserable.
You were sulking because I didn’t bring Marybel with me, weren't you.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 131)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Good morning, Allan!
Allan:
……
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
……?
//Panel 6//
SFX:
SPARKLE

The Clan of the Poes (Page 130)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
Don’t be afraid of incantations, crosses or church steeples.
Such things are merely symbols.
As a matter of fact, this morning I attended church.
//Panel 2//
Marybel:
Edgar, you’re back!
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Ah…Marybel. I’ll be right up.
//Panel 4//
Baron Portsnell:
That’s what’s frightening…faith.
//Panel 5//
Baron Portsnell:
A blind faith that rejects all heretics, ourselves included.
By saying: This is evil! This is a lie, it doesn’t exist.
That fanatic spirit is frightening.
//Panel 6//
Baron Portsnell:
But the people of this city don’t believe in such things as vampires.
Edgar:
But Allan…maybe he suspects……
//Panel 7//
Baron Portsnell:
Destroy his suspicion!
//Panel 9//
SFX:
COURAGE!
Edgar's Narration:
DON’T LET HIM BELIEVE!!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 129)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
SLAM
Edgar:
We've been found out!
//Panel 3//
Baron Portsnell:
Did you let them escape?
Why didn’t you finish the job?
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
That’s not important—we ought to leave this place…right away.
Baron Portsnell:
Edgar!
Calm down. Take a seat.
Who is this? …Your friend? What happened?
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
I aimed for…directly beneath his ear……he pushed me away
Baron Portsnell:
It’s the softest spot.
Edgar:
……then he began to recite from the Bible.
//Panel 6//
Baron Portsnell:
The Bible!? And you ran off? How pathetic!
Edgar:
I can't take that. It was scary…! You'd feel the same!
//Panel 8//
Baron Portsnell:
This is a good place…an old port town that’s just undergone rapid commercialization.
A young city, thronging with newcomers.
No trace of detestable legends or incidents springing up from the native soil.
People here celebrate progress. They view themselves as consummately modern,
and practice their faith in moderation
……it’s a good place.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 128)

Comments on This Section of "The Clan of the Poes"

The previous page is what I believe is the end of the October installment of the 4-part story "The Clan of the Poes," as it was originally serialized from September to December 1972 issues of Bessatsu Shojo Komikku.

As you can see from the cliffhanger ending of this last segment, Edgar has inadvertently and clumsily revealed his intentions to Allan, which should lead to a very sudden change in action and course of events.

There is a concept called 起承転結　(pronounced kishoutenketsu), which literally means "intro-development-turn-conclusion" or "start-continue-change-conclusion," if you prefer. It is possible that Hagio Moto is intentionally following this specific 4-part story structure, which originated long ago with Chinese poetry, but now refers to a very popular style of story structure in Japan for longer (as well as shorter) literary pieces, as well as manga.

So the previous installment would have been the setup wherein we became familiar (or more familiar) with the main characters, were introduced to Allan, and the basic groundwork of the story was laid out. And the end of this last segment is clearly leading into a new "turn" in action and drama.

Incidentally, I had already mentioned that the psalm Allen recites on Pages 126 and 127 is Verse 19.1. This particular version is the King James Version.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 127)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
Their line is gone out through all the earth,
SFX:
SWOOSH
//Panel 2//
SFX:
RUN RUN RUN
Allan:
…and their words to the end of the world.
//Panel 3//
Allan:
Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Cleanse
SFX:
RUN
//Panel 4//
Allan:
Cleanse…
Cleanse…
Cleanse…
//Panel 5//
Allan:
Aaah!


This is from Psalms 19.1

The Clan of the Poes (Page 126)

//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Don't run away…I won't do anything.
//Panel 4//
Allan:
…The heavens…
//Panel 5//
Allan:
The heavens declare the glory of God…
and the firmament…sheweth…his handywork…Day
//Panel 7//
Allan:
…Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
…There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 125)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
Aah…
//Panel 2//
SFX:
SHOVE
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
Allan.
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
Allan.
Don't be shocked. It's nothing.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 124)

//Panel 1//
Edgar's Narration:
So, once again, will you try to set your claws into a loved one
//Panel 2//
Edgar's Narration:
to add to this cursed clan?
//Panel 3//
Allan:
What's going on with your sister?
Edgar:
Marybel? She's at home.
//Panel 4//
Allan:
…You should have brought her with you.
SFX:
KICK
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
Heh heh
Allan:
Wh-what? Why are you laughing like that!
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
My Prince, you should visit our place.
Allan:
Your place?
Edgar:
She doesn't often leave the house.
//Panel 7//
Allan:
She's ill?
Edgar:
…Mmm, that's right…She's ill.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 123)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
How far down? If the rocks break loose, it's all over for us.
Allan:
Thrilling, isn't it!
This wipes away all the bad things.
//Panel 2//
SFX:
SPLASH
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Are things at your home that unpleasant?
Allan:
…
//Panel 4//
SFX:
CRASH
//Panel 5//
Allan:
I'm glad I met you.
Up till now…you…
//Panel 6//
Allan:
You're not like those others who throng around me, trying to butter me up.
I feel like I can say anything to you.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 122)

//Panel 2//
Margot:
Mama! Where's Allan? He was here when we got out of the carriage… !
Margot's Mother:
Well! This is rather awkward—he's run off somewhere!
//Panel 3//
Clifford:
Ah—good morning. …Oh, where is Allan?
Margot:
Doctor!
Margot's Mother:
That boy!
Margot's Mother:
Ha, ahem, I haven't the slightest…he's at home today…with a slight cold.
//Panel 4//
Clifford's Narration:
Baron Portsnell and his family…
//Panel 5//
Clifford's Narration:
They're here!
//Panel 6//
Clifford's Narration:
This is foolish. I…
Anyhow, Lady Portsnell is a devout Catholic.
//Panel 7//
SFX:
CRASH BREAK
//Panel 9//
Allan:
Want to climb down to where the waves meet the cliffs?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 121)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell's Voice:
Edgar, where are you?
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell's Voice:
Come out…Where are you?
Marybel's Voice:
Ahahahaha
Baron Portsnell's Voice:
I will throw Marybel up in the sky.
//Panel 3//
Baron Portsnell:
I will throw Marybel up in the sky.
Marybel:
Wheeeeeee
Baron Portsnell:
Edgar, where are you?
//Panel 4//
Allan's Voice:
Where are you?
//Panel 5//
Allan:
Oh, here you are. Were you asleep?
Edgar:
…！
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
I must have dozed off for a bit.
…I was dreaming.
Allan:
Dreaming? A good dream?
//Panel 7//
Allan:
Have you ever been to the ruins of the fortress?
Would you like to join me next Sunday?
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
But you have Mass on Sunday.
Allan:
Nonsense. I'll skip it.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 120)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
SLAM
//Panel 2//
SFX:
WOHHH O-O-O-N
//Panel 3//
Clifford's Narration:
Tsk, what was I thinking?
//Panel 4//
Clifford's Narration:
A trick of the light… Humbug!
I don't know what came over me.
In this scientific era, with the 20th Century just two decades away…
//Panel 6//
Sheila:
That girl, Jane…
Baron Portsnell:
Heh, heh, she was jealous of you.
//Panel 7//
Sheila:
I liked her a lot.

The WOHHH O-O-O-N sound effect in Panel 2 is that of a foghorn, so Dr. Clifford's place must be near the harbor. If anyone knows of a good onomatopoia for this in English, please let me know!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 119)

//Panel 1//
Bike:
Jean Clifford!
SFX:
BANG
//Panel 3//
Bike:
Have you ever thought of Miss Jane's feelings!
Miss Jane loves you from the bottom of her heart.
Clifford:
If humans—
//Panel 4//
Clifford:
don't cast reflections in the mirror, then what are they?
Bike:
Who knows? They're vampires!
It's true, you're Dr. Caster's favorite.
And popular with scores of women…
But…!
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
Then they aren't human.
//Panel 6//
SFX:
GIGGLE
Clifford:
That in itself
//Panel 7//
Clifford:
is ridiculous!
SFX:
HEE HEE HEE HEE
Clifford:
Let's not think about it anymore.
Bike:
Clifford! Miss Jane is…
//Panel 8//
Clifford:
Yes, Jane is a truly fine girl.
Not pretty, but she'll be a good wife.
Not romance material, though.
I seek out romance on my own.
Isn't Lady Portsnell charming?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 118)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
Well…it was a wonderful evening. Good night…
//Panel 2//
Clifford's Narration:
His hand—is a bit cold…
From standing outdoors?
//Panel 3//
Dr. Caster:
What's the matter with you?
That eloquent tongue of yours, that springs to life in the presence of beauties—gone!
Clifford:
Huh…
Dr. Caster:
Hmm? Lady Portsnell bewitched you into silence? Haha!
//Panel 4//
Dr. Caster's Voice:
Bring me tea, Jane.
Jane:
Y-yes, father.
//Panel 5//
Bike:
Miss Jane…
//Panel 6//
Bike:
…Er, it's nothing to worry about.
Jean is just caught up in admiring a beautiful flower.
Jean is always thinking of you, his fiancee…
//Panel 7//
Jane:
Yes, thinking of me as the daughter of his mentor, to whom he is indebted.
//Panel 8//
Jane:
Lady Portsnell…she was really beautiful…
Any man would…
//Panel 9//
Jane:
…Sorry…Something is wrong with me…
I'll serve tea…
Please leave.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 117)

//Panel 1//
SFX:
STARTLE
//Panel 2//
Dr. Caster:
Clifford, what are you doing standing there?
Lady Sheila! How lovely you are…
Clifford:
…Eh?
//Panel 3//
Clifford's Narration:
I didn't see them in the mirror…
//Panel 4//
Clifford's Narration:
The door in the mirror closed by itself…no one was there…!
It can't be!
Dr. Caster:
Ultimately, guiding France toward republicanism
//Panel 5//
Dr. Caster:
required the sacrifice of the citizens of Paris.
Ladies don't seem to enjoy discussing politics.
Sheila:
Well,
I suppose not. It's not very romantic, is it?
//Panel 6//
Sheila:
Rather, when will your wedding take place?
I didn't know you had such a charming fiancee.
Dr. Clifford?
//Panel 7//
Clifford's Narration:
It can't be…
//Panel 8//
Bike:
Hey, Jean.
Clifford:
Huh!?

The Clan of the Poes (Page 116)

//Panel 1//
Clifford:
Dr. Caster, is everything in order…!
SFX:
CLICK
//Panel 2//
Dr. Caster:
My…!
You're wearing a showy necktie, Clifford!
Trying to impress Lady Portsnell?
Clifford:
What's that?
You can't see me in the door from there…
How come…
Dr. Caster:
It's a mirror.
I adjusted its position.
//Panel 3//
Clifford:
A mirror?
Ah…! Jane.
Jane's Voice:
Father…
The guests are here.
SFX:
SQUEEK CLICK
//Panel 4//
Clifford:
It's too much! This is like peeping!
Dr. Caster:
Well, obviously!
Hahaha…ahem!
Ah, please let them in.
//Panel 5//
Clifford:
?
//Panel 6//
Dr. Caster:
Ah, welcome!
Baron Portsnell:
Pardon us for being a bit late…

The Clan of the Poes (Page 115)

//Panel 2//
Jane:
Er…do you like those flowers here, Jean?
Clifford:
Fine. Where's Dr. Caster?
//Panel 3//
Jane:
Father is in his study…
Clifford:
Not those books again! With guests about to arrive… By God!
Jane:
…Jean…ah…
//Panel 4//
Jane's Narration:
This is a new dress …I wish you would say a word…Jean…
//Panel 5//
SFX:
KNOCK KNOCK
//Panel 6//
Sheila:
Good evening. Thank you very much for inviting us…
SFX:
CLICK
Jane:
Please come inside.
//Panel 7//
Jane's Narration:
Oh…
Lady Sheila Portsnell is so beautiful…!

I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but I was forced to determine that Dr. Clifford's given name is "Jean." Personally, I feel that "Jean" sounds strange as a British first name (obviously, it is very common as the French variant of "John"), but the name "John" is customarily transposed in Japanese as ジョン, pronounced the same as "Joan" with the long "o" vowel. I suspect that Hagio was trying to be precise, knowing how the name "John" is pronounced by native speakers, but due to this technicality (and my lack of access to the author for verification), I just went ahead with calling him Jean. If I ever meet Moto Hagio someday, I will ask her what his name really is. In the meantime, let's assume that the romantic, debonair Dr. Clifford had a French mother who insisted on giving her son that name.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 114)

//Panel 1//
Baron Portsnell:
I can't let him talk like that!
//Panel 2//
Sheila:
Are you going to compete with your son?
How silly.
//Panel 3//
Baron Portsnell:
That idiot has no intention of listening to me!
If so…
Sheila:
…keep still, now.
//Panel 4//
Marybel:
Mother…you're so beautiful.
Edgar:
With that, Dr. Clifford will be done in with one glance.
//Panel 5//
Baron Portsnell:
We must make our move first!
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
Will it be tonight?
Baron Portsnell:
We're merely invited for dinner.
A reconnaissance mission.
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
That's too slow.
//Panel 8//
Baron Portsnell:
Most things fail when you rush.
Especially—
in order for us to keep on living,
everything must be done quietly—
I hope you, too, understand that!
Edgar:
Have a good evening…

The Clan of the Poes (Page 113)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Allan Twilight?
What about him?
//Panel 2//
Baron Portsnell:
You're too friendly with him! What's going on?
Edgar:
What do you mean?
//Panel 3//
Sheila:
Your father is telling you to stay out of our business.
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
I see…then what exactly are you doing? Nothing!!
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
At the end of the day, whoever moves first wins. That could even be me…
Baron Portsnell:
We are your parents! You're not the only one who's worried over Marybel!
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
You're not our parents.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 112)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Was that portrait so precious?
Allan:
Precious!?
That was the last and only portrait of Rosa!
//Panel 2//
Edgar:
Marybel is not your Rosa.
No matter what you may think.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Besides, are you going to live the rest of your life attached to that portrait…?
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
Well!?
If they look alike, then there may be some connection after all!
Allan:
You… really…?
Edgar:
Our ancestors, if we trace the bloodlines back some 200 years or so,
may have come from the same family by chance.
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
You never know, we may be some kind of cousins, too!
Allan:
Come on, no way!
Edgar:
Really! After all, it all begins with Adam and Eve.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 111)

//Panel 1//
Clifford's Voice:
I wonder…
[SIGN OVER DOORWAY]:
DR. CLIFFORD
//Panel 2//
Clifford's Voice:
Are you two friends or not?
Allan's Voice:
Ouch!
//Panel 3//
Clifford's Voice:
Well, that's it! You can go. For the third visit I'll have on hand some medicine with more of a sting to it.
//Panel 4//
Bike:
Even kids from Saint Windsor fight, eh?
Clifford:
Hallo, Bike, they're my regulars.
And one of their mothers is a stunning beauty.
//Panel 5//
Bike:
Huh? Who!
//Panel 6//
Bike:
…Are you in love?
Clifford:
Romance and marriage are two separate things.
//Panel 7//
Bike:
Clifford!
//Panel 8//
Clifford:
Bike…
Don't worry, I will marry the daughter of our old mentor as promised.
//Panel 9//
Bike:
You should at least apologize…!
Clifford:
…！

The Clan of the Poes (Page 110)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
—had been growing up elsewhere and abruptly showed up yesterday as your sister.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
When did she pass away?
Allan:
Six years ago. There was an accident of sorts at the port.
//Panel 4//
Allan's Voice:
I lost my father and fiancee together…Rosa was seven.
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
Your marriage was arranged from when you were that little?
Did you love her?
//Panel 6//
SFX:
SHATTER!
//Panel 8//
Allan:
You did it on purpose!
Edgar:
Punishment for surprising me half to death.
//Panel 9//
Allan:
…!!
//Panel 10//
SFX:
Waa
Students:
They're fighting!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 109)

//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Where did you get hold of this?
//Panel 4//
Allan:
…Hey! You startled me.
This is Rosetti Enright.
She was my fiancee…!
//Panel 6//
Edgar's Narration:
—Ah, Allan couldn't have known
when Marybel was much smaller,
when we were still humans, such things
…from 100 years ago…it can't be.
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
That caught me off guard. I thought
it was Marybel's portrait on the porcelain…
Allan:
You see? I was also thrown for a loop when I saw your sister yesterday.
I thought Rosa—who is no longer with us—

The Clan of the Poes (Page 108)

//Panel 1//
Student 1:
Good morning, Edgar Portsnell.
Student 2:
Good morning, it's been a while.
Edgar:
Good morning.
Student 3:
Good morning!
//Panel 2//
Allan:
…Good morning. You came.
Edgar:
Good morning.
//Panel 3//
Allan:
You two went home right away yesterday.
How is Marybel?
Edgar:
She's well. Mother is tending to her.
？
?
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
They don't greet you.
Allan:
To hell with greetings,
I told you, those are my rules…
By the way—
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
What is it that you want to show me?
Allan:
You'll be surprised, for sure. Here it is.
//Panel 7//
SFX:
STARTLE!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 107)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Oh, thank you, this way.
SFX:
TICKTOCK
//Panel 3//
Allan's Narration:
Rosetti, Rosa…
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
I told you, this is Allan.
Marybel:
Excuse me, thank you for the water.
Allan:
…　…
… …
…well …eh …it's really…
just water…

The Clan of the Poes (Page 106)

//Panel 1//
Marybel:
It's you alone, who always stays by my side
and thinks of me.
Ever since I was little, yes,
ever since I was little.
//Panel 2//
Marybel:
I know
why we left the village and came to the town.
What you mean by your so-called "friends."
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Are you…all right with that…?
//Panel 5//
Edgar's Narration:
You just sit there quietly.
Saying not a word—but you understand everything—
//Panel 6//
Allan:
Edgar, here's water!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 105)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
Allan, get water!
Allan:
W-what…
Edgar:
Anemia, as usual. Quick!
//Panel 2//
Allan:
…Water—why me?
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
…Marybel…
Marybel…
…Marybel
//Panel 5//
Marybel:
…Sorry…
You gave me your blood.
…I'm…always a burden to you…
//Panel 7//
Edgar:
You should never forgive me…
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
You have the right to hate me…
To strike me dead.
Marybel:
Edgar!
Edgar:
Everything—it's all my fault—everything.
Marybel:
Edgar, Edgar, stop it!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 104)

//Panel 1//
Edgar:
…first it was a necktie, now a handkerchief.
You require so much care.
//Panel 3//
Edgar:
Wipe your face, including that tip of your nose!
I took the trouble of bringing my sister, to introduce you to her.
Don't you want to present yourself properly?
//Panel 5//
SFX:
RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE
//Panel 6//
Edgar's Voice:
Marybel!
//Panel 7//
Marybel:
Oh, Ed…
//Panel 8//
SFX:
!
!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 103)

//Panel 1//
Allan:
Shut up, shut up, shut up!
SFX:
BANG BANG
Allan:
Enough already, enough!
SFX:
BANG
Allan:
You all get lost somewhere!
Margot's Mother:
Allan!
SFX:
BANG
//Panel 2//
Margot's Mother:
Now, Allan!
What a brat!
Margot:
Hmph, you spoil him too much!
//Panel 3//
Allan's Narration:
They'll see, I'm going to kick them all out of the house!
//Panel 4//
Allan's Narration:
Doing as they please… What an aunt and cousin they are!
//Panel 6//
Allan:
…
…

The Clan of the Poes (Page 102)

//Panel 1//
Edgar's Narration:
So the Prince sent forth his envoys for sixpence.
Ridiculous! What a rich, spoiled brat!
//Panel 2//
Marybel's Voice:
Edgar
//Panel 3//
Edgar's Voice:
Marybel…!
//Panel 4//
Marybel:
Edgar, you walk so fast…
Edgar:
I told you to stay home! You're not even wearing your bonnet…
Marybel:
But…
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
Look, Marybel, that house—I have some business to do there.
Can you see? That pale blue roof?
I'll be right back. So stay here and wait for me.
Marybel:
Yes.
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
You have to stay in the shade. Don't move around.
SFX:
NOD
//Panel 7//
SFX:
!
//Panel 8//
Margot's Mother:
Cut it out, Allan! You have no idea at all…!
Allan:
Shut up!

The Clan of the Poes (Page 101)

//Panel 1//
Student 3:
Hey, hey, no need to get angry.
Student 2:
We're just worried because you don't show up at school.
Student 1:
And were wondering what happened with your injury.
Edgar:
Worried?
//Panel 2//
Student 2:
Allan Twilight is…
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
How much did you get this time?
//Panel 5//
Student 1:
…Sixpence.
Edgar:
Hmpf, you're honest.
//Panel 6//
Edgar:…
Get lost…
If you come near this house again, you'll end up regretting you didn't ask for more…!
//Panel 8//
Marybel:
Why did you chase them away?
Where are you going, Edgar?
Edgar:
Nowhere. You just stay at home.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 100)

//Panel 3//
Students:
Shhhh. Hey—don't push!
//Panel 5//
Marybel:
Oh…hello.
Students:
Oh, uh, er, um, uh…
//Panel 6//
Marybel:
Are you friends of my brother?
Student 1:
How adorable!
B-brother? So that's his little sister!
Student 3:
I-is Edgar around?
//Panel 7//
Marybel's Voice:
He's here. I'll go and call him.
Student 2:
W-wait!
No—no, no, don't call him!
Edgar:
No need to call me, after all.
//Panel 8//
Edgar:
Why are you here?
Students:
！
Edgar:
What are you Saint Windsor students doing, sneaking around in someone else's garden?

I numbered the students according to their positions from right to left in Panel 6.

The わった ("watta") in Panel 7 is a slangy combination of "Wa—" (same as English: "Wuh" or something like that, kind of a surprised exclamation) and "matta" ("Wait" or "Hey, wait"). So I translated it as "W-wait!"

I've been meaning to say this before, but doesn't Edgar in Panel 8, especially enhanced by the perspective Hagio has chosen, look like a young Lord Byron, or some other English poet of the Romantic Age? And Marybel looks like a lovely young artist's model in her "japonisme"-style kimono. It's like they're way too cool for these little brats in their childish uniforms.

The Clan of the Poes (Page 99)

The Clan of the Poes (Page 98)

//Panel 1//
Allan's Narration:
What's going on…
It's been more than 10 days—
Edgar Portsnell hasn't returned to school yet.
//Panel 2//
Allan's Narration:
Should I visit his house—?
And then…?
What if they shut the door right in my face?
//Panel 3//
Marybel:
Aren't you going to school? Edgar.
//Panel 4//
Edgar:
I'm waiting…there's one under the chair.
Marybel:
Waiting? For whom?
//Panel 5//
Edgar:
Allan Twilight, of course.
Marybel:
Will he come?
//Panel 6//
Edgar:
He will…you'll see.

More on Hagio and Drawing

I got an interesting comment earlier today, which I will quote from, if I may:

"I suppose I always focused more on [Hagio's] page composition and the techniques she uses for expressing mood and atmosphere...Poe probably marks the peak of her most ostentatiously beautiful (literally Gothic) work, but I think she's better today than ever, in terms of technique and sheer skill in conveying precisely what she wants to convey...I would have asked her in my own interview if she had some kind of photographic memory...she may be one of those people (Winsor MacCay, the creator of Little Nemo in Slumberland, was one) who can draw anything she's ever seen for more than a few seconds. I really don't know."

(You can reference the entire quote at the bottom of the post previous to this one.)

Incidentally, Winsor McCay was one of the most popular comic strip illustrators at the beginning of the 20th century, producing extremely detailed, surrealistic, elaborate, many-panelled cartoons for newspaper publication. In addition he produced some of the very first animation, which preceded the use of cels in animation, meaning that each and every drawing, with every last detail including background, had to be drawn fresh for each frame (at that time I am not sure if he employed 24 frames per second, which is the current standard, but regardless, you can see how many hundreds of frames he would need to draw for even a brief animation.) It would also be safe to bet that having a photographic memory would probably be a useful tool in an artist's arsenal for that sort of purpose.

And for Hagio, it is interesting to surmise how that could have affected her work...for example, I would guess that it allowed her to either take on more challenging visual subjects, or else become more prolific (by wasting less time on research and reviewing that research), or else just allow her to spend more time on whatever aspects of drafting or storytelling might have been more of a weak point for her.

Moto Hagio probably would have been an excellent crime witness as well! But joking aside, I wonder if she felt particularly blessed by this "gift" and I wonder especially how she must have had to draw on other resources as it gradually diminished with age.

Also I haven't seen the newer work of Hagio, so I can't offer my own subjective opinion of her evolved visual style, but based on the above comment, it seems like Hagio has streamlined her style tremendously. And whether this is a direct reaction to losing that "photographic memory," or more likely a higher sense of confidence in her abilities and a less-is-more approach, I find it a good study in adaptation--making the most of an unusual gift, and then letting go of one's reliance on it.

Moto Hagio's Photographic Memory?

In one interview of Moto Hagio I translated earlier, she said:

Back then even my brain was plastic and flexible, so I could just remember a manga of this length (one-shot short) for about a year, with all compositions and lines. I absorbed them like photographic papers.

I think this was very telling. When I read her bio, I didn't really notice much sign of formal drawing training. Yet she executes her drawing with such precision and flexibility. She uses dynamic perspectives to enhance drama, and those are really difficult to draw correctly.

I read an interesting episode about her childhood somewhere. When she was 7, she tagged along with her older sister to drawing lessons. One assignment she got was to draw a carp streamer, which are customarily flown in Japan to celebrate Children's Day in May. She drew the streamers over the roof, with some portion hidden behind the roof and other parts of the streamers. The teacher dismissed her work as something done under adult supervision and complained to her parents not to meddle with their daughter's assignment. She didn't believe it when she was told it was Hagio's own work, saying such young child couldn't have understood perspective. In this interview Hagio says:

When I was in elementary school, I was just following examples and copying the pictures. I tried to copy the faces from various angles. Facing right, facing left, facing front, and back, and so forth. As for the way you draw eyes, Masako Watanabe would do this, or Miyako Maki would do that—I was like such an Otaku, wasn't I?

She went to a fashion design school after graduating from high school. She must have gotten some drawing lessons there as well, but she would soon leave for Tokyo to start a professional life. She must have been doing pretty well even before she got those lessons.

I think Hagio was gifted with some kind of photographic memory, and that really helped her with developing her drawing skills despite a lack of formal training.

I have received some comments to this blog to the effect that people who do discover the work of "classic" manga really appreciate the more complex draftmanship and beautiful detail of these works. One person even said that he or she finds it hard to continue reading current manga after spending a lot of time looking at vintage manga; the newer stuff seems insipid and "plastic."

Very Very Current, Trendy Vampire News!

I don't have much info right now, but have just learned that HBO (one of the big US cable networks that is known for its creative programming) will be offering a new, upcoming series entitled "True Blood." It will be produced by Alan Ball, who is responsible for the wonderful "Six Feet Under", and is based on a novel series by the novelist Charlaine Harris, about some vampires who arrive in a small town in Louisiana and mix up with the locals there. Academy award winner Anna Paquin has already signed on to play a key (non-vampire) role.

I haven't read any of Harris's books, but glancing at her website, I get the sense that they are written in the vein of black humor.

I hope the series does well! When I hear more specifics about it, I will let you know.

(Ha! According to this link on the author's website-which also contains some illustrations of the HBO set being constructed-"'True Blood' takes place in a world where vampires can buy Japanese-made synthetic blood." I don't know why, but that little detail is amusing.)

A Kitschy but Visually Stylish Take on Vampires

(Please bear with me as I take a very short break from translation and mull other interesting thoughts about vampires. :-) )

Here's another cult Vampire movie I've been wanting to see, which would be quite different from Moto Hagio's interpretation of vampires, but interesting in its own way. It is The Hunger, a 1983 movie starring the glam David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. Just imagining the production values, the classical/ gloomy, gothic Bauhaus/Iggy Pop soundtrack and the eye candy factor makes it sound watchable, though I suspect the vampire theme is handled in a rather campy and over-the-top way. But that would precisely make it fun, wouldn't it?

Anyhow, here is a partial plot summary from Wikipedia:

Catherine Deneuve's character, Miriam Blaylock, is a beautiful and modern vampire who chooses human lovers and promises them eternal life. As the film begins, her current companion is John (Bowie), a man she married in 18th century France. They live together in an elegant New York townhouse.

Yet as John learns, humans can never become true vampires. Miriam herself is truly ageless, with flashbacks indicating that she has been alive since at least the time of Ancient Egypt. Her human lovers, however, only experienced prolonged youth for a century or two. Then they begin to age rapidly, eventually deteriorating into withered, corpse-like figures. The true horror of this situation is that these vampire/human hybrids age but cannot die. Miriam and John both hope that Dr. Sarah Richards (Sarandon) will be able to help restore his health.

When John visits Sarah's clinic, she dismisses his claims of rapid aging as delusional. She leaves him to sit in the waiting room, where he ages decades in just a few hours. Sarah is appalled when she sees what has happened to John, but it is too late to help him. The now-ancient man returns home and begs Miriam to kill him. She tells him that she cannot, and tenderly places him in a coffin in the attic alongside her other former lovers.

Sarah, guilty over her failure to treat John, comes looking for him at home. Miriam decides to take Sarah as her new companion. She seduces the doctor and, while they are having sex, cuts herself and has Sarah drink her blood.

Sarah returns home to her boyfriend Tom (Cliff DeYoung), not realizing what Miriam has done to her. She begins to feel increasingly distracted, and experiences a hunger that cannot be sated even with raw steak. Sarah returns to Miriam's house and demands an explanation.

Miriam attempts to initiate Sarah in the necessities of life as a vampire, but Sarah is repulsed by the thought of subsisting on human blood. Still reeling from the effects of her vampiric transformation, Sarah allows Miriam to put her to bed in a guestroom. When Tom comes looking for Sarah, Miriam sends him up to find her. Sarah, crazed with hunger, attacks Tom and drinks his blood.

Once she has finished feeding, Sarah goes downstairs to find Miriam. Miriam is pleased that Sarah seems to have finally come around. Yet Sarah, overcome with grief at murdering Tom, has decided that she will not continue on be a vampire. She cuts her own throat. She cannot die, but the loss of blood apparently renders her comatose.

(I won't give away the ending. :-) ) And though I would get to enjoy seeing a very gorgeous David Bowie for at least part of the movie, I suppose at a certain point he would start looking gruesome, though Sarandon and Deneuve, at least, would stay hot and stunning till the end.

It sounds kind of silly, but again, there are some basic commonalities with other vampire stories: the time-traveling, the immortality and (nearly) eternal youth, the need for blood, the self-disgust in becoming a vampire and losing one's humanity.

Maybe sometime soon I will rent out some DVDs and have a vampire film festival to see how differently the vampire mythos is played out at different times in the recent modern culture.