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