1 3 Amy… That Can ¦ you? come in? Yes, it’s Sure, yeah, me, Bernie. ¦ guess… Sorry about the mess. ¦ wasn’t expecting Dirt and disorder visitors… turn me on, Bernie. ¦ know that ¦ can’t give you the life you deserve, that our love is impossible, but… … But ¦ just can’t forget you. Would you like a drink? ¦ thought… … ¦’d never see you again. 4 Not this same old song A stripper… ¦’m not a steady- again, Bernie… relationship type. … ¦’m more ¦’ve told you a … A kind of a fly of a one-night-stand thousand times… incapable of paying woman. attention to just one man. ¦’m a whore Why can’t through and you just through… Even when ¦ like accept things that man as much for what they as ¦ like you. are? Amy… Take me. But take me like an object, like a place to put your heat. Amy… Amy… 5 ¦’ve got you, Bernard Carey. Oh yeah. Did you like it? 6 Amy? Hmm? ¦ asked you if you liked it. Oh, yes, it was nice. So, what are you doing now? ¦’m leaving. No… really? You’re really leaving? You only came for Yes. ¦ just that? wanted to see if there was still chemistry between us. 7 That’s awful. ¦ was trying to forget Wait!!! What? Tell me… you and now… … what ¦ have to do to Goodbye. get you back, Amy. Maybe… The Indian’s name was What? Well, there’s someone ¦’d like Gentle Bear. you to find for me. A 10-year old boy. A young Ogallala Sioux girl, Gentle Bear’s granddaughter - ¦ think her name is Evening He’s a friend of an old Cloud -- was looking for Indian who got killed at his him yesterday to kill him. place on the terrace of Are you listening? a skyscraper. Yes. Tell me the boy’s name. He doesn’t have a name or a past; it’s as if he didn’t exist. A ghost from the past who suddenly appeared in the city. 8 ¦’m telling you this because ¦ know he has no police record. But ¦ have a photo. Here. But… this is a Ahem… yes… It’s a fake… And what if If you find That’s him. daguerreotype a well-made fake. him… from… what, a ¦ find him? hundred years ago? It took them three months to make it. Good job, huh? Just one If you find him, ¦’ll give weekend? you a whole weekend to convince me to spend the rest of my life with you. It’s not much. 9 Okay. Then let me suggest ¦’m talking about giving something else. If you find myself to you, body and him and help me finish him soul, for thirty days. off, ¦’ll give you a whole month. But… Are you talking about killing him? Okay. Bring news to me at my office. ¦’ll find him. office? My god, she calls that peep show her office!? 10 11 Evening Cloud. 13 years old. Since the death of her grandfather she has been living with a friend of the family, Amalia Valderrama a.k.a. Fever. Ouch! Amalia Valderrama a.k.a. Fever, owner of a natural foods store on the 32nd Street. Blind. Twice arrested for illegal fortunetelling. ¦ think ¦’m about to hit the jackpot, Amy, my love… 12 How stupid. ¦’m hiding like she can see me, like ¦ didn’t know she’s blind. 13 There’s someone outside watching The nameless me. ¦ can feel it. boy should He’s been sent to know about hurt somebody, this. but who…? He can’t know ¦’m here, ¦ think he wants to see ¦ don’t know him, but he knows Evening if Cloud and ¦ keep in but ¦ sense that Cloud is here because touch… he’s been sent it was in the paper. here by her. Ahmasi. She’s been … That gives me looking an idea… for me for centuries. And Ahmasi has surely told him the whole story. … If Ahmas¦’s looking for me, maybe ¦ can find her Anything you say, before she finds me. Running Wind. Tell me, Cloud, ¦’ll do anything do you feel up to to help you get doing something scary… my grandfather’s like setting a trap murderer. for that snake? Okay, then listen… 14 That’s the little Indian girl Amy told me about. ¦’ll intimidate her with this badge ¦ never returned when they threw me off the force. ¦’m a police officer. Sergeant Hello, Carey; homicide! there. Where are you going? Oh. She can tell me What do you where to find care? the boy. 15 ¦… ¦ already ¦’m sure told the police you didn’t everything ¦ tell them know. everything. Oh, him. But he didn’t kill How do you You know him. him. know? Who is he? It’s the boy Where can my grandfather ¦ find him? brought home a few days ago. His name is Running Wind. First ¦ thought he did, ¦’ll be the judge ¦ don’t know. But we’re What time but then we talked and of that, not you. meeting tomorrow night at night? ¦ realized he was Tell me where ¦ at McDonald’s on Grant innocent. can find him! Street for a burger. 16 At 9, sergeant. ¦ hope you’re telling the truth. ¦’ll be there to talk to him too, and if you lied to me and you’re not going to McDonald’s… …¦’ll arrest you for giving a false state- ment. Well done, Cloud. And now ¦’ll follow the man who’s trying to catch me. 17 18 19 That’s all ¦ can do, Amy. But you’ll be happy “Amy, the Burning Girl.” when you hear the It’s Ahmasi, and that news. poor jerk is going to see her to tell her how the investigation on me is progressing. In exchange, ¦ want a little advance on what you promised me. 20 He’s going to the red light district… Shit. No children allowed… 21 … ¦’ll have to Because it would get in without be impossible to convince being seen. the midget that ¦’m not an innocent child anymore, that ¦ haven’t grown an inch during the last 5000 years, so seeing strippers won’t really shock me. 22 That Yes, Amy, If her name is Amy way! Have you ¦ swear. now, this must be her really ¦ talked dressing room. discovered to that something annoying important, little Bernie? Indian girl, and she told me she was going to meet the boy tomor- row night. Where now…? Well, did you find Of course. out where? Can you But… ahem… you tell me? know… ¦… 23 You want a little advance on what ¦ promised you for bringing me the boy and helping me elimi- nate him? Y… y… yes, please. You know ¦’m crazy But we’ll have to about you, and ¦ want be quick. ¦’ve got you too myself. clients waiting. Okay… Yes, yes… anything you say, Amy, my love. What are you doing here? 24 Let go of me! This is no place for a child. You little degenerate! ¦ have to get out of here right now… … Before this uproar draws Ahmasi’s atten- tion and… ¦ said … she finds l et go out it’s me. of me! 25 What happened here, Biggo? ¦ heard a noise, shouting… Ouch. Miss Amy… … It was a boy, about … But he pushed me away. 10-years old, hanging out He was as strong as a here. horse. When he saw He was spying through you he got so mad, a crack in your dress-he got strong like ing room door. an animal. He ran away ¦ tried to catch him… like a demon. Incredible. Well, at least you scared him. This is Sometimes ¦ feel bad You’re a love, Biggo. no place for little ones. that ¦ make so little money. If ¦ made more, ¦ could spend more nights with you. The only little You’re my favorite… person who can to do you know that. anything they want here is you. Thank you, Oh, the things Miss Amy. you say, Miss… 26 And you, come with me, She’s a great professional… so we can finish what Never stops humping in the we started. middle of a job. What a Move it. woman! Amy… for the love of Why does that …for telling me you heaven, don’t tell me that shock you? He’s a have a lead that’ll you do it with that… with grateful man who help you find the boy, that Biggo? only wants me for a when it’s already little while. You, on clear that he found the other hand, me first… are an idiot… What do you mean? ¦’m not saying any-Sil ence! Listen care- ¦ mean, the only 10-year-old boy thing… except that There’s still fully and try strong enough to throw a you’re a retard! something we not to ruin midget against the wall is him. can do. everything, please. Bernard Carey, Private Eye! Ha!! Are you saying that the Indian girl set me up? You’re useless, But, prin- cess, ¦… 27 Now what? ¦ can’t go in again, but ¦’ve already made good progress. Now ¦ know where to find Ahmasi. The guy is coming out again. Who’s that? ¦’ll follow him to see if he Besides, Ahmasi said she had goes back home. some clients, so she’ll be at that sex club for a while longer. He’d better not bother Evening Cloud and Fever again. ¦’ll come back later and follow her when she leaves. 28 If ¦ can find out where she lives and catch her asleep, maybe… …¦ could behead her and take her head with me. That should prevent her Rest? ¦’m a poor ridiculous resurrection. But… immortal who isn’t even a god. ¦ know the only real peace is that impossible …who knows. thing they call death. ¦’m sick and tired of this end-less chase. ¦ want to be done with her and rest. Is everything okay behind me? Is that kid following me, and is Amy really following him, like she said she would? But… 29 What…? What are you doing, Amy? You’re a moron, Bernard Care y! You warned him! You warned this worm, you idiot! … Ahmasi! ¦’ll take care of you later, you useless detective. ¦’ll turn you into blood for my thirsty veins, you’ll see. 30 But ¦ can’t waste my energy… …before ¦ take care of you, nameless boy. Take this! Gh. That… hurt… a lot, you snake. So this is for you! You blinded me, son of a bitch! And ¦’ll do more… 31 …Stop it. Please… She’s… … She’s dead. No, she’s not dead. The sun will bring her back to life… … Unless ¦… 32 My God! Separate her head from her body. Don’t do that. ¦’d better ¦… leave. How can a man love a snake? … ¦ love her. You love When she wakes her? up, tell her that ¦’m not in this city anymore. Tell her not to look for me, Never. because we’ll never see each other again. When you wake up, he said. And you… … You’ll never wake up, Amy, my love. 33 But, maybe… … Maybe this is the only way we can spend some more time together. You’ll lie down on my bed. And ¦’ll clean you up. ¦’ll cover you, so you won’t be cold on your way to the other side, my love. Come. ¦’ll take you to my place. You’ll be fine here with me. Forever. 34 But… … What have ¦ done? She’s dead and ¦ took her to my home. The police will think ¦ killed her and ¦… Amy… … No… … You… Ah… 35 … You’re dead. Nope. ¦’m very much alive. Father Sun is restor-ing my forces. ¦… … ¦’d better leave. Don’t move, This… is impossible. Bernie. We have so much to talk about. About what happened tonight. And about what is going to happen, my dear Bernie. 36 You’re hurt, But… Running Wind! It’s nothing. In a few minutes the sun will rise and make What happened, me well. boy? Did you find that woman? 37 Yes. ¦ followed that guy, Bernard Carey, and he took me to her. She makes a living as a dancer and prostitute… ¦ wanted to surprise her in her sleep and cut her head off. ¦ never thought of it before, When ¦ had her at but ¦ realized that when you But that didn’t my mercy after a … That man, behead an immortal and happen. She’s a long fight … Bernard Carey, separate his head from snake; aware of jumped in front of his body… everything her to stop me from around her. carrying out my idea. … Although they don’t die, they can’t live either. ¦ should have killed him, too, if ¦ wanted to do what ¦ had planned. ¦ couldn’t do it. Mortals have so Calm down, Cloud. It’s not good little time, they’re so for such a young soul to be ephemeral. filled with so much hate. It makes me Let it go. so sad. So no one is going to avenge my grandfather? 38 ¦ don’t want to put What are you That evil woman your lives in any talking about, already knows we’re more danger, so nameless your friends. She could ¦’ll leave. boy? come here and torture us to make sure that we don’t know anything about you or your where-Shit, you’re abouts. right. So, what should we do? The three of us will leave together. One of my friends is a lawyer. ¦’ll ask him to sell my store and that great apartment on the roof where Gentle Bear lived and which now belongs to Evening Cloud. Everything will be taken care of while we set off on our Right now. journey. It’ll be a very long journey. 39 ¦ wish ¦ could live peace-And without fully for a couple of her hurting Fever They are the years, without Ahmasi or Cloud. only two living ¦’ve seen persecuting me. people in this so many of world that ¦ my dear care about. ones die… Antonio de Berna, …who made history as the monk who taught And poor Joan… Joan of Arc… me to read Latin Herol, the soldier books that medieval who loved me more libraries were full than his own son, of. …¦ was her taught me how to use confidante, a bow and arrow. and one night she asked me to suck her teats so she could experience ma- ternal feelings. Like poor Amarna. She wet-nursed me when ¦ was a baby, so that my mother, Running Wind… an Egyptian princess, And old William who Running Wind… could keep her wrote his plays as if breasts in perfect he was crazy… condition. …¦ told him that story about those two young lovers from Verona. 40 ¦ think it’s been a … Are you Yes, but don’t be sad. century since the crying? last time. It’s a relief for me to cry. Explain it to me, Amy. How is it possible that the sun brought you back to life? ¦ don’t get it; are you be-Some- witched or something? thing like that, Bernie, something like that. Is that the store Yes. The … This place is of Fever, that Indian girl for sale. blind woman? lives there. Do you mean to say that… But… 41 And so… ¦’ve lost the … They’re nameless boy. gone. Who knows for how many centuries, damn it! Amy, These days no one He must have left with the two Amy… can vanish without If the boy doesn’t of them. a trace. have an official identity, Fever and that girl Really? surely do. Give me two weeks of You would investigation and ¦’ll tell do that you where they are. for me? ¦ have access to the …is one Sure. But let’s do it right police files. ¦ have good He’s such a hour of away; ¦’ll be busy later. connections but… jerk, but ¦ your time can make today. use of him and… Come. … There is one thing. The only thing ¦’d like to ask you as an advance on one year of having sex with me without messing around with other men… 42 You’d better take me right away before ¦ change my mind. Y-y-y-y-yes, yes. Here? In the street? We’ll be arrested and charged with obscene behavior in public. … ¦’m… ¦… ¦… … ¦’m… ¦’m… ¦’m… Ooohhh… … ¦’m… More, more! Yes. Oh. … ¦’m… coooom- iiing! 43 What are you Let’s get out of here, staring at? Never Bernie. These days seen a couple they call making love? just about Yes, yes. anything “love”… ¦’ll wait here to hear from you, Bernie. Can’t you skip work for a few days? You can stay in my apartment. ¦ have a TV and lots of beers in the refrig- erator… No, Bernie. At least don’t kiss that little ¦ said “here,” monster, for Christ’s sake. and ¦’ll be Oh, no? here. Hello, Biggo. 44 You like this, Biggo? Did you say Then come here. It’ll as many times be yours every day, as as ¦ can? Oh, many times as you that’ll be can, until that idiot lots of times over there brings me even if ¦ die the news ¦’m waiting from over-for. exertion. Miss Amy… Gulp… It’s the most beautiful thing ¦’ve ever seen between any woman’s legs. Oh… if only ¦ didn’t love you so much, Amy… If only ¦ didn’t love you so much! 45 You’ll like it here, Are we there, you’ll see. Fever? Yes. Old New Orleans - City of black magic. 46 ¦ have a big comfortable house here. We’ll be living there. To tell the truth, ¦ One of these You’ll laugh when If you have a haven’t forgotten, days ¦’ll tell you you hear about it. house like that, but now remember- all about it. It was just teen- why did you live ing doesn’t hurt age stupidity. in such a lousy Something anymore. place back unpleasant East? happened to me here and it took me years to forget about it. You’ll see, Evening Cloud, very soon you’ll start having these strong feelings that’ll make you feel like you’re the only person in the whole universe. It’s called adolescence and only time can cure it. Oh, ¦’m sorry. ¦ forgot that you won’t ever happen to you, nameless boy. ¦ didn’t mean to be cruel, please forgive me. 47 Hmm… Amalia Valderrama a.k.a. Fever, born in New Yeah, could Orleans. And… be. It’s possible that they went to New Orle- ans. Do you like it? Very much. Is this really your house? Yes, Evening Cloud. ¦’ll show you. 48 Are your eyes Who are you? ¦ recognize you. so old that you Your voice is still don’t recognize just the same. me, Apollonia? Fever! My baby! You’re back! Yes, and ¦’m here to stay, Apollonia. Ha, ha, ha. ¦ brought two An orphan carrying a little friends heart raw from recent with me. deaths… Whoa… … And a boy with… … with… 49 … a spirit that has It can’t be! lived a thousand lifetimes in this ¦ think … body without changing. … with a spirit that… Apollonia is like a dog. ¦ think my per- Your room, Fever, is She sniffs people before ceptions have the same as you left she decides whether to gotten old with it the day when you trust them. the years, Fever ran away from this my dear. city with the crazy idea that Lamont was But come on now. stepping out on you. You have to get our rooms ready. Wasn’t ¦ right? Do you remember the letters ¦ sent you, telling you he loved only you? You thought those were lies that ¦ wrote just to convince you to come back to New Orleans. But now that you’re back of your own free will, ¦’ll say it again: Lamont Johnson has loved only you. 50 ¦ never told him where Yes. Lamont has … ¦’ll call the to find you, Fever, just like become an important girl that helps you asked. man; the biggest me take care of procurer in New this mansion. But you made him suffer a Orleans. lot with your adolescent Angela! craziness. They say he’s had every one of his ten thousand women. So much that he knew he’d never be able !? to fall in love Wait… again. He de- cided to buy and sell women. How do you Can you still see Yes. You know that do, ma’am? somebody’s story if ¦ only have eyes in you hold their hand other people’s while they tell memories, Apollonia. it? Tell Miss Fever about Lamont Johnson. Come down, Angela. ¦ want to introduce you to the owner of the house. Remember when you said she was just someone ¦ made up? Lamont… Her name is Amalia Valderrama, she’s daughter of a Spanish count and a black singer. You Seventeen years can call her Fever. ago, a year after you left, ¦ was just a girl. … A young girl who was mistreated by everyone. 51 My mother’s … And man, who when my got drunk mother’s almost body wasn’t every day, fresh made me anymore, he lay with him. gave me to When he his friends didn’t have to use for money for a few alcohol… dollars. Then, Mr. Johnson showed up. ¦ want to buy that girl from you. How much do you want for her? Two thousand. In her condition, she isn’t worth a quarter of that, but ¦’m not going to Let’s go, argue with your sorry follow me. excuse for a brain. Here you are. 52 And ¦ followed him. From that moment on ¦ knew Some that he had others come to visited me save me. and taught me to move a little more He left me flowery, to the care like a lady, of two but more women who so. scraped the filth off me and per- fumed my body. Then he called me and talked to me in a deep, educated voice. What do ¦’d like that… very you say? much, Mr. Johnson. You’ll be one of my prostitutes. You’ll go to ¦’d like to be the first bed only with gentlemen one to try you, but ¦ who’ll treat you well, or won’t pay. ¦’ll only do it my men will break their with your consent. teeth. And ¦ did. A lot. ¦ don’t think ¦’ll ever forget that night. ¦ know ¦’ll never be able to describe it exactly as it was, because ¦ don’t have the words. 53 Ah! Are you all right, Miss Fever? Your memories Later ¦ only Give me burn, Angela. worked for his your hand organization. again. And ¦ thanked God every day for ¦ want to see having escaped what happened ¦ know. ¦ was Mr. from Hell. next, Angela. Johnson’s after one time, and ¦ will be forever. Then ¦ got acquainted Until a year with silk sheets, later, out of champagne, and pure distraction, many nights ¦ only ¦ got pregnant. had to give some pleasure to fine gentlemen. ¦’ll find you a job in the ¦ know that ¦ should have But ¦’ve often house of a friend who’s an abortion, Mr. Johnson. dreamed that God A woman with away. would let me have a child is a child someday. useless as a prostitute, You can at least as raise your long as the child there and live a Can ¦ keep it, baby is little. peaceful, please? maybe even happy life. 54 Like me, all women who worked It was always their first… … and only night with him. for Lamont Johnson spent one unforgettable night of passion with him. So, ¦ came to work here, pregnant with my baby. And all these years he’s Tell Fever about been so helpful. Lamont’s habit of going to bed with each When it was my woman for the first turn, ¦ asked him night only. something. 55 Will you No, and not But there is only one woman come again, She’s blind, because of some- ¦ made love to more than Mr. Johnson? but she sees thing you’ve done. once. ¦ would have loved doing with her soul. Nothing like that. it for the rest of my life. Is it burning again, ma’am? No, that was just the dagger of time. ¦ was so stupid. ¦ wasted 18 years of my life. A quarter of my life. Ha. ¦’m sorry, Fever. A mor- tal’s life is so short that it makes me laugh. 56 Do you want ¦’ll call Angela’s son, The past is past, me to send Don’t tell him the 15-year old boy who my girl. for him? To ¦’m back. Per- lives with us… with his ask him to haps the sur- damn trumpet. come over? prise will do But now you’re us both good. here. Ro y! Come down, Ro y! And so is Lamont. Yes, Miss Apollonia. Oh, ¦’m sorry. ¦ didn’t know you had visitors. This is Fever. She is the owner of this house. 57 Go to Lamont Johnson’s and tell him that Apollonia needs to see him urgently. May ¦ ask you something? Right away, ma’am. What is it, Can ¦ go with Roy? Of course you Mind? Not Cloud? Interesting, Cloud. ¦ mean, ¦ want to can go, if Roy You suddenly sound hardly! get more familiar doesn’t mind. like a grown-up with this city. woman. Come, let’s go right away. ¦’ll buy you a lemon ice. Wow, ¦ love lemon ice! 58 And… … Soon… …He’ll be here and ¦… … And ¦ haven’t even freshened up from the tip. Shall we prepare Yes. Right a bath for you, away! It’s very ma’am? important! With jasmine petals, like in the old days? Meeting an old love again for the first time is always impor- tant, my girl. Ha, ha, ha. 59 … This Shit… Roy guy has brought out the woman in Cloud. And the memory of that Lamont has awakened the sleeping woman in Fever. And like it’s been for all these centuries, when love comes around… …you are left alone, nameless boy. 60 Everything has changed. Since we got here nothing is like ¦ though it would be. What were you That the lives thinking, nameless of these two women boy? You poor would revolve immortal crea- around you? No. You’ve ture… learned better in five thou- sand years, idiot. Everybody’s bodies, emotions, interests evolve and change… … Only you always remain a child, a stupid incomplete eternal being. Shit! It really sucks that ¦’ll never grow and never have sex; ¦’ll never be able to fall in love. Shit, shit, shit. ¦’d do anything to know it feels, when your whole body falls in love. It happened to Fever… 61 Apollonia! Calm down, Lamont. Roy told me ¦ have good news for that you you, something that’ll wanted to see make you happy. me urgently. She escaped from this place just to forget this Lamont Johnson guy. Someone has come back home Fever… Is it you? A glance was enough for dormant feelings to erupt and wants to like a volcano. see you. And you… you’ve You’re… waited 18 beautiful. years without falling in love with another woman. A child like you shouldn’t watch this, Running Wind. Come to the kitchen and ¦’ll give you some cookies. 62 People always give cookies to those who won’t grow… Shit… If only Evening Cloud were here… Making up for all those years without seeing each other… They’ve been rediscovering their bodies again for the last two days. They’ve been going They’ve spent a whole out in secret, so they night together under …Exploring wouldn’t have to the moonlight, talking each other invite me. about their lives… with their lips… They haven’t been apart … With their for two days eyes… already. … with their hands. But no. Just like Fever, Cloud set her sights on Roy the very first day we got to this steamy city. 63 They have probably finished exploring one another, and now they’re getting to know each other more intimately. They’ve left me alone. Let me see… When you grow up enough to have that yourself, you won’t ap-preciate being spied on either. You think it’s nice to spy on people? Ow! 64 ¦’m sure you’ll go without ¦’m going dinner. to lock you in your room and tell Fever about And judging by how much it when ¦ see you usually eat, that’s going her. to hurt. Not only do they leave me alone ¦ need here, they punish company, too! me too. Being immortal and so lonesome is unbearable! Doesn’t anybody care? It’s not fair! 65 Phew. Back in Egypt, when ¦ was a real child, and when ¦ used to do things Imagine turning like this, slave 5000 and still Amarna, who took having childish fits care of me, used of rage. Ha! to say these were childish fits of rage. But then that 10- ¦’ve learned almost year-old boy who everything about the will never grow up human condition. sometimes takes over my whole head It’s strange. and gets even. Part of my head has accumulated knowledge and experience. ¦’d better leave. What can ¦ do here alone? 66 Goodbye, It won’t be easy, Fever. but ¦ must find a place to stay. Goodbye, Evening Cloud. ¦’ll always remember you. And when ¦ say always, ¦ mean always. Or Queen Geneva, who was in love with two men. Nobody believes And Elera, that she existed. the Norwegian countrywoman who lived dur- ing the black plague. ¦’ll keep the memory of them with that of fragile Joan who was later called Joan of Arc. How many memories can ¦ keep adding? Doesn’t the memory of a 5000-year-old boy have any limits? Where should ¦ go now? 67 A train… What better way to get away from here? Goodbye, Goodbye, New Fever. Orleans. Goodbye, Cloud. A train… What else could take me to a new place? 68 ¦ think this is Hello, where ¦’m going to New Orleans. find the boy and the two women ¦’m looking for. ¦ have some good leads. Amalia Valderrama a.k.a. Fever was born here. She’s the daugh- ter of a Spanish nobleman and a black spiritual singer. Her father left her a fortune. This one. And a big house in a classy neighborhood. 69 ¦’ll try to get some infor- mation from her. Excuse me, ma’am. May ¦ A servant is ask you a just coming question? out. Nothing like ¦’m in a hurry. ¦ only need Yes. You saw that. It be- A 10-year old ¦ have to buy a minute of Uhm, of course. it in one of longs to the boy and a bread for your time. Is anyone living those New count’s daugh- Sioux Indian dinner. What ¦ was won- there now? It’s Orleans ter. She just girl of 13 do you want? dering, this not a museum, architecture came back a or 14? house, didn’t is it? books, right? few days ago it use to with some belong to friends. count Val- derrama? And how did you Intuition, ¦ guess. Since ¦ got to this know that? magical place, ¦’ve been having these visions. Very strange. Oh, ¦ don’t have a clue. Goodbye. And thanks. 70 She’ll want to come here. And when she finds out that ¦ really met with that monstrous boy, she’ll pay me back with a year of sex, without interfer-ence from oth- er guys. Are you still with that midget? Why? Do you really have to debase yourself like this just to make me jealous? Hello? Listen up, you stupid detective, have you found anything out yet? That’s the only way you get the right to watch over me, idiot. You know the deal. It’s for you. What now? ¦ found them, Amy. ¦ found them. The boy and the two women are in New Orleans. 71 ¦’m on my way. ¦’m sorry to leave Someone out there has a very you like this, but old debt with me, and soon ¦’m in a big hurry, ¦’m going to collect it… Biggo. Bye. 72 ¦’m ready. Good- bye, New Orleans. Goodbye, Fever. Goodbye, Cloud. ¦’ll never be back again. You stay with Lamont and Roy, ¦ prefer to be alone watching the two men for whom you’ve the countryside and spotting lost your minds. trains going god knows where than being alone in that horrible mansion completely neglected. Ha! Gotcha! 73 Here ¦ am, Hey, not so ¦ see you. Take That if ¦ That you’d Amy. fast… You me to the boy. found the be devoted remember little mon- to me if ¦ that we have ster, we’d put you with a pact, you be together him, face to and me? for a year? face? Of course ¦ It doesn’t seem That everything It’s just… remember. like it, from the …My spiritual need else falls into Bernie, wait… cold shoulder to find that boy is so second place to you’re giving intense… the possibility of me. knowing where he is. still, you were in bed with the midget when ¦ call ed you at… the office! 74 You have a room Don’t be silly… That was just How about if ¦ give you to motivate you in New Orleans, another advance on to investigate, don’t you? the year that we’ll honey. spend together if the boy really is here? Well, Bernie? Y-Y-yess, Amy. ¦’m so tired of pathetic men, Bernard Carey. Before ¦ leave New Orleans, ¦ think you’ll be dead. 75 Hum… Once ¦ got arrested just for the intent to do what ¦’m going to do with you, little boy. Let go of me! ¦ like skin like yours, no ¦ told you to let go Filthy wrinkles or whiskers… of me! ¦ don’t want to pervert. hurt you, you idiot! ¦ warned You can scream as you … much as you want; no one will hear How can you you out here. hurt me, silly? But… … You can’t be so strong. You’re not human! You… you… oh… you’re not… You’re right. Maybe ¦’m not. 76 You have to go now, Lamont? Yes, ¦’ve been neglecting my business for days. But ¦’ll be back as Shh! soon as ¦ can, Fever. Eh…who…? We have been waiting for someone to leave the house. Tell me, is a 9 or 10-year-old boy living here? 77 Why should ¦ tell you that? Because Talk, you ¦ want to idiot! know! Gh… … ¦… … ¦’ll kill you! 78 ¦ asked you if How many there was a boy people in the house. He’s are in the dark-haired, with Well, you’ve house hazy eyes like mine. given a com- now? Answer me! prehensive response. ¦ don’t… understand, but… Ahhh… … Yes, the little boy, Running Wind, The… the an Indian, ¦ think little boy, he lives here with a teenage Fever. Indian girl, two black servants and one of their sons… Oh! … And Fever, the lady of the house? You… you broke my arm. Who are you? Beelzebub? Ha, ha, ha. Worse than that. 79 ¦’m Death. Come on, Bernie. You have a Stay here and weapon, right? don’t let anyone leave. Y-y-yes. 80 . . . . . . The fewer witnesses, the better. Sniff. 81 Sniff… Sniff… ¦ smell that garlicky smell that distin- guishes us immortals. This is the room of Cheops’ son. But… … He’s not here. 82 Where is the boy? Talk, goddamn it! The one you call Running Wind. Where is he? ¦ don’t know… in his room. Tell me where he is or ¦’ll kill your Ghhh… little friend. ¦ swear don’t know… 83 ¦ told you to talk, Indian. Nooo! What’s that…? You kill ed him, you bitch! Something very bad is going on in this house. That was Evening Cloud ¦’ll go screaming. see. 84 Talk or you’ll end up like that little nigger. Help me! She’s crazy! ¦ don’t No one looks after Will you tell me know! He’s the children in this where the boy is, probably in his shithouse! yes or no? room and… What’s going on And if he ¦ think that little isn’t, ¦ don’t coward ran away when here?! know where he he heard ¦ was coming. could be! In the end, you’re no use to me. Goodbye. Oh, it’s the lady of the house… Let me explain. So far, Lamont? You Your name is Fever, if ¦ recall ¦’ve killed the man who left couldn’t… correctly. Who are the house half an hour you? What are ago… you doing here? 85 ¦ guess you don’t Running Wind? ¦ think we’ve been neglecting Oh, ¦ could. ¦’ve know where the No… no… him…ignoring him… so he also killed the nameless boy is decided to leave. two servants, either. the little black boy and if your eyes worked you could have seen this girl die in my hands… Now it’s finally your turn to die. ¦ don’t like leaving witnesses behind. Don’t resist, it’ll hurt less. Daughter of the Devil! Take You’ve made me blind until sunrise, stupid! Now we’re this! equal. Come here. Help! Oh! ¦’ve got you, Fever. 86 And now… … Goodbye forever, gorgeous. Bernie! Come and help me, you idiot! ¦ can’t see! ¦’m coming, Amy. 87 What have you This is all As soon as the sun Y-y-y-yes, done? There’s your fault, rises, my eyes will my love. blood every- you moron. recover. where and… You said the boy was here… … And it wasn’t true. You made a mistake! Take me to your hotel and hide me there. ¦ don’t want anyone to see me like this. You’ve been com- pletely useless to me, Bernard Carey. Tomorrow morning, as soon as ¦’m able to see your ugly old face… Aaahhh… 88 The train is slowing down… Hum… let’s We must be near see… our destination. ¦ have the money that Fever gave … ¦’d me for my better expenses… get off here. ¦ can get some- thing to eat without having to steal it. 89 How many bacon burgers can ¦ Umm… at least get with this? ten. And now, CPQ 23 News. Bring me ten. If you say so… Here’s a This horrible massacre With lots of statement from has all the hallmarks mustard. More infor- of a ritual murder, of mation on the Commissioner satanic rites like the massacre in Silverberg. murder of Sharon New Orleans. Tate, if you recall. The police have con- firmed that there were five murder victims in the house in the Garden Dis- trict … ¦ knew no one could Luckily, one person has survived. Here are your eat that many Her condition is critical -- she is hamburg-- The New burgers. That little in shock and has suffered massive Orleans PD bastard pulled a internal wounds. It’s Mrs. Fever is thoroughly prank on me and Valderrama. investigating ran away! … But… the horrible murders and is determined to find the… What she has told us so far makes no sense. She talked about immortals, a woman looking for an immortal boy and things like that. 90 ¦’d better ¦’ve thought Thank go now. about it, and ¦ you, father think ¦’d better Sun. get back to work at the peep show. The press and the TV stations must have spread the news about last night’s deaths… He has to know it was me. He’s going to feel responsible for what happened to those stupid mortals… Maybe he’ll come looking for me for a final fight. ¦ hope. 91 ¦’d like to see Mrs. Are you a relative? She’s my aunt. Valderrama, please. ¦ heard on TV what happened and… … ¦ love her very much. Can ¦ see her? What do we do, officer? He’s just Let him in. Of course not. There are some The doctors a little boy. ¦ ¦’m sure she’ll Come, little boy. advantages to being a say she won’t don’t think he’s be happy to child forever … live long… got anything see him, the to do with the poor woman. crimes, do you? There she is. You can stay with her for a couple Thanks. of minutes. 92 Fever… It that you, Running Wind? Yes. ¦ heard ¦ wanted to ¦ feel what hap- … and do what get away. ¦ responsible pened… she did. never thought for what Ahmas¦ could happened. She … and ¦ find your was looking came to house and… for me and… see you. ¦’ve been a fool too, … And ¦ left like a stupid ¦ guess part of me will Wind. hurt brat. You and Cloud always be a child. couldn’t see me, you were both in love. A poor 10-year-old boy ¦’ve been running away who’s scared of being from a man for 18 years alone… only to realize that both ¦’m sorry, ¦ acted of us were still in love like a child. like the day we met. Wait, listen… let me talk, for Can you believe it? just a moment. First ¦ lost Lamont ¦ don’t have for all those much breath… years… 93 It’s not your fault, It was that And now ¦’ve lost nameless boy. You’re not woman. him forever. the demon who killed him and Apollonia and Her! Angela and Roy and Evening Cloud. Forgive me, forgive me. ¦’ll come visit you ¦ swear right ¦ could let every day until you get now… myself die, like ¦ was going to. better, Fever. ¦’ll wait for you Thank … This time and you’ll come you. But ¦ could ¦’ll find her with me. also try and go and finish her on living. once and for all. Only if you promise you’ll let me go with you. ¦’d like to be there when you finish Ahmasi. You won’t have to wait long. Let me suggest one thing… 94 Are you sure Yes. It’s incredible. Her this is Fever injuries are healing like As if some Valderrama’s a miracle. supernatural X-ray? power com- pelled her to live. Come in, dear; ¦ think ¦ misjudged him. it’s your turn. He’s more of a worm than ¦ thought. It’s been almost a month and still nothing… … The boy isn’t coming. 95 He didn’t even kill ¦ won’t ¦ want to be the people who wait much the only im- helped him. Think He’s longer… mortal in this about that. scared shitty world. … And of me. ¦ want that now! ¦ have plenty of time, that’s for sure, but ¦ don’t wanna wait any longer. If you’re not back in thirty days… ¦’ll be the one to hunt you down, you snotty nameless brat. 96 Your aunt’s recovery is amazing, kid. Seeing my… ahem… nephew has been so com- forting, doctor. His visits and the stories he tells me… Well, we’ll send … are Well then, if you ¦ will, My name? My her home soon. You the best love your aunt, you doctor. name is… hum… know, ¦ don’t even medicine. have to keep visiting No one my name is… know your name… her every day. wants her what’s your name, out of boy? hospital His name is as much Buddy… Buddy as ¦ do. Bolden. Well… see you ¦ thought ¦ You know that New Absolutely not, later, Buddy. shouldn’t tell Orleans is the cra-Fever. him the name dle of jazz, right? Gentle Bear gave me. It might sound Blacks, whites, strange if you had Well, Buddy Bolden Asians… you name a relative with an was the first jazz player, it. After you die, Indian name, right? the father of African-everybody’s bones That’s why ¦ hesi-American music. are white. tated, but how did you come up with Does it bother Buddy Bolden? you that ¦ named you after a black Now that man? we’re alone… Buddy… 97 Tell me another one You asked me if ¦ saw the of those stories. For you Seven Wonders of the they were reality, to me Ancient World. they’re like stories from a book. And ¦ told you that ¦ did. The first wonder ¦ saw was the pyramid my father Khufu had built for himself, the one known today as “Cheops.” Okay, it does me good to remember these things… When you’re 4,500 years old or more, you have to judge your life. Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the pyramids are only Maybe my immortal life has ¦ remember an old ones that are still something to do with their there. existence. Arab proverb that said: “All things fear time, but time fears the pyramids.” Many centuries later, other wonders of the ancient world were constructed. ¦ saw them all. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, built by Artemisia in honor of her brother and lover, King Maussollos, invincible warrior in numerous battles. It was her obsession with the supernatural that stirred her to build the grandest tomb in history, which was destroyed in an earthquake fifteen centuries later. 98 The 500 foot- tall lighthouse of Alexandria with 200 rooms for the guard- ians of the light who kept the fire alive every night. The fire would reflect in an infinite game of mirrors that multiplied the light. They say that the lighthouse was ¦’ll tell you destroyed in an a true story earthquake, too. that a Byzantine merchant named Chrisostomos Throughout told me. He was the history, in charge of the humans have destruction of often blamed that lighthouse nature for that prevented their greed. enemy fleets from approach- ing Alexandria unnoticed. Chrisostomos talked with Al Walid, the city caliph… Hear my story, great caliph. But what is written These documents in the here must be true. hand of Sostratus, the architect who built the lighthouse, prove it. The foundation of the lighthouse is made of gold, because gold is It’s incredible. the only metal sea No one has water cannot corrode. suspected it for centuries. Tear the tower down to its foundation! 99 And the lighthouse fell. But the foundation was only built of glass and stone. Chrisostomos was already far away when the enraged caliph sent his men to torture and kill him. There are Do you want to four more hear more, Fever? stories, boy. In Olympia in 450 BC, Libon built the great Temple of Zeus. Phidias, the greatest sculptor of all times, erected the marvelous statue of the supreme Greek god. ¦ saw it twice. Once in Olympia, on its marble throne, complete with an underground spring to the prevent the marble from cracking. ¦ think Zeus couldn’t Then again in Constantinople, stand the unpleasant where the statue was in-fact that he wasn’t the stalled in a Christian temple. greatest any longer. The temple caught fire and everything burned, including the extraor-dinary statue. 100 The passion of love, King which ¦ have never been Nebuchadnezzar ¦¦, able to feel, led to the the one mentioned in creation of another the Bible, married Amyitis, wonder: The Hanging a beautiful Mede prin-Gardens of Baby- cess he was madly lon. in love with. So the king ordered the construction But remem-of a series of marble terraces, some bering her more than two hundred feet high, and fertile home-had them filled with fertile soil and land, full of irrigation tubes so plants worthy of trees and his capricious wife could grow there. flowers, she wasn’t happy in the arid land of Babylon. And there were two more The poor sculptor wonders, neither of which was off in his lasted to today. calculations. He knew how to get One was the 300 tons of hollow Colossus of Rhodes, metal to stand 75 made of bronze from the feet high, but he weapons of the Macedo-couldn’t figure out nian invaders who had been how to make the defeated by the armies Colossus last of Rhodes. forever. 101 … Unless… … Unless ¦ rush the day of my death. It won’t last… Gh! … My masterpiece won’t last… But the poor sculptor was wrong. His statue … ¦’m lost… lasted for fifty years before collapsing one night during a terrible storm. It won’t even survive my lifetime. 102 … Who cut the 300 tons Even after its of bronze into pieces collapse it was and took them to the a big attraction, Orient on a caravan with enormous of a thousand camels. pieces peeking out of the water. Until an Arab invader with an aptitude for commerce sold its remains to a Jewish merchant… Tell me, Fever… It was in a strange period Yes, Buddy? ¦ was hiding of my life, 350 ¦ met him in out as a years before Ephesus. beggar and Have you Christ. Herostratus ever heard of was my Herostratus? No. teacher. Thank you for your ¦ don’t gift, sir. believe you can be a beggar, boy. You don’t know how to cry. Don’t you realize that in exchange for their alms, Well… people expect us ¦ can’t do to show our that, Hero- humiliation? stratus. ¦ never learned to fake crying. 103 Do you want me to Unlike you, tell you ¦ have. something? ¦ have a Yes. great idea, an idea ¦ can fake that will anything, make me a including part of humiliation. history. Because, as you see me here, ¦’m not humiliated, my ambition is alive. And that Tonight, come to the is? Temple of Artemis, the marvel filled with Adeles’ paint-ings and Praxiteles’ sculptures, and see for yourself. 104 Curiosity is the only thing that relieves the terrible Yes. Come and boredom take a look. of being immortal. So ¦ went. Hey, Hero- stratus, are you here? What are Becoming you doing? a part of history. Ha, ha, ha. Goodbye, Temple of Artemis!! Part of history, kiddo. For all time, ¦’ll be Herostratus, the man who destroyed the most beautiful temple ever built by man… And if you look in the history books, Fever, you’ll see that on July 21, 350 BC a half-crazy beggar named Herostratus set the Temple of Artemis on fire in order to become part of history. he succeeded. 105 Fever? You’re asleep. Good, you’ll get better faster. You and me, we have a mission to complete. We have to finish Ahmasi, priestess of the snake, disgusting immortal murderer. 106 ¦ remember that long period of happiness. Priest Ka¦ was Four hundred years had passed bestowed the knowledge of the since the accident that left me a essence of immortality as a gift child forever. from Amen, the supreme god. For almost two hundred years ¦ hadn’t heard of Ahmasi. ¦ Kai gave me think ¦ had begun to shelter in his forget about her. temple and ¦ let him kill me every now and then, and pretend that ¦ came back to life again thanks to his powers. The temple was my home and during that time the only worry ¦ had was the feeling ¦ always got around the mortals: how fast my benefactor Kai grew old! My belly was stretched tight as a drum from so much to eat. ¦ became an insatiable syba- rite. ¦ thought that peace would last forever. Until the day the messenger came. 107 Young and powerful sir, protégé of great Kai… My father? … Your father sent me. Your father “My dear son! You may think ¦’m My ¦ saw his agony. dead, but ¦’m very much alive. It said you father ¦ saw his body turn took me some time to return to should read is dead. into burned bones. the world of mortals, and when it carefully. ¦ did, the great pyramid was already my home. ¦’ll wait inside for you on the third night after Give me you receive this message. ¦ have that. even thought of the name you should have in the centuries to come.” Khufu. My father, the greatest of ¦ was still a all Pharaohs, nowadays known child and my as Cheops, was alive. head could not process the feelings And finally, after four of resentment, centuries, he was going to suspicion and tell me my name. intrigue. ¦ exhausted the heart of a splendid horse so ¦ wouldn’t The messenger be late. went with me to show me the invisible entrance to the great pyramid. 108 ¦ was eager to see my father. Every child needs a father, even if that father is a Pharaoh who thinks he is a god. Of course… Someone else was waiting for me inside the pyramid. You are punctual, stupid nameless boy. ¦ didn’t suspect a thing as ¦ was approached the entrance. It was Ahmasi! ¦’ll make sure The priestess you never see the of the snake! sun again. It took me ages to find you, repulsive boy. But now ¦ know That’s why how to make you ¦ chose die forever… this spot. 109 ¦ checked the … Because no one It was built to passageways of the will ever discover be sealed for all great tomb. ¦’ll wrap its secrets again. eternity. you in sheets embroi-dered in gold and… …¦’ll carve out your eyes and replace your eyeballs with two precious stones… … and hide your remains at bot- tom of this pas- sage that no one will dare enter. That day ¦ found out that if the body of an ¦ also found Sure, there immortal is deprived of out that no are dino- sunlight, it would ne-one in this saurs that ver be brought to world re-were buried life again. mains for- hundreds of ever without feet in the According the light and ground for to Ahmasi, the heat of centuries, the pyramid the sun. and now you was a good can see place for my their bones remains. at museums. 110 But tomb raiders didn’t feel the same way. There’s a passageway here. We can climb down by stepping in the hollows in the wall. Bring the torches closer. It’s very dark. They say the Phar- aoh’s curse falls on those who enter the pyramid. Something is shining They also say over that there’s there. lots of gold inside. Let’s go, hurry up. Look! A jeweled mummy. Let’s take it outside and get a good look. The mummy Let’s go might be worth back into the He’s wearing a more. It has pyramid. ¦’m tunic with golden amethyst eyes, sure there’re incrustations. It’s ha ha. more valuable worth a fortune. things inside. 111 Coming back to life hurts. Like somebody woke you from Every time ¦ came back You don’t know how much. a deep sleep by beating you. from the dead it was the Your same, ¦ couldn’t believe head just It’s like somebody in- ¦ was back in this world. doesn’t jected hot liquid metal understand into your bones. that you’re alive again. Like somebody squeezed you like an orange and then blew you up like balloon. And, you’re hungry, you‘re like a baby who needs to cry, pure feeling, instinct without reason. Instinct that leads you, without fail. There has to be a source of nourishment. 112 What was that? Somebody’s coming, moaning like his throat has been cut with a knife. It’s… a child… … The same size as the mummy we brought outside. Don’t come any closer. There’s a bunch of us here and we’re stronger than you. We could… … hurt you. 113 It’s… horrible. Ahmasi sucked Evening Cloud’s blood too, and Lamont’s, Apollonia’s… everybody’s. Can’t you The story ¦ told you was only We only do We have immortals keep to tell you that in order to it when our to behead yourselves eliminate Ahmas¦ forever it’s bodies are her… from doing not enough to lock her up, consumed by a that? bury her or keep her away pure state of from sunlight once rage or hate. she’s dead. … And then cut Are you her to pieces, so sure that Something more drastic they can never will be has to be done. unite in a whole enough? again. No. 114 ¦ think the only definite way is what the Sphinx told me. The Sphinx told you… What are you saying? There is another way to end Ahmasi’s immortality, and mine too. The monument with Chephren’s face told me what to do. Tell me the rest ¦’ll tell Wait the tomorrow. you the story nurse will because it is be here soon Did you a continua- and you’ll ¦ just have one question really talk tion of what have to leave, for you now. with the you’ve al- so ¦ can get Sphinx? ready heard. some rest. ¦ have seen and heard so many weird things, nothing can surprise me anymore. 115 Fever, Fever… … Your rational 21st century mind can’t imagine how we thought and felt then. Life, death, night, sky… Back then, the eyes used to see In those times gods nothing was the same as it differently; there were more were sent us concrete is today. ghostly shades; science and messages like they chimeras walked together… broadcast now on the news. Gods were part of our lives; they were always there. … Reality was And the sphinx different… spoke to me in that context. And there wasn’t a big difference between sleep and wake. ¦ listened very carefully. And still today ¦’m trying to decipher its message. 116 ¦’m afraid you’ll have to leave now. Mrs. Valderrama must take her medicine and have some rest. Get well soon, Fever. Do you think ¦ might be able to help you understand the message of the Sphinx? Maybe. In one of the messages, it said that a person from the 21st century is smarter than a person who lived in 3000 BC. See you tomorrow. See you tomorrow, Buddy Bolden. What on earth are they talking about? Are they de- lirious? 117 Of course, my name is Buddy Bolden now… in hom-age to the first New Orleans jazz musician. Maybe Fever really can help me understand what the sphinx meant. We’ll see tomorrow. 118 ho-hum… ¦ used to think that immortality could save you from boredom. But no… Of course, when someone notices that time just goes by on his way to death, boredom signals that it’s a shame not to provoke things that kill the daily routine. ¦’m immortal and ¦’m still bored. Oh! 119 ¦ have to do something to find that boy. But where could he be? Where? For a moment ¦ thought he’d chase me because ¦ killed his friends. But ¦ was wrong. Have you seen so many What if that little bastard things, nameless boy, that Wow! is in touch with her? not even the pleasure of One of revenge stimulates you? my victims, the blind Let me check… woman, hos… hospitals; Huh? survived. information. Hum… and what if… 120 Hello, Nurse Carson. How are you, kid? You’re visiting your aunt like every after- noon? You’re a Hospital. Yes. Mrs. She’s getting better good boy… Valderrama quickly. She’s lucky, being treated considering the extent at this hospital. of her injuries. You’re her niece from She has an angel of a Chicago and you want to nephew, 9 or 10 years old. come see her? ¦ beg your pardon? Yes, Well yes, she’ll be that’s him. in rehab for at least another fifteen days. He visits her every day. No, not many people visit her. 121 ¦ was waiting for him here, and all the time he was there … He’s a cute with that stupid dark-haired mortal. ¦’m coming, little boy with very one. ¦’ve been trying to lively eyes. liquidate you for five It’s thousand years, and ¦ him. think this time, if ¦’m careful, ¦’ll get you. Of course. What the Sphinx told me. You wanted to tell me something, remember? Maybe you won’t be able to understand what you go through when you’re being reborn… … When your bones get filled with marrow, when your muscles regenerate out of nothing and your brain… … Your rotten brain regains its vital circuits. 122 The raiders of the big pyramid revived me, and ¦ killed them for good. ¦ ran away stained with blood, without knowing, without remembering what kind of creature ¦ had been. Now ¦ know that many centuries had passed. And that while ¦ walked over that famous desert, some ¦ didn’t know fifteen hundreds years were to where to go. Little pass before that Jew called by little, ¦ realized Jesus started a new era. that the landscape had changed. A lot had changed. Only a head in the sand remained from the old Sphinx. How long does it take for the sand to cover such a monument? Many years. -- responded my own voice. 123 And then ¦ felt very alone. My father had died over one thousand years ago. Entire historical cycles had transpired. The dynasties disappeared like the sand between one’s fingers. ¦ could tell you today that the capital was not Memphis anymore, and that after the invasion of the Hiks, for the second time already the Pharaoh was ruling from Thebes. But at that moment ¦ thought (or ¦ felt, because ¦ believe that ancient people didn’t think) that Egypt -- which ¦ had always thought to be the only place in the world where one could live -- didn’t exist anymore. ¦ remember ¦ cried for the buried sphinx. But in fact ¦ was crying for myself. ¦ was a child that would never grow up, some kind of immature immortal being, a person who would never be complete. 124 Then ¦ heard the voice. Hello, kid… A voice resonating in my head that made me shake. One thousand years later ¦ could still recognize the deep voice of my father, the great Khufu, Cheops. Little boy condemned to everlasting flames… … Listen to the voice of the Sphinx who wishes to give you the key to death. Because eternity is When you grow very, very difficult. weary of immortality, either that woman’s or your own, look for the text that One day you’ll deciphers life in the wish to die. Or, to kill tomb of the damned, an immortal like your-of the thieves who self and neutralize won’t let the dead her hatred for you rest. until the last of days shall also be the first. ¦’ll tell you how. The formula that the young Pharaoh Look for will take to grave with that text and him is already written. read it aloud. It will be profaned and will reveal the secrets of the Pharaohs to history. 125 That’s what the Sphinx told me, or maybe ¦ just dreamed it. ¦ never understood what it was about. ¦ wish ¦ could understand it now, so ¦ could eliminate Ahmasi forever. … Maybe the message of the sphinx makes sense, Buddy. Hand me that book. Listen… ¦ told you ¦’ve read books on parapsychology, Maybe there’s something magic, spells more efficient than beheading and gaining her and throwing her head power. far from her body. And maybe… Maybe there’s a spell that can make her bones rot, a divine acid or an arrow made by some God. What kind of book is it? It doesn’t even have a title. It’s a treatise on curses, a book that is damned itself, so much so that its author refused to sign it and left it without a title. 126 The young Pharaoh A book whose tomb was without a title, discovered and hah… just like me, revealed its secret a boy with no to the history. name. Could that be Look… it’s Tutankhamen? here. That stupid conceited brat was royalty or something? ¦ knew him very well. He was so ephemeral and he reigned Don’t be so for barely ten years. When he resentful, was declared king, he was Buddy. about my age. He was always teasing me, so ¦ was happy to learn Find the text that they discovered his about the tomb tomb and exhibited his body of the damned. in a museum for Japanese The sphinx told tourists to videotape. you to do so. Have you ever heard of the That moron’s curse of curse cannot be Tutankhamen? real. He was an idiot! 127 Maybe so, but all the people who had anything to do with the discovery of his tomb died in strange circum-stances. The day when the tomb was discovered, Lord Carnarvon, the fi-nancier of the ex-pedition, was bitten by a mosquito. The tiny wound got infected and he soon died. Carter, the archeologist who discov- ered the tomb, One of the got sick from sons of Lady an unknown Herbert, Lord disease and Carnarvon’s eventually daughter, died. threw himself under a mov- ing train. And listen to this. One evening of 1929, the honorable Richard Bethel came to his exclusive club in London, sat down in his favorite arm-A few weeks These deaths chair and died of later, his father were followed by unknown causes jumped out of a the deaths of Evelyn while reading his window, leaving be-Grey, a history teach-newspaper. hind a suicide note er, Alfred Lucas’s, that said: “¦ can’t chemist, A. C. Mace’s, take these hor-archeologist, rors anymore!” W. Smith Lyon… 128 Don’t you get it? These people were all connected to the discov- ery of the tomb. So when the Sphinx told you to find the text that kills the immortals and take it from the graves of the tomb raiders and thieves who won’t let the dead rest… Could you tell me the way to New Orleans Central Hospital? Ten blocks in that direction. …wasn’t it refer- Your modern age brain Hum, maybe so. ring to those ¦ has just come up with ¦ never just mentioned? a good clue. thought about it that way. When you get better, will you come with me Ha, ha… to desecrate the tombs maybe. of those poor people and help me find the secret text? 129 Fever’s laugh has returned. Her soul is recovering from the death and the pain. Death is getting closer every minute, you nameless bastard… ¦ guess there won’t be any time left to go to the cemeteries of London and find the formula. ¦ feel that Ahmasi is close. … And whenever she’s around, ¦ think of a sentence from the Book of the Dead, which – curiously – was written at the time of Tutankhamen. “O, great master, rise from the grave. Defeat your enemies. Conquer your desecrators.” 130 ¦ feel her… Ahmasi is so close, too close… And like so many times before, she’s looking for ¦ can’t stand it. It’s me so she can kill me. always the same. Why do you hate me so much, Ahmasi? 131 ¦’ve asked myself that question many times. Why do ¦ hate that boy so much? And why is my hatred so alive after thousands of years? It’s simple. Because my only wish is to be immortal. Because there can be only one in charge, one divinity. And in this world only one person should be immortal. Now ¦’ll find the clues that’ll take me to him. Hum… it’s Fever’s … All those old The witches… weird book with- acquaintances out a title. from the past. The treatise of Including… curses… Let’s see. Occult sciences… alchemists… prophets… 132 ¦ lived through the black plague… … The period that followed was called the Mid- ¦ was a country dle Ages, before boy somewhere the advent of in Europe. the Modern Age. ¦ had a good life and ¦ even forgot to think. ¦ felt safe. ¦ hadn’t heard of Ahmasi for ages. ¦ didn’t even remember her when… Hello. It’s me again. You’re squealing like ¦ see Help! a stuck pig. you can. Can you guess why ¦’m here? 133 She didn’t realize it, but my screams… … Were loud enough to get the attention of my master, the Inquisitor. What’s going on here? Detain her! Oh, you She’s crazy! stupid woman… This woman wants to kill me, sir! … ¦’ll kill you all! Don’t come near me or…! 134 You killed Guy! You will die! Nooooo! Just when ¦ had my hands on that worm… Why did you come to bother me? …Idiots! Now! It’s you who’s dead, wretch! No mortal will stop me, because worms are already eating your flesh. That impossible. This woman is dead. 135 She’s not If the spear That’s impossible. breathing, couldn’t finish is she? her, your stone must have, boy. She’s still alive! And that horrible wound on her head is closing up! Tie her up tightly! But… Soldiers, immobilize her! Father Sun is healing her as usual. That damn boy has had it his own way. Once again he managed to stay alive. Talk, little one. This will be your … this woman emerged, Tell you master end, Ahmasi. stinking of sulphur. When what happened. Yes, sir. she spoke to me her voice sounded as if coming from the bottom of a cave… It was terrible. ¦ was collecting “¦ hate the purity of So… firewood when… children, which is why ¦ came from the depths to make you pay.” … The Earth sud- denly opened and… 136 … She’s the most dreadful witch ¦’ve ever seen. ¦’ll have her confess all of her crimes. Take her to jail! These old … Show the same engravings… instruments of torture Bone-crush-that the jailers used ing machines. on Ahmasi’s body. ¦’ve seen them used for crushing arms and legs… ¦ saw how they made her sit on a wooden chair spiked with metal while she was interro-gated… They used everything they could find. … They put water and a piece of cloth down into her stomach. Then, they would extract it quickly to rip her entrails … And skull- crushers that were pressed down so hard until her teeth were imbedded into her jawbone… And finger-crushing machines that cracked her bones like nutshells. 137 ¦ have a vivid recollec-tion of the encounter with Ahmasi. ¦ really enjoyed watching my master smashing that priestess of the snakes… … Day by day ¦ watched her For a while. quartered, bleeding body. Her moaning, her screams Because at dawn, of pain made me feel safe. her flesh and bones would regain there form again. Such an answer Confess, bitch. scared my master. He Are you a witch was humble in front or not? of that vile creature that was being reborn again and again. Does it really matter, inquisitor? 138 Whether ¦’m a witch or not, you can’t crush me like your other victims, those that you tor- tured exactly like you’re tor- turing me now, enjoying as you watched their bodies fall apart. And do you want to Wouldn’t you like be a god? Because ¦’m If you set me know why it doesn’t immortal. free, maybe work on me? ¦’ll share the secret of immortality with you. Why? Only god, our father, is immortal. To become immortal all you At that moment ¦ knew that have to do is to Ahmasi had won again. make love with another immortal. Or don’t you like it? Hum… What would ¦ have to do? 139 Ahhhhh! Help me! The Inquisitor is debasing me! But… …¦ didn’t… 140 She promised She swore me immortality! she would That’s why ¦ make me Poor wretch, he was sinned with her! immortal! the greatest of all inquisitors and he applied the Lord’s justice the best. The next day no one Look at him knew who had stolen now… Ahmasi’s bones. Burning at the stake with the witch who turned him to sin. Fever is sleeping tight. ¦’ll be back ¦’d better let her tomorrow, my rest. friend. 141 … She shows up and kills me again. ¦ always picture myself with a pack of firewood, and then… That’s it. ¦ won’t go to the woods anymore. This isn’t the dawn of the modern age. There aren’t any inquisitors, no witches… For now, there’s nothing to worry about. 142 143 Nameless boy, little worm, you can’t hide from me! ¦ know which room your friend Fever is in. How did that stupid blind bitch manage to survive? 144 ¦’ll count to three. If you don’t show … And thr-- up, ¦’ll go up and kill her. … Two… One… Here ¦ am, you snake. At last, at last, at last! At last, ¦ have you in front of me! Prepare to die, insect. 145 You’ve been running from me for centuries, but now ¦’ve got you! Hands up! Leave the Puff. boy alone!! This time you won’t get away! She’s crazy! Puff. ¦’ll make sure that you’re buried under a mountain or thrown to the bottom of an ocean in a lead barrel. Puff. … So the sun will never bring you to life again. He y, you! Ever! What are you doing? 146 Leave me alone, idiots. ¦’ve been waiting for this moment for thousands of years and… Stop! Ah! That… that… … hurt. Why did you have to come and annoy me, you mortal idiot? Now you’ll die and forever. But… she didn’t fall. 147 You’re going down first, stupid cop. No… Stop… … Stop … Stop… it… Stop! Stoooop… 148 Neither my nephew It is believed that nor ¦ knew that she committed woman. the massacre in which you almost lost your life. The police say that her fingerprints match the ones found at your house, Mrs. Valderrama… ¦’ve never had any enemies. Besides, ¦’m blind. The only thing that ¦ want right now is for everybody to leave me alone. ¦ have a couple of ¦ think ¦ made a questions for the little What? Can mistake… hero. May ¦? you be more specific? Hum… that How did you was easy… Ahem… hum… ¦… manage to get the axe ¦’m used to when she was about to stuff like kill the policeman? this. ¦’ve seen lots of Schwarzenegger movies, Conan the Barbarian and… and ¦ practiced in the back yard with a broom, so… … It was easy, huh. 149 Ha ha ha ha!… And so the case of a demented woman who tried to eliminate a whole family is closed. She was stopped by this brave boy… …who watched too many action movies… But ¦ don’t Besides, ¦ guess think that will her head and body stop this stupid will be buried Don’t race through the together, so… worry millennia. about that. ¦ thought of that and ¦ talked to my friend Roll. He’s probably waiting for us ¦ cut her in front of my head off, But house. but… what? Roll is chief undertaker for the New Orleans cemetery. 150 Roll, my ¦ always do what dear old you ask me, Fever. friend. ¦ owe you too much to refuse Did you do you any favor, what ¦ asked even if it’s just when ¦ a tiny one. called you from the hospital? Right after you phoned me, the black van from the police morgue arrived. Hello, Roll. We didn’t know ¦ have some- where to put the thing special head, so ¦ put it in for you. this bag, ha ha. Maybe you could put it on her lap when you put the The body of the body in the casket… murderer who like it was a crown. the little boy beheaded in a hospital. 151 ¦ didn’t ¦ followed your Here it is. ¦ still do it. instructions don’t and buried the know. body without the head. What will you do with it, Fever? … Like it was Gulp. … When they still alive. put that head- And the eyes less body in the in the head that casket, it was ¦ brought you… still warm… … It was like they were star- It was so ing at me… weird… … while ¦ wrapped the head. Be careful, Fever. 152 Bah. Catch, boy. For right now, ¦’ll bury it in the garden. After all this, you don’t want to live here anymore? Our flight leaves for London tonight. If what we assume Luckily you have many Can’t you guess? happens to be true, then the friends here, Fever. formula that will help us end immortality is in the graves of the people who found Tutankhamen’s This fake passport that sarcophagus. you got for me in the name of Buddy Bolden proves that ¦’m a There is normal person who can travel one thing ¦ the world. still don’t understand, Running W¦… ¦ mean… Buddy. If you killed Ahmasi, why do you have to find that formula? 153 Of course not. ¦’ll feel much You don’t know the more content boredom of being knowing that immortal, my some day ¦’ll friend. die too. Goodbye, Ahmasi, you snake. Your head or your body will never know where the missing part is. ¦ feel such relief. Come; let’s get ready for our trip. 154 You know what, Fever? ¦ think ¦’ll … Now that ¦ know sleep like ¦ Ahmasi will never haven’t slept return to the for thousands world of the of years… living. 155 Ahhh… … How peaceful this iszzzzzz. 156 VAMPIRE BOY #2 - The Curse © Strip Art Features, Celje, 2022. www.safcomics.com Vse pravice pridržane Založnik: SAF Comics d.o.o. Krpanova 1, 3000 Celje www.safcomics.com Risba: Eduardo Risso Scenarij: Carlos Trillo URL: https://www.izneo.com/en/ Datotečni format: PDF Datum javne objave: October 2022 Cena: 12,99 € Kataložni zapis o publikaciji (CIP) pripravili v Narodni in univerzitetni knjižnici v Ljubljani COBISS.SI-ID 123247107 ISBN 978-961-7081-92-3 (PDF)