Aufruf an Adolf! (I announce to Adolf!) Adolf ni Tsugu Volume 1, Chapter 1 Original story & art Copyright (C) 1992 Tezuka Osamu/Bunshun Bunko This English translation Copyright (C) 1993 Goddess Studio Translation by Kunio Muto Proofreading by Iain Sinclair (axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au) (The page numbers are based on the paperback "bunko-bon" versions from Bunshun Bunko.) =========================================================================== -------------- p.8 This is a story about three men named Adolf. -------------- p.9 Although these three people led different lives, -------------- p.10 They were tied to one another by a string called destiny. Now that the last Adolf has died, I would like to pass this story on to our sons. -------------- p.11 My name is Souhei Touge... In this story, I am both narrator and supporting role. August, Showa 11 (1936), Berlin -------------- p12/13 (The olympic stadium, resonating with the crowd's cheers) Maehata is closing in, Maehata is closing in, Maehata is now leading. Come on, Maehata, Stick to it, Maehata! [Maehata shown here is Hideko Maehata, the first Japanese female Gold Medalist. (Gold for 200m breast stroke) "Maehata Ganbare" is still a well known phrase today.] Murakoso has been overtaken, Finland has taken over Muraskoso. But he is still... Tohge: Murakoso! Come on, there's only a little more to go! Oh...oh.. -------------- p.14 Journalists: Schteck won in the Javelin...71 meters 84. Man, Murakoso was so close. I heard he walked out, crying in frustration. Mr. Tohge, there's a phone for you on line. Tohge: Hello? This is Tohge, Kyogoh Press. Who are you? Oh. It's Isao! Where are you? Isao: (on phone) Souhei! Tohge: I've been looking for you for a long time. Since I got to Berlin. I went to your apartment three days ago but you were out. Isao: Sorry, I had to go somewhere.... Tohge: (on phone) So...how are you....? Isao: Yes. I'm fine. Which hotel are you staying at? Tohge: (on phone) Well, I'm going over there tonight. We really need to talk. Isao: Not tonight. Come to my apartment the day after tomorrow! At eight 'o clock. Please be there at eight. -------------- p.15 Isao: I have something important important to tell you about. Tohge: Hey, hey... are you trying to tell me how good your frau is? [frau = girl] Isao: No, it's very serious. It's really important information. I have to give it to you. Isao: (on phone) You'll be surprised! Isao: (on phone) If this is ever made public, it will be the downfall of Hitler... and the end of the Nazis. I want to give you that information. Tohge: Hey, what did you say? It's so loud I can't hear. Journalists: What's this? I guess Germany won again. (cheers) Winner of the hammer throw: Hein, Germany. Runner-up: Brusk, also of Germany! (cheers) (applause) -------------- p.16 (applause) Journalists: A Gold Medal for Germany again! I guess the Nazis' propaganda has succeeded! Look at the Fuhrer's face! Isao: (on phone) Then it's fixed! Eight o' clock at my apartment on the day after tomorrow! Don't be late! If you're late, things might turn out to be too late! Tohge: Damn, you're so exagerrating as usual! Yeah. I get it. August 7th, the day of promise... The pole vault started today, and it turned out to be an exciting meet, with three Americans competing against two Japanese. -------------- p.17 The meet was interrupted by rain, And the finals continued after sunset. Journalists: Not one of the spectators are leaving home! It's a breathtaking meet! Tohge: It's seven... Disqualified! At last, the battle is between Nishida of Japan, and Meadows of America. The stadium is pitch black. But the sellout audience is staying to see the outcome! Tohge: Damn, it's eight... But I can't return now... Oh! Nishida has burned out! He's been disqualified! -------------- p.18 The winner is Meadows, of the USA. But the crowd is also giving thunderous applause to the runner-up, Nishida, who fought on till the end. Tohge: Take me to West Street in Berlin University. Tohge: Isao.. he seldom goes to college and hangs around with some weird people involved in political movements.... Er... Yeah, it's here. Danke Schon. (climbing stairs) Tohge: Hey Isao... Hey, he isn't here. -------------- p.19 Tohge: What on earth is this mess... did he have a big fight or something? (ripping from note pad) Tohge: Doesn't seem like he ran away just because I was only two hours late... but it still is odd. There's something in the trees! Isao! -------------- p.20 Tohge: Isao! This is brutal...they stabbed you like crazy... Who! Who the hell did this!? Open your eyes and tell me! People: ..... ..... Tohge: Did anybody see the murderer? (windows being shut) Tohge: Didn't anybody see my brother being dropped? -------------- p.21 Tohge: (What is this? There's some white powder in between his fingers... Must be plaster or something... (siren) (brakes) Man: A citizen informed us.. we're from the Western District Police Department. -------------- p.22 Man: We'll take the dead body to the Police Station. Please come later. Tohge: Why can't I go along with you!? (siren) Tohge: Oh my god... Poor Isao... Tohge: (in car) Please take me to the Western District Police Department as soon as possible. If I had come on the exact time, this wouldn't have happened... It's my fault.... Yeah, he said on the phone that he wanted to give me something... That if it was made public, something terrible would happen... What was that powder in between his fingers? At that time...an incident from half a year ago swept back into Souhei Tohge's mind. -------------- p.23 It was the memory of a dead woman, found three days after her death among the forests of Mt. Goten in Kohama Village, Kawabe Country, Hyougo Prefecture. -------------- p.24 We could see from a glance that the corpse was that of a young geisha. It was time for Detective Yonema, section chief of the Hyougo Police. I was here with the other reporters because there weren't enough people covering the case. Reporters: Hey chief. Is the victim from Takarazuka? -------------- p.25 (glare) Reporters: He's not in a good mood.. Yoneyama: I dunno about that. Have to check all the geishas from Arima, Takedao, and Takarazuka. Reporter: That's a pretty brusque way to put it. Yoneyama: Can't say anything until we have an autopsy. Yoneyama: Are you Souhei Tohge? Tohge: Yes sir, I'm Tohge. Yoneyama: You're that Tohge from W University who used to be in the intercollegiate track championship? Tohge: Yes. Yoneyama: So you are! I used to be in the Track Team of Q University. I guess you became a journalist. Tohge: Yes, I'm with Kyogo Press. Reporters: Damn, now the chief's in a good mood. At times like this, it's better to have a well known guy with you. Yoneyama: Heard you're gonna be dispatched for the Olympics. Damn, I envy you. Tohge: By the way, I will temporarily be in charge of this case... nice meeting you. Reporters: Yeah, all right. That's the way to go. (glare) Tohge: Doesn't seem to be a very difficult case. Yoneyama: You think so? -------------- p.26 Yoneyama: This case is pretty rare. You have everything from handkerchiefs, matches, lipstick, tissues, all her belongings are taken away. And also....look in between her fingers. There's something like chalk between her fingers...or plaster powder... I don't like this. Doesn't seem to be just another love affair incident to me... Reporters: Er... Detective. Can we write that down as an informal comment? Yoneyama: Stupid! All of you fooled me and made me say some things... Sooner or later, the Prefectural Police will hand out the results. Just don't say anything before that. Tohge: Plaster powder... I wonder what she had in her hands... -------------- p.27 The identity of the geisha was soon known. Her name was Kinuko of a geisha house called Yoshigiku in Arima Spa, was pretty famous, and was called often by patrons. The investigation headquarters made a thorough list of all the customers who had any connection with her, and came up with an astounding 78 men. Entrepeneur, doctor, politician, writer, sailor, storekeeper.. there were all kinds of people... The detectives checked out each man's alibi on the day she died. -------------- p.28 However, the investigation moved on to the privileged class, who proved to be uncooperative. It took time to focus in on the suspect... On the day a convincing suspect was found, three witnesses came out stating that they had seen her walking with a president of some company! However the president was on a business trip to the United States. The investigation team waited for his return, but he unfortunately died during the trip. Therefore, the case was starting to become a labyrinth. In August, I was taken off from the case and was dispatched to Berlin.... And now I'm here. Tohge: ...... ...... -------------- p.29 Tohge: In that geisha case, I was a reporter..... Now I'm the relative of the victim... (brakes) Driver: Here's the police. Tohge: What! The dead body hasn't turned up yet? A car of the Western District Police should be here with my brother. What's going on!? Officer: We haven't had any reports about that. Haven't you mistaken it with the Eastern Police Department? Tohge: My German may not be that great, but I can tell East from West! Officer: When we called up the Eastern Police Department, we heard that they have a corpse of an Asian. Tohge: How careless can they be! -------------- p.30 Tohge: No! This is not my brother! Where has my brother been taken? Officer: Maybe it's in the North District. Or the south.. Tohge: Don't make fun of me just cause you think I'm Japanese! Forget it! I'm going to ask the people who informed you! I'm gonna ask the landlord which Police Department he informed. -------------- p.31 Tohge: Mr. landlord, I'm the brother of the man killed today... Landlord: Killed? Who? Tohge: The Japanese exchange student who lives on the 7th floor. The Police just came by. Landlord: Japanese on the 7th floor? We have no Japanese on the 7th floor. Tohge: Don't try to fool me. This is no joke. Isao Tohge of room 703. Landlord: I think you've got the wrong house. In room 703, we have a Mr. Kurtz, a salesman. Tohge: All right. There was a person killed in room 703 and was dropped outside from the window to the tree below. Don't tell me you don't know about that havoc. Landlord: I don't understand what you're talking about.... All right. Then let me show you Mr. Kurtz of room 703. Tohge: I don't know this Kurtz guy. All the clothes, furniture, and everything in that room is my brother's! Landlord: Is it here? Are you sure? Tohge: Yes! It's here! -------------- p.32 Mr. Kurtz: What's the matter, Mr. Landlord? Landlord: Yes, this person here insists that there's a Japanese in your room! Mr. Kurtz: As you can see, it's my room. I've been here with my family since 5 years ago. Tohge: No way! Mr. Kurtz: No way? I swear to God this is my home. Tohge: No! No! I'm sure it's here. My brother lived here until today. He was thrown off from the window. Landlord: He's a little cuckoo here. Mr. Kurtz: Do you want me to call the police! Please get out of here! Tohge: This can't be! Isao has disappeared. All his belongings and evidence that he lived has disappeared...and nobody even knows Isao! What the hell is going on here! -------------- p.33 (Sign: Embassy of the Japanese Empire) [This was Japan's official name until 1945.] Tohge: My brother... he was killed! And his dead body is missing. I'd like the embassy to find out. My brother's name is Isao Tohge. Diplomat: Killed? Hey, look for the file of a young man called Isao Tohge. If you say he's killed... where's his dead body..? Tohge: Yes, the Police took care of it and it has disappeared. Diplomat: That can't be! Secretary: I found it. Diplomat: As far as I see from these files, your brother has some problems! He's a member of a group of student Communist activists... We've had complaints from the authorities to the embassy. Tohge: Yes.... I've heard about that. -------------- p.34 Diplomat: He hasn't reported his present address properly... Look at this! "Address unknown." There's no way we can find out your brother's missing body if his address is unknown and he's marked by the authorities. Tohge: Isn't this the Japanese Embassy!? What is this cold attitude when a countryman has been killed! Diplomat: Well, we'll ask the authorities... But Germany is a friendly nation... We don't want people stirring commodity..... Tohge: Shit! Some way to deal with a fellow countryman! Damn diplomats! Isao....where did you disappear to.... -------------- p.35 Tohge: I'll find you out by myself. Just wait.... Tohge: These two mysterious two letters....and the plaster powder that was in between my brother's nails.... These two are the ponly evidence I have. The Berlin Olympics ended a few days later. The Fuhrer gave the audience of the world a lengthy speech and concluded that the event was a great success. Indeed, this was nothing more than propaganda which showed the power of the Nazis to the world. On the other hand, the Nazis were supporting General Franco's brutal rebellion. -------------- p.36 So... Reporters from all over the world were leaving Berlin one by one. Amidst the blazing sunshine, the heat of the Olympics suddenly dissipated. Souhei Tohge, feeling lonelier day after day, was desperately searching for information about Isao. Isao: He used to be in this apartment.... Man: I don't know. Woman: I have no idea. Man: Haven't seen a Japanese like that. Woman (shadow): That's Mr. Kurtz's house. Tohge: That's a lie! Man: I hate Asians! -------------- p.37 Reporter: Mr. Tohge, did you find your brother's dead body? Tohge: No.... But I'm not going to give up.... Reporter: This a real mystery.... but for instance, was the person who phoned really your brother? Was the dead body that disappeared really your brothers's? Tohge: Yes, it was. ....what are you trying to tell me? Reporter: Don't be offended by this. In Germany, you have strange missing persons cases, involving politics... Many people are disappearing from the face of the earth, thanks to ingenious tricks. Tohge: Yes, by brother had friends involved in political activity... but they didn't have to kill... a... Japanese..exchange student... Tohge: Isao was such a nice guy... Reporter: The Japanese press corps, including me, will return by train tomorrow morning...what are you going to do? -------------- p.38 Tohge: I'm going to stay here.... I'll find out till I find out till I use up all my travel expenses....Can't trust the Embassy. Reporter: I see. I know how you feel... Reporter: But if you smell politics, don't try to get in further. Tohge: Yeah. Reporter: There's something fishy about the Nazi regime.... Well, excuse me. Tohge: Now, I'm going to stay here and find out! Tohge: Can I get the cheapest room? Man: Passport please. -------------- p.39 Tohge: This is the only clue Isao left..... This initial should be a name. Maybe he wanted me to have contact with this man. He probably wrote it down before he got killed... But there are thousands of people with the initials R.W... Tohge: Let's see. I might as well cast a fishing line into the ocean.. until I catch a big fish. Tohge: I want to put on a personal ad... How much is the standard fee? Tohge: "This is Isao Tohge's brother. R.W. please call 42-5294." Man: Passport please. Man: Hmmm... You're a reporter of Kyogo Press? It's one of the companies we have press agreements with. Man: I'll give you a discount. I'll make it cheap. Tohge: Thanks very much! -------------- p.40 Voice: Mr. Tohge, there's a phone call for you. Tohge: Who is it? Is he Japanese? Man: He doesn't say his name. Tohge: Is this Mr. R.W.? Farmer: Nah. I'm a farmer called Otto Frick. Is someone listening near you? Tohge: No, it's just me. Farmer: All right. So how much are you going to pay me? Tohge: Huh? Farmer: Weren't you going to give me commision for the information I have? Farmer: OK, I'll talk about it, I saw your Japanese brother. Tohge: When? Where? Farmer: I'll talk about it when you come to my house. Tohge: I'll be there soon. Farmer: It's a village called Nustandorf in the suburbs. I'll be waiting. Tohge: There's a farmer in a village by the suburbs who knows Isao. For the first time, his existence is proved. ha! (realizing) -------------- p.41 Tohge: Who are you! Why are you in my room!? Rinda: Are you the brother of Isao Tohge? Tohge: Yes. You came because you saw that ad, too!? Rinda: I'm Rinda Weber. I know Isao. -------------- p.42 Tohge: Rinda Weber? Then the initials are... R.W.! Tohge: So it was you!? How come you know Isao? Rinda: I used to go to seminars with him. I used to like him... Tohge: What do you mean by "used to"? Rinda: After he went into political activity, he dropped out from the seminars and disappeared. Tohge: So.... have you been to the apartment where he lived? Rinda: No. Where is Isao right now? Tohge: He was killed! Rinda: No! Rinda: ........... Rinda: Just as I thought.... Tohge: What do you mean by that? Tohge: ........... -------------- p.42 Rinda: Things like that seem to be a fad right now. Tohge: Murder? But Isao is Japanese! Rinda: The authorities will even kill foreigners if they turn to Marxism. Rinda: I'm going home. Tohge: Wait. I want to know more about Isao. Can't you help me out? Rinda: But he died. Is there anything more to that? Tohge: Everybody says they don't know Isao. Tohge: You're a close witness. You're one of the few witnesses who claim to know him. Rinda: He existed. That's one thing I'm sure about.... I remember him kissing me. Rinda: Goodbye. Tohge: Wait, Rinda Weber. I would like to see you again! Where shall I make contact? Rinda: I'll come over here again. Tohge: Can't I have your phone number? Rinda: No. -------------- p.44 Tohge: Isao had a girlfriend like that... Now I'm pretty confident. Tohge: OK! Let's go over to the farmer's. Tohge: But why did someone ever see Isao in an such an inconvenient place....? Tohge: I see. Suddenly, the landscape changes into fields and orchards.. -------------- p.45 Tohge: Here.... It should be this house! Tohge: Is this Mr. Otto Frick's residence? I called you today. Tohge: Maybe there in the back. Tohge: The whole family has been massacred! -------------- p.46 Tohge: They fired indiscrimately... this is terrible! Tohge: ....o..oh my god... Tohge: They even killed his wife and children... Tohge: If they were shot a few hours after they called me.... it means that the culprits are still... (sound of something opening and shutting) Tohge: Ha- (door creaking open) (window opening and closing) -------------- p.47 (closing window) Tohge: That lump underneath the tree doesn't have any grass... It stinks to me.... Tohge: There's something underneath here! (digging) (digging) -------------- p.48 Tohge: Isao! Tohge: Isao....Isao.... being buried in a place like this....damn! Who the hell....treating you like scrap..... Tohge: Wha- -------------- p.49 (vroooum..) Tohge: Damn! -------------- p.50 (panting) (firing Ruger P08) Tohge: What! (bullet passsing by) (panting) (stopping) -------------- p.51 Man: Don't kill him! He's the brother of Isao Tohge! (panting) (panting) Man: Get him! (panting) (panting) (footsteps) -------------- p.52 Man: That guy is superman..... Tohge: Hello....hello...ys...a whole family has been massacred in Nustandorf... a..and there was another dead body in the back yard, which happens to be my.... (panting) Tohge: Doe this bus take me to downtown? Driver: Yes, it does. Please hop in. Tohge: Now the police can't ignore.... (being beaten by stick/truncheon) -------------- p.53 (blackness) -------------- p.54