Phoenix vol 1 translation

Phoenix volume 1. Flipped.

1 line = 1 panel
Space = new page.

Volcano...eruptions of the earth, the land convulses , writhes in agony and tries to live...
Its own blood..."
(SFX "Rumble rumble) "...flesh and pus...

..are spewn..." (SFX Rumble rumble)
Into rendered space. (SFX Shriek Scree Kraa Aauooo Rooar Arggh)
(SFX Rumble cha cha)

(Sfx "Rumble rumble rumble)
(sfx Bam)
(sfx Baroom)
(sfx Kaboom)
(sfx Thud Thud)
(sfx Bam)
(sfx Pow)

In Greek Mythology the god of the volcano is called Vulcan. Once Angered, his voice turns the air inside out and causes the sea ti tremble in fear...

Seething Filth envelopes the surrounding area in thickening layers...
...Entombing everything living and non-living."
In the midst of purgatory..."
...Through some whim of Vulcan...

..."There vravely winged a single life.
It was called THE PHOENIX, and sometimes the immortal bird
"Finally found you!"
"Phoenix!"

"The wise old hag was right after all! The phoenix appears on the day that the fire mountain becomes angered"
"I'll bring her down if it's the last thing I do"
"It's said that the one who drinks the lifeblood of this bird will never die" "and will live on just as she has lived...here on the fire mountain for time immemorial"
"Immortaility, just as the old hag said!"
"All right...She's landed..."
"Here's my chance!"

(SFX Criee)
"I got her! I shot her down! It's the phoenix! Heh..."
"WHAT?"
"S-still alive?!"
"It's useless. She doesn't die! With an ordinary bow and arrow she hardly flinches"
"well, I'll just have to take you with my bare hands!"

"Wheeze! Cough! You good for nothing devil bird! You filthy cartoon monster!"
"She's stopped"
"I've got you!"
(sfx scree)

"Aughhhh"
"HELLP!"
(sfx SPLASH)
"AGHH"

"Look Yonder. It's the SEA FIRE. Look how bright it burns in the waves"
 "They say that the glow is a sign of a person's soul crossing the ocean for a land far away"
"Nagi, it would be best if you gave up hope. It's too late for your sister"
"NO! You can't die!! "HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE LONGER!!"
"Nagi...Where's Uraji..."
"Brother went to catch the phoenix. To Help you..." "If you drink phoenix's blood, You'll be al right, so hang on until he comes back!"
"Eh?" Catch the phoenix you say? That's a fiendish bird."
"Listen, my brother's bow is the best around! He can bring down a bear with one arrow!" "If it was something that could easily be killed someone would have done it by now"
"Old man..." "Don't you believe in my brother??"
"Anyone who makes fun of my brother gets this!"

"NAGI!! STOP IT! Your sister's sick!"
"Curses! If only my brother was here!"
"URAJI'S BACK"
"See? Just like I said...Uraji's back! He's got the phoenix! Take that, you senile old fool!"
Ah...

AH! "BROTHER!"
"My Brother!!!!" "Uraji" "Uraji, you'll be all right!"
"It's too late! He's gone..." "He fell in a boiling pool on the fire mountain"
"URAJI" (Sfx BOM BOM)
(sfx BOM BOM BOM BOM"
(sfx WHA WHA WHA)

(Sfx BOM BOM BOM)
(sfx BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM)
"Uraji was a brave warrior" "He surely was, chief."
"We oughtta give him the best funeral in the village, huh?" "Right. And with Hinaku on her death bed and all..."
"Send Uraji and Hinaku off together out to sea. Couldn't be a better burial for a better couple..."

"Chief, something awful has happened!" "What's all this noise about? What now?"
"I was just checking the beach for the funeral, and there was this man washed up by the sea."
"WHAT?! What tribe is he from?
"I never saw anyone like him! His face! His clothes! Nothing about him looks anything like us!"
(sfx Scuffle scuffle)
(sfx PLOP)
(sfx ACK)

"Looks suspicious to me..."
"KILL HIM!"
"W-Wait"
"I've come from across the ocean. My boat was wrecked and I drifted here. I don't know where I am or what's going on. Don't kill me, please"
"What are you waiting for? KILL HIM!"
"I'm a doctor! My name is Em Dee. I'll do anything! Make me a slave...Anything..."
"A doctor?"
"He's got nerve" "Alright Bring him here!"
"See this man? Can you cure him?"

"But...he's already dead. Even I can't cure the dead."
"ALright, show hinaku.
"Here, this is the woman. She's the dead man's wife"
"Hmm...The rotting sickness"
"This woman walked barefoot across an open field. She must have cut her foot and the evil spirits entered her body and caused her body to rot. People usually die by the seventh night"
"Can you save her? If you can, I'll spare you life. But if not, you die"
"I'll give it a try."
"What kind of treatment have you fools been giving her? What on earth is this?"
"Don't you know anything? Cats and crows heads...You put one on the other and pray!

"You put fish bones on her forhead, Heat her back..." "Anad then you make her swallow tad-poles..."
"WHAT TH-!? THAT'LL ONLY MAKE HER DIE SOONER"
"Boy! Are you her brother? If you want to help her, run and bring me some mold."
"MOLD?"
"That's right, mold! And it's better if it's blue. Look for it and you'll find it everywhere."
"Collect Mold? Is he crazy?" "Hmph! Some weird superstition."
"Mind your words. This may be the way people heal in his country." "You couldn't cure her, so still your tongues and watch!
"I need more" Get enough to fill that bowl!"
"And then some oil make from beans!"
"And mix this with the mold..."

"And then have her drink it."
"Make her drink mold?! It'll grow all over her body!!"
"Listen this is the way we always cure people in my country"
"Think we can trust him, old man?" "Let him Try his hand."
"We've got to give her more. So keep bringing mold!"
"Don't just stand there! Help him!
"Say how's she doing?" "SILENCE!!

(Margin note: As is commonly known, blue mold contains a drug called PENICILLIN, which is highly effective in treating contagious diseases and festering wounds.
the sickness Hinaku is sufffering from appears to have been causes by bacteria entering a cut made  by dried grass, and is probably Tetanus, which Penicillin is very effective in curing.
Although today it is usualy given as an injection, in this age there was no such thing as an hypodermic, leaving no alternative but to drink it. In doing so, five times the amount required
for an injection was neccessary.

(Sfx Chirp Chirp Chirp)
(sfx Chirp Chirp Chirp)
"She's opened her eyes" "Hinaku!"
"SISTER!"
"Nagi..." (sfx Sniffle)
"She'll be all right now. The death spirit is gone."
"sister! Thank God! Thank God!
(sfx WHEW)
"And my life...?" "Ahm what the hell, I'll spare you. But in return, you take care of her".
"And when she's completetly recovered, I'll make you a slave" "I'm sure I'll be honoured."

"Why are you staring at the sea like that?"
"Because my husband is buried at the bottom."

"You're really quite a doctor, aren't you?" "I'm only sorry I couldn't save your husband."
"We usually kill or make slaves of foreigners here, but since I owe my life to you I'll make sure you're treated well."
"Hinaku, If I'm YOUR servant, I wouldn't mind being a slave"
"I want you to teach my brother Nagi."
"He's a good boy, but a little short-tempered"
"Did somebody say something?"
"I may be short-tempered, but I'm not dumb!"
"See I brought  you lunch!
"We dib't have any coffee shops or movie theaters around here, so I thought your date would be a little dull"
"You RASCAL"

"DATE?! How cold you say such a thing?!"
"Nagi, your sister's still recovering so you'd better not make her angry."
"She's not angry, she's just embarrased." "????"
"You know, Em Dee, I think of you as someone I can really look up to"
"I'll bet your country is fantastic, isn't it? "Wel..."
"Bet you feel really washed up on the boondocks here in Kumaso"
"We'll never get anywhere with witch doctors who can't cure anyone"
"Could you tell me something?"
"Why do people die?
"Well probably because their time is up"
"Then where do they go after they're dead?"
"Back to the earth of course."

"What?? Well there's no way I'm turning back to dirt" "I'm going to make sure I never die!
"That's why someday I'll go up on the fire mountain like my brother did and catch the Phoenix"
"Did you say the Phoenix??"
"Right if you drink her blood..."
"You don't grow older and you will never die"
"That bird, is somewhere on this mountain?"
"She is. Look! My brother brought back one of her feathers!"
"HUH?"

"But if the mountain doesn't shoot out flames, the bird doesn't appear!
"That's why she's hardly ever seen"
"HEEEY"
"Em Dee! Someone's hurt!
"Can you come help?" "I'll be right there!"
"See you later, Nagi!
"Heh Heh heh"
"Dear brother..." "Three months have gone by already" "Em Dee's a good man, and If you don't mind, I think it would be all right if Hinaku remarried"

"Drink up em dee!
(sfx Bam!)
"You next, Hinaku"
"All right, Now you're sworn man and wife"
"And as a symbol of the vow..."
"GIDDYAP" (sfx Clang, twinkly clash clatter) [Just Married]

"Em Dee, Old man, with this you're one of our tribe!"
"Look at all the people you've helped! You'r ea respected man!"
(sfx Snip)
(sfx clap clap clap clap"
"YAY" "HOORAY" "YAY"
"Sister, Em Dee, congratulations!" "Thank you, Nagi"
"Thing's couldn't be better."
(sfx fribbet fribbet fribbet)
"I Just remembered something. I'll be back in a minute"
"???"

"Oh it's you, Em Dee. Congratulations!!"
"Being on watch is hard work isn't it?" "Say the sea fire sure is pretty tonight isn't it?" "Aye..."
"I've never seen it as bright as tonight" "It's a bad sign..."
"They ssay that when the sea fire appears someone will die. Whoops, I shouldn't have said that with you here. Sorry."
"Is it true what they say about the sea fire being a light from another world?"
"Aye it's true all right. You can go all the way out there and you won't find anything like a fire anywhere"
"Oh?" "By the way, there's still some food over at the wedding banquet. Go and help yourself"
"ARRRIGHT! Thanks a bunch!

"Em Dee's up to something strange..."
(sfx ClACK)

(sfx CREAK)
(sfx CREAK)
"Warships..."

"The men in them are..."
"...Warrior's like I've never seen before! Ghost devil's of the fire sea?"

"Put out your torches as soon as you land, Saruta!" "Em Dee! Long time no see!"
"Good job! Leave the rest to me"
"All troops ashore! Advance in silence!
"saruta, promise me one thing."
"My wife's in the third hut on the left. Whatever you do, DON'T KILL HER. I beg you, please" "Heh, Heh, done"

(sfx WHOOSH)
(sfx THUNK)
(sfx ROAR)
"YIPE!"
(sfx ARF ARF ARF ARF, BOW WOW WOW) "Aaaaaaw, don't wake me from my drunken bliss..." "HEY IT'S A FIRE"
"OW OW OW" "OUCH"

"Attack from the front and ear! Spare no one, not even women or children"
(sfx AAAAAHHH AAAAAHHHH AAAAAAAHHH AHHHHH AHHHHHHH"
"OOMPH!"
"ACK!"
"HELP!"

"RRRR, A Sneak attack on the night of a celebration"
"All right you foreign bastards, CHIEF IRON KETTLE will take you on! Where's your rotten leader"
"Right here! SAURTA'S THE NAME! ON GUARD! (sfx KLANG)

(sfx KLANG)
(sfx CHING)
(sfx CHING)
(sfx KLANG)
(sfx CHING
(sfx SLAM)
(sfx CLANG)
(Sfx KLING, KLING, KLANG)

"Good god! "SISTER"
"Both my sister and the village...gone"
"I'll Show you devils!"
"AUGH!!"
"Taste this!"
"GAH"
"OUGH"

(sfx BAM, CHING, KLANG, KLANG, BING, BONG)
"CURSES!"
(sfx KABOOM)
"Saruta, or whatever your name is, you've got a good arm" (sfx BANG)
"Who's your lord ?! (sfx CLANG)
"Her majesty Himiko!" (sfx KLANG) "Eh? Himiko?"
(sfx ZUNK

"Hi-Himiko...seems I've heard of her..."
"She's Queen of the motherland...that uses sorcery"
"Aye! That's her majesty with hthe power to make crows fall from the sky and rivers change their course!"
"S-Saruta! Listen Well! If...If your leader is a...Woman, you too will be...destroyed"
"FINISH HIM OFF"
"....."
"Drag out the survivors and bring them here! "HELP!" "WAH! WAH!" "Get moving!" "NO! NO!

Are we all to be prisoners? "Aye, We'll probably be taken somewhere and made into slaves" "My baby too?" "I heear the women and children may be spared"
"READY, FIRE"
"NOOOO!" "HELP!!! "OH NO"
(sfx SPLUNK)

"Commander! This is too cruel! Even if they are barbarians..." "It's her Majesty's Orders"
"But what would you do if she told you to kill your own family, Commander, would you do it?" "Her Majesty's order's are absolute. Soldiers are meant to fight and that's all"
"Commander, you're inhuman! "I've heard enough!
"Push the dead into a hole and burn them! Then put up a headstone and read them their last rites!

(sfx THUNK) "COMMANDER!"
(sfx Poik)
"GET HIM"
"Wait, don't kill him! Bring him here!"
"Wish I'd killed all of you!"
"What's this? It's just a tadpole. What's your name, boy?"
"NAGI!! Younger brother of Uraji - The bravest warrior in the village! "You butcher...You've slaughtered everyone in the village including my sister!" "YOU BIG APE! I'LL GOUGE YOUR EYES OUT!"

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and kill me! Stab me...shoot me...just get it over with"
"You...I let live"
"WHAT?"
"Hate me, little mouse"
"I DESPISE YOU! [Arrow says "Vampire"]
"All right, go ahead and despise me. hate me as you please. And if you have a chance. Try and kill me."
"You'll come with me to my country." "Commander you must be joking! He'll really try to kill you!"
"Put him on the boat."
"Where's Em Dee? What happened to him?" "I don't see him anywhere"
"Heh heh, he did all right for a spy didn't he? Never did like spies, but maybe I was wrong."
"Guess I'll have to catch up on my James Bond reading"

"UHHHN..."
"NNGH"
"WHAT?"
"NO!"
"G-GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

"You were one of them all along...YOU TRAITOR!"
"You devil! Snake! "That's what you are, a poison snake! "Hinaku, please hear me out..."
"No! I won't listen to any of your excuses! "I was given this shameless work by the Queen I serve, her majestry Himiko"
"Shameless, you say? Are you really aware of HOW shameless?" "All too well"
"So why did you do it? You must be mad" "That's right. I'm crazy"
"Don't come near me!!!" "Go back! Go back to your murderous friends!"

"Well?! What are you waiting for? "I'm your husband, Hinaku"
"Husband? Ridiculous! How can an enemy call himself my husband"
"I shall never go back to them"
"I've run away. And when they find out, they'll come after me for sure."
"And they'll kill us both"
"Fine! Go ahead and be killed! THen I'll die too!" "No, I won't let you be killed.
"I'm going to protect you and live with you forever"
"HINAKU!"

"HINAKU, WAIT"
"This is near the crater of the fire mountain! If you go any further, you'll fall in a crevice!
"HINAKU!!!!"
(sfx RUMBLE)
(sfx RRR RR RRRR)
"HINAKU LOOK OUT!
(sfx BOOM)

(sfx RRRRRR SSHHHH)
"Oh no!" (sfx KRRRRKK  KRRRRK)
"HINAKU! HANG ON! I'M COMING!
"?"
"Nice place for a steam bath!"
(sfx SSSSHAAAA)
(sfx SPLASH SPLASH)
(sfx WOOOSH)
"HINAKU!"

"I'll save you!"
"YEOOOWW!"
"AAAH"

"WHA?"
"I-It's beautiful..." "The Phoenix...I've finally seen her"
"They say if you drink her blood, you gain eternal life!
"Hinaku... look..

Manga Note: Third century A.D The CHRONICLES OF WEIGH from the Three Kingdoms period of China contains the following account: "EAST OF KOREA, Across the Ocean, there is an island rules by a QUEEN HIMIKO. In order
to travel there one must pass through and far beyond the lands of MATSURO and ITO. The kingdom is called YAMATAI and its people wear tattos on their faces and bodies. Queen Himiko is adept at the art of sorcery and
rules over more than a thousand provinces, with the counsel of her younger brother. In the third year of JIN CHU,
this queen sent an envoy to our country of WEI with a proomise of submission ot the SON OF HEAVEN and presented dyed cloth and men and women slaves"
Whether this country Yamatai was Japan or an island in the south pacific, we cannot know. But it seems highly probable that it was the name of the Kingdom which first unified Japan. There are two opinions as to where HImiko's
Kingdom existed. One says it belonged to the area around Nara and another points to the island of Kyushu. In either case this account contains THE FIRST HISTORICAL MENTION OF JAPAN

"Saruta, welcome back" "Thank you, sire"
"Lord Susano appears in fine spirits" "Who's that boy behind you?"
"This is my new servant, your Lordship"
"Hmmm, a slave eh?" "That's not like you Saruta"
"So what of this rumour about the bird of fire?" "At present we only know that his boy's brother died trying to catch the bird"
"We were sent on her majestry's orders to search for the bird of fire rumoured to have the blood of immortality." "My sister...Hmmm..."

"Good job Saruta. You may retire."
"Where is my sister?" "Her Majestry is presently engaged in consulting the spirits. Please wait, sire"
"This scoundrel broke my loom! "No, it's MY loom, and he tried to steal it from me" "Enough you fools! Wait for the majesty's verdict!"
"The Gods have spoken"
"The man on the left speaks the truth. The one on the right breathes lies" "No, no that's not true! I..."
"The man on the right is sentenced to death!"
"Your majestry!! have mercy...Mercy..." "NEXT"
"Sigh! That's enough for today"

But your highness, It's still early and there are still plaintiffs waiting..." "GET OUT"
"ARGGH! Everytime I look at the cracks in that tortoise shell I get so incredibly angry!"
"This face...MY FACE..."
"NO NO NOOOOO!!"
"Looks like my sister is losing her touch."
"BOO HOO HOO I'm getting older...my face is getting as many wrinkles as there are cracks on that tortoise shell! BOO HOO"

"Getting hysterical again, sister?"
"Doesn't become you at all, does it?"
"Susano, watch your words!"
"Why all the worry?" "Leaves fall off the trees. People get old. That's the way things are."
"That may be true for common people, but I am different."
"I'm the QUEEN OF THIS LAND, and I should have the right to remain young and beautiful forever" "saying that won't get you anywhere"

"I'll show you! With the help of the Phoenix!"
"If that is what you're talking about..." "Saruta has returned"
"WH-WHAT? You say saruta's back?
"So what of the phoenix? Does she really exist?" "Relax. The rumours are true"
"And did Saruta get her?" "No such luck"
"The Phoenix is not a bird that is easily taken." "They say hundreds of men have staked their lives and lost trying to catch her"

"With an Arrow or spear she can never be killed"
"No one knows how many millions of years she has lived."
"According to the prisoner from the village of Kumaso, his grandfather was told of the Phoenix as a child by HIS grandfather."
"Moreover, the phoenix is clever. She has more knowledge than man and can dance, speak, and even write things that are difficult for us"
"At certain times she flies into a crater of fire and burns...only to reappear reborn"

"That is exactly the bird I want"
"The Emperor of Wei is after her too! We can't let him have her"
"Susano, please! I beg of you, bring me that bird! Send Saruta or a bowman - or go to the fire mountain yourself!"
"No, not me, sister! No matter how much you want that bird, I'm not interested.
"Let's go, little mouse." (sfx HA HA HA HEE HEE HA HA)
"Trying to make a fool of me, boy?
(sfx SPROING)

"All right, get in. This is my house."
"Have a seat. There's no one but me here. So relax."
"Why do I live alone? Because I'm an ugly cuss. No woman would marry me."
"That's enough of that, it won't get you anywhere."
"Now you're probably wonderign why I brough you here, eh?"
"You're good with a bow boy. Not anyone could have shot me."
"So you'll stay here at the capital and train." "???"

"I'll make you the best archer in the land."
"Here...your bow.
"Lord Susano gave me that bow as a gift when I fought the kingdom next to us. It's one of a kind"
"Then when you're the best archer in the kingdom, you can bag the phoenix with it."
"THE PHOENIX?"
"Right, you'll go back to the fire mountai nand shoot her."

"NEVER"
"WHY NOT?"
"You must be crazy if you think I'd shoot the Phoenix for my enemy!"
"Keep it anyway"
"How about forgetting this and eating something? Hungry, no?
"If you get sleepy, bed down on that straw."
"I'm a little beat myself"
"I'll kill you the moment you fall asleep you hairy gorilla!"
"Still bent on killing me? Why don't you give up before you regret it?
(sfx Zzz zzz zzz)

(sfx Zzz zzz)
(sfx Zzz zzz)
(sfx zzz zzz zzz) "UMPH)
(sfx SLAM, THUD)

(sfx THUNK)
(sfx zzz) "RATS!"
"Grumph"
(sfx zzz zzz)
"AHA!"
"YIKES IT'S HOT"
"Noisy little runt, aren't you?" "If you're going to put out the light for me, use that shell to smother the fire."
"GOOD NIGHT!

(sfx zzz zzz)
(sfx zzz zzz zzz)
"Hinaku...are you alive or dead...?"
"SISTER!"
(sfx zzz zzz zzz) "I'll get my revenge..."

(sfx SPLASH)
(sfx GARGLE gargle)
"Couldn't sleep a wink eh boy? I know how you feel"
"I can tell by the look in your eyes that you're thinking of killing me."
"But forget it. Even if you did kill me..."
"You wouldn't be getting revenge."
"Here, eat something I'm a soldier so I can't cook worth beans." "But try this rice." "It's the pride of Yamatai"
"How come you're such a stubborn fellow."
"This is the third day. How many more do you think you'll last without food, drink or sleep?"
"If you train with that bow and become an expoert, you can kill me anytime you want, you know."

"When the time comes, I'll let you kill me." "But for now, brighten up a little and eat."
(sfx CHOMP CHOMP GLUG MUNCH GULP)
"Changeeable little fellow, aren't you?" HA HA HA
"COME!"
"This is called DRAGONFLY FIELD. Lots of them, eh?"
"Well..." (sfx KAW KAW)

"Here it is!" (sfx KAW KRAA)
"What? There's a dead cow."
"I had it brought here and killed this morning." The wolves will get the scent of the blood soon and come running".
"This is a velley, and from here we can see all the surrounding hills. No matter which direction the wolves come from, we can spot them. The number you shoot depends on how lucky you are. Ready?

"Don't waste an arrow"
(sfx SPROING)
"You were able to nail me before, but it won't be so simple now, boy."
(sfx ZING)
(sfx THWACK)
"So forget it!"

"Pay attention to THAT instead! We've got company!
"Here they come...lots of them!!
[Movie star style]
(sfx SWISH)
[Kabuki style] (sfx FLEX)
(sfx Flex)
[Disney style]
[Grand Prix style]
[Broadway style]
[Student Riot Style] (GROWL) (HUMANS GO HOME) (EAT MEAT) (DOWN WITH HUNGER)

"Let them have it!"
(Sfx TWANG)
(sfx SWISH)
ARGH YEOW
(sfx ZIP)
(sfx ZISH)
"You're not hitting any! Taking better aim!
"If you don't hurry and shoot, they'll be on us!" (sfx TWANG ZING)

(sfx GRRRR)
(sfx SWISH)
"Don't pay attention to me, you fool! Keep shooting!"
(sfx SWISH, THORP, SWISH) "Whew"

(sfx ZING ZANG)
"YIPE YIPE" "AOOOOO EYOW"
"GULP"
[General Custer's Last Stand]
"All right! Good job! "You got 33 of them"
(Sfx PLOP)
(sfx ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ)

(sfx SHAAA)
"Be it rain..."
"Be it the east wing raging"
"Your prey appears only when IT WANTS TO."
"Learn to shoot, even if you can't see" "Make your body your eyes"
"No, not like that you fool! I mean to sharped your senses!
"Here it comes!

"Let your first shot miss and It's all over"
"WATCH OUT"
(sfx CRUMP)
"Ah...groan..."

(sfx KAPOW)
(sfx BAM WHUMP)
"Phew"
"You idiot! If I hadn't been here you'd be..."
"Nagi! NAGI!" "You all right? Steady, lad!
"You're not going to die, not from a little scratch like this!"

"I'll whip up all the herbs I know..."
"And put them down you whether you like it or not"
"Ah...ah...the stuff's gone up my nose...Ah..."
"AAAAAAH CHOOOOOO"
(sfx BAM CRASH)
"M. Saruta, would you please stop making such a racket!"
"Why did you take care of me?" "NAGI!"

"What's all that medicine that was in my mouth?" "Don't look at me."
"Saruta..." "Silence! Go to sleep"
"Just tell me one thing..."
"If you care enough to help me, why did you kill everyone in the village?"
"WHY? WHY?" "Well because her highness ordered me to"
"Her majesty is all powerful and her orders are absolute"
"Hmph! Majesty Shmajesty, she's just an old hag" "WHA-?! How dare you defile the name of my Queen!"
"OOOH!" "Her majesty is gracing us with an appearance!"

"She's looking this way!!" "What honor! What glory!" "Hmph! You look like some kind of overgrown groupie!"
"Long live her gracious majesty!"
"Hurry up and bow your head!"
"Who is that?"
"It's...it's commander Saruta, your majesty. "No, not Saruta. The runt crouching besides him!"
"Saruta, your Queen desires to know the name of the boy beside you." "The...The boy is called Nagi"


"Take the boy out and kill him!"
"WHA-?!"
"B-But your highness!" "That boy will someday bring disaster to this kingdom. HE EVEN PLOTS MY DEATH"
"Kill him, Saruta! For my safety! Cut him up and be done with him" "NOW!!! Do you hear? KILL HIM!!"

In the CHRONICLES OF WEI there is an account of Yamatai which says that in Jpan of that period, there were numerous Kingdoms, one of which was Yamatai, it was originally ruled by a king
but was succeeded by a priestess named Himiko."
What is in question here is how Himiko who was an Oracle of physcic medium, attained the throne.
This was likely accomplished by her use of incanctations and divination for she came to be known as a person with poower to change men's destiny...

And they began to fear and Honor her
(sfx SQUEEE)
[The following dialogue is supposed to be mirrored, though I will write it in it's proper form]
"God warts on" "No straw dog"
"There's only one tommy surko" "For my kind of girl Tommy surko says" (mirrored dialogue ends here) [Reflections on Himiko's words]
(sfx Twee twee twittle too)
(sfx bom bom bompity bom)
The belief in these incantations and the use of a spell caster to communicate with spirits is called SHamanism.
With her sociery Himiko was able to make not only Yamatai but also the surrounding countries obey her, and her power was awesome.

"Why do you hesitate? KILL HIM INSTANTLY!"
"I beg your majesty's understanding but..."
"This is a boy I am raising to be a hunter who can shoot the phoenix you so desire."
"That's irrelevant nonsense!!- "I've told you to kill him, have I not?"
"..."
"..."
"HUAGH"
"I beg your majesty's forgiveness...for this only..."

"WHAT?!" WHaven't you the courage to kill this gnat?!
"Your forgiveness...I will devote my whole life..."
"Unfaithful idiot!!"
"Du bist Ein talkenbacker! ich nicht forgive lowly soldier!!"
"Sister..."
"You intervene, comrade Susano?" "Forgive him, what's one slave matter?"
"No the boy seeks vengeance!" "Even if he does, what could he do to you, the Queen?"
"Saruta's one of your most faithful subjects and he's doing his best to bring you that immortal bird"
"Saruta! Today you shall be forgiven, but take heed!
"A curse on you all"

"Why couldn't you kill me, Saruta? "Kill you? What good would that do me?"
"Now that old hag Himiko hates you because of me, right?" "Silence! You talk too much, boy!"
"ARGH, YOW"
"Nagi, you're getting better with that thing, today marks one year, eh?
"Have a drink, you're already a great hunter"

"With an arm like that you'll have no trouble bagging me the Phoenix."
"The Phoenix?"
"But before that, there's one other thing I want to shoot first."
"Fool! You can shoot me anytime. Save your arrows for the Phoenix!"
"..."

"HEH! "HA HA HA"
"Kill you? I've got bigger game to shoot."
"Wait a minute, what are you talking about, Boy?" "That's for you to find out!" "See you later"
"WAIT BOY! Your words bother me..."

"Oro, what happened?
"There goes this year's rice tax. The goddamn officials have taken it all!" "I see..."
"JUST LOOK"

"Whaddya suppose we'll eat for next year?"
"Last year we had to eat grass every other day, and this year we worked twice as hard hoping we could cut it down to every third day"
"Poor mama, after she workd so hard and all..."
"Hey listen! I've got something important I want you to hear."
"IMPOSSIBLE! ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE!
"THINK SO? "Kill the Queen? Your eye'll be smashed and you'll be barbacued"
"THINK SO? "Of course! The Queen has terrible powers!"
"I'll show you that she's nothing more than a Woman" "..."
"TOKO"

"SCRAM!!" "BEAT IT!!"
"Listen Toko, before your mother and father were beheaded-"
"GET OUT OF HERE"
"I'm not going to let you bad mouth my mama and papa!" "Before your parents were beheaded, the Queen consulted the turtle shell, right?"
"She put the shell into the fire and decided that the cracks said your folks were guilty didn't she?" "Toko, do you believe in that kind of Justice?"
"BELIEVE IN IT?" "I just believe that my mother and father never harmed a fly!"
"Toko, JOIN US!" "This is the plan..."

"OOOOOO"
"Oooo SPIRRRRITS"
"OOOOOH"
(sfx SCREEEEEECH)
"Ha Heh, whew" "Her majesty is retiring..."
"Bring the fan!"
"Get some ice cream, quick!

"Whew! It's awfully hot."
"Sister, take it easy"
"It's all right since I'm taking care of foreign relations and the palace guard for you, but..." "Don't you think you should cut out this magic act?"
"Susano? What do you think you're saying!?" "Well, you may be the best sorceress in the land..." "But some of the people don't believe in your incantations anymore!"

"Then OFF WITH THEIR HEADS" "Relax, relax"
"The days when you could rule a country with sorcery are gone, you know" "I'm being laughed at by other countries, Yamatai should be a MODERN STATE, with proper politics and all" e
          "Susano! Stop your meddling in my affairs!"
"You're always acting like a godess!" "But the godess is getting pretty wrinkled.."
"My face! How dare you mention my face! "Why I'll...I'll get you! You won't get away with this!" (sfx DODGE)

(sfx SMASH CRASH KRAK SCRUNCH)
"SCREEECH!!"
(sfx KABLAM)
"All right...I ccan see what you've got up your sleeve..." "You plan to get rid of me and take Yamatai for yourself"

"Well that's too far off, if you keep this crazy sorcery business." "Someone sieze this man! Where is everyone?!"
"OUT! GET OUT!
"Sob..Sob...my face...my face..."
"Twenty years ago my fae was like a flower..." "But now the wrinkles and the smell of death are creeping over it one by one" "I can't stand it! I can't stand getting any older! I want to grow younger!

(sfx TWANG)

"AIEEE"
"You foul villain!" "Damn!"
"Get that rat!!"
"Bring Saruta here! Drag him here at once!!"

"Saruta! Fine job you did training that boy to kill me!"
"He...he shot at your majesty?!
"Throw Saruta into the CAVE OF HORNETS and let him taste the horrors that await those who defy me!"
"Your majesty! Allow me a chance to speak!"
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
"Commander, we're sorry, but since it's her majesty's order, we have no choice but to obey"

"NOOO!"
"HELP!"
"AIEEE"

"Sister, is it true you had Saruta thrown into the cave of hornets?"
"Why did you throw such a fine and loyal subject in there without a trial?"
"Because he tried to kill me."
"Where's the proof of that?"
"Where's the proof that Saruta's the one?"
"I won't put up with this any longer! Order him freed immediately!"
"SISTER!!"

"Susano! Let this help you remember my authority is absolute" "I'm a God! I can do anything! ANYTHING HEE HEE HEE!"
"Watch this then!" (sfx GLUG GLUG)
(sfx PTOOEY)

(sfx SLASH)
"Ugh"
"Ungh"
"EEEK!" (sfx KRASH) "If you're really a God, try and bring this back to life! HA HA HA"

"-ERP-"
"Susano has gone mad! Quickly...KILL HIM!"
"DOLTS!"
"There's a terrible ruckus over the palace!" "Something awful must be brewing!"
"Now that you mention it, the sky's a funny color" "I've never seen it look like that"
(sfx COCKADOODLEDOO) "And the rooster's crowing!"
(sfx ARF ARF ARF) "Even the dogs are barking and running around!"
"LOOK AT THE SKY!"

"NO! NO! "THe sun's being eaten! It's the end of the world!" "HELP!" "OH NO!"
"The sun is disappearing!"
"Your majesty, please use your power to quell the wrath of the Sun God!"

(sfx YIP YIP ARF ARF OWOOOO YAP OWOOO MOOO MOOO)
"Your Majesty please save us!"
"NO...NO...NO!"
"Your majesty!" "Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!"
(sfx KREEEK)
"Your highness, please come out! It's being used...

"YOUR MAJESTY" "YOUR MAJESTY"
"What...what will happen to us if the sun disappears?"
"Please! I beg you! Calm the Sun and make it whole again!" "HELP!"
"It's not my fault that the Sun disappeared! I know nothing...nothing!
"Sam McMuscle, push away this boulder and open the cav! Your brawn will bring her majesty out!"
"Guards if the sun disappears, evil spirits may start roaming about. Be on the alert!"
"AAAAHH" "AAAH" "HELP" "HELP"

(sfx KREEEK)
"Saruta!"
"Unh Ung"
"It's all right. The hornets are all gone." "It's so dark they're all hiding."
"Saruta, we've come to rescue you!"

"With this darkness and everyone over by the cave, now is our chance to get away!"
(sfx SPROING)
(sfx THWOK THWOK THWOK)
"WHAT HAPPENED?"
"UGH"
"ORO!" "ORO!" (sfx THUNK)
"You vermin..."
(sfx TWANG TWANG)
"Nagi, if you travel with your back to the Sun, you'll come to the Ocean, There's a boat hidden in the rocks. Dont't stop to rest. Take your boat and escape...to your country..."

"I'll never forget you, Oro.
"Saruta, hang on till we reach my country, please!"

The Sun became smaller and smaller until it appeared as a trembling sliver shedding a dark crimson light on the earth. Shadows of the living gradually weakened as Nagi
walked through the grass, trees, mountains, and rivers frozen in sleep. As he walked norhtward..."

"At last! The sea...just as Oro said."
"Oh God of the Sun, let me thank you. I don't know why you have chosen to become my ally, but thanks to the darkness, I escaped."
"But now I need some light! I have to look for the boat somewhere in these boulders.."
"Thank you Sun God!"
"Ah Here it is!"

"There's probably a big fuss back at the capital right now."
"They'll probably be coming after me pretty soon, but by then I'll be well out to sea"
"Winds! Blow us homeward! HA HA HA HA"

Note: Saruta's nose is swollen so his speech is a bit messed up.
"Where...Where am I?"
"N-NAGI!!" "Saruta, you've come to? You're at Sea now!"
"Oh...OOOOOOH...IT HURD..."
"I told you to rest!" "We're going back to my home, Kamaso!"
"So you're da one who brig me here..." "That's right! You were about done for."
"I...I...Wud aboud do die? Himigo trew me in da cabe"
"Just think Saruta, you were taking me back across this ocean as a slave one year ago."
"Now it's my turn to take you back to my country"
"I can neber go back to Yamatai..."

"OW OW OW"
"Wadder...Ow ow ow..."
"No! Don't put salt water on it"
"OOOOOHHH" "Don't be stupid, Saruta."
"WADDER! WADDER"

"I guess I'll just have to lick it for you." "Saliva's probably all right"
"All right, stick your nose out..."
"I hurd..." "Hold still...ready?"

"Don't move or I'll bite you"
"We'll just stay like this till we reach the shore"
(mugen.jpg)

"HOME!" "Home at last!"
"My country!!"

"My village!"
"..."
"We used to live right here..."

"My sister used to sit right here..."
"Hinaku..."
"Did you drag me here to remind yourself of your hatred for me?" "Don't worry, Saruta. I don't hate you anymore. Everyone's dead and more than a year has gone by. And besides, you only did what Himiko ordered you to do..."
"So forget it, Hey look there's a spring. Here's one thing that hasn't changed."
"If you cool yourself here, the pain will go away." "All right"
"Stop hurting?"
"OWCH!"
"OWOWOW"

(sfx SHOONK)
"Skipping this many frames is going a bit too far, isn't it?"
"What will you do now, nagi? You can't live here. QUeen's Himiko's troops will soon be coming after you. And she doesn't forgive deserters." "Coming after us? HAH!"

"You must be kidding. Think they'd really come all the way here just to kill us?" "No. What they're really after..."
"Is the Phoenix" "The Phoenix?"
"Her Majesty's getting old. Once she was young and her beauty was almost holy." "But she must be nearly sixty by now, and even she can't ignore the calendar. like every other human, but worse, she wants the blood of the phoenix.
"As you know, they say the Phoenix has lived for thousands of years, and that every so often she dives into a crater of fire and is reborn."

"Seems that the one who drinks her blood gains eternal life" "And the reason I destroyed your village on her majesty's orders is..."
"...Because she plans to make this a front-line base from where she'll launch a huge hunt for the phoenix."
"But why all the rush?"
"Oh, I get it! She's afraid I'll get the bird first!"
"Exactly."
"HA!" (sfx Ptooey)
"The Phoenix belongs to my village. No one else can have her!"
It's my turn next! I'll get her! Just wait and see!" "That old hag Himiko with her one foot in the grave would be better off choking on mud than having the Phoenix's blood!"

"YOU FOOL!"
"Nagi, you've got to learn to respect her power more!" "Saruta, you're the fool!"

(sfx KREEK)
"Bowman..."
(sfx SHK SHK) "Look at that red glow"
"That's the fire mountain where the Phoenix lives"
"I went to great lengths to obtain an archer of your calibber from Yoma." "And now I want you to bring the Phoenix down with a single arrow"
[GLARE]
"..."

"You seem to lack manners."
"They told me that people of Yoma were primitive, and it appears true indeed"
"I have no interest in old people" "WHAAT?"
"HMPH!"
"I just do as I'm asked"
"And I'll shoot your Phoenix!"
(sfx SWISH)
"What's the arrow?
"That's right woman, it's made of Iron"

"The tip is barbed so once it hits the bird it can't be withdrawn. And it's Iron, it can't be broken."
(sfx CHIRP CHIRP)
(sfx WHOOOSH)
(sfx CHIRP CHEEP)

(sfx SPLASH)
"Bravo, bowman!"
"With you, the Phoenix is as good as mine!" "Saruta and your brat, you'll not take her from me!"

"Look at the lightts on the sea, Saruta.
"They've finally come for us!"
"I'll stay here ad hold them off." "You escape to the mountain"
"No, Saruta, you've got to come too!"
"?"
"Look at your nose!"
"It's...HEE HEE HEE!" "Go ahead and laugh!"
"Soaking it in water made the pain go away, so who cares what it looks like!"

Manga note: According to Japanese mythology, as the God NINIGI NO MIKOTO descended from Heaven, he met the strange God SARUTA HIKO NO MIKOTO. Saruta Hiko no Miroto is generally regarded as the ancestor of the TENGU
, a unique goblin of Japan with an awesomely long nose. In paintings, the Tengu is often depicted as an ascetic, and although his long-nosed countenance appears very stern, it bears a a striking resemblance
to that of the PROBOSCIS MONKEY that lives in BORNEO. It is possible that the ancesotrs of the present Japanese, who in ancient times migrated from the South Pacific, made their impressions of this money into the Tengu.
"Look It's already sunrise!"

"Hurry up! They'll be here by the time the Sun is overhead!"
(sfx Chirp chirp chirp)
(sfx Chirp chirp chirp)
"Look!" (sfx FLAP FLAP) "Saruta what's that? That bird...it's glowing!" "Ah! Looks like the Phoenix!"

"So that's the Phoenix."
"All right, she's as good as ours. Saruta, you wait in the shade until I return."
"NAGI, be careful she's flying towards the crater"
"Wherever she goes, I'll get her!"
(sfx SPLASH SPLASH)

"Damn it! It's my legs against her wings. It's too much of a handicap!"
(sfx Huff huff)
(sfx huff huff)
(sfx SPLASH)
"SPA"

(sfx huff puff)
"Whew"
"Nagi..."
"WHA...?"
"I could have sworn I heard a voice inside my head."

"Nagi, I..." "WH-WHO'S THERE?"
"It's me! I'm right in front of you." "What? The Phoenix? Speaking? That's ridiculous!
"No, it's not ridiculous. I'm really speaking to you." "My mouth and tongue are different from yours, so I can't communicate by speech. I'm talking to you with my mind".
"Nonsense! The heat must have gone to my head!
"In the first place, how do you know my name?"
"I heard you talking to Saruta."
"Y-you know about Saruta too?"
"YOU DEVIL BIRD! So you know my arrow will find it's mark, eh?"
"Of course I know, but you cannot succeed. I am immortal."

"Why is it that you never die while we humans must? It's not fair! "Not fair, you say? What do you humans desire? Immortality? Everlasting happiness?
"How do I know? "But to be immortal like you..." "Nagi, look in front of you"
"Look at the insects. They are alive too. But only for six months"
"The mayfly's life is even shorter. Once it matures, it lives but three days."
"And it doesn't complain." "What do bugs know?"

"In the life bestowed them by nature..." "...Insects grow, eat, mate, lay eggs, and die satisfied."
"Men live longer than the insects, dogs, cats, or monkeys." "If they realize the joy of living in the life they have..."
"...Isn't that happiness?"
"I don't know what you're talking about..." "But this I know for sure, I'm going to shoot you!"
"Nagi, if you refuse to understand, you must die too!" "I'll drink youre blood before I do!"

(sfx SHLIP)
"HELP!"
"BLAST IT!"
"IT'S...IT'S YOU...EM DEE!"

"W-wait!" "Traitor and coward! I avenge my whole village!
"Waut! Listen first, Nagi!! Your sister is still alive!!"
"My Sister's alive?" "You lie!" "YOU LIE!" "Trying to pull the wool over my eyes again?" "It's true! Believe me, she's even had children!"
"CHILDREN? WHOS?!"
"M-mine"
"NO! NO!" "IT CAN'T BE!"

"We were married, and as husband and wife.." "We have the right to have children"
"No! I won't allow it! I don't believe it! "The murderer of everyone in the village is the husband of my sister?" "My sister couldn't do that!"
"Come"

"HINAKU!"
"Sister! Thank God you're alive! "Nagi! You're...you're all right!"
"Hinaku, you're a fool! Why are you living with Em Dee?"

"He's a spy...a traitor!" "He killed everyone in our village, even the women and children" "How can you live with someone like that?"
"We're the only one's left from the village..." "And you are saying..."
"You can't leave EM DEE?" "Is my sister that heartless? Have you gone mad!?" "Nagi, listen!
"I wanted to kill him. For a while I loathed the sight of him."

But even if I did kill him, what good would it do? Would it ease my hate?"
"None of the people who died in the village would come back to life and besides"
"I decided to remake the village by having as many children...as is possible" "WHAT?"
"What? What kind of nonsense...? "I'll have a hundred or even two hundred..."

"I'll bear a thousand children before I die! And then, when they grow up they'll have children of their own..." "And those thousands will make a new village!"
"How many years will that take?" "Well, maybe five hundred or a thousand..." (sfx WAAAH WAAAH WAAH_
(sfx WAH)
"Hush now! Hush! (sfx WAH WAH WAH)
"Look! Here are my children! (sfx WAAAAH WAH)
"See?"
"See?
"You...you had this many in only a year??" "I had quintuplets, silly"
"Five of them?" "And we ain't the Osmonds!"

"Hee Hee! Just like having puppies!"
(sfx BONK)
"Well, if it takes a thousand years, you won't be around, you know" "Of course, but the Grandchildren of the Grandchildren of their Grandchildren will"
"And what happens if the village is destroyed again?" "Well someone will just have to have more babies"
"After all, if I don't someone will." "GOSH, Hinaku, you're amazing!"
"But as for me..."
"I don't ever want to die!"
"And you too, sister! Once' you're dead, it's all over you know!
"Of course."
"That's why I'm hunting the Phoenix every day now!"

"But I've got to catch that bird for Hinaku! If I can give its blood to her she won't have to die and can bear one thousand children!"
"It's the least I can do to atone for my crime" "Please understand, Nagi."
"Sure, I understand." "I'll forgive you for my sister's sake"
"But I'll never let you have the Phoenix"
"I'm the one who'll shoot her!" "You'r efrom Yamatai. I'm from Kumaso and the phoenix belongs to Kumaso!
"I'll shoot her and bring the blood back to Hinaku!"
"Nagi, why must you go? won't you stay with us?!"

"Stay at least a night! We've so much to talk about." "No, I can't stand to be around Em Dee. I'll see you. Take care!"
"At least take this medicine with you." "What medicine?" "It's a a poison antidote! It'll come in handy."
"Em Dee make this?"
"NAGI!"
"Please! For me!

(sfx RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE)
"Attention troops! You've but one objective: The Phoenix which dwells in the fire mountain! "To the man who brings down the bird, regardless of his station, I shall give three mountains, three forests, and ten slaves!"
"LONG LIVE HER MAJESTY" "HURRAH"
(sfx Rumble Rumble)
"Bowman! Where's the archer?!"

"Bowman! Where are you?"
"What? What kind of good-for-nothing are you? We've finally reached the mountain and you're still boozing it up!"
"What's your beef? Trying to tell me to drink soda pop?"
"You tax my patience! If your drunkeness makes you miss the Phoenix..." "I'll show no mercy!"
"FEH"
"HAAAA"
(sfx TWANG ZIP
"Yikes!" "LOOKOUT!" "WAAAA!" "OOPS"

(sfx THUNK)
"OOOO" "OOOO" "WOW "FANTASTIC!"
(sfx PTOOEY) "I-Incredible!"
"Your majesty, we found ashes from a campfire in the ruins of the village up ahead." "And someone had dropped this arrow your highness"
"Hmph! This is that boy's arrow, all right." "Were the ashes cold?" "There was some still some smoke and it looked like they had left only hours ago"
"PURSUE THEM!" "Yes, your majesty"
(sfx BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM)

"Heh heh heh"
"WHA"

"Who goes there?"
"Bowman of Yoma"
"Bowman eh? I've heard of you."
"And you are Saruta. I've heard of you too."
"What are you doing wandering in this place"
"I'm not the only one. Five hundred thick-skulled soldiers follow behind." "And we're after the Phoenix, you, and the boy."
"Queen Himiko hired you for this?"
"Yes, and therefore I must challenge you." "Where's your weapon?"
"I have none"
"Well, it won't be much of a match if you don't have any." "Make yourself a bow. I'll wait."

"In another hour the soldiers will be all over here, can you make one by then?"
"All right." (sfx KLINK)
(sfx WHITTLE WHITTLE)
"I consider myself lucky to be matched against as worthy a foe as you." "After this..."
"It'll be even easier to take the Phoenix"
"THE PHOENIX?"
"Right, I'm staking my bow and life on her"
"For what?"
"For what? To give to that old hag. Once I bag my bird, my work is over." (sfx PTOOEY)

(sfx TWANG TWANG)
"Well, shall we begin?"
"Wait a second, I want to warm up first."
(sfx SWISH SWISH)
"And last words, Saruta?"
"Yes, if you catch the Phoenix, I want you to give it to someone other than her majesty."
"And Whom might that be?"
"A boy called Nagi."

"My son."
"Since you don't need the bird, give it to him" "I'll think it over"
"Ready Saruta?"
"Count to three! On three, shoot!"
"..."
"One..."
"WHAT?"
"Two..."

(sfx Kree)
"AAAAH"
"NAGI!" "SARUTA!"
"So this is your son, eh?"
"Son?" "You're lucky to have such a fine boy with such good aim"
"Did you say I'm your son?!"
"No...there must be some mistake..."

"So you're not his son?!"
"No! We're not even related! Who said we were?"
"No one here..."
"Saruta! We'll meet again...perhaps in hell!
"Heed my words, even you two are no match for five hundred soldiers."
"Stay away from the crater! Cross this mountain and flee!"
"Travel over three mountains and you'll be in Matsuro" "You'll be safe there, take care of yourself."
(sfx SWOOSH)
"Let me go!"
"No, Nagi! He may be right! Forget the Phoenix!

"We'll live a lot longer if we escape!" "NEVER!!"
"I'm not going anywhere until I get the phoenix."
"You stupid fool!!
"What about you? Why don't you forget about me and save yourself?"
"Think I'm going to leave you just to save my skin?"
"Forget it!
"Saruta, I like you. That's why I want you to save yourself."
"Like me? You meant that?" "Say it again!" "Sure! I like you. I like you a lot!"
"Once more..." "Don't tell anyone because I won't say it again."
"Please tell me just once more..." "I like you. I really like you!"

"Well, where's my Phoenix?"
"Your majesty, It's Sunday so perhaps the bird is resting--" "Enough of your foolish jokes!"
"With each day wasted a new wrinkile stretches across my face."
"Your majesty! The Phoenix has been caught!
"Bring it here quickly!"
"At long last!
"This is nothing more than a common pheasant, you idiot!"
"And this is a crow!"
"Wh-what exactly does a Phoenix look like, your majesty?" "I-I really don't know"

"Look! When that many birds start leaving, it's a bad sign."
(sfx QUACK QUACK QUACK) "There's not a bird or beast left on the mountain" "Something's brewing. It's a bad omen." "Silence! You're hurt and now you're so frightened and babbling nonsense"
"No Queen! What i say is right!" "I don't need to hear any of this"
"Sound the drums to advance! All troops forward to the center! I'll protect you with my powers!

"So the humans have finally come."
"How foolish they are! Don't they even know this mountain is about to explode in fire!"
"So where's the Phoenix?" "Ahhh! There's the crater already!
(sfx Rumble)
(sfx Rumble Rumble) "Watch out! Something's happening!

(sfx BOOM)
"Show your anger, mountain! Show your anger!
(sfx BLAMM)
(sfx BOOM)
(sfx KA-BOOM)

(sfx KA-BOOM)
(sfx TOOM TOOM TOOM) "HELP! "HELP!"
(sfx SPLAT) "AUGH!"
(sfx THUNK)

(sfx KRAK) "AGHH!" "HELP!"
"YOUR MAJESTY, HELP!" "The fire mountain has..."
(sfx RUMBLE RUMBLE)
(sfx BOOM)
"Hinaku! Get out of there!"

"Hinaku! This is no time to cower! We've got to get out of here now!" "No! No! Once I step outside the children will be hit by stones and killed!"
"Don't be stupid! It's even more dangerous in here!"
"AHH! A river of fire coming this way!"
"We'll exit stage left! You'll be able to climb to safety once we reach the cliffs!

"Look dear! Our house!" "We don't have time to look! Keep running!
"Here's the cliff, I'll go first and you follow behind me, all right?
"What are you doing? You're bleeding!" "It's all right. This will leave a mark on the rocks. Just follow the tracks of blood!"
"But if you keep bleeding..." "Don't worry. A man can lose one third of his blood and still live." "It's written in the medical book of Wei"
"Hurry up!"

"Quick! Keep climbing! What's the matter? "I...I can't go on..."
"Give me the babies!" "I twisted my ankle...I can't walk!"
"Hang on to me and don't let go." "All right..."
"Once we get to that ledge we can rest!"

"We made it!"
(sfx RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE)
"NO! A NEW CRATER! (sfx KABOOM)
(sfx FWOOSH)
"EM DEE! HELP!
"NOOOOO!
"NO! NO! MY BABIES! MY BABIES!
"It's too late! You'll have more later!
(sfx SHOOM)

"AIEE!" (sfx KRAK)

(sfx ROAR)
"It's no use. We're trapped."

(sfx RUMBLE RUMBLE)
(sfx RUMBLE RUMBLE)
"We've been buried alive. Our children and even these beasts are all buried alive..."

(sfx KRAK)
(sfx FLASH)
(sfx RUMBE RUMBLE KABOOM RUMBLE RUMBLE)
As super-heated volcano vapors rose into the atmosphere , forming rain clouds, thunder boomed and torrential rains fell,
only to meet the boiling lava and be sent steaming skyward again...A battle between fire and water that has been repeated for millions of years..." (sfx SHAA SHAA)
(sfx HISS HISS)

(sfx THOOM)

"SOB!"
"Stop crying Hinaku"
"Each tear you cry wastes precious water." "If you're going to cry, save your strength to make milk for the babies, understand?"

"Water's as precious as blood for us now." "We don't know how long this trickle will last"
(sfx SHAA SHAA)
(sfx SHAA SHAA)
"See, Nagi? Just like Bowman said, if we cross these three mountains we'll be in the land of Matsuro."

"From what I've heard, they have a lot of contact with Wei and are quite prosperous." "Remember Em Dee? He went to Matsuro to study medicine."
"Say, are you listening to me?"
"You know, I served her majesty for thirty years. Like you, I lived for one ideal."
"For thirty years I wasted my life." "And what do you suppose I've got left?"
"Only my own stupidity, that's what."

"So you see Nagi..."
"I don't want you to waste your life the way I did." "There are all kinds of things to live for."
"ENOUGH."
"You're the one who told me it was my job to get the Phoenix right?"
"Well I'll get her! You go wherever you want. I'm staying here!"
"Don't you understand anything!?
"The Phoenix is everywhere! "LIAR" "There are Phoenixes everywhere you look!"
"Lets Go!!" "NEVER!!!" "You Fool!"

(sfx SPRASH BRRRP PLOUF) "Never!"
(sfx KRASH)
(sfx GROA)
(sfx SWOOSH)

"Time to go, boy."
"HINAKU"
"What?"
"Nothing."

"I wonder how many days we've been in here? It's amazing we're still alive!"
"If man wants to survive badly enough, he can."
"Forget the baby! It's dead!
"HEH HEH! IF I put him down, the animals will eat him."
"What's the difference? We've eaten the animals that died haven't we?"

"No! Never! Never! "I'm not going to give him up! "He's my baby! My baby!"
"What a pity! if we could just get out she'd regain her senses."
"Over half the animals have died."
"They dig and die and the living eat the dead to go on digging. Strange, they work as if they promised not to fight each other"
"Even that blood-starved wolf..."
"!"
(sfx OWOOOO OWOOOO)
"WHAT??"
"What is it?"

"A draft!
"It's coming through this hole!
"YOWLP!" "The Smell of fresh air! Good boy! You've done it!
"Hinaku! Look! There's an opening!
"I'll go and see where it leads. Wait till I come back!"
"Light! There's a light!
"A way out!"

"..."
"Ah..."
"Ah..."

"NO!"
"NO!I've made it this far and now I've this impossible wall in front of me! I'll never be able to climb it! Never!
"Am I to wither up and die at the bottom of this pit?"
"Oh God of death!" "Strike me down now! Oh towering wall..."
"Please crush this body of mine!"

"Grass!" "How can there be so much in this pit?"
"It must have fallen from the opening! "It grew with a little sun and water"
"Ugh..."
"It's edible"
"It...tastes good!
"There's plenty to eat!"
Em Dee stuffied his mouth, chewed and swallowed, then repeated the process again.
The Light shone through the opening overhead, bathing Em Dee and the crater floor in its warm rays and seemed to call forth a new strength, a new will to survive.
"I'll show the world! Hinaku and I will stay alive!" "There's sunshine, water, Grass1 Plenty of everything! This will be my castle!

"Hinaku, come up! There's blue sky! You can see the Sun!"
"WHAT?"
"THE PHOENIX!!!"
"The Phoenix is here!"
"She's landed!" "Looks like a nest," "So this is her hideout!"
In some strange twist of fate, Bowman, in search of the Phoenix, sat silently waiting for days on end only a few hundred yards from the pit in which Em Dee was trapped.
And at the same time another hunter of the Phoenix was fleeing from the fire mountain to the North...Nagi.

"Wonder what happened to this village?" "There's not much left of it."
"This fellow hasn't been dead for long."
"Look at these strange tracks!
"I've never seen an animal like this. Looks pretty big to me." "Think it's a deer?"
(sfx LOP KLOP KLOP KLOP) "What's that noise?"
"Nagi, watch out! Take cover!

(sfx KLOP KLOP KLOP)
(sfx GROOAR) "AGH!"
(sfx SHOONK)
(sfx ZIP ZIP ZIP)
(sfx THUNK THUNK THUNK)
"Nagi! Catch this bow!

"UGH!"
"GWAH!"
(sfx SLAM) "ALIGGH"
(sfx BASH)

"WHIEEE!" (sfx SPLASH)"
"Nagi, you all right? Saruta! Look at the animal they were riding!"

"They didn't seem to have any trouble riding them!" "They must have trained them like dogs!"
"I'll give it a try myself!"
"WHIEEEE!"
"Nagi, don't be stupid!!"
"I'll show him!!"
(sfx BONK)

"I've had enough of your stubbornness!"
"I get it! You just hold on to these ropes and you don't fall off"
"WHOA!" "And if he starts to throw you, you pull his head back"
"Saruta, look! Not bad, eh?
(sfx BONK)
Manga note: Originally there were no horses on the islands that comprise Japan. They were animals from the continent and were brough over later by men - probably MONGOLS, who had used them for their many invasions
on the plains of Asia. These horsemen crossed over from KOREAN PENINSULA to the TSUSHIMA SANI and NORTHERN KYUSHU AREAS OF JAPAN"

"This is fun! Easiest thing in the world, once you get used to it." "Why don't you ride too, Saruta?" "Don't be ridiculous! How can a man fight on a thing like that?"
"HALT!"
"Where did you men get that Horse?" "And who are you?"
"We're from Kumaso, on our way to Matsuro." "Is this Matsuro?"
"Matsuro?" "We destroyed it!"

"I'm called Ninigi" "Serve me and I'll use you as slaves. Refuse and you die. How about it?"
"Slaves? Hah! I just escaped from slavery! "WE DECLINE"
"Then there's no choice. Kill them!
"Know the wrath of the Takamagahara people!"
"WAIT!""
"What nonsense is this, Uzume?"
"S-SIRE! Please spare these men!"

"Why do you beg for their lives, Uzume?"
"B-Because I felt sorry for them."
"Hmmm. Well, if you must intervenem, you must marry the big one, you know."
"Oh I will! I will!
"WAA HAHA" "WA HAHA  HA "HAR HAR" HAR" (sfx WHIEEEE!)
"?" "?"
"HAR HAR HAR" HO HO HO" (sfx WHIEEEE) "So be it! Go see what he has to say!"
"?"

"?" "My, what a magnificent nose! Are you married? Single?"
"I'M A BACHELOR!!"
"Truly? Then please be my husband.
"MARRIAGE!?!"
"Never! Don't come near me! Not on my life! "But it's already decided..."
"But if you don't marry me, you'll be killed!"
"NEver! Go away, who'd want to marry a face like yours?"
"Killed? Don't be ridiculous!"
"But you don't know what an awful man Ninigi is!"

"Ninigi? Ha! I'm a warrior of Yamatai and I'll never die a dog's death!" "That may be fine for you, but about the boy??"
"You can't escape. There's a wall of archers around you!" "ARRRR..."
"..."
(sfx THUD)
"I'll marry."
"HO! HO! WA HA HA HO! HO HO HAR HAR" "Marry, he says? The ugliest woman in the world and a man no woman could touch?!"

"HEE HEE" HOHOHOHO" "HAR HAR" "HA HA" "HA HA" "CHUCKLE" "SNORT" "GIGGLE" "HO HO HO HO" HAR HAR HAR" HEE HEE HEE" YUK YUK YUK" "HAR HAR" HA HA HA"
"Take that boy off the horse!
"Slaves walk!" "CURSE YOU!"
"FORWARD!" "We'll marry Uzume and the slave when we make our next camp!"
"Tonight, after the wedding, when everyone's asleep, we'll kill that Ninigi and escape. Wait till then!" "Haven't we had enough of waiting??"

Manga note: Who was Ninigi and his band?
Scholars theorize that the TAKAMAGAHARA people were a mounted tribe- a horseback nation- that was active in the regions of NORTHEN CHINA and MONGOLIA from the third to the fifth century A.D.,
and that they came through the KOREAN PENINSULA in large numbers to invade the islands of JAPAN. The native inhabitants were subdued one by one and eventually the state of YAMATO was established with Emperor
Jimmu as it's head.
According to Japanese mythology, Ninigi was a God was descended from Heaven to MOUNT TAKACHIHO but in reality he was probably chief of a nomadic tribe.

(sfx DOM DOM DOM)
(sfx DOM)
(sfx DOM)
"Ohhhh...Groan..."

"Water..water..sacred water..
(sfx SPOOSH)
"WHY DO YOU STOP CHANTING?"
"They continue your highness...as you hear...
"I can't hear them!! I can't hear anything!!" ""Your majesty, it must be your ears. Ever since you were hit by that falling rock at the fire mountain.
"Fire mountain? The spirit of that place has cursed me, but I'll show it! I'll lift the curse with prayers!" "After all, The gods are on my side..."

"WHAT?!"
"What we've feared has finally happened!" "People all over the land have stopped believing in her majesty's powers!" "And they're converging on the palace!" "Can it be true?"
"Guards! Order the guards to throw them back! "It's too late even for the guards!"
"It doesn't matter! Use Fire! Arrows! Kill a hundred or two! Just drive them back!

"Look! They're coming from all over! This would never have happened if her majesty was well!
(sfx GRRR ROAR GRRR ROAR
"This is her majesty's palace!" "The glorious Queen's sacred grounds!" "Go back!! Go back!!"

"Send out Queen Himiko!" "Is it true her highness is sick?" "Why don't her spells cure?!" "Aye we've been fooled! We'll never believe in her sorcery again!!"
"Get back!! DISPERSE!! "If you don't we'll kill you all! "Kill us? Go ahead!" "We've been fooled enough by her hexes and incantations! Enough of her politics!"
"FIRE!!"
"HELP!! "AIEE"
"AGH!" "HELP!" "UGH"
"GAGH"

"KILL THEM" "COWARDS" "KILL THEM"
"Looks like it'll take more of this to drive them off! "Shall we grab about ten and make examples of them, sir?"
"No! That only happens on her majesty's orders."
"They are massing out of range of arrows."
"..."

"It's a time of emergency, your majesty!" "We beg of you, relinquish the throne to one of us!"
"Why?" "Please give us 'The seal of Japan' Which was given to you by the emperor of wei." "You're old...and in your condition..."
"TRAITOR!" "I don't forgive treachery!"
"KILL HER!!" "SHRIEK!"

"Tell me I'm too old will you? Ha ha ha ha you're just after the throne!!" "I'm still young!!"
"I'm as ageless as the heavens! "I'll never die! Look...look at this..."
"First a pirouette" (sfx BONK) "WOOPS! Ouch" (sfx THUD)
"B-Bring Susano!" "I was afraid of this..."

"I'm all right...Just bring him here..." "But Lord Susano was thrown into the dungeon for treason, your majesty!" "HURRY!"
(sfx KREEEK)
"What could she want with me now?" "We don't know, Sire."
"What strange whim makes you call for me, a man you yourself have proclaimed, Mad?"
"Susano, my brother, you're the only one who can help me. You've always had a way with the masses..."
"Calm the crowd in front of the palace and have them go home. Tell them I'm still healthy." "You are in a pitiful state, aren't you?"
"Help me and I'll forgive your previous violence..." "I have my own terms, if that's the case."
"Forget the spells amd chants!" "I've told you over and over that the days of ruling people by fear are over"

"SILENCE!!" "After I had you released you have the insolence to lecture me?" "Can you afford to ignore me with the mob at the gates?"
"Listen to me! Yamatai will be reborn modernized! So she can associate proudly with countries like China!
"Silence! I'll hear no more of it! "If you don't open your eyes, soon it will be too late, sister!"
"Have his eyes put out and banish him from the land!"
"What are you doing?!?"

"NO! NO! NO!"
"AIEEEEEE"
(sfx Thud)

"My eyes...I can't see..!
"Sister! The day will come when you realize my words were true!"
"ZATOICHI?!" "Idiot! That's lord Susano!" "How cruel..." "They say he tried to take the throne...It's the Queen's punishment!" "Such a pity..."
"So this is where you let me go. All right" "Guards, listen well..."
"As long as my sister rules, Yamatai will plunge headlone into destruction."
"HA HA HA HA HA"

"AHHH! If Only I felt well! I'd calm this country will my spells."
"WHERE'S TEH QUEEN?" "DOWN WITH THE QUEEN!"
"Phoenix...bird of fire...If only I could have her blood! If only I hadn't been hurt at fire mountain!"
"I wonder how many years I have left to live"
"Ten? Maybe five? or three?"
"I don't want to die! No! I dont't want to die!
"I want her blood! I want to live forever!!
"HA HA HA HA HA"

"Bowman! Where is he, I wonder? Lying dead under some boulder thrown from the fire mountain? Or alive and stalking the Phoenix?"
(sfx KLAP KLAP KLAP KLAP)
(Sfx KLAP KLAP KLAP KLAP KLAP)
"Saruta! Uzume! From now on you will live happily together until you die!"
"HAR HAR HAR HA HA HA HO! What a handsome couple! "Uzume, dance the sacred dances!" "Oh yes!"

"YAY!" (sfx  KLAP)
(sfx BIP BIPPITY BOP BOP BOPPITY)
(sfx BAM BAM BIPPITY BAM)
(sfx BIPPITY BIPPITY)
"HURRAY!" "MORE MORE!" (sfx Klap klap)
(sfx Grin)
"YECH..."
"Have you seen such an ugly pair?! HAR DE HAR HA HA!" "HA HA" "HA HA" "The perfect couple!
"HA HA HA HO HO HO"
"Tired, dear?" "Hurry up and go to sleep! I've got work to do!"

(sfx Smooch) "Let me put on my makeup."
"Saruta, tonight's the night! If we're going to do it..."
"There's no moon tonight! It's as black as pitch outside! "Look I stole this sword!" "Let's kill Ninigo while he's sleeping, grab a horse, and escape!"
(sfx Shhh!)
"Here she comes again" "YOO HOO!"
"UZUME!!" (sfx BOING)
"Your face...what happened?" "HEE HEE!"

"This is too much to believe!
"Only in comics..."
"This is my real face! My daytime face is a false one to fool the soldiers."
"Y-you're sure thats not plastic surgery?"
"A woman's make up isn't just for making a girl pretty you know!"
"It can do the opposite too!"
"What's this all about? Tell us!"
"I'm from the land of Yoma. We were destroyed by the Takamagahara. Our men slaughtered, our women abused..."
"I was made a dancing girl."
"But I got back at them" (sfx BLAH)


"If a girl is ugly enough, no man will lay a hand on you." (sfx SMOOCH)
"If I'd been beautiful Ninigi wouldn't have given me to you. He's a man who get what he wants.
"As I traveled with them, I hoped I'd find some kind of happiness."
"But Uzume, why did you save?" "Why did you marry me?"
"Because we were about to be killed, or out of pity, right? How stupid!!"
"No that's not why"
"I really don't have any reason."
"Except that I like you!" "That's all..."

"Like me?"
"Somebody as ugly as me? You must be crazy!"
(sfx SMOOCH)
(sfx EYOW KRASH)
(sfx BAM)
"Uh oh! The cartoon's melting!
"No! I can't bear to look!"

"Guess tonight's not the night after all!" "See you tomorrow morning..."
"We'll get our chance again!"
"Tell me, where does this ninigi fellow come from and where is he going?" "He comes from a distant continent where they have nothing but plains and sand."
"And he's searching for a good place to live with his people." "Have any idea where he's headed now?"

"He plans to conquer Yamatai and make it his kingdom." "WHAT?"
"Ninigi's alone...this is my chance!"
"Well, my pretty, find anything to eat? It's only a little farther to the land we're after and when we get there..." "You can rest to your heart's content!"
"Someone lurks in the thicket over there. Go rip him to shreds! Peck out his eyes!"
"KILL!"
(sfx KAWWWW) "A GOLDEN FALCON!"

"KILL!"
(sfx SWOOSH)
"Augh!!" (sfx SCRIEEE)
"UMPH!" "AUGH!"
"WA HA HA HA HA"
"Damn if I only had a bow I'd..."
"HELP!"
"HO HO HO HO"
(sfx Gurgle Gurgle)
"Ungh!"
(sfx (SCREEEE)
"It's no use! She dives on me before I can get a breath!"
"Ung! I can't hold out any longer..."

(sfx Gurgle gurgle)
(sfx Gurgle gurgle)
(sfx SPLOOSH)
(sfx SNATCH)
(sfx SPLASH, KRAAAA)
(sfx Gurgle Gurgle)

(sfx PLORK)
(sfx WOOSH)
"You killed my precious, boy!" "Do you know what happens to those who anger me?!"
"Come here! We'll see how bravely you can die!"
"NAGI!!!" "Slaves stay back!!"
"Saruta, watch! Don't be sorry! It'll take more than this to kill me!
"But if something does happen, make me drink the medicine I gave to Uzume"

"This?"
"Right! It's an antidote or something! Em Dee made it and it probably really works!"
"GIDDYAP"
(sfx SWAT, SWOOSH)
(sfx KLOP KLOP KLOP KLOP)

(sfx KLOP KLOP KLOP KLOP)
(sfx KLOP KLOP KLOP)
"Augh" "Ungh"
(sfx SPLASH)
(sfx GURGLE GURGLE)

"NAGI!"
"DEAD..." "Here, you can have the body."
"Hurry to the hut!"
"Quick, give him the antidote!"
"Nagi..."

"Please come back to life. I beg you..please..
"..."
"What are you here for?" "GET OUT!"
"You probably think I'm a heartless demon."
"And you're probably right." "If I take any pity on you people my plans will never materialize."
"What I came to ask, big nose, is if you know any shortcut to Yamatai."
"You think I would tell you?"
"If you don't, you'll end up just like the boy." "What do you say, big nose?"
"There's the fire mountain." "They say that's the way to Yamatai."

"This is good land. Not like my home on the continent." "I'll build my castle and my country here."
"The devil you will!"
"WHAT?"
"Don't get carried away thinking you can trample over us that easily."
"I'm a warrior of Yamatai, and I've got a bit of fight left in me." "If only I had a weapon, I'd cross swords with you."
"And I'd put an end to your daydreams!!" "HMPH!"

"That's how a slave talks to his master?"
(sfx SLAP)
"Your nose and neck will decorate the castle of Yamatai when I destroy it!" "But until that time, I'll let you keep your nose...and your life."
"Uh...Groan...
"Nagi! You're all right! "Unh..."
"He's...he's come back to life..."
"Get away from him Ninigi!"

"Fool boy!"
"Nagi! Can you hear me?"
(sfx Groan)
They then traveled again...ever eastward...and...

EMPEROR JIMMU...The name was once worshipped and engraved in the minds of the Japanese people as that of a God, but some say that he never existed.

IT appears that Jimmu and the ten emperors that followed him were fictional, created in the age of EMPEROR SUIJIN. Accordingly, considerable nonsense, such as an average of one hundred years, was ascribed to them.
It is therefore logical to question whether emperor Jimmu in reality used a golden falcon, subdued his enemies and created the first government of Japan in YAMATO. But there is no doubt that the Yamato court was established by SOMEONE
One gernally accepted academic theory is that a member of the mounted tribe from the asian continent did conquer the native inhabitants of Japan and built a capital in Yamato.
In This fashion, Japan was formed as a nation through INVASION, WAR, and SLAUGHTER.

(sfx GLUG GLUG)
(sfx SHAA_
(sfx GLINT)
"THERE SHE IS!"

"At last! The phoenix!
"You die!" (sfx TWANG)
"CRIEEE"
(sfx FSSH FSSSH)
(sfx THWACK THWACK TWACK)
"These are iron arrows! Not even a bird of fire can destroy them!
"Heh Heh Heh"

"Oh fine hunter, if you release me I'll give you my blood. Wouldn't you likee it?" "It's the blood of immortality!"
"I neither want nor have need for such things" "I just wanted to shoot you."
"And I'm satisfied."
"NO ESCAPE!"
(sfx SLASH)
"I'll show you to that old Himiko." "Let's go."

"HA HA HA HA HA HA" "HA HA HA HA HA HA"
"SIRE!" "Refugees are flooding in from Matsuro!"

"are you really from Matsuro?" "We're the only survivors! Thousands more were slaughtered! More than the stars in the sky!" "My husband and children...all killed..."
"Who did this?" "People riding strange animals who said they were the Takamagahara. They looked like a band of robbers!"
"They'll be coming this way soon! "WHAT?!"
"I heard them talking! They said they're coming through Yamatai!"
"WHAT!?
"Are we going to let them trample on us too? "If they come they'll make us slaves or kill us!"
"Everyone grab weapons! We'll fight to the death!" "RIGHT!!"
"Not me, I'm leaving!" "You can go wherever you want old man! I'm standing right here to fight!"

"Wait a minute, think! Without a leader, we're just a mob, right?"
"But who should it be?" "Lord Susano would be best." "But he was banished by the Queen."
"If only commander Saruta was here." "But he's not1 We've got to build a barricade at the border! Even the women must work!
"RIGHT!!
"Your majesty, Yamatai is facing a crisis! "Please lead the people!" "Silence! I have no interest in such things!"
"Isn't there any news from Bowman?" "He promised to bring me the Phoenix."
"This isn't the time to worry about the Phoenix-" "SILENCE"

"Are you saying that I should go ahead and die? That I show my withered and wrinkled form to the enemy eyes?" "If I was young, I'd expel the enemy with my spells! It's youth...Youth! That's what I want!" "But the enemy will soon be on us!"
"I want to be left alone! Everyone out!!"
(sfx Wheeze wheeze)
"N...N..No..."

(sfx HUFF HUFF HUFFHUFF)
(sfx BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM)
(sfx BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM)

"YAHOO!" "Someone approaches on a boat! "Maybe an enemy spy"
"HALLOOOO!"
"GREETINGS!" "Save your arrows! It's me, Bowman of Yoma! "I've brought the Phoenix for Himiko!"
"WHAT?" "OH? "WHAT?" "REALLY?"
"YOUR MAJESTY"

"Bowman has returned!"
"Returned? What of the Phoenix?"
"He has it with him!"
"THE PHOENIX?"
"HO HO! Now I can be young forever! Eternal life!

"AAAHH" "OOOH"
"Old woman, here's the bird."
(sfx PLOP)

"Well...well done, Bowman"
(sfx Urp)
"AGH"
(sfx Plop)
(sfx GASP)
"Your highness!" "She's stopped breathing!"
"SHE'S DEAD!"
"Hmph, foolish woman"

(sfx WAIL SOB SHRIEK)
"Danger! Enemy boats on the horizon!!"
(sfx KLOP KLOP)

"What are those brown beasts?" "That's what they ride on! Watch out!!"
"Wait! Let them get closer...your arrows will fall short!"
"Fall short? What are you, toy soldiers?"
"Watch this!"
(sfx WOOSH)
(sfx WHIEE)
"That was fantastic! Fight with us! "Thanks but I'm not interested."

"I only fight when there's an opponent to match me."
"SARUTA!
"All right! Count me in!
"Look!! The fleet has split in two!"
"They'll land on either side of us in a pincer tactic."
"Fortify the hills on the right and the grove on the left! Be ready for an attack at any moment!
[Arrow: Zatoichi

"CHARGE!"

"ARRGH"
(sfx HAK HAK)
"HELP!!"
(sfx BAM) "AGH!"
(sfx SWISH HAK)

"HA HA HA HA HA" "105-106-107-"
"Say, big nose, take a look at your countrymen! "GRRRR..."
"Heh heh! I'd wager you'd like to escape!" "But you'll stay with me till the end" "And then your head will roll!! HA HA HA HA HA!"
"Saruta, you must run. I'll divert him.."
"While Ninigi and his men pay attention to me, escape."
"Mp izi,e, he'll kill you!" "Don't worry I have a woman's weapons"
"LA LA LA LA LA LA"

"WHAT?"
"what is this!!"
"Surprised? HEE HEE HEE HEE"
"Uzume! Is that really you?" "Hee hee!
"Now, Nagi!"
"RUN!!"
"We've got to make it to the Yamatai lines!!"

(sfx Drip drip)

"Well?"
"It's incredible! They must have over two hundred of those horse animals!" "Looks like they'll attack when the sun's overhead."
"Noon..."

"Curses! What we need is a real soldier!" "With her majesty dead, the general's have all lost their nerve!"
"First thing we have to do is find a way to stop those horses! Why doesn't someone think of something?!" "Because of the horses we were trounced at the seaside!"
"If they break through here, the capital falls!"
"Isn't there something we can do to hold out?" "From now on, it's up to fate."
"Idiots!!" "You call yourselves soldiers?" "What's going to happen to us civilians? Losing means death!"
"Bowman, what do you say?"
"Well I agree" "if they break through, you're finished."
"Bowman, don't you have some battle plan?" "Sorry, but I'm not a soldier."

"But your arrows can reach all the way to the enemy lines!" "What good is shooting ten or twenty horses?"
"My arrows are for big game only." "I'll take care of the general for you, but that's all."
"With Himiko gone, the generals have lost their will to fight. Bowman is in a drunken stupor. If we let them beat us here it means the end of the Yamatai. We have to stop them, even if it costs us our lives!
"A MIRACLE!"
"It's Saruta! Saruta's come back!" "WHAT?"
"HURRAH HURRAH HURRAH"

"Commander Saruta's returned!" "Amazing! He made it all the way back!" "What a nose for direction!" "Saruta we're so glad glad you're back! Please take command of the army!" "Thanks Break out the sake! But make it watery for the boy." "Commander, we've missed you badly!"
(sfx GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG)
"Three cheers for the commander!" "HURRAH!!"
(sfx slurp)
"Everyone remember this bosy?" "Nagi, who used to be a slave!"

"If I'm to be your commander..." "This boy has to be one of us"
"Will leveryone defend him even if..." "Her majesty orders him executed"
""Well?! How about it?!"
"Himiko's dead."
"That's right! She's dead as of yesterday. Her body is still lying in state in the palace."
"Her highness...passed away? can it be true?"
"He speaks the truth, Saruta. It happened just before the enemy attacked."

"What was the cause?"
"I'm asking you! What was the cause?"
"There was a swelling on her right breast..."
"Well? YOu're her ladies-in-waiting! Didn't you do anything about it? "She hid it from us and we didn't find out until we laid her in state..."
"Forget it Saruta! She wasn't worth your tears."
"STILL YOUR TONGUE!"
"I didn't come back here to serve her highness! I fled here because I a score to settle with the Taakamagahara!" "All right if that's the case, stop making such a fuss."
"I need a sword and armour!" "Give the boy a bow!"

"Here we finally are with a real fight on our hands."
"Saruta, tell us what to do against that horse animal."
"Amazing animal, isn't it?" "Never seen one that obey's man so well."
"But how can we stop them?" "WE can't hold them off barehanded. We need to trip them up somehow."
"Use your head! They're animals, aren't they? They've got to be afraid of fire!"
"Fire! Of course! Why didn't I think of it!
"Gather dry grass! Roll it into twenty or thirty huge balls and line them up on the hill!"

"Women! Cut the grass! (sfx swish swish swish)
(sfx swish swish swish)
(sfx Whump)
(sfx Swish swish swish)
(sfx WHUMP
(sfx Swish swish)
"Say, young one..."
"Are you a survivor from Kumaso?" "That's right."
"Wasn't Kumaso destroyed by Yamatai?" "..."
"Was everyone killed?" "They were."
"To the very last person?" "Women and children too?" "Without reason?"
"No! It must be a lie! We're not the kind of people to do such a cruel thing!" "IT'S TRUE"
(sfx WAAAH)
(sfx WAAAH WAAAH WAAAH) "Your soldiers did it and now it's going to happen to you!!!"

"If it's really true, you must hate us! Why do you act like our friend?"
"Your friend?" "I'm no ally of yours."
"I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE THAT'S ALL!"
"As far as I'm concerned, anyone who killed women and children is my enemy."
"There's even a war going on here."
"Little red ants in battle with big black ones."

"By the time the ants' war is over, the outcome of ours will probably be decided."
"Come on, red! Don't give up! You can beat those big ones!
"All right! When I give the signal, set the balls on fire and roll them down the slope! But don't start until they've broken through our front lines! Keep them hidden until then, undestand?"

"Looks like You're wasting your time, Saruta." "Even though they say the attack will be noon..."
"The air's getting damp." "Look at that cloud. Looks bad."
"If my guess is right..."
"It'll probably rain by noon."

"Rain?! Non-sense!" "How's it going to rain with the sun shining like that?"
"I've made a living as a hunter for twenty years." "if there's anything I know, It's weather."
"If you're going to change your strategy. Now's the time."
"Ridiculous!"
"It's perfect weather."
"They aren't moving at all!"
"Curses! Hurry up and attack!"
"Commander!"
"It's getting cool! "It's clouding over..." "It's going to rain!

"Nagi's the name, right? I've got something to give you."
"Here's a map of where the Phoenix is buried." "It's yours." "WHAT?"
"The Phoenix?"
"Right. I shot her." "Really?"Wh-where is she? Why didn't you drink the blood?"
"What good would it do me? I'm not that attached to life, and I'm not afraid of death, either." "Actually, I made a promise to your old man."
"You mean Surata?" "He asked me to give you her blood if I shot her down."

"So I put her in a box and buried her." "You may dig her up whenever you wish."
"Ah, it's begun."
"Don't lose that!" "Live forever, if you can. This is where we part."
(sfx SHAA SHAA)

"Commander! What will we do? These things won't light!"
"First formation, attack!
"YAAAAHH"

"GAHH"
"AGH"
"HELP"
"AUGH"
"YAAAAAH
(sfx SHUNK SHUNK)

"YAAAAH
"Second formation, attack!!"
"YAAAaAH"
"They won't catch fire? Damn the rain!"
"Get inside! About five in each one!!"
"You'll be human bowling balls! When you reach the bottom of the hill, jump out and start shooting! "READY..."

"LETS GO!!" (sfx SHHH SHHH SHHH)
(sfx SHHHH SHHH SHHH WHIEEEE WHIEEEE)
(sfx POIK)
(sfx ZIP ZIP ZIP WHIEEE)

(sfx WHIEE
"There are soldiers in those balls of hay!
(sfx SWOOSH
"UGH!"
"GAGH" (sfx THUNK THUNK)
"Damn! Now we're in for it!
"Nagi! Look out! Get away from there! "NEVER!"

(sfx TWANG)
"AUGH"
(sfx ZIP)
"AGHH"
"Ungh...Ugh...
(sfx TRAMP TRAMP TOOM TOOM)
"NAGI!"

"AGH!"
"Hold on, boy! It's only a scratch!"
"Cowards! Get off your horses and fight like men!"

"Saruta, wait here! I've got to go get something important!"
"Fool! We don't have any time for that!" "It's something that will help you and all the others! It's buried somewhere!"
"Wait! If you have to go, one thing!
"Just once, call me father and go!" "Why? That can wait till later!" "No! This is the last chance!
"Father!" "Well said! This is where we part, son!
"Ninigi! Where's Ninigi?" "Saruta's here! Where's my wife? Where's Uzume?"

"Third formation, attack!
"YAAAAH"
(sfx KLANG KLANG)

(sfx KLANG KLANG
"I don't shoot just one man at a time..."

(sfx WOOSH)
*sfx KLANG)
(sfx CHING)
(sfx SLASH)
(sfx ZIP)
(sfx THWACK TWACK)
"Stay out of this Bowman!"

"THat goes for you too, Saruta! You're getting in the way!"
"Homph!"
"Ninigi, here I am!"
(sfx SWISH)
"Ninigi! Get off your horse and fight like a man!"
"No need to!" "This is modern warefare, Barbarian!"
(sfx TOOM TOOM TOOM TOOM)

(sfx THUNK)
(sfx WOOSH)
"Hmph! So much for modern warfare!
(sfx KLANG)
"I'll stuff your head into your horse's inards! "Just try!"

(sfx KLANG)
(sfx KANG)
(sfx KLANG)
(sfx KLANG)
(sfx KLANG KLANG KLANG)
"Ugh!" (sfx THUNK)
"GRRR"
"AGH!" (sfx THUNK)

(sfx THUNK THUNK) "COWARDS!"
(sfx ZIP ZIP ZIP)
(sfx THUNK THUNK)
(sfx FOOMP)
(sfx SHAA SHAA SHAA)
(sfx KLINK)
"Ah!"

"Run! Run wherever you can, but just remember that anywhere within one thousand yards..." "My arrow will pierce your heart!"
"I am Bowman of Yoma!"
"Yoma? I destroyed Yoma! Are you a survivor?"
"DON'T MAKE A MOVE!
"Call your soldiers! Order them to line up here! I'm going to send them to the hereafter one by one!
"But wouldn't you rather meet a woman of Yoma? A woman of your country?"
"WHAT?"
"She's my slave from Yoma! How about it? Want to watch her die?"

(sfx WOOOSH!!)
(sf THUD)

"All right! Now, on to Himiko's palace!"
(sfx KLOP KLOP KLOP KLOP KLOP)
"Burn everything we don't need! Leave only the palace and the grain sheds!"

"HUFF HUFF HUFF"
"WHEW!"
"Turn right from here and go straight, eh?"
"That's it! That's where she is! "OH NO!"
"The whole area where the Phoenix is buried is on fire!!"

"Gasp! Cough!"
"Dig beneath the tallest cedar on the outskirts of the village..."
(sfx KKKKKKKKKKKKKK)
"That's it! Over there!

"Under this tree!


"The Phoenix and the blood of Immortality!!"
"No..."
"Not a single drop! Not a single drop will come out! She's dry as dust!

"Not a single drop..."
(sfx GYUUU)
"NO..."
"WHY? WHY? WHY?"
"We meet again, boy.

"YOU...!"
"What's that you've got? "That glowing thing!"
"You can't have it! I'll never give it to someone like you! "If you want it, try and get it! This bird is mine and mine only!"
"Kill him"
(sfx YAAAH YAAAH YAAAH)
(sfx YAAAH YAAAH YAAAH)
"Augh"
"This bird is...Mine..."
(sfx Thud)
"
"Watch out for the tree! Everybody back!
"AUGH"

"Help, aieeee!"
(sfx FOOM)
(sfx FOOM)
"Idiots! Noy only has whatever was in that box burned up, but we've lost four men and horses as well! "What kind of soldiers are you?"

"Holy smoke!!"
"Gee!" "Golly" "Gosh" "Wow"
"It's dancing crazily among the flames! "That's the legendary Phoenix!"
"Ah...I remember my nurse telling me the story when I was a child. It was about a golden bird of immortality that lived beyond the eastern sea, something about those who drank her blood gaining eternal life...
"She would dive into the flames and be reborn. This has to be  that bird!"

"No! Let her be. I've no use for the phoenix. "Immortality? Ha! What good would it do me?"
"Oh bird of fire, I bless you, if you're truly immortal, see that this conqueror Ninigi's legacy is passed down from generation to generation!

"SARUTA..."
"Oh...!
"Come look at this, Uzume. The aftermath of an ant war.."
"The red ones took on the black ones. But they lost. Their little red corpses are a pitiful sight, eh?"

"Completely annihilated. You have to admire the black ants thoroughness, eh?"
"But with man, it's different. To make this nation work, I need people. I have to selecdt some puppet to become Himiko's heir."
"Uzume, I order you to become my wife."
"Forget about that dead slave and come with me."
"NEVER!!"
"Never you say?
"What? I've conquered this entire land! What fault can you find in me?" "I only see you as a murderous animal!
"I'm the victor! And I'll force you to do as I say!
"Come Uzume."


"HA HA HA HA HA!"
"I'm carrying this man's child."
"What?" Saruta's child?"
"Yes. It will be born in five months." "Ha ha ha well, massacre King, there'll be someone born in Yamatai after all.
"You thought that by spilling blood and destroying everyone you could become victorious! But you're very wrong. "We're the ones that Win-Women! In our own way! We marry your soldiers and bear children."
"The children are ours and we'll raise them so that one day they will destroy you."
"SILENCE!" "I'LL KILL THEM ALL!"
"Where are you going? Halt! "I'm going on a journey. And wherever I go, you won't touch this child.

"Feel Free!"
"Augh!"
"..."
(sfx SHUNK) "Of all the...!"
"One cursed woman..."
"I hope you die by the roadside!

"Hinaku, look, it's the phoenix!!"
"The phoenix has returned!"
"WAAAH WAAH WAAH"

"Look! She's returned to the nest just when I thought she was gone forever. Luck hasn't forsaken us yet!
"Someday I'll catch that bird and give her blood to you and the children."
"By that time your crazed spirit will surely have healed."
(sfx SHAAA SHAAA)
"Well I'll be! Another type of plant!"

"That makes 210 plant varities and 60 kinds of insects." "Half are edible. We can make medicine. We have everything we need!"
"Mama, what's beyond the sky?"
"The world..."
"The world? Have you seen it? How did you see it?"
"I saw it a long time ago, before I came here with your papa."
"Mama, we wanna see it too!
"We wanna climb the top of the wall!"
"Please, mama, please!!
"Takeru, Fuki, Yazuchi, don't trouble your mother!!"
"You'll make her condition worse!
"Listen well, your father has spent ten years trying to get out of here, but it's useless!
"The only thing that can get out is the phoenix!"



(sfx WOOOSH WOOOSH)
(sfx SHAA SHAA SHAA)

Waterfalls of melted snow...burning rays of the summer sun...showers of starlight....mountain storms...time passed.

"FATHER!"

"I'm going to clumb the wall." "No!"
"I've made up my mind." "What if you slip and fall? You are my eldest son!"
"And you're to marry one of your sisters!" "Your mother vowed to have hundreds, thousands of descendants! It's your duty to carry on the line!
"But father, you told me before that if we marry like that our children may be idiots!"
"Ahh, that's true, but how else can you have children? Where else will you find a wife?"
"On the outside!"

"No, that's impossible! The wall can't be climbed! "Mother..."
"Mother, today I'm going to climb the wwall! I'll find a wife and bring her home, I promise." "Takeru..."
"May I go, mother? I want to see what's above here. I want to see how wide the world is! I want to see what kind of people are out there!"
"Go...Takeru..."
"Thank you, mother." "I'll come back, I promise!"
"I'll try my luck! Goodbye, father"
"Takeru!!" "Don't worry, take care of mother!"
"HAH"

"I'LL MAKE IT"

"HUFF HUFF HUFF"
"Takeru you'll make it!" "Keep going! "Climb!"
(sfx UNH)
(sfx THUNK)
"UNH" (sfx (THUD!)
"Still...not the edge yet?! What's wrong with me? I don't seem to have any strength left. The more I climb, the higher the wall becomes..."
"Woops"

"TAKERU, BE CAREFUL! OH NO! WATCH OUT!"
"No use...getting dizzy...I've lost feeling in my arms...this is the end!"
"Die" "Die" "Die"
"Will I die?"
"Let go...then you can rest..."
"You must live!!

"Wh-Who's calling me? It's all over for my anyway." "You will live!"
"The Phoenix? Talking to me?" "Yes, you must not die. Whatever happens, you must keep on living.
"Because you have the right to." "The right to? What does that mean?" "You're alive now, so you can go on living!"
"Go away! Don't lecture me! You're just a bird!" "I've been watchingg over you since you were born..."
"There! Open your eyes and look up. The edge is right above you. Reach it and you've won!
"All right!

"I made it! I made it! Whew! HA HA HA HA HA HA"
"THE WORLD!"

"Huge! It's huge!" "All this was ours! Kumaso's!"
"Father! Mother! I'll come back!! I'll bring back a wife!!