--MANGA TRANSLATIONS--
--TRIGUN MAXIMUM CHAPTER 45--
Printed in Young King Ours, November 2001
Translation by sumire
Page 156
- Vash (narration): Rem told
us everything.
- Knives just sat there and listened,
wide-eyed.
We heard everything that had happened in the past.
About Tessla's birth.
About how, amidst the uproar on the ship, Conrad and Rem
had opposed the experiments.
About how she had committed a severe violation of
regulations out of concern for our safety.
About how she intended to go with us to the new world in
a capsule with forged data.
About our future life.
About her resolution.
Page 157
- Vash (narration): And then
she bowed her head low.
- Knives seemed the same as he had
always been.
If he had blocked out the memory,
I thought it was better that he know the truth.
Page 158
Rem approaches Knives.
- Rem: Knives...
- Aren't you...
...trying to bear this all by yourself?
- Rem: Tessla's story must have been a
shock to you.
- I'm sorry, but I just feel like...
you're forcing yourself to take it calmly.
- Knives: Forcing myself?
- I am.
Page 159
- Knives: It was a shock.
- It was a shock, but...
We have to go on.
Right?
Tears well up in his eyes. Rem gives
him a hug.
- Knives: There's so much we have to
do
- so it never happens again.
Page 160
Knives pushes away from Rem and turns
to leave.
Knives: Rem... Thank you.
Knives passes Vash on his way out of
the room.
Vash: Oh--Knives...
Page 161
Vash follows Knives.
Vash: Knives... That's....
Page 162
Vash stands on the threshold of the
cold-sleep chamber and doesn't enter. He's sweating.
- Knives: What's the matter, Vash?
- Are you afraid?
It's no use being afraid.
It's no use.
Page 163
Knives looks up at the cavernous
ceiling. Then he sees that Vash has entered after all.
Knives: Vash...
- Vash: Knives...
- You're right.
I'll go on, too.
- Knives: Okay!
- That's the way to do it!
Page 164
A montage of everyday life on the
ship. Rem, Knives, and Vash cook, play chess, and study.
Page 165
Rem and the twins asleep. Knives gets
up in the middle of the night.
Page 166
Knives sits at a computer terminal
surrounded by snaking cables.
Page 167
As he types, he chews his thumb until
the blood is dripping down his arm. He smears blood on his face.
Page 168
He's breathing heavily.
Page 169
Tears stream from his right eye...
Pages 170-171
Jump forward in time.
Knives raises his face to the sky as the ships rain down on the
planet.
Page 172
- Vash: KNIVES! This is all your...
- You deceived us...
Rem... Me...
- Knives: Now, now.
- You shouldn't say such things.
I made an extremely rational judgement.
What would it take to make the universe a little more
beautiful? You know?
- Vash: That's a lie!
- You really were afraid of them! Of
mankind!
Knives kicks him in the face.
- Knives: You're the one who was
scared!
- Would you knock it off? Trying to
wheedle up to people.
Page 173
- Knives: Your education is sorely
lacking, Vash.
- You need to learn to look at the
bigger picture.
- Narration: The Big Fall.
- Estimated casualties: 20 million.
60 million missing.
802 ships destroyed.
74 emergency landings.
124 ships missing.
The cause is thought to be an aberration in the flight
system, but at present, proof is not possible.
Page 174
The present. Knives stands before a
bank of Plants.
Page 175
He goes down on one knee.
Knives: I confess my sins.
Page 176
- Knives: I was too impetuous then.
- I sacrificed many of our comrades.
I'm not afraid.
This is anger.
Humans... They act on their material desires without
self-control.
In the end, they even devour their host Earth like
parasites.
Even now, they are trying to consume us,
unable to think of anything but themselves.
Page 177
He raises his hand to the bulb.
- Knives: Give me strength.
- It seems I can't do it alone.
The Plant Angel descends to meet him.
Page 178
The Plant Angel's writhing tentacles
meet his fingers, and there is a great flash of light.
Page 179
Elsewhere in the fortress, the Beast,
some worms, Elendira, Legato, Double Fang, and Trip of Death are
startled. Elendira rushes to find Knives.
Elendira: ....!? Master Knives--!
Pages 180-181
Knives stands before the smashed-open
bulb, the Plant Angel merging with his left arm.
Page 182
He angel-arms around her.
Page 183
A beam of energy shoots straight up
into the sky.
Page 184
- Narration: And so at that moment--
- the world entered an age of chaos.
To be continued next
issue...
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