Golgo 13 4

Golgo 13, Special Edition Volume 1, Chapter 4 (pp. 232~305)


<232 & 233>
The Faded Crest

[x3]HUFF

[x2]SHUK

[x2]SHUK

[x3]HUFF


<234>
Part 1: Bloody Bridge

=Semmering Valley, Austria

WHIIRRR...
RRR....


<237>
=That bridge in front of the checkpoint!! That's the last frontier border dividing Austria and Hungary...

=It's called the Bloody Bridge... 71 defectors have died trying to escape from the bridge!! What a terrible story!! The Hungarian AVH (secret police) seem to think killing humans is the same as squashing mosquitoes!!

RRR....
WHIIRRR...

=How strong is the current on the fence?
=1300 volts!! With 60 cycles of current...

=The same as an electric chair, huh...


<238>
=Patrols sweep the border in 30 minute intervals. The guards aren't tough, but their dogs are!!

=Doberman Pinschers...
=Exactly!! The most brutal breed in the world. Killers faster than wolves who fear nothing!!

=Hmm...

=What is it!?
=Let's hope that body count doesn't increase...

=Huh!?


<239>
=Ugh!!

=G-Gun shots!! W-Were they killed!?

=D-Damn it, those murderers!!

ZWII—NG
ZWII—NG


<240>
GU-GU-GU-GUCK...

=S-Shit—!!

=That monster!!

=Who's that officer by the jeep?

=T-That's Sergei!! The Hungarian AVH vice director, Major Sergei!!


<241>
BWUSH

=You're still going to go?

=There's some mighty strange people in this world...

=Were you lying when you told me a professional skier could cross the border from the Austrian side...?

=I-It wasn't a lie, but...

=Nobody's ever tried to cross that snow-covered valley...
=There's lots of avalanches too...

=Are you sure about that map you drew me?
=Yeah...

ZASH

=Do svidaniya!! (Till we meet again!!)


<242>
SHWIII—CK

=Do svidaniya...

WHIRRR...
RRR...


<243>
Part 2: Golgo 13's Infiltration!!

WHIRRR—
RRRR...


<244>
WHIRRR—
RRR...

BWUSH

SHWI—CK

ZWUSH


<245>
ZAA—SH

SHWII—SH

WHUSH


<246>
ZASH

SHWU—SH


<247>
Part 3: Sonia the Phantom

=Heavy, leaning, gray skies and waves like white wolves... The Adriatic Sea


<248>
=Ms. Sonia... We've just now entered the Adriatic!! In 46 hours, you will be returned to your homeland!!

=I understand your right to silence, but how about a little response here and there?

=Hah-hah...
=Very well then...


<249>
=For two years, we've known that you were "Sonia the Phantom," the East's top intelligence operative. Waitress, businesswoman, dancer, actress, designer... With so many trades, you were harder to track down than Mata Hari...

=It pains us to let go of the gem we've worked so hard to obtain, but it's orders from the Pentagon...

=So, even the CIA was powerless...

=Oh!! So you've finally opened your mouth.


<250>
=By the way, the CIA has prepared a little parting gift for you, I hope you like it.
=Gift!?

GLOT!

=Tell us everything.
=I am Agent No. 1412, security operative of the western Soviet Union. They call me "Sonia the Phantom!!"

=Ms. Sonia, you are an absolute spy machine. Interrogation and hypnosis techniques are useless against you...
=You would bite your tongue off if we tried scopolamine!! This is the ultimate gift we can send to someone like you!!

=If you promise to pay ten-thousand dollars and guarantee my personal safety, then I...

BLICK!


<251>
=For a certain period of time, we kept you under surveillance without apprehending you... During that time, the CIA's technicians recorded your every word...

=...We took the data analysis of your voice and matched it against 1600 different women. Chose one, trained her, and...
=We managed to recreate your voice perfectly!!

=Th-That won't...

=You're trying to say that no two voices are exactly alike... Tests will reveal its inauthenticity...?

=However, the 21 experts who listened to this recording have assured me it is indeed your voice...

=We will send this to the KGB the moment we return you. No matter how strongly you deny it in front of the people's court, do you think the committee will trust your testimony!?


<252>
=Y-You dirty pig!!

=All that await you are the freezing plains of Siberia...

=Ten-thousand dollars and personal safety, those are the conditions.

=What is it... You want me to do...?

=Quick thinking as expected!!
=Good, very good!!

=You're already familiar with the "Bloody Bridge." At this location, we will hand you over in exchange for a person of great importance. An exchange of spies!! Then...


<253>
Part 4: Riebeck the Brave

GRRR—

GA-GA-GA—
TH-TH-TH-TH-THUD...

<254>
=Well, the discomfort of riding in these things hasn't changed!! The last time was the Hungarian Revolution in October, 1956, so... It's been over 10 years.
=Yes commander!!

=Yes, is just about the only thing you say, eh?
=Yes commander!!

=Anyways, Mr. Riebeck!! In 46 hours time, you will be handed over to the western side...
=In the form of a spy exchange...

=However... I still have not given you my full trust.

=I thought your Soviet Intelligence had me investigated thoroughly...
=True... However...

=You were a man who bore a crest!! Under the name, Riebeck the Brave...

=The Brave... Huh!! Long ago... A long, long, time ago... People these days are trying even to forget about the World War...

=Towards the end of the war, you took part in terrific spy warfare against Himmler and Goebbels, leading to the Allied Invasion of Normandy. You are a true hero, and the world showered you with praises as gave you your title. I myself was no exception...


<255>
=But for you to betray your country and become a double agent... Regardless of the reasoning, my intuition is telling me to question your motives...

=My country... What did my country ever do for me... All that I have left is hatred...

=A faded crest... That's what some of my countrymen call me!! Completely forgetting... All the work I did for the country...

=We'll enter Hungary in 10 hours.
=Good...

TH-TH-TH-THUD...
GA-GA—


<256>
Part 5: The Hungarian AVH

=Budapest, Hungary...

SCREE—CH


<257>
=Wh-What is it sir?
=My car has broken down, you see...

=Sorry to trouble you, but could you drive me down to Andrassy street?

=Y-Yes, sure thing colonel!!

=Sorry about this...
=No no, not a problem...
BATHUMP

=Uh, so you meant the AVH headquarters on Andrassy street, right?

=Oh... How did you know where I was heading?

=W-Well, by looking at your uniform. Heh-heh.
VRRR...

VWOO—SH


<258>
BAWU—SH

=U-Umm, colonel...
=What is it?

=There's an AVH vehicle behind us...

=What should I do?
=Just keep driving...

=R-Right...

RRR—


<259>
RRRR—

=Huh!!

=Stop!! Stop the jeep!!
=Stop in front of that car behind us!!

=Sir!!

SCREE—CH


<260>
[x2]SCREE—CH

CHUK!

=Get out!! Who are you!?

CHUK!


<261>
=Who are you!?

BLAP

=Is that any way to speak to your superiors!?

=Hey!!
=Fools!!

=Are you trying to kill a superior officer!?

=I am the AVH vice director, Major Sergei. I haven't heard about any colonel being assigned here!!
=You aren't fooling me!!

=I won't tolerate any further insubordination, major!!


<262>
=In any case... You're coming with us!!

=Thank you, that'll be all...
=S-Sir...
BATHUMP

S-SCREECH
VRR—


<264>
=Do you really think this sort of behavior will be tolerated, Major Sergei?

=It will all be clear once Director Krueger arrives... As the vice director, I would be notified if a new assignment were made here!!

=Even in the case of a higher-ranking officer!?

=Hey, where is the director!?
=Sir, he said he would arrive shortly...

=Notify him again!!
=Yes sir!!

CHUK

=Director!!


<265>
=Director!! This man is claiming to be Colonel Halder!!

=He's claiming to be a colonel dispatched by the executive committee!! We're going to interrogate him and find out who he is!! And...
=Just a moment, major!!

=Huh!?

=The Kremlin has already notified me of Colonel Halder's assignment!!

=Wh-Wh-What!?
=B-But...!!
=But?

=I haven't heard anything about that!!

=My dear Sergei, I am the leader of the AVH here in Hungary!! And I said have received notification!!

=Please, director...


<266>
=The major was only trying to do his job...
=I'm not bothered by it...

=We're working together now!! Let's put this behind us!! Major Sergei...

=My apologies... I wasn't made aware...
=By the way...

=You are an Oriental, Colonel Halder?

=I'm mixed blood, Japanese and Russian parentage... But, never say that word to me again...

=Colonel Halder's mission is to strengthen the cordon sanitaire and arrange further methods of communication!!

Cordon sanitaire refers to...
The countries of the Warsaw Pact (founded by the Soviet Union and the eight communist states of Eastern Europe in opposition to the NATO alliance), minus the Soviet Union, leaving the seven countries of Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia.


<267>
These seven countries would serve as a sort of quarantine line for the Soviet Union, shielding it from influence from the capitalist powers (both in terms of military and cultural influence).

=Very well, Colonel Halder!! Follow me to my office!!
=Sir!!

Part 6: Krueger the Condor

=My word!! Where do you think you are!?
=Andrassy street in Budapest... AVH headquarters...

=You're lucky I recognized you... What do you think would have happened if I hadn't, Golgo 13!?

=But, you did know... Of course...
=There's no way you would hire someone whose face you wouldn't even recognize!!


<268>
=Besides, you're a former professional yourself!! You introduced the entire world to terror and cruelty, brutality with the scent of blood. You were honored with the title of condor and controlled Hungary with an iron fist...

=That was long ago... More than ten years ago. I'm just a wizened old man now...

=October 23, 1956...

=It doesn't seem too long ago that you placed a heavy machine gun on top of the magyar parliament building and massacred the one thousand Budapest citizens who tried to stand against the socialist rule of terror...

=That was not my sole doing... We had to act as the cordon sanitaire again to stop the advance of the capitalists. It was a necessary sacrifice...

=Well, that's no longer important... I'd taken all the necessary steps to secure your entrance to the country, and was waiting for you to contact me.
=Why thank you...

=However... I always approach my clients my own way!!

=This way, you won't be able to get rid of me easily after I've finished the job...


<269>
Part 7: The ArmaLite's Target!?

=Take care of this...
=Sir!!


<270>
=Th-This is...
=Shouldn't you ask the director's permission, sir?
=Just send it, all right!!

=Yes sir!!

SHUK

=Ugh!!

=Ah!!


<271>
=Huh!?
=Wh-What are you doing!?

WUSH

[x2]THWACK

[x2]CHIK


<272>
CREA—K

THUD
ZASH


<273>
RRRR—


<274>
[x4]CLACK!

[x4]CLACK!

[x3]CLACK!

CHUK!

BATHUMP

=It's done...
[x2]WHUSH

SHLICK

=Incredible, just as rumored...


<275>
=Seeing you makes me truly aware that my era has ended...

=By the way, about your next job...

=Before that... Let's have you tell the truth!!
=Huh!?

=I don't care about the East or the West... But I won't have anyone deceiving me!!

="Seek information on one Colonel Halder..."

=Ugh!!
=Th-That is!?

=Sergei is feigning an air of cold-bloodedness, but he is really a traitor working for the West. He rivals you in control over the AVH as the vice director, so there's no easy way for you to get rid of him. And reporting it to the Kremlin would put your position in jeopardy... That's what you said when you hired me, correct?

=F-Forget about that!! What about that telegram!!
=Sergei tried to send it to the KGB to run a background check on me...

=Tried to send?

=Right!!
=I disposed of him beforehand...


<276>
=However...
=If I really was this Colonel Halder, Sergei would be in quite a bit of trouble...

=But he still did it, without telling you anything!! It's only natural for him to be suspicious of my presence!!

=There's no way an operative for the West would take that kind of risk!! That man was a genuine communist!!
=Now tell me the truth!!

=I was planning to tell you everything before the next job...

=I've grown old... I'll only see the snow from this room as the AVH director once or twice more... What do you imagine is in store for me after that?

=It's only a matter of time before a young, talented director is assigned in my stead... I'll receive a pension, ensured of a modest retirement!! But the brand of having killed a thousand of my comrades will never disappear.
=Blame always falls on those who are closest!!

=No matter how much I tell them it was not my own design... The people will never see it that way. The hatred of those who have lost parents and children... Once I have retired my uniform... An old man... Do you think I could continue to live like that!?

=Even if I were to retire to a society where I could erase those brands...
=Defection... huh?


<277>
=Sergei had caught on to my intentions!! He must have been waiting for a chance to use that to his advantage!!

=A spy exchange between East and West will be conducted 21 hours from now, here in Hungary... Spies of great value!!

=I see... Normally, a spy exchange would take place someplace like Switzerland... But doing it in a place like this means...

=The West intends to have you defect there?
=Exactly.

=But it seems the KGB has caught on to this as well!!

=So the KGB director, Kinisky, is overseeing this exchange!!

=You will shoot Kinisky... Creating chaos!! While I slip into the Austrian side!!
=The West has a killing agency called the OSS...

=Why do you need me when they could infiltrate instead?

=I don't have their full trust yet!! That's why Hoover from the CIA is directing their operation!!


<278>
=Have you seen Colonel Halder?

=Sir, the Colonel has been out since this morning!!

=What!?

=Wh-Where was he going!?
=I'm not certain... I didn't bother to ask...


<279>
DR-DR-DR-DR...

=Oh!!

SCREECH

=Where were you!?

=I thought I'd check around the Bloody Bridge once.

=It wouldn't do me any good if I'm shot by all the soldiers after the hit...

=Three more hours...

=Three more hours until I'm free!!


<280>
Part 8: One Hour Prior to Spy Exchange!!

WHIRR—
RRR...


<281>
=Commander!! There's units at north-northeast!! They're closing in on the border!!

=These must be... Armored tanks!!
=Yes, they must be!!
=And, how many of them!?

=Three or four units, I believe!!
=Three or four huh...

=Only natural if Kinisky is going to show up...


<282>
=One more hour...

=But commander!! Is Krueger really planning on defecting?
=It's too bad Mr. Riebeck was captured so we couldn't get confirmation!!

=I suppose Riebeck the Brave is done for if he's up for an exchange like this!!

=You fool!! Watch your tongues!! That man is my close friend!!

=Riebeck was captured on purpose.
=To arrange the spy exchange of the century.

=Wh-Whaaat!?

=He met with Krueger beforehand, of course, then he contacted me. The spy exchange is a mock-up arranged to allow Krueger to defect!!

=After Riebeck's capture, I bid my time and contacted the KGB through foreign affairs to set up the spy exchange!! Besides, we are the ones with the trump card, Ms. Sonia. That's why Riebeck was willing to be captured!! Now you understand why we chose the Bloody Bridge as the exchange point!!


<283>
=All to allow Krueger to defect!!

=When Riebeck first contacted me, he told me he would bring Kinisky of the KGB, so I should be there as well... He had additional plans from the start!! That's why I've agreed to come!!

=W-Wow, this is almost a war!!
=I've lived through battle my whole life...

=Burdened by my crest...

WHIRR...


<284>
GU-GU-GU-GUCK...

[x3]CLANK
CREAK...

=This blizzard won't let up anytime soon...
=I'm accustomed to it, but it must be hard on Hoover...


<285>
=By the way, Mr. Riebeck!!
=von Krueger is a war professional like you. His cruelty even won him the moniker of condor. He holds a crest of his own.

=Could a man like that be so weakened by old age...?

=Him and I are in different positions!! He is the secret police director entrusted with the cordon sanitaire... I am a forgotten operative set to perish!!

=I couldn't believe my ears when he told me he wished to defect... I thought maybe it was a trap laid by your men. But Krueger and I were friends who had both fought against Germany... I was delighted once I realized!! It was the perfect chance for this aged operative to make his final stand!!

=The secret police director of Hungary, the most protective of the Warsaw Pact nations, would defect with my help... I thought my faded crest was about to regain it's glory!!

=And the CIA took it all away fom you...
=That's right!!

=I wasn't given command!! J-Just because I had grown old!!

=I was only ordered to infiltrate and make contact with Krueger!! A novice job!! A real novice job!!


<286>
=And all the credit would go to your former colleague, Hoover...

=That's why you decided to destroy everything!! And you told us everything...

=Abandoning your crest, betraying your friends, and turning your back to your country... I somewhat understand your feelings...

=But there's a part of me that just doesn't want to give you my full trust...

=Of course!! Things will be different when we learn for certain that Krueger is planning to defect...

=From the AVH!!
=Right!!

=It's just as you said...
=Huh?

=I've received a message from my operative in the AVH. This man Sergei, who had my utmost trust, has gone missing... Probably Krueger's doing. He's almost certainly dead. And this Colonel Halder has been named the vice director of the AVH in his stead!!
=The worst has come to pass!!


<287>
=Colonel Halder!?
=He's said to have Asian features!! Probably a western operative...

=No, there are no Asian faces in the CIA or the OSS!!
=Who could this man be!?

=In any case... I've now gained your trust!!
=One more hour...

[x3]CLANK
GU-GU-GUCK...


<288>
Part 9: Spy Exchange!!


<289>
=It's time!!

=They're here...

GRUUSH...


<290>
=Listen up!! You approach Krueger and shoot him immediately!! Do not hesitate!! I'm counting on you!!
=Yes sir.

=All right, let's go!!

SCREAK


<291>
DASH

=Huh!?
CHUK!

=Wh-What are you doing!?
=Drop your weapon!!


<292>
SHUCK!

=As the Hungarian AVH director, I will oversee this historic occasion!!

=Y-You bastards. Wh-What are you...!?
=Hey, don't try anything to alert them.

CHUK

=My...
=You don't seem too surprised!?


<293>
=Arrest this man!!
=Hah-hah... You're not going to ask me to explain?

=Very well!! You're staying here until I get back!!

=Golgo 13!?
=S-So this man is the...

=All right, Director Kinisky!! Let's continue the spy exchange!!

=So you two were in cohorts...
=What are you planning to do!?
=You'll see soon!!

=Begin!!


<294>
[x4]ZUP!

[x4]ZUP!


<295>
[x3]SHUCK!

[x2]SHUCK!

=Well done...

GABAM

=Huh!?

=Ri-Riebeck!?
CHUK


<296>
=Hurry up and walk!!
=Ri-Riebeck, have you gone mad!?

SWISH

GRA-TA-TA-TAT...


<297>
GABOO—M
THUDOO—M

GABOO—M

GA-GAA—M


<298>
=Hah-hah hah-hah...!! I am resurrected!! Riebeck the Brave has risen from the ashes like a phoenix!! Hah-hah hah-hah...!! That faded crest of mine will burn with crimson once again. Hah-hah...!!
=They've gone completely mad!!
=Ri-Riebeck, what in the world!?

=That's right!! For war professionals, born in the midst of battle, who've lived in the blood and fire, war is everything... You cannot comprehend!! You would never comprehend!! That sweet, salty taste of blood, that smell of smoke, explosions like lullabies!!

=It's pure suffering for us to try and live in any other type of world!! Having grown without adolescence, without love, only the steel, blood and corpses. For war professionals, war was our adolescence and our lover!!

=War... You're trying to start a war!?
=Y-You bastards!!

=You will reveal to us the intelligence, diplomacy, and secret weapons of both the East and the West... Once we have that information, we'll begin spy operations, starting with some fringe warfare... We've got plenty of drugs and ways to force you to tell us!!

=B-But they'll catch on to what you've done here immediately!!


<299>
=Hah-hah... That's where this man comes into play!!

=This man came strolling over here for ten-thousand dollars. He may be a pro, but he's a novice compared to us!! Let me tell you why we hired him!! This man is an Oriental!! And he's going to be the sole mastermind behind this spy exchange operation!!

=Y-You bastard!!

=Hah-hah... Exactly!! We'll use this man to implicate the Chinese communists!!

=Well, now that we've explained everything, let's call it a day, shall we!! Hah-hah hah-hah...
=Half of you stay and clean this up!! The rest come with us as escorts!!

=By the way, looking at your reaction, you never seem to have trusted me. Why?
=I just subtracted 1 from 1...

=A pro would never hire another pro!!

=I see!!


<300>
=Even so, there was the ten-thousand dollars... The human weakness. Hah-hah...

=But I couldn't read any of that from you. Orientals have peculiar faces indeed!! A smile if they are content, but expressionless for everything else!!

=Let's go!!

=Whoa!!
THUD

=Huh!?

DA-DA—SH

=Shit!!

GA-GAWII—NG
BABA—NG


<301>
ZWHUSH

=Catch him!!

GRICK

TH-TH-TH-THUD...
BAGOOO—M
=Whoa—!!
=W-Whoa—!!
=Aa—gh!!


<302>
GA-GABAA—NG

=Sh-Shii—t!! He had a trap!!

GRUU—SH

VRRA—M


<303>
=Huh!!

=Oh!!

BA-BUMP

BAA—NG
GAWII—NG

BAA—NG
BAA—NG


<304>
BWHIRRR—


<305>
=You can settle the rest in those East-West conferences!!

GWHIRRR—

Published February, 1969.