Galaxy Express 999 31

GE999 #31


p139
"Somewhere in space, all human actions are futile and bond to fail." So was speaking a dead scientist in such place. They say that his traits were relaxed and showed a great satisfaction.
31st stop
The Settlers of Sisyphe
*Note: In Greek mythology, Sisyphe was punished to push a rock to the top of a hill. It was the symbol of the vanity of human actions.


p140-141
It seems like small nebulas are floating everywhere here!


p142
They are indeed. Some are recent, others are old.
It's really rare to find such a concentration in space.

????


p143
I feel like one of them went past just in front of me.

You're right, Tetsurou! Look up here!
Huh?

This nebula must have went through a crack in the protecting field of the Galaxy Express.
It got inside the train!!!


p144
It's a nebula!!!

A small one!!

Yes, but it's a real one...

... Inside, there are stars and planets just like in the Solar System...

There, lives are born, then die... There are joy, pain, but from outside, they only last a blink of the eye...
People are struggling for life, then disappear... that's how life goes on those planets...


p145
The same goes for us, Tetsurou! Who knows if we're not a toy in the hands of someone who's watching us from afar? For the people of this nebula, maybe we are creatures that they can't even imagine.
I have an odd feeling when I think about the people who lives, cries, laughs and thinks there...


p146
If I were to blow on it, their world would collapse forever, right, Maetel?


p147
I'm going to gently send them back.

Farewell, people of the nebula. Be happy...

This train is really amazing, even if I open the window in the void, the air isn't going outside...

Next stop: "Sisyphe", "Sisyphe". It will last 30 minutes.

S... Sisyphe?

This sorrowful planet is a rock desert that looks like the entrance of Hell.
Is there any inhabitant?

There are... but they're really strange.


p148-149
[nada]


p150
[nada]


p151
???

What's with those lined-up rocks?

They are fields.

Fields?

From here, I can only see rocks. What is growing here?

How should I say? You'll understand once we'll get off...


p152-153
This planet's name really fits: there are only rocks field.


p154
Small nebulas are floatting in the air... This place seems even stranger...

Rock fields are really farmed here.

They're well lined*up, but there are nothing else.

Where are the people?
Are they humans?


p155
I'm here...
!


p156
?!


p157
What the hell are you doing?
Just like you see, I'm cultivating the soil.


p158-159
But why? What could possibly grow here?
Why? I've never thought about that. My goal is to plough the surface of the planet. Then rice, wheat, white radishes and turnips will grow someday.


p160
My body got covered with mud while I was working. Now I can't get rid of it...

... And weirdly, this mud became like a second skin, as I consider it now.

Well, I'm ploughing the soil and I sow seeds...

But from up here, all these efforts seem futile!
I wonder if there's even rain here...

Are you at least using fertiliser?

There are plenty enough here.

Is that so? I can't see anything...
It's not the kind of thing I can just show you.


p161
Be careful not to stamp on seeds!
By the way, I'm Gonbe, and you?
Hoshino Tetsurou...

There is nothing here. Let's get back to the train!!!

Yes, these rock fields are really desert...

I find that it's useless to persist cultivating this land.

Even these ramens seem tasteless when I look at the work of the Sisyphe!
You're right!!!

We'd better lower the blinds.
Yes, yes.


p162
???

What's wrong, mister inspector? Are you closing your eyes?
Ah, mister Tetsurou...

Seeing this planet landscape is horrifying me. I prefer to close my eyes.

I'm watching them for so long! I could never forget about them!

I didn't think that it could move him so much...
He's seeing these places for so many years.


p163
What's this cry?
A bird's one.

Cluck! Cluck! Cluck!
Triiitriiii...
It's eating the seeds Gonbe has sown...!!


p164
He worked so hard to sow them!!
Tetsurou!!!

Hey!!

Triiibibaboc!!!!

Chiiibobobobo! Chiiibobobobo! Chiiibobobobo!
Hey!! I'm here!!


p165
Zibooooooooooooo...


p166
Wait!! Damn monster!! I'm going to avenge Gonbe's work!!

Here!! Take that!!

Waaah...

Shoot! I'm sliding...

???


p167
...


p168
But Gonbe...
Ah, Tetsurou!

What are you doing?
I'm making liquid fertiliser with the corpse of my comrades.

It will make beautiful plants.
But you can't do that with the bodies of your friends!

It's so cruel!!!


p169
Why's that?
Why couldn't I use their corpses for making fertiliser?

The dream to turn this planet into a luxurious and full of vegetation place was burning in them.
They all passed away with the wish that their own death could be useful!

And if you don't believe me, look at their faces!

Huh...?


p170
They're all having a big smile of satisfaction...

They all fought with all their might, but they're dead.
Leaving this world was a relief to them.

They were all slaughtered while trying to make this place luxurious...

Now, I'm all alone...

That's why I'm doing my best to make the best fertiliser with my friends...

I'm ploughing, I'm sowing, I'm cultivating the soil...

Soon, plants will grow here!!


p171
The bodies of those who died at work lie in these rock fields of which they're fertiliser...


p172-173
Maetel, during our travel back, I hope this planet will be covered with green.


p174
No one can make fun of someone else's work because it's often the fairer course of action for them...
Gonbe and his friends believed in their future...

There must be a lot of them like that in the universe.
Yes! And maybe that some will find my travel to get a robotic body useless.

Tetsurou remain persuaded that the farmers of Sisyphe were satisfied and that they were way braver than those who spend their life making fun of other's efforts and calling them futile. During the conversation, Maetel kept quiet, then began to smile...