46
2
*
03/02/2012
12+
China, 1910. Francisco DeGraaf is assisting his father, Cristobal, in the quest for a legendary treasure, whose hiding place has been forgotten. The key to the mystery may lie in a small white flute, which Cristobal studies obsessively. This endless investigation upsets Feng, Francisco’s mother, who feels neglected. Francisco hopes that the discovery of the treasure may bring his parents back together. But one day, his father, suspicious, orders Francisco to change the entry code of his home laboratory, and forbids him to let his mother inside. Though he wants to obey, Francisco, who fears losing his mother’s affection, backs down before Feng’s anger.
Torn between loyalties — a giant of a man, but still a son — Francisco goes to a tavern to drown his sorrows. At the counter, he is approached by a certain Evgeny, who buys him drinks and gets him to talk about Cristobal’s quest — before slipping away, leaving him dead drunk. In the early hours of the morning, Francisco is brought brutally to his senses by Rodzhenskin, a Russian officer on the hunt for Evgeny, who is wanted for desertion and looting. Terrified, Francisco rushes home, but arrives too late : Inside the house, Evgeny and his men have taken Feng hostage, and laid siege to the laboratory, where Cristobal has locked himself inside.
In the battle that follows, Francisco loses his parents and is forced to flee the island. He is taken aboard the ship of Rodzhenskin, who encourages him to join in the hunt for Evgeny — who has fled with the little white flute.
In the volumes that follow, we will make port at the marvelous city of Ys, which rises from the midst of the ocean. The problem is that, although one can enter the city, the way out is blocked by an apparently invincible sea monster…
