Lettering font based on hand-lettering by Frank Engli. EuroComics.us

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2 EDITED AND DESIGNED BY Dean Mullaney ART DIRECTOR AND CO-COVER DESIGNER Lorraine Turner CONSULTING EDITOR Patrizia Zanotti Lettering font based on hand-lettering by Frank Engli. EuroComics.us EuroComics is an imprint of IDW Publishing a Division of Idea and Design Works, LLC 2765 Truxtun Road San Diego, CA Distributed to the book trade by Penguin Random House Distributed to the comic book trade by Diamond Book Distributors ISBN: First Printing, August 2017 IDW Publishing Ted Adams, Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Greg Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer/President Robbie Robbins, EVP/Sr. Graphic Artist Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer David Hedgecock, Editor-in-Chief Matthew Ruzicka, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Laurie Windrow, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Lorelei Bunjes, VP of Digital Services Jerry Bennington, VP of New Product Development THANKS TO: Justin Eisinger, Edward Gauvin, Michael Hutchison, Bob Schreck, Diana Schutz, and Alonzo Simon Cong S.A., Switzerland. Corto Maltese and Hugo Pratt Cong S.A. Art 2017 Casterman, Bruxelles. Translation 2017 Dean Mullaney and Simone Castaldi. All rights reserved. The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All rights reserved. The EuroComics logo and colophon is a trademark of The Library of American Comics, LLC. All rights reserved. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the comic strips in this publication may be reprinted without the permission of the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Korea.

3 for a title, take your pick:[abracadabra] with [eia eia alala,] which may be more familiar+and easier to understand+for italians *, but less poetic than the arabic and aristocratic [Sirat Al Bunduqiyyah,] which roughly translates as [Fable of Venice.] I find Either title acceptable The story begins with the bang of a gavel, followed by more bangs in a rhythmic pattern R... L... HERMES of the A... L... M of the G... L... D... I of Venice. Brothers of the Northern Column, we will now open our architectonic proceedings. To the glory of the great architect of the universe, in the name of universal masonry under the auspices of the grand lodge of italy of the recognized and ancient free masons, I declare this lodge's session now open. Be seated, brothers. Venerable master, we have a problem with the new apprentices 9 * used as a fascist salute, it was a war cry coined by Gabriele D'Annunzio (who appears in this story as [the poet]).

4 One moment, brother Doromè we can't spend every session discussing the problems you have with the questions posed by the new apprentices. There are much more important issues at hand. in fact, Some of the apprentices are already sufficiently initiated to help us in our work. it is inexpedient to force them into silence But what's this? Are you hurt?\ I don't know yet. do you, by any chance, belong to the Pitagora? 10

5 How did you fall through the roof? I often fall from the clouds. Pardon me in embarrassing situations I usually try to be funny, but I don t always succeed I was escaping across the roofs and I fell. And why were you fleeing? I failed to shout [Long live so-and-so] to the right people at the right time. I had to defend myself and then make a run for it. These are hard times. You're right, these are hard times, especially at night. in daytime too. sorry I interrupted your meeting. Still building temples to virtue and dark dungeons to vice? and working for the benefit and the future of our country and of humanity You speak like a brother. Are you a freemason? No, I only hope to remain a free sailor. since you are uninitiated, you'll understand that you can't stay here any longer but first, the inner guard must insure that it is safe for the uninitiated to leave the lodge. it s all right I don t see anything suspicious. Take the uninitiated to the [hall of lost steps.] 11

6 Are you sure you're all right? You're not hurt? Very sure! Then go. all we ask is that you forget what you ve seen Here. Well, I won't have any trouble forgetting you. But I think that the men who were chasing me are after you too I heard my pursuers say that some of [Them] are among [you.] what's more, they mentioned the Pitagora lodge. as I told you, uninitiated, these are hard times but thanks for the warning. anyway, we are not the PitagorA. Then you're the R... L... Hermes. they mentioned your name too. Good evening. you took your time getting out. Oh, were you there too? Nice temple you have. it could be better. we re short of funds. Don t look at me I m uninitiated! masons aren t big on irony. and you came to Venice on other [business,] I suppose. That's your business 12

7 What's your name? Bepi Faliero But I m not related to the Faliero family that gave Venice a doge of dubious reputation. and what about you? Why did you come to Venice? it's not my first time in venice. it s my third. this time, it s because of a bet. A bet? How interesting! Yes. a bet between two Simons: Simon Peter, the apostle, and Simon Magus, of Antioch. Peter won the bet and a bareket. A bareket? What's that? a clavicle of Solomon! A clavicle of Solomon? I don't understand An emerald! Yes, a very pure and very beautiful emerald. that's why I ve come to venice. An emerald? I never heard of it but forgive me, does this emerald really exist or is it just a fairy tale? That I don t know. it doesn t matter since I still believe in fairy tales who s that down there? there they are!!! 13