Nadia

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Nadia Vol 1,1:
The Girl on the Eiffel Tower

140k JPG

"The Secret of Blue Water" is the adventures of Nadia, a mysterious circus girl, and Jean, an inventive boy, with jewel thieves, Captain Nemo of the Nautilus, a world-domination-seeking secret society, and more. I have a set of color manga that was made from the anime series which I will be translating here bit-by-bit. This is part 1 of volume 1, "The Girl on the Eiffel Tower".

You may prefer the version with Japanese.

Nadia Volume 1 cover

Part 1
The Girl on the Eiffel Tower

There is also a version with the original Japanese.

(Jean is sleeping in his boat which is going down the river to Paris. He wakes up.)
Jean: It's the Eiffel Tower!

(He arrives at the Paris Exposition and looks it over).
Jean: Wow-- so this is the Paris International Exposition...
Jean: It's huge...
Jean: But the generator isn't efficient... It seems to me I came to see people rather than inventions.
(He sees a clock -- it's 8:10).
Jean: Oh no! I hope it hasn't started!

Announcer: And now, the second International Flying Machine Contest will begin. In this contest, each machine's flying distance will be compared and the person with the best performance will be awarded a 20,000 franc cash prize.
Jean: Uncle!

Uncle: Ah, Jean! I was waiting for you...
Uncle: Look at that! The first machine is going to drop.
Uncle: Right? Jean, how about that guy?

Jean: With those wings he won't be able to keep his engine up for sure.
Jean: The wind speed is 2 knots and...
Jean: It's a tail wind but I say that he'll only get 8 meters.

Uncle: Nyahahahaha! Is that so.

(The plane takes off, but the wings break and it crashes into the river).

Announcer: Our record shows 8 meters.

Jean and Uncle: Just as we thought!

Jean: What number are we, Uncle?

Uncle: Umm, I'm afraid I drew number 102.

Jean: Then it won't be till evening!

Uncle: Well, that's true... we're a bit early, but we can unload the fuselage from the boat!

(They start working on the plane.)
Uncle: You didn't get seasick coming here by boat?

Jean: No, it was very comfortable...

Uncle: So -- that's good.

Uncle: You came all the way here by boat; you're willing to do a lot for me, aren't you?

Jean: Uh-huh.

Uncle: It's just that on a boat I get really weak...
Uncle: Speaking of boats, the rumor is they'll kill the sea monster.
Uncle: A newly-built American battleship has come out to fight it.

Uncle: It was your father's nemesis.

Jean: They haven't decided for sure that he's dead yet...

Uncle: ...You're right! I hope not!

Uncle: ...By the way,
Uncle: This is our great opportunity for success.

Jean: It sure is. Probably we'll win!

Uncle: (laughing) Maybe so, maybe so.
Uncle: The 20,000 franc prize will be ours!
Uncle: From tomorrow, we'll be free to devote ourselves to inventions!
Uncle: And my wife will have nothing to say about it. But first,
Uncle: We're going to have a wild time in Paris!

(Jean laughs weakly: "Ha ha ha.")

Uncle: You could look for your father, or better yet, look for a girlfriend...
Uncle: You only go around once in life, so go for the gusto.

Jean looks up, and sees Nadia and King bicycling by.

Uncle: Hey Jean, hand me that spanner....
Uncle: What is it? (Jean is staring after Nadia, paying no attention to his uncle.)

Jean: Uncle, I've got to go for a minute. I'll be back!

Uncle: H-hey, what about the 20,000 francs?

Jean: You can count on me! I'll be sure to be back by evening!

Uncle: nnnn...20,000 francs....

Grandis, Hanson, and Sanson are watching Nadia with binoculars as she goes to the Eiffel Tower.
Grandis: There she goes down the road...at last! Without a doubt that's the girl... You two! She absolutely must not escape!

Nadia looks at the view, and talks to King.
Nadia: Say King, in what country was I born? I wonder if it was Africa, the same as you...
Nadia: Aaah......I wish I could fly and look for it...

Jean:You CAN fly!
Ehehehehe--- I'm Jean! Jean coq Laltigue, that is.
I'm the guy who can take you into the sky!

King growls. Nadia stares coldly, then turns her back.

Jean: I see.... You don't believe me, is that it? Really, I can fly. You know, I came from Rue Arbour to that big airplane meet they're having.

Jean: Say, where are you from?

Nadia: (sharply) Pardon me. I'm sorry, but I don't know you. And so....

Jean: As you like. I didn't know whether you understood my words.

Nadia: Not to mention, my skin color must seem strange to you!

Jean: You're wrong!

Nadia: Supposing that's so...what exactly did you have in mind?

Jean: Well, umm., uhh...since I came all this way to Paris, it would be nice if we became friends--- don't you think so?

Nadia: I don't!

Jean looks more closely at King, who growls.
Jean:That's an unusual cat, isn't it...

Nadia: He's a lion.

Jean: Come on---don't have such a gloomy face.
You only go around once in life, so let's go for the gusto! The guusto!

Nadia fumes silently. Suddenly, the blue amulet around her neck gives a shrill alarm and flashes red. She looks at it fearfully.
Jean: What's this? What an amazing invention...

Nadia: King! Let's get out of here!

Just then, Grandis and her two henchmen come out of the elevator.
Grandis: Behave yourselves and stop flirting in public! I've been watching you, and it's been... a looong time... a long time...

Sanson: Boss!

Hanson: You don't have to be so hard on them, they're just kids.

Grandis: (to henchmen) Shut up!
(to Nadia)Now, be nice and hand over that costume jewelry on your chest. Because the rightful owner has searched all over Europe for it.

(Nadia stares back and says nothing.)
Grandis: Right now!

Jean: Never!

Grandis: Ah, so that's it---- Sanson...Hanson...finish this!

Sanson and Hanson: Yeah!

They charge, but Nadia leaps and lands on the tower railing.
Grandis: She jumped!? After her!

Sanson and Hanson: Wait---

They try to grab Nadia, but she and King springboard off their faces and escape by leaping down the elevator shaft onto the top of the elevator below.
Nadia: ......Goodbye.

Hanson (thinks): They're good...

Sanson(thinks): Help...

Grandis: So-- she got away this time! It's all right! I've figured out where she's going next.

Sanson and Hanson: Huh? Where?

Grandis: A girl with her abilities and that strange "cat" could only be from one place. A change in plans! Let's go down quickly to someplace private.
(They leave).

Jean: ...An ordinary girl with her abilities and a strange cat.....lion. That's it!

Jean goes to the circus, where he sees a poster for Nadia's act.
Jean: Sir, is that girl's show on?

Ticket seller:Aaah....it's on very soon.
Jean: It's good that nothing happened to her.

(Meanwhile, at Nadia's wagon.)
Ringmaster: It's showtime!

Nadia: Ringmaster...I don't want to go out there today because I have a feeling something bad will happen if I do.

Ringmaster: No! Even the breakfast you ate this morning was provided by me. You have to work to pay that off!

Nadia: Yes, sir.

Clown: And now the moment you've all been waiting for! Introducing the dancing princess of the jungle......Nadia!

(Nadia enters and begins her act.)
Jean: So, she's called Nadia.

(Meanwhile, the Grandis gang arrives at the circus.)
Grandis: This time, we're going to have a nice law-abiding discussion!
Sanson and Hanson: Yes!

Sanson: But how can using counterfeit money be law-abiding...

Grandis: Not another word!

Grandis: Oh Mr. Riingmaster, we'd like to have a word with you...

(Jean watches Nadia's acrobatic and lion-taming performance)
Jean: Wow...

(Nadia returns to her wagon, looking unhappy. The Grandis gang is waiting inside!)
Sanson: Bonjour, Mademoiselle!

(She turns to run, but the Ringmaster blocks her path.)
Ringmaster: What's the matter?

Grandis: Dearest Nadia, we've been looking all over for you...
Well now! Come on home with your big sister...

Jean: I think these flowers will be just the thing for her!

(He hears Nadia yelling:)
Nadia: No! Let me go.

(The gang has grabbed Nadia. The Ringmaster sits with his bribe money and does nothing.)
Grandis: I've become your guardian now, right? I paid him a "reward" for keeping you until now.

(As they start to take her away, Jean races up in a one-wheel circus vehicle.)
Jean: Nadia--!
(Startled, they let her go and she runs.)

Grandis: I won't be foiled this easily! Discussion time is over. It's time to use force!

Sanson and Hanson: All right!

(Jean, riding the wheel, catches up to Nadia).
Jean: Nadia, it is "Nadia," right? We can get away using this!

Nadia: I can get away by myself! And don't call me "Nadia," you're being too familiar. The show is over!

Jean: Don't be stubborn... come on and ride!
(He holds out a flower. After thinking for a moment, she gets on.)

Jean: Why are they after that stone, anyway?...

Nadia: Those people?

Jean: It doesn't matter! They'll never catch us on foot....

(Suddenly, the Grantan is rolling beside them!)
Grandis: I won't let her escape again!
(on loudspeaker) Come here or you'll be sorry!

Jean and Nadia: (sticking out their tongues) BLEAAH!

Grandis: Oh, I seee....
(to Sanson) Finish this!

Sanson: (shouts) Just what I was waiting for! I'll teach them not to make fools of grown-ups! Gahahahaha...They think they can escape in a toy like that?! I'll get them for sure, Boss!

Grandis: Aaah- go ahead and do as you like!

Sanson: Hanson!

Hanson: Got it!

(Mechanical arms emerge from the tank. One grabs the wheel and one grabs Nadia!)
Nadia: Eee!

Jean: Nadia!

Sanson: (on loudspeaker to Jean) Brat, you shouldn't meddle in the affairs of grown-ups! You should take a little time for reflection!

(The arm tosses Jean's wheel like a ring onto a smokestack.)
Nadia: Ah!

Jean: Waah!
Grandis: There now...let's beat it out of here in airship mode before there's any more interference!

(With the insertion of a punched program card, the tank becomes a balloon and starts floating away.)
Jean: Wait! (He tries to chase the balloon but he can't keep up).

Hanson: Bah! Stubborn little jerk!
(on loudspeaker)Goodbyee! Adiooos!

(At the air show, Jean's uncle is waiting impatiently).
Uncle: Arrrgh. That little jerk, Jean...
Jean: Uncle! Can it fly right now!?

Grandis: Can't you get a little more speed out of this thing? We were going faster on the ground...

Jean charges down the runway in his uncle's plane.
Announcer: Oooh! A gate-crasher?
Jean: Yaaah!
Uncle: Jean!
Jean: Come on, go up!
Uncle: We did it!

Jean flies close to the balloon ship.
Jean: Nadiaaa! I've come to help you now!

He overshoots it and heads into the Eiffel Tower.
Nadia: Watch out!
Jean: Waah!

Rebounding from the tower, he pierces the top of the balloon with one wing, and climbs down to where Nadia is held in a mechanical arm.
The Grandis Gang: Wha-wha-what's that!?

Jean: Nadia, are you all right?

Nadia: Yes! But...

Jean: Just a second...

(Producing tools from his pocket, he works to free her.)
Jean: Aha! I can cut it like paper... I did it!

Nadia: Thank you!

Jean: It's nothing at all, hahaha...

Suddenly, Sanson appears in the door with a gun.
Sanson: Freeze!

Nadia grabs Jean and they leap from the ship into the river below.
Jean: Yow!!

Grandis: It's not at all easy with these children...but... I absolutely never give up! I will have the Blue Water!

Jean and Nadia get onto his boat. Jean sails them along the river while Nadia huddles in a blanket. Their outer clothes are being dried, hanging from a line on the deck.
Jean: Aren't you cold?

Nadia: Mm-mm!... Thank you for rescuing me...

Jean: Ye- no, not at all. Hahaha... Where do you want to go from here, back to the circus?

Nadia: I can't go back there...ever!

Jean: What about your family?

Nadia: I don't have one... It's just so...

Jean: Really? That's just like me.

Nadia: Oh?

Jean: I know, come to Rue Arbor with me! My uncle lives there, too. He and my aunt are kind people. I'm sure they'll be able to help you.

Jean hears his uncle calling from a bridge above the river.
Uncle: Heey! Hey, Jean.

Jean: Uncle!

Uncle: Look! We got a special prize! The only reason we didn't get the cash prize is that we went out of turn.

Jean: We did it! Well, we're going on ahead.

Uncle: Oho! Take care...you're doing well for yourself! (he winks).

Jean: Uh-huh!

End of Part One.

On to Part 2: "The Young Fugitives"