Hunchback of the Morgue Page #4

For the first time in the history

of biology, Doctor Orla

has created artificial life!

Yes, it's been a success.

A victory for science.

I've never denied Orla's scientific value.

- But at what expense?

- I don't understand you.

What do you mean by that?

You're a scientist and you know it.

At the expense of sacrifices,

sleepless nights, work!

And something else, Fred.

Human lives. How many have died

to fulfill Orla's dream?

But he hasn't done it.

It's been a fool's idea.

Yes, Gotho's, who's protected by Orla and

is lied to so that his plans can continue.

Believe me. Orla is not trying to save

humanity or anything but his pride.

Or maybe it's something else.

It's his ambition. His ambition for power

is what moves him.

But he says that thanks to his discoveries

many lives will be saved.

That's not true.

And even if it was, you can't save a life

by destroying others.

No. Ethics are above science.

That's true. But what can we do?

Quit the investigation.

I'm begging you, Fred.

We can't keep doing this!

All the hunchback's alleged crimes

are actually Orla's!

He's the one responsible for them!

That's true. He fooled me for some time.

But we can't continue with him.

We would become accomplices

of this horror he has created.

I'm glad you finally understand.

Calm down, Tauchner.

The experiment was a success.

Don't quit what could be

the victory of a lifetime!

- A blood-stained victory!

- And what else could we do?

How many bodies have ended up in that tray

to serve your conceited mind?

Gotho! Get him!

No, Gotho! I need him.

Come on.

You shouldn't have come, Gotho.

It's too dangerous.

And I don't want you to get hurt

because of me.

I... had to see you again.

But if you want, I'll leave.

It's not that, Gotho.

I'm scared the police might find you.

They are looking for you everywhere.

I don't understand you.

No one has ever cared about me.

If it wasn't for what you've done, I would

think you're making fun of me.

And what would I make fun of?

Of your physical flaws?

Everyone does.

Only Ilse would let me be

by her side. But...

she never loved me.

Do you still love her?

I do. I'm scared that by being with you

right now

I would be betraying her.

I'm sure that if she could see us

she wouldn't be angry.

Doctor Meyer, Marlene is gone.

Her bed is empty. Her roommates say

they haven't seen or heard anything.

Maybe it's the latest crime

by that hunchback the police are hunting.

Gotho? That's not possible.

- Why are you so sure?

- I don't know.

I'm convinced that all of this

is being done

by someone hiding behind that poor man.

Maybe you're right.

Well, I have to leave now.

If Marlene isn't here when I'm back,

we'll call the police.

Where is Tauchner?

I'll tell you he's near,

if it makes you feel better.

And in perfect condition.

One of my inmates is gone.

I know it's your fault,

and I'm going to call the police.

Considering how far we've come,

I wouldn't recommend that.

Unless you're willing to support

my plans, you cannot leave.

What kind of plans?

Very simple.

It is very important

that I have living human tissue,

and for that,

I chose your reformatory.

The girls there are rubbish,

and no one will miss them.

Also, as the principal, you'll be able

to explain their disappearances.

If you agree, Tauchner's life

will not be at risk. If you don't...

But... why do you need those girls?

It's better if you see it. Come with me.

It's horrible! It ate her!

There's an explanation.

I soon discovered that the creature

was prone to look like

the beings she would eat.

In the beginning, I tried to feed her

corpses, but she would reject them.

I wanted to synthesize a humanoid.

That's why I asked Gotho

to kidnap the girls.

Fred! Where are you?

Fred! Answer, please! Fred!

Fred!

Fred?

Gotho!

First Marlene,

now Doctor Meyer and her fianc

have also vanished.

That's why I called you.

But I don't understand why you didn't call

us when that girl disappeared!

Marlene, right?

Yes. The reason why I didn't call you was

because of Doctor Meyer's disappearance.

She was supposed

to write a report for you.

Maybe that girl just decided to leave.

We'll talk with Doctor Orla

about Meyer and Tauchner's

disappearance.

He was his assistant,

so he might know something.

As you can see, I also had problems.

Some strangers mugged me.

But I didn't have a chance to report it.

So do you know

anything about your assistant?

Yes... I think he told me something about

a trip to take care of some family issues.

I haven't heard from him since.

Do you think Doctor Meyer went with him?

Possibly.

But I can't really talk about her

because I barely know her.

I saw your body today. It was like Ilse's.

And soon you'll be like her.

And Gotho will love you forever. Forever.

It's the most incredible thing

anyone has ever imagined. And it's there!

And it keeps growing and growing!

But she needs more food.

Do you understand, Gotho?

More. More, lots more!

Go to the reformatory, Gotho!

Run. Run!

Gotho, you need to help me.

You need to help me

and Doctor Tauchner escape.

I can't. The Professor would get angry.

He has been very kind to me.

He'll make a woman like Ilse for me.

But, Gotho, how can you...

How can you believe that?

Orla can't do such a thing.

Gotho, listen! Don't leave, please! Gotho!

Listen, Tauchner.

For the last time, listen! We are about

to make the biggest discovery in history!

There's more than biology at stake here.

The creature is a primordial.

One of the beings that inhabited Earth

before the human race!

Her race is the oldest!

Books like the Necronomicon,

and the old treaties of magic and alchemy,

are full of references

concerning this entity. And I...

I have given her the chance to have a body

in her artificial life!

A very interesting story,

but I don't care any more!

That creature holds the secrets

of every ancient civilization,

and she will share them with us, Tauchner!

She will share them with us.

The world will kneel before us.

Neither Maria nor I will collaborate

with you, Doctor Orla.

It would mean adding even more crimes

to the existing ones.

All right. Then you are making me do this.

You'll become food for the creature.

She's uneasy. She needs food, Gotho.

She needs food!

That scream... it's from here,

it's a woman!

Go after her, Gotho. Go after her!

Gotho, damn you!

Where is that disgusting ape?

The creature is hungry, and if we

don't feed her, she will destroy us all!

Hurry up! The primordial needs more food!

No. Not her. She was kind to me.

And she won't die!

All right.

Go for the others!

No. Not them. You are the guilty one here!

You fooled me!

I will kill you!

Maria!

Please, Elke... we need to save her!

Let's go!

Take Elke, hurry up!

The door is about to break!

We won't be able to beat him.

He will kill us both!

Gotho, where is Gotho?

Gotho!

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