But by a new act of madness, he pushes him from the top of a cliff, before leaving without him, believing him dead. Then, he decides to advance his departure, leaving with Slütter and Corto, whom he considers his only friend. He feels sad and alone: Maltese tries to support him. Thus, the Monk meets her and, seeing her asleep, strangely enters a crisis of dementia. Recently, Pandora was the victim of an accident and became unconscious. Likewise, he orders Rasputin to be responsible for their safety, over his life. In fact, he wants to protect them and questions them a lot about their family. Also, he hears about Pandora and Cain and seems curiously interested in them. Therefore, they themselves are also at war. On the spot, the Monk announces to his henchmen news dating from August 4, 1914: England declares war on Germany.

At the same time, several people have become attached to each other, in particular towards Pandora, like Corto or Slütter. The latter could be very old, trafficking for over one or two centuries. Together, they set a course for the hidden island of Escondida, the Monk's lair. Inside, they meet Rasputin and a Japanese sailor, nicknamed Taki Jap. Then, the Fijian Cranio succeeds in freeing everyone and they board a boat.įinally, they are saved near the New Britain ( Bismarck Archipelago) by the German soldier Christian Slütter, in his submarine. Then, they are taken prisoner, with Tarao and Cain, by cannibal Seniks ( Papuans). A dispute began between them: in rage, she shoots him, making him unconscious. Together, they discuss their project to accomplish their mission, in the service of the 'Monk', a mysterious pirate ruling the Pacific Ocean, whose identity is unknown.Ĭorto and Pandora, who survive, hide in a cave. The Russian, with whom he is an accomplice, agrees to take him on board, after making fun of him.

Because he refused to marry a young woman when he had to, his crew mutinied against him and punished him in this way. The latter has endured this torture since the day before. Their family, Groovesnore, of Sydney (Australia), is an important dynasty at the head of the South Seas.Ī few later, under a beating sun, the crew this time sees a man tied to a raft: it is the Maltese pirate Corto Maltese. They were sailing aboard their yacht when it burned down, leaving them as the only survivors. After waking up, they explain that they are two cousins, Pandora and Cain Groovesnore. They are brought on board, Rasputin hoping to obtain a ransom from their family. Rasputin, a Russian pirate, sails aboard a Fijian catamaran, when his second Cranio spots two young unconscious castaways in a lifeboat, off Bougainville Island ( Solomon Islands). October 31, 1913, Halloween (called 'Tarowean Day' in this story): the Pacific Ocean is calm after a terrible storm.

Umberto eco corto maltese