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Chapter 1 (Fixed)
Young Indiana Jones and the Metropolitan?s Violin
by Jérôme Jacobs
English translation by Stoo
____
Chapter 1
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Utah, September 1913, a rainy day.
?Junior, pack your bags. We?re leaving for New York.?
This announcement had the effect of a cold shower on the young
Indiana Jones.
?What?! But...Father, classes are starting again!?
Professor Jones, still in his night robe, halted this objection with a
show of his hand.
?I am invited to the inauguration of the Metropolitan Museum?s
south wing,? he explained brandishing a crumpled letter. ?Edwards,
the curator, is thanking me for my contribution to the museum?s
medieval art collection. I cannot refuse.?
Indy pouted. He had lived a rather hectic summer. In Egypt, he
had faced an evil gemstone and he narrowly escaped the bubonic
plague.1
A few weeks later, in Georgia, he had snatched the princess Tamar
from the clutches of her many enemies.2
That is a lot for one man alone, Professor Jones seemed to forget!
1. See Young Indiana Jones and the Tomb of Terror.
2. See Young Indiana Jones and the Princess of Peril.
?I will also take the opportunity to go study an illuminated
manuscript from the Xth century at the Pierpont Morgan library,? he
resumed. ?A Xth century manuscript! Do you realize, Junior? It has
been years since I?ve been waiting for the chance to decipher it.?
And he re-read the famous letter for the twentieth time, as if he
could not convince himself of this windfall.
?Who is this Pierpont Morgan?? asked Indy, feigning interest in his
father?s project.
?A wise businessman,? explained the professor solemnly. ?An
exceptional man, who was able to use his wealth to preserve some of
the greatest treasures of the world. He has nothing to do with the
sharks on Wall Street!?
Indy sighed. In Russia, his father had criticized the Bolsheviks. In
the United States, he attacked the capitalists. A question of latitude?
?But they will not prevail in paradise!? the professor continued
with emphasis. ?I predict that one day not too far off, they will be
victims of a resounding crash and will lose everything! Did you hear
me? EVERYTHING!?
Satisfied with this lyrical outpour, Professor Jones sank into his
glossy armchair, unworthy to appear even in the local museum.
For a few minutes, the pitter-patter of raindrops on the windows
grew louder.
One inch from Indy?s nose, his father, bristly, shook a piece of
paper with frenzy.
In the garden, Indiana barked desperately: He had been left
outside all night and they even forgot to serve him his breakfast.
However, it was a dog?s life!
In short, the day was beginning badly. Indy asked himself if he
wasn?t going through a living nightmare.
?But...Father,? insisted the young boy, stunned. ?Usually, you
don?t want me to go with you. You wouldn?t bring me if you could
do otherwise. So, why???
?Why? Why?? raged the professor. ?Always questions! Always
reproach! I thought you would be happy, Junior. You always move
heaven and earth to accompany me??
Once again, Henry Jones had lost his cool in the presence of his
son. However, he had vowed to be patient, to show kindness. But
regardless: Before the inquisitive eyes of Indy, he had lost his
manners. To win, he raised his voice.
He was always this way since the death of his wife, Anna, a year
earlier.
Eyes hidden behind worn-out glasses, Henry Jones stared at the
son who was, for him, the greatest of mysteries. He, who managed to
decipher ten-century-old manuscripts, was incapable of understanding
what went on in the head of his own son! That was
the last straw!
?Well, Junior?um?it?s just that?um?? he stammered.
Prey to a profound embarrassment, the professor did not finish his
sentence.
It was Indy's turn to contemplate him with a curious glance.
?It?s just that?what, Father??
Henry Jones hung his head.
For a few seconds, nothing was heard in the office other than the
bustle of raindrops and Indiana?s barking.
Gathering all of his fatherly courage, the professor was then
resolved to confess:
?Well, it?s just that?I would have liked to found myself by your
side during your adventure in Georgia. I think you behaved as a true
hero. Meanwhile, I was studying a dusty manuscript in Armenia??
He paused for a break, it was time to wipe his foggy glasses.
?You see, Junior, I sometimes wonder if you have more common
sense than me. Yes?um?more common sense.?
Flabbergasted, Indy pinched himself to make sure he was not
dreaming. Was it really his father who had addressed him in these
terms?
He, who often regarded him with contempt, who had no interest in
him other than to reprimand?
He, who forced him to swallow pages and pages of Latin?
He, who had persisted in calling him ?Junior?, a hated nickname?
Was this the same father who was there before him?
?But?Father, it?s just that??
?It?s just that?what, Junior??
?Well, um?I?m a little tired after all those adventures. Egypt,
Georgia, I haven?t stopped for a second!?
The professor opened his round eyes.
?But you are young, damn it!? he cried. ?Ah, if I was your age, I
would have otherwise spent my days with my nose poring over
books! I?I??
"What would you do, Father?" Indy interrupted with a touch of
insolence in his voice.
Unable to answer this question, Henry Jones disengaged from the
conversation with a spin.
"Since you do not wish to accompany me, I will go to New York
alone!" he lectured in a theatrical tone.
Then he turned on his heels and went to open the door from the
kitchen for Indiana, who claimed his breakfast with obstinacy.
____
Young Indiana Jones and the Metropolitan?s Violin
by Jérôme Jacobs
English translation by Stoo
____
Chapter 1
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Utah, September 1913, a rainy day.
?Junior, pack your bags. We?re leaving for New York.?
This announcement had the effect of a cold shower on the young
Indiana Jones.
?What?! But...Father, classes are starting again!?
Professor Jones, still in his night robe, halted this objection with a
show of his hand.
?I am invited to the inauguration of the Metropolitan Museum?s
south wing,? he explained brandishing a crumpled letter. ?Edwards,
the curator, is thanking me for my contribution to the museum?s
medieval art collection. I cannot refuse.?
Indy pouted. He had lived a rather hectic summer. In Egypt, he
had faced an evil gemstone and he narrowly escaped the bubonic
plague.1
A few weeks later, in Georgia, he had snatched the princess Tamar
from the clutches of her many enemies.2
That is a lot for one man alone, Professor Jones seemed to forget!
1. See Young Indiana Jones and the Tomb of Terror.
2. See Young Indiana Jones and the Princess of Peril.
?I will also take the opportunity to go study an illuminated
manuscript from the Xth century at the Pierpont Morgan library,? he
resumed. ?A Xth century manuscript! Do you realize, Junior? It has
been years since I?ve been waiting for the chance to decipher it.?
And he re-read the famous letter for the twentieth time, as if he
could not convince himself of this windfall.
?Who is this Pierpont Morgan?? asked Indy, feigning interest in his
father?s project.
?A wise businessman,? explained the professor solemnly. ?An
exceptional man, who was able to use his wealth to preserve some of
the greatest treasures of the world. He has nothing to do with the
sharks on Wall Street!?
Indy sighed. In Russia, his father had criticized the Bolsheviks. In
the United States, he attacked the capitalists. A question of latitude?
?But they will not prevail in paradise!? the professor continued
with emphasis. ?I predict that one day not too far off, they will be
victims of a resounding crash and will lose everything! Did you hear
me? EVERYTHING!?
Satisfied with this lyrical outpour, Professor Jones sank into his
glossy armchair, unworthy to appear even in the local museum.
For a few minutes, the pitter-patter of raindrops on the windows
grew louder.
One inch from Indy?s nose, his father, bristly, shook a piece of
paper with frenzy.
In the garden, Indiana barked desperately: He had been left
outside all night and they even forgot to serve him his breakfast.
However, it was a dog?s life!
In short, the day was beginning badly. Indy asked himself if he
wasn?t going through a living nightmare.
?But...Father,? insisted the young boy, stunned. ?Usually, you
don?t want me to go with you. You wouldn?t bring me if you could
do otherwise. So, why???
?Why? Why?? raged the professor. ?Always questions! Always
reproach! I thought you would be happy, Junior. You always move
heaven and earth to accompany me??
Once again, Henry Jones had lost his cool in the presence of his
son. However, he had vowed to be patient, to show kindness. But
regardless: Before the inquisitive eyes of Indy, he had lost his
manners. To win, he raised his voice.
He was always this way since the death of his wife, Anna, a year
earlier.
Eyes hidden behind worn-out glasses, Henry Jones stared at the
son who was, for him, the greatest of mysteries. He, who managed to
decipher ten-century-old manuscripts, was incapable of understanding
what went on in the head of his own son! That was
the last straw!
?Well, Junior?um?it?s just that?um?? he stammered.
Prey to a profound embarrassment, the professor did not finish his
sentence.
It was Indy's turn to contemplate him with a curious glance.
?It?s just that?what, Father??
Henry Jones hung his head.
For a few seconds, nothing was heard in the office other than the
bustle of raindrops and Indiana?s barking.
Gathering all of his fatherly courage, the professor was then
resolved to confess:
?Well, it?s just that?I would have liked to found myself by your
side during your adventure in Georgia. I think you behaved as a true
hero. Meanwhile, I was studying a dusty manuscript in Armenia??
He paused for a break, it was time to wipe his foggy glasses.
?You see, Junior, I sometimes wonder if you have more common
sense than me. Yes?um?more common sense.?
Flabbergasted, Indy pinched himself to make sure he was not
dreaming. Was it really his father who had addressed him in these
terms?
He, who often regarded him with contempt, who had no interest in
him other than to reprimand?
He, who forced him to swallow pages and pages of Latin?
He, who had persisted in calling him ?Junior?, a hated nickname?
Was this the same father who was there before him?
?But?Father, it?s just that??
?It?s just that?what, Junior??
?Well, um?I?m a little tired after all those adventures. Egypt,
Georgia, I haven?t stopped for a second!?
The professor opened his round eyes.
?But you are young, damn it!? he cried. ?Ah, if I was your age, I
would have otherwise spent my days with my nose poring over
books! I?I??
"What would you do, Father?" Indy interrupted with a touch of
insolence in his voice.
Unable to answer this question, Henry Jones disengaged from the
conversation with a spin.
"Since you do not wish to accompany me, I will go to New York
alone!" he lectured in a theatrical tone.
Then he turned on his heels and went to open the door from the
kitchen for Indiana, who claimed his breakfast with obstinacy.
____
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