short story by osamu dazai adapted by chriistina lu
one day, a simple shepard named melos travelled to the city.
he went to buy some presents for his sister’s wedding and to visit his best friend selinuntius.
however, melos noticed that the city was not its usual lively self.
why are the streets so quiet and empty?
excuse me, did something happen very recently?
despite his bravery,
he believes that we are filled with evil intent.
the king is killing everyone. he first killed his family, and now us.
look.
melos was easily captured by the guards without effort, and brought over to the king for judgment.
six people died today just for petty crimes.
and i would save this city from a tyrant!
who is this?
who am i? i should be asking you! i suggest you leave before he kills you.
what kind of king is this!? he must not be allowed to rule!
i am melos,
foolish boy, you don’t understand. all people are selfish and greedy. to take them at their word is to invite ruin and chaos to the city.
no, stop! i am saving this city from corruption! melos runs to the king’s castle.
stop! to doubt the hearts of people is the most shameful of evils! killing innocents is not the answer!
silence! for your insolence, i sentence you, melos, to death!
i am not afraid of death! but, if you may, i do have a final request. i would like to celebrate my sister’s wedding...
after selinuntius arrived, melos explained his deal with the king.
selinuntius was extremely alarmed by the conditions,
please give me three days to celebrate, then i will return for my execution.
ridiculous. you will never return.
i will leave my friend selinuntius here. if i do nott come back in three days, you may kill him instead.
i will return! but since you distrust me...
if he does not return, it’ll prove that people truly can’t be trusted!
do you accept the deal? of course he’s lying! but if i were to accept this deal...
very well, i accept. return by sundown on the third day.
but he trusted melos and accepted it.
melos spent the whole night running...
and arrived at his village the next morning.
on the second day...
despite the heavy rain lasting day to night,
the wedding was a success.
melos! i have unfinished business in the city. i need to leave now.
why do you look so tired? why did you-
sister... what, but it’s so late! and raining! be safe on your travels!
let’s move your wedding date to
tomorrow!
the rain has died down a bit, but it doesn’t matter.
i can’t waste any time, selinuntius is waiting for my return!
gods, please grant me your strengths!
on the third day, melos ran from dawn to noon nonstop, making good time...
i have no choice, i need to swim across!
melos dove bravely into the river,
at this rate, i’ll reach the city with lots of time left!
but the narrow river was a lot more dangerous than he thought it would be.
until he reached the river.
the waves coiled around him like serpents. sometimes he thought that he would drown.
i can barely move...
yesterday’s rain caused the river to overflow, smashing the bridge into pieces. but through some miracle, he survived.
i must continue, even in this heat!
but i can’t stop, the sun is going to set soon!
is this the end?
why...
the king must be laughing at my resolve right now...
forgive me, selinuntius...
i betrayed your trust...
goodbye...
i hear something murmuring, but i don’t know what...
he trusts me. those past thoughts were just a bad dream. people will have such thoughts when they’re tired. but now is not the time to mope around!
the sun hasn’t set yet.
selinuntius waits for me.
it’s the city!
i am selinuntius’s friend. you are too late to save him from execution!
melos!
but that is why i must run! i run because of that faith, that trust! no matter what you say, you cannot stop me from saving my best friend!
who are you?
the sun hasn’t set yet.
very well. run, melos! there might still be a bit of time left!
it’s hopeless!
he believed in you, even when everyone mocked him for it.
out of my way!
but despite the insults, all he said in respone was:
melos will come.
his faith in you was unshaken to the very end.
stop!
i am melos!
i am to be put to death!
selinuntius!
melos!
you did it!
how!?
release him from his bonds!
forgive me! on my way here, i almost gave up! please hit me before i can embrace you!
melos!
...a deal is a deal.
...very well.
ouch!
melos. ...melos.
as part of the deal, i accept my dea-
hit me just as hard as i did.
while waiting, for the first time in my life, i doubted you.
you have subdued my heart. trust between men is not an empty illusion.
you two are proof that there is still goodness in this world.
if you don’t, i can’t-
thank you
my friend!
i free you melos from your death penalty.
long live ...
the king !!!
author’s note “run, melos!” is dazai’s retelling of german poet friedrich schiller’s ballad “Die Burgschaft” (the pledge), which in turn was inspired by an ancient greek legend. after adapting it for the japanese audience, the story is now a well-known classic often taught in japanese schools.
this comic is made by christina lu for the spring 2019 senior capstone at washington university in st. louis. the original short story was published by osamu dazai in 1940. the text is adapted and condensed from an english translation. the typeface used is ninjustu bb. this comic is printed on mohawk options smooth cream white 80t paper, and the cover printed with mohawk via felt pure white 80c paper. i’d like to thank my professors john hendrix and linda solovic for their guidance in this project. i’d also like to thank all my friends, family, and peers in the capstone course for their support and encouragement.