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Like a shield
Full of light
Shines upon
the path
Falling flowers
Even the kids
are gathering
to wait for
the one without wings
Love smiles
Love shines
From your dream
Lawrence!
Wait up, Lawrence!
Wait!
We are in the middle of the choir practice.
We can't practice if solo leaves.
We can't practice if solo leaves.
Lawrence!
I can't, Brother!
I don't feel well!
I don't feel well at all.
Lawrence, what's this?
What's wrong with your hand?
50 years has already passed
but when this country was suffering from severe drought,
but when this country was suffering from severe drought,
he brought up great amount of water from beneath the roots
he brought up great amount of water from beneath the roots
and our town was the only town that survived then.
and our town was the only town that survived then.
That's not the only thing; we all survived thanks to him
That's not the only thing; we all survived thanks to him
when we had a multitude-7 earthquake 12 years ago.
when we had a multitude-7 earthquake 12 years ago.
when we had a multitude-7 earthquake 12 years ago.
Since he spread his roots down the foundation
Since he spread his roots down the foundation
in which our town was on for a very long time,
the only thing that broke in our town
was a little hen cage.
You see, this is no normal tree.
It has a great soul
that cannot be compared to that of a human!
that cannot be compared to that of a human!
How could you cut a tree like that!
You will be punished.
But... Mr. Almand,
in order for the road to go through the hill from downtown,
we need to go through this course!
I never said that you can't make the road!
I just want you to keep this tree!
This tree is called to be a guardian tree but
This tree is called to be a guardian tree but
it is also known as a tree that eats people.
Look at those ropes on the tree branches.
Look at those ropes on the tree branches.
Yes, it is the tree that many people who have lost hope
Yes, it is the tree that many people who have lost hope
come to lay down their burden.
come to lay down their burden.
You,
have you seen the face of a person
who hung themselves here?
No... No.
They were all smiling peacefully.
As if they died in their mother's chest in their hometown.
As if they died in their mother's chest in their hometown.
That is what this tree is... This tree...
How could you cut down such tree? You will be punished.
I'm sure something will happen.
It has that much power.
Father,
Mother,
how are you doing?
I'm already in my fourth year,
but Lawrence is still in his first year after entering the dorm.
I feel bit anxious since many things have happened,
I feel bit anxious since many things have happened,
but I think I will do great
by the time the new semester starts.
There will be a lot of new students
who will be more confused than Lawrence.
By the way, today...
Lawrence...
No.
But Lawrences's appetite still seems to be great.
But Lawrences's appetite still seems to be great.
Lawrence.
Please leave seriousness of your condition and how much you can afford to pay me.
Please help me, Doctor. My little brother... My little brother, he's...
Welcome home!
Any phone calls or those who came to see me?
Thoughts for Green
A week hadn't passed since
we got the call
when the doctor and I visited the suburb of London.
It is very rare to see
the doctor move so fast
even without any prior investigation.
The reason for all this was
in the voice of that phone call.
Pleasp help, Doctor.
It's my little brother. There's something wrong with him!
♬You can't get away♪
First the palms, then his chest,
and it's spreading throughout his body.
He will become a plant like this!
Love shines
From your dream
From the streets
Love grows
Doctor, who is the kid that has a tree growing on his body?
Are you Andrew?
Yes.
- Where is your little brother? - My brother
went back to his dorm room.
He said he's sleepy.
Then take me there. Everything starts after I see him.
That would be difficult since there are a lot of students watching and...
the rumor will spread.
You still haven't told your teachers?
I couldn't tell anyone... There's no way!
You must have been thinking a lot as his older brother.
Then bring him to the Parsimon Hotel at the Plam Street tonight.
We are staying there.
Yes, thank you.
Yes, thank you.
How do you know me?
The doctor that came to our house before told us.
He said that that person will be able tocure any disease
and perform any surgery...
He told us that person's name is Black Jack.
So I tried my best to find your number.
Hey Lawrence
No...
How are you feeling?
Who are you?
I'm your friend.
Who?
You will remember.
Oh, your little brother looks great.
Doctor, this is Lawrence.
Please take care of him.
Doc..? Doctor? He is a doctor?
Yes. He is Dr. Black Jack.
He'll cure your illness for sure.
I don't like shots.
I don't want any pain.
Pinoko.
Yes, sir!
Take off your clothes and lie down here.
The doctor will soon examine you.
My brother... Please save my little brother!
As for the fee, when I become 21, I will be able to use
the trust fund my grandfather left for me. Then...
- Bring a loupe and a clip!- Yes!
- Bring a loupe and a clip- Yes!
Hey, what are you going to do?
The road is already close to the Kazura waterfall.
Will it take about a month untill they get here?
Hey, what are you going to do?
It's no use, is it?
It was exactly until when I was 13 that I could hear your voice.
That's right. Only the one with a very pure heart can hear your voice.
I started stealing things at the age of 16,
and started going to jails at the age of 18.
I also killed a man. Because of something so little that I can't even remember now.
I'm the worst.
I wandered around all my life
and came back here after I turned 60.
I came here to kill myself on your branch.
But I'm still alive...
Such a person is...
Is there any pain?
None.
There still are reports about odd disease that occurs on human body.
For instance, mycosis fungoid sarcoma.
Dry, red patches spread all over the body,
increasing, enlarging and conjoining.
They expand and form mushroom-like tumors.
Or something can cause the skin to thicken, resulting in elephantiasis, which causes elephant-like skin.
Skin can also become remarkably dry, presenting the fish scale-like look of ichthyosis.
Skin can also become remarkably dry, presenting the fish scale-like look of ichthyosis.
But those illnesses are explainable by modern medicine.
Some are caused by viruses, others by parasitic toxins.
It's different from allergic problems.
But, in this boy's case, it has nothing to do with any of them.
The tissue sample that I took from the boy's body
was just like a tree bark, a beech tree.
I'm Pinoko.
I am the chief assistant and manager of genius surgeon Dr. Black Jack.
Nice to meet you.
I've never hear of any precedents of plant life actually growing on a living animal.
I've never hear of any precedents of plant life actually growing on a living animal.
How about cordyceps?
I did some research in the library. I was just too woried about him.
Cordyceps?
It's a type of mushroom that grows on burrowing insects.
Scientific name, Cordyceps Sinensis.
It was used as a medicine in China for a long time.
But, mushrooms are fungi, simpler than vegetation.
It's absolutely impossible for anything more complex than moss or a fern to grow on an animal.
It's absolutely impossible for anything more complex than moss or a fern to grow on an animal.
I need to do a detailed exam. I'll need until tomorrow to arrange a place with proper equipment.
- Is that okay, Lawrence?- Yes...
Tell me about your symptoms.
Sometimes, it is hard to breathe.
Except for that, it doesn't hurt or anything.
I just feel sleepy. No matter how much I sleep, I can't stay awake.
Do you dream?
- Pinoko, get a cab.- Okay.
I will both of you to the dorm.
Thank you.
- About your trust fund...- Yes.
- I don't have any interest in your grandfather's inheritance.- What?
Once you two boys get a job, you can pay me then.
You have to pay on your own.
Yes!
St. Ando scotch with soda, please.
The usual. All right.
What's so great about it?
The villagers are so freaking happy that road from the city's going through here!
Are you that much happy to be closer to the city?
The city's got real schools and big hospitals.
With the bus coming through, it'll take less than one hour to get there.
Having to go around the ridge like we always have, it takes nearly half a day to get there.
Besides, there're real jobs in the city. We can finally stop being poor here!
You know? All you talk about is going to the city.
But people there will also start coming here.
The guys that are so smart and sly that you guys can never beat.
You will soon be crushed by all of them. Your house will be taken, and your land...
Then you will soon be just serving foods for them.
You drunken old man!
Stop it, don't bother.
Let's go. We need to wake up earlier tomorrow.
Let's go. We need to wake up earlier tomorrow.
Let's go. We need to wake up earlier tomorrow.
You don't mind cutting down that tree for your wealth?
You idiots!
Shoot... Those ***.
Mr. Almand,
I'm sorry, but it's no use.
What?
I mean, I agree with what you say.
I called a meeting to see if there was any way we could change the road's course without cutting the tree down.
I called a meeting to see if there was any way we could change the road's course without cutting the tree down.
But it didn’t do any good.
Changing the plan when it's 80% complete was deemed too expensive,
so I’m afraid they rejected it.
I see.
Will you, at least, allow me to pay for your drinks tonight?
I see...
I'm sorry, but there is a call for you.
Put it through.
Doctor... Is this Doctor Black Jack?
What's wrong, Andrew?
My brother... My brother's not here!
I looked everywhere in school but he's gone!
I don't know when he disappeared!
I was deep asleep...
Oh... Going out in the middle of the night?
Go back to sleep. I plan to return in the morning.
Of course.
I'm so unlucky.
And my luck's never going to improve.
Because, no matter how much I care for him...
The doctor will just never realize it.
Who is it? Who?
I... I must leave.
Come with me.
Where do you have to go to?
Far. Somewhere very far away.
Okay. Shall we go?
Now look. I've spread a seed to you.
Now we are friends.
Wow.
Lawrence!
Lawrence! Where are you?
Lawrence!
Lawrence!
Does he know any place outside the school?
Lawrence is kind of a coward.
He's been here at this boarding school for a year,
but he's never left the grounds.
He hasn't even made friends with any of his classmates.
He relies on me a lot.
Well,
He may have gone outside after all.
No, Lawrence's clothes bags are gone!
Underwears and shirts, he only took his.
Underwears and shirts, he only took his.
He has never even ridden a bus by himself!
This way?
Mm-hm, this way.
Where would we go this way?
I don't know.
But it's this way.
This way, huh...?
Mm-hm.
Where are your brother's parents?
Where do your mother and father live?
Oh yes... San Ferna Republic.
San Ferna Republic?
Yes, it is a small country in middle east
Yes. It's a little country in South America. They're in the village of La Perna, in the mountains.
Father manages UN aid for developing countries.
He's been posted at that village for the last 5 years.
Lawrence lived in La Perna until last year.
Do you think there’s any chance that’s where he’s headed right now?
No way. He's never flown on an airplane alone before.
He doesn't have any money!
Besides...
Besides, you still haven't told your parents about Lawrence's illness.
Right?
Anyways, we should search around this place once more.
And when the sun comes up,
let's check stations, taxi, and airport.
Yes.
You go ahead and sleep some more.
You are very sensitive now.
But...
It is my patient that is lost.
You leave it to me.
Wow,
So pretty...
Why... Why do I feel so great?
That's right.
I've been looking for this.
Warm sunlight...
The scent of a gentle waterside...
This is happiness.
Here, I can recover.
Here, my heart can be at peace. I don't want anything else anymore.
Welcome back.
Do you know where my companion went?
She's not in our room! Did she say where she was going to?!
Um, I’m afraid I have no idea, sir.
Oh my... Boo!
Hey, Miss. Your cell phone is ringing.
Yes? Hello?
Where are you now? What are you doing?
Where am I...? What am I doing?
Lawrence...! By any chance, are you with him?
Lawrence is sleeping. I'm sleepy, too. We're hitchhiking to the airport.
"Airport"? Where are you headed? Hello?
Pinoko!
Hey! Hello?
Pinoko! Hey!
Hello?
Mother.
Dear, is there something--?
Hm? What?
Did you hear a voice calling out just now?
No, not really.
Mother!
Mother...
Andrew!
Dear!
It's Andrew!
Has Lawrence come back?
Lawrence? Did something happen to Lawrence?
Andrew!
We were only able to track him as far as San Ferna International Airport.
There is strong evidence that Lawrence entered this country early this morning.
You... Who are you?
Black Jack. Your son hired me.
Now, which way...?
This way.
Right! Mis-ter Da-ru-ma. In the co-llo-se-um.
Mis-ter Ya-ma-da. Mo-ving a-way.
Miss Bet-ty.
In the bath-room!
Drink up.
Drink when you're happy. Drink when you're sad.
Almand...
Leave me alone.
Almand...
Shut up!
What? Who are you?
No way...
There's no way I can hear you!
Almand...
This is a lie!
There's no way I can hear this!
I'm a washed up, worthless, criminal, You hear? A dirty, rotten thug!
I am drunk.
That is why I'm hearing this.
I have a favor to ask, Almand.
I have a favor to ask, Almand.
Can you go out and greet my friend?
Are you saying that Lawrence is sick?
I'm afraid I can't be more precise until I've examined him closely...
But I know that your son's body isn't normal.
My initial examination shows it's affecting his cardio-pulmonary functions.
It's almost 80 kilometers from here to the airport.
First and foremost, we have to find him.
Lawrence!
Wait. I'll go.
You stay at the house. Wait for Lawrence to come back.
You stay here as well.
I will call her.
Go ahead.
Hello? Pinoko!
"You've reached the message center of--"
There are two of me...
and only one of you.
I can't... I can't see well.
Oh my, oh my!
I'm so happy to hear your voice again!
Just like I did when I was a boy!
Everything's sparkling, just like it did then!
Everything's sparkling, just like it did then!
My tired body and soul have been revived!
My soul is on fire!
I'm grateful! I'm so grateful!
Wait a second.
The smell of water.
What? Which way is it this time?
It's amazing...
The soil is very warm and soft.
The soil is very warm and soft.
What is it... What are you talking about?
Here is fine. I'll lie right here.
I'll let time gently pass…
and then I'll put down roots. I'll become a young sapling here...
So nice...
You can't! Lawrence, you can't! You just can't!
No! Lawrence, no! Stop it! Somebody!
Yes, yes, this is Pinoko.
Where are you?! Where are you now, Pinoko?!
Well... Where do you think I am?
You idiot!
Be careful!
We used the equipment in San Ferna University Hospital to perform the detailed exam on Lawrence that very day.
Lawrence's father used his connections with the UN to get us whatever we needed.
Lawrence's father used his connections with the UN to get us whatever we needed.
In any case, the doctor is doing everything he can to try and help Lawrence.
In any case, the doctor is doing everything he can to try and help Lawrence.
I was asked to do it.
To do what?
Uh, well, I was asked to go and meet some friends...
You were asked to beat some wrens?
I mean, I was supposed to take you somewhere...
Take them where? Who asked you to do this?
Um, well, that's sorta hard to explain...
You see, I…
You’ll have to speak more clearly!
Lawrence is going to require surgery. I need for you to sign the consent form.
First of all, look at this. Something truly extraordinary is taking place inside of Lawrence's body right now.
The fact that these shoots are growing from his body is shocking in its own right...
...but the parasitic process itself is miraculous.
In short, where these stems and roots directly contact his nervous system, blood vessels,
bones, flesh, and organs, they somehow manage to avoid them. The parasites continue
to grow without hardly affecting him. It’s as though a world-class surgeon had implanted them.
Meaning what, exactly?
There is an intelligence behind this.
I believe this beech tree possesses some form of consciousness and has parasitically joined with
Lawrence for a reason.
But, if we allow it to keep growing inside of him...
There's a high probability that it will sap his strength and badly damage his internal organs.
Doctor...!
I need your permission to operate.
I'll do the surgery.
What are you doing?
Aren’t you going to assist me? Hurry up and get changed.
Doctor...
What is it?
I have those sprouts on me as well!
What?
Lawrence planted his seeds into me!
You’ll have to operate on me, at the same time!
Here?
What's so funny?
Yes, you have a sprout,
but you can relax. You have artificial skin.
It's quite dead already.
Well, we have to start.
What are you going to do?
I'll... I'll go change!
Besides me, the doctors and nurses
of the university hospital all assisted in the operation.
It began well...
As always, the doctor's scalpel-work
was smooth, without a wasted incision.
He attacked the thing growing throughout Lawrence's body.
Sometimes delicately, other times quite aggressively.
Come on, Dear…
Sit down and relax a bit.
Papa...
Beech tree...
That's what Dr. Blackjack said, wasn’t it?
That's what Dr. Blackjack said, wasn’t it?
No way...
It's not possible, right, Almand?
I'm not sure...
That tree on the ridge...
That's a beech, right?
You were always talking about a curse from that tree!
Is this thing affecting my son supposed to be from that?!
I don't know.
Are you finding some kind of pleasure in this?
You ***...!
Papa, stop! Stop it!
The person that rescued Lawrence wandering through the forest
was Almand!
Lawrence is a good boy.
I don’t find any pleasure in this at all.
I just made up that stuff about a curse.
He'd never do something like that...
Sorry to bother you, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Andrew.
Where are you going,
Almand?
The village.
The village is the only place that I have left to go.
-Blood pressure? -100/50.
-Pulse? -96.
Slowly inject Karnigen and Decadron.
Slowly inject Karnigen and Decadron.
Injecting, Doctor.
Pinoko!
-Yes! -We have to go in and remove the seed.
Seed?
The acromial region of the right shoulder blade. I see the shadow of what looks like a seed.
The roots seem to extend through the body from here.
I also see evidence of a bone fracture.
Scalpel.
Scalpel!
The operation stretched into its fifth hour.
When the city of San Ferna was covered with stars,
it ended.
Doctor...
The operation was a huge success! Nice job, to everyone who helped!
I'll tentatively say that I've removed all foreign substances from his body.
If his recuperation goes well, the bandages can come off in 10 days.
By the way, Mr. Jones...
This is the seed that caused the problem.
From what I saw, it entered his body about 2 years ago, when he broke his shoulder.
I believe Lawrence was near it
when the accident happened. ^^
The beech tree.
I want you to describe the accident in detail.
You think...
That’s when the seed got into his body?
2 years ago in winter,
La Perna was hit by an abnormal cold snap.
The day started out clear,
but by afternoon there was a nasty blizzard.
Lawrence was playing with a friend and disappeared.
According to his friend, who made it home first...
They'd been separated in the blizzard in the mountains.
They'd been separated in the blizzard in the mountains.
The entire village searched for him.
He was found 3 days later. He's broken his shoulder falling from a cliff. We found Lawrence,
unable to walk, in the hollow of a tree. It had sheltered him from the cold and the snow.
It was that beech tree.
The tree the villagers call it The Protector.
Or The Man-Eater!
Once they pave the Tamara Ridge, it's all over.
They'll cross the ridge and be here in a week.
I've made a decision. If it’s the end for you, then it's the end for me, too.
Now that I've heard your voice again, I have no more regrets.
That time, when I came back to end it all...
When I hung myself from your branch... you intentionally broke it
and saved my life, didn’t you?
But this time,
Let's not do that, Friend.
I don't want to see any more sad things.
I make it a policy to get while the getting's good.
Drink when you're happy.
Drink when you're sad—
It's not surprising a plant can demonstrate consciousness.
Humans usually live a century at most.
But plants can live for millennia.
With all his logic and brains...
Man assumes there is nothing in the natural world he doesn't understand.
However, however! I do not believe
in anything unless I see it with my own eyes
and feel it with my own body!
If you have it, then show it to me now!
Demonstrate your consciousness!
Show me your strange power!
You can't force it to do that
Only those who deserve it can see its power!
It's impossible for an impure man to see it!
You could say that I have a passing friendship with it.
Even at my age, it still chooses to speak to me on occasion.
Ordinary people can't do it. And certainly a man like you can never do it, Black Jack!
I know about you! You dirty yourself by earning money in the underworld, don't you?!
Why didn't you let me die like I wanted?
I don't want to see them cut this tree down!
I don't want to see them cut this tree down!
Then you can try hanging yourself when I'm gone.
Then you can try hanging yourself when I'm gone.
Anyone is free to kill himself, as long as I'm not looking.
Anyone is free to kill himself, as long as I'm not looking.
The cha-me-le-on
chan-ges its co-lor!
A-ma-de-us
Mo-za-rt!
Pinoko!
Yes? Yes?
Yes? Yes?
-Let's go. -Yes! Yes! Yes!
Lawrence's post-op recovery went well.
Soon we were back in the village
to wait to remove his bandages.
The doctor, being the doctor,
goes to the old tree day after day,
examining it thoroughly.
examining it thoroughly.
Pinoko!
Coming!
I don't know what it is you're trying to find out,
but a quack like you will never be able to understand the truth of this tree!
Oh, hey there.
Haven't hung yourself yet, huh?
Not just quite yet.
Well, everyone's life is precious.
I've got my reasons for doing what I do,
so you shut up!
Still, it's an amazing tree...
Starting with the Cuscuta Japonica, there are over 10 varieties of parasitic plant.
More than 70 if you count mosses.
The tree must be at least 3,500 years old.
You're in love with it!
But in the end, a plant is just a plant.
I don't believe it has the power to become a parasite to human flesh…
Hey, Quack! You need to study more!
…or have a consciousness.
And then, after all this, the final day arrived.
All right, Lawrence. Shall we remove those bandages?
Okay!
No... It's impossible!
Almand!
I used to be pretty good at fighting UN soldiers in the war!
C'mon! I dare you to try cutting my friend down!
As long as I draw a breath, I won't let you do this!
Almand... Stop this. I'm begging you!
Oh, no! Don't get any closer!
Get too close and I'll barbecue you!
Watch out!
Now I remember. That's right.
Yes, I remebered the promise!
A promise? To who? For what?
Lawrence!
Yes. That time... We made a promise!
Where are you going?
On the night of the snow storm... I promised!
Lawrence.
You'll be safe from the blizzards for days where you are.
But...I'm so hungry...
Eat the seeds you see there.
All the mountain animals’ store them right there for the winter.
They're good! Really good!
Thank you!
You'll be leaving London soon, right?
I’m going to secondary school.
I've also decided to join the choir there.
Your voice is very beautiful.
I always listen to your voice carried upon the wind.
Then I'll sing for you the next time I'm home!
That would be wonderful!
- I look forward to it. - Then it's a promise!
A promise, indeed.
You finally came.
Since my end is nearly at hand, I really wanted to hear you sing.
With my heart,
I will sing.
Full of light
Shine upon
the path
Falling flowers
Even the kids
are gathering
to wait for the one without wings
Love smiles
Love shines
From your dream
Love grows
You're leaving us now?!
Hi, Lawrence! How are you?
Oh, good! Your brother's doing well, too!
So, they finally finished the road through the ridge, huh? And now the bus comes through?
Really? Your choir won a cash prize in the British Nationals?
That's great!
By the way, how's old Almand doing?
He’s still drinking and loafing around all day? That figures!
Oh, and he cries to himself sometimes?
I guess he's hopeless.
Anyway, enough of that...
Black Jack....
I have lived for 4,500 years.
And now, my life begins anew...