Comic Transcript: Chapter 1, Page 4
Overview & Visual Setting
A four-panel watercolor comic continuing the confrontation between the Lord Provost and Captain Duco. The tension escalates as Captain Duco abruptly takes charge of the situation, leaving the Lord Provost to desperately make a phone call to his superior.
Panel 1
Visual Description: Close-up of Captain Duco looking stern and suspicious through his glasses, his feathered bicorne hat filling the frame.
Captain Duco:
“Does that mean you haven’t appointed our liaisons yet?”
Panel 2
Visual Description: Close-up of the Lord Provost sweating profusely, holding his forehead in anxiety as he stammers.
Lord Provost:
“Er, uh….”
Panel 3
Visual Description: A wide action shot of the office. Captain Duco dramatically spins around, whipping a riding crop through the air to bark orders at his entourage. In the chaos, papers fly everywhere, two guards tumble over each other, and the assistant cowers in the background. The Lord Provost buries his face in his hands in total defeat at his desk.
Captain Duco:
“Bah, never mind. We’ll secure the volunteers ourselves.”
Panel 4
Visual Description: A large close-up panel of the sweating Lord Provost holding a brass, horn-style telephone speaker to his ear, speaking anxiously into the receiver.
Lord Provost:
“I swear they’re early, Your Presidency! No, I — yes — we’ll be fine, sir, we’re always up to code…”
Lord Provost (Continued):
“…but the Professorate — you know how they are — yes, sir. Absolute deniability, sir. Twenty percent collateral faculty damage would be perfectly acceptable, sir. Thank you, sir.”