Oh Professor, me thinks you touched a nerve in Miss Black. This obviously is annoying to her. So, this is interesting. Where does John Henry hide his soul? Not sure if it can be done in inanimate objects such as Red pointed out, the watch, but then witchcraft and wizardry does have the ability to do things we are not able to understand.
From a Swedish folktale, a giant tells his captive where his soul/life resides: Finally, he tells her. “Far, far away in a lake lies an island; on that island stands a church; in that church is a well; in that well swims a duck; in that duck there is an egg, and in that egg there lies my heart.
Vane always did seem a tad soulless. If Hunter hid his soul, secreting it within his pocketwatch would make it appear to be within his body AND hide it away. Also, watches aren’t alive, per se, but they resemble life quit closely. Plus, upon ending Hunter’s life, Vane could tell him, “Time’s up John Henry, time’s up.” … OR … John Henry hunter has Vane’s soul within him, and his own soul somewhere upon his person, preferably someplace fireproof, again, like the watch, or in a stylish kerchief, perhaps.
You get me. He’s always checking that watch, takes it everywhere, and remember when he was imprisoned at Fort Fairbanks? Horrifically murdering the guy who stole his watch was the first thing he did after breaking free.
Not to be too cheesey or anything but Miss Black is his heart and soul. So long as she lives somewhere inside that demon possessed corpse he shall persevere. I don’t think that’s the actual answer, just me being romantic.
And that the hell of it right there. It’s seems a lot of “Riding the Trail of Vengeance.” In the end, there very well be no happiness for John and Vanity. Only Erin knows. We here in this comments section are just a bunch of casual observers, and nothing more.
Here’s my guess, after reading through the series a couple of times: Vane’s dead body (her soul having departed) was infested with a demon, which hated JHH and pursued him. (At Broken Sky Professor Crawford detected both the possessing demon and the lack of a human soul in Vane’s body.) Then, at Via Dolorosa, JHH either killed the demon or forced it back into the corpse. (When Crawford speaks of her “guest,” is that past tense or present?) Vane’s body has no human soul in it, and it’s animated only by hatred of JHH (and maybe by that demon again or by JHH’s sorcery?). We’ll see by the end of the story, I’m sure.
I think he is saying he noticed her “guest” (possessing demon) back in Broken Sky, but hadn’t noticed the absence of her own soul until now — perhaps because the presence of the demon hid the absence of her soul.
I am really liking this conversation!
Did he hide his soul in Diamonds? Or does the not being killable thing have to do with the brand? (But then, Hearts is dead, so maybe not.)
Calling it: he hid his soul in HER. 🙂
My money is on the watch.
I love the way you draw both of their hair!
Oh Professor, me thinks you touched a nerve in Miss Black. This obviously is annoying to her. So, this is interesting. Where does John Henry hide his soul? Not sure if it can be done in inanimate objects such as Red pointed out, the watch, but then witchcraft and wizardry does have the ability to do things we are not able to understand.
From a Swedish folktale, a giant tells his captive where his soul/life resides:
Finally, he tells her.
“Far, far away in a lake lies an island; on that island stands a church; in that church is a well; in that well swims a duck; in that duck there is an egg, and in that egg there lies my heart.
Funny, that sounds very similar to tales of the Katschei, which is a Russian fairy tale.
Vane’s face in Panel 4 seems softer, more human.
JHH hid his soul in Sheriff Snow, which is why he hasn’t shown up yet.
Vane always did seem a tad soulless.
If Hunter hid his soul, secreting it within his pocketwatch would make it appear to be within his body AND hide it away. Also, watches aren’t alive, per se, but they resemble life quit closely.
Plus, upon ending Hunter’s life, Vane could tell him, “Time’s up John Henry, time’s up.”
… OR … John Henry hunter has Vane’s soul within him, and his own soul somewhere upon his person, preferably someplace fireproof, again, like the watch, or in a stylish kerchief, perhaps.
You get me. He’s always checking that watch, takes it everywhere, and remember when he was imprisoned at Fort Fairbanks? Horrifically murdering the guy who stole his watch was the first thing he did after breaking free.
Not to be too cheesey or anything but Miss Black is his heart and soul. So long as she lives somewhere inside that demon possessed corpse he shall persevere. I don’t think that’s the actual answer, just me being romantic.
I’ve always felt Hunter was on a scavanger hunt, ever since he acquired that necklace in Chapter 1.
Kinda hope he has Vane’s soul stashed away. But NTO never promised me a happy ending.
And that the hell of it right there. It’s seems a lot of “Riding the Trail of Vengeance.” In the end, there very well be no happiness for John and Vanity. Only Erin knows. We here in this comments section are just a bunch of casual observers, and nothing more.
“Only Erin knows” for some reason made me think Vane gets her soul back … and then all her injuries manifest.
Which, indeed, will kill her. Still a sad ending.
Fascinating to me that no one’s commented on Crawford’s mention of Vane’s “guest.”
Here’s my guess, after reading through the series a couple of times: Vane’s dead body (her soul having departed) was infested with a demon, which hated JHH and pursued him. (At Broken Sky Professor Crawford detected both the possessing demon and the lack of a human soul in Vane’s body.)
Then, at Via Dolorosa, JHH either killed the demon or forced it back into the corpse. (When Crawford speaks of her “guest,” is that past tense or present?) Vane’s body has no human soul in it, and it’s animated only by hatred of JHH (and maybe by that demon again or by JHH’s sorcery?).
We’ll see by the end of the story, I’m sure.
I think he is saying he noticed her “guest” (possessing demon) back in Broken Sky, but hadn’t noticed the absence of her own soul until now — perhaps because the presence of the demon hid the absence of her soul.