Rahan. Episode Thirty Seven. The lagoon of dread. by Roger Lecureux. A Puke (TM) Comic.

Rahan.

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Episode Thirty Seven.

The lagoon of dread.

Hardly had the flamingos caught a glimpse of the man than they flew away en masse.
Their cloud was reflected in the waters of the lagoon, pink like a cloud at sunset.

The son of Crao, who had never seen birds of this color before, followed them for a moment in the sun.

Then his gaze returned to this islet, which was in the heart of the lagoon and intrigued him so much.
The wooden giant represents without doubt a god!

Page Two:

The large idol carved in a tree seemed to watch over and protect the lagoon.
From the shore, Rahan could hardly make out the details.
Rahan wants to know! He wants to know!

He divined the sharks under the green waters.
But his curiosity prevailed.

He knew from experience that "Those-who-crawl-on-the-water" were rarely attacked when they kicked their legs very quickly.

His hands and feet vigorously created a furrow of foam.
And the sharks that escorted him for a moment, indeed, did not dare to approach it.

He was a hundred fathoms from the island when.
Something came up from the depths that hit his belly.
A yellowish thing. Like a monster without head or tail!

Page Three:

He leaned back and.
Ha-ha-ha! Rahan was afraid of a bamboo!
The "Thing" that had just surfaced was just a huge piece of bamboo!

Bamboos do not grow at the bottom of water!
And this one was cut by men!
Here and there traces of ax blows were visible.

The son of Crao's curiosity grew again.
He swooped into the depths of the lagoon, scattering a shoal of multicolored fish.

And Suddenly.
Oh! These unfortunates were condemned to a terrible death!
Skeletons lay between the seaweed, others were stretched out in the hollow of bamboos weighted down with large stones.

Page Four:

Further on, two half shells of bamboo were still held together by a vine.
Rahan understands!
All these men were locked in similar trunks.

But time and water wear out the vines!
And the lids of these cages rise to the surface!
This is what just happened to Rahan!

The men of these shores must be very cruel to send their enemies to the "Territory of Shadows" in this way!

Overwhelmed by his macabre discovery, the son of Crao returned to the surface and a large shark appeared.

The shark, this time, was not worried by foam and noisy eddies!
He was in his silent kingdom!

Page Five:

Knowing that the monster would grab his legs if he reached the surface immediately, Rahan stretched out.

He knew too that the shark had to turn around to seize its prey.
Clutching his ivory knife, he watched for this moment.

And.
Rahan's claw is as fearsome as your teeth!
The blade opened the white belly of the great shark.

Whose convulsions immediately resulted in an effluvia of blood.
The son of the fierce ages regained the surface.

Ra-ha-ha!
He had waited so long for his breath that the first breath of fresh air seeped like fire into his lungs.

Page Six:

A moment later, he climbed onto the island.
The great idol, who held a spear to his measure, seemed to observe him like an intruder.

Rahan knows that "Those-who-walk-upright" sometimes represent the gods they worship.
What god do you embody, wooden man?

Oh!
Wood Skins!
The son of Crao was not alone on the island!
Crocodiles were crawling heavily towards him!

Lend your lance to Rahan, man of wood!
Resting on sculpted hands, the spear was long and heavy.

Back, “Skin-of-wood”! Search for some other prey than Rahan!
The flint penetrated the scaly side of one of the saurian.

Page Seven:

Then Rahan knocked again.
The flanks. The gaping jaws. The flanks again.
Armed with the long spear, he pushed the beasts back into the lagoon.

Ra-ha-ha!
His cry of victory thundered when the saurians, unable to approach him, abandoned the islet.

Rahan thanks you, wooden man!
He respectfully rested the long spear on the sculpted hands when.

Shouts resounded on the other side of the lagoon!
"Those-who-walk-upright" do not seem to appreciate the arrival of Rahan on their territory!

In the distance, on the shore, men shouted.
The enemy has just profaned the god "Kaha"!!
Sacrilege! Sacrilege!

Page Eight:

Sacrilege! Profaner! Sacrilege!
The cries ran over the lagoon, reaching the son of Crao.

Who suddenly saw a surprising thing.
The men were pushing boats into the water.
Boats like he had never seen.

They were made of huge bamboo split in two, like the aquatic sarcophagi he had discovered.
The hard walls of the flutes formed the bow and stern of the skiffs.

Sacrilege! Profanation!
From all sides boats were approaching.

Surrounding on the islet the defiler of the god "Kaha"!
I am Rahan! The son of Crao, he shouted!
Rahan is not an enemy!

Page Nine:

Capture him alive!
Kahouli will decide his fate!
The men did not throw the bone harpoons they wielded.

But Rahan plunged between two boats, and their hands tried to seize him.

No! You will not capture Rahan!
A boat rolled over on itself, and threw its occupants into the water.

And Rahan was already swimming towards the shore, faster than he had ever done.
He outpaced the flotilla that had chased him.

And he rushed on the beach, towards the nearby forest.
Rahan does not want to be sent to the "Kingdom of the Dead" in a bamboo cage!

Page Ten:

He heard the clamors redouble behind him, and he plunged under the strangest cover that there was.

Everywhere, gigantic bamboos rise towards the sky.
It is this forest that provides the lagoon clan with boats and cages!

The more the son of Crao fled, the more he felt overcome by a malaise.
All these bamboos looked alike and, without reference points, he had the sensation of going around in circles.

And indeed, suddenly.
Our forest has its secrets that "Rahan-the-sacrilegious" ignores!!
He has retraced his steps!
The men of the lagoon were surging from all sides.
In front. Behind. On his sides!

Page Eleven:

We saw you take the weapon of the god "Kaha"!
Kahouli will say that she hardly deserves this desecration!

All resistance was useless.
The circle of bone harpoons closed on the son of Crao.

Who, shortly after, was taken to a village whose huts, too, were made of bamboo.
The nearby lagoon scintillated under the setting lights.

We bring you "Rahan-the-sacrilegious", Kahouli!
We caught him desecrating the islet of "Kaha"!

The leader of the lagoon clan wore a white beard.
Rahan thought he saw his father "Crao-the-wise" again.
Rahan has done nothing profane!
Rahan respects the customs of his brothers!

Page Twelve:

The men murmured, hostile.
But Kahouli nodded slowly.
Yet you have dared to set foot on the islet of "Kaha"!

It is true.
But if Rahan was a profaner, "Kaha" would not have allowed him to take his spear to hunt the “Skins of Wood"!

And also Rahan returned his spear to "Kaha"!
Look at it!
The great idol in the distance seemed to watch over the glowing expanse of the lagoon.

Kahouli still nodded.
I believe you.
If you had the spirit of evil in your head, "Kaha" would have punished you himself!
Yes I believe you!

The murmurs ceased, and the chief addressed the clan.
Rahan is not an enemy!
Give him food and drink!
Let him be admitted as a brother!

Page Thirteen:

The son of the fierce ages knew, in this village, a night as he loved them.
A night of friendship. A brotherly night.

He who knew a thousand things had to recount many adventures before daring to ask the question that haunted him.
Rahan would like to know who are these men lying at the bottom of the lagoon, in the bamboo cages?

Kahouli's response stunned him.
They are the best of ours!
Our clan respects courage and "Kaha" is the god of bravery.

This is why we entrust to the waters of the lagoon those who have died following a courageous act. "Kaha" watches over their last sleep!

Rahan, who had dreamed of horrible torture.
Apparently, on the contrary, the bamboo sarcophagi were immersed with the bravest, most respected hunters of the clan!

Page Fourteen:

Dawn was breaking over the lagoon when cries of terror threw the men out of the huts.

A few children appeared, chased by a huge buffalo.
Lay down!
Down! Quickly!
And don't move!!

The children obeyed and the horned monster, disdaining these suddenly motionless prey, charged the nearest standing group.

Old Kahouli, who was bravely trying to intervene, was thrown against a hut.

Everyone down! Lay down!
Everyone!
The son of Crao knew the reactions of "Longhorns".
Indifference for the inert hunter, fury against the one that moved!

Page Fifteen:

It was a strange sight.
The big buffalo, irritated, went from one group to another.

He charged with low horns as soon as one of the men lying down made a move!
And it lasted.
And Continued.

The son of the fierce ages, exasperated, watched the comings and goings of the buffalo.
It is high time to end it, "Long Horns"!!

He suddenly straightened up, cutlass in hand!
Ra-ha-ha!

Man and beast charged each other.
The sun reflected the same burst of fire on the brandished blade and the lowered horns.

Page Sixteen:

The shock was terrifying.
Rahan felt his cutlass plunge into his chest at the same time as he felt his chest crack.

He rolled on the ground while the monster continued his path for an instant.

To go on to collapse at the other end of the village.
Rahan has killed the "Longhorn"! Rahan is the bravest of the Brave!

Kahouli- the-chef brandished the precious ivory knife.
Rahan gave his life to save ours!
The son of Crao lay in the bright sun.

And they spoke of him like those who are on their way to reach the "Territory-of-Shadows".
Rahan deserves the eternal protection of "Kaha"!

Page Seventeen:

Some men were already bringing a bamboo sarcophagus respectfully.
Others brought heavy stones.

A moment later, Rahan was lying in the boat.
Like all proud and brave hunters.

He will go to the "Territory-of-shadows" with his weapon!!
Kahouli solemnly placed the ivory knife on the son of Crao's chest.

The sarcophagus was closed with a strap of strong creepers.
Immerse it with our brothers!!
May "Kaha" watch over him until the end of time!

The sun haloed the head of the god "Kaha" when the skiffs carrying the bamboo coffin arrived in the middle of the lagoon.

Page Eighteen:

As soon as the sarcophagus was submerged, the water seeped between the disjointed bamboos.

And Rahan came to his senses!
A thin streak of light, but darkness.
A shaft of light, piercing the darkness.
He could not move. Where was he?

He felt a slight shock when the coffin hit the bottom, in the middle of the Aquatic Graveyard.
In a flash he realized.

They, they believed Rahan dead!
They honor me as a brave man! But Rahan is still alive!!
Rahan does not want to die!

The son of Crao, suffocating, flexed his muscles to free himself.
And that was when he felt, on his stomach, his ivory knife!!

Page Nineteen:

Chlak!
Chlack!
There was only one thought left. The line of light. The daylight. Life!
Slipped between the bamboos, the ivory blade cut a vine.

The "Sarcophagus" half-opened.
Letting in more light, more daylight.
The knife cut again.

The lid of the coffin, released, rose to the surface.
The son of Crao on the threshold of unconsciousness, accompanied it towards the day, towards life.

Ra-ha-ha!
It was not his cry of victory that he uttered, but the astonished gasp of one who would return from the other world.

Exhausted, he saw the god "Kaha".
Whose calm gaze fixed the "Lagoon-of-the-Brave."
He heard the cries of joy rising from the shore.

Page Twenty:

Rahan returns from the "Territory-of-Shadows"!
It is a miracle of "Kaha" brothers!

Throughout his youthful adventure, the son of fierce ages had encountered hordes who worshiped the sun or the moon.

Others would worship the gods of the wind.
Rain clouds or thunder.
He, Rahan respected these beliefs.

But he believed even more in "Those-who-walk-upright", of men, his brothers.
That was why he let himself be brought back to the shore where the clan cheered for him.

The dying sun struck the wooden eyelid of the great idol.
One would have thought, at that moment, that "Kaha", the god of the lagoon of the brave, had given conspiratorial wink to the son of the fierce ages.

Index:
https://rumble.com/v3486cm-rahan-index-of-episodes-by-roger-lecureux..html

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