Rahan. Episode Seventy-Six. By Roger Lecureux. The cave of deception. A Puke (TM) Comic.

Rahan.

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Episode Seventy-Six.

By Roger Lecureux, drawn by Andre Cheret.

The cave of deception.

Even on the verge of death, a “Spotted Skin” was still defending himself!
So what was wrong with this one?

Curiously enough, the big cheetah did not resist the hunters who dragged it into the clearing!
Intrigued, Rahan did not reveal his presence.

But these men, who were now freeing the beast, suddenly saw him.
Who are you? Where do you come from, you who spy on us?

But it is not important!
You are not going to tell your people what you just saw!
The long assegai flew towards the son of Crao.

Page Two.

Who dodged it and suddenly fell on the two men.
Rahan Does not like the way you ask questions!
And here is his answer!

Ra-ha-ha!

The response of this “Four hands with white skin” had been so rapid, so vigorous, that the hunters did not insist.
These cowards do not even care about their "Spotted Skin" anymore!

Strangely indolent, the beast had stretched out.
His almost lifeless gaze did not seem to see Rahan.

And Rahan stroked him without him reacting.
When.

The great spirit of the hunt did not lie to us in guiding us to this clearing!
The “Dappled Skin” is here!

Page Three.

Back "Fire hair"!
This game belongs to us!
The spirit of the hunt promised us!
These men were not from the same clan as those whom Rahan had put to flight.

As they were going to strike the beast, he became indignant.
A hunter worthy of his name does not kill a defenseless beast!
Look at this one, she is sick and.

If you do not move away, it will be you who will become game, "Hair of Fire"!
The man who raised his spear did not have time to bring it down.

Argh!
Rahan will not let you slaughter this "Spotted Skin!"

It was not the spirit of the hunt that brought her here.
But two hunters!
The son of Crao related what he had seen a moment earlier.

Page Four.

And here is proof that Rahan is not lying!
The son of fierce ages pointed to the shield abandoned by one of the fugitives.

The hunters seized their shield and their faces expressed astonishment then anger.
You have to bring it to Ergong!

Without another word, they turned about and disappeared.
Rahan does not understand any of this "Spotted skin!"
But he hopes that you will regain your vigor soon!

The son of Crao never resigned himself to a mystery.
Abandoning the somnambulant cheetah, he followed in the footsteps of those who had dragged it here.

However, in a nearby cave.

And the man with the “Fire Hair” saw us untie the “Spotted Skin,” father!
Then he attacked us like a demon.
You fled like cowards!
You must repair this mistake, my son!

Page Five.

The “Fire Hair” man must die before he reveals what he saw!
Find him!
Do not return to the cave until you have killed him!

In ambush on the outskirts, Rahan recognized the two hunters.
Maybe they will look for the "Spotted Skin"?
What will Rahan discover in their cave?

He carefully crawled to the cave, and slipped inside.
Everything was silent but suddenly, in the light of the torches.
Oh! The “Flat beasts”!

An old man applied a blood-colored paste to the rock.
From his agile hands was born a new “Flat beast.”

The son of fierce ages had already seen such sanctuaries, where certain clans believed they would find the favors of the gods of the hunt.
The old man is alone.
Rahan has nothing to fear from him!

Page Six.

Rahan suddenly showed himself.
Rahan salutes the one whose skillful hands generate such beautiful “flat Beasts”!

Oh! You, You made my old heart jump! But. But.
The old man's eyes shone.
Once the surprise passed, he recognized the man described by his sons, the man with the “Fire Hair”!

He made himself very welcoming.
Welcome to this cave brother!
Are you hungry? Are you thirsty?
My name is Yahoka.

Yes, the son of Crao was hungry and thirsty.
Eat and drink, brother! there is no shortage of food here!

At the bottom of the cavern were piled up countless wedges of dried meat.
And even living animals dozed in cages!
Yes, there was enough here to feed an entire clan for two seasons!

Page Seven.

While Rahan ate and drank Yahoka spoke of the "Flat beasts" and said he was inhabited by the "God of the hunt."
All the hunters come to consult me!
Everyone trusts my predictions!

Rahan saw two come out of this cave. He. He. The. Had. Met.
The son of Crao suddenly felt a strange uneasiness.

Ha-ha-ha! Here you are at the mercy of Yahoka!
The flat beasts on the wall could only be distinguished very vaguely.
He felt his limbs go numb, his strength abandon him.

Rahan's vision returned.
He heard and could speak, but he was unable to react.
You. You did.
Rahan drank a.
Drink that kills.

Who kills? No, the drug only deadens the energy, the vigor.
It is Yahoka, who will kill you!
The son of fierce ages allowed his ivory knife to be confiscated without flinching!

Page Eight.

Ha-ha-ha!
You are as stupid as all those hunters who believe in the power of Yahoka!

You must see them, these hunters, who come to consult Yahoka and his sons!
You have to see them prostrate themselves before the “Flat beasts”!

Supplicating to the “Flat beasts” does not bring game under the hunter’s spear!
Of course!
My sons and I know it!

But we know how to keep the hunters' confidence!
From time to time, I predict to them the exact place where they would discover this or that game.
And my sons go and release the promised game there, drugged so that it does not stray too far!
This is what they did this morning, with a “Spotted Skin.”

Page Nine.

When the hunters discover and kill their game, they worship Yahoka even more.
The great spirit of hunting!

Why these lies? Why this deception?
How naive you are, “Fire hair”!
Look at this meat, all this meat!

Every time a man comes to consult the "Flat Beasts" he undertakes to offer us a share of his hunt!
And so, Yahoka and his sons never lack food!
Without ever taking any risks!

Rahan finds it odious to abuse his fellow human beings in this way!
The son of Crao could only express his indignation in words.

And he could only stagger back in front of Yahoka, who was taking all his time before striking.
And to think that you put my sons to flight!
Ha-ha-ha! You are the one who is scared now, are you not?

Page Ten.

Oh!
Ha-ha-ha!
Rahan had grabbed a torch but it escaped his fingers, that were without strength!

Leaning against the “Flat beasts”, the son of fierce ages sagged limply.
And Yahoka, at that moment, took on the appearance of death.
Come to me, Rahan, come!

The ivory blade, strong and sharp, was about to fall!
It is time for you to join the land of shadows!

Do not move Yahoka!
We just heard part of your confession!
But it is useless!

The shield of one of your sons, found near the "Spotted Skin," is proof that you have been lying to us for many moons!
What we thought was your power was just a ruse!

Page Eleven.

But you will not abuse ours anymore!
The clan banishes you until the end of time Yahoka!
Go and find your sons!
Flee this territory and never return! Otherwise.

While the “Great Spirit of the Hunt” found the legs of his youth to flee.

Rahan felt his strength returning little by little.
Seeing death arrive without being able to make a move!
Rahan has never been so scared in his life!

Rahan thanks you brothers!
We are the ones who thank you!
If you had not faced the sons of Yahoka, we would not have found this shield.

And the deceptions of this cheat could have deceived our hunters for a long time!
Will you stay with us?
Perhaps Rahan will come back when he has found his knife!

Page Twelve.

Yahoka had indeed fled with the ivory weapon.
But Rahan was not able to follow in his footsteps until much later, when all the effects of the drug had worn off.

And it was the next day that he discovered two corpses.
The sons of Yahoka had been victims of a beast.
Oh! The “Spotted skin”.

The big leopard was lurking a little further away, near another lifeless body, that of Yahoka himself!
You took revenge, “Spotted Skin”!
You, like Rahan, have regained your vigor!

The “Great spirit of the hunt” still clutched the ivory knife, with which he had not had time to strike.

When Rahan retrieved his weapon, the feline growled, then began to purr.
He recognized the man.
He remembered.
And the son of Crao, who knew how to read the eyes of wild animals, knew that he had nothing to fear from this one.