Rahan. Episode Forty One. The Clay Cliff. by Roger Lecureux. A Puke (TM) Comic.

Rahan.

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Episode Forty One.

The Clay Cliff.

The rain flowed inside the cave and the son of Crao, drawing furrows within the ground, amused himself channeling these rivulets.
Rahan can direct the water wherever he wants!

The storm ceased as suddenly as it had broken out and the sun returned, setting the distant red mountains ablaze.

The son of wild ages walked for a long time before arriving in sight of a river.
As he was covered in mud he wanted to bathe.

Page Two:

A moment later he made a strange discovery.
Jars and earthenware dishes of all kinds were lying at the bottom of the river!

Rahan knew that certain clans had the art of fashioning such objects.
But why had these been abandoned at the river?
Rahan must be very close to a village. Rahan wants to know!

Shortly after, he discovered a curious landscape.
The shore crossed an immense plateau.

Men were busy near the fire which surrounded a large pit.
Others were on the lookout near a staircase cut into the side of the earthen cliff.

Page Three:

These watchers suddenly let out a cry and the whole clan, panicked, took refuge in the cave.
Gramh arrives! Gramh arrives!

Rahan glimpsed in the plain, a group of hunters heading towards the valley.
The “Cliff Clan” seems to fear the Forest Clan!

Shortly after the hunters climbed the clay stairs.
Their leader rested on the plateau.
Show yourself, Tabara! Do not stay down like a coward!

A man, undoubtedly the leader of the cliff clan, came out of the cave, carrying a large jar.

Tabara, fearful, came to place the offering at the feet of Gramh.
We can only offer you this jar, Gramh!
Just one jar! You will not mock us for long Tabara!

Page Four:

And if tomorrow we don't have ten similar jars.
Woe to yours!
Smash!

To destroy an object that required days of work in this way, you must be a hunter without brains!
Oh! Who are you?

Tabara stepped back, surprised and worried.
Gramh growled in fury.
I am Rahan, the son of Crao. And Rahan despises the savagery of your kind!
I will break your skull like I broke this jar!

He launched himself, axe high.
But his attack was immediately stopped.
Gramh is very vain!
Crack!

The two men rolled on the ground very close to the large pit where the fire was crackling.
Gaining the upper hand, Rahan suddenly snatched his opponent's ax.

Page Five:

It is Rahan who could break your skull!
But Rahan does not like to steal the life of "Those-Who-Walk-Upright"!

The axe fluttered into the blaze.
But you follow the path of this weapon if your hunters make one more move.

Gramh's men had raised their spears.
But their leader was at the mercy of the son of fierce ages.
Go back down to the plain!
Return to your people!
Obey, and Rahan will spare Gramh!

Rahan only released Gramh when the hunters were far into the wilderness.
You humiliated Gramh!
But Gramh will take revenge!

A little later.
Rahan was courageous in taking the side of our clan.
But I fear Gramh will take cruel revenge against Rahan and against us.

Page Six:

Tabara explained how, thanks to the red earth, his people had become masters in the art of pottery.

The ancients taught us how to use fire to.
Harden earth objects.
Rahan finally understood the role of this pit surrounded by the blaze.

But why is the cliff clan abandoning these wonderful objects?
At the river?
Tabara gave a hint of sadness and his gaze became distant.

We are not abandoning them.
We hide them!
Otherwise the Gramh horde would steal them from us! Argh!
Things have changed a lot since this brute became leader of the “Clan below”!

Tabara recalled the happy times when the two clans lived in peace.
At that time “Those below” brought us meat.
And we gave them in exchange the objects they needed.

Page Seven:

But Gramh came!
He always demands earthen objects, but he never brings more meat!
It was his hunters who dug a path in the cliff.

This makes it easy for them to hoist themselves onto the plateau.
Whereas, without this path, they would have to go around the mountain for days!

Since Gramh is disloyal, why do you not destroy this path?
Tabara has thought about it!
But he knows that Gramh's anger would be terrible!

And Tabara does not want to sacrifice his own!
Tabara is a wise leader. But Gramh abuses his wisdom.
Rahan does not like it!

The son of Crao was moved and observed these men and women who were modeling the clay.
He guessed they were defenseless against the robust hunters of Gramh.

Page Eight:

Rahan hates seeing “Those-Who-Walk-Upright” clash!
But he knows that if you give in to fear, Gramh will demand even more objects.
Always more objects!

Tabara knows this too! But what can he do?
Only one thing will prove to “Those Below” that the cliff clan does not fear them!

Gramh broke a magnificent jar.
He should pay for this stupid act!
The men of the clan nodded silently but their eyes still expressed doubt and fear.

But the son of Crao was able to convince himself because, that night.
Fear nothing Tabara! Everything will be fine!

Rahan and Tabara arrived at the bottom of the clay staircase.
This is the first time in many moons that a man of our clan has dared to tread on the territory of “Those Below”.

Page Nine:

Perhaps Tabara should not have listened to Rahan!
It is madness to go and challenge Gramh in his camp!
From the top of the Cliff, the two men could be observed running towards the forest.

The sense of smell of the son of the wild-ages was such that it only took him a moment to orient himself.
This way Tabara! Gramh and his hunters are grilling meat!

Indeed, a little later.
Today Gramh met “The Fire-Haired Enemy” on the terrace!
But tomorrow Gramh will take revenge!
We will climb the cliff and we will kill Tabara and ten of his men!

Rahan and Tabara were crawling in the brush around the fire.
Look!
This is their game reserve!

In an enclosure made of trunks were herded enormous wild boars.
The smile of the son of Crao shone.
We will prove to Gramh that we are not afraid of him!

Page Ten:

A moment later he cut the vines holding the trunks.
Back Tabara! Backward!

The wild boars rushed towards the breach while the hunters, alerted by the noises, came running.
The “Two-tooths” are running away!

Gramh and his men were unable to stop the pack, which disappeared into the forest.
An entire hunting season lost!
But how did the “Two-Tooths” escape?

A distant voice answered Gramh.
For many moons you have tormented the clan of the cliff, Gramh!
But this night is the last of your reign!

What we have just done is just the beginning!
We will retaliate for every one of your bad deeds from now on!

Page Eleven:

Gramh had recognized the voice.
The “Enemy-with-fire-Hair”!
He dared to come and challenge us in the forest!
Woe to him!

Gramh replied.
It has been twice that you have opposed us “Man-From-Elsewhere”!
Next time, you will go to the “Territory of Shadows”!

Rahan and Tabara do not hear.
Already far away, they were about to leave the forest when.
A “Two-Teeth”!

A large boar charged them.
Don't move, Tabara.
Rahan knows how to defeat the "Two-Tooths"!

Worried and yet admiring, the leader of the cliff clan saw his companion stand in front of the beast which was bearing down on him, head down.

Page Twelve:

Ra-ha-ha!
At the moment he was about to be knocked down, Rahan jumped.
The blade of his knife disappeared into the boar's spine!

The two teeth collapsed like lightning.
Ah if my brothers had the audacity and agility of Rahan, we would hunt ourselves!
We would no longer be at the mercy of Gramh!

Rahan will teach your people to hunt!
In the meantime, let's bring them back this "Two Teeth"!
But it belongs to Gramh!

The jar that Gramh stupidly broke belonged to Tabara!
That Jar was worth a “Two Teeth” do you not think?
Rahan is right!

The beast was heavy.
The two men had great difficulty dragging her to the foot of the clay cliff.
Cries of joy and amazement greeted their return.

Page Thirteen:

The boar was hoisted up using strong lines.
This is how we mounted the game and brought down the objects.
When peace reigned between our clan and that of the hunters!

A little later.
You have seen that it is possible to resist Gramh!
You must prove to this savage that you do not fear him!

Hum. We don't know how to fight any more than we know how to hunt!
What will we do when Gramh attacks us?
Because you have heard: his clan will come.
And tomorrow kill ten of ours!

When Tabara and his men took refuge in their cave.

The son of Crao gazed for a long time at the cliff lit by the moon.
They are right!
They do not know how to hunt or fight!
And Rahan will not be able to face Gramh's hunters alone!

Page Fourteen:

The cliff clan could abandon this territory.
But where would they find the “land-to-make-objects”?

No, running away is not a solution!
We must at all costs make the hunters below listen to reason!
The son of Crao was meditating and his gaze wandered over the plain.

On the staircase carved in the clay, on the river.
And suddenly his face relaxed.
Rahan knows how to repel hunters!

He saw himself again, having fun digging furrows which channeled the small rivulets of water.
Rahan can direct the water wherever he wants!

A moment later, he entrusted his project to Tabara.
But where do you come from to have such curious, wonderful ideas!?

Page Fifteen:

Rahan just observes nature.
He remembers what he sees and it is often very useful to him!
Tabara was already giving orders to his men.

Who immediately set to work.
Shortly after, a strange effervescence reigned over the clay cliff.

A trench was dug which, starting from the staircase, was to reach the river.
Gramh and his hunters always arrive at sunrise!
We will not have time to finish the "Water Path"!

As the darkness slowly dissipated, Tabara's men redoubled their ardor.
They were digging very close to the river, When.

Here they are!
“Those from below” had just appeared on the plain.
There were dozens of them.
At their head walked the leader. Gramh the savage!

Page Sixteen:

The hunters arrived at the foot of the cliff just as the sun was rising over the forest.
Gramh was the first to start climbing the dirt steps.

Back Gramh!
There is still time to avoid combat!
Ha-ha-ha!
Would the enemy-from-elsewhere be afraid?

Gramh was still going up, followed by his men.
Do not expect to be able to oppose my vengeance, "Fire-hair"!

Hunters protected the ascension of Their Leader.
Rahan had to throw himself back to avoid their arrows.

And Gramh, ax in hand, hoisted himself onto the clay plateau!
I promised to send you to the “Shadow Territory”, “Fire-hair”!
I will keep my Word!

Page Seventeen:

Like the day before, Gramh threw himself at Rahan and, like the day before, both men rolled on the ground.
And it was at this moment that a clamor rang out.

The water from the river was rushing into the trench!
The flood rushed towards the stairs, breaking over the clay!

The hunters, surprised, clung to each other.
But it was impossible for them to resist this torrent of water!

Argh! Argh!
Unable to hold on to the clay steps which had become sticky.
They were falling in clusters into the void!

And it was on such viscous ground that the melee between Rahan and Gramh continued.
To me hunters! To me!
What are you waiting for?

Page Eighteen:

Absorbed in combat, Gramh had not yet realized that he was the only one who had hoisted himself onto the plateau!
Your men can do nothing more for you!

The most daring tried to climb again.
But the steps slipped beneath them and the downpour threw them off balance.
Argh!

We will never climb the cliff!
It would take us days to get around the mountain and rescue Gramh!

Do you think Gramh wants your help?
Things were much better before he became our leader!

Gramh!
And while doubt seeped into the minds of the hunters, the melee between Rahan and Gramh continued.

Page Nineteen:

The son of Crao had just disarmed his adversary.
But both were rolling into the trench.

Although the water was shallow, its current was strong.
And it carried the fighters towards the abyss.
You will die with me “Fire-hair”!

No! Rahan will not go to the territory of shadows!
Savagely, the son of fierce ages plunged his knife into the soft earth.

The ivory weapon slowed down the slide for an instant.
But Gramh gripped Rahan's ankle fiercely.
Gramh wants this!

Rahan's foot extended, hitting his adversary's jaw, who let go.

Page Twenty:

Ra-ha-ha!
Unable to hold on to the viscous clay, Gramh slipped into the trench, and disappeared into the void.

A moment later, his men observed his dislocated corpse at the foot of the hill.
No vengeful cries arose.

These men, curiously enough, seemed relieved by the outcome of this fight.
Gramh-the-savage is no more! But your clan remains!
I am sure that peace will return between you and those on the cliff!

“Those-from-below” and “Those-from-the-cliff” will, as before, loyally exchange their game and their objects.
Happiness will return to this land.

The mixed clamors of the two clans filled Rahan's heart with joy.
The son of Crao felt very proud to have, once again, brought harmony between "Those-who-walk-Upright”, his brothers!

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

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