Rahan. Episode Five. The Liquid Tomb. Rahan, by Roger Lecureux. A Puke (TM) Comic

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Rahan.

Episode Five.

The Liquid Tomb.

Rahan is not afraid of you!
He knows that the sun will chase the fires from the sky!
The storm had lasted since the day before.
And if Rahan is merely defiant of the lightning, he hates this torrential rain which has swollen all the streams of the forest.
He hates the flashes of fire that streak through the sky.

So he growled with joy when he finally made out a cave.
He was rushing towards this refuge that he had been hoping for since dawn.

When his ankle got caught in a vine.
At the same moment, the ground opened up under him.
Ah!

Page two:

He hit a wall violently and felt a pain in his thigh.
Then he came to rest suspended above sharp stakes that pointed to the sky.

A trap!
If That Vine had not held Rahan back, he would be impaled like a beast!

The cut in his thigh seemed to him insignificant, but its cause irritated him.
This is not the first time that Rahan has injured himself with his knife.

One day Rahan will open his stomach to this blade!
He will die without even having faced an enemy!
The precious ivory knife had already caused him a lot of trouble.

And the idea had never occurred to the son of Crao to protect himself from this weapon, which he wore naked on his belt.

Page Three:

But that day.
Rahan has found it!
Rahan will no longer have to fear his cutlass!

Shortly after, a curious bamboo case beating at his thigh, he resumed his race towards the cave.
The trap proves that men live here, thought Rahan.

The cave was high and so deep it seemed endless.
Although Rahan could not distinguish anything his sense of smell detected a human presence.

He made himself quieter than a feline, when.
Clong!
The bamboo case bumped into a rock!

Betrayed by the noise, he had only time to throw himself back.
The spear hummed in his ears.
Chiplaf!

Page Four:

As he retreated, a second, and then a third spear fell at his heels.
"Those-who-walk upright" do not want to share the refuge with Rahan!

The rain did not stop, and all around him the streams squirmed on like serpents.
Ah! You too would like to take refuge in the cave, “Baghae”

Hiding in a puddle the Black Panther was about to pounce on the man.
It was repugnant to Rahan to face the beast in this morass.
He made a pass behind and another.

And lost his balance, falling back into the trap of which he had forgotten!
The dreadful vision of the spikes engulfed is spirit.
Ah! Rahan is lost!

But he was neither shredded nor disemboweled because the torrents of water had filled the pit.
The god of rain is with Rahan.

Page Five:

When he climbed out of the trap the great cat was still watching him.
Since you demand it Rahan will fight!
Pull out your claws, Baghae! Rahan pulls out his!

The knife of ivory sprang from the scabbard as the son of the ferocious age plunged.

The man and the beast rolled in the mud.
The gasps of one mingled with the growls of the other.

Twice the ivory blade disappeared and emerged red from the black skin!
Rahan, once again, had won!

Ra-ha-ha!
He straightened up and his cry of triumph resounded for a long time in the turmoil.

Page Six:

He tore off the feline's tail and hung this trophy on his belt, as the hunters of his clan once did.

Then, throwing the remains of the beast on his shoulders, he headed for the cave.
Rahan returns, men!
Perhaps you will welcome him happily with this offering!

It was again a mysterious twilight, but he glimpsed a silhouette and a brandished spear.
Bak! Arakak!

He turned suddenly, offering his burden to the projectile.
Ah! Ah-ha!
This shield of flesh had saved his life!

The man, who was alone, did not have time to grab another weapon.
Rahan will share "Baghae" with you, but you will share the cave with him!

Page Seven:

The two opponents were evenly matched.
The man was screaming words that Rahan didn't understand and in turn, their bodies hit the rock.

Vrazk!
Trakra!
Stop! Stop! "Those who walk upright” should not fight!

Ah!
Suddenly projected against a rock, Rahan had the impression that his head was bursting and that the thunder of the sky had entered the cave.

Rahan and the man were confused.
A huge rock panel, oscillating on its base had become detached from the wall.

Vrang!
It crashed down in front of the entrance to the cave.
Immobile, it obstructed the entrance.

Page Eight:

Instinctively, Rahan and his adversary threw themselves together at the rock to push it back.
It was a derisory and stupid reaction.

And it only produced one thing:
These two beings were prisoners under the mountain, and they were now united.
We could have become friends sooner, Man!

But you don't understand Rahan's words and Rahan doesn't know your language!
Instinct alone made us act.

Rahan wanted to take refuge in your cave and you thought he was coming as an enemy!
This is what happens when "those-who-walk-standing-up" do not understand each other!

Zlac! Zlac!
Rahan, who had discovered dry leaves, struck flints together.
He had learned this secret from "those of the river".

Page Nine:

When the stars of fire sprang from the flints and set the foliage ablaze, the man screamed.
Ah! Trazaakk!

He contemplated with wonder what he had probably never seen before.
The convoluted vault of his immense lair.
Trazaakk! Trazaakk!

From which clan were you expelled from to exist alone? Thought Rahan.
Maybe you led the same life as Rahan?

A great fire soon crackled and Rahan skinned the panther.
We can eat for several days, but we will not see the days again, nor the nights!

The light of the flames hinted at other underground rooms.
Rahan sees no way out!
We will perish here, like beasts buried in their lair!

Page Ten:

The horde of the blue mountain preserved the light this way.
Trazaakk!
Each gesture of Rahan bought an exclamation of admiration from the man.
“But, this was before the river of fire engulfed mine!”

The terrible memory of the night when his clan was destroyed by the eruption of the volcano had never left Rahan.

Rahan grew up in the jungle, alone like you!
He had crossed immense rivers on rafts of his own invention.

He crossed unknown territories and encountered strange hordes.
From them he learned many secrets.

That he always transmitted to "those who walk upright", his brothers!
But Rahan's life will end here Trazaakk!

Page Eleven:

Although his words mean nothing to the one he still called "Trazaakk",
Rahan spoke aloud.
Let us explore our tomb!

A noise rose in the distance and the ground in the cave shimmered strangely.
We will not even have time to eat the ”Baghae” Trazaakk!

The shimmering ground advanced towards the men, and spread out and expanded ceaselessly.
The rains have enlarged the springs of the mountain.

And the water seeps into the cave!
We are going to be drowned! Take this torch quickly!
The water had just submerged the fire.

The walls offered nowhere on which Rahan and Trazaakk could have taken refuge.
The water was now freezing their thighs.
Follow me Trazaakk! Quickly!

Page Twelve:

The man allowed himself to be led towards another room which seemed elevated.

Up there!
The water was still rising and reached their stomachs.
Then their torsos.
The distant roar of the cataract grew louder.

We must reach that platform Trazaakk!
If the water stops rising we will escape drowning!
Rahan had to support his companion in misfortune.

Trazaakk cannot swim, just as long ago, Rahan could not.
But knowing how to swim will not save Rahan.
The water continued to rise.

And it would end up invading this underground cavern as it had invaded the first.
The two captives would perish in this liquid tomb!

Page Thirteen:

No! Rahan doesn't want to die!
He wants to live!
Ah!
In the final torchlight, Rahan’s eyes sparkled.

If the water rises so quickly, it has found a passage, a large passage!
Why could Rahan not discover what water can find?

Hold that torch up high Trazaakk, like this!
Trazaakk was confused.

Under Trazaakk’s bewildered gaze, Rahan disappeared into the dark waters.

Fighting against the eddy he reached the opening of a third room, the deafening roar surging over his clamor of delight.
Ra-ha-ha!

Page Fourteen:

A waterfall blasted forth from a gap in the rock.
The torrential rains had transformed a meager source into a veritable cataract!

We are saved!
We just have to climb to the top!
Rahan returned to find Trazaakk.
He had abandoned the torch.

But the daylight that tumbled from the gash in the rock was enough.
The sun Trazaakk! Soon we will regain the sunlight!

A tapestry of slippery moss covered the wall, and climbing seemed impossible.
This moss is too slippery!
These rock projections are too narrow!

Oh! Fissures!
The wall had just given Rahan a new idea.

Page Fifteen:

A moment later he was swimming towards the first cavern between the stalactites,
As the water was forever rising.

He sometimes had to pass under these obstacles.
If I do not find them immediately, I will not be able to get back.

Here they are!
Floating under the vault of the first cavern, he finally found the spears he was looking for.

But the water was still rising and it was now impossible for him to swim in this forest of stalactites.

A moment later.
Rahan cannot breathe!
With his lungs on fire, he risked a new ascent.

Page Sixteen:

Ra-ha-ha!
Rahan breathes! Rahan will rejoin Trazaakk!
By chance he had discovered a last pocket of air!

This new supply of air allowed him to pass through the entrances of the fully flooded lower chambers.

And to return to the one where the waterfall rumbled.
He only had eyes for the gap that stood out against the sky.

Your spears will allow us to reach the top, Trazaakk!
Ha-ha-ha!
The torrent smothered Rahan's clear laughter, as Trazaakk looked on confused.

A little later.
We plant a spear here, and the other below.
We climb a little and we replant the first one higher.

Page Seventeen:

As Trazaakk did not seem to understand, Rahan mimed the first step of the escalation.
Do you understand now? Now it’s your turn.

Repeating the motions of Rahan, Trazaakk climbed one rung, and hoisted himself on to another.
Very good, very good!
Ha-ha-ha!

The laughter of Trazaakk suddenly made Rahan shiver.
What are you doing Trazaakk?!
Trazaakk! Trazaakk!

Still laughing, the man continued the acrobatic climb.
He was already too high for Rahan to stop him.

You betrayed Rahan! You are a coward!
Ha-ha-ha!
And Trazaakk rose slowly towards the gap.

Page Eighteen:

Trazaakk had reached the gap.
Rahan saw him take the spears and disappear between the rocks.

He remained motionless staring at this now inaccessible opening.
It was quite impossible for him to return to the submerged caverns.

And Rahan has no other way to scale the wall!
Rahan is lost!
Oh!

The spears spun in the void and fell towards him.
Trazaakk has sent them back to me!
But then? Why did he act like this?

Presently, Rahan hoisted himself nimbly towards the gap.
He left death beneath him, and He rose to life.

Page Nineteen:

Trazaakk! Trazaakk!
Trazaakk!
The sun was shining in the sky when he arose into the air of liberty.
The birds were singing.

He called for a long time and searched around in vain.
He did not find Trazaakk.
Trazaakk does not understand the words of Rahan.

Maybe Rahan appeared to him as a sorcerer?
He feared Rahan and it was to distance himself that he acted this way?

If he feared Rahan he could have abandoned him in the cave!
But he did not!
Before fleeing he wanted to thank Rahan for having helped him!

Good luck my brother, and good hunting!
Rahan knew he would never see Trazaakk again.
But he was happy.
He had one more certainty that there is always something good in the heart of "Those-who-walk-upright".

Page Twenty:

Launching to all winds this salute of savage ages, Rahan suddenly thought of his knife.
This case betrayed Rahan!
Rahan will have to find something else!

Something more quiet. More, Oh!
The trophy that was still hanging from his belt gave him an idea.

And he set to work. Was this skin not soft and supple?
It would replace the coarse and noisy bamboo case.

The horde he would meet, sometime later, immediately nicknamed him "Chade Baghae" that is to say "tail-of-the-panther".

This tail was actually just a sheath!
A sheath that no hunter of the "ferocious ages" had thought of before "Rahan", "Son of Crao".

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