Rahan. Episode Eighty. By Roger Lecureux. The Valley of Torments. A Puke (TM) Comic.

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Rahan.

Episode Eighty.

By Roger Lecureux, drawn by Andre Cheret.

The Valley of Torments.

What a strange trap.
Curious about everything, the son of Crao observed the butterfly trapped in the spider's web.
Alerted, it rushed towards its prey.

When the hoarse and powerful roar of a lion sounded not far from there.
You also hunt, “long mane”!
Oh!

As cries of terror arose, he rushed off.
And.

Page Two.

Attacking an old woman is easier than catching a "Two-horned", aye, "long mane"!

Ra-ha-ha!

Rahan's combat clamor drowned out the roars of the beast, which left its victim to face.

Accustomed to these confrontations since his early childhood, the son of Crao knew how to dodge and feint.

You are not lively enough, "Long mane"!

Page Three.

He had jumped on the back of the lion, which reared up, plowing the air with its formidable claws

Ra-ha-ha!

The ivory blade sparkled in the sun, plunging into the beast's throat and reappearing in scarlet.

Cutting the vein, or "Life-flow," Rahan only struck once.

Ra-ha-ha!
His long cry had another accent, that of victory.

Page Four.

Her body lacerated, the old woman was dying in the grass.
Tall and yellow grass such as Rahan had never seen before.
You. You are. The first Hunter that I.
Have seen from.

Since all the.
Mine perished in the valley of torments.
Ten times ten seasons ago!

You are. Brave, but.
You cannot do anything anymore.
For the old Cereha. Take me.
Me to the cave where I have. Still, lived! It is. That I would like.
Leave for the territory of shadows!

Moved, the son of fierce ages granted this wish. He reached the cave when two eagles burst out.
Back, “Hooked Beaks”!

Do not be afraid! I collected them. There are from moons and moons ago. They are.
They were my only companions!
The birds of prey did not in fact attack.

Page Five.

And they contented themselves with observing Rahan.
How could an old woman like you survive so many seasons alone in this land!?

Oh! I forgot the taste a long time ago. Of meat.
But herbs. Magical herbs, spared me the sufferings of hunger!
Eating herbs!?

A slab of slate was placed on top of cold ashes.
On this plate a whitish thing had hardened.
Since it is on this slate, maybe it is good to eat!?

Rahan nibbled on the thing, which crumbled beneath his teeth.
It was bland, but it seemed nourishing to him.
Never venture into it. The Valley of torments, my son!

You would experience thirst and hunger there.
Which gnaws at the insides! Every moment of the day and night, you would know.
Fear you would be.
Threat of death is lurking everywhere!

Page Six.

Exhausted by this warning, the old woman panted.
She found the strength to hold out a bag of skin.
My son, take it!
Take!

Thanks to these magic grains.
The, the hunters could.
Could.
Could. Argh!
Cereha!

Cereha had just died without revealing her secret.
Rahan was respectfully covering her with the strange yellow weeds when a rustling alerted him.

An immense troop of men, women and children was advancing through the savannah, heading towards the valley that Cereha cursed so much!
Oh!

It was not a clan. There were ten, a hundred clans. It was a horde!
Sometimes, in these fierce times, "Those-who-walk-upright" thus gathered their forces to conquer new territories. Impressed, Rahan watched the human wave approach.

Page Seven.

It was then that the eagles attacked him!
You think Rahan stole Cereha's life?
You want to avenge her!

It cost him to strike these birds of prey that demonstrated their loyalty to the dead woman.
Protecting his face, he backed away from the pecks.

Enough “Hooked Beaks”! Enough!
Without even realizing it he found himself at the very edge of the rock.
To parry a new assault he jumped back.

And that was the fall!
Escaping from the skin bag, the “Magic” grains swirled like yellow snowflakes.

Inanimate at the bottom of the ravine, he did not hear the screams of the scouts of the horde who were rushing towards him.
He was spying on the horde!
If he is not dead, Urak will break his bones!

Page Eight.

Rahan, who was recovering his spirits, did not have time to ward off the attack of the colossus.

This hunter had the strength of a great "Four Hands" and remained indifferent to the blows that the son of Crao threw at him!
Ha-ha! Urak will finish you!

He was suffocated under the embrace, his vision became blurry.
The monster man will crush Rahan!
Rahan must be cunning!

Argh!

Ha-ha-ha! No hunter, no matter how strong, can stand up to Urak!
Rahan was crushed at the feet of the triumphant colossus.

Page Nine.

But it was only a feint!
Oh!?
You will learn that cunning can make strength fail, Urak!

The son of fierce ages had unbalanced his opponent and paralyzed him with an implacable hold.
Argh! Aie! Aie!

Admiring clamors arose.
Rahan could break your leg and make you a useless hunter!
But Crao taught him generosity!
Stand up Urak! Rahan forgives you!

Bitter and vexed, the colossus joined his people.
Where are you from brothers? Where are you going?
We came together to discover the “Territory of Happiness”!

The spirits told the great wizard Wahuk that we will find it beyond this valley!
No, brothers!
Do not risk yourself in the valley of torments! It is cursed!

Page Ten.

Thirst and hunger, cold and heat, fear and death await you!
Rahan recounted the ordeals of Cereha to the clan.

An rumble arose and Rahan understood that he could not convince them.
But if all these dangers are real, why risk the fate of the entire horde!?

But the sorcerer Wahuk, was indigent.
This crazy woman was lying!
The horde only believes the spirits who have promised it.
Beyond the valley, the territory of happiness!

Why not send a small group of scouts to reconnoiter?
The spirits would undoubtedly see no harm in it!
The irony of these last words escaped Wahuk.

Approvals were heard from all sides.
“Hair of Fire” speaks reason.
Yes. Better to sacrifice a few of us than the whole horde!
The horde will wait here for the scouts to return before venturing into the valley!

Page Eleven.

The horde split into five groups. Hunters, women, children, chiefs, and sorcerers.
They will choose their scouts!

While these groups consulted, Rahan once again entrusted his destiny to his weapon.
Rahan will leave this territory without knowing the secret of the “Magic Grains”!

The chiefs designate Daok the most valiant of them!
Wahuk, who is trusted by the spirits, will represent the sorcerers!
The women's assembly chose the courageous Inoo!
And we, your sons, have chosen the bold Song!
No one can represent the hunters better than Urak!

Rahan will accompany these scouts!
With a little resigned sigh, Rahan pointed at his knife, which pointed in the exact direction of the Valley of Torments!

Suddenly screams broke out.
The “Two-teeth”!
The “Two-teeth”!
A few mammoths were passing in the distance, towards which the hunters were already rushing.

Page Twelve.

The son of Crao appreciated the courage of these men who, a moment later, faced the monsters.
Rahan will have to reckon with Song's temerity!

Clinging to his fleece, the young Song had climbed onto a mammoth, that he was stabbing with his short spear!
Die "Two-tooth!" Song wants it!

Rahan saw no more.
Breaking the circle of hunters a large Mammoth charged the frightened women.

The one who had been designated to be part of the Clan-of-the-sacrifices had just tripped and hit a rock.
No! No!

Unconscious, she was right in the path of the mammoth!
Her fate depended on Rahan's speed.

Page thirteen.

Ra-ha-ha!

It was only a respite. Other mammoths rushed into the ravine!
This way Inoo! Strain!
Song will pay for his bravery with his life!

The “Two-tooth” that Song was riding collapsed, dragging the child with it!

Yes.
And Rahan will join the territory of shadows without having discovered the secret of Cereha!

Rahan felt the mysterious grains which had scattered around this stump when he fell.

They arrive! We are lost!
Igloo and the son of Crao saw the enormous brown wave of monsters rolling towards their precarious refuge. Nothing could save them!

Page Fourteen.

And then there was a miracle!
The mammoth had collapsed in front of the stump and the others, by avoiding this obstacle, spared Rahan and his young companion!

The “Two-tooths” are moving away!
We are saved!
But song is not saved yet!
Stuck under the mammoth he had killed, the reckless child screamed.

Courage Song! Courage!
Ra-ha-ha!
But the efforts of the son of Crao were in vain.

If Urak hadn't rushed to the rescue.
Under the traction of the two men the huge head rose, freeing Song.
Thanks, thanks.
I thought I was joining the territory of shadows!

We would have missed you, little scout!
Rahan and the colossus exchanged a long look and smiled at each other. Together they had saved the child, and erased the memory of their confrontation!

Page Fifteen.

Saluted by the entire horde, the “Clan of Sacrifices” entered the Valley of Torments the same day.
It was made up of Inoo, Song, Urak, the sorcerer Wahuk, and Chief Daok.

And the son of Crao.
Never forget that I am the boss!
If you want to eat, you will have to obey me!
These words irritated Rahan.

Rahan never had a boss, Daok!
But he will not bother your clan.
He will live on his own! He will hunt for himself!
So be it.

In the days that followed, in fact, Rahan lived on the fringes of the scouts.
And sometimes macabre discoveries were made.
“No one returns from the valley of torments” said old Cereha!

Why leave Rahan aside Doak!? He.
Shut up, Inoo! Decisions can only be made by Daok, and Me!
Daok and Wahuk imposed all the chores on the other three.
Page Sixteen.

One morning, cries of fear alerted Rahan.
Urak, who was returning from a watering hole, had a terrifying monster on his tail!
Your spears! Your spears, quickly!

What are you waiting for to help Urak!?
Thinking only of their own safety, Daok and Wuhak hid in the rocks.

Leave it to Rahan, let go!
Over there, the colossus had just narrowly avoided the animal.

The horned monster saw the man, who from the top of a rock, was throwing stones at him.
Derisory projectiles, which aggravated him.
Attack “Three-horns”! Rahan awaits you!

The tricerotops did not attack, it approached heavily.
And Rahan, firmly gripping his weapon, let himself fall on the monster!
Ra-ha-ha!

Page Seventeen.

The son of the ferocious ages had relied on his weight to puncture the neck of the "Three Horns."
It did not happen.
The spear broke without even cutting the leathery skin!

Run away, Rahan! Flee!
No weapon can break the skin of this monster! You can't do anything against him!
Yes!
There is still an old trick left.

It can Succeed!
The triceratops stared with its little eyes at the man who, leaning against the rock, was teasing him again.
He charged!

Inoo and Song returned to camp screaming in horror.
The monster was only twenty steps away from Rahan who still did not move!
Oh! Rahan! Rahan!

Ra-ha-ha!
It is only when the frightening armored head obscured the sky that.

Page Eighteen.

The son of Crao dived sideways!

The “Three horns” were smashed. The leather shield and back of his skull shattered.
He could not resist the granite!

The “Three-horned One” is dead, but others could come!
We must break camp!
That day, the son of Crao definitely won the esteem of Urak, Inoo and young Song.

Chief Daok and sorcerer Wahuk, at last reluctantly accepted him into the “Clan of Sacrifices”.
They plunged further into the valley of torment.

They only allowed themselves rest at night.
Rahan, then, enchanted his companions with a thousand stories, a thousand revels.
How wonderful it is to know so much!

But Daok and Wahuk's bitterness grew every day.
“He” will soon have more authority than us!
You have to find the opportunity to get rid of him!

Page Nineteen.

They were still moving forward but, one morning, there was discouragement.
Is this the land of happiness that the spirits promised you, Wahuk!?
The valley debouched onto an immensity of desert, on which an unbearable sun blazed!

The territory exists!
We will discover it behind this desert!
So, before risking it we need water, lots of water!
Rahan will find a source!

Leaping into the foliage, the son of the wild ages was remembering the warning of the old Cereha.
No one returns from the valley of torments!

The cold, the heat.
The thirst!
While he scanned the surroundings, another danger threatened him.
Daok!

Daok who found the long-awaited opportunity!
You have humiliated me too often Rahan!
It is time for you to join the "Territory of Shadows"

Page Twenty.

The trickster was going to release his arrow.
When.
No, Daok!
If you killed Rahan, Song and Urak would never forgive you!

I will not tell them what you were going to do, because we have to stay united to reach the territory of happiness!
But never do it again!

Ignoring the danger he had faced, the son of fierce ages reappeared a long time later.
The containers he had made from large bamboos were filled with water.

We may not find another source for days and days!
May the sun not strike us down first!
The desert stretched as far as the eye could see, a hell of heat and light.

Ah! If we could take a little of this shadow with us!
Take away some shade?
This is a wonderful idea, Inoo!
Rahan knows what to do!

Page Twenty-One

We are going to build a hut.
That walks!
Cut bamboos and vines!
Setting an example, Rahan was already reaping large palm fronds.

The sun was still burning the sky when they entered the desert.
But the shelter imagined by Rahan protected them from the relentless rays.

A new ordeal began.
The food brought at departure was exhausted.
And, as the days went by, the water reserve diminished.

“Thirst, hunger, death,” as Cereha predicted.
One morning, however, in the gray of dawn.
The “Long horns!”
Do not move!

As silent as a shadow, the son of Crao managed to approach the herd.
Rahan does not like killing "Longhorns." But he has to!

Page Twenty-Two.

As soon as they smelled danger, the antelopes ran away. But.
Ra-ha-ha!

A little later.
Extraordinary!
I have never seen a hunter catch a “Long Horn" while running!
You will get there one day, Song!

This meat will keep us going for a while longer.
As long as you save water!
The precious water was, this night, to provoke a drama.

Rahan was startled awake by cries of rage.
Over there, near the overturned containers, Urak was manhandling Daok!
I surprised Daok!
He.
He was stealing water!

By wanting to prevent it, I have.
I knocked them over.
The colossus, overwhelmed, clawed at the sand into which pumped the spilled water!

Page Twenty-Three.

Without the water, it would be wiser to turn back!
And Daok-the-selfish deserves that we abandon him in the desert!

Turn back!?
Never!
The territory of happiness is now very close!
The spirits have said it!

Once again, Wahuk, the sorcerer, was able to convince the “Clan of Sacrifices.”
And the odyssey continued.
The “Walking Hut” was like a raft on an ocean of dunes, sailing under the light of the sun.

The nights alone brought a little coolness.
Then, Rahan meditated while observing the sky, which was a mystery to him.
Why do they always shine in the same place?

He began to think that other men under other skies were contemplating the same stars, and that gave him back his confidence.
We will live!
We will find the horde again!

Page Twenty-Four.

One morning, a howl erupted behind a nearby dune.
Argh!
Song! It was Song who shouted!

The son of Crao rushed forward.
But it was too late!
The child had just been stung by a large black scorpion!

You will never strike again, “Tail-of-death”!

An instant later.
Song, you are going to die, are you not?
No Inoo, not yet!
Quickly light a fire!
As for you, little one, you will have to grit your teeth!

The child did not flinch when Rahan cut his heel, and pressed on the wound to extract the deadly venom.
You are brave like a true hunter, Song!

Page Twenty-Five.

He also remained stoic when the glowing embers made his flesh sizzle!
This wound will heal very quickly.
You are not joining the territory of shadows, Song!

You saved me from the "Two-teeth"!
You saved Urak from the "Three-Horned Monster"!
You saved Song!
Without you, our clan would already be decimated!

It will be in a moment, Inoo!
Look!
The son of Crao had turned pale.
It was impossible to escape the new danger that presented itself!

As if springing from the sand, scorpions arrived from everywhere!
Countless like the leaves of a tree, they slowly approached.

The “tails-that-kill” are surrounding us! We are lost!
The horrible black sheet of scorpions was indeed spreading around the “walking hut”.
Impassable!
The “Clan of Sacrifices” did not seem to be able to escape the frightening peril.
The scorpions were approaching! Approaching!

Page Twenty-Six.

No! No!
We still have a chance to ward off the "Tails-that-kill!"
Rahan threw himself on the pillars of the "Walking Hut," dislocating it.

A moment later he spread the bamboos, vines and palm fronds in a circle.
The “tails that kill” fear fire!

As soon as the flames rose, in fact, the mass of scorpions froze.
But this ring of fire would quickly go out.
What would happen then?

The “Tails-that-Kill” are abandoning us!
The black stream of scorpions was retreating towards the dunes from which they had sprung!
And the path was clear!

But the ordeal of the “Sacrifices” was not over! Without water and food, they were now without shelter! And the sun remained implacable.

Page Twenty-Seven.

That was why they screamed with joy when a green forest finally appeared on the horizon.
The spirits told me so!
The territory of happiness is there!

Wahuk-the-sorcerer soon had a new song to sing.
They now faced an inextricable jungle!
We will find water and game here!
But the dangers remain just as great!

Rahan had barely finished these words when he and his companions fell into a ravine hidden by the bushes!

Huge snakes immediately attacked them!
Although not venomous, these reptiles were formidable!
Ra-ha-ha!
You will not strangle Rahan, "Boak!"

Freeing themselves first, Rahan and Urak went to the aid of the others.
The strength of the colossus was marvelous!
Argh!

Page Twenty-Eight.

We have to get out of this Ravine as quickly as possible!
Other snakes were arriving, ever more numerous and the wall of the ravine was almost vertical!

Look, Rahan is abandoning us!
I knew he was a coward!
With the agility of a “Four-hands,” the son of Crao had scaled the wall, and disappeared.

But he reappeared a moment later.
Hold on to these vines!
Rahan will help you get out of the "Boaks" lair!

A little later.
Rahan could have abandoned you in the ravine, Daok!
Do you still think he is "Cowardly"?
Hum.

Bravo, Rahan! Bravo!
The Clan of sacrifices continued their exhausting march.
Water and game no longer posed a problem.

Page Twenty-Nine.

But this jungle was infested with wild animals.
How many times did Rahan have to intervene to save his companions?
No one knows.
Ra-ha-ha!

His devotion to the small clan did not outweigh the hatred that Daok and Wahuk bore him.
He is great, he is very useful to us!
But one day we will not need him anymore!
So.

To cross this green hell, it was sometimes necessary to enter swamps, the kingdom of caimans.

Back, “Skin of Wood”!
We are not coming to steal your territory!
On the contrary, we would like to flee it!

Urak's force completed Rahan's address.
Could not the colossus, with his hands alone, dislocate the jaw of a saurian!

Page Thirty.

The yellow-leaf season was approaching when they discovered the high mountains.
The territory of happiness is behind these mountains! We are saved!

Let us hope for that Wahuk!
Inoo and Song are at the end of their strength!

The fantastic trek into unknown territory had been going on for too long.
All were exhausted.

In the ravine in which they entered, shortly after, an icy wind blew which added to their torments.

Harassed and chilled, they took refuge in the first cave that came along.
Rest, Rahan will light a fire.

A little later.
If wild animals want to compete with us for the cave, this fire will keep them away!

Oh!
Worn down with fatigue, everyone else was sound asleep.

Page Thirty-One.
If Rahan falls asleep too, the fire will go out!
And what will happen if a danger shows up?

Oh! Rahan has an idea!
He remembered a distant memory.
That of a spider alerted by the vibrations of its web!

In the ravine he discovered enough vines to weave a coarse net at the entrance to the cave.

Shortly after, with one of these vines tied to his wrist, he fell into a deep sleep.

The fire was still glowing when a shock woke him.
The “Web” was moving!
Something wanted to enter the cave!

Page Thirty-Two.

Rahan scattered wood to rekindle the fire.
And.
The “Balouas!”
Breaking the "Web," a couple of grizzly bears burst in.

Ra-ha-ha!
Neither his cry nor the growls of the bears woke the others!
He would fight alone!

Oh!
He did not have time to cut the line which hindered his movements.
A paw whipped the vine, throwing him to the ground.

He had let the firebrand escape and, in the returning darkness, he glimpsed the grizzly bears rushing towards him.

Ra-ha-ha!
It was not Rahan's battle cry that startled Urak awake.
But the burn from the torch that had rolled under his thigh!

Page Thirty-Three.

Stunned, the colossus saw the son of Crao struggling with the two bears.
That.
What.
Oh! Hold on Rahan!
I am coming! I am coming!

With the intervention of Urak the confrontation took place.
A new trick.
Rahan was able to deliver a devastating blow.
Ra-ha-ha!

He was going to help Urak.
But it was unnecessary.
The second grizzly's bones cracked under the colossus' grip.
Crack!

The others finally woke up.
Oh! What. What happened?
If Rahan had not been awake, these Bears would have torn us to pieces while we slept!

Two more long days the "Clan of sacrifices" marches in this defile, crossing the mountain range.

Page Thirty-Four.

And it was, after so much torment, the overwhelming, the desperate discovery.
Is this the territory of happiness that you promised the horde, Wahuk!?

The gully opened onto an endless ocean!
For two seasons we have faced death.
For nothing!

Not for nothing, Inoo.
If we survive, our experience will serve the horde!
They will not venture out in search of a territory that only exists in the mind of Wahuk!

The wizard said nothing, but.
The horde must never know that my predictions were wrong!
These must die! All of them!

The same ordeals awaited the clan of sacrifices on the way back.
They had to go back through the mountain and the marshes.

Page Thirty-Five.

The green-leaf season returned when they had re crossed the desert.
But how can you find your way back, Rahan!?
Rahan is guided by the stars, Song!

He knows under what star leads us to the horde.
Every night, this star shows him the direction to take!
Song was astounded.

This revelation defeated the sinister project of Wuhak and Daok.
Since he knows the language of the stars, only he can bring us back to the horde!
We cannot kill him first!

The heat was less oppressive and the crossing of the desert looked less difficult returning than going there.
Rahan had imagined a way to carry water and food in abundance.
Pretexting on their title, the chief and the sorcerer were reluctant to attend to the travoi.

If you do not do your part.

Page Thirty-Six.

We will abandon you here and the “Hooked-Beaks” will take care of you!

A flock of vultures had been escorting the “Clan of the Sacrifices” since daylight.
And pull, hard! We will arrive faster!
The raptors were on the lookout for failure.
Faced with this threat, Daok and Wahuk complied reluctantly!

One night, the son of Crao exclaimed, pointing to the starry sky.
We will soon find the horde!
She is in that direction!
Daok and Wuhak were astounded.

And indeed, at dawn.
We are back in the “Valley of Torments”!
The horde is without doubt somewhere behind these mountains!

But all the dangers are not yet over!
Inoo and Daok will scout with Rahan!

Page Thirty-Seven.

Shortly after, the three scouts climbed towards a summit.
Rahan did not notice Chief Daok's looks of hatred.

They were walking along a deep precipice when.
Look! Over there! It is the horde!
It is time to end this, Rahan!

We do not need you anymore, "Hair of Fire"!
Nor you either, Inoo!
This brutal and vicious attack was unpredicted, unexpected.

But the son of Crao, in an instinctive reflex, was able to grab a projection and the wrist of his companion.

I was tired of putting up with your authority, Rahan!
You will die!
Suspended in the void, Rahan and Inoo could not escape the rock that Daok-the-deceiver was going to throw!

Page Thirty-Eight.

Argh!
But Daok's laughter became a howl of terror.
He, in turn, had just been pushed into the void by.
Wahuk-the-sorcerer!

And you will soon find it again at the bottom of the abyss!
All I have to do now is eliminate Song and Urak! Ha-ha-ha!
The sorcerer disappeared.

Rahan felt as if the nerves in his wrists were going to rupture!
Hold on to Rahan's legs, Inoo!
With both hands, Rahan might be able to.

However.
This. This.
It is horrible! Rahan has lost his balance on the edge of a precipice!
He dragged Inoo and Daok into his fall!
They. They are dead!

The lie did not fool the child.
Rahan is more agile than a two-horned-mountain-goat! He could not have fallen!
You lie Wahuk! You Lie!
Page Thirty-Nine.

You dare to insult Wahuk-the-sorcerer!
Your Blasphemy deserves immediate death!

The sorcerer did not have time to throw his assegai.
Urak lifted him off the ground!
Why did you follow Rahan and the others, fiend?
We want the truth, Wahuk! You hear? The truth!

The son of fierce ages now held on with both hands, his strength deserting him.
Without me you could still save yourself!

I am going to let go of you, Rahan!
I will never forget, in the land of the shadows, everything you did for us!
Determined to sacrifice herself, Inoo was going to let go!

No, Inoo!
Do not do that!
Look!
The child and the colossus who had just appeared were about to throw down a solid line!

Page Forty.

An instant later.
Daok wanted to kill us.
And he was in turn thrown into the abyss by Wahuk!
We did not know, Inoo.
Wahuk confessed everything to us.

Song pointed to the flock of vultures which, over there, were fighting over the sorcerer's flesh!
I. I. I did not want to kill him!

But I.
I had to squeeze a little too hard.
The colossus, overwhelmed, looked at his powerful hands with a sort of disgust.

Wahuk was not a good wizard, Urak.
He always lied to us and wanted us dead!
We will tell the horde!

Shortly after, in front of the rediscovered horde, Inoo recounted the odyssey of the "Sacrifices", denouncing the perfidiousness of Wahuk, and exalting the self-sacrifice of Rahan.
It is thanks to Rahan that we came back! It is thanks to "Fire Hair" that we know that beyond the valley of torment, the "territory of happiness" does not exist!

Page Forty-One.

Insensitive to this praise, the son of Crao observed the cliff from which he had fallen months before with the bag of "Magic Grains."

At the foot of this cliff tall yellow grass had grown, like he had seen near the cave of the old Cereha.

He remembered the charge of the mammoths.
The paws of the "Two-tooths" have buried the "Magic-grains"!
And this yellow grass grew, giving other grains!

If a grain produces a cluster of seeds, all these grains could cover an entire plain with yellow grass!
He had shucked the ear between his fingers.

He wiped out some winnings.
When he blew gently, only a white powder remained on the rock.
A magic powder?
Is this the secret that Cereha did not have time to reveal to Rahan?

Page Forty-One.

He tasted cautiously on his tongue the powder that had become like a paste.
The same taste as the “Thing” that Cooked on the Cereha fire!
Rahan wants to know!

He climbed onto the cliff, at the foot of which a carpet of yellow grass rippled in the breeze.
Moved, he approached the cave.
The “Hooked-Beaks” had to search for another home!

No, the faithful eagles were still there!
But they did not flinch when the son of fierce ages respectfully saluted the skeleton of old Cereha.
Rahan is not coming to violate your secret, Cereha, since you wanted to confide it to him!

In the darkness, he discovered armfuls of "yellow herbs", jars of water, and containers filled with white powder.
And balls of dough, hardened by time.
Rahan understands!

The powder of the “Magic Grains” with water forms this paste which, when cooked well, can feed “Those-who-walk-upright!”

Page Forty-Three.

You had a wonderful secret, Cereha!
As you wished, Rahan will reveal it to all his brothers!
Thanks to you, when the game is rare, they will no longer know hunger!

Rahan, in fact, revealed to the horde the secret of the “Magic Grains.”
Who knows, Inoo?
Perhaps the horde will no longer have to look elsewhere for the “Territory of Happiness!?

In enthusiasm, they mowed the "Yellow Herbs", they pounded the ears of the "Magic Grains", and they kneaded their white powder.

But when the dough cakes began to cook, a religious silence ensued.
What shall we call this food, Rahan?
I do not know.

Was the secret of wheat discovered in the night of wild ages, by the old hermit Cereha?
No one will ever know.
The son of Crao, forgetting all the bad memories of the valley of torments, turned and remembered with delight to what men, thousands of centuries later, would call "Bread"!

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