Rahan. Episode 128. By Roger Lecureux. The Sons of the Moon. A Puke (TM) Comic.

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

Source of Rahan Comics:
Philippe Ropers.
https://vk.com/topic-203785966_47424128

Rahan.
The son of the ferocious ages!

Episode One hundred and twenty-eight.

By Roger Lecureux, drawn by Andre Cheret.

The Sons of the Moon.

The son of Crao, who had fallen asleep, perceived too late the roar of the great tiger as it leapt towards him. He only had time to throw his hand towards his ivory knife.

And to project it on the fly, instinctively, without adjusting his aim.

And there was no question of him recovering his weapon, the wound of which increased the feline's fury tenfold!
Rahan is just a stupid hunter!
The knife had stuck itself in the wild beast's thigh.

Rahan is now at your mercy, "Striped-Skin"!

Page Two.

The son of Crao avoided the first assault, but was knocked down by the second.
His fingers desperately clutched the beast's throat.
Ra-ha-ha!

But a claw slash lacerated his chest.
His vision blurred and a reddish fog obscured the wild beast that was going to steal his life.

And suddenly.
Oh!
The big cat reared above him, its flanks pierced by a long, thin spear.

Old Hangta has arrived in time, "Fire-Hair"! Do not move, unknown brother!
Hangta knows the herbs that heal these wounds!

A little later.
Rahan thanks Hangta, who has kept the eye and aim of youth!
Youth! Do not talk about youth, "Fire-Hair"!

Why are you so serious and sad? Have you no companions?
Oh yes, I have companions! I am even the chief of the tall grass clan, which lives in the valley.

Page Three.

I have companions. But I have no more sons!
My brave, my dear Zoorak has disappeared for several moons and I searched for him in vain.

Zoorak was barely twenty years old.
I am sure he is still alive and wandering somewhere in this endless forest.

Rahan will help you find your son, Hangta!
No, "Fire-Hair"! I do not want any help! None! None.
The old man seemed to have a secret he wanted to keep.

Which the son of Crao respected.
Rahan will continue on his way! Goodbye, Hangta! And good luck. For Zoorak.
Goodbye Brother!

Who could have known that destiny would soon bring these two men together? The day after this meeting, Rahan made a strange discovery.
Oh! This is horrible!

And yet, they were all from the same clan!
The bodies of ten young hunters lay in a clearing.
The position of their bodies showed that they had killed each other.
Page Four.

They all wore the same round, yellowish stone pearl around their necks.
There was no fight! They kept quiet on purpose!

Why did these young and strong hunters die?
To which god did they offer their lives?
The concept of "Suicide" was strange to the son of Crao.

He was meditating on this inexplicable drama when old Hangta reappeared.
Zoorak! My poor Zoorak! What madness made you do this?

The leader of the tall grass clan, upset, turned over the corpses one by one, visibly looking for that of his son.
No! Zoorak is not here! He is not among these "Sons of the Moon"!

The "Sons of the Moon"?
Yes, Rahan. I did not dare tell you that Zoorak joined this crazy "Sect"! I was ashamed!

Emotion tightened the old man's throat.
Two seasons ago, Ka-Hang, a sorcerer banished by his clan, formed the sect of the "Sons of the Moon."

Page Five.

He calls himself the "Grand Master of the Night" and imposes strange and bloodthirsty rites on his followers, the "Sons of the Moon."

These are young hunters who have abandoned their clans!
All of them wear this fetish stone which symbolizes the moon!

Ka Hang promises his followers eternal happiness, both during their lives, but also in the "Territory of Shadows"!
In fact, the "Sons of the Night" live only on pillaging!

The members of the "Sect", bewitched by the "Master of the Night", are ready to sacrifice themselves for him!
When one of their raids fails.
They do not hesitate, to punish themselves, to offer their young life to the moon!
Believing in eternal happiness, these young fools engage in bloody collective sacrifices.

But this is horrible!
Yes, Rahan, it is horrible.
And it is because my son Zoorak joined this "cult," that I am looking for him!

Page Six.

I would like to make Zoorak see reason and bring him back to our brothers of the "High Grass."
I know where the sect of the master of the night is hiding.

But I am unfortunately very old, and the "Sons of the Night" never let the old approach them!
Rahan is in your debt, Hangta.

Tell him where he can find the sect, and he will do everything in his power to bring your son back to you!
Thank you, brother.
May you find him alive!

Following Hangta's instructions, the son of Crao went "hunting."
By the path of the "Four-hands", where he showed himself to be so agile, he gained precious time.

It was daybreak, and he had to abandon the foliage.
And that was when.
Oh! The "Sons of the Moon"!
Around the necks of the approaching men hung the round yellow stone.

Huddled in a thicket, Rahan was ready for battle.
But these men, whose gaze was strangely fixed, passed very close to him without seeing him.
Rahan was confused.

Page Seven.

They are under the influence of a drug, as some sorcerers know how to prepare!
He was happy to "Tail" these young hunters.

Up to that great cavern that Hangta had spoken of.
The whole sect was gathered there, watching the moon that had just appeared.
How will Rahan recognize Zoorak!? How?

Suddenly there was silence, and a strangely dressed sorcerer came out of the cave.
That is Ka-Hang. The so-called "Grandmaster of the Night"!

A new night begins, "Sons of the Moon"!
May it bring you what you need! The immortal grandmaster watches over you!

Rahan hopes you will watch over him too!
What, what?
The son of Crao had suddenly emerged and was approaching calmly.

Rahan has come from far away to join you!
Do you accept him among your faithful, great master of the night?

Page Eight.

Rahan will be the most devoted of your followers, oh great master!
Hum. This imbecile is tough. He could be a choice recruit!

The wizard spoke to the moon with emphasis.
Do you accept this hunter among your "Sons", Oh Goddess of the deep night!?
Your immortal son listens to you!

An instant later.
The goddess of the night has spoken to me! She accepts you among her "Sons."
On condition that you drink some of her blood!

The master of the night pointed to a large trough filled with a thick, red liquid.
Drink Rahan! Drink the blood of our mother the moon!
You will draw happiness and contempt for death from it!

If Rahan drinks this drug, he will lose his mind. What to do? Oh Rahan knows.
Filling a container with the beverage.

He rushed towards a rock, and.
Rahan will be your most devoted servant, or goddess of the deep night!
Your blood will bind him to you forever!
Page Nine.

The sect accosted him when he raised the bowl to his lips.
But no one saw that he did not drink the beverage!
Rahan is now one of Ours, a "Son of the Moon"!

He will prove his loyalty to us tonight, by accompanying those who will attack the "Tall Grass Clan"! Zoorak will lead them!

Me, Zoorak!? But the tall grass clan is my clan, grand master!
Was your clan, Zoorak!
Do not forget that the "Sons of the moon" have renounced their own!
All that matters to them is loyalty to the goddess of the night!

Chance brought Rahan into the presence of the one he was looking for. Zoorak, the son of Hangta!
The Grand Master is right, Zoorak! You must obey! Let us get going, immediately!

Ha-ha-ha. This Rahan is a very valuable recruit!
The Grand Master was jubilant as he watched Rahan and the few men disappear.
He would have thought otherwise.

If he could have guessed Rahan's intentions. The latter, holding Zoorak back, was letting himself be outpaced by the small troop that was descending towards the savannah.
It is time for us to escape, Zoorak! Rahan promised your father to bring you back to him!
Page Ten.

Bring me back?
Are you crazy? I am a "Son of the Moon"!
A follower of the Moon Goddess!
Hum.

Ten times the son of Crao tried to reason with Zoorak. But the drug troubled his mind.
I have renounced "Those of the tall grass!
I. I have no right to listen to your unfaithful words!

So, Rahan brought you back against your will!
Argh!

Rahan had hoped for silence. But the rattle had been heard.
Look! Rahan has just struck Zoorak!
We must return this madman to the grand master! Quickly! Quickly!

The “Sons of the Night” threw themselves at Rahan. These young hunters were certainly weakened by drugs, but the numbers were on their side.

That was why, shortly after.
Zoorak and Rahan fought for no reason, Oh great master!
Because of them, we had to abandon the raid against those of the "High Grass"!

Page Eleven.

Such a fault requires the Supreme Redemption!
Zoorak and Rahan must sacrifice themselves together to the goddess of the night!
Lead them to the great clearing and let them fight until death ensues!

And if, by a cowardice unworthy of the "Sons of the Moon", they do not go through with the sacrifice. You will do justice yourselves!

Shortly after, under the eyes of the sect, Zoorak and the son of Crao were forced to fight each other.
We could have become friends! But I have to kill you, Rahan!

This bloody rite is hateful, Zoorak! Come to your senses! Ha!
Rahan had trouble warding off Zoorak's attacks, still under the effect of the drug.

We must both die for the goddess of the night!
You must stay alive Zoorak! You must stay alive for your own, those of the "High Grass"!

Your father made you a brave hunter. And not a young fanatic!
You. You think?
Zoorak seemed to regain his lucidity.

Page Twelve.

But the duel to the death continued with the same fierceness. And suddenly.
For the goddess of the night. Let us get this over with!
Yes! Let us finish it!

Argh!
A clamor arose. Zoorak and Rahan had just collapsed in the middle of the clearing.

They now lay side by side, under the pale light of the moon.
They are dead! They respected the law the ultimate sacrifice!
The grand master will be satisfied!

A little later.
Zoorak and Rahan have been faithful to the goddess of the night.
The land of shadows will be welcoming to them!

At the same moment, a few arrow flights away, the "Dead" stood up!
Our ruse has succeeded, Zoorak!
Yes. But I do not know why yet. I listened to you!

Because you regained consciousness in time, brother!
Do you understand now that you were only a toy in the hands of this bloodthirsty sorcerer?
You. You know this?
Page thirteen.

The blood of the moon is only a drink of madness that has made you slaves of the "Grand Master"! Here. Observe!

Around the trough, members of the sect were arguing over the drink.
Others were hurling incoherent incantations towards the moon.
Could I have behaved like this?
Yes, Zoorak. You were not yourself anymore.

Zoorak had regained all his lucidity.
But what are we going to do, "Fire Hair"?
Free the spirit of our brothers!

Late at night, the son of Crao and his companion crept into a cave.
See! Even the wrath of the sky would not wake them!
They have been overcome by this cursed drug! But this is the last time!

This is what Rahan does with "Blood of the Moon"!
With a force that was multiplied by anger, Rahan had just overturned the great trough.

And then a voice thundered behind him.
So you are still alive, "Fire-Hair"! You managed to trick the "Sons of the Moon"!
I should have killed you with my own hands!
Page Fourteen.

But it is not too late to do it! The poison of this javelin will not spare you!
The "Grand Master" approached, brandishing a fine javelin.

And Rahan did not care to throw the knife he had drawn. He was backing away. Backing away.
Drop that weapon, Ka-Hang! Rahan has no right to kill "Those-Who-Walk-Upright"!

Ha-ha-ha!
Oh!
The son of Crao had just fallen on the trough and was at the mercy of the bloodthirsty sorcerer.

If Rahan does not want to kill, Zoorak has a duty to Him!
The Spear thrown by Zoorak pierced completely through Ka-Hang!

The blood of the one who had been the "grand master of the night" mixed with the reddish beverage that seeped into the earth.

With daybreak, the moon faded and the members of the sect awoke from their deep slumber.
Oh. What. What?
In front of a big fire, Rahan and Zoorak burnt all of the spears!

Page Fifteen.

Ka-Hang lied to you by claiming to be immortal! He lied to you by promising you happiness!
By preaching the worship of the moon, he only aimed to ensure absolute power, without sharing!
By abusing drugs, he made you docile slaves! He forced you to plunder your own clans.

But he alone profited from these plunders! Look!
Furs and jewels of bone and ivory were piled up in the sorcerer's lair.
The "Sons of the moon" seemed to regain consciousness.

You must bring these treasures back to yours, brothers!
Rahan is sure that they will forgive you!
You will understand that "Happiness" is not won in a "Sect", nor on the fringes of one's own!

True happiness for the “one who walks upright” is the struggle for life alongside his own, for his own!
The murmurs grew louder, approving Rahan's speech.

And the son of Crao did not try to hide his joy.
He knew that these young hunters, lost for a moment, would find the right path again.
As for him, he would pay his debt.
He would bring Zoorak back to the brave Hang-Ta, the old chief of the tall grass clan.