This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 651 on 6 July 1974.
The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)
That morning, Mallo went to the Trigan City amphitheatre to watch two exponents of the ancient Vorg art of sword-fighting. Defend yourself, Luccus! Strike at him, Kella! Coaching them was Crillus, the greatest living professional sword-fighter. Enough! You have lost the bout, Luccus! In the bad old days, you would now be despatched! Turning, the old warrior saw the newcomer. Its young Mallo, winner of the wrestling crown. Come to see me teaching what I can no longer practise, eh, lad? You could still do it, Crillus! You could still defeat every swordsman who came before you . . . . . . But it would cost you money! . . . Big money! Just what are you driving at? You heard that Narrod broke the all-time air race-craft record yesterday? Yes! A man my own age! I could scarcely believe my ears! What of it? Mallo explained . . . Are you trying to tell me that all I have to do is drink this green liquid and—like Narrod—I shall be young again? Yes! Don’t take my word for it. Take it home and try it! The going price is a million thullars—the same as I charged Narrod!When Mallo arrived back at his apartment . . . And who in the stars may you be, brat? You may well ask, scoundrel . . . . . . I’m Narrod! It can’t be true! There’s some mistake! Indeed there is! And the mistake is yours! I asked to be given back my youth, not regressed into childhood! I demand to be returned to my proper age! Mind racing, Mallo prepared a draught . . . I’ll do what! Can. First, you must drink this sedative. Then I’ll inject the antidote to the youth drug. It had better work, Mallo, or I’ll have you imprisoned for life in the penal mines! The boy drank and immediately fell to the floor. What am I to do? There is no antidote as far as I’m aware! I must have time to think. He’ll be unconscious for days. I’ll hide him here. Next, I must go and see Crillus and warn him not to take the green liquid! He drove across Trigan City to the great mansion where the famous sword-fighter lived. I pray that I may yet be in time! Mallo burst in and recoiled, ashen-faced! Oh, no! What . . . have you . . . done to me, Mallo?
This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 650 on 29 June 1974.
The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)
The competition track near Trigan City. One more lap at that speed and he’s broken the record! Do you hear that, Narrod? You’re nearly there! Watch out on that next corner! The screaming racer briefly touched the barrler wall and . . . He’s going to crash! Eject, Narrod! The driver ejected from his cockpit—an instant before the race-auto turned into a fireball!Narrod, are you all right? You’re lucky to be alive, I can tell you! My sight failed me, and my reactions were too slow at that corner! I’m finished! I shall never get into a race-auto again! Once he held every speed record on Elekton! Well, old age gets us all in the end! A lifetime of record-breaking had made Narrod a planet-wide celebrity and a millionaire. But he went back to his luxurious villa in black despair. My life is finished. I may still live on for years . . . . . . If you can call it living! Why not end it all now? A visitor requesting to see you, Master. His name is Mallo. Not the Mallo, who won the Vorg wrestling crown at the Imperial Games? Show him in, Zapp. My, how I envy you, my boy. Do you know I won the Vorg wrestling crown three times when I was your age! What wouldn’t I give to be young again! You can be young again, Narrod! Youth lies within this phial and it can be yours! . . . . . . For a million thullars!—Cash!
This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 647 on 8 June 1974.
