Posted on June 29, 2024July 1, 2024The 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 ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 650 on 29 June 1974.
Posted on June 8, 2024July 1, 2024The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .) 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.
Posted on June 1, 2024July 1, 2024The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .) You wanted to see me, Uncle ? Yes ! Janno and Mallo, I want you both to meet an old friend . . . Eeeeeeeh ! In my younger days, Janno, I was some- thing of a wrestler ! And suddenly it all comes back to me ! Elekton’s top scientist—now much changed— grinned at his companions. But, you’re . . . you’re . . . Younger ! Between twenty and thirty lunar years younger ! With scarcely any grey hairs, all my teeth, and with the pulse and blood pressure of a man in his prime ! In the days and nights that followed, Peric and his assistant never left the Imperial Research Laboratory. This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 646 on 1 June 1974.
