A thousand bollo players sent their metal balls rocketing towards the enemy.

Hah!

Too late, the Caton commander saw the new source of attack.

Turn and face the rear!

Open fire on . . .

. . . Uuuuuugh!

It was then that Janno, leading the Nobe “armoured division”, gave the order.

Turn! Cha—a—a—arge!

The careering vehicles tore through the crumbling line of the Caton guards, scattering them like leaves.

Long live the Nobes!

It was a brief, but desperate hand-tohand struggle.

Freedom! Freedom!























Presently, it was all over. The cream of the Caton ground forces surrendered to an army of amateur sportsmen.

We did it! Thanks to bollo!

Thanks to you, Janno!

Go back to your masters and tell them what happened! Tell them that this valley will never belong to Cato!

The lesson was not lost upon the Caton leaders. A few days later, their prime minister came to a decision.

This country has lost enough international prestige over the affair.

The valley project is abandoned.

Later, the Emperor Trigo paid a state visit to the valley, where he was courteously received by the Nobes.

Greetings, Enlightened One.

Greetings, Imperial Majesty. Thanks to you, to the Trigan Empire—and to our young friend Janno—we remain free!

Tell me, Majesty, is it within the competence of your people’s technology to seal up the valley again?

Of course, Enlightened One.

Then we ask you to do that for us. We have seen what happens in the outside world and, with respect, we like our old ways best.

And so, a heavy charge of explosive was detonated in the pass. The mountain wall fell—and the secret valley was secret once more.

When all was silent, Janno raised his hand in salute to those he would never see again.

Farewell, Kalli! Farewell, brave Nobes! May you and yours live in peace and tranquility for ever!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 747 on 8 May 1976.

The sight of a blacksmith attaching thick plates of metal to one side of a motor vehicle greatly interested Kalli, Janno’s Nobe friend.

There you are, Kalli—armour plating while you wait.

That will stop a projectile, and fifty of these vehicles will add up to our armoured division.

Later, the pick of the valley’s young athletes were gathered in the main square.

I have a plan for the destruction of the Caton invading force. It calls for careful timing and instant obedience on your part. You will learn this plan, till you carry it out in your sleep!

Any questions?

Yes! What are we going to use for weapons? We don’t have any weapons!

In fact, you have a splendid weapon. With it, you Nobes play the fastest and most dangerous game on Elekton.

The Bollo Ball!

Shortly after dawn the next day, the Catons entered the valley. They marched to attention, colours flying.

Not a sign of the Nobes. I fully expect to walk through the valley and take it without firing a shot.























And then . . .

Vehicles!

The Nobe armoured division was heading into battle!

Yahooooo!

With disciplined calm, the Caton guards halted, faced their flank, and the command rang out.

Open fire!

The Nobe armour drove at breakneck speed down the Caton column attracting all the enemy fire.

It was then, behind the Catons, that the best bollo players in the valley rose from their hiding place in a dried river bed, and sent their hard metal balls rocketing towards the enemy.

The Caton guards were taken entirely unawares by the most dangerous game on Elekton.

Aaaaaagh!

Uuuuuughhh!

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 746 on 1 May 1976.

As they closed with the Caton battle-craft, Janno fired his pistol.

One down and five to go!

The next instant, he was clinging for dear life as his friend, Kalli, banked violently to avoid the return fire.

Hey! Are you trying to get rid of me?

Sorry!

Hanging on to a strut with one hand, Janno blasted loose again.

Got him!

Janno’s second victim swerved into the path of one of its wing-mates—with disastrous consequences.

That’s three out of six.

Great! Let’s down the other three!

But the remaining Caton crewmen had other ideas.

We’ve lost half our force. That hostile craft must be armed with a secret weapon of invincible power.























Break off the attack! Set course back to base!

Triumphantly, Kalli brought his primitive craft to ground near the three wrecked Caton machines.

Who was it who said we were not a match for the Caton air-fleet?

You have seen nothing of the Caton air-fleet in action—yet! Wait till our massed, high-level bombers come.

Returning to base, the remaining crewmen were given a tongue-lashing by their air-fleet commander.

How many craft attacked you and downed your three companions?

Er . . . one, sir.

Did you say . . . one?

Get the high-level bombing force into the air! By the end of this day I want to see an empty valley—strewn with corpses!

The vast armada of destruction rose skyward above Cato City.

Set course for the valley!

Later, the captain of the lead craft saw something that brought a gasp of disbelief to his lips.

Oh, no! It . . . it can’t be!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 744 on 17 April 1976.