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The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)

















	














At Mallo’s proposition, Narrod threw back his head and laughed till the tears ran down his lined cheeks.

A million Thullars in cash?—ha, ha, ha!—you really have taken leave of your senses!

The old man’s mood changed. Suddenly, Mallo saw something of what Narrod must have been in the days of his youth and strength.

You insolent young animal! A million thullars is half of my  fortune, which I earned by the sweat of my brow and by risking my life . . .

I will show you how I came to be a millionaire, my lad! . . .

Narrod touched a switch . . .

Watch! . . . And learn!

Narrod winning the Elekton water-speed record!!

Narrod gaining the Elekton air-speed title!!

Narrod winning the Vorg wrestling crown at the Imperial Games—for the third time!!
























	














There was more—much more. When it was over, the veteran grabbed his companion in a classic Vorg wrestling grip.

I can still do it! I can still throw you across the room, old as I am!

Think so?

Uuuuuuuhhh . . .

You will never throw an opponent again, you old wreckage of a creature! No more crowns . . . no more titles . . . no more speed records . . . You are finished! Finished!

Narrod answered whiningly—brokenly . . .

Make me young again . . . if it’s in your power, Mallo!

First—the money!

That morning, in the Bank of Trigan, a million Thullars were counted out for the young scientist-athlete.

Three hundred and fifty thousand . . . three hundred and sixty thousand . . .

And now . . . the elixir!

Take it! Drink it down!

. . . but later, when you’re alone!

A storm broke over Trigan City that night. It illuminated the luxurious living room of Narrod’s villa, as the old man raised the phial to his lips and devoured the strange brew in one gulp!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 648 on 15 June 1974.

 
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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.

 
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The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)

















	














In the courtyard of a Trigan City apartment, two youths were practising the classic art of Vorg wrestling.

How was that?

Well done, Janno!

Janno was delighted to be taking lessons from Mallo, the wrestling expert.

Did I hurt you, my friend?

It’s all right, Janno.

The Emperor’s nephew calls me “friend“! My, you’ve come a long way from being the son of a shoemender, Mallo!

At that moment, a messenger arrived.

Something important?

A summons from my uncle. I am to go immediately to the palace. And you are to come with me, Mallo.

The two youths arrived in the Imperial apartments, where the Emperor Trigo awaited them.

You wanted to see me, Uncle?

Yes! Janno and Mallo, I want you both to meet an old friend . . .

Good day to you, sirs!

Peric!

The very same, and to prove it . . .
























	














Eeeeeeeh!

In my younger days, Janno, I was something 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!

But . . . how?

It happened last night. As Mallo knows, I have been searching for a rejuvenating agent. Last night, a strange green liquid appeared in the test tube. Almost immediately, it exploded . . .

I absorbed that green liquid and it took years off my life! It has all gone, but we will find more of it, Mallo! You and I will work, day and night, to re-discover the secret of youth!

Yes, Peric! . . . Yes!

In the days and nights that followed, Peric and his assistant never left the Imperial Research Laboratory.

The mixture of ingredients is very critical. I must take a short rest. You carry on, Mallo. But be very careful—the true mixture is highly unstable!

Alone, the ambitious young scientist grew reckless.

The secret of youth! It would make me the richest man on Elekton, and more powerful than any Emperor! . . .

To blazes with caution! I will increase the ingredients a hundredfold!

Suddenly, the liquid in his test tube turned into a luminous green!

The secret of eternal youth is mine! All mine!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 646 on 1 June 1974.