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.