Original title: L autre. Original edition: Dargaud Paris, 2003 by Léo All rights reserved. English translation: 2010 Cinebook Ltd

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Randall Kennedy
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1 LEO 5. THE OTHER

2 With the author s consent, and in order not to upset our more sensitive readers, certain illustrations of this edition of Betelgeuse have been modified. The original version of Betelgeuse is published in French by Dargaud. Original title: L autre Original edition: Dargaud Paris, 2003 by Léo All rights reserved English translation: 2010 Cinebook Ltd Translator: Jerome Saincantin Lettering and text layout: Imadjinn Printed in Spain by Just Colour Graphic This edition first published in Great Britain in 2010 by Cinebook Ltd 56 Beech Avenue Canterbury, Kent CT4 7TA A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN

I ALREADY EXPLAINED IT TO YOU, MAI LAN. YOUR ABSENCE OF HAIR WAS DUE TO AN ANOMALY IN YOUR BODY THAT THE CAPSULE CURED.

3 MORNING, MAI LAN. UP ALREADY? TELL ME, KIM THE MANTRIS CAPSULE I ATE MADE MY HAIR GROW. DO YOU THINK THAT THAT IT S ALSO GOING TO MAKE MY BREASTS GROW BIGGER? THIS IS TURNING INTO A REGULAR OBSESSION! I ALREADY EXPLAINED IT TO YOU, MAI LAN. YOUR ABSENCE OF HAIR WAS DUE TO AN ANOMALY IN YOUR BODY THAT THE CAPSULE CURED. YOUR BREASTS, HOWEVER, ARE PERFECTLY NORMAL THERE S NO REASON FOR IT TO MAKE THEM BIGGER! IT S KIM AND I WHO HAVE OVERLY LARGE BREASTS, DUMMY! YOURS ARE THE NORMAL SIZE. YOU RE JUST SAYING THAT YOU CAN BE SO PIGHEADED SOMETIMES, MAI LAN 3

I M SO SICK OF EATING FRUIT. MY KINGDOM FOR SOME BREAD AND BUTTER! AND A NICE, HOT CUP OF COFFEE! I FEEL GUILTY, GIRLS. IT S MY FAULT THAT WE VE BEEN STUCK HERE ALL THIS TIME.

BUT IT DOESN T HURT ANYMORE. I THINK WALKING WILL HELP ME HEAL FASTER. HMM I PROPOSE A TEST. YOU COME WITH ME TO THE WATERHOLE IN THE DESERT I WANT TO HUNT ONE OF THOSE ANTELOPES. WE NEED MEAT.

4 I M SO SICK OF EATING FRUIT. MY KINGDOM FOR SOME BREAD AND BUTTER! AND A NICE, HOT CUP OF COFFEE! I FEEL GUILTY, GIRLS. IT S MY FAULT THAT WE VE BEEN STUCK HERE ALL THIS TIME. I JUST COUNTED: WE VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS! BUT I THINK I CAN FACE THE JOURNEY HOME: MY ANKLE IS ALMOST FULLY HEALED. ARE YOU SURE? YOU RE STILL LIMPING A BIT, HECTOR. BUT IT DOESN T HURT ANYMORE. I THINK WALKING WILL HELP ME HEAL FASTER. HMM I PROPOSE A TEST. YOU COME WITH ME TO THE WATERHOLE IN THE DESERT I WANT TO HUNT ONE OF THOSE ANTELOPES. WE NEED MEAT. IT S A GOOD, LONG WALK, AND ON THE WAY BACK, THERE WILL BE THE WEIGHT OF THE ANIMAL TO CARRY. WE LL SEE HOW WELL YOU HANDLE IT. OK. I M GOING WITH YOU! I LL WASH WHEN WE GET BACK. YOU RE NOT A KID ANYMORE, MAI LAN. IT S GETTING TIRESOME TO HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL THE TIME WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO. YOU RE NOT OUR DAUGHTER: YOU RE OUR COMPANION IN MISFORTUNE! OH, NO! IT S YOUR TURN TO DO THE LAUNDRY, MAI LAN. WE DON T HAVE A SINGLE PIECE OF CLEAN CLOTHING LEFT! NO CAN DO, SWEETIE. YOU RE ALSO SUPPOSED TO HELP ME WITH THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 4

FROM THE FIRST MOMENT I SAW YOU, I FELL MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU. THERE THAT S WHAT I WANTED TO TELL YOU. NO, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT IT S BECOMING A REAL TORTURE.

5 HOW S YOUR ANKLE SO FAR? NOT A BOTHER! YOU RE BEING VERY QUIET, HECTOR. WHAT S GOING ON? WELL IT S JUST I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, BUT I DON T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO START OH? IS IT THAT DIFFICULT? MISS KIM KELLER, I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU. FROM THE FIRST MOMENT I SAW YOU, I FELL MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU. THERE THAT S WHAT I WANTED TO TELL YOU. NO, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT IT S BECOMING A REAL TORTURE. THE FOUR OF US ARE LIVING IN RIDICULOUSLY CLOSE PROXIMITY, WITH ALMOST NO PRIVATE TIME AT ALL. WE SPEAK AND TOUCH EACH OTHER ALL DAY AND, AT THE SAME TIME, I CAN T DO ANYTHING, I CAN T SHOW ANYTHING FOR MODESTY S SAKE, BECAUSE OF THE OTHER GIRLS IT REALLY IS TORTURE! 5

IT WAS ONLY A SHORT WHILE AGO THAT WE BROKE UP I M NOT QUITE SURE I VE MANAGED TO PUT IT BEHIND ME YET I M VERY SURE, ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT I DON T WANT

6 HEY! YOU RE NOT SAYING ANYTHING?! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY? THAT I M IN LOVE WITH YOU TOO? FOR EXAMPLE WELL, MY DEAR HECTOR, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT EVER SINCE I WAS VERY YOUNG, I VE ONLY BEEN IN LOVE WITH ONE MAN. IT WAS ONLY A SHORT WHILE AGO THAT WE BROKE UP I M NOT QUITE SURE I VE MANAGED TO PUT IT BEHIND ME YET I M VERY SURE, ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT I DON T WANT TO ENTER ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE RIGHT NOW. I NEED SOME QUIET TIME FEELINGS-WISE I UNDERSTAND OK NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU, AND I WON T BRING IT UP AGAIN. THE BALL S IN YOUR COURT, ALL RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. TAKE A LOOK AT THAT! 6

WE CAN T RISK GETTING TOO CLOSE. HOW S YOUR ANKLE? OK.

7 IT S ENORMOUS! AND SO BEAUTIFUL, TOO! WHAT DO WE DO? WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT LEAVES. WE DON T KNOW IF IT S AGGRESSIVE. WE CAN T RISK GETTING TOO CLOSE. HOW S YOUR ANKLE? OK. I LL GO CHECK UP ON OUR BIG, COLOURFUL LIZARD IT S COMING THIS WAY! WHAT?! WHOOPS! DON T MOVE A MUSCLE! 7

I HAVE FAULTS TOO, YOU KNOW LOTS OF FAULTS DO YOU KNOW WHAT I M

8 IMPRESSIVE, ISN T IT?!... JUST ONE SHOT AND IT S DOWN. EVERYTHING SEEMS SO EASY FOR YOU, KIM! STOP IT, HECTOR! I HAVE FAULTS TOO, YOU KNOW LOTS OF FAULTS DO YOU KNOW WHAT I M THINKING, HECTOR? I THINK SO, YES LAST ONE IN THE WATER WILL CARRY THE ANTELOPE ALONE! WOO-HOO! 8

THE LAND WITHOUT STARS

VALERIAN AND LAURELINE THE LAND WITHOUT STARS J.-C. MÉZIÈRES AND P. CHRISTIN COLOUR WORK: E. TRANLÉ Original title: Valerian 3 Le pays sans étoile Original edition: Dargaud Paris, 1972 by Christin, Mezières