Conan the Barbarian 116

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in first story of SSOC-58; next appearance in second story of SSOC-100).

Minor Characters

 * Rasto (First appearance; no further appearances to date). Corinthian trader.

Location

 * Eastern desert of Corinthia.

Time Frame

 * One day.

Synopsis
Conan's horse is startled by a snake, and when Conan is thrown from the fleeing horse, the snake bites his hand. Conan chops the snake in half but succumbs to the venom. He awakens, in chains, upon a camel, and his captor, Rasto, explains he intends to sell Conan as a slave. Conan beats the hell out of the man but in the process, the key to the chains is lost in the desert sands. As the two are chained together, Conan is forced to take the misshapen trader with him on the only remaining camel. They find a large city, but as they enter, doors and windows slam shut. With nowhere to go, they decide to sleep in the streets, but their rest is interrupted by a gigantic slug. Rasto is devoured, but in the process, the chain snaps and Conan tumbles free. He hears Rasto's cries and follows the slug into some ruins at the city;s edge. There he finds another giant slug and pushes a pillar onto it. He delves further into the ruins, and finds Rasto talking with the first slug. The creature speaks, revealing it to be an alien creature who can take people to a paradise, something he grants Rasto but not Conan, as the barbarian slayed its mate. Rasto and the creature vanish and Conan leaves the city.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #75