Posted on October 11, 2025October 14, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) As the smoke of the exploding anti-aircraft battery cleared away, the alien craft came low. Ready for the lift-off ! All three convicts were lifted from the top of the black tower. They were helped aboard the craft, and Raspardi was greeted by none other than. . . the physician Torga. So ! It is to you that I am indebted for this rescue ? It is indeed, my friend — and it will cost you half of the stolen moneys which you have got hidden away ! A fast automobile waited on a lonely road on the mainland. What now, Torga ? Now, Raspardi, we drive to a hide-out where you will remain till you have paid over the money. As for our friends Janno and Roffa . . . Janno and Roffa remained on the craft when the others had left it. At a curt order from Torga, Janno piloted it skywards again. Where are they going ? They, my friend, are going to destruction ! You mean ? . . Their task is finished. I now propose to wipe out the living evidence of our little conspiracy . . . Or, more correctly, order them to wipe out themselves ! Torga spoke into a transmitter which was wavelengthed to the miniaturised receivers in the inner ears of the two in the craft. Listen, Janno . . . do you hear me, Janno ? . . . You will now take the craft to its maximum height . . . and then dive it into the sea at full speed ! . . Is that understood ? But—another voice was also dinning in Janno’s inner ear ! The voice of his friend, the great scientist Peric ! Janno, you will disregard all other orders and obey only me ! Answer me, Janno . . . where are you ? I am . . . I am . . . Why do you not acknowledge my order, Janno ? Moments later, the craft came screaming down in a power-dive. What are you doing, Janno ? . . Janno ! Answer me ! But the voice of Torga no longer had the power to control Janno’s mind and actions . . . as was swiftly proved ! Aaaaaaagh !— What’s happened to him ? Not far distant, in a Trigan Air Fleet craft that was speeding to the scene, Peric was speaking into a transmitter that was also broadcasting on the secret wavelength to Janno’s inner ear. With the great scientist was the Emperor himself. It’s all over, Janno ! The nightmare’s over ! You are free of the evil power that has been direct- ing you and Roffa ! Thank the stars for that ! Trigan security forces speedily apprehended Torga and his accomplices and Raspardi. That same day, the two comrades were formally cleared of all charges against them. Gentlemen, since it is deemed that you did not act of your own free will, but while under the hypnotic direction of a criminal, your sentences are immediately cancelled ! It was found to be impossible to remove the offending miniature receivers from the inner ears of the two Air Fleet pilots. But, as Peric said . . . You have nothing to fear—the chances are several billion to one that anyone would stumble on the wave- length which connects with your minds. Only I know the secret, and I shall never use it again . . . Unless you both voluntarily take to a life of crime ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 717 on 11 October 1975.
Posted on October 4, 2025October 4, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) As the day wore on, panic reigned among the guards of the prison isle. I’ve just been down to feed the convict Roffa, sir, and he’s disappeared, too ! Another gone ? It’s an organised conspiracy ! Safe on their lofty perch, Janno, Roffa and Raspardi looked down. We’ve got those fools really worried. Quiet ! my voice has begun speaking to me. The voice that he could not disobey sounded in Janno’s inner ear. You, Janno, will descend from the tower after dark. You will destroy the island’s anti-aircraft capability. Here is how you will do it . . . At about that time, the great scientist Peric had sought an urgent audience with the Emperor. Your Majesty, we have found the scientific notebooks of the missing physician, Torga ! Torga is a master technician, who has devised a way of manufacturing a radio receiver so small that it can actually be injected into the blood stream. This done, the receiver will lodge itself in the cells of the inner ear. Peric continued . . . “Torga recounts how Janno and Roffa were subjected to faked road accidents and taken to hospital. On the way there, both were given blood transfusions by Torga and both transfusions contained miniaturised receivers !” “With the receivers in place, all Torga had to do was to bend his victims’ wills, day and night, by hypnosis, beamed directly to their brains by a secret radio wavelength !” Janno, when you wake up, you will do exactly as I shall order you. Do you understand ? I . . . under- stand . . . At the end of Peric’s account, Trigo put a question. Why did Torga go to all that trouble, in order to turn those two into criminals ? So that they would be sent to the Isle of Despair ! Where they have just freed the arch-criminal Raspardi ! That night, obedient to his inner voice, Janno made the perilous descent of the black tower. Unseen, he tampered with the fuse mechanism of the first projectile in the anti-aircraft battery . . . . . . When that was done, he returned to his eyrie. At dawn, a strange craft approached the prison isle. Craft entering forbidden zone now ! Prepare to fire ! Fire ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 716 on 4 October 1975.
Posted on September 27, 2025September 29, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) The prisoner of the black tower stared at his two strange visitors. You are Raspardi—former international gang- leader with a price of ten million thullars on his head ? Yes, that’s me, but. . . I just wanted to make sure we’d got the right fellow ! Uuuuuh ! They left the tower with the unconscious Raspardi, locking the massive door behind them. Then they slung the limp figure on to Janno’s back. Tie his wrists tightly. We don’t want him to fall and break his neck. The two men scaled the sheer wall of the black tower with their senseless burden. Take it easy, Janno. You’ve got a good foot- hold there. Have a short rest, and I’ll relieve you of some of the weight. When Raspardi’s eyes flickered open, he was lying on a perilous perch at the top of the tower. Where am I ? And why did you strike me ? It was safer to have you unconscious, my friend. As a non-climber, you might have panicked under the strain. As to where you are—you are in a place of freedom, more or less ! It was then that Janno and Roffa both heard the voice in their inner ears. Well done ! You will now remain where you are till the time comes to carry out the next part of the master escape plan. Any aircraft coming within gun range of the Isle of Despair was shot down without warning from the fortress-prison. Just out of range, a lone craft hovered. You will hear from me later, Janno and Roffa. For the present, stay well concealed ! Meanwhile, the Trigan police were continuing their search for the physician who had attended both Janno and Roffa. What do you want at this time of the night ? Does physician Torga lodge here ? If so, we have authority to search his rooms. The search was made. All this stuff had better be taken to Peric. He wants to see anything of a scientific nature. That same night, Peric was roused from his bed. He made a swift examination of Torga’s scientific effects. Sorry to disturb you, your honour, but you did say you Were to be shown anything without delay. You have done the right thing, officer. These notes will be invaluable to my enquiries. Suddenly . . . By all the stars ! This is unbelievable . . . unbelievable ! At dawn, the guards on the Isle of Despair were changed. It was then they discovered the unconscious sentry. He’s been knocked out ! Sound the alarm ! As Elekton’s twin suns rose above the horizon, the hue and cry was raised. Safe on their lofty hiding place, the three fugitives heard it all. Raspardi is missing ! Search everywhere ! That animal must be recovered ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 715 on 27 September 1975.
