Posted on by Yarri

The Ultimate Collection (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	Next morning, the planet’s newspapers
	screamed—Chorpinal kidnapped—Elekton’s
	greatest living composer snatched from
	the liner “Emperor Trigo” while on his
	way to conduct his newest symphony.

	
	Peric was at the Imperial
	Palace soon after dawn.

	His Imperial Majesty is
	not to be disturbed !

	Stand aside.
	My business
	won’t wait !

	
	Trigo was
	at sword
	practice.

	Imperial Majesty,
	I tried to . . .

	Good morning,
	Peric. It
	must be an
	important
	matter to
	bring you
	here so early.

	It is,
	Sire !

	I request that you designate me, 
	by Imperial Proclamation, as 
	Supreme Scientist of Elekton.

	Well, by
	all the
	stars !

	
	The Emperor was
	wryly amused.

	And you such a modest individual. You are
	undoubtedly the greatest scientist alive, but
	do we have to thrust it down the throat
	of every other scientist on the planet ?

	It is not for myself I ask it, Majesty, but
	part of my plan to get to the bottom
	of these thefts and kidnappings. . .

	Is it, indeed !

	Yes, Sire. I
	will explain . . .

	
	Peric’s explanation was so satisfactory to Trigo that a special ceremony 
	took place the same day, to which all the scientists within call 
	were hastily summoned.

	Whose idea was
	this ? Meaningless
	mumbo-jumbo.

	Surely not the
	Emperor’s ? And
	Peric would never
	have the impudence
	to suggest it.

	Peric, in appreciation of your great
	works for the cause of scientific
	progress, I grant you the title of
	Supreme Scientist of Elekton.


























	
















	
	The ceremony over, Peric took himself to 
	his villa in the suburbs, where he relaxed.

	And now . . .
	to wait !

	
	He did not have long 
	to wait. That same 
	evening . . .

	
	The great scientist did not turn a hair
	when they burst in on him.

	Good evening,
	gentlemen. I’ve
	been expecting you.

	
	They took him away.

	
	Not far away, in a pleasant valley beyond  
	the city limits, a sumptuous mansion
	standing in secluded grounds . . .

	
	He was taken into the 
	palatial dwelling and 
	brought before its owner.

	We have him,
	master.

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 728 on 27 December 1975.