The might and majesty of the Imperial Council of the empire was gathered to hear the evidence of a poor, blind beggar.

Now, good fellow, you are not going to try and convince all these learned and wise people that there were actually aliens walking about in the city during the period of the green fog?

It’s true, I tell you.

My ears are my eyes and I heard them! Many of them! Walking in the fog as sure-footed as sighted people do in the broad light of day, and they were doing evil work!

What kind of evil work?

Uruz had no answer to the last question. The Emperor consulted with Peric, the wise scientist.

Do you think this fellow is telling the truth?

We have no way of knowing, Imperial Majesty. He may be sincere. He may be mistaken. On the other hand, he may simply be seeking notoriety.

The general opinion of the Imperial Council was that the blind beggar was trying to fool them.

Uruz, you are lucky not to be imprisoned for contempt. Don’t let us hear from you again with your trumped-up tales!

You’ll be sorry, you’ll have cause to remember my words! Great evil has been done in this city . . . great evil!

A lunar month passed. Life went on in the hub of the mighty Trigan Empire.

One day, Janno, the Emperor’s nephew, drove to see his old friend Peric, at the great scientist’s villa just outside the walls.























He found Peric absorbed in an unusual task.

What are you up to?

I’m examining this green fungus that’s suddenly appeared on my wall.

The curious thing is, in all my lifetime’s scientific study, I’ve never come across its like before.

The following morning, the Emperor Trigo rose early and went out on to the balcony of his bedchamber. What he saw there brought a strangled cry of shock to his lips.

By all the stars!

The stonework of the Imperial palace was hung with a strange green fungus.

It’s . . . unbelievable!

What was more, the entire city was plastered with the green scourge.

In his accustomed place at the foot of Trigo’s statue in the great square, the blind beggar, uruz, shouted his woeful dirge.

I told them evil had been done, but they wouldn’t listen to me! And now the evil is all about us!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 733 on 31 January 1976.