Lipka let out a wail of anguish as one of the guards picked up the Great Green Diadem.

We’ll cut this up and dispose of it. It will fetch enough money to keep us in luxury for the rest of our lives.

No! Do not harm The diadem! It is utter perfection!

He was felled by a brutal blow.

Babbling fool! What do we care for perfection? We’ve done your bidding, and now we’re taking our payment.

Loaded weapons were trained on the helpless pair.

And now we’ll still your wagging tongues for ever!

But one person had been entirely overlooked—Janno. And he burst upon the scene like a thunderbolt.

Uuuuuuugh!

Eeeeeeeeeeghh!

The remaining guards rushed forward to deal with the young Trigan.

He must have broken out of his cage. Seize him!

Picking up a fallen weapon, Janno took hasty aim.























The projectiles neatly severed the massive vertebrae of the Monster of Vorg and the great fossilised bones came hurtling down.

Aaaaaaah!

No!

Eeeeeeeeh!

Moments later, all was silent in the great hall. Peric laid his hand on the shoulder of he who had collected perfection.

Come, Lipka. I will be at your side when you confess all.

You have been good to me, Peric—better than I deserve.

The great scientist pleaded Lipka’s case before the highest authority of the empire, Trigo himself.

It is my submission, Imperial Majesty, that Lipka has not stolen for profit, nor has he done any bodily harm to anyone. Furthermore, he is willing to make full restitution for any damage or inconvenience caused by his insatiable desire to be surrounded by perfection.

I am willing to pardon him, provided we can be assured that he keeps his insatiable desire in check. Any suggestions, Peric?

Yes, Sire. Frankly, this fellow is bored to death by being a multimillionaire. He needs a job of work!

What employment have you in mind?

I thought your Imperial Majesty might appoint him—Curator-General of the Imperial Museums!

And so, Lipka was from then on surrounded by the perfection he craved. As Curator-General, he was responsible for every museum in the vast empire.

And all mine!

. . . In a manner of speaking!

His eye often fell upon the restored fossil of the Monster of Vorg, and then he remembered.

Was that really the fiercest thing that ever lived, sir?

Yes, my boy, and it can still smite mightily, I assure you!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 731 on 17 January 1976.

Accompanied by his armed guards, Lipka led Peric to a vast chamber below his mansion.

Behold!

The stolen Monster of Vorg!

And that is not all, my friend—see!

The Ultimate Aircraft designed by me. The fastest thing that ever flew.

The multimillionaire’s voice rose in triumph, as he gestured to a tall figure whom his guards were freeing from a cage.

And the winner of the Victor’s Grand Crown at this year’s Trigan Empire Games.

Janno!

Peric!

Lipka then introduced another “acquisition”—Elekton’s top living musical composer, frightened but still defiant.

And here is Chorpinal who still refuses to conduct for me a command performance of his new symphony.

Nor will I ever, you . . . you . . . barbarian!

But a word from Peric made the great composer change his mind.

Trust me. Do as I say. Humour him and conduct your symphony.

Oh, very well.























So, in a private concert hall of the mansion, with an orchestra of two hundred, Chorpinal conducted a performance of his master work, the famous “Freedom Symphony”.

Peric was greatly affected by the beauty of the music. He was surprised to see that his neighbour was also emotionally stirred.

Anyone who reacts like this to the nobility of Chorpinal’s sublime theme cannot be entirely evil.

When it was over, the multimillionaire turned to Peric.

After a lifetime of slavery and deprivation, Peric, I am in a position to indulge my every whim. And my whim is for the perfect! The fastest—the greatest—the biggest—the noblest of everything!

I understand your intention, Lipka, but you are mistaken. To begin with, Chorpinal, whose whole work is devoted to the theme of freedom, will never compose again while you hold him prisoner.

The Monster of Vorg was pre-dated by an even bigger creature. It is quite feasible, but useless, to build a faster machine than the Ultimate Aircraft. Janno’s record at the Empire Games has already been broken. As for the Green Diadem, the fake you left in its place is still being worshipped by its devotees who have not been told that you have stolen the original.

Peric was quick to observe that his oratory was having a marked effect upon Lipka.

I see what you mean, Peric. I’ve gone to all this trouble, broken the law, and I still don’t possess complete perfection.

Peric made a last appeal.

It’s not too late, Lipka. Free those you have kidnapped! Return the other things and throw yourself on Imperial mercy.

Yes, Peric, I will.

You will do no such thing, Lipka, because you are going to perish, both of you! Now!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 730 on 10 January 1976.