The Zallus were a race of warriors living on the borders of Vorg Province. One day, their dreaded cavalry poured over the frontier and attacked!

Death to all Trigans!

Although the Trigan forces were taken by surprise, the Zallus really had no hope, in the long run, against the might of the Trigan Empire. They were surrounded and cut to pieces.

The last Zallu warrior hurled himself into the abyss, with defiance still on his lips.

Death to all Trigans!

So it was that, for the sake of future peace, the Trigans were obliged to occupy the country of the Zallus.

I have a feeling that we are not wanted here.

You know the old saying—Make an enemy of a Zallu and he stays your enemy.

Back in Trigan City, Janno the Emperor’s nephew was taking up his sleek fighting craft for what seemed to be his last flight for a long time.

Who wants to go to Zallusia of all places?























Later, the Emperor Trigo explained matters.

As heir presumptive to the throne of the Trigan Empire, it is high time you had some experience in the running of it. So I am sending you as Governor-General of Zallusia. It is a tough assignment, but I think you’ll make a success of it.

And so, a lunar month later, Janno departed.

Good luck!

Landing in Zallusia, the new Governor-General became immediately aware of the hatred directed at him.

They look a  sullen lot, Colonel.

I’ve been here a long time, Excellency, and not once have I seen a Zallu smile.

Janno’s first task was to address the five elders of the Zallu nation.

My friends, it is my wish to help to bring our two peoples together in peaceful co-operation for the greater good of the Trigan Empire.

The senior elder replied.

Why should we listen to your words, Trigan? You speak as a leader, but you should know that no-one is accepted as a leader among the Zallus till he has performed five tests of courage to prove his worth.

Janno replied without hesitation.

Very well! I myself will perform any five tasks you choose to set me.

The young fool fell neatly into our trap.

He is as good as dead! The tasks we shall set him would break the courage of a wild Zargot!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 761 on 14 August 1976.

You who condemned me to ten years of solitude aboard this abandoned hulk—are yourselves going to spend the rest of your lives here!

The avenger pointed to Marshal Rossu . . .

I brought you here, one by one! Rossu, I discovered things about you that would have meant your ruin. You were only too glad to do anything I demanded of you . . .

He explained . . . “At my instructions, you wore the yellow overalls of a mechanic on the day of the flypast. When you landed, you slipped off your flying kit and clambered, unseen, out of the craft.”

“You were there, lost among the other yellow-garbed figures, when they made their astonishing discovery.”

The Marshal—he—he’s disappeared!

Nothing here but his flying kit!

Similarly with the rest of you. I played upon your individual  weaknesses and vices, to make you do my bidding.

Janno had been listening, spellbound. One question came to his mind.

But, why the bizarre manner of the disappearances? Surely, the authorities will find the connection between these eight people?

That is my hope. Sooner or later, the link between these eight will be established, and all Elekton will know of my vengeance. But that will take years.























A knife slashed the bonds that held Janno.

And now, I will free you all—to begin what  may well be a life imprisonment in this abandoned hulk!

The young Trigan reacted like a released spring—he leapt!

No life imprisonment for me, my friend!

In that case, fool . . .

There was a report—but not from the weapon that was aimed at Janno . . .

Into the compartment streamed a contingent of Trigan guardsmen, and the scientist Peric.

Janno, my young friend! It seems that we have arrived in the nick of time!

Janno stared in relief and astonishment at Elekton’s top scientist.

How did you solve the mystery, Peric?

In my own head, Janno. I quickly reasoned that the eight must have some connection in the past. But it was your claim to have been fired on from this abandoned weather station that provided the missing clue.

Some time later . . .

That poor fellow’s trial was held today. Happily, I was able to pardon him. After all, his experience has cruelly unbalanced his mind,

Your Imperial Majesty is merciful.

What about Marshal Rossu, Uncle Trigo? It can scarcely be said that he’s come out of this affair with his reputation intact.

The Emperor Trigo smiled grimly.

Following upon a little hint from myself, Marshal Rossu has resigned for reasons of ill-health!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 760 on 7 August 1976.

“Alone in the stricken weather station, with all about me dying, I sent my message out across the ether.”  

Help me, please . . . someone . . . help!

“Somewhere out there, a substratosphere passenger cruiser picked up my feeble call.”

Hello, hello, weather station . . . receiving you . . . what is your trouble?

“I can imagine what took place between the captain of the cruiser and his second pilot.”

Sir, they’ve got the virus fever aboard the weather station! Practically everyone is wiped out and the signal operator wants us to land there and bring him off.

There’s only one thing for it.

“Instead of taking the decision himself, as he should have, the captain consulted eight frightened people.”

So there you have it. Do we land on the weather station and take off the survivor, at the risk of ourselves contracting the virus fever?

. . . I put it to the vote!

No!

No!

No!

And I add my own vote . . . No!























“Picture my horror and despair when I received their verdict.”

Cruiser’s Captain speaking. I’m sorry, friend, but we have taken a vote, and we think the risk is too great.

No! No! You can’t do this to me!

You can’t abandon me!

“The sole survivor on an abandoned city in mid-space, with everything I needed to sustain life—food, drink, warmth, purified air—everything but freedom. Nothing but mind-bending solitude.”

Five lunar years have passed. I think another five will drive me insane!

“My sanity was saved by my discovery—in one of the many well-equipped workshops—of a damaged air craft. In the years that followed, I worked on the craft, to repair it.”

One day, I’m going to have this fit to fly. Then it’s back to Elekton . . .

. . . and vengeance!

“Years later . . .”

It is ready!

And now, to find those who condemned me to all those years of terrible solitude . . .

. . . and to pay them back in kind!

His story finished, the speaker regarded his prisoners.

The ten year-old crew and passenger list told me all I needed to know. Further investigation revealed that two of those persons had died in the meantime, but that eight remained, including the captain of the cruiser . . .

. . . Now Marshal Rossu, Chief of the Trigan Air Fleet!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 759 on 31 July 1976.