Posted on February 3, 2023December 22, 2023The Lost Years (continued . . .) After what seemed like an eternity, Janno and Roffa were summoned from their infernal dungeon. Out of it, you two ! Today you face trial ! Their trial was held in the great court of the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor himself was Presiding Judge. You are both accused of foully conspiring to sabotage three bombing craft of the Imperial Trigan Air Fleet. Denial is useless—your action was recorded on the security device . . . Projected on a giant screen, they saw and heard themselves as they had been on the fateful night—captured by a hidden camera. . . . I’m fixing the electronics . . . Most damning of all—there was a newsreel shot of the disaster they had caused. And then . . . Have you anything to say ? We acted in good faith ! We believed that Marshal Ossan was conspiring to assassinate the Emperor and . . . Marshal Ossan ? What next ? Narri was called as a defence witness. The poor wretch was cut to pieces by the astute prosecutor. So you went into the future, did you ? And you saw Marshal Ossan riding around in a big car as the Dictator of Trigan ? Yes, I did . . . at least, I think I did . . . The fellow’s mad ! He should be locked up. This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 577 on 3 February 1973.
Posted on January 27, 2023January 27, 2023The Lost Years (continued . . .) This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 576 on 27 January 1973.
Posted on January 20, 2023December 22, 2023The Lost Years (continued . . .) Janno followed Narri over the high battlements, with a last word for Roffa. You know where to meet up—tonight ! Right ! good luck ! He struck the water of the moat with breath- robbing force, and seized the floundering Narri. Aaaah . . . aaaahhh . . . I’m drowning ! Courage, Narri ! In here ! They crawled into the dank darkness. Where . . . where does it lead ? It’s an overflow for the moat. It probably comes out at the river bank. Meanwhile, Roffa had raised the alarm. What’s happened ? Where’s the prisoner ? He jumped for it ! Lord Janno went after him. He’ll catch him, never fear ! That night, Roffa went to Janno’s apartment—to find his friend and Narri already there. It was easy. We were home before dark. I contacted the governor and told him Narri had given me the slip. There won’t be much fuss. Narri isn’t important. They regard him as a harmless half-wit. Well—what do we do to save the empire ? Is there anything we can do to change the future ? Narri saw it happen—isn’t it unchangeable ? Narri answered him. Three years from now, I saw a young tree growing outside my house. The other day, I tore it out of the ground as a sapling. Here it is ! I have kept it concealed upon my person ever since ! It is proof that we can change coming events ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 575 on 20 January 1973.
