Author: Yarri

Posted on

The Food of the Gods (continued . . .)

















	














The two scientists backed away, beating off the tiny forms and their slashing talons.

Close the door, or we’re done for!

Safe inside, they stared out at their assailants.

They’ve turned into fighting-mad killers!

But . . . why? . . . How?

In the lunar months that followed, the strange plant gave forth a berry-like fruit.

A party of schoolboys from Trigan City were camping in the forest of Vorg, under the charge of their master.

Go exploring, by all means, but mind you’re all back in camp by the time the suns set.

Later . . .

These berries look good.

I’m going to try one!

Watch it. They might be poisonous.

What’s it taste like?

It’s . . . it’s . . . fantastic! Try some for yourselves.
























	














Towards sunset . . .

Where are those confounded lads? I told them to be back by now.

So there you are.

About time, too!

Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t . . . don’t play games.

Get him!

Destroy him!

He ran for his life and they followed, baying like animals.

No! No!

Ga-a-a-ah!

E-e-e-e-e-eeeeehhh!

At dawn next day, the boys approached a nearby Trigan army outpost.

The sentry was all unsuspecting . . .

Hello, lads. What can I do for you, eh?

Hey! What’s come over you?

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 662 on 21 September 1974.

 
Posted on

The Food of the Gods

















	














It was in the fourth lunar month of the year of Zooth that an astral phenomenon was observed in the sky above Elekton.

Countless multitudes saw it, wondering at its brightness that turned the night to day.

It’s a shooting star!

I never saw such a shooting star before in my life!

Elekton’s top scientist, Peric, had the answer to the strange object in the sky.

It is an exploded world!

Somewhere out in space, a world like ours blew up into fragments. The thing that passed through our outer atmosphere was one of the pieces of that destroyed planet!

The phenomenon passed on its way into the trackless wilderness of outer space. But, high in the upper atmosphere of Elekton, a cloud of strange particles remained and slowly descended.

The particles were seeds. They fell upon the surface of the planet, widely scattered. Presently, they put forth small white flowers . . .

Some distance from Trigan City, a herdsman played his pipe and idly watched his flock.
























	














Suddenly . . .

They’re surrounding me!

Then, sheer blind panic!

No! No! Keep away from me!

The creatures closed in upon him, their baaing drowning his screams.

Some time later, Peric chanced to visit a botanist friend of his.

This species is unknown to me, Beris. What is its name?

To be frank, my dear fellow, it also a total stranger to me. It has suddenly started to grow in considerable abundance on the Plain of Vorg.

The local bird life will soon make short work of your specimen, Beris.

So it appears. I had not noticed that before.

And then . . .

By all the stars!

They—they’re coming at us, Peric!

Aaaaaaah!

Run for your life, Beris!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 661 on 14 September 1974.

 
Posted on

The Secret Assassin (continued . . .)

















	














Trigo rose to his feet.

My lords, citizens of the empire! I declare the assembly open!

Long live the Emperor!

Long live the Trigan Empire!

High in the roof of the vast dome, Zith glared into the menacing face of his companion.

Shoot! Do your duty and destroy Trigo. You’ve had your fee, now earn it!

I take no orders from the likes of you. I’m a professional assassin, proud of his craft. I need no sneaking animal to check up on me. Go back and tell your masters they can have their money back and get someone else to kill Trigo.

All right, fool. It was my task to eliminate you after you had eliminated the Emperor but now . . .

 . . . I’ll destroy you first and kill the Emperor myself!

That’s what you think!

Next moment, the two were grappling with each other.

Aaaaaagh!
























	














The sound of the shot, echoing and re-echoing in that huge assembly, had silenced the solemn proceedings.

Someone’s up there!

Look, Uncle!

A figure came cartwheeling down to destruction.

Eaaaaa-a-a-aggghh!

Janno led the rush to investigate the upper gallery. When they reached there, Zith had gone.

I distinctly saw two figures fighting up here, just after the shot.

One of them must have been Zith. But where is he?

Come to think of it, who is he?

Janno never received an answer to his question. At that very moment, Zith, the assassin, was crossing the bridge out of Trigan City. With him he carried the case that held his deadly killing-weapon.

The game isn’t what it used to be. Too many amateurs and busybodies spoiling the artistry of the dedicated professional. I’ll give it up, that’s what I’ll do, and become a farmer instead.

With that thought, Zith hurled his beloved killingweapon far out into the waters of Trigan river . . .

 . . . and went on his way, never to take life again.

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 660 on 7 September 1974.