Author: Yarri

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Planet Zootha (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	Trigo reached the cavemouth.

	
	Gone ! Janno
	has gone !

	
	He gazed up at the stake where
	his nephew had been tied.

	
	They’ve taken him !
	It may be that all I
	can do now is to
	exact vengeance !

	
	Entering the vast cavemouth, he saw . . .

	
	There’s
	light down
	there !

	
	He descended into the gloom. Presently, the Trigan
	Emperor was gazing upon a scene that staggered
	the imagination.

	
	By all the stars !
	It is a world
	within a world !

	
	There was a vast underground city, all bathed in a
	phosphorescent glow that was brighter than daylight.

	
	As Trigo stared in awe, a group of slaves toiled past,
	guarded by hideous, squat creatures.

	
	At a curt order from their guards,
	the weary slaves stopped to rest.

	
	If I could get
	closer and speak
	to one of those
	poor wretches . . .


























	
















	
	Presently . . .

	
	Pssssssst !

	
	Ah ! Who . . .
	Who are you ?

	
	A friend ! I’ve
	come to help
	you. But, first,
	I need some
	information !

	
	To start
	with—who
	are those
	ugly demons ?

	
	They are the Kerds—savage
	and warlike creatures who
	serve the Great Ones and keep
	us Vorg slaves in submission.

	
	Just then, a litter went past.
	In it lolled a stout and
	pampered-looking individual.

	
	All hail
	O Great One !

	
	A Great One ? But I
	have seen statues of
	the Great Ones—they
	look like gods !

	
	Countless ages of
	gluttony and idleness
	have taken their toll !
	Now all the Great
	Ones look like that
	fat wretch !

	
	At that moment—
	IT HAPPENED !

	
	Alarm ! Alarm !
	A spy in
	our midst !

	
	Gaaaaaaah !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 633 on 2 March 1974.

 
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Planet Zootha (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	
	
	
	
	Behold—the
	Great Ones !

	
	Trigo was deeply impressed.

	
	They look like
	Gods ! Do such
	creatures live ?

	
	They live ! And they demand the sacrifice of the best things
	we have—our best flocks, finest foodstuffs, and our first-born
	sons. In return, they allow us to live and prosper !

	
	Garron pointed to Janno.

	
	That one will be sacrificed to the Great Ones this
	day ! Oppose this at your peril, mighty Emperor !

	
	Janno was brought to a great cavemouth . . .

	
	He was tied there . . .

	
	Soon, noble youth, you will
	have the honour of perishing
	at the hands of the Great Ones !

	
	Aaaaah . . .


























	
















	
	Trigo, on the pretext of saying farewell to his
	nephew, whispered an assurance in his ear.

	
	
	
	I will save you, Janno !
	Never fear—you will
	not be abandoned !
	Do you understand ?

	
	
	
	Yes,
	Uncle.

	
	A mighty horn was sounded. Its mournful note
	echoed and re-echoed in the deep fastnesses
	of the great cavern.

	
	Then Janno was left standing alone, in the
	growing darkness.

	How . . .
	how long
	do I have
	to wait ?

	
	He was not alone for long !

	
	
	
	
	Aaaaaaaaaah !

	
	Out of the darkness of the
	great cavern . . . THEY came !

	
	Some distance away, in the Vorg camp, when
	all was silent, Trigo rose to his feet.

	First—to
	deal with
	that sentry !

	The Trigan Emperor set off
	to keep his promise.

	I hope
	I am not
	too late !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 632 on 23 February 1974.

 
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Planet Zootha (continued . . .)

















	














Janno brought the Trigan craft low. And they flew over a vast tented encampment. A multitude of faces were turned to look up at them.

The Emperor and his companions looked down.

Are my eyes deceiving me, or? . . .

It’s a Vorg encampment! One of the primitive kind you used to see on Elekton!

Trigo ordered Janno to land. They climbed down from their craft.

Are they peaceful, Uncle—or shall we have trouble?

Be prepared to start shooting!

Then, to the five Trigans’ utter astonishment, they were addressed in the common language of their own planet!

I am Garron, chieftain of the Zootha Vorgs! I welcome you to the planet Zootha!

You are one of us . . . from Elekton?

That is so! In a time long past, when Zootha last came close to Elekton, some of our people ventured across the wilderness of space to this planet, as you have done!

Garron showed them the crumbling ruins of an ancient flying craft.

This is the craft in which our ancestors came. It is a treasured relic of our people!
























	














Of course! Fool that I am—the legend of the Vorgs who went up into a new world in the sky—surely you were told that as a child, Imperial Majesty!

Yes—but—it was always thought to be a fairy tale! But . . . it really happened in the distant past!

Trigo then explained to Garron how the Trigans were descended from the Vorgs. He introduced himself and his companions.

. . . and this is Janno, son of my brother Brag.

Ah! And would you be your father’s eldest son, Janno?

Janno answered in puzzlement—and saw a strange light in the chieftain’s eyes.

Indeed I am, Garron—I am the only son!

Aaaaah! That is interesting . . . very interesting!

The incident slipped from Janno’s mind during the feasting that followed.

Is everything to your liking, Emperor?

Indeed it is, Garron! Not since I was a boy in my father’s encampment have I enjoyed such fine Vorg fare!

As soon as the feast was over . . . IT HAPPENED!

Now . . . seize the victim!

Aaaah . . .

Janno was dragged roughly to his feet.

Let me go! Let me go, you demons!

What does it mean? Do you call this Vorg hospitality?

The chieftain replied . . .

As a first-born son, he will be sacrificed to our Great Ones! It is a custom that is never broken—my own son perished in a like manner! Take him away!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 631 on 16 February 1974.