Posted on January 23, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) Janno's arm encircled the Thallan's throat. Dragging aside his unconscious victim, the young Trigan took his place at the controls of the destroying unit. I think I saw enough to know how to work this infernal device. Now— what is the head of the destroying unit doing at the moment ? On the screen before him Janno saw a view of the sea . . . fast moving craft . . . and the head of another destroying unit. Obviously two of these devilish things are working together ! Somewhere in the sea of Tibor, two of the destroying units were attacking a flotilla of Trigan gunboats ! Then, to the sailors' astonishment . . . Look, sir ! By all the stars ! They're attacking each other ! Before the eyes of the astounded Trigans, the destroying unit operated by Janno sliced the head from its companion ! Janno's eyes danced with triumph. So much for that. Now to destroy the other two. Retracting the long “neck” of the destroying unit, Janno brought it back to the conquest machine. On the all- seeing screen, he was able to size up the situation. With two sweeping slices, Janno severed the necks of the remaining menaces. Then, at the moment of triumph—disaster ! The operators of the other units have realised what's happening ! Do I have time to destroy the conquest machine itself ? As the first of the Thallans entered the control compartment, Keren and Roffa launched themselves forward to the attack. Krakkk-krakkk ! Streaks of searing light dashed the two gallant Trigans to unconsciousness ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 471 on 23 January 1971.
Posted on January 16, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) It seemed to give Ura Zircon a savage pleasure to display his might before the Trigan prisoners. My plan of destruction is fast approaching its climax. You shall see one of the four destroying units at work ! The Trigans were led to one of four control compartments set round the vast circular interior of the conquest machine. This destroying unit is about to make an attack upon the fortresses guarding the mouth of the River Trigan— watch closely ! In front of the operator was a screen, on which appeared a landscape very familiar to Janno and his comrades. Before their horrified eyes, one of the dreaded shapes rose from the deep. Alarm ! Alarm ! Open fire ! Impervious to counter- attack, the thing struck ! Janno and his comrades saw it all through the “eyes” of the attacker. So ! And now we must flood the conquest machine. We are familiarising ourselves to breathe air, but our devices work for only half the day—for the remainder we must breathe water. Janno, Roffa and Keren were provided with their underwater breathing masks. Soon the vast interior was flooded, and their captors relaxed. This must be their sleeping time . . . Our guard isn’t armed— but I know from experience that these brutes have some fiendish means of destruction. Janno dived towards the guard, dodging the forked light which seared the water. He smashed his victim’s head against the floor. A few seconds later the three Trigans were swimming towards one of the control compartments. Now ! We’ll put that destroying machine to our own use ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 470 on 16 January 1971.
Posted on January 9, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) Inside the alien mass that crouched like a submerged monster of the deep . . . . . . Janno, Keren and Roffa were imprisoned in airtight capsules of transparent fibre. All about them, the inhabitants of the vast, water-filled interior went about their tasks. Suddenly, the water level began to drop —and the strange people placed curiously- shaped devices into their throats. When the water had gone, the three captives were released from the capsules and led towards a commanding figure. So ! The Trigan prisoners ! And who are you ? I am Ura Zircon, Lord of the planet Thalla. Our mother planet lies in the distant galaxy of Cerris, and is entirely covered by water. We are a water-breathing people. Regrettably, Thalla is moving inexorably nearer to one of its suns, which means that the surface of the planet will one day be a boiling mass . . . Mindful of my people's peril, I caused this conquest- machine to be constructed, so that we could leave Thalla and win another planet for our home. When all was ready, we launched ourselves in the machine and journeyed to Elekton—a planet whose way of life, speech and customs we had studied by long-range systems in our technology. Since then, the destroying units of the machine have been doing their work. Soon—with all civilisation in chaos —Elekton will be ours ! The three Trigans listened in awe and alarm to the rest of Ura Zircon's speech. Armed with the devices which enable them to breathe out of water, units of my people have infiltrated into the towns and cities of the surface. My own daughter is among them . . . She goes by the name of Sorra, and has gained herself a position of trust at the side of your emperor himself. Her task—when the time comes—will be to destroy Trigo ! Meanwhile, back at the Imperial Palace at Trigan City, the Emperor Trigo spoke approvingly to his new secretary You have done your work well, Sorra. I am pleased with you. You are too kind, Imperial Majesty. This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 469 on 9 January 1971.
