Category: Annals

Posted on

The Man from the Future (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	The watcher waited till all was silent in Toth Zandu’s
	bedchamber. Then he crept in, stealthily.

	
	
	
	
	Vengeance
	is mine.

	
	A keen blade flashed in the moonlight,
	but never descended.

	
	
	
	
	Gone !

	
	
	But how could he have
	gone ? And where ?
	He’s never been out
	of my sight since
	he got into bed.

	
	Unknown to the would-be assassin, the individual whom the Trigans knew
	as Toth Zandu was travelling through the trackless wastes of time and space.

	
	Aeons passed in instants. Empires rose and fell.
	Countless generations were born and forgotten.

	
	He awoke in a familiar room in a familiar city.

	
	
	Nothing has changed,
	though countless million
	lunar years have gone by
	in the flickering of an eye !

	
	The time-traveller walked through the broad streets
	of a noble city of the FUTURE. He was hailed by all
	who met him for was he not a person of substance ?

	
	
	
	
	May the stars
	smile on you this
	day, Zudd Ra.

	
	
	
	
	And upon
	you.


























	
















	
	Zudd Ra was keeper of the historical records and, as such, he
	was accorded great respect. But he craved more than respect.

	
	
	Now to familiarise
	myself with more details
	of the Trigan Empire in
	the far-off year of Zenf.

	
	
	
	
	Details which
	will be of
	use to me !

	
	Flashed upon a screen, at the touch of
	a control, were facts recorded by
	Trigan scribes centuries before.

	
	
	
	
	“On the twenty-fifth day of the
	year of Zenf, Toth Zandu was
	appointed adviser extraordinary
	by his Imperial Majesty . . .”

	
	
	
	
	Now let us see what happened
	during the rest of the time that
	the Trigan Empire and Cato
	were at war.

	
	Night was falling when he left the place of historical
	records and returned to his apartment.

	
	
	I think I see a
	way to get what
	I want. After
	all, I am not
	ambitious for
	power, all I
	want is
	bound-
	less wealth !

	
	
	
	
	And Trigan City in
	the year of Zenf is
	the place and the
	time to get it !

	
	In the privacy of his chamber, he poured for
	himself some of the same strange liquid
	that he had swallowed in Trigan City.

	
	
	Let Trigo rule his empire.
	All I want is to be the
	richest of his subjects !

	
	It was dawn in Trigan City when the time-traveller
	opened his eyes again. And the sky outside his
	window was resounding with gunfire.

	
	
	There’s an
	air-battle
	taking place
	overhead !

	
	As he rushed out
	into his garden,
	a silvery shape
	flashed past over-
	head—in flames !
	And something
	blossomed forth
	from the doomed
	craft.

	
	
	He’s going
	to land in
	my garden !

	
	Toth Zandu was left in no
	doubt about the pilot’s
	nationality when he rushed
	forward to his assistance.

	
	
	
	
	Do as I order,
	Trigan . . .
	or perish !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 694 on 3 May 1975.

 
Posted on

The Man from the Future

















	














The new Air-Fleet carrier “TRIGAN HERO” was launched by the Emperor, with great ceremony, on the seventeenth day of the year of Zenf.

I name this vessel “Trigan Hero”. May she sail the seas of our planet and bring glory to the empire.

The Emperor’s nephew, Janno, himself a pilot in the Air-Fleet, was flying over the scene of the launching.

There she goes! Be ready to land in formation as soon as she’s in mid-harbour.

Janno and his companions were the first to land on the broad deck of the new carrier.

The “Trigan Hero” was leaving immediately for the Great Central Ocean, where a war with the state of Cato was threatening.

As soon as Cato gets news that we’re at sea, they’ll have second thoughts about making trouble.

Yes, Janno. With what we carry on this ship, we could take on Cato single-handed!

Among the massed crowds watching the departure of the great vessel was an individual with red hair.

A fine ship!

Aye! Makes you feel proud to be a Trigan!

Those about him would have been shocked to have known his thoughts at that moment.

A pity that “Trigan Hero” is going to sink on her first voyage!
























	














The red-headed one had an assignation that day. He met a stranger, by prior arrangement, in the great square of the city.

I recognise you from your description. You’re the fellow who advertised for the Lottery ticket with the special number, aren’t you?

I am. And you have that ticket?

The Trigan Imperial Lottery, in addition to providing useful revenue for the state, paid out one massive prize every quarter-year.

I am satisfied.

This is ticket number seven, three, six, two, zero, zero, nine, four. Are you willing to buy it for five thousand zersts—a ticket that only cost me fifty?

The bargain was made.

I will pay you in cash!

I don’t understand it. You’ve made me an enormous profit, but your chances of winning with that ticket are millions to one!

You can’t go wrong, especially when you know what’s going to happen in the future!

“Trigan Hero” reached the Great Central Ocean the following day. Towards sunset, alarm bells rang throughout the huge vessel. Janno was just about to climb into his air craft.

What’s happened?

Fire!

Fire in the engine room!

The next instant, the newest unit of the Trigan fleet was riven asunder!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 690 on 5 April 1975.

 
Posted on

The Heat Controller

















	














On the third hour of the twenty-fifth day of the year of Hoth, people in the streets of Trigan City began suddenly to act in a most remarkable manner.

Aaaaah! The cold! The icy cold!

What’s happening to us?

Within instants, ice was forming everywhere.

Get under cover, before we all freeze to death!

Help me with this old man before he perishes.

Down in the harbour, the sudden and fantastic fall in temperature froze the sea. Ships were crushed in the grip of the mountainous ice formations.

The Trigan Bay bridge, weighed down by the sudden addition of the ice mass, sagged and broke . . .

. . . with disastrous results!

At noonday, the temperature rocketed back to normal and the streets of the city ran deeply with melted ice.

It’s unbelievable! Fantastic!
























	














The Emperor Trigo summoned an Imperial Council meeting, to discuss the strange disaster. Peric, Elekton’s top scientist, gave his opinion.

It is my theory that the phenomenon of the falling temperature had no natural cause.

Are you suggesting, Peric, that it was caused deliberately?

I am, Majesty! I believe that a person or persons unknown have discovered a means to control the magnetic field of this planet, and consequently control the weather and climate.

I do not have to remind you that such total command over life on Elekton makes this person or persons virtual dictators.

I am convinced, however, that the source of this magnetic power can be detected from the air. So I have devised a piece of equipment which can be carried in an ordinary air craft.

The great silence was interrupted by Janno, the Emperor’s nephew.

I’ll do it! I’ll fly the detector craft!

I half guessed that my young friend would volunteer!

Two days later, Janno took off in his specially-equipped air craft. His task, to circumnavigate the planet at zero height, searching for the source of the sinister power.

That same day, totally without warning . . . it happened!

Aaaaah! The heat, the heat!

I must have water!

All the continent of Victris lay under a searing heat wave! The temperature rose to dizzy heights. In the great square of Trigan City, people staggered to the fountains, trying to slake their thirsts in the overheated waters.

We are all going to die! No one can live through this heat!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 682 on 8 February 1975.