The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .)




A terrifying shape rose from the sea some distance from the craft. Aaaaaahhh . . . look ! It's coming at us ! Start the engines ! Prepare for emergency take-off ! The craft streaked skyward—with the “thing” close behind. Janno sent his craft into a dizzy side-slip—but not soon enough to avoid trouble. The object’s tongue slashed one wing in half ! Battling with the controls, Janno gained height. I'm going to make a counter attack ! Stand by to fire the projectiles, Roffa ! Right ! As the Trigan craft swooped, the deadly projectiles found their target. Well hit, Roffa !
But . . . The projectiles didn't make a mark on it ! It's sinking out of sight ! When it vanished, Janno and his comrades exchanged grim glances. What—what that thing ? is Only one man on Elekton could possibly answer that question—Peric ! That night, the great scientist Peric interrogated Janno in the presence of the Emperor. Think carefully, Janno— are you sure it was not a sea-creature ? Yes ! The thing was metallic—some kind of monstrous mechanical device. The enquiry over, Emperor Trigo turned to the man with the finest brain on Elekton. Well, Peric ? I confess myself baffled, Imperial Majesty—baffled ! Meanwhile, by the Trigan Sea, the inhabitants of the prosperous city of Karona went about their business, unaware that this day was to be their last . . . The “thing” arrived at dusk . . . . . . And the destruction began ! Aaaaaaaaagh ! Eeeeeeeeehh !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 465 on 12 December 1970.

 

The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .)




And then—they saw— It ! By all the stars ! . . . Look ! The thing moved with deadly swiftness. It selected Janno as its first victim. Roffa ! Keren ! . . . Help ! Roffa started the engine of their sub- marine craft, and sent it speeding off. The three comrades headed for the surface, leaving their craft to be torn apart by the nightmare of the deep. That could have been us ! They were soon being helped aboard the diving ship. Did you find what you were seeking ? Yes ! We know the Daveli sank, but it could have happened is another matter ! why how
That evening, the comrades reported to the Emperor. A hole scored along the underside of the ship's hull, you say ? Yes, uncle ! From stem to stern—not a rent that could have been made by a projecting rock, but one that looked as if it had been cut by some giant mechanical tool ! Trigo turned to Peric. What could have done such a thing, Peric ? No natural phenomenon, that's for sure, and I know of no mechanical device that could have caused such damage to a speeding ship ! What do we do now ? Nothing ! We can only wait ! You mean ? . . . The damage was obviously the deliberate work of some malevolent intelligence. If it happened once —It could happen again ! The Trigan Bay Bridge was one of the supreme engineering feats of the planet. It stretched as far as the eye could see, from headland to headland. Three days after the sinking of the “Daveli” —It happened ! Aaaaaaaaagh !— The bridge is collapsing ! The second disaster !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 463 on 28 November 1970.