Category: The Great Ocean

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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.

 
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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	














With a rending crash, Janno burst in through the window of the Imperial bedchamber! The strange figure by Trigo’s couch backed away in alarm.

Ho-hah!

He saw the deadly insect by his uncle’s sleeping head, and flicked it across the chamber, even as his uncle’s eyes snapped open.

That thing nearly had you with our illustrious ancestors, uncle!

Janno! What in the stars? . . .

He turned on a strange figure, as a weapon appeared in a bandaged hand . . .

So! Who would have thought that the Mummy of the longmy departed King Yutta had to descend to the use of firearms!

Ten thousand curses on you, Imperial brat!

It was a matter of instants for Janno to disarm his opponent, and rip the hideous mask from an angry face!

Behold! The rogue behind all our troubles, uncle!

Rothi! But—we all thought . . .

Yes, he was supposed to have perished in an air crash—yet another victim of the mummy’s curse. What a convenient deception, when he, himself, was manipulating the mummy’s curse for his own evil ends!

Start talking, Rothi! I want the whole story from your own lips!

It was to the Trigan Empire’s everlasting shame that torture was sometimes used to extract confessions in high treason cases. Happily, Rothi needed only to be shown the inside of the chamber of torment—and his nerve broke.

I confess! And I will name my accomplices! They number six, including my son Sweya!
























	














He told the whole story to the Imperial council.

Your object, then, was to overthrow the Imperial family and set up a dictatorship? You seized upon the Mummy’s curse as a way to kill without being detected?

Yes! We eliminated Ricci and Obolom for no other teason but to draw attention to the curse. Next it was our intention to destroy Brag, Janno and the Emperor!

Then Peric said a very strange thing . . .

What you were not aware of, however, was that there is no Mummy—and no curse!

What are you trying to say, Peric?

Imperial Majesty, my lords—you will remember that there was some picturewriting on the actual sarcophagus, which appeared to me to be in some sort of code. Well, I have cracked that code . . . And here is the truth written there . . .

“ . . . After the false tomb has been sealed, the lord of the skies and the sovereign of the stars will be taken to sea in a great ship, and his body will be laid to rest in the bosom of the great ocean!”

Every one present saw, in his mind’s eye, the scene—as it must have taken place countless lunar years before . . .

The tomb that was unearthed in Trigan City was nothing more than an elaborate trick?

Precisely, Imperial Majesty! Everything about it—the treasure, the sarcophagus, the curse—were devised to hide the true whereabouts of the Great King’s remains!

So ended the saga of the Mummy’s curse. Rothi and his accomplices were punished, and Brag made a complete recovery from his grievous hurts.

We despaired for your life, father.

Takes more than an air crash to finish me.

Besides, with me out of the way, and Trigo out of the way, the Trigans would have been blessed with you as their Emperor! And we couldn’t allow that!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 567 on 25 November 1972.

 
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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	














Without an instant’s hesitation, Janno hurled himself through the window.

Be he living or dead, I’m going after him!

Janno! No!

With Sweya’s shout ringing in his ears, he landed in the courtyard.

King Yutta’s mummy!

A few swift strides—an athletic leap—and his hands connected with solid flesh and bone!

Sweya! Come quickly! I’ve got him!

Eeeeaaagh!

And then—Janno’s world dissolved in a sea of pain and unconsciousness.

Uuuugh . . .

When he opened his eyes again, he was not alone.

Are you all right, Janno?

What happened? We heard lord Janno cry out!

Someone . . . something . . . struck me on the head from behind.

That was a foolhardy thing you did! If you don’t care for yourself, you might give some thought for me—I’m responsible for your safety, with my head as forfeit!

I’m sorry, Sweya. But I had my hands on him—and I’d swear he’s living flesh and blood, like you and me!

What’s more, he cried out and do you know? . . . I’d stake my life I’ve heard that voice before!
























	














The Emperor sent for Janno and his bodyguard the following morning.

I would remind you, Nephew, that your father is at death’s door. If anything happens to me, you may well become the next Emperor of the Trigans. To secure the succession, I am going to send you away—secretly—to a lonely island . . .

When Elekton’s twin suns were at the zenith, Janno was flying over the trackless Great Ocean, piloted by Sweya.

The island is dead ahead, according to my calculations.

I have it in visual contact. Stand by for a landing.

The island had been well-chosen, being far from normal air and sea routes.

Not bad. We’ll be quite comfortable here for a lunar month or so.

When they had landed . . .

I’ll have a scout around our new home.

I’ll join you just as soon as I’ve unloaded these provisions.

Some time later, at the far side of the small island, a moving shadow fell across Janno. He turned . . .

Who’s that?

You!

Suddenly face-to-face with death, Janno felt no fear—only shocked surprise!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 565 on 11 November 1972.