Category: Imperial Council

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The Green Fog (continued . . .)

















	














The fungus grew—and grew! Presently, the older buildings began to collapse under the tremendous weight.

The whole city is falling down!

The green scourge even penetrated the interior of buildings. Within days, the Imperial Archives—nerve centre of the Trigan administration—was a shambles.

We can’t go on! This green stuff is everywhere!

The Imperial Council met in a state of panic.

Government has become impossible in the city!

Tharv is certain to invade us, knowing our weakness!

There are food riots in the streets!

Be silent!

The Emperor Trigo’s voice was calm and commanding.

The city will be evacuated immediately. The capital of the empire will be removed to the town of Vorgpass till the . . . emergency . . . is over.

News that the city was to be abandoned to the green fungus sent a wave of despair through the population. Grim-faced and silent, they took what belongings they could carry and filed out through the green-carpeted streets.

The voice of Uruz the blind beggar sounded like a knell of doom.

I told them, but they wouldn’t listen! I warned them that evil had been done!
























	














But, before the evacuation could be completed, it happened again.

The green fog! It’s come back!

Swirling over the fungus-hung rooftops glided the sinister green cloud.

Aaaaaaagh!

The green blindness enveloped the city, for the rest of that day and the day after.

I can’t take any more! I think I shall go mad!

It must end . . . mustn’t it?

The green fog cleared as quickly as it had come. And the weary and frightened people looked about them.

The fungus has gone!

Thank the stars!

But, as the great scientist Peric commented . . .

Not completely gone, as you see. It is as if someone had come along and cut off the fruit of the growth, to allow for more growth!

What are you suggesting?

I hardly know, Imperial Majesty! But I think we must send for Uruz the blind beggar again. I suggest we listen to him more patiently than we did before.

So Uruz was once more summoned to appear before the Imperial Council of the empire. But this time he was treated with respect.

Now, Uruz, if you will be so kind as to repeat to the council everything you heard and sensed while the green fog was enveloping the city.

The top people of the empire hung on the words of a blind beggar!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 734 on 7 February 1976.

 
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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.