Posted on February 3, 2023December 22, 2023The Lost Years (continued . . .) After what seemed like an eternity, Janno and Roffa were summoned from their infernal dungeon. Out of it, you two ! Today you face trial ! Their trial was held in the great court of the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor himself was Presiding Judge. You are both accused of foully conspiring to sabotage three bombing craft of the Imperial Trigan Air Fleet. Denial is useless—your action was recorded on the security device . . . Projected on a giant screen, they saw and heard themselves as they had been on the fateful night—captured by a hidden camera. . . . I’m fixing the electronics . . . Most damning of all—there was a newsreel shot of the disaster they had caused. And then . . . Have you anything to say ? We acted in good faith ! We believed that Marshal Ossan was conspiring to assassinate the Emperor and . . . Marshal Ossan ? What next ? Narri was called as a defence witness. The poor wretch was cut to pieces by the astute prosecutor. So you went into the future, did you ? And you saw Marshal Ossan riding around in a big car as the Dictator of Trigan ? Yes, I did . . . at least, I think I did . . . The fellow’s mad ! He should be locked up. This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 577 on 3 February 1973.
Posted on February 13, 2021January 19, 2022The Giant Plant The Trigan Imperial Guard was on parade, marching with the impeccable precision for which the crack regiment was famous throughout Elekton. Leading the guardsmen was their commanding officer, Tax Toru—a haughty Trigan aristocrat. But after the parade . . . Colonel ! You are under arrest ! Aaaah ! Because of his high rank, the accused man was tried by the emperor himself. The evidence against him was brief—but damning. Letters have been found showing that he has been selling military secrets to the Empire's enemies. Trigo passed sentence. Tax Toru ! You have betrayed the Empire and shamed your family name. You will be stripped of your rank and condemned to labour in the mines for the rest of your natural life ! Tax Toru was publicly disgraced. Then, chained, he became a slave in the dreaded mines. Curse Trigo ! Curse him ! If I ever escape from this living death, I'll bring his wretched Empire down about his ears ! Meanwhile, the great scientist Peric was at work in his laboratory, watched by his young friend Janno. You see, the seeds of the ibis plant are a staple diet of our poorer people. I am trying to increase the size of the plant to provide more food for them —not with any success, for this compound is my last hope. Later that day, Peric returned to the plant—and— By all the stars ! I have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams ! The ibis has doubled its size ! He raced out to spread the news. It was then that the plant's swollen seed pods burst —and scattered their contents to the winds. Most of the seeds fell on infertile ground, but a few landed in the small garden of a poor peasant. Within a few days, the peasant couple were staring in delighted amazement at the towering plants. I never saw such ibises ! The seeds of these fine plants will make nourishing soup for the little one. Before the end of the lunar month, the once-sickly child was a sturdy stripling ! It is like a miracle ! We never thought we'd rear him —and now he's bigger and stronger than lads twice his age ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 474 on 13 February 1971.
Posted on November 21, 2020February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) By the time rescue craft arrived, the Daveli was nearly gone ! The Emperor Trigo himself watched the vast hull go to its grave at the bottom of the Tibor Ocean. Why ?— How could it happen ? An Imperial Court of Enquiry was summoned a few days later. Tell us in your own words, Captain— What happened ? Imperial Majesty, it happened at the fifteenth hour—a shudder ran through the ship, as if she had struck a projecting rock . . . No, Sir ! It was more like an underwater explosion ! Not an explosion ! It felt like a mighty blow ! You were off-watch and asleep, while I was on the bridge ! Silence !— Silence, I tell you ! Since your evidences do not tally, this Imperial Court has no other course but to order an inspection of the sunken hull of the Daveli ! The Emperor's nephew Janno and his two comrades volunteered for the hazardous task of diving to the wreck. They were given special instruction. Your gear will protect you from the massive pressures you will encounter. But at that profound depth, there are many hazards ! unknown In due course, their submarine craft was lowered at the fateful spot in the Tibor Ocean. Down—Down—into the unfathomable deep they went . . . Testing communications . . . Receiving you. Receiving you. The nightmare landscape of the ocean bed was laid out below them— and they saw the Daveli. And then . . . By all the stars ! —LOOK ! Along the vast hull of the sunken liner was a clean rent that might have been sliced by a giant's sword ! What on Elekton could have done that ? This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 462 on 21 November 1970.
