Category: Medicine

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The Man with a Mission

















	














It seemed that all Trigan City was gathered on the great plain outside the walls.  The announcer’s voice stilled the multitude to silence.

Now for the most thrilling sporting event of the lunar year! I give you . . . Lukaz Rann!

. . . Champion rocketeer of the Trigan Empire and the planet Elekton! And today, Lukaz Rann will attempt to break his own height record of thirty-thousand fromms!

Rocketeering was the most dangerous sport known, and Lukaz Rann was its most intrepid hero.

Three—two—one—zero—fire!

The living projectile streaked skywards.

He’s done it! He’s broken his own record! The height indicator gives thirty-one thousand—thirty-two thousand fromms!

Now he’s parting from his rocket! He . . . he’s in trouble!
























	














Before the horrified gaze of thousands of upturned eyes, the rocketeer’s rescue equipment failed on opening.

Lukaz fell thirty-three thousand fromms into the waters of Trigan Bay.

By great good fortune, he was picked up by a pleasure boat.

Careful with him, wife.

When news of the mishap was brought to the Emperor, Trigo summoned Peric, Elekton’s top scientist.

The surgeons are operating on Lukaz Rann immediately. I should like you to be present and give them the benefit of your vast knowledge of the healing arts.

Gladly, Imperial Majesty.

Throughout the rising and setting of many suns, the rocketeer’s life hung in the balance.

The surgeons’ skills seemed to bring success. Before long, Lukaz Rann was able to take a few steps.

Do you see me, Peric? In no time at all, I’ll be riding a rocket again!

Lukaz, I have news for you.

Lukaz, you are possibly the bravest person on this planet. But steel yourself! What I am going to tell you is going to test your courage to the breaking point!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 699 on 7 June 1975.

 
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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	














Aboard the air craft carrier “Daveli”, pilots of the Air Fleet were at their gruelling exercises.

Lieutenant Janno has just landed! Hold him there!

A grave faced officer approached Janno’s craft.

That’s the last craft you’ll fly in the forseeable future, Lieutenant! Orders from the Emperor—you’re to cease all duties and be returned to Trigan City!

But why . . . why?

I understand that your father, the Lord Brag, has had some kind of . . . accident!

Accident? You mean . . . he’s? . . .

Brag was not dead. In a special laboratory, the Emperor’s stricken brother lay in a state of suspended animation. As, later, Peric was to explain to Janno . . .

Your father’s injuries are of such a dreadful nature as to defy all medical knowledge. All we can do is to submerge him in a saline solution—and simply await the healing hand of nature.

It sounds—a very thin hope.

The Emperor showed the strain of his beloved brother’s plight.

The matter of the Mummy’s Curse must now be taken seriously. From now on, Lieutenant Sweya of the Imperial Guard will be your constant companion, and will watch over you, day and night.

Janno shuddered. The dread Curse of King Yutta seemed very close at hand.

In a manner of speaking, you and Sweya are brothers in adversity.

My—my father was councillor Rothi, who has already been destroyed by the curse!

Oh! I’m very sorry, Sweya.
























	














And so, day and night, Lieutenant Sweya guarded the life of the Emperor’s nephew.

Can’t I even go in for a swim?

No! Remember what happened to Obolom!

Sweya was stern and inflexible.

Just a short ride in my  new racer?

Remember what happened to Ricci—he went for a short ride, and ended up in his family tomb!

The two young officers were quartered in a suite of rooms in the Imperial Palace. One night, as Janno was about to retire . . .

Is that you, Sweya?

Suddenly . . . it happened!

Aaaaaah!

Janno! What  is it? Why did you call out?

Where did he go? The demon who threw the axe at me!

They searched the suite. There was no one else there!

Someone was here! Someone of flesh and blood! Someone with enough hatred to want to make an end of me!

Aaaaah! By all the stars! Look down here, Janno!

Janno peered down into a shadowy courtyard—in time to see a strange figure flit from sight.

Oh no! It’s—the Mummy of King Yutta!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 564 on 4 November 1972.

 
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The Duplication Machine (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	One day, while practising low-flying, Janno
	the Emperor's nephew felt his craft give a
	convulsive shudder.

	
	By the stars ! The engine's
	overheated ! I've got to
	get out of here before it
	blows up !

	
	He used the escape device at
	scarcely more than zero height.

	
	
	
	
	Uuuuuuuh !

	
	Janno was lucky. He survived the crash with nothing
	worse than a broken leg, which was treated by
	Elekton's top scientist Peric.

	
	
	
	
	I have joined the ends of the
	bone. You may commence
	returning the patient to
	consciousness, Robi.

	
	
	
	
	Yes, master.

	
	Later, during his convalescence, Janno visited Peric at his laboratory.

	
	
	This is my new assistant.
	His name is Robi, and he
	earned the distinction of
	passing out top of the
	Imperial Examinations.
	I am very lucky to have him.

	
	
	
	
	I can see that you are
	going to succeed Peric
	as the greatest scientist
	on Elekton, Robi.

	
	
	
	
	You are
	very kind,
	Lord Janno.

	
	
	
	
	And how are things with
	you, Peric ? Working on
	any exciting experiments ?
	Mmmm—this looks an
	interesting piece of
	apparatus. What is it ?

	
	
	
	
	It is the despair of
	my life. I have been
	working on it for many
	years, and have come
	so close to success.
	But . . .

	
	
	
	
	It is a device to transmit
	an object from one place
	to another by breaking it
	up into its component
	atomic particles. I can move
	a metal cube from the left
	to the right-hand compartment
	. . . but, unfortunately,
	it arrives there as
	a pile of metallic dust !

	
	
	
	
	Master ! I would
	count it an honour
	to be allowed to
	work on the
	device—in my
	own time, of course.

	
	
	
	
	Certainly you can,
	boy ! A young,
	fresh mind is just
	what's needed to
	crack this problem !


























	
















	
	Later that day, while cleaning up the
	laboratory, Peric's assistant found . . .

	
	What's this ?—
	A signet ring !
	It's the one the
	Emperor's fine
	nephew was
	wearing when
	he came here.
	He must have
	dropped it.

	
	Robi was a cheat, a liar and a thief.
	But he was also brilliant and ambitious.
	He laboured many late nights on Peric's
	device.

	
	Well, it's
	mine now !

	
	The trouble with this
	whole idea is that
	the old fool has completely
	missed the point. Now,
	if I were to make certain
	fundamental changes
	to the polarity . . .

	
	One night . . .

	
	Now to see if it works ! First,
	we take this ring that formerly
	belonged to the noble Lord
	Janno, and place this unique
	and precious object in the 
	left-hand compartment . . .

	
	Haaaaa !
	It's working !
	It's working !

	
	
	
	
	This is not a device for transmitting
	matter, but for

	duplicating

	matter !

	From the left-hand compartment
	we take Lord Janno's ring—

	and

	from the right we take
	an exact duplicate !

	
	
	
	
	This device is going
	to make me the
	richest and most powerful
	man on Elekton !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 497 on 24 July 1971.