Category: Archives & Records

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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 Man from the Future (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	The watcher waited till all was silent in Toth Zandu’s
	bedchamber. Then he crept in, stealthily.

	
	
	
	
	Vengeance
	is mine.

	
	A keen blade flashed in the moonlight,
	but never descended.

	
	
	
	
	Gone !

	
	
	But how could he have
	gone ? And where ?
	He’s never been out
	of my sight since
	he got into bed.

	
	Unknown to the would-be assassin, the individual whom the Trigans knew
	as Toth Zandu was travelling through the trackless wastes of time and space.

	
	Aeons passed in instants. Empires rose and fell.
	Countless generations were born and forgotten.

	
	He awoke in a familiar room in a familiar city.

	
	
	Nothing has changed,
	though countless million
	lunar years have gone by
	in the flickering of an eye !

	
	The time-traveller walked through the broad streets
	of a noble city of the FUTURE. He was hailed by all
	who met him for was he not a person of substance ?

	
	
	
	
	May the stars
	smile on you this
	day, Zudd Ra.

	
	
	
	
	And upon
	you.


























	
















	
	Zudd Ra was keeper of the historical records and, as such, he
	was accorded great respect. But he craved more than respect.

	
	
	Now to familiarise
	myself with more details
	of the Trigan Empire in
	the far-off year of Zenf.

	
	
	
	
	Details which
	will be of
	use to me !

	
	Flashed upon a screen, at the touch of
	a control, were facts recorded by
	Trigan scribes centuries before.

	
	
	
	
	“On the twenty-fifth day of the
	year of Zenf, Toth Zandu was
	appointed adviser extraordinary
	by his Imperial Majesty . . .”

	
	
	
	
	Now let us see what happened
	during the rest of the time that
	the Trigan Empire and Cato
	were at war.

	
	Night was falling when he left the place of historical
	records and returned to his apartment.

	
	
	I think I see a
	way to get what
	I want. After
	all, I am not
	ambitious for
	power, all I
	want is
	bound-
	less wealth !

	
	
	
	
	And Trigan City in
	the year of Zenf is
	the place and the
	time to get it !

	
	In the privacy of his chamber, he poured for
	himself some of the same strange liquid
	that he had swallowed in Trigan City.

	
	
	Let Trigo rule his empire.
	All I want is to be the
	richest of his subjects !

	
	It was dawn in Trigan City when the time-traveller
	opened his eyes again. And the sky outside his
	window was resounding with gunfire.

	
	
	There’s an
	air-battle
	taking place
	overhead !

	
	As he rushed out
	into his garden,
	a silvery shape
	flashed past over-
	head—in flames !
	And something
	blossomed forth
	from the doomed
	craft.

	
	
	He’s going
	to land in
	my garden !

	
	Toth Zandu was left in no
	doubt about the pilot’s
	nationality when he rushed
	forward to his assistance.

	
	
	
	
	Do as I order,
	Trigan . . .
	or perish !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 694 on 3 May 1975.