Category: Imperial Palace

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The Fiendish Experiment

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	
















	
	Each anniversary of the founding of the Empire, the Trigan
	Air Fleet gave a thrilling display over the Imperial City.

	
	This particular year, the high spot of the display was a demonstration
	of aerobatics by two fighter-craft chained together !

	
	The Emperor Trigo and his brother Brag watched
	from the balcony of the Imperial Palace.

	
	
	
	
	That lad of yours and young Vella are not
	only the finest pilots in the air fleet, but
	they have the blind courage of youth !

	
	
	
	
	Humph !—I’ve done some crazy things in
	my time, but nothing on Elekton would
	induce me to try that trick ! 

	
	Later, the two craft landed. Janno and his comrade Vella
	grinned across at each other.

	
	
	
	
	Thank the
	stars that’s
	over !

	
	
	
	
	Agreed ! We must
	never try it again—
	eventual disaster
	is a mathematical
	certainty !

	
	Moments later, Vella was accosted.

	
	
	
	
	A few words in your ear, Lieutenant !
	Message from a friend !

	
	
	
	
	Oh !

	
	
	
	
	How dare you come here on the air base ?
	Do you people want to ruin me ?

	
	
	
	
	It might come
	to that, Lieutenant
	—unless you pay
	up like a gentleman !


























	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	

















	
















	
	
	
	
	Give me time
	. . . please !

	
	
	
	
	You’ve had time. The message
	is that, unless you settle your
	debts by the end of the lunar
	month, Lord Janno will be told
	that his friend is a gambler
	and a cheat !

	
	
	
	
	If that happens I shall
	be ruined ! Thrown out
	of the Air Fleet in disgrace . . .

	
	
	But I can’t pay up . . . I
	haven’t a zerst piece to
	bless myself with !

	
	Vella managed to conceal his private problem that evening, when he accompanied
	Janno on a visit to the laboratory of the great scientist Peric.

	
	
	
	
	Yes, gentlemen, I am on the
	threshold of several new
	discoveries which will
	revolutionise our way of life
	on this planet.

	
	
	
	
	All Elekton is in your debt,
	Peric, for the great work you
	have already done. You must
	be a very happy man.

	
	
	
	
	Happy ? Yes,
	perhaps. But
	I have done
	things, in the
	cause of science,
	that give me
	cause for regret.

	
	
	
	
	This invention, for instance, would
	be worth a fortune to anyone who
	could get his hands on it. But it is
	a thing of evil . . . utter evil . . .
	and I wish I could bring myself
	to burn the papers.

	
	When his companions’ backs were turned, it was an
	easy matter for Vella to slip the red folder inside
	his tunic.

	
	
	
	
	Enough of science for
	one evening. Come
	and have supper.

	
	
	
	
	Worth a fortune, eh ? Then I’ll
	borrow the papers for a while.
	The old fool will never miss them.

	
	That night, Vella studied the contents of the
	purloined folder. When dawn came, he was
	filled with mingled triumph and terror.

	
	
	
	
	Either Peric is
	raving mad,
	or what I
	have here
	is the key to
	riches beyond
	belief . . .

	
	
	
	
	. . . if only I have the courage to submit myself
	to the dreadful experiment described here !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 550 on 29 July 1972.

 
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The Wish-Fulfiller

















	














The second year of Venni went down in the annals of the Trigan Empire as the year of revolutions. It began with a terrible riot in the City.

Give us food!

Down with the tyrant!

The Imperial Palace was burnt to the ground by the mob, and Trigo and his family barely escaped with their lives.

Shortly after came the great naval mutiny. The men of the great ocean fleet eliminated their officers . . .

. . . And then bombarded Trigan City itself.

. . . Till the mighty ships were silenced by the loyal Air Fleet.

The Emperor’s own nephew Janno took part in the punitive raid.

I never thought I would ever be called upon to wage war upon my fellow-Trigans!
























	














While the fighting still raged, the Emperor called an emergency meeting of the Imperial Council.

Gentlemen! The Empire is falling apart! Why? Why? What has happened to cause this? What is wrong with us?

Peric, the wisest man on Elekton, answered his Emperor.

Majesty! I should have foreseen these events, for I have observed a gradual deterioration in our national life during the last few lunar months . . .

Food production has gone down by thirty per-cent—hence the food riots. Exports have fallen by sixty per-cent and industrial output by twenty-five per-cent. I have come to the conclusion that a large proportion of our population have ceased to do any real work!

Peric had a solution.

I suggest the appointment of Yarri Zemph as Minister of Finance and Trade. He is the finest economist in the Empire. With his guiding hand, we will return to prosperity and peace.

Yarri Zemph was given the job. In the days that followed, he worked long hours at his Ministry.

Good evening, Minister.

Good evening, driver. Take me straight home, please.

Hidden eyes watched his progress.

Subject leaving the Ministry now . . . proceeding in the direction of his residence . . .

Yarri Zemph arrived home.

I have work to do in my study. See that I am not disturbed.

And there . . . it happened!

Uuuuugh . . .

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 541 on 27 May 1972.