Narri picked himself up, and ran in terror—anywhere, to get away from the waking nightmare in which he had just found himself. Mad! That’s what he is—mad! You’d better watch out, or you’ll end up in the punishment mines! He did not pause till he came to the Great Square of the city. Everything’s changed overnight—everything! what’s that statue doing there, in place of the Emperor’s statue? By all the stars! Those slain figures represent the Emperor, his brother Brag, and the lord Janno! But what does this mean? He read the astounding inscription. “All hail the mighty Ossan, who saved our people from the tyrant Trigo and his brood, in the third year of Ziss . . .“ Nervously, Narri threw a question at a passing urchin. Er . . . little fellow . . . do you know what year it is? The sixth year of Ziss, of course! Everybody knows that! What’s happened to me? Yesterday, I went to sleep up on the hillside, and I wake up three lunar years later! At that moment, there came a sudden stir at the far corner of the Great Square. All hail Ossan!Narri caught his first, brief glimpse of the man who was to play such an important part in his life—and whose life he, in turn, was to change so greatly. That is Ossan? More questions teemed in Narri’s mind. He asked a man standing next to him . . . The people don’t seem very enthusiastic about their ruler. Isn’t he popular? You want to be careful what you’re saying, fellow! A few moments later, Narri saw that the man had sidled over to a police officer. He’s reporting what I said just now! I’m in trouble! Narri took to his heels. Hey, you! Stop! Stop, I say! The panic-stricken young peasant was stopping for no one. He fled out of the city, and headed towards the hills. Somehow . . . somewhere . . . I have lost three lunar years out of my life! And . . . and in that time, the Trigan Empire, as I knew it, has finished! And then—the roar of engines, and a harsh order! Halt—or perish!
This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 569 on 9 December 1972.
