Category: Landmarks & Structures

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The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)

















	














In the courtyard of a Trigan City apartment, two youths were practising the classic art of Vorg wrestling.

How was that?

Well done, Janno!

Janno was delighted to be taking lessons from Mallo, the wrestling expert.

Did I hurt you, my friend?

It’s all right, Janno.

The Emperor’s nephew calls me “friend“! My, you’ve come a long way from being the son of a shoemender, Mallo!

At that moment, a messenger arrived.

Something important?

A summons from my uncle. I am to go immediately to the palace. And you are to come with me, Mallo.

The two youths arrived in the Imperial apartments, where the Emperor Trigo awaited them.

You wanted to see me, Uncle?

Yes! Janno and Mallo, I want you both to meet an old friend . . .

Good day to you, sirs!

Peric!

The very same, and to prove it . . .
























	














Eeeeeeeh!

In my younger days, Janno, I was something of a wrestler! And suddenly it all comes back to me!

Elekton’s top scientist—now much changed—grinned at his companions.

But, you’re . . . you’re . . .

Younger! Between twenty and thirty lunar years younger! With scarcely any grey hairs, all my teeth, and with the pulse and blood pressure of a man in his prime!

But . . . how?

It happened last night. As Mallo knows, I have been searching for a rejuvenating agent. Last night, a strange green liquid appeared in the test tube. Almost immediately, it exploded . . .

I absorbed that green liquid and it took years off my life! It has all gone, but we will find more of it, Mallo! You and I will work, day and night, to re-discover the secret of youth!

Yes, Peric! . . . Yes!

In the days and nights that followed, Peric and his assistant never left the Imperial Research Laboratory.

The mixture of ingredients is very critical. I must take a short rest. You carry on, Mallo. But be very careful—the true mixture is highly unstable!

Alone, the ambitious young scientist grew reckless.

The secret of youth! It would make me the richest man on Elekton, and more powerful than any Emperor! . . .

To blazes with caution! I will increase the ingredients a hundredfold!

Suddenly, the liquid in his test tube turned into a luminous green!

The secret of eternal youth is mine! All mine!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 646 on 1 June 1974.

 
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The Elixir of Youth

















	














They came from all over the sprawling Trigan Empire, to witness the Imperial Games in the capital’s mammoth amphitheatre.

We bring you a report on the ten thousand tellar foot race! Coming up for the last lap, Zampha of Tharv is in the lead . . .

The high spot of the games was the classic Vorg wrestling. Finalists were a Trigan named Mallo and a Daveli named Heller.

You have him, Heller!

Do something, Mallo!

Mallo turned the tables on his bigger opponent, with a throw that thrilled the crowd and won him the crown!

The Emperor crowned the young victor, and spoke kindly to him.

I hear that you are a promising scientist, Mallo. You must come and be Peric’s assistant.

I would count that a great honour, Imperial Majesty!

I shall be delighted.

That doddering old fool can’t last for long, then I shall be head of the Imperial research laboratory—with plenty of chances to line my purse!

And so, the scheming youth went to work with Peric, Elekton’s top scientist.

What is this experiment?

Merely a forlorn attempt to rejuvenate this poor rorn, who has given so many years’ good service as a laboratory animal . . .
























	














Poor old fellow. He’s like me . . .too many grey hairs and not enough teeth. Nature must take its course.

May nature swiftly take its course with you, mumbling old has-been!

That night, while Peric was working on his experiment, there was a shattering explosion!

Aaaaaaaaaghhh!

No one heard the crash and the old scientist lay unconscious until dawn.

What happened? I remember! There was a flash . . .

He crossed over to inspect the damage.

What a mess!

What happened to that poor old rorn? . . .

By all the stars!

The creature’s taken on a new lease of life! It hasn’t exercised on its treadmill for years!

It was then that Peric saw his own reflection.

Can that be . . . me?

I look twenty years younger! My hair’s regained its colour and . . . and that isn’t all!

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 645 on 25 May 1974.

 
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The Great Flood

















	














The amazing story of life on the planet Elekton, far out in space, was learnt by people on Earth when a strange craft crashed in a swamp in Florida, in the U.S.A.

What is it, Dad?

Son! We’re going to leave this to the cops!

The craft and its dead crew were subjected to the most detailed scrutiny . . .

It is clear that these quasihuman creatures are not of our galaxy, and that their intelligence is the equal or more—of our own . . .

The heart of the mystery lay in the printed books that were carried aboard the craft. It took Professor P.R. Haddon of Boston, Massachusetts a lifetime of work to decipher the alien writings.

I’ve done it at last!

The books told of another world in deep space: the planet Elekton in the galaxy of Yarna. The greatest power on Elekton is the Trigan Empire, ruled over by its founder, the Emperor Trigo. Much of the story of the Trigan Empire has already been recounted. We now continue with the beginning of the Seventh Book.

It was in the second year of Serth (begins the seventh book) that dwellers in the river valleys beyond the plain of Vorg noticed a strange phenomenon.

Look! Water’s coming up out of the floor!

The river’s never been so high in living memory!

And there hasn’t been a drop of rain all this long, hot summer!
























	














The Air Fleet Carrier ‘Daveli’ was cruising in the southern ocean and the crews were practising landings.

Janno, the Emperor’s nephew, received a fateful summons that day.

Lieutenant, there’s a message from Trigan City. You’re to return there at once, to attend an Imperial conference.

An Imperial conference?—About what, I wonder?

The following day, Janno took his place in the vast audience chamber of the Imperial Palace. Present were the members of the Imperial Family, Heads of States, and Military Chiefs of the Empire. Elekton’s top Scientist, Peric, rose to address them. His opening words stunned them into silence . . .

My friends! . . . This planet is faced with disaster!

It has been observed in all parts of the empire—as you all know well—that water levels are rising, despite the summer’s drought. This is caused by the melting of the ice caps at our poles, which, in its turn, is caused by the present proximity of our suns.

Peric touched a button—and a large model was unveiled.

This, as you will recognise, is the plain of Vorg and the mountains that flank it on each side. At the far end of the plain, on the river Vorg, is Trigan City . . .

He touched another button. Instantly, there was a rushing of waters . . . a devastating inundation!

Watch closely!—Trigan City is being carried away!

This, my friends, is what will happen in three lunar months’ time! By that time, all the rest of the planet will be under water! The destruction of Trigan City will spell the end of life on the planet Elekton!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 635 on 16 March 1974.