Category: Towers

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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 Thing from the Sea (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	One evening, the now-familiar menace rose from the
	river near the great tower in the city of Yannis.

	
	Aaaaaagh !
	It is the thing
	from the sea !

	
	One slash of the strange antenna
	—and the tower was riven !

	
	At almost the same moment, on the
	distant Isle of Zooth, the lighthouse
	met the same fate !

	
	News of the two disasters reached the Emperor Trigo.

	
	You realise what
	this means, Peric ?
	There must be
	two of these
	infernal machines
	—perhaps more !

	
	The possibility had already
	entered my calculations,
	Imperial Majesty.

	
	Then what
	are you

	
	doing

	
	about

	
	it ?

	
	Before I can devise a
	means of combating the
	menace, I need to know
	the length of the trunk
	attached to the head of
	the device.

	
	Peric took the Emperor to
	another part of his laboratory.

	
	This high-speed
	underwater engine should 
	enable a diver to pursue the
	menace and bring back
	the information
	I need.


























	
















	
	I will need
	a team of
	brave volunteers.

	
	There will be
	no shortage of
	them, Peric.
	Make as many
	of your engines
	as you can !

	
	Janno and his comrades Keren
	and Roffa were among the first to
	volunteer. Janno tested the engine.

	
	It works, Peric !

	
	Yes. And remember
	that he is only
	travelling at
	half speed !

	
	Not everyone was so
	keen to meet the
	monster. In the
	barracks of the
	Imperial Guards . . .

	
	“Special hazardous duty
	connected with the
	undersea menace.”
	What do you make of that ?

	
	Not for me !

	
	Nor me !

	
	But . . .

	
	
	
	
	You, Zatti ?

	
	Tired of
	living, Zatti ?

	
	I think I
	shall survive !

	
	Within a few days, teams of four volunteers
	were ready to leave for selected parts
	of the coast. And in Janno's party . . .

	
	Zatti of the
	Imperial Guard, sir !

	
	Glad to have you
	with us, Zatti.

	
	The following dawn, the four were
	at their appointed hiding place.

	
	See anything,
	Janno ?

	
	Yes ! One of the
	things is coming
	straight at us !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 467 on 26 December 1970.