Category: Peric’s Lab

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The Food of the Gods (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	Janno recovered consciousness, to find himself totally paralysed.

	
	
	
	
	Peric, you . . .
	you’ve got to
	listen to me.

	
	
	
	
	I am all attention.
	To begin with, you will
	explain your motives for
	attacking the Air Fleet base
	and causing such havoc !

	
	Janno told all. Peric listened with
	growing amazement and horror . . .

	
	
	
	
	Are you telling
	me that these . . .
	mere children
	are capable of
	all these things ?

	
	
	
	
	I swear it, Peric !
	They speak of making
	themselves masters of
	Elekton, and they feast
	off what they call the
	food of the gods !

	
	Presently, the feeling came back
	into the young man’s limbs.

	
	
	
	
	We must go to
	the Emperor
	at once.

	
	
	
	
	Yes ! I’ve
	seen what
	they’re
	capable of,
	Peric.

	
	At that very moment, the boys were chatting
	with the soldiers of the Trigan armoured corps.

	
	
	
	
	Right, lads. We’ve shown you how
	to work the controls, what else
	do you want to find out ?

	
	
	
	
	I think we
	know all
	we need
	to know . . .

	
	
	
	
	Strike !

	
	
	
	
	Aaaaaghh !

	
	
	
	
	Start up your war-machines.
	Surround the city from
	all sides, then close in,
	shooting as you go !


























	
















	
	Disaster was about to envelop
	the heart of the Trigan Empire.

	
	Yet another peril threatened. A herd of zargots, savage killers of the
	Vorg plains, came upon some of the alien plants and ate the fruit.

	
	The effect of eating the food
	of the gods was to increase
	their normal strength and
	killing-instinct a hundredfold.

	
	The news spread like a forest fire through the
	small villages and townships bordering the plains.

	
	
	
	
	The zargots
	are coming !

	
	The maddened beasts tore through the streets.

	
	
	
	
	They are now
	heading for . . .
	Trigan City !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 666 on 19 October 1974.

 
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The Food of the Gods (continued . . .)

















	
















	
	Janno dived headlong for the undergrowth, with
	projectiles slashing past him like meteorites.

	
	He lay still, while his merciless pursuers
	searched the forest all round him.

	
	
	
	
	No sign of
	him. He’s
	escaped us.

	
	
	
	
	What does it
	matter ? He’s
	a nobody.

	
	The self-appointed leader of the super-creatures
	produced a handful of the deadly fruit.

	
	
	
	
	We will
	continue
	with our
	plans of
	conquest.
	But first . . .
	we will
	feast again
	off the
	food of
	the gods.

	
	Janno stayed hidden till nightfall.
	He then set off for Trigan City,
	reaching there at daybreak.

	
	I’ll report to my
	uncle at once.
	Those boys are a real
	danger and must be
	stopped immediately.

	
	But . . .

	
	
	
	
	Look !
	It’s Janno !

	
	
	
	
	Cut him
	down !

	
	Only Janno’s quick wits and lightning
	physical reactions saved him.

	
	By all
	the stars !


























	
















	
	Why are my
	own people
	shooting at
	me on sight ?

	
	He soon learned the answer . . .

	
	
	
	
	Did we
	get him ?

	
	
	
	
	I hope so ! We’ll be
	commended by the
	Emperor for wiping
	out the traitor who
	attacked the air base.

	
	I’ve been
	declared
	a traitor !

	
	Following the mysterious attack upon
	the air base, the Trigan armoured
	corps were put on the alert.

	
	None of the soldiers took any notice of a group of boys watching nearby.

	
	
	
	
	We’ll take
	these war-
	machines
	and use them
	to destroy
	Trigan City !

	
	Peric was working in his laboratory
	that fateful morning, when a sound
	at the open window made him turn.

	
	
	
	
	Peric.

	
	
	
	
	Aaaaah . . . You.

	
	The great scientist’s hand
	groped for a button . . .

	
	
	
	
	Peric.
	Something
	terrible is
	happening . . .

	
	Immediately, the young Air
	Fleet pilot was enveloped in
	twin clouds of choking red gas !

	
	
	
	
	Aaaaaaagh !

	
	
	
	
	Fool ! Do you
	think I am without
	protection here ?

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 665 on 12 October 1974.

 
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The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)

















	














Early next morning, with a screech of high-powered engines, a sleek race-craft streaked round a measured course in the Trigan river estuary.

He’s too old for that game!

It was only the other day he nearly killed himself trying to break the auto-track record!

On the last lap of the course, with the finishing post in sight—TROUBLE!

One of his engines has overheated! It’s going to blow up!

Bail out, Narrod! Bail out!

The pilot stayed with his blazing craft and took it past the finish!
























	














With great skill, he brought the craft to the ground and leapt for safety as it exploded!

Narrod! That was magnificent!

Congratulations, Narrod!

It was nothing. Wait till I’ve built a faster, better race-craft, then you’ll really see something!

Not till he was alone did Narrod remove his concealing helmet—to reveal the face of a man twenty years younger than his true age!

Yes! I shall better all my old records! Now that I’ve regained my youth, nothing can stop me!

Meanwhile, back in his laboratory, Peric was still trying to repeat the experiment that had led to his own dramatic rejuvenation.

No luck, Master?

One has to proceed carefully, Mallo. I’ll leave you to continue for a while.

Alone, Mallo plunged recklessly . . .

Little does Peric realise that it’s simply a matter of using large quantities of the ingredients . . .

I need another supply of the stuff—and another rich old man to buy it!

That night, on an impulse that gave him a feeling of long-forgotten pleasure, Narrod searched out an old favourite of his childhood.

Hello, old soldier—it’s been a long time! How are you, eh?

In the morning, when his manservant came to wake him . . .

Hey! What are you doing here, boy? Who are you?

I’m your master—Narrod!

And why are you calling me “BOY”?

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 649 on 22 June 1974.