Night time, silence and darkness as a dark figure emerged from an upper window of Trigan City Hospital . . . . . . and embarked on a dizzy downward climb. Some time later, a night nurse making her rounds spotted the empty bed. He’s gone! Alarm! Alarm! Lieutenant Janno is missing from his room! News was brought to the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor himself awakened, to hear of his nephew’s disappearance. But I understood Janno had only just come off the danger list, and the doctors had prescribed several more weeks of complete rest and quiet. That is so, Imperial Majesty. I am afraid we must assume that your nephew did not leave the hospital of his own free will. That assumption was incorrect. Janno had left of his own accord, and for a very good reason. At that moment, he was entering Air Fleet Base. They won’t believe what I tell them. They treat me as if I’m wandering in my mind—and so . . .. . . I’ll go and investigate that old weather station myself! Entering the crew-room unseen, he later emerged in full flying kit, his face masked by the visor. Now to take off in one of the stand-by craft! Three zippy fighter-craft stood ready for emergency take-off, day and night. Approaching the nearest, Janno was challenged. Excuse me, sir, may I see your authorisation, please? A touch of a starter button blasted the powerful engines into life . . . and . . . Hey! Later, high in the sub-stratosphere, Janno saw, for the second time, the deserted city in space. If only I can get in there, before I’m shot down again. Janno decelerated rapidly, and brought his craft down upon a landing platform on the ancient, abandoned weather station. I hope that pressure door over there still works, so that I can get inside. The pressure door was still operative. Moments later, Janno was inside the station. So far, so good! But he was not alone!
This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 757 on 17 July 1976.
