As Janno bore his companion to the ground, an evil head flashed past on the end of a whiplash neck! Aaaaaagh! It’s a Daveli dragon! Janno raced for cover but tripped and saw the terrible head lashing towards him! Lightning-fast, the assassin leapt for his case . . . And seconds later . . .Lucky for me, you had that with you! What a weapon! It never made a sound! I’ve never seen its like before . . . My own design . . . I am a . . . professional hunter. My technique is to stalk my prey unseen, kill in silence, and then disappear! A groan attracted their attention. Uuuuuhhh . . . my head! One of them has recovered consciousness. The survivor looked about him. Puzzlement turned to alarm. I remember now! We crashed! But, I’ve got to get to Trigan City today! My best friend’s life depends on it! Everyone wants to get to Trigan City on a matter of life and death! The stranger’s name was Kittu. Rapidly, he thought back to a fateful night, a lunar month previously, when he had supped with his best friend. Vazli, you look worn out. Why don’t you come on this fishing holiday with me tomorrow? I can’t, Kittu. Tomorrow, I must visit my skinflint uncle—never a pleasant experience! Kittu spent the next month in the Great Ocean, far from all communication with civilisation. On his way home, changing air-cruisers in Tharv, he saw the shocking news item . . . Oh, no! It can’t be true! I know it can’t be true! My friend is to be executed tomorrow for the murder of his uncle, and I am the only one who can save him! You see, he was with me at the time of the murder!
This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 655 on 3 August 1974.
