Category: The Trigan Empire

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The Stone of Vorg (continued . . .)

















	














Trigo was dragged to a nearby forge.

Take your iron and blind this Trigan slave so that he’ll never escape.

It will be a pleasure!

Have courage,  Trigan. It will soon be over.

And then . . . 

Look out! . . .  over there! . . .  the child!

The smith’s child was playing among the ashes at the far end of the forge.

The nobra’s going to bite the boy!

May my aim be true!

Ha! It is!

Having saved his child from a hideous death, the smith made a bargain with Trigo’s captors

This slave can be useful to me in the forge, with his sight. I’ll give you twenty dannars for him.

Twenty dannars? Done! He’s yours!

So it was that the Emperor who had lost his memory came to work for an armourer who was forging weapons to be used against his own subjects.

Are your people preparing for war?

Aye! Our leaders plan to invade the provinces of the Trigan Empire.
























	














Trigo shrugged his shoulders.

Well, it’s no concern of mine!

You forge a straight blade, Master.

Back in Trigan City, the new Emperor amused himself by wrestling with the members of his palace guard.

Hah!

Aaaaaaagh!

Eeeeegh!

 . . . While the scoundrelly Zacho and Serro continued to feather their nests.

I should like my nephew to become a nobleman of the empire.

Nothing simpler, my dear Serro. Make out the order, and our tame Emperor will sign it without question.

The next day . . . 

Any more state business?

Just one more small thing for you to sign, Imperial Majesty.

Z scanned the document briefly, and then . . .   

Making your wastrel of a nephew a nobleman of the empire, and granting him a castle and a life pension?

I think this nonsense has now gone far enough.

The Emperor clapped his hands, and a guard came running.

You . . . you can read!

Of course I can read, you half-wits.

Put these two scoundrels in chains!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 673 on 7 December 1974.

 
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The Stone of Vorg (continued . . .)

















	














The ring of blade on blade resounded through the great courtyard of the Imperial Palace.

Ha!

The rascally Zacho and Serro watched from a balcony above.

Our fine new Emperor knows how to defend himself.

He is all brawn and no intelligence. The fellow can neither read nor write, and he will put his signature to anything.

The uneven contest of sword-practice came to a sudden and dramatic climax . . .

. . . and a thrilling finish!

Hola!

After sword-practice, the new Emperor attended to business of state.

Two small matters requiring your signature, Imperial Majesty.

Oh, yes . . .

As always, he signed with a cross.

How small are these matters, Zacho?

Minor details concerning trade in the outer provinces, Imperial Majesty. Hardly worth your attention.

Outside the Imperial apartments . . .

Excellent! This first order permits both of us to take as much money as we need from the Imperial Treasury!

The second order says that every citizen of the empire must pay one-third of his possessions into the Imperial Treasury. Neat, eh?

Very neat, my dear Zacho! We simply take over one-third of the empire’s wealth!
























	














The tax on one-third of a citizen’s possessions caused riots in the city.

Down with the tyrant!

Bring back Trigo!

In the end, everybody paid. Some paid peacefully, but with reluctance.

I am the merchant Rocca—and I bring three thousand thullars.

Rocca—three thousand thullars.

Next!

Others resisted the ruinous tax—to their cost!

Says he has no money, eh? What about . . . this?

You will pay the required one-third, plus an extra third for concealing your fortune and making a false statement to officers of the Imperial Crown!

Meanwhile, far out across the barren wilderness of Vorg, a party of desert warriors came in sight of their city. With them was a prisoner.

The prisoner had lost his memory. Unknown to his captors, he was the rightful Emperor of the Trigans.

Who is he?

A Trigan animal! We found him lying out in the desert. He will make a useful slave.

Take him away, and to make sure that he doesn’t escape, blind him!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 672 on 30 November 1974.

 
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The Stone of Vorg (continued . . .)

















	














At midday, Imperial Guards roughly drove people from their houses and into the Great Square of the city.

Hey! What’s going on?

Why are we being treated like animals?

By order of the Imperial Council, all citizens are to assemble to hear an important proclamation.

Later, one of the conspirators, Zacho, spoke to the people.

It is the will of the Imperial Council that, as Trigo has declared that he would relinquish his Imperial Crown to he who smashed the Stone of Vorg, the stranger called Z be crowned Emperor.

Janno’s voice rose in angry protest!

That’s not true! My uncle did not say he would give away his crown unconditionally. We must await his return from the wilderness!

Zacho hissed to the guards’ commander . . .

Have him struck down . . . and earn yourself promotion.

Instantly, my lord!

Janno was silenced . . . and his father with him!

By all the stars!

Not so fast, Lord Brag!

Uuuugh!

There was no further protest. Before the eyes of the assembled multitude, the stranger who had come out of the wilderness was crowned with the Imperial diadem of the Trigan Empire.

By virtue of the authority of the Imperial Council, I proclaim you Lord of life and death over the peoples of the Empire!

Immediately after the ceremony, Zacho and Serro brought their “puppet Emperor” to his study.

We expect no trouble from the rest of the council, but the former Imperial Family must be put under restraint. Here is an order to that effect. If your Majesty will please sign . . .
























	














Z signed with a cross, a fact that did not escape the two sneering conspirators.

As a result of the Imperial order, Janno and Brag were taken to the dank vaults beneath the palace . . .

You can’t do this to us!

Throw them in here.

Father and son were hurled into a dark cell, there to brood over the fate of the empire.

What will happen to Uncle Trigo when he returns?

If he returns. I’ve a feeling that they’ve done for him already!

Far out across the barren wilderness of Vorg, a band of savage warriors were journeying to their desert city. They espied a still form in the distance.

See!

It was the deposed Emperor of the Trigans, left for dead by the ruffians who had ambushed him.

He is a Trigan, I can tell by his raiment.

What is your name, Trigan animal? Speak!

I . . . I . . .

What hope remained for the Trigan Empire? Its founder and true leader had lost all memory of his identity!

I don’t know my name, or who I am!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 671 on 23 November 1974.