One memorable day, a stranger came out of the wilderness. Although he was simply dressed, he bore himself like a leader of warriors.

He dismounted at a kerbside inn and ate his simple meal in silence.

Later, crossing the Great Square of the city, the stranger espied a great boulder planted there.

He hailed a passer-by.

Tell me, fellow, what is that doing here?

Why, that is the stone of Vorg! I will tell you its story . . .

“Many lunar years ago, before the foundation of the empire, Targo, the father of the Emperor Trigo and a great chief among the Vorgs, was lost while hunting In the hills” . . .

I shall never reach camp now. It will be a chill night in the open for me.

“Targo made a fire and prepared some food. Presently . . .”

Who comes? Friend or foe?

I come in peace.























“By his raiment, Targo recognised the newcomer as a sootha, or wandering wise-man.”

My son, spare a morsel to eat for a poor wanderer, and you will not regret it.

Be seated, master. Half of what I have is gladly yours.

“The meal over, the sootha made an astounding prediction to the Vorg chief . . .”

You have a son and he will lead your people to an unheard-of greatness. He will become the principal ruler of all the planet Elekton, until . . .

Until when, master?

“The sootha pointed.”

Until he who is able to smite that stone asunder with one blow of his fist, comes and takes your son’s Imperial crown from him!

“It was the Emperor Trigo himself who, many years later, had the stone brought to his own capital city and set up in the Great Square.”

That stone shall stand here, as a reminder to me that I must always rule you justly and well. If I fail in my task, may the prophecy be fulfilled . . .may he who can smite the stone asunder come and take my Imperial crown from me!

The story ended, the stranger gazed at the stone of Vorg.

Of course, it would be impossible to break the stone, even with a war-club, let alone with the bare fist.

I wonder . . .

Before the astonished gaze of the passers-by, the stranger raised his fist and brought it down.

Hah!

 . . . Huh!

He’s done it!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 668 on 2 November 1974.

Trigo rose to his feet.

My lords, citizens of the empire! I declare the assembly open!

Long live the Emperor!

Long live the Trigan Empire!

High in the roof of the vast dome, Zith glared into the menacing face of his companion.

Shoot! Do your duty and destroy Trigo. You’ve had your fee, now earn it!

I take no orders from the likes of you. I’m a professional assassin, proud of his craft. I need no sneaking animal to check up on me. Go back and tell your masters they can have their money back and get someone else to kill Trigo.

All right, fool. It was my task to eliminate you after you had eliminated the Emperor but now . . .

 . . . I’ll destroy you first and kill the Emperor myself!

That’s what you think!

Next moment, the two were grappling with each other.

Aaaaaagh!























The sound of the shot, echoing and re-echoing in that huge assembly, had silenced the solemn proceedings.

Someone’s up there!

Look, Uncle!

A figure came cartwheeling down to destruction.

Eaaaaa-a-a-aggghh!

Janno led the rush to investigate the upper gallery. When they reached there, Zith had gone.

I distinctly saw two figures fighting up here, just after the shot.

One of them must have been Zith. But where is he?

Come to think of it, who is he?

Janno never received an answer to his question. At that very moment, Zith, the assassin, was crossing the bridge out of Trigan City. With him he carried the case that held his deadly killing-weapon.

The game isn’t what it used to be. Too many amateurs and busybodies spoiling the artistry of the dedicated professional. I’ll give it up, that’s what I’ll do, and become a farmer instead.

With that thought, Zith hurled his beloved killingweapon far out into the waters of Trigan river . . .

 . . . and went on his way, never to take life again.

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 660 on 7 September 1974.