Posted on September 6, 2025September 21, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) One of the conspirators fought like a wild animal to evade capture by the Trigan police but his companion surrendered meekly. Our information was correct. This fellow’s a military attache at the Caton Embassy. And this is Roffa, of the Air Fleet ! Roffa was tried by the High Court on a charge of treason. Does the defendant offer any evidence on his behalf ? No, Excellency. He pleads guilty to attempting to sell the plans to an agent of a foreign power and throws himself on the mercy of the court. The mercy of the High Court was non-existent. There is only one fitting sentence to pass upon a traitor to the Empire . . . Solitary confinement for life on the Isle of Despair ! Of all those who sat in court that day, the most puzzled and thoughtful was the great scientist Peric. As he observed to the Emperor Trigo later . . . I am convinced, Imperial Majesty, that there is more to it than meets the eye. Why should two of the brightest young pilots of the Air Fleet, both of them friends, suddenly turn to robbery and treason ? So what is your explanation ? Ah, there I am baffled, Imperial Majesty. Though I can put my finger on the mystery, I cannot explain it . . . But I am working on it ! On a day of threatened storm and lowering sky, the convicted Roffa was transported to the Isle of Despair. High above, a lone craft followed the progress of Roffa’s grim journey. Roffa ! Do you hear me, Roffa ? When you reach the Isle, you will immediately be put into solitary confine- ment. But you will not be alone for long . . . The voice was heard only by Roffa. . . . you will soon be joined by Janno ! Do you understand ? Yes, I understand. The fool’s talking to himself already ! At that moment, within the grim fortress-prison, a harsh-faced guard had just entered Janno’s cell. Here’s your supper, animal ! Hey ! Are you ill, or . . . The guard bent over the prostrate figure which immediately bounded into action. Uuuuugh ! Shortly after, Janno left his cell, disguised. The same mysterious voice he had heard before, spoke in his inner ear. Well done, Janno. Now you will proceed with the second part of the master plan. This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 712 on 6 September 1975.
Posted on August 30, 2025September 15, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 711 on 30 August 1975.
Posted on August 23, 2025October 14, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) Janno was tried before the High Court of the Empire. The facts are plain. Does the defendant offer any evidence on his own behalf ? No, Excellency. He pleads guilty and asks for no mercy. No mercy will be granted ! This was deliberate theft of the valuable property of the ruler of a friendly state. Nor will the guilty person’s membership of the Imperial family count in this court . . . Janno !— I sentence you to ten lunar years on the Isle of Despair ! The Isle of Despair ! Grim prison-fortress of the Trigan Empire. The place where the most dangerous and hardened criminals were sent to suffer their bitter years of punishment. The condemned air-fleet pilot was taken direct from the roof of the courthouse by police heli- jet. A great crowd watched the departure—including Janno’s comrade-in-arms Roffa. Good-bye, Janno ! Few survive ten years on the Isle of Despair ! If you ever come back, you’ll only be a wreck of your former self ! Roffa was himself watched . . . Subject has left the vicinity of the courthouse and is walking towards the Great Square. The situation is perfect . . . Roffa walked in a daze, his mind turning over the baffling facts of his friend’s arrest and imprisonment . . . I’d have staked my life that Janno would never have done such a thing . . . And then . . . it happened ! AAAAAAAGHHH ! Help was swiftly on the scene. We’ll give him a blood transfusion on the way back to the hospital. That evening, Roffa was well enough to receive visitors— Keren and another pilot from his squadron. And you say this fellow never stopped ? That’s right, Keren. In fact, from what all the onlookers said, it looked like a deliberate attempt to dispose of me ! Within a few days, Roffa was able to return to duty. His first task was to flight-test a new fighter-craft that had just been delivered to the squadron. And then—suddenly and without warning—a voice spoke to him ! Roffa !—You will do as I say ! . . . Understood ! Yu-yes ! Yes, of course ! You will dive this craft straight into the ground— at maximum speed— understood ? Into the ground . . . maximum speed . . . understood ! Those in the control centre below saw the fighter-craft go into a plummeting dive, engines screaming at full throttle . . . down . . . down . . . down ! All right, Roffa—that’s far enough ! Pull out, Roffa ! Roffa . . . pull out, before it’s too late ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 710 on 23 August 1975.
