Amid the ruins of the palace laboratory, Trigo was engaged in mortal combat with the predator.

Hah!

He had just dispatched his fierce opponent when he heard the voice of Peric, the scientist.

Destroyed! Ruined! A lifetime’s work! And what of the Emperor?

I’m here, Peric!

Thank the stars that you have been spared, Imperial Majesty. But much that has been destroyed in here is completely irreplaceable.

It can all be replaced—given time.

As far as your own condition is concerned, Imperial Majesty, time is one thing I do not have. I must find a way to reverse the process in your tissues before you disintegrate into nothing!

By nightfall, the revolutionaries’ fury had spent itself. But the Imperial Palace lay in ruins.























A truce was declared. The Emperor’s brother, Brag, met leaders of the revolt and the more moderate political groups.

Where is the Emperor? It’s useless to talk of reforms, when the only man who can make them law refuses to show himself!

The Emperor will appear . . . in . . . in good time!

The leader of the moderates spoke up . . .

Lord Brag—you must produce the Emperor by the end of the lunar month, or we shall have no alternative but to agree to the declaration of a Republic!

Brag knew that Trigo was as good as doomed already.

If—if my brother does not appear within the time you have given, would I be acceptable in his place?

No, my Lord, you would not! It’s Trigo—or nothing!

And so . . .

It’s all up to you, Peric. You’ve got to restore the Emperor to his proper size by the end of the lunar month, or the Trigan Empire’s finished!

I am nowhere near the answer to the problem, Lord Brag. Meanwhile, the Emperor is shrinking fast! Look!

Brag looked. His brother was living in the nightmare world of the microscopic!

By all the stars! This is horrible!

My greatest problem is to protect him from predatory bacteria. Unfortunately, in keeping him alive and nourished, I am also keeping alive the creatures that could destroy him!

Even at that moment, Trigo was in deadly peril!

I am done for!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 581 on 3 March 1973.