Posted on January 30, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) With a wrench at the controls, Janno brought the deadly head of the destroying unit down upon its parent machine. The work of destruction was swift—and final ! All lights failed inside the great dome, and lurid explosions rent it asunder. With shock waves pounding at his head, Janno felt himself rising through the riven roof. His head broke surface. Looking about him, he saw two floating figures in familiar garb. Keren and Roffa ! He seized his comrades. They are still alive ! Then—the sound of powerful engines overhead. A Trigan patrol craft—and it’s seen us ! Moments later, willing hands were lifting Janno and his companions aboard the craft. Who's that ? It was one of the Thallans. Who is he, then ? One of our enemies ! And then—Janno found himself staring into the face of Ura Zircon ! Ura Zircon ! Send a message to His Imperial Majesty—tell him that the menace is destroyed, and that we are returning with Ura Zircon, Lord of the planet Thalla ! The message reached the Emperor Trigo. My nephew Janno is alive ! He says that the infernal underwater machines have been destroyed ! Alone with his secretary, the Emperor pondered. He says he is returning with Ura Zircon, Lord of the planet Thalla—who might he be ? That you will not live to discover, proud Emperor ! Ura Zircon's daughter extended her hands . . . You will receive the full force of my destructive power— the killing force ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 472 on 30 January 1971.
Posted on January 23, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) Janno's arm encircled the Thallan's throat. Dragging aside his unconscious victim, the young Trigan took his place at the controls of the destroying unit. I think I saw enough to know how to work this infernal device. Now— what is the head of the destroying unit doing at the moment ? On the screen before him Janno saw a view of the sea . . . fast moving craft . . . and the head of another destroying unit. Obviously two of these devilish things are working together ! Somewhere in the sea of Tibor, two of the destroying units were attacking a flotilla of Trigan gunboats ! Then, to the sailors' astonishment . . . Look, sir ! By all the stars ! They're attacking each other ! Before the eyes of the astounded Trigans, the destroying unit operated by Janno sliced the head from its companion ! Janno's eyes danced with triumph. So much for that. Now to destroy the other two. Retracting the long “neck” of the destroying unit, Janno brought it back to the conquest machine. On the all- seeing screen, he was able to size up the situation. With two sweeping slices, Janno severed the necks of the remaining menaces. Then, at the moment of triumph—disaster ! The operators of the other units have realised what's happening ! Do I have time to destroy the conquest machine itself ? As the first of the Thallans entered the control compartment, Keren and Roffa launched themselves forward to the attack. Krakkk-krakkk ! Streaks of searing light dashed the two gallant Trigans to unconsciousness ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 471 on 23 January 1971.
Posted on January 16, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) It seemed to give Ura Zircon a savage pleasure to display his might before the Trigan prisoners. My plan of destruction is fast approaching its climax. You shall see one of the four destroying units at work ! The Trigans were led to one of four control compartments set round the vast circular interior of the conquest machine. This destroying unit is about to make an attack upon the fortresses guarding the mouth of the River Trigan— watch closely ! In front of the operator was a screen, on which appeared a landscape very familiar to Janno and his comrades. Before their horrified eyes, one of the dreaded shapes rose from the deep. Alarm ! Alarm ! Open fire ! Impervious to counter- attack, the thing struck ! Janno and his comrades saw it all through the “eyes” of the attacker. So ! And now we must flood the conquest machine. We are familiarising ourselves to breathe air, but our devices work for only half the day—for the remainder we must breathe water. Janno, Roffa and Keren were provided with their underwater breathing masks. Soon the vast interior was flooded, and their captors relaxed. This must be their sleeping time . . . Our guard isn’t armed— but I know from experience that these brutes have some fiendish means of destruction. Janno dived towards the guard, dodging the forked light which seared the water. He smashed his victim’s head against the floor. A few seconds later the three Trigans were swimming towards one of the control compartments. Now ! We’ll put that destroying machine to our own use ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 470 on 16 January 1971.
