Category: Trigan City

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The Green Fog (continued . . .)

















	














The fungus grew—and grew! Presently, the older buildings began to collapse under the tremendous weight.

The whole city is falling down!

The green scourge even penetrated the interior of buildings. Within days, the Imperial Archives—nerve centre of the Trigan administration—was a shambles.

We can’t go on! This green stuff is everywhere!

The Imperial Council met in a state of panic.

Government has become impossible in the city!

Tharv is certain to invade us, knowing our weakness!

There are food riots in the streets!

Be silent!

The Emperor Trigo’s voice was calm and commanding.

The city will be evacuated immediately. The capital of the empire will be removed to the town of Vorgpass till the . . . emergency . . . is over.

News that the city was to be abandoned to the green fungus sent a wave of despair through the population. Grim-faced and silent, they took what belongings they could carry and filed out through the green-carpeted streets.

The voice of Uruz the blind beggar sounded like a knell of doom.

I told them, but they wouldn’t listen! I warned them that evil had been done!
























	














But, before the evacuation could be completed, it happened again.

The green fog! It’s come back!

Swirling over the fungus-hung rooftops glided the sinister green cloud.

Aaaaaaagh!

The green blindness enveloped the city, for the rest of that day and the day after.

I can’t take any more! I think I shall go mad!

It must end . . . mustn’t it?

The green fog cleared as quickly as it had come. And the weary and frightened people looked about them.

The fungus has gone!

Thank the stars!

But, as the great scientist Peric commented . . .

Not completely gone, as you see. It is as if someone had come along and cut off the fruit of the growth, to allow for more growth!

What are you suggesting?

I hardly know, Imperial Majesty! But I think we must send for Uruz the blind beggar again. I suggest we listen to him more patiently than we did before.

So Uruz was once more summoned to appear before the Imperial Council of the empire. But this time he was treated with respect.

Now, Uruz, if you will be so kind as to repeat to the council everything you heard and sensed while the green fog was enveloping the city.

The top people of the empire hung on the words of a blind beggar!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 734 on 7 February 1976.

 
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The Green Fog

















	














The blind beggar Uruz had sat at the base of Trigo’s statue in the great square of the city for as long as anyone could remember. One morning, Janno the Emperor’s nephew was crossing the square. As always, he dropped a coin into the beggar’s hat.

A thousand thanks, Lord Janno.

You knew who I was! Yet I never uttered a word!

So you think that I can see after all. But you are wrong, Lord Janno. Why, I know you from the sound of your footfall, from the very rustle of your uniform. My eyes are my ears!

The incident had passed from Janno’s mind by the time he reached the air fleet base, climbed into his tiny fighter craft and took off.

Calling control. Have cleared the ground. Your orders, please.

His orders took him to the stratosphere, high above the surface of Elekton, patrolling the sky frontiers of the Trigan Empire.

At about noon, people in the great square of Trigan City saw . . . IT!

Look!

What is it?

It was a wall of swirling green fog that swept across the great capital, enveloping everything . . .

It’s fantastic!

I’ve never seen such a thing before!
























	














. . . in a blanket of green blindness!

Help!

Where are you?

I can’t see a thing!

High above, Janno was shocked to hear the controller’s panic-stricken cries over his communicator.

It’s all gone green! I’m blind! Janno, for pity’s sake! . . .

What’s happening down there?

Receiving no reply, Janno brought his craft down in a screaming dive. Nearing the ground, he saw the ominous green cloud that shrouded the city.

It’s . . . unbelievable!

Even as he looked, the green murk cleared away and the capital of the Trigan Empire lay below him in all its accustomed glory.

It’s . . . gone!

The pandemonium in the city was indescribable, with crashed vehicles littering the streets, and frightened and bewildered people wandering about in shock.

It was as if the end of the world had come.

What if it happens again?

I think I shall go out of my mind!

Uruz, the blind beggar, cried out in a loud voice.

I tell you something terrible has taken place! An alien people have been amongst us.

What? Explain yourself!

His words struck a chill into the hearts of all his listeners.

While this green fog of which you speak was upon us, while you were all stumbling about like the newly-blind . . . there came amongst us some who walked with sure-footed tread, as if they could see!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 732 on 24 January 1976.

 
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The Man with a Mission

















	
















	
	It seemed that all Trigan City was gathered on the great plain
	outside the walls.  The announcer’s voice stilled the
	multitude to silence.

	
	Now for the most
	thrilling sporting
	event of the lunar
	year ! I give you
	. . . Lukaz Rann !

	
	. . . Champion
	rocketeer of
	the Trigan
	Empire and the
	planet Elekton !
	And today, Lukaz
	Rann will attempt
	to break his own
	height record of
	thirty-thousand
	fromms !

	
	Rocketeering was the most
	dangerous sport known, and Lukaz
	Rann was its most intrepid hero.

	
	Three—two —
	one—zero—
	fire !

	
	The living
	projectile
	streaked
	skywards.

	
	He’s done it ! He’s
	broken his own record !
	The height indicator
	gives thirty-
	one
	thousand—thirty-
	two
	thousand fromms !

	
	
	
	
	Now he’s parting
	from his rocket ! He
	. . . he’s in trouble !


























	
















	
	Before the horrified gaze of thousands of upturned eyes,
	the rocketeer’s rescue equipment failed on opening.

	
	Lukaz fell thirty-three thousand fromms into the waters of Trigan Bay.

	
	By great good fortune, he was
	picked up by a pleasure boat.

	
	Careful with
	him, wife.

	
	When news of the mishap was brought to the Emperor,
	Trigo summoned Peric, Elekton’s top scientist.

	
	The surgeons are operating on
	Lukaz Rann immediately. I
	should like you to be present
	and give them the benefit of
	your vast knowledge of
	the healing arts.

	
	Gladly,
	Imperial
	Majesty.

	
	Throughout the rising and setting of many suns,
	the rocketeer’s life hung in the balance.

	
	The surgeons’ skills seemed to bring success. Before
	long, Lukaz Rann was able to take a few steps.

	
	Do you see
	me, Peric ? In
	no time at
	all, I’ll be
	riding a
	rocket again !

	
	Lukaz, I have
	news for you.

	
	Lukaz, you are possibly the bravest
	person on this planet. But steel
	yourself ! What I am going to tell
	you is going to test your courage
	to the breaking point !

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 699 on 7 June 1975.