Posted on August 12, 2022February 4, 2024The Fiendish Experiment (continued . . .) The apparatus fell silent. Zerros tremblingly approached the transparent container. Where Vella had lain was now only . . . water ! Lieutenant Vella . . . can you hear me ? Of course I can, fool ! Decant me on to the floor, as planned ! The crooked scientist did as he was bidden. Are you . . . all right ? Never felt better in my life ! A savage nurdot—one of Elekton’s more unpleasant vermin—was tethered at the far end of the makeshift laboratory. Heh ! Heh ! The stream of water snaked, deliberately, towards the animal. The nurdot’s fanged jaws descended to gulp at the water. In that instant—it happened ! And then . . . I am now . . . Returning . . . To normal ! Beaming with triumph, Vella enthused to his accomplice. The whole thing is evil . . . diabolical ! Rubbish ! It is the greatest money-spinning idea of the century ! From now on, I can change myself to an equal volume of water at will. Electrically-charged water which—as you saw with the nurdot—can kill at a touch. . . . I am the perfect murder-weapon and I can turn myself into profit— firstly, by eliminating the man who menaces my whole way of life ! In my water-state, I can move against the force of gravity in any direction I will. I can remain undetected and unsuspected . . . The following day, a private aircraft descended upon the well-kept lawn of a stately villa overlooking Trigan City. Welcome home, Master. I trust that you have had a successful business trip ? Shut your mealy mouth, Slakka ! You know very well that my business has been the business of eliminating my rivals in big-time crime. This was the leader of the most powerful criminal organisation in the Trigan Empire. Later, bathed and perfumed, he relaxed by his luxury pool. Er . . . touching on the matter of Lieutenant Vella, master, who owes you a thousand thullars in gambling debts, plus another thousand for some hairbrained scientific scheme . . . The big-time crook condemned Vella to death—all unaware that a trickle of water was snaking towards his bare feet. Vella is a fool. Furthermore, he has begun to bore me . . . . . . have him eliminated ! Heh ! Heh ! The next instant . . . The water ! . . . It’s surrounding me ! . . . It’s going to destroy me . . . The way it just destroyed my master ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 552 on 12 August 1972.
Posted on August 5, 2022August 19, 2022The Fiendish Experiment (continued . . .) The dreaded penal mines were the disgrace of the Trigan Empire. There, the empire’s worst criminals were sent to slave themselves to death. None escaped . . . Until . . . What . . . What are you doing ? Shut your mouth. Do everything I say. In less time than it takes to tell, the astounded convict was seated in a fast vehicle that was driving him through the night towards Trigan City. We must get into the city before the general alarm’s raised and road blocks are set up ! There were no complications. Before dawn, the escaped man was standing in Vella’s comfortable apartment. You ?—An Air Fleet officer ?—Why have you done this for me ? Not for you, my friend, but for me ! I need you ! You are—or were—Zerros the scientist. Possibly the greatest scientist on Elekton after Peric, till you were condemned for life for selling secrets to Trigan’s enemies. I have a job for you. Read this. Zerros scanned the contents of the red folder. It was not long before he was staring in horror at his companion. It’s insane ! . . . diabolical ! . . . I’ll have nothing to do with it ! You will conduct the experiment, using me as the subject—or back to the mines you go ! Anything but the mines ! . . . anything ! But it will take time, and money, to construct the apparatus for the experiment. Time we have plenty of . . . money I will get ! Vella went to the leader of the criminal organisation to whom he already owed a fortune in gambling debts. Are you out of your mind, Lieutenant ? I gave you till the end of the lunar month to settle, now you come asking for more money ! I tell you that your investment will be repaid a thousandfold ! Trust me . . . He got the money. By the end of the lunar month, his apartment was filled with strange apparatus. It is ready. But I must ask you to reconsider . . . You will conduct the experiment immediately ! Vella laid himself down in a transparent container. Why do you hesitate ? . . . Begin ! On your own head be it, Vella ! The scientist reeled back before the assault of sound and light. Aaaaaaaaaghhhh ! And when it was all over . . . It can’t be true ! . . . It can’t ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 551 on 5 August 1972.
Posted on July 29, 2022April 18, 2023The Fiendish Experiment Each anniversary of the founding of the Empire, the Trigan Air Fleet gave a thrilling display over the Imperial City. This particular year, the high spot of the display was a demonstration of aerobatics by two fighter-craft chained together ! The Emperor Trigo and his brother Brag watched from the balcony of the Imperial Palace. That lad of yours and young Vella are not only the finest pilots in the air fleet, but they have the blind courage of youth ! Humph !—I’ve done some crazy things in my time, but nothing on Elekton would induce me to try that trick ! Later, the two craft landed. Janno and his comrade Vella grinned across at each other. Thank the stars that’s over ! Agreed ! We must never try it again— eventual disaster is a mathematical certainty ! Moments later, Vella was accosted. A few words in your ear, Lieutenant ! Message from a friend ! Oh ! How dare you come here on the air base ? Do you people want to ruin me ? It might come to that, Lieutenant —unless you pay up like a gentleman ! Give me time . . . please ! You’ve had time. The message is that, unless you settle your debts by the end of the lunar month, Lord Janno will be told that his friend is a gambler and a cheat ! If that happens I shall be ruined ! Thrown out of the Air Fleet in disgrace . . . But I can’t pay up . . . I haven’t a zerst piece to bless myself with ! Vella managed to conceal his private problem that evening, when he accompanied Janno on a visit to the laboratory of the great scientist Peric. Yes, gentlemen, I am on the threshold of several new discoveries which will revolutionise our way of life on this planet. All Elekton is in your debt, Peric, for the great work you have already done. You must be a very happy man. Happy ? Yes, perhaps. But I have done things, in the cause of science, that give me cause for regret. This invention, for instance, would be worth a fortune to anyone who could get his hands on it. But it is a thing of evil . . . utter evil . . . and I wish I could bring myself to burn the papers. When his companions’ backs were turned, it was an easy matter for Vella to slip the red folder inside his tunic. Enough of science for one evening. Come and have supper. Worth a fortune, eh ? Then I’ll borrow the papers for a while. The old fool will never miss them. That night, Vella studied the contents of the purloined folder. When dawn came, he was filled with mingled triumph and terror. Either Peric is raving mad, or what I have here is the key to riches beyond belief . . . . . . if only I have the courage to submit myself to the dreadful experiment described here ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 550 on 29 July 1972.
