The Lost Years (continued . . .)




After what seemed like an eternity, Janno and Roffa were summoned from their infernal dungeon. Out of it, you two ! Today you face trial ! Their trial was held in the great court of the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor himself was Presiding Judge. You are both accused of foully conspiring to sabotage three bombing craft of the Imperial Trigan Air Fleet. Denial is useless—your action was recorded on the security device . . . Projected on a giant screen, they saw and heard themselves as they had been on the fateful night—captured by a hidden camera. . . . I’m fixing the electronics . . . Most damning of all—there was a newsreel shot of the disaster they had caused. And then . . . Have you anything to say ? We acted in good faith ! We believed that Marshal Ossan was conspiring to assassinate the Emperor and . . . Marshal Ossan ? What next ? Narri was called as a defence witness. The poor wretch was cut to pieces by the astute prosecutor. So you went into the future, did you ? And you saw Marshal Ossan riding around in a big car as the Dictator of Trigan ? Yes, I did . . . at least, I think I did . . . The fellow’s mad ! He should be locked up.

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 577 on 3 February 1973.

 

The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)




The piece of cloth was taken to Peric’s laboratory. I have subjected it to all the usual tests. The material is unbelievably ancient. As old as King Yutta’s tomb. Then, by all the demons in Daveli, how did it get into my bedchamber ? The great scientist’s answer chilled the blood in their veins. That I cannot answer for certain, Imperial Majesty. But it is the kind of material used in the preparation of royal mummies. It could be that your assailant was—The Mummy of King Yutta ! The “King’s Curse” was the sensation of Elekton. The views of prominent citizens were eagerly canvassed. Councillor Rothi, it was you who proposed the motion to place the mummy and its treasures on public display. Do you feel that you may have brought down the curse upon your head ? Don’t talk rubbish, fellow ! The bluff, no-nonsense councillor Rothi took off in his private air craft—and disappeared from the sight of men ! The wreckage of his craft was washed up on the shore of the Great Ocean, a lunar month later.

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 562 on 21 October 1972.