Category: Disasters

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The Heat Controller

















	














On the third hour of the twenty-fifth day of the year of Hoth, people in the streets of Trigan City began suddenly to act in a most remarkable manner.

Aaaaah! The cold! The icy cold!

What’s happening to us?

Within instants, ice was forming everywhere.

Get under cover, before we all freeze to death!

Help me with this old man before he perishes.

Down in the harbour, the sudden and fantastic fall in temperature froze the sea. Ships were crushed in the grip of the mountainous ice formations.

The Trigan Bay bridge, weighed down by the sudden addition of the ice mass, sagged and broke . . .

. . . with disastrous results!

At noonday, the temperature rocketed back to normal and the streets of the city ran deeply with melted ice.

It’s unbelievable! Fantastic!
























	














The Emperor Trigo summoned an Imperial Council meeting, to discuss the strange disaster. Peric, Elekton’s top scientist, gave his opinion.

It is my theory that the phenomenon of the falling temperature had no natural cause.

Are you suggesting, Peric, that it was caused deliberately?

I am, Majesty! I believe that a person or persons unknown have discovered a means to control the magnetic field of this planet, and consequently control the weather and climate.

I do not have to remind you that such total command over life on Elekton makes this person or persons virtual dictators.

I am convinced, however, that the source of this magnetic power can be detected from the air. So I have devised a piece of equipment which can be carried in an ordinary air craft.

The great silence was interrupted by Janno, the Emperor’s nephew.

I’ll do it! I’ll fly the detector craft!

I half guessed that my young friend would volunteer!

Two days later, Janno took off in his specially-equipped air craft. His task, to circumnavigate the planet at zero height, searching for the source of the sinister power.

That same day, totally without warning . . . it happened!

Aaaaah! The heat, the heat!

I must have water!

All the continent of Victris lay under a searing heat wave! The temperature rose to dizzy heights. In the great square of Trigan City, people staggered to the fountains, trying to slake their thirsts in the overheated waters.

We are all going to die! No one can live through this heat!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 682 on 8 February 1975.

 
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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.

 
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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	














During that night, Brag—normally a peaceful sleeper—awoke from a dreadful nightmare.

Something terrible’s going to happen tomorrow! Trigo’s in awful danger—I know it!

He sought out his brother, the Emperor, early next morning.

Brag, as you know, I’m making a trial descent in Peric’s new undersea exploration sphere today, and . . .

No! You mustn’t go! I’ve had a premonition of disaster! A dream . . .

Trigo listened to Brag’s account of his nightmare. Then he smiled indulgently.

It’s quite touching, the way you worry about my safety. I really do appreciate it, my dear fellow, but if you think I’m going to cancel the  descent on account of some silly dream . . .

Something terrible will happen today. I know it!

The faithful Brag was watching from the Palace roof when Trigo’s air craft set off for the rendezvous on the Great Ocean.

I shall never set eyes on him again—never!

In the middle of the Great Ocean, at its deepest part, floated the undersea exploration rig that supported a massive sphere.

The Imperial craft approaches!

Trigo joined the scientific party that was to descend to the uncharted depths. The sphere was sealed.

Commence the lowering of the sphere!

Down—down—down!
























	














And then—deadly peril!

Instants later, the controllers on the surface received the information.

Emergency! Emergency! The sphere is under attack!

In fact, the men in the sphere averted certain disaster by electrocuting the unknown monster!

By this time, the news had been flashed to Trigan City, where Brag was anxiously waiting.

I knew it! I knew it would happen!

Contact the landing strip and tell them to have my private air craft ready and waiting for me!

At once, Lord Brag!

He took off in haste . . .

What’s happening? I can’t get this confounded thing above half-power!

. . . And crashed almost immediately!

Brag’s premonition of disaster had come true!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 563 on 28 October 1972.