Category: Disasters

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The Zota Club (continued . . .)

















	














Swinging the medallion from his fingers, Doran continued in a persistent, sing-song voice.

You are now entirely in my power and you will do everything I order. Is that understood?

It—is—understood!

And then—the astounding order!

The Emperor is your enemy! Remember that! He must be eliminated! Tomorrow, when you fly escort to the Imperial craft that is to take him to Cato, you will collide with the Imperial craft over Mount Vorg!

That is all! When I count three, you will have forgotten all that has happened in the last few moments—until you reach Mount Vorg tomorrow!

One—two—three!

Doran continued his conversation as if nothing had happened.

As I was saying—this medallion was given to me by my father.

Very interesting.

Janno left Doran’s villa soon afterwards—and went straight to Peric.

I’ve found the culprit, Peric! It’s Doran! He tried to hypnotise me!

Indeed?—What happened?

Janno told all that had passed between him and Doran.

It was fortunate that the slight accident in my laboratory temporarily half-blinded you, so that you did not respond to the medallion upon which the fiend was directing your attention!

But I fooled him into believing that he had hypnotised me, and that I shall smash into the Emperor’s craft tomorrow!

What do we do—have him arrested at once?

I think not! Better to get the Emperor safely out of the city. Once you have escorted him safely to Cato, I will have Doran taken into custody.

The following morning, the Emperor Trigo boarded his craft for a state visit to Cato.
























	














The Imperial craft streaked up into the air—followed by Janno’s sleek little fighter.

Janno took up station above and behind the other craft—and smiled to himself.

That scoundrel Doran is going to receive an unpleasant shock any time now!

The lowering peak of Mount Vorg came into view.

This is where I was supposed to collide with the Emperor’s craft!

And then—Janno’s  sixth sense of a fighting man warned him of danger!

He wrenched at the controls. A streak of flame cut the air where he had been an instant before—and a dark shape flashed overhead!

By the stars! It isn’t . . . It can’t be . . . Doran!

But the man at the controls of the other craft was indeed Doran!

It is fortunate that I am always at hand in case of failure! Now I will perform the final disaster myself—The destruction of the Emperor!

He dived straight for the Imperial craft!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 539 on 13 May 1972.

 
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The Zota Club (continued . . .)

















	














Captain Nenni’s bomb struck the carrier in the centre of its deck. There was a rending explosion!

The pride of the Trigan Navy blew up—destroying the craft which had destroyed it, like an insect caught in a flame.

By the greatest good fortune, most of the “Vorg’s” crew were ashore on leave. In the hours that followed, every craft in the harbour searched for survivors.
























	














The Emperor Trigo was aghast to hear of the tragedy . . . and so was his nephew Janno.

One disaster after another! What can be behind it all?

I can’t understand it, Uncle! I played a game of Zota with Captain Nenni only a short while before he destroyed his own ship—and he was perfectly normal then!

I think you should tell that to Peric! He’s round at the laboratory, searching the dossiers to try and find some connecting link between the disasters.

I’ll go now, Uncle.

Janno entered Peric’s laboratory to be met by the hum of highpowered computers. The great scientist was at work with his assistants.

It’s the same result, Peric!

We’ll try once more!

Janno watched them operate the giant electronic brain again. And then . . .

The same!

Very interesting!

Watch this, Janno!

Four faces were flashed on a large screen at the end of the laboratory.

Here we have Garran—the young trainee pilot who shot up his own base and was killed in the process. Garran came from the province of Orna and was a perfectly normal lad in every way.

Riccoa Scientist at the Imperial Laboratories, before he blew them up! A native of the City. Rather shy. Now in custody and refuses to talk.

Karlos—Guardsman in the Imperial Bodyguard. A faithful solider—before he tried to kill the Caton Ambassadors! He won’t talk, either.

Lastly, Captain Nenni. One of the best air pilots in the Navy—and you know what he just did!

Peric continued—and a shock of horror trailed an icy finger down Janno’s spine.

We have put the dossiers of those four men through the computer five times, and the four had only one common factor—they had all recently been given free membership of the new Trigan Zota Club!

Wha-a-a-at?

But—I, too, was recently given a free membership of the club!

Were you now? It’s obviously a conspiracy! For reasons of his own, someone used those four men to cause the disasters—and he obviously met them at the Zota Club!

And it seems to me, that our unknown conspiritor may be planning to use you also, Janno!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 537 on 29 April 1972.

 
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The Zota Club

















	














The first of the tragic and inexplicable disasters took place on a day like any other day. A pilot of the Trigan Air Fleet took off on a routine training flight.

His instructor and flight commander watched him go.

Garran is a promising young fighter pilot.

Yes, and careful, too. Not like some of the young hot-heads we’ve been getting recently.

Suddenly, the craft flipped over—and streaked back towards the air base at zero height.

Look out!

What does he think—?

The blast of disintegrator shells rose above the scream of the craft’s racing engines!

Flashing low over the scene of destruction, the craft headed towards a high pylon. Too late, the pilot saw his peril . . .

By the time they reached the scene of the crash, it was too late to do anything.

Why did he do it—why?

We’ll never know—now!
























	














The second mystery disaster was brought about by a scientist named Ricco. He worked in the Imperial Science Laboratories. One morning, he brought two highly unstable chemicals into close proximity.

. . . Then swiftly walked out of the building.

His face was blank. It remained blank and he never so much as looked back—when the Imperial Science Laboratories were riven by a shattering explosion!

Three days later, with the disasters still unexplained, the Emperor Trigo was addressing his council on another matter of great gravity.

Gentlemen! I do not have to warn you that the misunderstanding between ourselves and Cato could lead to war. I warn you to treat the Caton Ambassadors with great tact and courtesy, so that we can settle our differences!

The doors of the council chamber swung open.

Imperial Majesty! Excellencies! . . . The noble Ambassadors from Cato!

Remember! One unguarded word could lead to war!

Escorted by the Emperor’s nephew, Janno, the haughty Caton Ambassadors entered—eager and ready for trouble.

They found trouble soon enough! The guardsman on the door brought down his weapon . . . and . . .

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 535 on 15 April 1972.