Posted on December 12, 2020February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) A terrifying shape rose from the sea some distance from the craft. Aaaaaahhh . . . look ! It's coming at us ! Start the engines ! Prepare for emergency take-off ! The craft streaked skyward—with the “thing” close behind. Janno sent his craft into a dizzy side-slip—but not soon enough to avoid trouble. The object’s tongue slashed one wing in half ! Battling with the controls, Janno gained height. I'm going to make a counter attack ! Stand by to fire the projectiles, Roffa ! Right ! As the Trigan craft swooped, the deadly projectiles found their target. Well hit, Roffa ! But . . . The projectiles didn't make a mark on it ! It's sinking out of sight ! When it vanished, Janno and his comrades exchanged grim glances. What—what that thing ? is Only one man on Elekton could possibly answer that question—Peric ! That night, the great scientist Peric interrogated Janno in the presence of the Emperor. Think carefully, Janno— are you sure it was not a sea-creature ? Yes ! The thing was metallic—some kind of monstrous mechanical device. The enquiry over, Emperor Trigo turned to the man with the finest brain on Elekton. Well, Peric ? I confess myself baffled, Imperial Majesty—baffled ! Meanwhile, by the Trigan Sea, the inhabitants of the prosperous city of Karona went about their business, unaware that this day was to be their last . . . The “thing” arrived at dusk . . . . . . And the destruction began ! Aaaaaaaaagh ! Eeeeeeeeehh ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 465 on 12 December 1970.
Posted on December 5, 2020February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) News of the disaster was flashed round the Trigan Empire. Trigo and his staff were among the first to inspect the tangled wreckage in the centre of the great bridge. The scientist Peric commented grimly . . . See that massive pillar, Imperial Majesty ? It is severed as cleanly as if it had been sliced by a giant sword. You think ? I think that the same malevolent intelligence that sank the “Daveli” was also responsible for this ! Later. I have come to the conclusion that the instrument of destruction was sea-borne—probably carried in some underwater craft. Find an alien underwater craft armed with a weapon that can cut metal like wax, and you have the answer. Trigo issued his orders. From now until further notice, constant air and underwater patrols will be carried out around the Trigan coastline. Alert the fleets. No man rests till this menace is found—and destroyed. That evening, undersea fighting ships of the Trigan navy began to comb the depths. At dawn, Janno and his crew joined the low-flying patrols off the coast. Suddenly, Roffa gave the alarm. An object has just risen out of the sea—dead ahead. Janno sighted the shape in the water. Stand by to fire projectiles ! And then . . . Ready to fire. No !— Hold it. —It’s one of ours. Before their horrified eyes, the two cleanly severed ends of a Trigan undersea fighting ship hovered on the brink of their final plunge. Janno brought his craft round in a tight turn, and splashed down. Moments later, they were picking up survivors. What happened ? We saw it coming at us . . . There was no escape. And then . . . Aaaaaagh ! There it is again. By all the stars. This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 464 on 5 December 1970.
Posted on November 28, 2020February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) And then—they saw— It ! By all the stars ! . . . Look ! The thing moved with deadly swiftness. It selected Janno as its first victim. Roffa ! Keren ! . . . Help ! Roffa started the engine of their sub- marine craft, and sent it speeding off. The three comrades headed for the surface, leaving their craft to be torn apart by the nightmare of the deep. That could have been us ! They were soon being helped aboard the diving ship. Did you find what you were seeking ? Yes ! We know the Daveli sank, but it could have happened is another matter ! why how That evening, the comrades reported to the Emperor. A hole scored along the underside of the ship's hull, you say ? Yes, uncle ! From stem to stern—not a rent that could have been made by a projecting rock, but one that looked as if it had been cut by some giant mechanical tool ! Trigo turned to Peric. What could have done such a thing, Peric ? No natural phenomenon, that's for sure, and I know of no mechanical device that could have caused such damage to a speeding ship ! What do we do now ? Nothing ! We can only wait ! You mean ? . . . The damage was obviously the deliberate work of some malevolent intelligence. If it happened once —It could happen again ! The Trigan Bay Bridge was one of the supreme engineering feats of the planet. It stretched as far as the eye could see, from headland to headland. Three days after the sinking of the “Daveli” —It happened ! Aaaaaaaaagh !— The bridge is collapsing ! The second disaster ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 463 on 28 November 1970.
