Category: Atmosphere Craft

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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	





























	
















	
	The Emperor sent for Janno and his bodyguard the following morning.

	
	
	
	
	I would remind you, Nephew, that your father is
	at death’s door. If anything happens to me, you
	may well become the next Emperor of the Trigans.
	To secure the succession, I am going to send you
	away—secretly—to a lonely island . . .

	
	When Elekton’s twin suns were at the zenith, Janno was
	flying over the trackless Great Ocean, piloted by Sweya.

	
	
	
	
	The island is
	dead ahead,
	according to
	my calculations.

	
	
	
	
	I have it in
	visual contact.
	Stand by for
	a landing.

	
	The island had been well-chosen, being
	far from normal air and sea routes.

	
	
	
	
	Not bad. We’ll be quite
	comfortable here for a
	lunar month or so.

	
	When they had landed . . .

	
	
	
	
	I’ll have a
	scout around
	our new home.

	
	
	
	
	I’ll join you just as
	soon as I’ve unloaded
	these provisions.

	
	Some time later, at the far side of the small island,
	a moving shadow fell across Janno. He turned . . .

	
	
	
	
	Who’s that ?

	
	
	
	
	You !

	
	Suddenly face-to-face with death, Janno
	felt no fear—only shocked surprise !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 565 on 11 November 1972.

 
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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.

 
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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.