Posted on August 21, 2021July 2, 2024The Duplication Machine (continued . . .) Late that night, a dark figure climbed the face of the tenement building that housed Robi’s apartment. This is the window. The intruder was soon inside the apartment, and delving into a drawer that contained an emperor’s ransom in precious objects. They’re all here. Enough to keep me for the rest of my life ! And he won’t be needing them any more ! —heh ! heh ! And then . . . So, you animal— you dared to come back, eh ? Aaaaaaaaaah ! Robi stared at the thief in astonishment. You’re a ghost ! An evil spectre ! With my own eyes I saw you hurled from the cliff-top last evening ! Don’t come near me ! You are evil—evil ! Blinded by panic, the wretch fell back to his doom ! Eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaagh ! In the silence that followed, Robi looked down. So that’s it, eh ? My duplicate was destroyed by that cur ! And it is impossible to make a second copy of myself ! I am all alone again—and the chances of my great discovery being detected increase with every day that passes ! What shall I do ? At dawn next day, the Catons attempted the first bombing raid of the war upon the Trigan capital. An air battle raged till noon. Robi witnessed the conflict in the sky—and it gave him food for thought. That’s it ! It’s to Cato I must look to complete my fortune ! I will provide them with a rich prize, for which they will pay me anything I demand ! When Janno, the emperor’s nephew, landed his fighter-craft later that day . . . Message for you, Lord Janno. What’s this ? . . . “You will remember me, Lord Janno. I am Peric’s assistant Robi. I have something of great interest to show you, if you will come to my apartment . . .” Intrigued and mystified by the strange invitation, Janno went to Robi’s apartment that evening. He found the door ajar. Robi !— Are you in there ? Sudden oblivion descended upon Janno ! Uuuuuh ! . . . Instants later, Robi was bundling the unconscious form of the emperor’s nephew into his strange device. I must work quickly—before he comes to his senses . . . It was not long before Janno’s shape began to appear— duplicated ! What’s this ? . . . “You will remember me, Lord Janno. I am Peric’s assistant Robi. I have something of great interest to show you, if you will come to my apartment . . .” I must work quickly—before he comes to his senses . . . This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 501 on 21 August 1971.
Posted on July 31, 2021January 27, 2025The Duplication Machine (continued . . .) It happened in a dark alleyway in a rough quarter of Trigan City. A figure leapt out at a passer-by, and a heavy cudgel was raised for a merciless blow. But the blow never fell ! Uuuuuh . . . Hmmmm ! What have I caught ?—a sneak-thief of the worst and most contemptible type. But he will serve my purpose. Later, the footpad recovered consciousness. Aaaaah ! Where am I ? Don’t hurt me, master. I—I meant no harm, I swear it ! You meant the worst possible harm, you rascal—but I am willing to overlook it. Robi sneered. In fact, I will do better than that—I will make you the richest rogue in Trigan City— If you obey me without question ! The following morning, Robi went to Air Fleet Headquarters. As assistant to Elekton’s top scientist, he carried a pass that admitted him to the air strip. Here comes Janno now. I’ll speak to him when he gets out of his craft. It’s a good idea to be on good terms with a member of the Imperial family. Janno recognised the young scientist. Hello ! Robi, isn’t it ? As you see, my leg is mended, and I’m back on flying duty. Very glad to see you recovered, Lord Janno. I’ve brought something for you. Something you probably thought you’d lost for ever . . . My signet ring ! You dropped it the day you visited the laboratory, Lord Janno. I found it when I was sweeping up this morning. Janno was profuse in his thanks. He would have been surprised to have seen what Robi held in his hand as he walked away. Everybody’s happy ! The stuck-up Lord Janno has his ring back —and I have an exact duplicate of it ! That night, Trigan City suffered the first of many inexplicable thefts. Robi’s henchman stole a collection of gems from the home of a millionaire. Cry out—and it will be the last sound you ever make ! AAAAH ! Take the jewels ! Take anything—but don’t hurt me ! He delivered them to the darkened laboratory where Robi waited. Good ! Now wait outside till I call you. You have one more task to perform before dawn. With the aid of the strange device he had secretly perfected, the ruthless young scientist duplicated the priceless gems. Ha ! Ha !—Nothing can stop me now—nothing ! By the end of the lunar year, I shall be able to buy and sell the Trigan Empire ! There was a surprise in store for his henchman, later. You ask me to return this loot to where I stole it from !— Master, have you gone mad ? No, my friend. I have not gone mad. I have simply discovered the perfect crime ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 498 on 31 July 1971.
Posted on July 24, 2021December 21, 2023The Duplication Machine (continued . . .) One day, while practising low-flying, Janno the Emperor's nephew felt his craft give a convulsive shudder. By the stars ! The engine's overheated ! I've got to get out of here before it blows up ! He used the escape device at scarcely more than zero height. Uuuuuuuh ! Janno was lucky. He survived the crash with nothing worse than a broken leg, which was treated by Elekton's top scientist Peric. I have joined the ends of the bone. You may commence returning the patient to consciousness, Robi. Yes, master. Later, during his convalescence, Janno visited Peric at his laboratory. This is my new assistant. His name is Robi, and he earned the distinction of passing out top of the Imperial Examinations. I am very lucky to have him. I can see that you are going to succeed Peric as the greatest scientist on Elekton, Robi. You are very kind, Lord Janno. And how are things with you, Peric ? Working on any exciting experiments ? Mmmm—this looks an interesting piece of apparatus. What is it ? It is the despair of my life. I have been working on it for many years, and have come so close to success. But . . . It is a device to transmit an object from one place to another by breaking it up into its component atomic particles. I can move a metal cube from the left to the right-hand compartment . . . but, unfortunately, it arrives there as a pile of metallic dust ! Master ! I would count it an honour to be allowed to work on the device—in my own time, of course. Certainly you can, boy ! A young, fresh mind is just what's needed to crack this problem ! It is a device to transmit an object from one place to another by breaking it up into its component atomic particles. I can move a metal cube from the left to the right-hand compartment . . . but, unfortunately, it arrives there as a pile of metallic dust ! Later that day, while cleaning up the laboratory, Peric's assistant found . . . What's this ?— A signet ring ! It's the one the Emperor's fine nephew was wearing when he came here. He must have dropped it. Robi was a cheat, a liar and a thief. But he was also brilliant and ambitious. He laboured many late nights on Peric's device. Well, it's mine now ! The trouble with this whole idea is that the old fool has completely missed the point. Now, if I were to make certain fundamental changes to the polarity . . . One night . . . Now to see if it works ! First, we take this ring that formerly belonged to the noble Lord Janno, and place this unique and precious object in the left-hand compartment . . . Haaaaa ! It's working ! It's working ! This is not a device for transmitting matter, but for duplicating matter ! From the left-hand compartment we take Lord Janno's ring— and from the right we take an exact duplicate ! This device is going to make me the richest and most powerful man on Elekton ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 497 on 24 July 1971.
