Posted on January 30, 2021February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) With a wrench at the controls, Janno brought the deadly head of the destroying unit down upon its parent machine. The work of destruction was swift—and final ! All lights failed inside the great dome, and lurid explosions rent it asunder. With shock waves pounding at his head, Janno felt himself rising through the riven roof. His head broke surface. Looking about him, he saw two floating figures in familiar garb. Keren and Roffa ! He seized his comrades. They are still alive ! Then—the sound of powerful engines overhead. A Trigan patrol craft—and it’s seen us ! Moments later, willing hands were lifting Janno and his companions aboard the craft. Who's that ? It was one of the Thallans. Who is he, then ? One of our enemies ! And then—Janno found himself staring into the face of Ura Zircon ! Ura Zircon ! Send a message to His Imperial Majesty—tell him that the menace is destroyed, and that we are returning with Ura Zircon, Lord of the planet Thalla ! The message reached the Emperor Trigo. My nephew Janno is alive ! He says that the infernal underwater machines have been destroyed ! Alone with his secretary, the Emperor pondered. He says he is returning with Ura Zircon, Lord of the planet Thalla—who might he be ? That you will not live to discover, proud Emperor ! Ura Zircon's daughter extended her hands . . . You will receive the full force of my destructive power— the killing force ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 472 on 30 January 1971.
Posted on December 19, 2020February 20, 2024The Thing from the Sea (continued . . .) By the light of Elekton's twin moons, the thing from the deep reduced the seaport city of Karona to ruins. At dawn, a force of Trigan fighting machines attacked the marauder, but were themselves slashed to pieces. After the devastation at Karona, nothing on the surface of the oceans was safe. Even low-flying atmosphere craft were slashed from the sky. All traffic on the high seas was forbidden, and inhabitants of coastal towns and cities evacuated. The Trigan Empire and all Elekton was in turmoil. Emperor Trigo looked to his top scientist for advice—in vain ! Peric ! You must stop this thing ! Imperial Majesty, I have not slept since this terrible thing arrived nor shall I, until I have found the answer ! One night a group of divers waded ashore on a deserted stretch of the Trigan coast. A brief order was given, in an alien tongue. You—have— your—orders ! Next day, one of these strangers joined the army. Want to join the Imperial Guards, eh ? Name and birthplace, please. Zatti is my name, sir— and I was born and raised in Tharv. Zatti did well in the Elite Guards Regiment. To all appearances a normal individual, Zatti had a strange habit. At night, he crept into the deserted regimental baths . . . From his throat he took a large device. Then, submerging himself in the baths, he slept until dawn. This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 466 on 19 December 1970.
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.
