Category: Hover Autos

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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	














Aboard the air craft carrier “Daveli”, pilots of the Air Fleet were at their gruelling exercises.

Lieutenant Janno has just landed! Hold him there!

A grave faced officer approached Janno’s craft.

That’s the last craft you’ll fly in the forseeable future, Lieutenant! Orders from the Emperor—you’re to cease all duties and be returned to Trigan City!

But why . . . why?

I understand that your father, the Lord Brag, has had some kind of . . . accident!

Accident? You mean . . . he’s? . . .

Brag was not dead. In a special laboratory, the Emperor’s stricken brother lay in a state of suspended animation. As, later, Peric was to explain to Janno . . .

Your father’s injuries are of such a dreadful nature as to defy all medical knowledge. All we can do is to submerge him in a saline solution—and simply await the healing hand of nature.

It sounds—a very thin hope.

The Emperor showed the strain of his beloved brother’s plight.

The matter of the Mummy’s Curse must now be taken seriously. From now on, Lieutenant Sweya of the Imperial Guard will be your constant companion, and will watch over you, day and night.

Janno shuddered. The dread Curse of King Yutta seemed very close at hand.

In a manner of speaking, you and Sweya are brothers in adversity.

My—my father was councillor Rothi, who has already been destroyed by the curse!

Oh! I’m very sorry, Sweya.
























	














And so, day and night, Lieutenant Sweya guarded the life of the Emperor’s nephew.

Can’t I even go in for a swim?

No! Remember what happened to Obolom!

Sweya was stern and inflexible.

Just a short ride in my  new racer?

Remember what happened to Ricci—he went for a short ride, and ended up in his family tomb!

The two young officers were quartered in a suite of rooms in the Imperial Palace. One night, as Janno was about to retire . . .

Is that you, Sweya?

Suddenly . . . it happened!

Aaaaaah!

Janno! What  is it? Why did you call out?

Where did he go? The demon who threw the axe at me!

They searched the suite. There was no one else there!

Someone was here! Someone of flesh and blood! Someone with enough hatred to want to make an end of me!

Aaaaah! By all the stars! Look down here, Janno!

Janno peered down into a shadowy courtyard—in time to see a strange figure flit from sight.

Oh no! It’s—the Mummy of King Yutta!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 564 on 4 November 1972.

 
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The Curse of King Yutta (continued . . .)

















	














Here we see the ancient city that stood on the site of the present Trigan City. Its people were warlike, proud and superstitious . . .

This is a portrait of the long-dead King Yutta, whose mummy lies in the newlydiscovered tomb. He was known as the Lord of the Skies and Sovereign of the Stars!

The scientist Peric ended the illustrated lecture that he had been giving to the Emperor and the Imperial Council.

There is little else I can tell you about the life and times of King Yutta. As to the socalled curse that was placed upon his tomb all those uncounted centuries ago . . .

Peric was interrupted by Rothi, a bluff, no-nonsense councillor.

That’s a load of rubbish! Put there to frighten old women! I vote that the dead King and his treasures should be moved to the Imperial museum, and that the public be invited to view them for an entrance fee of two zersts a head. Make a fortune for the Imperial treasury, I shouldn’t wonder!

Rothi’s suggestion was carried out. In the lunar months that followed, thousands of spellbound people filed through the Imperial Museum.

One fateful night, when the museum had closed, and the night-watchman was settling down for his long vigil, a strange sound echoed through the hall.

What’s that? Who’s there?
























	














And then . . .

Eeeeaaaagghhhh!

They found him next morning . . .

Who could have done this? And why?

And that was not all.

Aaaaaah! King Yutta has gone!

That same day, Ricci, one of the two wealthy Trigan businessmen who had been the first to enter the forbidden tomb, was being driven home to his villa.

Suddenly, the driver saw . . . something!

Eeeaaaaagggghh!

They brought the news of the disaster to the Emperor.

. . . Is the curse of Yutta coming true already?

“They who defile the resting place of the King shall swiftly perish!” . . .

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 560 on 7 October 1972.

 
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The Fiendish Experiment (continued . . .)

















	














The dreaded penal mines were the disgrace of the Trigan Empire. There, the empire’s worst criminals were sent to slave themselves to death. None escaped . . .

Until . . .

What . . . What are you doing?

Shut your mouth. Do everything I say.

In less time than it takes to tell, the astounded convict was seated in a fast vehicle that was driving him through the night towards Trigan City.

We must get into the city before the general alarm’s raised and road blocks are set up!

There were no complications. Before dawn, the escaped man was standing in Vella’s comfortable apartment.

You?—An Air Fleet officer?—Why have you done this for me?

Not for you, my friend, but for me! I need you!

You are—or were—Zerros the scientist. Possibly the greatest scientist on Elekton after Peric, till you were condemned for life for selling secrets to Trigan’s enemies. I have a job for you. Read this.

Zerros scanned the contents of the red folder. It was not long before he was staring in horror at his companion.

It’s insane! diabolical! I’ll have nothing to do with it!

You will conduct the experiment, using me as the subject—or back to the mines you go!
























	














Anything but the mines! . . . anything! But it will take time, and money, to construct the apparatus for the experiment.

Time we have plenty of . . . money I will get!

Vella went to the leader of the criminal organisation to whom he already owed a fortune in gambling debts.

Are you out of your mind, Lieutenant? I gave you till the end of the lunar month to settle, now you come asking for more money!

I tell you that your investment will be repaid a thousandfold! Trust me . . .

He got the money. By the end of the lunar month, his apartment was filled with strange apparatus.

It is ready. But I must ask you to reconsider . . .

You will conduct the experiment immediately!

Vella laid himself down in a transparent container.

Why do you hesitate? . . . Begin!

On your own head be it, Vella!

The scientist reeled back before the assault of sound and light.

Aaaaaaaaaghhhh!

And when it was all over . . .

It can’t be true! . . . It can’t!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 551 on 5 August 1972.