Posted on October 26, 2024November 2, 2024The Food of the Gods (continued . . .) Prepare to open fire ! Not one stone is to be left standing ! Then the leader saw . . . By all the stars ! Zargots ! This herd of the most savage predators on Elekton had also eaten of the “food of the gods”. They fell upon the war-machines before the boys had time to bring their guns on aim . . . . . . and scattered them like toys. Janno and Peric had brought the news to the Emperor. They saw the destruction from the roof of the Imperial Palace. The boys seem to have escaped— they’re in full flight. The zargots have destroyed all the war-machines. We have exchanged one evil for another ! It is the zargots who will pound Trigan City to rubble. Indeed, it seemed that Peric’s prediction would come true. But approaching the out- skirts of the city, the herd sighted a plantation of fruits, the deadly “food of the gods”. The defeated boys lay and watched the herd browsing on the fruit. Those brutes won’t stop till they’ve eaten the lot ! I’m craving for some of that “food of the gods”. There’s nothing we can do. We may be super- creatures but we can’t handle super-zargots ! It was at that time that the botanist, Beris, arrived at the Imperial Palace, to see his friend, Peric. Peric, I have analysed the structure of the alien plant and have established that its awful effect upon living beings is only temporary. Furthermore, I have devised a chemical that will rapidly kill the plant, if sprayed upon it from the air. We need some of that chemical now, Beris, to save Trigan City ! Soon after, Janno flew over the zargot herd and sprayed the deadly plant. It withered to the touch of the chemical. Dismayed, the zargots moved on to find fresh plantations, but Janno was always ahead of them, killing, killing . . . The following day, a bedraggled mob of boys straggled shamefacedly into Trigan City. The effects of the “food of the gods” had left them forever. I—I don’t know what came over us. We didn’t seem to have any control over our actions. All we wanted to do was destroy, destroy, destroy ! As Peric said later . . . We have also confirmed that the seeds of the plant came from the fragment of destroyed planet that was observed in the fourth lunar month of this year. It is not hard to guess how that planet was destroyed— by an atomic war ! The same thing could have happened on Elekton ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 667 on 26 October 1974.
Posted on October 19, 2024October 22, 2024The Food of the Gods (continued . . .) Janno recovered consciousness, to find himself totally paralysed. Peric, you . . . you’ve got to listen to me. I am all attention. To begin with, you will explain your motives for attacking the Air Fleet base and causing such havoc ! Janno told all. Peric listened with growing amazement and horror . . . Are you telling me that these . . . mere children are capable of all these things ? I swear it, Peric ! They speak of making themselves masters of Elekton, and they feast off what they call the food of the gods ! Presently, the feeling came back into the young man’s limbs. We must go to the Emperor at once. Yes ! I’ve seen what they’re capable of, Peric. At that very moment, the boys were chatting with the soldiers of the Trigan armoured corps. Right, lads. We’ve shown you how to work the controls, what else do you want to find out ? I think we know all we need to know . . . Strike ! Aaaaaghh ! Start up your war-machines. Surround the city from all sides, then close in, shooting as you go ! Disaster was about to envelop the heart of the Trigan Empire. Yet another peril threatened. A herd of zargots, savage killers of the Vorg plains, came upon some of the alien plants and ate the fruit. The effect of eating the food of the gods was to increase their normal strength and killing-instinct a hundredfold. The news spread like a forest fire through the small villages and townships bordering the plains. The zargots are coming ! The maddened beasts tore through the streets. They are now heading for . . . Trigan City ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 666 on 19 October 1974.
Posted on October 12, 2024October 12, 2024The Food of the Gods (continued . . .) Janno dived headlong for the undergrowth, with projectiles slashing past him like meteorites. He lay still, while his merciless pursuers searched the forest all round him. No sign of him. He’s escaped us. What does it matter ? He’s a nobody. The self-appointed leader of the super-creatures produced a handful of the deadly fruit. We will continue with our plans of conquest. But first . . . we will feast again off the food of the gods. Janno stayed hidden till nightfall. He then set off for Trigan City, reaching there at daybreak. I’ll report to my uncle at once. Those boys are a real danger and must be stopped immediately. But . . . Look ! It’s Janno ! Cut him down ! Only Janno’s quick wits and lightning physical reactions saved him. By all the stars ! Why are my own people shooting at me on sight ? He soon learned the answer . . . Did we get him ? I hope so ! We’ll be commended by the Emperor for wiping out the traitor who attacked the air base. I’ve been declared a traitor ! Following the mysterious attack upon the air base, the Trigan armoured corps were put on the alert. None of the soldiers took any notice of a group of boys watching nearby. We’ll take these war- machines and use them to destroy Trigan City ! Peric was working in his laboratory that fateful morning, when a sound at the open window made him turn. Peric. Aaaaah . . . You. The great scientist’s hand groped for a button . . . Peric. Something terrible is happening . . . Immediately, the young Air Fleet pilot was enveloped in twin clouds of choking red gas ! Aaaaaaagh ! Fool ! Do you think I am without protection here ? This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 665 on 12 October 1974.
