Gazing savagely about the plain, the great black war-kreed saw . . . an intruder!

Ho, there!

Responding angrily, the kreed leapt forward.

Unless he overtakes me and runs me down, the first part of my ruse has worked.

Janno leapt . . .

If I miss my handhold, I’m done for!

Some distance away, a hidden marksman saw that Janno had reached safety.

Perish, Trigan.

But . . .

No. Don’t shoot!

Why? I had orders from the Elders.

If Janno dies, the accursed Trigan Emperor is going to execute the elders!

At that moment, Janno leapt.

And now—the second part of my ruse!























He landed in the fiery beast’s saddle.

Then followed a struggle for supremacy.

Ho-hah!

It culminated in a breakneck gallop over the plains.

It was evening. The Zallu guards on the gates of the city stared in awe . . .

Look!

It can’t be!

In through the gates rode Janno, the master of his mount.

Everyone said that no one would ever mount Zorphu’s kreed again.

They were wrong!

Through the streets rode Janno, with the stubborn Zallus marvelling.

We acknowledge Janno as Overlord!

We will no longer obey the Elders!

By conquering the wild kreed, Janno had subdued the warlike Zallus, and he received the personal thanks of his uncle, the Emperor.

Lad, you have done well. After what you have done, the Zallus will follow you, and the Trigan Empire, anywhere!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 768 on 2 October 1976.