Posted on March 2, 2024March 2, 2024Planet Zootha (continued . . .) Trigo reached the cavemouth. Gone ! Janno has gone ! He gazed up at the stake where his nephew had been tied. They’ve taken him ! It may be that all I can do now is to exact vengeance ! Entering the vast cavemouth, he saw . . . There’s light down there ! He descended into the gloom. Presently, the Trigan Emperor was gazing upon a scene that staggered the imagination. By all the stars ! It is a world within a world ! There was a vast underground city, all bathed in a phosphorescent glow that was brighter than daylight. As Trigo stared in awe, a group of slaves toiled past, guarded by hideous, squat creatures. At a curt order from their guards, the weary slaves stopped to rest. If I could get closer and speak to one of those poor wretches . . . Presently . . . Pssssssst ! Ah ! Who . . . Who are you ? A friend ! I’ve come to help you. But, first, I need some information ! To start with—who are those ugly demons ? They are the Kerds—savage and warlike creatures who serve the Great Ones and keep us Vorg slaves in submission. Just then, a litter went past. In it lolled a stout and pampered-looking individual. All hail O Great One ! A Great One ? But I have seen statues of the Great Ones—they look like gods ! Countless ages of gluttony and idleness have taken their toll ! Now all the Great Ones look like that fat wretch ! At that moment— IT HAPPENED ! Alarm ! Alarm ! A spy in our midst ! Gaaaaaaah ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 633 on 2 March 1974.
Posted on February 23, 2024February 23, 2024Planet Zootha (continued . . .) Behold—the Great Ones ! Trigo was deeply impressed. They look like Gods ! Do such creatures live ? They live ! And they demand the sacrifice of the best things we have—our best flocks, finest foodstuffs, and our first-born sons. In return, they allow us to live and prosper ! Garron pointed to Janno. That one will be sacrificed to the Great Ones this day ! Oppose this at your peril, mighty Emperor ! Janno was brought to a great cavemouth . . . He was tied there . . . Soon, noble youth, you will have the honour of perishing at the hands of the Great Ones ! Aaaaah . . . Trigo, on the pretext of saying farewell to his nephew, whispered an assurance in his ear. I will save you, Janno ! Never fear—you will not be abandoned ! Do you understand ? Yes, Uncle. A mighty horn was sounded. Its mournful note echoed and re-echoed in the deep fastnesses of the great cavern. Then Janno was left standing alone, in the growing darkness. How . . . how long do I have to wait ? He was not alone for long ! Aaaaaaaaaah ! Out of the darkness of the great cavern . . . THEY came ! Some distance away, in the Vorg camp, when all was silent, Trigo rose to his feet. First—to deal with that sentry ! The Trigan Emperor set off to keep his promise. I hope I am not too late ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 632 on 23 February 1974.
Posted on February 16, 2024February 23, 2024Planet Zootha (continued . . .) Janno brought the Trigan craft low. And they flew over a vast tented encampment. A multitude of faces were turned to look up at them. The Emperor and his companions looked down. Are my eyes deceiving me, or ? . . . It’s a Vorg encampment ! One of the primitive kind you used to see on Elekton ! Trigo ordered Janno to land. They climbed down from their craft. Are they peaceful, Uncle—or shall we have trouble ? Be prepared to start shooting ! Then, to the five Trigans’ utter astonishment, they were addressed in the common language of their own planet ! I am Garron, chieftain of the Zootha Vorgs ! I welcome you to the planet Zootha ! You are one of us . . . from Elekton ? That is so ! In a time long past, when Zootha last came close to Elekton, some of our people ventured across the wilderness of space to this planet, as you have done ! Garron showed them the crumbling ruins of an ancient flying craft. This is the craft in which our ancestors came. It is a treasured relic of our people ! Of course ! Fool that I am— the legend of the Vorgs who went up into a new world in the sky—surely you were told that as a child, Imperial Majesty ! Yes—but—it was always thought to be a fairy tale ! But . . . it really happened in the distant past ! Trigo then explained to Garron how the Trigans were descended from the Vorgs. He introduced himself and his companions. . . . and this is Janno, son of my brother Brag. Ah ! And would you be your father’s eldest son, Janno ? Janno answered in puzzlement—and saw a strange light in the chieftain’s eyes. Indeed I am, Garron—I am the only son ! Aaaaah ! That is interesting . . . very interesting ! The incident slipped from Janno’s mind during the feasting that followed. Is everything to your liking, Emperor ? Indeed it is, Garron ! Not since I was a boy in my father’s encampment have I enjoyed such fine Vorg fare ! As soon as the feast was over . . . IT HAPPENED ! Now . . . seize the victim ! Aaaah . . . Janno was dragged roughly to his feet. Let me go ! Let me go, you demons ! What does it mean ? Do you call this Vorg hospitality ? The chieftain replied . . . As a first-born son, he will be sacrificed to our Great Ones ! It is a custom that is never broken—my own son perished in a like manner ! Take him away ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 631 on 16 February 1974.
