Janno closed his eyes and . . . turning . . . he cried out in a sing-song voice . . . I—hear—and—I—obey— The Zolls had not noticed that the young Trigan’s eyes were closed. The purple light was extinguished . . . He is the second surface-man whom we were seeking . . . good! At a harsh order, Janno climbed obediently on to the strange craft, which instantly took off again . . . We will return to the volcano factory with the prisoner. The craft swept over the mid-planetary plain till it reached the towering building which Janno had seen through the Meekers’ telescope. Looking down, he gazed upon the toiling mass of people . . . I must find some way of stopping that fiendish work . . . but if the Zolls realise that my will was not destroyed by the purple light, I’m done for . . . and so is all life on the surface of Elekton! The craft landed near the huge edifice, and Janno dumbly obeyed the order snarled at him. Another prisoner from the surface . . . the last! Good! . . . Join the other slaves, surface-man . . . and work until you’re told to stop! With a sudden shock, Janno saw the Emperor Trigo labouring with the rest. These are all people from the surface . . . slaving to destroy their own loved ones there . . . and, like my uncle they don’t know what they’re doing! Janno took his place beside Trigo and bent his back to the muscle-aching work. Later . . . much later . . . the Zoll overseer called a halt. Now you will rest for food!Scraps of broken meat were thrown at the slaves, who fell upon the rough food like animals. Janno ate . . . and listened to a conversation between two of his captors. When they’ve finished eating they will receive their daily dose of the purple light. When do we start the volcanoes? In a few hours . . . as soon as this wall is completed! Think of it! . . . There are thousands of volcanoes on the surface. In a few hours from now, the ground will open up and swallow whole cities! . . . Then we shall be masters of the entire planet! Jamno waited to hear no more . . . he rose to his feet and poised himself for action . . . This may be my last chance . . . and the last chance for Elekton! . . He leapt! AAAAAAAGH! Pistol in hand, he raced up a towering flight of steps . . . firing as he went! Alarm! Alarm! . . . Slave escaping! Then . . . his way was barred! There he is! Shoot him down!
This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 389 on 28 June 1969.
