Title: Battle for Trigan City
Series: The trigan empire
Writer:
SYNOPIS:
PAGE 1
Caption: A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE GATES OF TRIGAN CITY, A PARTY OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS WERE LABOURING IN THEIR CHAINS TO BUILD A NEW ROAD ...
GUARD: WORK, WORK. YOU ANIMALS!
PAGE 2
Caption: IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE SUN, SO THAT NO ONE NOTICED IT TILL IT WAS UPON THEM ... A BLACK PAINTED CRAFT. ITS GUNS STABBED FLAME, AND THE GUARDS WERE SCATTERED.
PRISONER: AAAAAAAH !
PAGE 3
Caption: THE CRAFT LANDED BY THE SHRINKING PRISONERS, AND TWO BLACK GARBED FIGURES GOT OUT
BLACK GUARD: WHICH OF YOU IS NAMED TASSIG? ... SPEAK!
TASSIG: I AM TASSIG!
PAGE 4
Caption: THE BLAST OF A PISTOL SHATTERED THE CHAIN TO WHICH THE PRISONER WAS SECURED.
BLACK GUARD: GET INTO THE CRAFT. TASSIG! ... MOVE
PAGE 5
Caption: MORE GUARDS RAN OUT FROM THE CITY IN TIME TO SEE THE STRANGE BLACK CRAFT STREAKING TOWARDS THE HORIZON.
TRIGAN: A PRISONER HAS BEEN SET FREE!
TRIGAN: RAISE THE ALARM!
PAGE 6
Caption: TRIGAN AIR PATROLS SEARCHED FOR THE MYSTERY CRAFT IN VAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER THE EMPEROR TRIGO WAS WORKING ON MATTERS OF STATE ...
TRIGO: AAAAAH! ... I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF PAPER WORK FOR TODAY ...
PAGE 7
Caption: AND THEN HE SAW
TRIGO: STRANGE ... WHO COULD HAVE PUSHED THAT UNDER MY DOOR?
PAGE 8
Caption: THERE WAS A MESSAGE WRITTEN ON THE PIECE OF PAPER ... A MESSAGE THAT BROUGHT A STRANGLED GASP TO TRIGO'S LIPS!
TRIGO: BY ALL THE STARS ... WHAT DEMON'S WORK IS THIS?
PAGE 9
Caption: THE EMPEROR'S NEXT ACTIONS WERE STRANGE. FIRST, HE BURNT THE MESSAGE ...
PAGE 10
Caption: THEN, STRIPPING OFF HIS SPLENDID TRAPPINGS, HE DRESSED HIMSELF IN SIMPLE GARB, AND A HOODED CLOAK ...
TRIGO: I CAN EVADE THE GUARDS BY SLIPPING OUT OF THE BACK DOOR OF THE PALACE ...
PAGE 11
Caption: IT WAS NEARLY SUNSET WHEN TRIGO RODE, UNRECOGNISED, OUT OF HIS OWN CITY GATES ON A KREED.
TRIGAN: ALL RIGHT, FELLOW, YOU CAN PASS THROUGH ... BUT REMEMBER NEXT TIME ... THE GATES CLOSE AT SUNSET!
PAGE 12
Caption: ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, BE RODE ACROSS THE PLAIN OF VORG. DAWN FOUND HIM IN A HIGH WALLED GORGE FAR BEYOND THE PLAIN. THERE HE HALTED HIS KREED AND LOOKED ABOUT HIM.
TRIGO: THIS IS THE PLACE...
PAGE 13
Caption: MENACING EYES WATCHED HIM BEHIND BLACK MASKS ...
BLACK GUARD: I WILL SHOOT HIM DOWN!
BLACK GUARD: NO, FOOL! ... YOU KNOW THE ORDERS ... TRIGO IS TO BE TAKEN ALIVE!
PAGE 14
Caption: MEANWHILE, BACK IN TRIGAN CITY, THE IMPERIAL PALACE WAS IN A TURMOIL ...
TRIGAN: SOUND THE ALARM! ... CALL OUR THE CITY GUARDS! ... THE EMPEROR HAS DISAPPEARED!
PAGE 15
Caption: TOWARDS NOON, AN ATMOSPHERE CRAFT SWEPT LOW TO LAND IN THE CITY SQUARE OF TRIGAN.
TRIGAN: HERE COMES BRAG!
PAGE 16
Caption: THE EMPEROR'S BROTHER BRAG STEPPED FROM THE CRAFT. HE BAD JUST RETURNED FROM A VISIT TO DAVELI. AS HE LOOKED ABOUT HIM, EVEN SIMPLE HEARTED BRAG COULD NOT MISS THE FACT THAT SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BRAG: WHAT IS IT? ... WHY ARE YOU ALL LOOKING SO GRIM? ... HAS SOMETHING HAPPENED?
PAGE 17
Caption: OLD PERIC, THE WISEST MANS TRIGAN, GAVE HIM THE NEWS.
PERIC: TRIGO HAS VANISHED! LAST NIGHT! IT IS AS IF THE GROUND OPENED UP AND SWALLOWED HIM!
PAGE 18
Caption: LATER, IN THE IMPERIAL APARTMENTS ..
BRAG: WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO FIND HIM?
PERIC: THE ENTIRE AIR AND SEA FLEETS ARE SEARCHING, BUT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE CLUE AS TO WHERE HE CAN BE, BRAG. AND. MEANWHILE, THE EMPIRE IS WITHOUT A LEADER ...
PAGE 19
Caption: SIMPLE BRAG KNEW HIS DUTY. WHILE THE ENTIRE RESOURCES OF THE EMPIRE WERE ENGAGED ON THE SEARCH FOR HIS BROTHER, BE SAT DOWN AT TRIGO'S DESK AND STARTED WORK. A MAN OF ACTION, PAPER WORK WAS AGONY TO HAM
BRAG: ALL THIS STUFF ... WHERE DO I BEGIN? ...
PAGE 20
Caption: AID THEM ... BE CAME UPON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT BROUGHT HIM TO HIS FED WITH A STARTLED CRY.
BRAG: BY THE TWIN SUNS OF ELEKTON! ... WHAT'S THIS? ...
PAGE 21
Caption: MOMENTS LATER, HE HAD SET FIRE TO THE FATEFUL MESSAGE ...
BRAG: NO ONE MUST SEE ME LEAVE ...
PAGE 22
Caption: HE LEFT THE CITY BY STEALTH, AND WAS SOON GALLOPING ACROSS THE SUN BAKED PLAIN OF VORG AS FAST AS HIS KREED WOULD CARRY HIM.
PAGE 23
Caption: LATER THAT DAY, BRAG'S SON JANNO ENTERED THE IMPERIAL APARTMENTS WITH HIS COMRADE KEREN.
JANNO: FATHER! ... WHERE IS HE?
PAGE 24
Caption: AND THEN
PAGE 25
Caption: IT WAS THE FATEFUL MESSAGE WHICH HAD SENT BRAG ON HIS STRANGE JOURNEY. JANNO READ IT ALOUD.
JANNO: WHY. IT'S A MESSAGE TO MY FATHER, WRITTEN IN UNCLE TRIGO'S OWN HAND ... IT SAYS ... 'BROTHER. THE EMPIRE IS IN MORTAL DANGER. SPEAK TO NO ONE. YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY TRAITORS. BURN THIS LETTER, AND MEET ME IN THE GORGE BEYOND THE PLAIN' ... AND THE REST IS BURNT.
PAGE 26
Caption: GRIMLY, THE COMRADES MET EACH OTHER'S GAZE.
KEREN: WELL ... WHAT DO WE DO?
JANNO: SPEAK TO NO ONE ... AND GO AFTER MY FATHER
PAGE 27
Caption: IT WAS NEARLY SUNSET WHEN BRAG REACHED THE HIGH WALLED GORGE BEYOND THE PLAIN OF VORG, AND CALLED OUT ... HIS VOICE ECHOING AND RE ECHOING ...
BRAG: TRIGO! ... TRIGOOOOOO!
PAGE 28
Caption: A HARSH VOICE MADE HIM SPIN ROUND, HIS HAND FLYING TO THE HILT OF HIS SWORD.
BLACK GUARD: SO! HOW NEATLY THEY ALL RIDE INTO OUT TRAP
PAGE 29
Caption: THE TWIN SUNS OF THE PLANET ELEKTON WERE DIPPING TOWARDS THE HORIZON WHEN JANNO AND KEREN SPOTTED AN ATMOSPHERE CRAFT HEADING TOWARDS THEM.
JANNO: LOOK! ... IS THAT ONE OF OURS?
PAGE 30
Caption: THE BLACK PAINTED CRAFT WAS NOT OF THE TRIGAN AIR FLEET. SWOOPING LOW, IT SPRAYED THE TWO MOUNTED FIGURES WITH GUNFIRE!
PAGE 31
Caption: THE CRAFT LANDED, AND BLACK GARBED WARRIORS DESCENDED FROM IT AND INSPECTED THEIR VICTIMS.
BLACK GUARD: THEY BOTH APPEAR TO BE STILL ALIVE. WHO ARE THEY?
BLACK GUARD: THIS ONE HERE IS A NOBODY!
PAGE 32
BLACK GUARD: BUT THIS ONE ... THIS IS JANNO THE SON OF BRAG!
PAGE 33
Caption: THE CRAFT TOOK OFF LATER, AND HEADED AWAY ACROSS THE PLAIN ... LEAVING THE WOUNDED KEREN TO HIS FATE.
PAGE 34
Caption: MEANWHILE, IN THE GORGE BEYOND THE PLAIN, BRAG WAS FACING TWO MORE OF THE MYSTERIOUS BLACK CLAD WARRIORS.
BRAG: WHAT DEMONS WORK IS GOING ON HERE?
BLACK GUARD: SILENCE! . THROW ASIDE YOUR SWORD BELT AS YOU WERE ORDERED, AND COME WITH US!
PAGE 35
Caption: THEY LED HIM INTO A CAVE MOUTH AT THE FAR END OF THE GORGE ...
PAGE 36
Caption: AND THERE, IN A VAST CAVERN, HE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH HIS BROTHER, THE EMPEROR OF THE TRIGANS!
TRIGO: BRAG. YOU TOOL ... WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY LEADING ME INTO THIS ACCURSED TRAP?
BRAG: WHAT ... WHAT DO YOU MEAN. TRIGO? ... I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF A LETTER YON LEFT FOR ME!
PAGE 37
Caption: ONE OF THE WARRIORS SNEERINGLY INDICATED A SLY FACED MAN WHO STOOD NEARBY.
BLACK GUARD: YOU BOTH RECEIVED LETTERS WHICH YOU BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY THE OTHER. PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE THE MAN WHO REALLY WROTE THE LETTERS ...
TASSIG: TASSIG IS THE NAME, SIRS ...THOUGH I SAY IT MYSELF, THE FINEST FORGER ON ELEKTON!
PAGE 38
Caption: THEN ALL WAS CLEAR TO THE BROTHERS.
BRAG: TASSIG ... THE CRIMINAL WHO WAS MYSTERIOUSLY RESCUED A FEW DAYS AGO!
TRIGO: YOU USED HIS EVIL SKILL TO LURE US HERE! ... BUT WHY?... WHY?
PAGE 39
Caption: BEFORE TRIGO'S QUESTION COULD BE ANSWERED, A GROUP OF BLACK CLAD WARRIORS ENTERED THE CAVERN, AND THREW A LIMP FIGURE AT BRAG'S FEET!
BLACK GUARD: THERE IS YOUR SON. BRAG ... NOW WE HAVE THE WHOLE IMPERIAL BROOD!
BRAG: JANNO
PAGE 40
Caption: AND THEN
BLACK GUARD: SOUND THE GONG TO INFORM HER HIGHNESS THAT ALL IS READY!
TRIGO: HER HIGHNESS? WHAT HIGHNESS?
PAGE 41
Caption: THERE WAS A FANFARE OF WAR HORNS ... THE BROTHERS STARED IN ASTONISHMENT AT THE FIGURE WHICH APPEARED THROUGH THE CURTAINS BEHIND THE THRONE.
TRIGO: WHO
BRAG: BY ALL THE DEMONS OF DAVELI!
PAGE 42
Caption: A WOMAN OF RADIANT BEAUTY GAZED DOWN AT THEM, AND THERE WAS A HARD EDGE OF MOCKING MALICE IN HER VOICE.
Caption: GREETINGS TRIGO AND YOU, BRAG
PAGE 43
Caption: TRIGO AND BRAG STARED IN PUZZLEMENT AT THE WOMAN ... AND THEN SHE SPOKE AGAIN ...
THARA: I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU DO NOT REMEMBER ME. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. I AM YOUR NIECE THARA.,!
TRIGO: THARA
PAGE 44
TRIGO: YES ... I REMEMBER YOU AS A CHILD ... VERY WELL!
BRAG: A SELF WILLED LITTLE MONSTER WHO SCREAMED EVERY TIME SHE DIDN'T GET HER OWN WAY!
PAGE 45
Caption: A FLUSH OF ANGER DARKENED THARA'S FAIR CHEEK. SHE TOSSED HER HEAD, ARROGANTLY ...
THARA : I AM OF THE IMPERIAL BLOOD, AND ONLY THREE MEN STAND BETWEEN ME AND THE CROWN OF THE TRIGAN EMPIRE ... AND YOU THREE WILL NOT STAND FOR LONG!
PAGE 46
BRAG: YOU WOULDN'T DARE .
THARA: IT IS ALREADY AS GOOD AS DONE!
PAGE 47
Caption: THARA CALLED TO HER BLACK GUARDS.
THARA: TAKE THEM AWAY ... AND ELIMINATE THEM!
PAGE 48
Caption: LATER, WHEN DAWN BROKE OVER THE PLAIN OF VORG, KEREN RAISED HIS HEAD FROM THE HARD GROUND AND LOOKED ABOUT HIM, WINCING FROM THE PAIN OF HIS WOUNDS.
KEREN: WE ....WE WERE FIRED ON BY A STRANGE BLACK CRAFT ... BUT .. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO JANNO?
PAGE 49
Caption: LATER, HE BEGAN TO CRAWL. AND WHEN THE SEARING TWIN SUNS OF THE PLANET ELEKTON WERE HIGH IN THE SKY, A PARTY OF VORG NOMADS FOUND HIM UNCONSCIOUS BY A WATER HOLE.
NOMAD: HE IS FROM TRIGAN CITY ... AND WOUNDED.
NOMAD: HE IS STRONG, AND WILL MAKE A GOOD SLAVE .. IF HE LIVES!
PAGE 50
Caption: SO BEGAN A LONG AND WRETCHED PERIOD IN KEREN'S LIFE. WHEN HIS WOUNDS HAD HEALED, HE WAS PUT TO WORK AS A SLAVE IN THE NOMADS CAMP. FOR MONTHS HE LABOURED LIKE AN ANIMAL FOR A FEW SCRAPS OF FOOD. AND ALL THAT TIME, ONE THOUGHT BURNED IN HIS MIND ...
KEREN: ESCAPE ... BUT HOW.
PAGE 51
Caption: HIS CHANCE CAME ONE NIGHT. HIS CAPTORS TETHERED HIM LIKE AN ANIMAL DURING THE NIGHT, BUT ON THIS OCCASION HE HAD MANAGED TO STEAL A KNIFE ... AND WAS SOON FREE OF HIS TETHER
KEREN: NOW ... TO DEAL WITH THE SENTRY ..
PAGE 52
Caption: THE SPEARMAN GUARDING THE KREED HERD SAW THE DARK FIGURE COMING AT HIM OUT OF THE GLOOM. HE YELLED THE ALARM AND BROUGHT HIS WEAPON TO THE READY.
SLAVE MASTER: THE SLAVE IS FREE !
PAGE 53
Caption: DUCKING A WILD SPEAR THRUST, KEREN DROVE HIS BUNCHED FIST INTO THE MAN'S JAW, AND LEAPT TO THE NEAREST KREED.
PAGE 54
Caption: BY DAWN HE HAD SHAKEN OFF PURSUIT, AND LATER HE CAME IN SIGHT OF THE FAMILIAR TOWERS AND DOMES OF TRIGAN CITY.
KEREN: AT LAST!
PAGE 55
Caption: BUT THINGS HAD MUCH CHANGED DURING THE LONG MONTHS OF KEREN'S ABSENCE. THERE WERE GUARDS ON THE CITY GATES, BUT THEY NO LONGER WORE THE TRAPPINGS OF THE TRIGAN ARMY
KEREN: WHO ARE THESE MASKED MEN IN BLACK?
PAGE 56
Caption: THERE WAS AN INSCRIPTION CARVED DEEPLY INTO THE STONEWORK OVER THE GATES ... AND KEREN READ IT WONDERINGLY ...
KEREN : LONG LIVE THE EMPRESS THARA?
PAGE 57
Caption: NEXT INSTANT, KEREN WAS SENT SPINNING TO THE GROUND BY A BOW FROM A SPEAR SHAFT!
BLACK GUARD: DISRESPECTFUL ANIMAL!
KEREN: UUUGH
PAGE 58
Caption: HE RAISED HIS THROBBING BEAD, AND LOOKED UP INTO THE MASKED FACES OF THE MENACING GUARDS.
BLACK GUARD: YOU SEE WHAT'S WRITTEN OVER THE GATE? ... LONG LIVE THE EMPRESS THARA! ... NEXT TIME YOU ENTER THE CITY YOU'LL SALUTE THAT INSCRIPTION, OR IT WILL BE THE WORSE FOR YOU!
PAGE 59
Caption: THE GUARDS DRAGGED HIM TO HIS FEET AND SENT HIM REELING ON HIS WAY, ANGRY AND PUZZLED.
BLACK GUARD: REMEMBER
KEREN: THE EMPRESS THARA? ... WHO IS THE EMPRESS THARA? ...I DON'T UNDERSTAND ...
PAGE 60
Caption: THEN A HIGH SCREAM OF ENGINES MADE HIM LOOK UP. AN ALL BLACK ATMOSPHERE CRAFT WAS COMING DOWN TO LAND IN THE CITY SQUARE.
KEREN: BY ALL THE STARS!
PAGE 61
Caption: THE CRAFT LANDED NEAR KEREN, AND A TALL FIGURE IN THE TRAPPINGS OF THE BLACK GUARD EMERGED.
KEREN: IT'S A CRAFT LIKE THE ONE THAT ATTACKED JANNO AND ME ON THE PLAIN OF VORG! ... WHO ARE THESE BLACK CLAD DEMONS
PAGE 62
Caption: HE WATCHED THE NEWCOMER STRIDE TOWARDS THE GATES OF THE IMPERIAL PALACE AND RECEIVE THE SALUTES OF THE GUARDS.
COMMANDER: CONDUCT ME TO THE EMPRESS!
BLACK GUARD: YES COMMANDER
PAGE 63
Caption: THARA, EMPRESS OF TRIGAN, WAS NERVOUSLY PACING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ... SHE TURNED WITH A LOOK OF RELIEF WHEN THE COMMANDER OF THE BLACK GUARDS ENTERED.
COMMANDER: YOU SENT FOR ME, II, IMPERIAL MAJESTY?
THARA: YES I NEED YOUR ADVICE
PAGE 64
THARA: COMMANDER ... THE PEOPLE HAVE ONLY HALF ACCEPTED ME AS THEIR EMPRESS. WHAT CAN I DO TO WIN THEIR LOYALTY AND THEIR LOVE?
COMMANDER: THE ANSWER IS QUITE SIMPLE IMPERIAL MAJESTY ... INDULGE THEM ... DISTRIBUTE FREE FOOD AND PROVIDE THEM ALL WITH SLAVES ... STAGE LAVISH GAMES EVERY DAY IN THE ARENA ... YOU WILL SOON WIN THEIR LOVE!
PAGE 65
Caption: THARA NODDED ... DOUBTFULLY.
THARA: YES ... THAT MIGHT DO IT. BUT ... ALL THAT WILL COST MONEY. WHERE SHALL I OBTAIN THE MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL THOSE THINGS?
COMMANDER: THERE ARE WAYS AND MEANS ... AND I WILL TELL YOU HOW ...
PAGE 66
Caption: MEANWHILE, DOWN IN THE CITY SQUARE, KEREN HAD COME FACE TO FACE WITH HIS FRIEND SALVIA, DAUGHTER OF PERIC.
SALVIA: KEREN! ... THANK THE STARS WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!
KEREN: SALVIA FOR PITY'S SAKE WHAT'S GOING ON ! IN TRIGAN
PAGE 67
Caption: SHE LED HIM TO A HUMBLE HOUSE IN A POOR PART OF THE CITY, AND THERE WAS HER FATHER.
PERIC: KEREN! MY BOY!
KEREN: WHAT'S THIS? ... THE WISEST MAN IN THE EMPIRE, AND THE FRIEND OF TRIGO .. LIVING IN POVERTY!
PAGE 68
Caption: AND THEN ... THEY BROKE THE DREADFUL NEWS TO YOUNG KEREN.
KEREN: TRIGO . BRAG I, ... JANNO . ALL DEAD?
PERIC: YES, BY ORDER OF THARA, THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. THOUGH WE ARE TOLD THAT THEY PERISHED IN AN AIR CRASH. AND NOW SHE IS OUR EMPRESS!
PAGE 69
PERIC: I REFUSED TO SERVE HER, SO I WAS STRIPPED OF ALL MY POSSESSIONS. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD A SLAVE'S COLLAR HAMMERED AROUND MY THROAT ... BUT IT MAY STILL COME TO THAT!
SALVIA: FATHER ...
Caption: SALVIA CRIED OUT IN ALARM, AS THERE CAME A THUNDERING KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
PAGE 70
Caption: IT WAS THE BLACK GUARD!
GUARD: OPEN UP, PERIL.... OPEN UP .. IN THE MANE OF THE EMPRESS!
PAGE 71
Caption: SALVIA FEARFULLY OPENED THE DOOR AND THE GUARDS TRAMPED IN.
GUARD: YOU WILL ACCOMPANY US TO THE EMPRESS, AND YOUR DAUGHTER WILL ALSO COME ... TO ENSURE YOUR GOOD CONDUCT!
PAGE 72
Caption: SOON PERIC AND SALVIA WERE STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE EMPRESS OF TRIGAN.
THARA: THEY TELL ME THAT YOU ARE THE WISEST MAN ON THE PLANET ELEKTON.
PERIC: I AM ADEPT AT MANY SCIENCES, IMPERIAL MAJESTY. AND I HAD THE HONOUR TO SERVE YOUR NOBLE PREDECESSOR ...
PAGE 73
Caption: AT THE MENTION OF TRIGO, A CLOUD SEEMED TO PASS ACROSS THE EMPRESS'S BEAUTIFUL FACE ... BUT IT WAS SOON GONE.
THARA: NOW YOU WILL SERVE ME, PERIC! I HAVE NEED OF FIFTY MILLION THULARS ... AND YOU WILL TELL ME HOW I CAN LAY MY HANDS ON IT!
PERIC: BUT ... IMPERIAL MAJESTY ... FIFTY MILLION THULARS IS MORE THAN HALF THE ANNUAL REVENUE OF THE ENTIRE EMPIRE. WHERE IS SUCH A SUM TO BE OBTAINED?
PAGE 74
THARA: THAT IS FOR YOU TO TELL ME! I GIVE YOU A DAY AND A NIGHT TO PROVIDE THE ANSWER, PERIC ... AND IF YOU FAIL ME, YOU WILL NEVER SEE YOUR DAUGHTER AGAIN!
SALVIA: FATHER!
PAGE 75
Caption: AND SO, ALL THAT DAY AND FAR INTO THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, PERIC TURNED HIS GREAT MIND TO THE PROBLEM OF AMASSING THE STAGGERING FORTUNE FROM THE REVENUES OF THE SPRAWLING TRIGAN EMPIRE ...
PAGE 76
Caption: AND WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE EMPRESS ...
THARA: WELL?
PERIC: THE ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO AMASS SUCH A SUM IS TO CUT THE ARMED FORCES BY HALF, AND TO WITHDRAW THE GARRISONS FROM THE FRONTIERS OF THE EMPIRE ... BUT THAT, OF COURSE, IS RIDICULOUS!
PAGE 77
Caption: THARA NODDED, AND TURNED TO THE COMMANDER OF THE BLACK GUARDS.
THARA: SEE THAT THESE THINGS ARE DONE AT ONCE!
PERIC: NO! ... YOU WILL DESTROY THE EMPIRE ... EVERYTHING THAT TRIGO FOUGHT TO CREATE!
PAGE 78
Caption: PERIC PAID FOR HIS HASTY WORDS!
BLACK GUARD: SILENCE ,OLD FOOL!
PERIC: AAAAAAH!
PAGE 79
Caption: BUT THE WISEST MAN ON ELEKTON WAS NOT TO BE SILENCED SO EASILY.
PERIC: DO THESE THINGS, WOMAN, AND I MAKE THIS PROPHECY ... TRIGAN WILL FALL IN FLAMES, AND YOU WILL BE ITS LAST RULER!
PAGE 80
Caption: THARA IGNORED PERIC'S GRIM PROPHECY. WITHIN DAYS, MEN AND EQUIPMENT WERE WITH DRAWN FROM THE FAR FLUNG BOUNDARIES OF THE EMPIRE ... _
PAGE 81
Caption: HALF THE ARMED FORCES WERE PENSIONED OFF, SWELLING THE NUMBERS OF CITIZENS WHO FEASTED RICHLY EVERY DAY IN THE GIANT SQUARE OF TRIGAN ... AT THE EMPRESS'S EXPENSE.
TRIGAN: FILL MY CUP AGAIN. SLAVE!
TRIGAN: THIS IS THE LIFE ALL FEASTING AND MERRIMENT!
TRIGAN: LONG LIVE THE EMPRESS. I SAY. SHE HAS TURNED OUR LIVES INTO ONE LONG HOLIDAY!
PAGE 82
Caption: AND DAILY, THE POPULACE CROWDED THE GREAT AMPHITHEATRE TO WITNESS CONTESTS OF MERCILESS SAVAGERY BETWEEN MEN AND ANIMALS ...
Caption: BY SUCH MEANS DID THE EMPRESS THARA SEEK TO WIN THE LOVE AND RESPECT OF HER PEOPLE, AND MAKE THEM FORGET THEIR DAYS OF GREATNESS UNDER TRIGO.
PAGE 84
Caption: WHILE TRIGAN FEASTED AND PLAYED, THINGS WERE HAPPENING ON THE ABANDONED FRONTIERS. FIERCE TRIBESMEN SWARMED OVER THE DESOLATE WALLS ...
PAGE 85
Caption: AND TURNED THEIR FACES TOWARDS THE RICH LANDS BEYOND!!
Caption: PERIC'S PROPHECY WIN BEGINNING TO COME TRUE.
PAGE 86
Caption: IT WAS MIDDAY, AND THE FEASTING CITIZENS OF TRIGAN TURNED THEIR HEADS SURPRISED AS A CHALLENGING VOICE ADDRESSED THEM FROM THE BASE OF A STATUE IN THE GREAT SQUARE.
PERIC: CITIZENS .. THE EMPIRE IS IN DEADLY PERIL
TRIGAN: WHO'S THAT NOISY OLD FOOL?
TRIGAN: WHY, IT'S OLD PERIC . MUST HAVE TAKEN LEAVE OF HIS SENSES!
PAGE 87
Caption: PERIC LASHED THE GORGING MULTITUDE WITH HIS TONGUE.
PERIC: WHILE YOU FEAST AND PLAY, OUR FAR OFF FRONTIERS LIE UNGUARDED! ... WILL YOU STILL FEAST AND PLAY WHEN OUR ENEMIES ARE BATTERING AT THE VERY WALLS OF THE CITY?
PAGE 88
Caption: A GROUP OF THE DREADED BLACK GUARDS LOOKED ON ... AND ...
BLACK GUARD: SHALL WE SILENCE HIS WAGGING TONGUE?
BLACK GUARD: NO! ... LET THE RABBLE DO OUR WORK FOR US!
PAGE 89
Caption: ALREADY THE ANGERED MOB WAS DROWNING PERIC'S VOICE WITH CONTEMPTUOUS CRIES.
PERIC: FOOLS! FOOLS! ... CAN'T YOU SEE THAT THE EMPIRE IS CRUMBLING ABOUT YOUR IDLE EARS?
TRIGAN: GO AWAY, OLD MAN!
TRIGAN: WHAT RIGHT HAS HE TO CALL US IDLE?
TRIGAN: KNOCK HIM DOWN
PAGE 90
Caption: THEN THEY BEGAN TO THROW ... AND THE OLD MAN WAS KNOCKED SENSELESS TO THE GROUND.
TRIGAN: DOWN WITH HIM
PAGE 91
Caption: IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE PERIC'S DAUGHTER SALVIA AND HER FRIEND KEREN MANAGED TO FIGHT THEIR WAY THROUGH TO THE PROSTRATE FIGURE. BY THAT TIME, THE OLD MAN HAD SUFFERED BADLY AT THE HANDS OF THE MOB.
SALVIA: HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MY FATHER? ... HE WAS ONLY WARNING YOU FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!
KEREN: IT'S NO USE, SALVIA . THEY'LL NEVER LISTEN TO REASON ... LET'S TAKE YOUR FATHER HACK TO THE HOUSE.
PAGE 92
Caption: THE EMPRESS THARA HAD WITNESSED THE WHOLE SCENE FROM THE BALCONY OF THE IMPERIAL PALACE. SHE TURNED TO THE COMMANDER OF THE BLACK HER FACE GRAVE
TRIGAN: IS IT TRUE WHAT HE SAYS? ... IS THE EMPIRE REALLY IN DANGER?
COMMANDER: THE OLD FOOL GREATLY EXAGGERATES, IMPERIAL MAJESTY ...
PAGE 93
Caption: THE GUARD WAS SMOOTH ... COMFORTING
BLACK GUARD: TRUE. A SMALL HANDFUL OF GORTH TRIBESMEN HAVE PENETRATED THE FRONTIER AT ONE POINT, BUT THEY ARE TOO FAR AWAY TO CAUSE US ANY CONCERN IN TRIGAN CITY. AND I HAVE GIVEN ORDERS FOR THE NEAREST AIR FLEET TO ATTACK AND WIPE THEM OUT!
PAGE 94
Caption: THE NEAREST AIR FLEET BASE TO THAT PART OF THE FRONTIER WHICH THE WILD TRIBESMEN HAD PENETRATED WAS IN A STATE OF READINESS ... UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE TOWERING CLIFFS, THE ATMOSPHERE CRAFT LAY READY TO TAKE OFF ...
THARA: STAND BY TO START ENGINES!
PAGE 95
Caption: AND THEN ...IT HAPPENED!
PAGE 96
Caption: AVALANCHE!
THARA: AAAAAAAG.. LOOK! .
THARA: GET THE CRAFT INTO THE AIR BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!
PAGE 97
Caption: ONE CRAFT OF ALL THAT PROUD FLEET GOT AIRBORNE ... BUT WAS DASHED TO DESTRUCTION.
PAGE 98
Caption: THEIR TASK COMPLETED, THE GORTH TRIBESMEN THREW THEMSELVES ASTRIDE THEIR STURDY KREEDS AND SET OFF AGAIN ...
BLACK GUARD: ON TO TRIGAN CITY!
PAGE 99
Caption: AND SO ... WHILE TRIGAN CITY FEASTED AND PLAYED, ALL UNAWARE OF THE TERRIBLE FATE THAT LAY AHEAD ... THE GORTHS RODE AT FULL SPEED BY DAY AND NIGHT. AFTER A FANTASTIC FEAT OF ENDURANCE, THEY CAME IN SIGHT OF THE TOWERS AND DOMES OF THE GREAT CITY, ASLEEP UNDER THE MOONS OF ELEKTON.
BLACK GUARD: TOMORROW THE TRIGANS WILL BE OUR SLAVES, AND WE SHALL STABLE OUR KREEDS IN THEIR TEMPLES!
PAGE 100
Caption: SHORTLY BEFORE DAWN ON THE TWENTY SEVENTH DAY OF THE YEAR OF NAD ... A TRAGIC DATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE TRIGAN EMPIRE ... A HUMAN PYRAMID FORMED AGAINST THE HIGH WALLS OF THE CITY ...
PAGE 101
Caption: A SENTRY OF THE EVIL BLACK GUARD YAWNED AND LONGED FOR THE DAWN AND THE END OF HIS VIGIL ...
PAGE 102
Caption: HIS VIGIL ENDED ALL TOO SOON ... AND FOR EVER!
PAGE 103
Caption: MEANWHILE, ON THE ROOF OF HIS HOUSE, OLD PERIC WAS OBSERVING THE PRE DAWN SKY. DESPITE HIS CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GREAT SCIENTIST HAD NOT LOST HIS THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE, AND HE WAS INSTRUCTING YOUNG KEREN.
KEREN: AMAZING .. SO THERE ARE ANY GALAXIES LIKE OURS.
PERIC: YARNA IS ONLY ONE OF THE GALAXIES. KEREN. OUT THERE IN SPACE THERE MAY BE PLANETS SIMILAR , WHERE MEN LIKE OURSELVES STRIVE AGAINST THE SAME TERRIBLE PROBLEMS!
PAGE 104
Caption: SUDDENLY THEY WERE INTERRUPTED ...
PERIC: WHAT WAS THAT
KEREN: IT SOUNDED LIKEN LARGE PARTY OF MEN RUSHING STEALTHILY DOWN THE ALLEY!
PAGE 105
Caption: THEY PEERED OVER THE ROOF ... AND SAW
KEREN: GORTHS
PAGE 106
KEREN: THE GORTHS ARE IN THE CITY
PERIC: WE MUST RAISE THE ALARM IN THE PALACE ... IF WE CAN REACH THE PALACE BEFORE THOSE PAINTED BARBARIANS!
PAGE 107
Caption: WAKING SALVIA, THEY CREPT STEALTHILY OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HEADED FOR THE PALACE. THEY HAD NOT GONE FAR BEFORE THEY REALISED THAT THE STREETS WERE TEEMING WITH THE WILD TRIBESMEN ...
PERIC: THEY HAVE BROKEN INTO THE CITY IN FORCE!
KEREN: AND THEY'RE ALL MAKING FOR THE PALACE!
PAGE 108
Caption: WHEN THEY REACHED THE CORNER OF THE GREAT SQUARE, THEY KNEW THEY WERE TOO LATE. SHRILL WARNING TRUMPETS SOUNDED FROM THE RAMPARTS OF THE PALACE. AND THERE CAME THE HEAVY THUD OF A BATTERING RAM ON THE GATES!
PAGE 109
Caption: THE EMPRESS WAS AROUSED BY THE DIN. SOON THE COMMANDER OF HER GUARD BURST INTO HER PRESENCE, HIS FACE PALE UNDER THE HIDEOUS BLACK MASK.
BLACK GUARD: IMPERIAL MAJESTY... THE GORTHS ARE AT THE PALACE GALES!
PAGE 110
Caption: SHE ADDRESSED HIM BITTERLY.
THARA: FOOL FOOL YOU TOLD ME WE HAD NOTHING TO FEAR FROM THE BARBARIANS . THAT THEY WERE FEW IN NUMBER AND FAR AWAY!
BLACK GUARD: IT'S TOO LATE TO BLAME ME FOR THAT. THARA! YOUR PERSONAL ATMOSPHERE CRAFT IS WAITING ON THE RAMPARTS ... IF YOU WANT TO LIVE TO SEE THE DAWN YOU'D BETTER CONE QUICKLY!
PAGE 111
Caption: BUT THARA SHOOK HER HEAD.
THARA: I HAVE BROUGHT TRIGAN CITY TO THIS WITH MY SENSELESS FOLLY, AND IF THE CITY IS TO BE DESTROYED, I WILL BE DESTROYED WITH IT!
BLACK GUARD: PLEASE YOURSELF ... WOMAN!
PAGE 112
Caption: SOON AFTER, WHEN THE COMMANDER AND HIS MEN TOOK OFF FROM THE PALACE RAMPARTS IN THE IMPERIAL CRAFT, THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY LICKING THE WALLS OF THE GREAT BUILDING.
PAGE 113
Caption: BY THE TIME THE GORTHS AXES WERE SHIVERING THE DOUR OF HER APARTMENT, THARA HAD DONNED THE IMPERIAL CROWN AND WAS AWAITING HER FATE.
THARA: I HAVE FAILED ...BUT AT LEAST I CAN DIE LIKE AN EMPRESS OF THE TRIGANS!.
PAGE 114
Caption: ABOVE THE POUNDING OF THE GORTH AXES ON THE DOOR, THARA HEARD HER NAME CALLED.
PERIC: THARA! ... WE HAVE COME TO SAVE YOU!
PAGE 115
Caption: IT WAS OLD PERIC. HE SAW THE DETERMINATION IN THARA'S EYES, AND HE SEIZED THE EMPRESS BY HER SLENDER WRIST.
THARA: NO
PERIC: YES!... YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LAIN BY DYING FOR THE TRIGAN EMPIRE. AND EVERYTHING TO I GAIN BY LIVING, FOR IT!
PAGE 116
Caption: PERIC'S WILL PREVAILED. AND SO, WHEN THE GORTHS BURST IN
BLACK GUARD: WHERE IS SHE .. WHERE IS THE WOMAN WHO RULED TRIGAN
BLACK GUARD: HERE'S HER CROWN!
PAGE 117
Caption: THE BARBARIAN LEADER PUT THE JEWELLED CROWN ON HIS UNKEMPT HEAD AND GRINNED SAVAGELY AT HIS FOLLOWERS. ,
BLACK GUARD: WELL THEN FROM THIS MOMENT AM THE RULER OF THE TRIGAN EMPIRE
PAGE 118
BLACK GUARD: ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR VICTORY, MY WARRIORS! THE CITY IS YOURS! TAKE EVERYTHING YOU WANT. THE TRIGANS ARE YOUR SLAVES ... LOAD THEM WITH CHAINS AND MAKE THEM SERVE YOU HAND AND FOOT!
PAGE 119
Caption: MEANWHILE, IN A SECRET ROCK CARVED VAULT FAR BELOW THE IMPERIAL PALACE ...
PERIC: THE GORTHS WILL NEVER FIND US HERE ... I DESIGNED THESE HIDDEN CHAMBERS AND PASSAGEWAYS ON THE ORDERS OF THE EMPEROR TRIGO WHEN I BUILT THE PALACE. THEY ARE KNOWN ONLY TO ME ... NOW THAT HE IS NO MORE ...
PAGE 120
Caption: PRESENTLY, OLD PERK FACED THE TRIGAN EMPRESS ACCUSINGLY.
PERIC: WELL, THARA . AND WHERE IS YOUR EMPIRE NOW?
THARA: YES. PERIC ... I HAVE FAILED I NEVER SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED YULA TO PERSUADE ME INTO THIS MAD VENTURE I AM NOT FIT TO RULE TRIGAN
PAGE 121
PERIC: YULA IS THE BLACK HEARTED DEMON WHO COMMANDS YOUR EVIL BLACK GUARDS IS HE NOT?
THARA: YES ... IT WAS HE WHO TOLD ME THAT THE EMPIRE WOULD RISE TO AN EVEN GREATER GLORY IF I DISPOSED OF TRIGO AND HIS HEIRS AND SEIZED THE IMPERIAL CROWN FOR MYSELF ...
PAGE 122
Caption: PERIC'S VOICE ROSE .. IN TOWERING FURY!
PERIC: AND SO YOU HAD TRIGO SLAIN ... AND BRAG ... AND JANNO! YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD!
THARA: NO!... NO!
PAGE 123
Caption: THARA BLURTED OUT THE ASTOUNDING NEWS
THARA: THEY STILL LIVE!
PERIC: WHAT ?
KEREN: TRIGO .. BRAG ... JANNO? . STILL ALIVE!
PAGE 124
Caption: THARA EXPLAINED ... 'YULE DEMANDED THEIR DEATHS, BUT I COULD NOT BRING MYSELF TO DESTROY MY UNCLES AND MY COUSIN SO I HANDED THEM OVER TO PHONIC PIRATES ...
THARA: SO NOW THEY ARE GALLEY SLAVES ABOARD A PRATE VESSEL, SOMEWHERE IN THE SEA OF AZOV!'
PAGE 125
Caption: PERIC THOUGHT SWIFTLY. HE KNEW WHAT HAD TO BE DONE ... AND HE TURNED TO YOUNG KEREN.
PERIC: I AM TOO OLD FOR THE TASK, SO IT FALLS UPON YOUR STALWART SHOULDERS, KEREN! GO!... THE FUTURE OF THE TRIGAN EMPIRE DEPENDS ON YOU!
KEREN : I'LL RESCUE THEN, PERIC ... OR DIE , IN THE ATTEMPT!
SALVIA: AND I'LL GO WITH HIM, FATHER!
PAGE 126
Caption: BY NOON, THE SAVAGE GORTHS WERE BUSY LOOTING AND BURNING THE CITY. NO ONE SAW KEREN AND SALVIA CREEP OUT OF A SECRET EXIT AND APPROACH THE LINES OF TETHERED KREEDS IN THE GREAT SQUARE ...
KEREN: CHOOSE YOUR MOUNT ... WHEN I GIVE THE ORDER, RIDE FOR THE CITY GATES!
PAGE 127
Caption: BUT THE ALARM WAS RAISED AS THEY THUNDERED OUT OF THE OPEN GATES ... AND A HAIL OF SHOTS HOWLED OVER THEIR BENT HEADS!
PAGE 128
Caption: SALVIA'S KREED FELL WOUNDED BENEATH HER, BUT KEREN CAUGHT HER IN HIS ARMS AND LIFTED HER ON TO HIS OWN CAREERING MOUNT.
PAGE 129
Caption: THE GORTHS FIRED A FEW MORE RANDOM SHOTS AFTER THE FUGITIVES, AND THEN ...
BLACK GUARD: SHALL WE MOUNT AND GO AFTER THEM?
BLACK GUARD: WHY BOTHER WHAT ARE THE LIVES OF TWO MORE TRIGANS WHEN WE HAVE THE CITY AND EVERYTHIGN IN IT ?
PAGE 130
Caption: AND SO, BY GOOD FORTUNE, THE TWO COMRADES ESCAPED FROM THE STRICKEN CITY, SOON THEY WERE DEEP IN THE WIDENESS OF VORG.
SALVIA: IT'S A LONG JOURNEY TO THE SEA OF AZOV,KEREN.
KEREN: AND THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING ... ONCE WE REACH THERE WE HAVE TO FIND THE GALLEY ON WHICH TRIGO AND THE OTHERS ARE ENSLAVED ... AND THEN FIND SOME MEANS TO SNATCH THEM AWAY!
PAGE 131
Caption: TOWARDS EVENING THEY DREW NEAR THE MOUNTAIN RANGE BEYOND THE PLAIN ... AND THERE THEY SAW...
KEREN: LOOK!... THE WRECKAGE OF AN ATMOSPHERE CRAFT!
PAGE 132
Caption: THEY DISMOUNTED AND CLAWED THEIR WAY UP THE CRAGGY SLOPE.
KEREN: BY THE STARS! .IT'S THE IMPERIAL TRIGAN CRAFT!
SALVIA: THE BLACK GUARDS USED IT TO ESCAPE FROM THE CITY!
PAGE 133
Caption: SOON THEY WERE EXAMINING THE WRECKAGE. IT WAS ALL TOO CLEAR THAT THE BLACK GUARDS HAD PAID FOR THEIR CRIMES IN THE DISASTER.
KEREN: NOT A SINGLE SURVIVOR!
PAGE 134
Caption: BUT KEREN WAS MISTAKEN!
BLACK GUARD: AAAAAH! . AHHHH!... HELP ME!
KEREN: IT'S YULA THE COMMANDER OF THE BLACK GUARDS HIMSELF
PAGE 135
Caption: THEY HELPED THE SCOUNDRELLY YULA TO HIS FEET.
YULA: THANK THE STARS YOU CAME! . THAT FOOL OF A PILOT ... HE FLEW TOO LOW AND LOST HIS VISIBILITY IN A DUST STORM ... AND THEN ... STRAIGHT INTO THE MOUNTAIN! ...
PAGE 136
Caption: THEY MADE HIM COMFORTABLE, THEN KEREN HARSHLY TOLD HIM OF HIS FATE.
KEREN: YOU WILL HAVE LITTLE CAUSE TO BE THANKFUL TO US, YULA! ... YOU ARE NOW OUR PRISONER, AND WHEN WE HAVE RESCUED THE EMPEROR, HE HIMSELF WILL CONDEMN YOU TO DEATH UNDER THE TRIGAN LAW!
PAGE 137
Caption: WITH A SNARL OF FURY, YULA RAISED HIMSELF UP, A PISTOL IN HIS HAND!
YULA: INSOLENT BRAT! ... YOU'LL NEVER LIVE TO BE MY JAILER!
PAGE 138
Caption: KEREN LEAPT, HIS ARM FLAILING ... THE PISTOL DISCHARGED WITH A FLASH OF SEARING LIGHT!
PAGE 139
Caption: KEREN STAGGERED BACK, HIS HANDS PRESSED TO HIS EYES ..
Caption: WHILE YULA MISSED HIS FOOTING AND FELL WITH A HOWL OF DESPAIR ... TO DESTRUCTION!
YULA: AAAAAAAAAAGH!
PAGE 140
Caption: IN THE SILENCE THAT FOLLOWED, KEREN SLOWLY TOOK HIS HANDS FROM HIS FACE ...
SALVIA: ARE YOU ... ALL RIGHT?
KEREN: I AM .. BLIND ... BLIND
PAGE 141
Caption: ALONE ON THAT NIGHTMARE PEAK, THE TERRIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR PLIGHT BURNED IN THEIR MINDS ...
KEREN: THIS MEANS THE END OF THE TRIGAN EMPIRE!
Caption: A GIRL AND A BLINDED BOY ALONE IN THE MERCILESS WILDERNESS ... WHAT HOPE HAD THEY OF FREEING THE EMPEROR OF THE TRIGANS?
PAGE 142
Caption: KEREN GAVE WAY TO DESPAIR ... BUT SALVIA RALLIED HIM ...
KEREN: WHAT USE IN THIS QUEST? ... BLIND!
SALVIA: BLIND OR NOT, I CAN'T GO ON WITHOUT YOU, KEREN! ALL'S NOT LOST ... WE STILL HAVE OUR KREED, AND IT WILL CARRY US BOTH TO THE SEA OF AZOV!
PAGE 143
Caption: BUT WHEN THEY DESCENDED THE MOUNTAIN, A SHOCK AWAITED THEM!
SALVIA: OH. NO!
KEREN: WHAT IS IT... WHAT DO YOU SEE?
SALVIA: THE KREED ... SOMETHING'S , HAPPENED TO THE KREED!
PAGE 144
Caption: A MENACING HISS TOLD THEM ALL THEY NEEDED TO KNOW! A NOBRA, THE DEADLIEST SERPENT OF THE PLANET ELEKTON, HAD BITTEN THEIR KREED!
PAGE 145
Caption: THIS TIME IT WAS THE GIRL WHO DESPAIRED ... AND THE BLINDED BOY WHO GAVE HER ENCOURAGEMENT.
SALVIA: YOU WERE RIGHT, KEREN ... THERE'S NO HOPE OF OUR EVER REACHING TRIGO ... AND THE TRIGAN EMPIRE IS FINISHED
KEREN: NOT WHILE WE STILL LIVE SALVIA .. COME ON ... WE'LL WALK TO THE SEA OF AZOV ...AND WHEN WE'RE TOO WEARY, WE'LL CRAWL!
PAGE 146
Caption: AND SO, THEY SET OFF ... ACROSS .THE SCORCHING WILDERNESS.
PAGE 147
Caption: LATER, THEY FELL, EXHAUSTED AND PARCHED WITH THIRST
SALVIA: IT'S NO USE. NO USE ...
PAGE 148
Caption: AND THEN ... A SHADOW FELL ACROSS THEM!
SALVIA: AAAAAAH!
PAGE 149
Caption: LOOKING UP, SALVIA SAW A CIRCLE OF VEILED RIDERS STARING DOWN AT THEM.
KEREN: TAMAR WARRIORS.
PAGE 150
Caption: ONE OF THE WARRIORS UNVEILED ... TO DISCLOSE THE FEATURES OF A STERN AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!
WOMAN: GET TO YOUR FEET , .. YOU ARE COMING WITH US!
PAGE 151
Caption: KEREN AND SALVIA HAD HEARD OF THE HALF LEGENDARY TAMAR ... A TRIBE OF WOMEN WARRIORS WHO DWELT IN THE WILDERNESS AND WERE MERCILESS IN BATTLE. THE TAMAR HAD NO PITY FOR THE EXHAUSTED PAIR ...
PAGE 152
Caption: THEY CAME AT LENGTH TO A MASSIVE SPUR OF ROCK RISING OUT OF THE PLAIN ... AND SALVIA KNEW THAT SHE WAS LOOKING AT THE SECRET PLACE OF THE TAMAR.
KEREN: WHAT DO YOU SEE. SALVIA?
SALVIA: A GREAT BEAST CARVED OUT OF LIVING ROCK .. HOUSES TOO ... A CITY OF ROCK ... IT IS FANTASTIC!
PAGE 153
Caption: SOON THEY WERE BEING LED UP A VAST STAIRCASE THAT SOARED UP THE FACE OF THE GREAT ROCK.
PAGE 154
Caption: THEY WERE TAKEN, IN SILENCE, TO AN OPEN SPACE AT THE SUMMIT ... AND IT WAS THEN THAT SALVIA TURNED IN ALARM ...
SALVIA: WHAT HAT ARC YOU GOING DO WITH US?
PAGE 155
Caption: AND THE REPLY CAME ...
WOMAN: IT IS NECESSARY THAT YOU BE SACRIFICED TO THE SUN GODDESS OF THE TAMAR! ... THROW THEM OVER THE EDGE!
PAGE 156
Caption: AS SALVIA AND KEREN WERE FORCED TO THE EDGE OF THE DIZZY DROP, ONE OF THE TAMAR CRIED OUT TO THE SKY
WOMAN: O GODDESS HERIM, WHO RULES THE TWIN SUNS OF ELEKTON, ACCEPT THESE SACRIFICES, AND SAVE THE LIFE OF OUR MIGHTY CHIEFTAINESS!
PAGE 157
Caption: ON HEARING THE CRY. SALVIA TURNED ...
SALVIA: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR CHIELTAINESS? .. AND HOW CAN OUR DEATHS SAVE HER LIFE?
WOMAN: THE MIGHTY ONE HAS BEEN STRICKEN WITH A STRANGE SICKNESS, AND ONLY HERIM CAN SAVE HER! ... PROCEED WITH THE SACRIFICES
PAGE 158
SALVIA: NO! .. YOU ARE BLINDED BY YOUR FOOLISH SUPERSTITIONS! ... I AM ADEPT OF THE HEALING ARTS ... WHY DESTROY ME, WHEN I COULD CURE YOUR CHIEFTAINESS?
PAGE 159
Caption: CRIES OF ANGER FROM THE SURROUNDING TAMAR WERE SILENCED BY THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE OLDER WOMEN
WOMAN: THE GIRL INSULTS THE GODDESS!
WOMAN: DESTROY HER
WOMAN: NO I SAY THE GIRL SHOULD HE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PROVE HER WORDS. AFTER ALL .. TWELVE HAVE BEEN SACRIFICED ALREADY, AND HERIM HAS NOT ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS!
PAGE 160
Caption: AND SO, THE TWO PRISONERS WERE LED TO A VAST CHAMBER CARVED IN THE HEART OF THAT GREAT SPUR OF ROCK.
WOMAN: THERE LIES ALMARA. CHIEFTENESS OF THE TAMAR!
PAGE 161
Caption: SALVIA BENT OVER THE BEAUTIFUL FACE OF THE UNCONSCIOUS CHIEFTAINESS ... AND ...
SALVIA: YES ... I CAN CURE HER! LET HER BE CARRIED UP TO THE SUMMIT OF THE ROCK!
PAGE 162
Caption: THE TAMAR CARRIED THEIR LEADER UP TO THE HIGHEST PART OF THE ROCK, WHILE SALVIA GAZED UP AT THE CLOUDS MASSING IN THE SKY ABOVE ...
WOMAN: CAN YOU REALLY CURE HER?
SALVIA: MY FATHER TAUGHT ME A DESPERATE MEANS TO SAVE LIFE BY HARNESSING THE ELEMENTS
PAGE 163
Caption: SALVIA DEMANDED CERTAIN HERBS AND CHEMICALS, WHICH THE TAMAR WERE ABLE TO SUPPLY. THEN, WATCHED BY THE VEILED WOMEN WARRIORS, SHE MIXED THEM IN A CONTAINER ...
KEREN: IS THIS CURE DANGEROUS?
SALVIA: IT IS ALWAYS DANGEROUS TO TAMPER WITH THE ELEMENTS ... IF ALMARA DIES AS A RESULT OF WHAT 1 AM ABOUT TO ATTEMPT, THEY WILL KILL US ... BUT IT IS HER ONLY HOPE!
PAGE 164
Caption: AND WHEN THIS WAS DONE ...
SALVIA: NOW WE MUST LEAVE , YOUR CHIEFTAINESS HERE ... ALONE!
WOMAN: YOUR INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE OBEYED ... BUT IF ANY HARM COMES TO THE MIGHTY ONE
PAGE 165
Caption: THEY DESCENDED TO THE PLAIN BELOW THE GREAT SPUR OF ROCK, AND LOOKED UP TO THE CREST, OVER WHICH BLACK THUNDER CLOUDS WERE MASSING ...
KEREN: WHAT HAPPENS NOW. SALVIA?
SALVIA: WAIT ... AND HOPE
PAGE 166
Caption: SUDDENLY ... IT HAPPENED! ... A GREAT FLAME STABBED SKYWARDS FROM THE CONTAINER!
PAGE 167
Caption: INSTANTLY, THE SKIES SEEMED TO RESPOND. A FLASH OF LIGHTNING RENT THE CLOUDS ... AND THE TAMAR WARRIORS COWERED WITH TERROR AS THUNDER CRASHED OUT OVERHEAD!
WOMAN: GODDESS HERIM PROTECT US
WOMAN: AAAAAAH! THIS IS EVIL MAGIC
PAGE 168
Caption: AS RAIN DELUGED DOWN, ANOTHER LIGHTNING FLASH RIPPED DOWN FROM THE SKY AND CONNECTED WITH THE CREST OF THE TOWERING ROCK!
PAGE 169
Caption: FORGETTING THEIR OWN FEARS WHEN THEY SAW THIS, THE TAMAR TURNED UPON THE TRIGAN GIRL IN FURY.
WOMAN: SHE HAS DECEIVED US! ... SHE HAS USED EVIL MAGIC TO DESTROY OUR ` MIGHTY CHIEFTAINESS! ... KILL THEM BOTH!
PAGE 170
Caption: BELIEVING THAT THE LIGHTNING BOLT HAD DESTROYED THEIR CHIEFTAINESS, THE TAMAR WERE ABOUT TO CUT DOWN SALVIA AND KEREN ... BUT ... SUDDENLY ...
WOMAN: WAIT LOOK
WOMAN: BY THE SUN GODDESS HERIM!
PAGE 171
SALVIA: ALMARA LIVES !
PAGE 172
Caption: HIGH ON THE PEAK OF THE GREAT ROCK. THE CHIEFTAINESS OF THE TAMAR ROSE FROM HER COUCH AND LOOKED ABOUT HER ...
TAMARA: I...I HAVE BEEN DREAMING ..
PAGE 173
Caption: THE WOMEN WARRIORS SWARMED UP THE GREAT STAIRCASE AND FELL ON THEIR KNEES BEFORE THEIR LEADER ...
TAMARA: WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?
WOMAN: YOU WERE STRICKEN WITH AN UNKNOWN SICKNESS. MIGHTY ONE ... EVEN THE SUN GODDESS COULD NOT SAVE YOU...
WOMAN: BUT THAT TRIGAN GIRL HAS CURED YOU WITH HER STRANGE ARTS!
PAGE 174
Caption: THEN THE CHIEFTAINESS'S COMMANDING RISES WERE UPON SALVIA.
TAMARA: I GRANT YOU YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FREEDOM, AND THE LIFE AND FREEDOM OF YOUR COMPANION ... AND ONE OTHER REQUEST ...NAME IT!
SALVIA: WE ASK TO BE ESCORTED TO THE SEA OF AZOV!
PAGE 175
Caption: ALMARA AGREED. SO IT WAS THAT THE TWO TRIGANS RODE SAFELY THROUGH THE VAST, TRACKLESS WILDERNESS WITH A STRONG ESCORT OF TAMAR WARRIORS.
SALVIA: AND WHEN WE REACH THE SEA WHAT THEN ?
KEREN: SOMEHOW WE MUST FIND THE GALLEY IN WHICH TRIGO AND THE OTHERS ARE SLAVING AT THE OAR _ BENCHES.
PAGE 176
Caption: THEY CAME AT LENGTH TO A NARROW STRAIT OF WATER THAT DIVIDED THE TWO PARTS OF THE GREAT INLAND SEA, AND THERE THE TAMAR LEFT THEM.
TAMARA: ALL THE SHIPS THAT SAIL THE SEA OF AZOV MUST PASS THIS POINT ... YOU WILL ,,,., EASILY FIND ONE TO TAKE YOU FARTHER ON YOUR JOURNEY ... FAREWELL!
PAGE 177
Caption: THEY WALKED TO THE TIP OF THE POINT, AND AS SALVIA DESCRIBED THE SCENE TO HER BLIND COMPANION, A DESPERATE PLAN FORMED IN HER MIND ...
SALVIA: THERE ARE SHIPS ANCHORED HERE. AND SMALL BOATS SURROUND THEM, SELLING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO THE CREWS. BY THE STARS, KEREN! . THAT'S OUR ANSWER
KEREN: SALVIA! ... YOU MEAN
PAGE 178
Caption: THEY HAD BROUGHT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM TRIGAN CITY. LATER THAT DAY, THEY PURCHASED A BOAT FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL TRADERS
SALVIA: YOU DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN. MY FRIEND
TRADER: AH, BUT IT IS A GOOD BOAT, AND NOW I AM TOO OLD FOR PULLING ON THE OAR, I NEED THE MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR MY LAST YEARS ... AND YOU CAN HAVE THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR NOTHING.
PAGE 179
Caption: SOON AFTER, THE TWO COMRADES SET OFF FOR THE ANCHORAGE ... WITH KEREN AT THE OAR.
KEREN: TELL ME IF I AM GOING STRAIGHT. SALVIA
SALVIA: KEEP GOING AS YOU ARE, KEREN ... THERE'S ANOTHER SHIP APPROACHING ... A LARGE GALLEY ... IT COULD BE THE VERY ONE WE SEEK
PAGE 180
Caption: THE HUGE OAR POWERED GALLEY SLOWED TO A STOP NEAR THE POINT AND DROPPED ANCHOR. VILLAINOUS FACES PEERED DOWN AT THE SMALL BOAT, AND SALVIA REALISED WITH A THRILL OF ALARM THAT THESE MUST INDEED BE PHONIC PIRATES ...
SALVIA: YOU WISH TO BUY FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES SIRS ? .. NOTHING BUT THE BEST
PIRATE: WE'LL HAVE ALL YOU'VE GOT GIRL ... AND IT HAD BETTER BE FRESH, OR YOU AND YOUR BROTHER WILL SUFFER
PAGE 181
Caption: THE BASKETS WERE HAULED UP TO THE PIRATE GALLEY, AND WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING, SALVIA'S VOICE ROSE IN A SONG ...
SALVIA: BEYOND THE PLAIN OF VORG LIES TRIGAN CITY, BEAUTIFUL TRIGAN AND THAT'S WHERE I LONG TO BE
Caption: SHE SANG A SENTIMENTAL BALLAD MUCH BELOVED BY TRIGO
PAGE 182
Caption: IN EXCHANGE, THE PIRATES TOSSED THEM A FEW COINS. THEIR BUSINESS TRANSACTED, KEREN PULLED AWAY FROM THE GALLEY.
KEREN: NO LUCK THERE.) SALVIA!
SALVIA: NO KEREN, IF TRIGO, BRAG AND JANNO HAD BEEN ABOARD THEY WOULD HAVE HEARD MY SONG AND JOINED IN, FOR THEY WOULD HAVE RECOGNISED MY VOICE ... BUT WE MAY HE LUCKIER NEXT TIME ..
PAGE 183
Caption: KEREN'S VOICE ROSE IN DESPAIR
KEREN: WHAT'S THE USE? ... EVEN IF WE FIND THE GALLEY THAT ENSLAVES THEM, WHAT CAN WE DO? ... A GIRL AND A BLIND BOY?
SALVIA: FIRST LET US FIND THEM. KEREN ... THEN WE'LL THINK OF SOME WAY TO RESCUE THEM.
Caption: BUT IN HER HEART. SALVIA REALISED THE HOPELESSNESS OF THE TASK THEY HAD SET THEMSELVES!
PAGE 184
Caption: DAS KASSAR WAS A HAPPY MAN. WAS HE NOT THE CAPTAIN OF THE FINEST PIRATE GALLEY IN THE SEA OF AZOV? ... FRESH FROM A RAID WHICH HAD FILLED THE HOLDS WITH PRICELESS LOOT.
DIE KASSAR: SLOW THE BEAT AND PREPARE TO COME TO ANCHOR! WE'LL STAY HERE FOR A NIGHT OF FEASTING AND REJOICING
PAGE 185
Caption: OBEDIENT TO THE DRUM BEAT, THE OARS SLOWED THEIR STROKE ... AND THE GREAT SHIP GLIDED TOWARDS THE ANCHORAGE.
PAGE 186
Caption: WHEN THE ANCHOR SPLASHED DOWN, THE WEARY SLAVES BOWED, PANTING, OVER THEIR OARS ...
TRIGO: JANNO !
BRAG: THE LAD WON'T LAST MUCH LONGER, TRIGO!
PAGE 187
Caption: THE ENSLAVED EMPEROR OF THE TRIGANS NODDED GRIMLY.
TRIGO: ANOTHER LONG SPELL AT THE OAR WILL KILL HIM, BRAG ... WE'VE GOT TO ESCAPE!
BRAG: AYE BUT HOW
PAGE 188
Caption: AND THEN ... THEY HEARD A VOICE RAISED IN SONG ... A GIRL'S VOICE!
SALVIA: BEYOND THE PLAIN OF
TRIGO: DO YOU HEAR THAT?
BRAG: I KNOW THAT VOICE
PAGE 189
Caption: BENEATH THE TOWERING SIDES OF THE GREAT GALLEY BOBBED A SMALL BOAT CONTAINING SALVIA AND KEREN. IT WAS SALVIA WHO SANG ... AND HER SONG WAS ANSWERED!
TRIGO: WHITE WALLED CITY I LOVE, I CAN NEVER FORGET YOU
KEREN: TRIGO
SALVIA: WE'VE FOUND THEM, KEREN ... WE'VE FOUND THEM AT LAST!
PAGE 190
Caption: SHORTLY AFTER, DAS KASSAR LOOKED UP FROM COUNTING HIS ILL GOTTEN LOOT TO SEE THE BOY AND GIRL
DIE KASSAR: WELL ... WHAT DO THEY WANT?
SALVIA: CAPTAIN ... MY COMPANION AND I BEG TO BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL WITH YOU TO THE FAR SHORE OF THE SEA ... HE IS BLIND ... BUT I CAN COOK ...
PAGE 191
Caption: THE CAPTAIN AGREED, AND SALVIA WAS PUT TO WORK TO HELP WITH THE PREPARATION OF THAT NIGHT'S FEAST. SOME TIME LATER ...
PERIC: THE SLAVE MASTER CALLS FOR FOOD AND DRINK ... HE'S DOWN ON THE OAR DECK!
SALVIA: I'LL TAKE IT TO HIM!
PAGE 192
Caption: TAKING FOOD AND A PITCHER OF WINE, THE TRIGAN GIRL DESCENDED TO THE VAST OAR DECK, WHERE THE WRETCHED SLAVES LAY IN THEIR CHAINS.
SALVIA: NOW ... TO FIND THE EMPEROR ...
PAGE 193
Caption: AND THEN ...
SALVIA: IMPERIAL MAJESTY!
TRIGO: SALVIA IT WAS YOU
PAGE 194
Caption: A FEW HASTY WORDS ... AND SHE THRUST SOMETHING INTO TRIGO'S HAND.
SALVIA: SOMEHOW, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET YOU FREE ... TAKE THIS KNIFE ...
PAGE 195
Caption: AND THEN ... DISASTER!
PERIC: HEY! ... YOU! ... WHAT WAS THAT YOU GAVE THE SLAVE?
PAGE 196
Caption: THE SLAVE MASTER SAW THE TELL TALE WEAPON. IN A TRICE, HE DREW HIS SWORD AND RAISED IT ON HIGH ABOVE THE HELPLESS GIRL ...
PERIC: BY THE STARS YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT! ...
PAGE 197
Caption: BUT THE BLOW NEVER FELL ... INSTEAD, THE BRUTE FELL BACKWARDS AMONGST THE OARSMEN AS THE SHIP LURCHED SICKENINGLY AND OUTSIDE A NEW HORROR THREATENED TO ENGULF THEM ALL ...
PAGE 198
Caption: IT APPEARED WITHOUT WARNING ... TOWERING HIGH ABOVE THE PIRATE VESSEL ...
PAGE 199
Caption: ITS MASSIVE TAIL FLAILED ROUND, AND THE GALLEY WAS ALL BUT OVERTURNED BY A MIGHTY WALL OF WATER.
PAGE 200
Caption: DOWN ON THE OAR DECK, SALVIA PICKED HERSELF UP, BRUISED AND HALF STUNNED.
TRIGO: THE KEYS, SALVIA! ... GET THE SLAVE MASTER'S KEYS AND FREE US ALL!
PAGE 201
Caption: WRENCHING THE KEYS FROM THE BELT OF THE UNCONSCIOUS MAN, SALVIA HASTENED TO OBEY HER EMPEROR.
TRIGO: QUICKLY, GIRL ... QUICKLY
PAGE 202
Caption: MANY OF THE PIRATES HAD LEAPT OVERBOARD AT THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE MONSTER, BUT ONE MAN STOOD HIS GROUND ... DIE KASSAR, THE CAPTAIN
DIE KASSAR: BY THE TWIN SUNS OF ELEKTON ... THERE'S NO STOPPING THE BRUTE!
PAGE 203
Caption: AND THEN THE GREAT GALLEY SUFFERED ITS DEATH BLOW!
PAGE 204
Caption: SALVIA WAS THROWN INTO THE WATER WITH A FORCE THAT DROVE HER ALMOST TO THE SEA BED. LOOKING UP, SHE SAW THE BLOOD SPECTACLE OF THE DISASTER.
PAGE 205
Caption: FREED OF HIS CHAINS, TRIGO ALSO REACHED THE WATER UNHARMED ... KICKING HIS WAY TOWARDS THE SURFACE, HE SAW THE MONSTER'S FEARSOME HEAD FLASHING TOWARDS A LIMP, FLOATING FIGURE JUST ABOVE HIM.
TRIGO: NO ... NO
PAGE 206
Caption: REACHING UP, THE EMPEROR SEIZED THE MAN BY THE ANKLES AND DRAGGED HIM FROM CERTAIN DESTRUCTION!
PAGE 207
Caption: THEN TRIGO STRUCK OUT FOR THE SHORE, AND SOON HE WAS SCRAMBLING UP THE BEACH TO JOIN OTHERS WHO HAD SURVIVED THE CATASTROPHE.
TRIGO: WHAT OF BRAG? .. SALVIA? ... JANNO?
PAGE 208
Caption: HE PUT THE UNCONSCIOUS FORM OF THE MAN WHOM HE HAD SAVED DOWN UPON THE SAND ... IT WAS THE GALLEY'S CAPTAIN
TRIGO: DAS KASSAR! ... AFTER WHAT WE HAVE SUFFERED AT THIS BRUTE'S HANDS ... TO THINK THAT I SHOULD SAVE HIM!
PAGE 209
Caption: MOST OF THE SWIMMERS HAD NOW REACHED THE SHORE. AND TRIGO MOVED AMONGST THEM, CALLING OUT DESPERATELY ...
TRIGO: SALVIA! ... BRAG! ... JANNO! ARE YOU HERE?
BRAG: BROTHER
PAGE 210
Caption: FIRST BRAG ANSWERED, AND THEN SALVIA AND JANNO ... BUT THE GIRL HAD GRAVE NEWS ...
SALVIA: KEREN HASN'T REACHED SAFETY!
TRIGO: I DIDN'T KNOW KEREN WAS WITH YOU ... BUT HE'LL BE ALL RIGHT, I'M SURE. KEREN CAN LOOK AFTER HIMSELF.
BRAG: AYE, HE CAN SWIM LIKE A FISH ... HE PROBABLY MADE FOR THE OPPOSITE BANK
PAGE 211
SALVIA: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ...HE'S BLIND! HOW CAN HE LOOK AFTER HIMSELF?
PAGE 212
Caption: THE TRIGANS LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE WRECKAGE STREWN WATER ... AND TRIGO SPOKE THE THOUGHT THAT WAS IN ALL THEIR HEARTS.
TRIGO: KEREN IS NO MORE .. HE PERISHED FOR THE TRIGAN EMPIRE!
PAGE 213
Caption: REMEMBERING HIS STERN DUTY, TRIGO QUENCHED HIS GRIEF AND TURNED TO SALVIA ...
TRIGO: AND NOW ... WHAT NEWS FROM AN CITY? ... WHAT OF MY TREACHEROUS NIECE THARA?
SALVIA: GIVING OUT THAN YOU AND YOUR HEIRS WERE DEAD, THARA HAD HERSELF CROWNED EMPRESS ... IT WAS A SHORT AND DISASTROUS REIGN ... THE CITY HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY A HORDE OF GORTHS!
PAGE 214
Caption: TRIGO'S FURY WAS TERRIBLE TO BEHELD.
TRIGO: BY ALL THE DEMONS OF DAVELI! DID I CARVE AN EMPIRE OUT OF THE WILDERNESS FOR THAT WOMAN TO GIVE TO THE BARBARIANS? I SWEAR BY THE TWIN SUNS OF ELEKTON THAT I'LL NEVER REST WHILE A SINGLE UNWASHED GORTH TREADS THE STREETS OF MY CITY!
PAGE 215
Caption: HE TURNED TO THE GALLEY SLAVES ... LEAN AND TOUGH FROM THEIR LONG TOILING AT THE OAR BENCHES.
TRIGO: COMRADES OF THE OAR! MARCH WITH ME TO TRIGAN CITY, AND I WILL MAKE YOU FREE CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE! ... WHAT DO YOU SAY?
PAGE 216
Caption: A ROAR OF ACCLAMATION GREETED HIS OFFER!
SALVIA: TO TRIGAN CITY!
SALVIA: WE ARE YOUR MEN
SALVIA: LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!
PAGE 217
Caption: AND THEN ...
TRIGO: DAS KASSAR! ... WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOU SCOUNDREL?
DIE KASSAR: YOU SAVED MY LIFE, EMPEROR, AND A PIRATE HAS HONOUR OF A SORT ... JUST LIKE OTHER MEN ...
PAGE 218
Caption: WONDERINGLY, TRIGO TOOK THE HUGE HAND THAT WAS OFFERED
DIE KASSAR: MY SWORD AND THE SWORDS WORD MY MEN ARE YOURS TO COMMAND, EMPEROR! WE WILL MARCH WITH YOU!
TRIGO: I THANK YOU, CAPTAIN ...
PAGE 219
Caption: SUCH WEAPONS AS HAD BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE DISASTER WERE SHARED OUT BETWEEN THE MOTLEY FORCE, , AND THEY PREPARED TO MOVE OFF. IT WAS THEN THAT JANNO AND SALVIA APPROACHED TRIGO.
SALVIA: IMPERIAL MAJESTY ...
JANNO: UNCLE TRIGO ... SALVIA AND I HAVE A REQUEST TO MAKE ...
TRIGO: WELL
PAGE 220
JANNO: WE WANT TO STAY AND MAKE A LAST SEARCH FOR KEREN ... GIVE US TWO DAYS, UNCLE ... JUST TWO DAYS!
TRIGO: AGREED! ... TAKE TWO DAYS AND NO LONGER... AND THEN FOLLOW AFTER US.
PAGE 221
Caption: LATER, SALVIA AND JANNO WATCHED THE SMALL ARMY SET OFF ACROSS THE PLAIN TOWARDS DISTANT TRIGAN CITY.
SALVIA: THEY ARE FEW IN NUMBER TO FACE THE HORDES OF GORTH!
JANNO: YES, SALVIA... BUT THEY HAVE TRIGO!
PAGE 222
Caption: THE TWO COMRADES FOUND A SMALL BOAT AMONG THE WRECKAGE ON THE SHORE, WHICH THEY REPAIRED. THEN THEY BEGAN THEIR SEARCH.
SALVIA: LET'S TRY THE FAR SHORE.
JANNO: YES ... AND WATCH OUT FOR THAT MONSTER!
PAGE 223
Caption: FOR TWO LONG DAYS THEY SCOURED THE SHORES OF THE INLAND SEA. THEY FOUND WRECKAGE IN PLENTY ... BUT OF THEIR FRIEND ... NOTHING!
JANNO: IT'S HOPELESS ... AND TOMORROW WE MUST TURN BACK!
PAGE 224
Caption: AND THEN ... OUT OF THE EVENING SKY ... A STRANGE SOUND ...
SALVIA: JANNO! LOOK!
JANNO: BY THE TWIN SUNS!
PAGE 225
Caption: IT CAME IN LOW OVER THE SHORE ... THE STRANGEST CRAFT THAT THE TWO TRIGANS HAD EVER SEEN IN THEIR LIVES.
PAGE 226
Caption: AS THE CRAFT DREW CLOSER, THE PILOT WAVED DOWN TO THEM ... AND THEN A TONGUE OF FLAME BURST FROM ITS ENGINE!
JANNO: BY ALL THE STARS! ... LOOK! ... HE'S IN TROUBLE
PAGE 227
Caption: THE MAN IN THE CRAFT SAW HIS PERIL, AND TURNED BACK TO THE SHORE, TRAILING BLACK SMOKE.
JANNO: HE'S GOING TO CRASH! ... QUICKLY . TO HIS AID, SALVIA
PAGE 228
Caption: WHEN THEY RAN UP THE BEACH, THE PILOT WAS QUENCHING THE FLAMES._
JANNO: ARE YOU ALL RIGHT
ROFFA: YES!
PAGE 229
Caption: HE WAS A PLEASANT FACED LAD WITH HUMOROUS. EAGER EYES ...
ROFFA: THAT WAS A NARROW ESCAPE. I'VE STILL GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CRAFT, BUT I SUPPOSE I'LL SOLVE THEM ALL IN TIME.
SALVIA: I HOPE SO FOR YOUR SAKE
PAGE 230
Caption: AND THEN ..
ROFFA: YOU'RE TRIGANS, AREN'T YOU? ... I CAN TELL BY YOUR ACCENT. WE'VE GOT ONE OF YOUR FELLOWS IN ELLUL ...FOUND HIM YESTERDAY ... A BLIND LAD NAMED KEREN.
SALVIA: KEREN? ... SAFE? THANK THE STARS!
PAGE 231
Caption: THEIR NEW FRIEND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS ROFFA, A CITIZEN OF THE SMALL STATE OF ELLUL
SALVIA: HOW CAN WE GET TO KEREN?
ROFFA: IN MY FLYING CRAFT, HOW ELSE? ... GET IN, AND I'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO
PAGE 232
Caption: IT WAS WITH GRAVE MISGIVINGS THAT THE TRIGANS TRUSTED THEMSELVES TO THE PRIMITIVE CRAFT. BUT IT LURCHED INTO THE AIR ... AND THEY SET OFF ..
JANNO: SO YOU BUILT THIS THING YOURSELF, ROFFA?
ROFFA: YES ... THE PEOPLE BACK IN ELLUL THINK I'VE TAKEN LEAVE OF MY SENSES. WE'RE NOT VERY ADVANCED SCIENTIFICALLY, YOU KNOW ... NOT LIKE YOU TRIGANS ... AND THE OLDER FOLK WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY
PAGE 233
Caption: THEY CAME AT LENGTH TO THE SMALL CITY STATE NESTLING IN FERTILE FARMLANDS ... AND SWEPT IN TO LAND.
PAGE 234
Caption: THERE, ROFFA TOOK THEM TO A PHYSICIAN'S HOUSE, WHERE THEY WERE RE UNITED WITH THEIR COMRADE KEREN ...
SALVIA: KEREN ... HOW ARE YOU?
KEREN: MUCH BETTER . THEY'RE I VERY KIND TO ME HERE.
ELLULIAN: HE IS SUFFERING FROM EXHAUSTION AND EXPOSURE, AND WILL NOT BE FIT TO MOVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
PAGE 235
Caption: JANNO PONDERED...
JANNO: WELL, I MUST OBEY THE EMPEROR'S ORDER AND SET OFF BACK TO TRIGAN. HE'LL NEED EVERY MAN WHO CAN WIELD A SWORD AGAINST THE GORTHS! YOU HAD BETTER STAY HERE TILL KEREN'S FIT TO TRAVEL,
PAGE 236
Caption: ROFFA BROKE IN, EAGERLY .
ROFFA: LET ME FLY YOU BACK TO TRIGAN CITY! ... ALL MY .. LIFE, I'VE WANTED TO VISIT TRIGAN AND SEE WITH MY OWN EYES YOUR FANTASTIC ATMOSPHERE CRAFT!
JANNO: IN THAT THING OF YOURS?
PAGE 237
Caption: AN HOUR LATER, ROFFA WAS WATCHING IN DISMAY AS JANNO LAID VIOLENT HANDS ON HIS BELOVED FLYING CRAFT.
JANNO: WE COULD CERTAINLY REACH TRIGAN QUICKER IN THIS THING IF IT COULD BE MADE TO WORK PROPERLY .. AND THAT MEANS PRACTICALLY REBUILDING IT
JANNO: SO LET'S GET STARTED!
PAGE 238
Caption: IT WAS SOME DAYS LATER ... AT DAWN .. THAT A SMALL FORCE OF DESPERATE, ARMED MEN REACHED THE PLAIN BEFORE TRIGAN CITY. THE MOTLEY ARMY OF THE EMPEROR TRIGO HAD ARRIVED ... AND TRIGO WAS NOT A COMMANDER WHO WASTED TIME ..
TRIGO: WE WILL MOVE STRAIGHT INTO THE ATTACK
PAGE 239.
Caption: WEAPONS AT THE READY, THE SMALL ARMY CREPT FORWARD TOWARDS THE SLEEPING CITY. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CRASH OF GUNFIRE FROM THE RAMPARTS!
TRIGO: THEY'VE SEEN US.! . CHARGE!
PAGE 240
Caption: THE SURPRISE ATTACK HAD FAILED. WITH HIS MEN FALLING ALL ROUND HIM, TRIGO CRIED OUT DESPERATELY ...
TRIGO: BACK! ... BACK! ... BEFORE WE'RE ALL CUT DOWN!
PAGE 241
Caption: THEY TOOK COVER AMONGST THE BROKEN ROCKS, AND TRIGO HAD A MUTTERED CONVERSATION WITH DAS KASSAR.
DIE KASSAR: HOW TO REACH THE TOP OF THE RAMPARTS, THAT'S THE QUESTION .
TRIGO: THERE IS A WAY ... LISTEN ...
PAGE 243
Caption: TRIGO EXPLAINED HIS DESPERATE PLAN. THEN SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, A GIANT GALLEY SLAVE LEAPT FROM COVER AND , HURLED A LANCE ...
PAGE 244
Caption: THE MISSILE SLAMMED INTO THE MASSIVE WOODWORK OF THE CITY GATES.
PAGE 245
Caption: ANOTHER LANCE FOLLOWED ... AND ANOTHER ...
TRIGO: UGGH
PAGE 246
Caption: AND THEN ...
TRIGO: NOW
PAGE 247
CAPTION : THE EMPEROR WAS THE FIRST TO REACH THE
PAGE 248
Caption: UP THE LADDER OF LANCES SWARMED THE ATTACKERS!
PAGE 249
Caption: THEY REACHED THE RAMPARTS, AND A DESPERATE HAND TO HAND STRUGGLE BEGAN.
PAGE 250
Caption: FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY, THE FIERCE GORTHS CAME RUSHING TO STEM THE ASSAULT, RIDING THEIR WILD KREEDS ALONG THE BROAD RAMPARTS.
BLACK GUARD: HEY YAAAAH
PAGE 251
Caption: THE ATTACKERS WERE FARING BADLY. TRIGO FOUGHT SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH DAS KASSAR, AND THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN, STEP BY STEP, BACK THE WAY THEY HAD COME.
TRIGO: BY THE MOONS OF ELEKTON ... HOW MANY MORE OF THESE DEMONS?
DIE KASSAR: TRIGO LOOK
Caption: SUDDENLY DAS KASSAR SAW ... SOMETHING .
PAGE 252
Caption: IT SWOOPED LOW OVER THE CITY ... HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE RAMPARTS.
PAGE 253
Caption: JANNO WAS CROUCHED BEHIND ROFFA ...
ROFFA: LOWER THE BOULDER, JANNO!
PAGE 254
Caption: AN INSTANT LATER, A TRAILING HUNK OF ROCK SMASHED INTO THE GORTHS, DASHING THEM FROM THEIR GALLOPING KREEDS!
BLACK GUARD: AAAGH
PAGE 255
Caption: ONCE MORE, ROFFA BROUGHT HIS STRANGE CRAFT SWEEPING LOW ... AND ... THE TRAILING BOULDER WROUGHT HAVOC AMONGST THE GORTHS!
PAGE 256
Caption: TRIGO WAS SWIFT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. CALLING TO DAS KASSAR, HE LEAPT FROM THE RAMPARTS INTO THE CITY SQUARE BELOW.
TRIGO: DRIVE THEM TOWARDS THE GALES. DAS KASSAR! ... I'LL HE BACK IN THE SPACE OF FIFTY BREATHS!
PAGE 257
Caption: IN THE CENTRE OF THE SQUARE STOOD A LINE OF ATMOSPHERE CRAFT WHICH HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED SINCE THE GORTHS TOOK THE CITY, BECAUSE THE BARBARIANS HAD NO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE. TRIGO RACED TOWARDS THEM, FELLING ALL WHO BARRED HIS WAY.
BLACK GUARD: UUUUGH
PAGE 258
Caption: INSTANTS LATER, THE EMPEROR WAS AT THE CONTROLS OF A CRAFT AND MAKING A TURN OVER THE RAMPARTS.
TRIGO: NOW TO STRIKE TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THE BARBARIANS!
PAGE 259
Caption: THE GORTHS SAW THE NEW PERIL DESCENDING UPON THEM LIKE AN AVENGING THUNDERBOLT. FLINGING OPEN THE CITY GATES, THEY STREAMED OUT IN A PANIC STRICKEN MASS!
PAGE 260
JANNO: WE'VE BEATEN THEM, ROFFA! ...WE'VE BEATEN THEM
Caption: BROKEN AND DEMORALISED, THE PAINTED BARBARIANS FLED ACROSS THE PLAIN OF VORG ... URGED ON THEIR WAY BY THE TWO YOUNGSTERS IN THE PRIMITIVE FIGHTING CRAFT
PAGE 262
Caption: THE BATTLE WAS OVER AND TRIGAN REGAINED! WHILST ALL THE BELLS OF THE CITY PEALED OUT IN TRIUMPH, THE PEOPLE SWARMED INTO THE GREAT SQUARE TO SEE THEIR EMPEROR, WHOM THEY HAD THOUGHT TO BE DEAD
TRIGAN: TRIGO LIVES!
TRIGAN: THE EMPEROR HAS SAVED US!
PAGE 263
Caption: LATER THAT DAY, THARA WAS BROUGHT BEFORE TRIGO'S THRONE. RADIANTLY BEAUTIFUL, EVEN IN ADVERSITY, THE DEPOSED EMPRESS FACED HER UNCLE'S ANGER WITH SERENE CALM.
TRIGO: YOU PLOTTED TO OVERTHROW ME AND MY HEIRS ... YOU SET YOURSELF UP AS EMPRESS OF THE TRIGANS. AND NEARLY LOST THE EMPIRE ... TRIGAN JUSTICE DEMANDS THE SUPREME PENALTY!
PAGE 264
THARA: IMPERIAL MAJESTY ... I BEG FOR MERCY. NOT FOR MYSELF, BUT BECAUSE, ALIVE, I MAY BE OF SOME SMALL USE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE I HAVE SO GRAVELY WRONGED!
TRIGO: INDEED? ... AND WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR MY PEOPLE, THARA?
PAGE 265
Caption: WISE OLD PERIC SPOKE FOR THARA ...
PERIC: SPARE HER LIFE, TRIGO! WHILST SHE WAS IN HIDING, I TAUGHT HER SOMETHING OF MY HEALING ARTS, AND SHE WAS AN APT PUPIL. LET HER LIVE ... AND I BELIEVE SHE WILL BECOME A PHYSICIAN WHO WILL GREATLY BENEFIT OUR CIVILISATION!
PAGE 266
Caption: TRIGO THOUGHT FOR A WHILE ... AND THEN .
TRIGO: I AGREE! YOU HAVE YOUR LIFE, NIECE! ...USE IT TO SAVE OTHERS!
THARA: THANK YOU UNCLE!
PAGE 267
Caption: HAVING DEALT MERCIFULLY WITH HIS NIECE, THE EMPEROR'S THOUGHTS TURNED TO REWARDING THOSE WHO HAD AIDED HIM IN THE DESPERATE VENTURE ...
TRIGO: DAS KASSAR PRESENTS NO PROBLEM ... I HAVE OFFERED TO MAKE HIM AN ADMIRAL, AND THE PIRATICAL OLD ROGUE HAS ACCEPTED. BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU, ROFFA? ... IF YOU HADN'T TURNED THE TIDE OF BATTLE WITH YOUR RIDICULOUS FLYING MACHINE, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE REGAINED THE CITY. HOW CAN I REWARD YOU?
JANNO: UNCLE ... IF I MAY BE SO BOLD AS TO MAKE A SUGGESTION? ...
PAGE 268
Caption: WHEN HE HEARD HIS REWARD, ROFFA'S SIMPLE COUNTENANCE WAS WREATHED IN A SMILE OF UTTER BLISS ...
ROFFA: ME .. AN OFFICER OF THE TRIGAN AIR FLEET! ... JUST WAIT TILL THE FOLKS BACK IN ELLUL HEAR ABOUT THIS!
PAGE 269
Caption: WHEN KEREN RETURNED FROM ELLUL, HE WAS CURED OF HIS BLINDNESS BY PERIC'S HEALING ARTS, AND TOOK HIS PLACE ONCE MORE IN THE RANKS OF THE TRIGAN AIR FLEET WITH JANNO AND ROFFA. AS FOR ROFFA'S PRIMITIVE CRAFT ... IT BECAME A PERMANENT MEMORIAL TO THE SAVING OF THE TRIGAN EMPIRE!
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