Accompanied by his armed guards, Lipka led Peric to a vast chamber below his mansion. Behold! The stolen Monster of Vorg! And that is not all, my friend—see! The Ultimate Aircraft designed by me. The fastest thing that ever flew. The multimillionaire’s voice rose in triumph, as he gestured to a tall figure whom his guards were freeing from a cage. And the winner of the Victor’s Grand Crown at this year’s Trigan Empire Games. Janno! Peric! Lipka then introduced another “acquisition”—Elekton’s top living musical composer, frightened but still defiant. And here is Chorpinal who still refuses to conduct for me a command performance of his new symphony. Nor will I ever, you . . . you . . . barbarian! But a word from Peric made the great composer change his mind. Trust me. Do as I say. Humour him and conduct your symphony. Oh, very well.So, in a private concert hall of the mansion, with an orchestra of two hundred, Chorpinal conducted a performance of his master work, the famous “Freedom Symphony”. Peric was greatly affected by the beauty of the music. He was surprised to see that his neighbour was also emotionally stirred. Anyone who reacts like this to the nobility of Chorpinal’s sublime theme cannot be entirely evil. When it was over, the multimillionaire turned to Peric. After a lifetime of slavery and deprivation, Peric, I am in a position to indulge my every whim. And my whim is for the perfect! The fastest—the greatest—the biggest—the noblest of everything! I understand your intention, Lipka, but you are mistaken. To begin with, Chorpinal, whose whole work is devoted to the theme of freedom, will never compose again while you hold him prisoner. The Monster of Vorg was pre-dated by an even bigger creature. It is quite feasible, but useless, to build a faster machine than the Ultimate Aircraft. Janno’s record at the Empire Games has already been broken. As for the Green Diadem, the fake you left in its place is still being worshipped by its devotees who have not been told that you have stolen the original. Peric was quick to observe that his oratory was having a marked effect upon Lipka. I see what you mean, Peric. I’ve gone to all this trouble, broken the law, and I still don’t possess complete perfection. Peric made a last appeal. It’s not too late, Lipka. Free those you have kidnapped! Return the other things and throw yourself on Imperial mercy. Yes, Peric, I will. You will do no such thing, Lipka, because you are going to perish, both of you! Now!
This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 730 on 10 January 1976.
