FRANK HAMPSON (1918-1985)


AND IT'S NO USE YOUR TRYING ANY PHYSICAL VIOLENCE ON ME. I HAVE LOCKED THE COURSE OF THIS CHAIR AND NEITHER YOU NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN ALTER IT	A GREAT DANGER HAS ARISEN - YOU MUST GO BACK TO THE EARTH STRAIGHT AWAY! ANYTHING YOU SAY, SIR - BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED?	THE THERON CONTINUES HIS STORY OF THE FIRST VENUSIAN EXPEDITION TO THE EARTH

WHY NOT LET THEM GO? - WITH FOUR WE CAN SPARE TWO FOR DISSECTION!	I'LL KILL THE MEKON IF ANY TREEN MAKES A FALSE MOVE - ROUND 'EM UP CHAPS!	SIR HUBERT, DIG AND PROFESSOR PEABODY HAVE 'HIT THE DECK' OF THEIR PRISON CELL TO AVOID THE PINK GAS WHICH THE TREENS ARE PUMPING THROUGH THE VENTILATORS

I SAY - HANG ON A BIT MR PRESIDENT - I'M TRYING TO WORK THIS OUT	UGH - NOW WE'RE IN A SPOT, AND NO MISTAKE. THANK GOODNESS THAT INSULATED DOOR WAS CLOSED.	PHEW! - THEY'LL NEVER BREAK DOWN THAT DOOR..

COLONEL DARE AND PILOT-CAPTAINS HOGAN AND LAFAYETTE TO SEE YOU, SIR	IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE OF VENUS, DAN HEARS FAMILIAR VOICES AND FINDS	EVEN AS DAN LEAVES, A FLEET OF THERON MACHINES COMES THUNDERING UP THE HILL

LOOK OUT, PROF. BEHIND YOU!	IN THE TREEN INTELLIGENCE SECTION OF THE THERON GOVERNMENT OFFICES...	DAN, PARALYSED BUT STILL CONSCIOUS, IS SWEPT FAR BELOW THE FLAME-BELT IN THE GRIP OF THE SUB-VENUSIAN TORRENT