THE INFERNAL MACHINE
By the tartan of clan MacGregor,
an impressive and sinister place.
Excuse me,
how do I get to "La Bove de la Damoiselle"?
La Bove?
It's been shut up for years.
It's all right. I have a key.
Take the second right and go up to the church.
It's next door.
Thank you. Goodnight to you.
He's from Paris and has a key to La Bove. How odd!
There's always been something fishy about that house.
They say it used to belong
to a professor Miloch, a lunatic.
He invented a machine to manufacture the weather.
There was a bad accident.
His factory blew up and he disappeared.
That must be the damsel.
Not very inviting.
Old Miloch was a madman but he could plan ahead.
"Dear Blake and Mortimer,
"To lay hands on your fabulous inheritance,
"go down to the cellar.
"You will find the door at the back of this room.
"Stand facing the small statue
"and stamp hard on the round flagstone..."
Where's that light coming from?
"Go down the stairs and into the crypt.
"There, gentlemen, is where you'll find your inheritance."
Much ado about very little!
But we'll see...
I'm trapped like a rat!
Marvellous!
Can this be... the legacy?
This is a machine to travel through time.
Who's that?
Old chaps,
this is the most amazing invention
in the history of mankind: the Chronoscaphe.
Where are you? Show yourself!
This device can transfer two people
to whatever era they choose, past or future.
That's Miloch. A tape recording.
He set all of it up.
It's all yours. Try it out.
I invite you both
to get on board my Chronoscaphe.
Remember to put on your spacesuits, over there.
Dear Francis,
You'll be surprised to learn
that Professor Miloch has died
and bequeathed his last invention to us.
I can't wait to find out what it is
so I've gone to France.
Join me as soon as you can.
Good old Mortimer!
He'll never understand that curiosity killed the cat.
This "legacy" might very well be a trap.
Yes, miss.
When's the next flight for Paris, please?
If Blake could see me...
But I'll risk it.
Fine, gentlemen. Now your helmets.
This, too. You never know.
That's right. Now fasten your seatbelts.
Close the cockpit. Push the blue button.
This is how the machine works. It's very simple.
There's a dial to choose the era.
The pilot has two levers:
a red one to take off...
and a yellow one to stop.
I imagine Professor Mortimer has taken control, as usual.
Ready, professor?.
Enter the date,
past or future, of where you want to go.
A little jump into the past,
just to test the machine. Six months.
Your era is chosen.
Now all you have to do is pull the red lever.
Go for it!
Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen. Bon voyage!
That's a Williamsonia,
extinct for over 150 million years!
We are landing at Orly airport.
It is six o'clock, local time.
Miloch sabotaged
the time dial of his Chronoscaphe.
Now I'm stuck here,
a hundred million years
before human beings appear!
What are they?
Horrible insects!
Now I've done it!
Where's it gone?
There!
Oh, no!
A tyrannosaurus!
Let's at least try for the 20th century.
The colours are unreeling in reverse.
Maybe there's a colour for each epoch.
Where in blazes am I?
I'll have to chance it.
Phew, back in the crypt.
That was frightening.
But... where's the platform?
Let's check it out.
A dead-end?
You are foul brigands.
As thanks
for the protection I give you,
you steal my goods.
Hang them both in the public square!
You want them hanged because they poached two hares?
My lord, they're children.
In the name of Mary, mother of us all,
forgive them.
Never! How dare you defend them?
Their kin are in arms against me. Take them away!
The fiend! The savage!
By the horns of Beelzebub, who is this?
A spy?
Lord defend us!
I am Philip Mortimer, from London.
English? And come through the secret passage?
Foul traitor! Lay hands on him!
Easier said than done.
And you're naught but a coward to attack those two bairns.
Lay hands on him, I say,
and hang him with the others!
My fencing skills come in handy.
After him!
Luck's on my side, for the moment.
Don't kill me, sir!
Of course not. Who are you?
Open this door!
I... I'm Agnes,
daughter of Guy de la Roche, lord of this castle.
But the statue. It's you.
My father ordered me to stay here.
The Jacques are going to sack the castle.
The Jacques?
I'm caught in the middle of the 1358 peasants' revolt.
I'm stuck in the 14th century.
Here they come. I'll be killed.
Death to Sir Guy! Death to the tyrant!
Death to them all!
Follow me.
You're outnumbered. Throw down your arms.
Victory!
We've won, we've won!
They're cooling off.
The castle is ours.
We're free, free at last!
His daughter!
Despicable! I loathe them.
Stand aside.
Hide on the balcony.
Stay there, whatever happens.
Now, brothers, the treasure is ours.
Who's he?
He's a lord, that's enough.
And all clad in heathen garb, he's an enemy!
Take the treasure
but do not touch Agnes de la Roche. I defend her.
What a flower of chivalry we have here.
Who are you, stranger?
My name would mean nothing to you but...
He's a killer, like the others!
I'm not your enemy.
He speaks true.
He risked his life to save the children.
Very well...
Let's make a deal.
Single combat, face to face.
If you beat me, you go free.
Take Agnes and the treasure. What do you say?
Bare hands? You're on.
Poor dolt! He little knows what awaits him.
He'll be grist for the mill, like all the others.
I'll wring your neck like a chicken, you clown.
I love judo. It always works.
So, my hearty, admit it,
you're vanquished.
May the devil take you! Yes, I can do no more.
Remember what your leader promised.
We go free, with the treasure.
I'm sure he rented this car
to get here from the airport.
"Go to the cellar.
"The door is at the back of this room."
The secret passage was closed when I got here
so, if Mortimer explored,
the door must have closed automatically.
So... watch out!
Just what I need.
Now I know it can't snap shut on me.
Nice work, captain.
Caught like a rat in a trap. Just like Mortimer, I imagine.
Mortimer?
That's his coat.
Maybe he left me a note.
Miloch's will, nothing else. That's no good.
Now let me think.
He must have changed into a suit like this.
And Miloch left this one for me.
This can't be his legacy, can it?
I simply don't understand.
What's this platform for?
Cables. Where do they lead?
That stranger beat me by witchcraft.
He's a sorcerer straight from hell.
Grab them, him and his accomplice!
Wake up, you fools!
He's getting away!
Quick, this way!
Take care. And may God keep you.
Come on, fast!
What can these cables be connected to?
There's nothing but stone.
Except for that ring.
What's that contraption?
And where is it?
Those columns seem to be behind the machine.
Bingo!
Exactly the same!
1358?
And the device will return to this crypt,
from the 14th century?
Courage, Agnes.
Mortimer!
Who's that with him?
Sit down, fast!
Where are we going, lord?
Death! Death to the sorcerer!
But I don't understand... Unbelievable!
Trust me.
You want witchcraft? Then here!
His hand spits flame!
Lord save us!
I told you,
he's a devil sent from hell!
What's going on?
Where are we bound?
I wish I could answer you,
but this craft is totally out of control.
I'm doing my best but...
Good grief, what can I do?
I must try to control this... devilry!
They have nothing to lose.
The eighteenth century.
Luck is on our side.
Stay calm. If I have it right,
the next time the blue shows up, I have to...
No!
Phew, they're coming closer.
By the tartan of clan MacGregor,
all the systems are down.
We're done for!
Just hang on for another minute. We're almost there.
Good grief!
Is that me... or my ghost?
Mortimer!
Are you all right?
Your friend looks in poor shape.
Alive, but only just.
Have a good trip, professor!
Enjoy the ride, captain!
Good grief, who set the blasted thing going again?
No idea.
Where is it taking us now?
How would you like a short visit to the 32nd century?
Francis, Agnes?
Wake up!
The Chronoscaphe has stopped.
We've landed in a new world.
It doesn't look very promising.
Where am I?
And who might you be?
I... I was about to ask you the same question.
Francis Blake, may I present Lady Agnes de la Roche,
daughter of the lord of this castle, in the 14th century.
I fear your home is greatly changed.
Changed? Why? What is this place?
The crypt of La Bove,
beneath your castle.
But I don't know what year.
You jest!
Alas, no.
Look!
At the top of the ladder, there's an opening.
Mortimer, this is hardly the time to go exploring.
Come on, help her up the ladder.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the future.
Enjoy your stay!
Well, well...
Let's see what's down here.
A metro line!
A metro line to La Roche-Guyon?
There used to be one.
Judging by its state,
a disaster struck at least a century ago.
Who knows? There's no way to tell.
What is this "metro"?
Well, it's a... a means of transportation.
It replaced the ox-cart and the horse-drawn carriage.
You see, Agnes...
Lady Agnes, we must tell you the truth.
Since the Middle Ages...
The Middle Ages?
You were born and lived...
used to live,
in a period called the Middle Ages.
I don't know if they still call it that
in this day and age.
We must face facts,
we've travelled to a new age.
I understand you not.
Over here, come quickly!
Let's do as he says.
Come and see.
I found stairs leading to another floor.
A giant reactor.
It's almost intact.
- An old nuclear power station? - That's right.
But it hasn't been used in years.
Good grief, Blake, what age are we in?
Be reasonable, Mortimer.
Come back to the Chronoscaphe
and let's try to return to our own time.
Are you afraid of the future, old chap?
Stop playing with fire and come back.
Out of the question, not right now.
I want to find out more.
He's incorrigible. Come, Agnes.
Francis, I'm afraid.
What a dreadful maze.
Wreckage everywhere.
The peasants who attacked our castle
never frightened me as much as this.
Stay calm, Agnes. You're in shock.
What on earth can have happened in the history of mankind?
Nothing good, obviously.
Don't you understand, you stubborn Scot?
Mankind couldn't avert a nuclear war!
There was an apocalypse.
There probably weren't any survivors.
Human beings...
In the forbidden city!
They're spies.
We'll kill them.
Let's leave!
You disappoint me...
Up there,
something moved.
- See anything? - Nothing.
I'd swear I saw shadows moving.
Is something alive up there?
How marvellous! Let's go and see.
Hands up, both of you!
Hands up!
Your gun... throw it down!
His hair's red.
And the beard. It could be him.
The messenger? The liberator?
What are they plotting?
- Where are we going? - To the master.
By what path did you enter the forbidden city?
Through the crypt.
What crypt?
This man is an impostor, a threat to...
Gently, Ishma.
You're from the planet Pluto, aren't you?
Pluto? What do you mean?
They wanted to see the red-haired man. I couldn't stop them.
Look, there he is!
The prophet!
The liberator!
- You're very popular. - It's beyond me.
It's him, the liberator!
Come to set us free at last!
Yes, it's true!
You are right, comrades.
But I must speak with him.
I will tell you all that passes between us.
- Yes, lord. - Yes, master.
Thank you, master.
Ishma, go with them and make sure they remain calm while we talk.
I'm yours to command, master.
My name is Focas.
I'm the head, on Earth,
of the Planetary Liberation Network.
We anxiously await the messenger from Pluto.
My men picture him with red hair because of the saying,
"Hair of red, tyranny 's dead!"
They think I'm this prophet.
That's right.
So where did you come from?
The 20th century.
You're not serious.
Indeed we are, Focas.
And Lady Agnes
is from the 14th century.
I should have listened to Ishma. You're impostors!
Wait, Focas.
Let us explain.
So they found their way in through the forbidden city?
I don't believe it.
It's a put-up job between Focas and those three visitors
to improve the morale of his partisans.
Hello, 3.0.8. This is 4.6.9.
3.0.8. here. Come in, 4.6.9.
A messenger, supposedly from Pluto,
has arrived with two accomplices.
What orders?
What did you say? April 12th, 3160?
That's the date today.
You've travelled through time more than a thousand years.
And Lady Agnes, almost two thousand!
If I'm to believe your wild tale...
What do you call the machine?
The Chronoscaphe. You must believe us.
Your story is most unlikely.
But I think I believe you.
You seem honest and loyal. Come with me.
I would like to show you
what happened to the world
during the ten centuries you've just skipped.
The town of La Roche-Guyon in the 22nd century.
Awful!
Dear Lord!
That's the way it was all over the world.
The planet devastated by germ warfare and nuclear war.
The few survivors
were reduced to utter barbarism.
I can't believe it.
It's intolerable.
Fortunately, some human beings escaped
and took refuge on other planets, including Pluto.
An interplanetary society gradually rose from the ashes.
Then what?
Alas, a totalitarian minority has taken over the galaxy
and now we languish under the yoke of the "Supreme Power",
as we're forced to call it.
Its goal is to turn humans into obedient robots.
So you organised a resistance movement?
That's right.
We have allies on other planets, particularly Pluto.
But we've waited for their messenger for years.
They thought it was you.
If we tell them the truth the resistance is dead.
Would you pretend?
You've convinced me.
- Thank you. - I'm with you.
So am I, Focas.
My family had power.
I'm sad to see that, over the centuries,
powerful people have brought nothing but ruin and pain.
I am with you, Focas.
I thank you, my friends.
I've seen no women, no children. Where are they?
They stay in their shelters. It's safer.
How grim.
We'll start by cleaning and checking the seals.
Yes, sir. Hey, you men, over here!
May I give you a hand?
Good.
Good day, Mortimer.
This antique won't blow us to kingdom come?
This "antique", as you call it,
was built in my heyday.
I'm a nuclear physicist, remember?
I came to bring you this.
I wear the same.
We'll be able to stay in touch safely.
What an odd thing.
Keep me abreast of your progress.
I don't expect any problems
making the mini-bombs you need to defend yourselves.
I found this on the ground.
A police transmitter?
We're being watched.
One of the workmen is a spy!
That's right.
82X to 65Y, do you read me?
Loud and clear.
I'm uneasy.
The Supreme Power has summoned me to the capital.
I cannot refuse.
I must leave now. Where do you stand?
In good shape. We're assembling the first mini-bomb.
Good luck, 82X.
State your identification code.
A.F.C. 0.7.0.3.
Code verified.
The honourable Focas is expected in the COT.
The COT? The Chamber of Truth?
I'm done for!
This way, honourable Focas.
Welcome, honourable Focas.
Hail, O Supreme Power!
What do you wish from me?
Tell us what you are plotting with the red-bearded subversive
and his two accomplices.
You refuse to confess? So be it!
I will tell you everything, I swear, O Supreme Power!
He should have been back.
Has he abandoned us?
Keep the faith, friends.
He knows what he's doing.
He should never have gone!
He had no choice.
They'd have suspected something if he'd refused.
He'll be back.
There he is! The master's back!
Long live the master!
Master, you're home at last!
We've been so worried.
He has travelled far.
He needs to be alone.
He looks brainwashed to me.
I think you may be right.
Now I'm in charge!
- Understand? - Yes.
I'll transmit by telepathy new orders for your men. Got it?
Got it.
Call a meeting of the resistance squad leaders
and convince them.
H hour is near. We'll emerge onto the surface
to join our allies from other planets
in a final battle for liberation.
Master, it's too soon.
The police robots will attack.
We're defenceless!
Hold your peace! Do you no longer trust me?
Of course but...
That's enough! All fighters to the surface!
As you command, master!
Once above ground, they'll be wiped out.
The Supreme Power planned it all.
To arms! To the surface!
By order of the master, to the surface!
Victory is at hand! The battle begins!
- This wasn't in the plan? - They've gone mad!
65Y to 82X!
Hello? Come in, 82X.
No answer. That's bad.
Blake! Mortimer!
Look, on the ground.
Police bugs.
That's Ishma's coat.
The traitor! We must go up.
Let's take a couple of mini-bombs.
Good thinking.
Forward! Death or glory!
We have to stop them, they'll be massacred!
Come back under cover.
The red prophet is signalling!
He's signalling to us!
Quick, speak to them!
He is a false prophet. Do not heed him.
Focas, get a grip of yourself.
This traitor is manipulating you.
How dare you say that?
Here's the proof.
Police transmitters to spy on us.
I'm done for! They're aiming at the bugs.
Agnes, Blake, Mortimer!
What happened?
You were hypnotised.
What have I done?
Not now. Into the shelter, fast!
Give me that. Now, load it with a bomb!
It's worth a try.
Hooray!
Long live the liberator! Down with the tyrants!
Master, a message.
Our allies on Mars and Pluto heard our call.
They'll be here in one hour.
If we can hold out for one hour more, we'll win.
What's that disgusting thing?
It's called "the thing". It's their ultimate weapon.
Run for shelter!
One...
two...
Three!
It didn't work.
Let's go!
Blake, on the sole of your boot.
That's why it keeps after us.
We can use it.
Stick it on here.
It's working, Blake.
We don't need to worry about it now.
Focas!
Mortimer, Blake, we've defeated our foes.
Our allies have arrived.
We're free!
So you prefer the 32nd century?
Yes, I wish to live in this world.
You brought me here. I'm eternally grateful.
Good luck, Agnes. Good luck, Focas.
Ready to go back to modern times, old man?
Can you get us there?
I'd never trust this instrument.
But I do trust my luck.
And... I have an idea.
What is it?
When you brought us back,
I saw a ghost,
my own ghost, enter the Chronoscaphe
a fraction of a second
before we reached the present.
You're going to watch for your ghost
and then slam on the brakes.
You're a smart fellow, Blake!
Can they be back in the machine?
Confound it!
They're heading to the 20th century at top speed.
There's only one thing to do:
destroy the machine!
Don't miss your ghost!
I'm concentrating!
The self-destruction mode.
I made it too complicated. It's taking too long.
I suspected the one with the beard.
I heard he's a professor.
The poor man's in a bad way.
Is he the professor?
There were two.
Which one is he?
I don't know. It's an odd name, a foreign name.
Both had foreign names.
So Miloch wasn't dead after all.
He's not dead even now.
The surgeon assured me he'll recover.
By the tartan of clan MacGregor!
It's good to be in the present.
You kept that?
Of course. Didn't you?
Certainly.
It's an intriguing souvenir.
And evidence of our travels through time.
I'll wager no one believes us. Would you?
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