The Slave's Railway

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The Slave's Railway
The Slave's Railway 1986.jpg
Produced for: Fantomen 26/1986
# of pgs: 31
Writer: Norman Worker
Artist: Hans Lindahl
Original colorist: N/A
Producer: Semic Press


"The Slave's Railway" is a 1986 Team Fantomen story, written by Norman Worker, with art by Hans Lindahl.

Plot synopsis

The twins Julie and Kit, children of The 16th Phantom, were born in 1852 and a few years later sent to Denmark to go to school. At the age of 16 they return to the Deep Woods. On the ship back Julie falls in love with Lieutenant Nicholas Bridges, son of the British governor of Bengali. The governor himself has overseen the building of a railroad through the jungle and he is now concerned that a colonial inspector, Carrington, who is on his way from Britain will discover that it was built using slave labour; slavery being banned by the British Empire 35 years earlier. The governor has used a rich arab, Talib Nasif, to build the railroad.

Three weeks later Kit and Julie go by raft to see Layla, the first female doctor of the Lagooda. While there she meets Nicholas Bridges again who propose to her. To the village comes a seriously wounded man who speaks about the "railroad slaves" before succumbing to his injuries. The next morning Kit and Julie explore the nearby railroad and discover that it is in fact being built by slaves, one of them about to be hanged for trying to escape. When Kit tries to interrupt the hanging his sister is captured and held at knifepoint. Kit is chained and forced to work with the slaves, while Julie is taken to Talib Nasif's harem. Kit and the slaves will be taken by railroad to Morristown to go by ship to Egypt.

Two nights later the Phantom arrives to the camp. He follows Kit and the slaves aboard the ship. One by one the guards are knocked out and the slaves take control of the ship.

The next day Talib Nasif meet the governor to receive final payment for the building of the railroad. When his son Nicholas meet Nasif he is surprised to see Kits necklace with the good mark hanging around Nasif's neck. Nicholas tells his father that he wants to get married; the governor tells him it is impossible.

In Morristown harbour, Talib Nasif has brought Julie with him to be picked up by the ship to go along to Egypt; he is quickly locked up on the ship. The bad guys are left by themselves on a deserted island and the slaves sail away into freedom with the ship. The Phantom and his children get off the ship and in the Lagooda village they see the first train on the new railroad. One of the slaves, Shem, has taken control of the locomotive intending to crash it and kill all the dignitaries aboard.

The Phantom manages to stop him from creating a disaster. The governor has to explain the fact that the railroad was built by slaves. In a fight between the governor and inspector Carrington a gun goes of and his son Nicholas is killed.

Two days later, the Phantom and his children arrive back to the Skull Cave where they are met by their mother Asta.

Appearances

Recurring Characters

One-time Characters

  • Talib Nasif
  • Sir Stamford Bridges, Governor of Bengali
  • Lieutenant Nicholas Bridges
  • Layla, female doctor of the Lagooda
  • Baydr, foreman
  • Sharif, slave
  • Shem, slave
  • Tomba, bandar
  • Carrington, colonial inspector
  • Abdullah the Merciless, slave-trader
  • Rashid
  • Train stoker
  • Captain
  • Shem

Locations

Tribes


Behind the scenes

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Mini australia.gif Australia

Mini denmark.gif Denmark

Mini finland.gif Finland

Mini norway.gif Norway

Mini sweden.gif Sweden

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