The Street Sweeper

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Episode 61 of The Trigan Empire

The Street Sweeper
aka De droom van Krusi (Dutch title)
Krusi’s Dream (Dutch title, translated)

Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Oliver Frey

The Street Sweeper was originally published in 8 instalments in issues 769 (9 October 1976) to 776 (27 November 1976) of Look and Learn magazine.

It is reprinted in Volume 5 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).

Plot summary

On Trigo’s birthday, a parade is held that is led by Trigo himself. After the parade, the street sweeper Krusi is cleaning up the mess. He finds a wallet with a lot of money in it. The wallet belongs to a certain Simbal, who lives in the hills of Zora, where only millionaires reside. Simbal is very grateful to Krusi for returning his wallet. Krusi is allowed to spend a few days in his house. While Simbal is swimming in his pool, he is killed by three shady men. Krusi discovers the body in the pool and buries it in the garden. He decides to assume Simbal’s identity.

The three men return to their boss, their gang leader, with whom Simbal had been committing burglaries for ten years. They were looking for the full loot, but Simbal had not revealed its location. Krusi uses Simbal’s belongings and drives around in his expensive auto. In the auto, he finds a key to a vault in the National Trigan Bank. He is granted access to the vault and finds the entire loot. The gang leader sends Chango to look for the loot.

Krusi takes part of the fortune and starts spending money lavishly. He buys an expensive auto and hires a chauffeur — this turns out to be Chango. They get into an accident with Janno’s auto. Janno and Krusi — who is living under the name Simbal — become friends. Krusi has a servant named Porsho. Janno and Krusi exercise together and spend a lot of time with each other.

Krusi invites Trigo onto his ship, and through Janno, Trigo accepts the invitation. Chango informs the gang leader that Trigo will be aboard Simbal’s ship. The gang leader decides to kidnap Trigo and demand a large ransom. That night, Trigo and the others are attacked aboard Simbal’s ship. A fierce battle ensues, and thanks to Chango, Trigo, Janno, and Simbal are forced to surrender. But Chango is overpowered by the servant Porsho. The fight continues, but this time Trigo and the others are victorious.

Trigo thanks the servant for saving him, but the servant reveals that he is a member of Trigo’s secret service. The secret service was aware of everything, and the Trigan fleet was nearby. Simbal’s loot is retrieved and confiscated. The reward that Krusi is supposed to receive, he donates to a good cause. He returns to being a street sweeper.