" Perry Rhodan - Atlan 01 - Spider Desert" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

I raised my hands in a mock gesture of defence. But before I could counter his remark, Fratulon
interrupted.

тАЬAre you sure of your course, Atlan?тАЭ

тАЬAbsolutely.тАЭ

I waited for him to elaborate on his question but he remained silent. It could well be that something
had come to his attention that had escaped me. So I checked all the instruments again but could not
detect anything that would indicate a deviation from our course.

тАЬWeтАЩre travelling toward the Marauthanian ruins?тАЭ I told him. тАЬThatтАЩs the direction the distress call
came from.тАЭ

As he nodded, his chubby double chin was noticeable. Fratulon was about a head shorter than I was
and fairly corpulent in appearance. He might have been called fat unless one happened to know that his
bulk consisted chiefly of muscles and that he possessed tremendous strength.

His head was bald, but by contrast the lower half of his face was overgrown with a black, luxurious
beard. His shrewd yellow eyes were almost obscured by a welter of chubby wrinkles.

He did not attach much importance to the matter of clothing. If one were to draw comparisons
between him and the Arkonide aristocrats who flaunted themselves around Tarkihl in a virtual frenzy of
ostentation he might have appeared to be quite pitiably attired. He always wore one and the same set of
harness which had obviously been forged a considerable number of years ago. When confronted with the
question as to why he would never be separated from his battered and timeworn breast armour, he
would only remark that it was a reminder of better days.

When we were alone together, even I could not elicit any details from him concerning such things. I
had long since given up the idea of ever pumping him for his story. If he did not wish to air his secret of
his own accord, then he could leave it buried where it was.

In Tarkihl the wildest rumours circulated concerning Fratulon. Whereas many of them were
absurdities of the most shocking kind, still others carried a grain of truth. No one knew where he had
come from or what he had been engaged in formerly. But he made no secret of the fact that he had once
been a successful gladiator. In connection with those earlier days he had told me the most incredible
stories. As a lad I had been so fascinated by them that I had sworn I would follow in his footsteps and
even top his heroic deeds.

It seemed strange to me that when I had taken this oath at the tender age of ten he had nevertheless
considered it seriously. I could still remember a remark of his that had made a lasting impression on me.

тАЬOne day when you are a grown man, Atlan?тАЭ he had declared, тАЬyou will surpass me in
everythingтАФof that I am sure. You will be more courageous and intelligent and will have a stronger will
and vitality. And you will be in dire need of every bit of it because ahead of you is a thorny and
dangerous road. But as much as it lies within my power to do so, I shall arm and prepare you for your
task in life.тАЭ

I never did learn what he had meant by these intimations, but he had kept his promise and had been