" Perry Rhodan 0012 - (06) The Secret of The Time Vault" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

communication from the Vega system and announced that all orders had been
followed. For an instant Rhodan's and Thora's eyes met. He exchanged a
friendly smile with her, without displaying the triumph he felt inside.
Reginald Bell was far less considerate. 'Haven't I always told you that
nothing could possibly go wrong?' he said with a great deal of self-assurance,
and patted his friend Perry on the back. 'Do you want me to take charge of the
landing procedures!' 'Yes, take care of everything,' answered Rhodan in an
absentminded way. For his thoughts were already preoccupied with what would
await them upon their arrival on Earth. Galacto-City was filled with intense
activity. At the shores of the Goshun-Saltlake, in the middle of the Gobi
Desert, had risen the gigantic metropolis of Rhodan's mighty domain. His
territory was hermetically sealed off from the outside world. It formed a
square whose sides were each 120 miles long. In its very center reposed the
invisible energy dome which was fed by the inexhaustible Arkonide reactors.
Below the center of the energy screen was the heart of the new realm, the
gigantic positronic brain. Outside, strictly separated from the administrative
and living quarters, stretched the long sheds of industrial plants where
50,000 specialists were busy at work. If their number had not been
supplemented by an army of work robots, the extensive installations would have
needed at least 500,000 workmen. Altogether 230,000 carefully screened
inhabitants called Galacto-City their home. Beyond the residential area were
two regular airports in addition to a spaceport, all heavily guarded by robot
troops. Three space-fighter squadrons, built on Earth, stood ready for battle:
altogether one hundred and sixty-two ultra-modem fighter machines. As the
gigantic sphere appeared in the sky, even those who knew of its existence felt
their hearts skip a beat. At first they noticed only a small ball that quickly
grew in size. But the sphere kept getting bigger until the sun was blacked out
by this new celestial body. The shadow of the Arkonide cruiser fell over
Galacto-City. The craft floated for several seconds above the energy dome
before it began to drift off slowly as if it were a child's balloon. It
disappeared below the horizon in order to touch down at the spaceport. Perry
Rhodan was the first to leave the spacesphere. He saw a man come toward him
who was as tall and lean as Rhodan himself. He was dark-haired and
approximately thirty-seven years old. Sharp lines marked his face, but some of
these wrinkles revealed clearly his great sense of humour. He came to a halt
in front of Rhodan, extending a hand in a friendly greeting. 'Welcome back to
good old Terra! we're happy to have you with us here again!' 'Thank you,
Colonel Freyt!' Rhodan smiled, grasping his friend's hand with a firm shake.
'I'm afraid, though, I'll stay here for only a short time.' Freyt could not
conceal his consternation. 'I don't understand тАж' Rhodan turned around and
pointed at the gigantic structure made of unknown metal alloys towering up
into the sky like a skyscraper. 'And you don't ask me what this is, Freyt? I
really admire your self-control.' The lines in the former officer's face
seemed to grow deeper. 'Curiosity isn't one of my virtues. I suppose you'll
tell me all about it in due time. Why should I bother you?' 'You're right
there, Freyt. By the way, I'm just as anxious to hear your report as you are
to hear mine. Bell is taking care of the disembarking procedures of the crew
and their transport into town. I'll come directly with you. The meeting will
take place in two hours under the energy dome. Will you see to it that all
those in authority remain close by, to be consulted if the need should arise?