" Perry Rhodan 0041 - (33) The Giant's Partner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

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Old Zernif, former commanding officer of the Zalite spacefleet and Admiral to the dead Zarlt, waved his
hand uncertainly. "The time is up. ItтАЩs long past midnight. Rogal didnтАЩt make it back. The precautionary
measures we discussed must now be faced. If we are discovered in our rendezvous here, Zalit is lost.
Then even the Strangers will not be able to help us."

The StrangersтАФ!

For a brief moment the rebels recalled to mind the Strangers who had stolen an Arkonide battleship and
come to their world. They had placed themselves in contact with Zarlt and appeared to be mixed up in
his plans. The truth was, howeverтАФand Rogal especially had claimed thisтАФthey did not approve of the
ZarltтАЩs traitorous intentions.

"One way or another, we should get out of here, whether or not Rogal has succeeded. If Demesor
escapes the assassination attempt, itтАЩll be bad for us. He has no mercy and will kill us all."

"If he can find us!" said Zernif with a meaningful nod. He stroked his copper-coloured beard, which gave
him a venerable appearance. "But if they force Rogal to confess, that could easily happen."

"Rogal would die first!"

"And if he doesnтАЩt have time to die?"

Silence.

Admiral Zernif sighed. "We will wait another half hour, then we will disappear. If Rogal still makes it, he
will know where to find us."

The prescribed half-hour ran out without any sign of Rogal.

The leaders of the resistance movement prepared to disband. They knew that the secret passage into the
palace now had little value for them. They would have to disappear if they did not want to be taken here
by surprise by the henchmen of the Zarlt. They took their weapons, both light and heavy calibre
ray-beamers of Arkonide design, and set the time fuse on the high-explosive bomb which would blast
away the old and deserted buildingтАФand along with it the exit of the secret passage.

Suddenly a noise was heard coming from somewhere in the wall. Someone groped uncertainly through
rubble and tapped at certain places against the walls. Zernif listened. At first his startled eyes reflected joy
and hope but now they narrowed in suspicion.

"ThatтАЩs Rogal!" said someone happily. "HeтАЩd better hurry. The bomb goes off in 30 minutes."

"Perhapsit is Rogal," murmured Admiral Zernif, while concealing the shakiness of his voice. "Why
doesnтАЩt he give the pre-arranged signal?"
No one answered him.