" Perry Rhodan 0049 - (41) The Earth Dies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Gatzek shrugged his massive shoulders. "Do you think maybe heтАЩs afraid?"

Topthor actually became incensed by this inference and dismissed the possibility with an impatient wave
of his hand. "Fear? Talamon and fear? IтАЩm afraid he has other reasons. He has a streak of loyalty for
Rhodan."

"With a Terranian who is as good as dead?" marvelled Gatzek. Then he roared with laughter. "Why do
we concern ourselves about Talamon? If he doesnтАЩt want to, then he can stay out of it. We can handle
this Rhodan all by ourselves. He certainly wonтАЩt be able to accomplish anything against 800 ships."

He was basically correct in his statement but fortunately he did not suspect just how correct he was.

"Talamon is my friend," Topthor explained. "I donтАЩt like to see my friend go down the wrong road and
end up paying dire consequences for it. We have to warn him."

"And how are you going to do that if he doesnтАЩt reply to your signals?"

Topthor didnтАЩt know the answer himself and he didnтАЩt have any further opportunity to ponder the matter
because at this moment the loudspeaker of the intercom crackled and RegolтАЩs dispassionate voice said,
"The transition co-ordinates and the schedule are coming through now. The attack against the Earth will
begin in exactly 30 minutes." Immediately Topthor appeared to have forgotten about Talamon. Nodding
to his subordinate, Gatzek, he returned a question: "Mere will we come out after the transition?"

"Right in the middle of the Terra system. A reconnaissance ship has verified the calculations. We will
emerge from hyperspace within less than 2 light-minutes from Terra."

"Those characters are certainly in for a big surprise," growled Topthor. He was the only Mounder who
had ever seen the Earth but at that time Rhodan had thrown a monkey wrench into his calculations. In
spite of it all, Rhodan had spared his life but Topthor was not the type to acknowledge such favours.
"This time heтАЩs not going to be so lucky!"

"That is to be hoped," remarked Gatzek. And suddenly he didnтАЩt sound overly confident.

On the other hand, Topthor had another motive for his own uneasy feelings: Talamon. He knew that his
friend was an exceptionally shrewd man, one who would never make such a decision without very vital
reasons, because this decision could destroy his entire career. If Talamon was not joining in this attack,
he must have had doubts from the start as to the success of the action. Why? Did he really know Rhodan
so well that he was able to evaluate the chances or was he holding back because of gratitude. Did he feel
that he was not justified in attacking Rhodan because the latter had at one time made him a present of his
own life?

A Springer and a MounderтАФa sentimentalist?

Topthor gave a forced laugh and stamped into the communications central. "Well, Regol, whatтАЩs with
Talamon?"

"Our call signals remain unanswered, Topthor. Your friend has refused to announce himself. No one
knows where he is located."

Topthor remained silent for some time, then turned suddenly and went back into the control room. He