" Perry Rhodan 0063 - (55) The Micro-Techs" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

David Stern, "Did we get any calls?"

"Only a few bewildered inquiries, full of confusion, sir. The Springers are protesting and claim that they
know of no complaints against them."

"They always say that, no matter how bad a conscience they have. I bet theyтАЩre racking their brains right
now which of their rackets weтАЩre after. If the Springers have cooked up this deal with the
compensator-detector by themselves, they must be beginning to sweat blood."

Bell, who had followed Rhodan, questioned it. "But they donтАЩt know that weтАЩre on to this shady deal."

"Uncertainty is not a very pleasant predicament for them to be in," Rhodan pointed out and turned again
to Stern. "IтАЩd like to get in touch with the Administrator of Swoofon. Can you get him?"

"IтАЩll try," Stern promised and went to work, "but I donтАЩt know how long itтАЩll take me."

"Call me as soon as you get hold of him," Rhodan instructed and walked to the door. "In the meantime
IтАЩll change to an official representative of the Arkonide Imperium."

Bell followed him with his eyes and then returned to the Command Centre. He paused at the door and
was struck by the eerie silence. All men gaped as if transfixed at the panoramic picture screens which
mirrored the surroundings of the ship as clearly as if it had no walls.

Bell too was enthralled by the scene. The landing field was no longer deserted. The ground between the
towering Springer ships was crowded with little creatures who looked like ripe cucumbers and walked in
a very dignified manner. They were barely 30 centimetres high, had short legs, 4 arms, no neck and a
caricature of a face with flat noses and small mouths. Their bulging eyes didnтАЩt make the Swoons look
prettier either.

Bell knew from KulmanтАЩs report that these peculiar creatures had an almost pathetic sense of honour
and an extreme desire to be treated politely and with great respect. Anyone who failed to meet their
standards had nothing but trouble with them and this was the last thing Rhodan wanted.

"By all the planets!" Bell gasped as he eyed the marching cucumbermen, whose yellow colour astonished
him. Although they wore some kind of clothing, their figures were not covered up so much that they
couldnтАЩt be clearly seen. "They really do look like cucumbers. Can they talk?"

Kulman, who stood next to him, assured him they could. "Their voices arc very high-pitched and shrill
but they have rather sensitive ears. If you yell at them, they double up in pain. However itтАЩs easy to
communicate with them with the aid of our translation instruments. Fortunately weтАЩve got enough of these
sets."

"I can perceive their thoughts," Pucky chirped. His eyes were wide in awe. "TheyтАЩre very peaceful and
curious but they donтАЩt like to admit it. They want to pretend to be very firm and to protest against the
occupation of Swoofon. Here comes some sort of a government delegation, if IтАЩm not mistaken."

"ThatтАЩs wonderful," a voice boomed from the door.

They spun around and were startled to see the colourful uniform of an Arkonide Inspector General but
they quickly realized that Rhodan had changed his clothes and was ready to play his role.