" Perry Rhodan 0074 - (66) The Horror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"DonтАЩt tell me thereтАЩs anybody foolish enough to fight that monster!" said Scoobey incredulously.

His voice was drowned by the enthusiastic howling and shouting of the crowd. Several assistants
appeared in the arena, unhitched the work animals from the cage and led them out. They had no sooner
been brought to safety than the gate of the cage was swung open by means of a long rope, which was
cautiously manipulated from the edge of the fighting area. The monstrous creature hesitantly stretched out
its serpent-like neck but the thrill-thirsty crowdтАЩs roaring appeared to confuse the beast.

The attendants came back like so many picadores and prodded the monster with long, sharp poles.
They achieved their objective because suddenly the monstrosity went into a blind rage and charged out of
the cage in a cloud of red dust. As it came too close to the circular balustrade, the terrified spectators in
the front rows fled upward to safety.

Directly beneath the royal loge section a door opened at ground level. In a storm of welcoming
applause, a tall Eppanian stepped into the arena. By Eppanian standards he was a big man, almost as tall
as Everson. The narrow slits of his eyes were almost closed because of the roiling clouds of dust. His
large protruding ears were covered with wavy hair. The warrior wore a light cuirass of leather for
protection. In his right hand he held a heavy-bladed sword.

"Do you mean to tell me heтАЩs going up against the beast with that toothpick?" Scoobey cried out in
bewilderment. "ThatтАЩs just plain suicide!"

Everson answered unperturbed: "I hope not, WaltтАФit would be a shame. That madman down there
happens to be our contact man, who is supposed to lead us to Goldstein."

Scoobey became nervous. His hand groped in voluntarily beneath the wide, colourful cloak that he wore
in place of his Solar Empire space uniform.

Everson quickly grasped his arm. "No weapons!" he ordered. "Do you want to give us away with a
raygun shot?"

Scoobey collected himself with an effort. "Are you sure that fellow down there risking his life is the man
we want?"

Everson nodded decisively. "Do you see the belt heтАЩs wearing? ItтАЩs decorated with half-moon symbols.
Our recognition signal happens to be: тАШhalf moon in the arenaтАЩ."

Meanwhile the Eppanian gladiator had greeted the king and moved into the centre of the arena, where
he waited for his giant opponent to become aware of him. The visible portions of his body were marked
by the scars of past encounters.

A long drawnтАФout cry of challenge emerged from the throat of the warrior. The small, stupid eyes of
the beast peered at him across the battlefield. With its head thrust forward on its serpentine neck, the
monster made a scurrying charge toward the lonely, waiting figure, shaking the ground with its tons of
muscle and flesh. A resounding cry of horror went up from the spectators when the titanic creature
reached the Eppanian and threatened to hurl him to the ground. But just in time the man darted out of the
path of destruction with a fantastic lateral broadjump. The beast hurtled past him, unable to control its
massive momentum so quickly. The Eppanian straightened up swiftly to face his antagonist, who came to
a halt at the barrier wall and then gathered itself for a new attack.