" Perry Rhodan 0077 - (69) The Bonds of Eternity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Druufon, the power centre of the Druufs!



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Perry Rhodan looked with an enigmatic expression at the observation screen which revealed the surface
above their subterranean abode. He stood in the control centre of the base. Somewhere in the
background hummed the generators which supplied the necessary energy for the climatiser. The air in the
circular room was fresh but not too cool. The smooth metallic floor vibrated very faintly. Farther below in
the rock were the workshops of the Swoons. The microtechnicians worked indefatigably on the
electronic shield installations. They surrounded the planet with an invisible 5-dimensional cordon which
could not be penetrated by disturbances of the time-space continuum and thus made detection by the
Druufs impossible. The matter-transmitter also emitted some telltale echoes which now were intercepted
and absorbed by the net.

"IтАЩm aware how agonizing it must be for you, Atlan," Rhodan finally said slowly. "YouтАЩre concerned over
the possibility that the Druufs might become too strong if we donтАЩt intervene, if we continue to allow them
to destroy the ships of Arkon which attack them. No, please donтАЩt say anything yet! Let me finish first,
Atlan. The Robot Regent of Arkon, our old friend who refuses to deviate from his set course, is suffering
setback after setback. HeтАЩs continually sending out emergency signals, pleading for our help. Up to now
weтАЩve ignored his calls for help and let him fight the battle against the Druufs alone. For tactical reasons,
Admiral! Another month or two and Arkon will be so weakened that the Druufs can swamp the
Arkonide Empire and our Galaxy as well."

The immortal Atlan stood a little farther back, leaning against the wall. He held his arms crossed over his
chest and looked into RhodanтАЩs cool grey eyes in which suddenly a smile began to flicker. The
10,000-year-old Arkonide from a dynasty of rulers that vanished ages ago was disturbed by the
calmness of Rhodan. "YouтАЩre going too far with your game of tactics," he replied in a measured and
urgent tone. "I admire the ability of the Terranians to cope with all situations but IтАЩm afraid you
underestimate the Druufs. Some day theyтАЩll find a way to break the rule of the RegentтАж"

"It means they would take care of the job for us," Rhodan broke in, grinning openly. "But your
apprehension is unfounded. IтАЩd never let it come to that. If the Druufs try to leave their own space to
penetrate the Galaxy they can do it only through the transition funnel which exists between their
time-plane and ours and which moves at 50% speol through the GalaxyтАФwho knows how much longer?
But Arkon has sent an armada to guard this gap in the universe and it does the work for us too. This
leads to the incontestable conclusion that both the Druufs and the robot-fleet of Arkon are doing a
yeomanтАЩs service for us. What more do you want?"

"You must not weaken the Regent excessively," Atlan warned. "The Druufs are much more vicious
enemies of ours!"

He was perfectly right and Rhodan knew it. Yet when the opportunity occurred and the transition
through a split between the two world systems could be accomplished without special technical means,
Rhodan decided to sit tight as the warships of the Druufs and the Arkonides clashed with each other.
TerraтАЩs battlefleet waited unnoticed by the adversaries and Rhodan simply watched how they pummelled
one another.