" Perry Rhodan 0087 - (79) The Sleepers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Dunbee jumped up. His shoulder struck the corner of the container and he staggered back. Blind with
fear he started to run away. The cave was full of terrifying noises. He could hear the footsteps of running
men, the panting of their lungs and the loud voices which urged him to stand still.

He bumped against a rock protruding from the wall and came to his senses. Exhausted he leaned against
the stony wall. He had shaken off his pursuers for a moment but his frail body shook as in fever.

"Be reasonable, Dunbee! We only want to help you!"

Yes, Dunbee thought bitterlythatтАЩs it. All my life IтАЩve let other people help me without ever taking
things into my own hands!

He closed his eyes in resignation and his thoughts drifted back to the day when he had decided to ask
the Intertime Sleeping Corporation for help.



****



"Please, come in Mr. Dunbee," Curteen asked the slight man waiting for him outside his office. "Now
IтАЩve got time to talk to you."

Dunbee rose from his chair with an uneasy feeling and put down the 3-D magazine he had perused.
Curteen motioned him into his office with an inviting gesture of his hand.

Lester Curteen was the vice-president of the Stardust Soap Co. in Dubose. He was tall and slender and
his old-fashioned contact lenses made him look like something akin to a reptile. "Please sit down," he said
while he rummaged through some papers on his desk. "Ah, here it is!" he finally remarked with
satisfaction. "YouтАЩve been 10 years with us," Curteen continued in a friendly tone. "Your standard of
work has always been very satisfactory and your cooperation has been harmonious at all times."

Dunbee gulped and nodded. He silently admired the facility of words with which Curteen expressed
himself.

"WeтАЩre extremely gratified by your exemplary contributions to our enterprise," Curteen claimed, "and
naturally we hope that youтАЩll continue with your duties for a long time to come."

Dunbee nervously rubbed his hands and remarked hesitantly: "Mr. Vadelange left our company last
week, Mr. Curteen. He was the manager of the Advertising Department. IтАж itтАЩs always been the
practice that the senior employee of the department was appointed to the leading position if the boss
resigns."

Curteen looked at him across the table. There was a strange light in his eyes which quickly disappeared
again. He answered in the same calm and obliging tone: "YouтАЩre quite right, Mr. Dunbee. This would
entitle you to be appointed as Mr. VadelangeтАЩs successor." Curteen hesitated for a moment. "Believe me,
itтАЩs utterly impossible for me to find a replacement for you in your present task. We must request you,
therefore, to remain on your job for the time being. Mr. Priest will take over VadelangeтАЩs job until we