" Perry Rhodan 0089 - (81) Pucky's Grestest Hour" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

internal politics, and the inevitable trend of events was that the majority of
Terrans rather quickly lost all interest in the controversy. Yet, under the surface it
was still boiling, and Allan D. MercantтАЩs Solar Defence kept a very close watch
on the currents of opinion.
Twenty-four hours after the debate there were still some political groups
attempting to sow discord. They did not suspect that each of their steps was
observed and that they were much less dangerous than they imagined.
Meanwhile Rhodan had carried on a long hypercom discussion with Atlan, who
was disturbed by RhodanтАЩs difficulties on Earth. He offered his friend every
possible assistance.
тАЬAdmiral, IтАЩm grateful for the offer but at the moment I need fewer
demonstrations of power and more time!тАЭ Rhodan told him.
тАЬWell, barbarian, then IтАЩll let it be known through the Brain to the entire galaxy
that the Solar Imperium stands under Arkonide protection. Do you agree to this
formulation?тАЭ
 Rhodan had considered for a moment, glancing back at Bell, Mercant and Freyt
and observing their agreeing nods. Then he turned back to Atlan and said:
тАЬAgreed, Admiral. I think that the formulation тАШunder Arkonide protectionтАЩ will
give me the breathing space that we so desperately need right now. I wonтАЩt hide
from you the fact that my position has never been so weak as itтАЩs been these last
24 hours.тАЭ
A bitter smile came to Earth over hypercom. тАЬThen two powerless pretenders
held out their hands to one another, Perry. By the immortal gods of Arkon, I
tremble to think of the moment when the Great Imperium finds out that I hold the
power instead of the Robot Regent. You are in the midst of an internal political
struggle but I have all that yet to face and, setting our friendship aside, TerranтАж I
have to help you so that you can help me when I need your help. I would much
rather be Perry Rhodan than Atlan, because your name has weight throughout the
globular clusterтАж throughout the entire galaxy. But who am I? Who has ever
heard the name Atlan? I am nothing next to you, Terran, and IтАЩm no more to the
positronic Brain here. Do you see how closely our fates are bound?
тАЬPerry, itтАЩs wonderful to have you for a friend.
Before Rhodan was able to reply, Atlan, 34000 light-years away and under the
cover of the positronicon dome on Arkon 3, had switched off.
Rhodan did not look cheerful. тАЬThis move doesnтАЩt make me at all comfortable.
Yes, I know,тАЭ he said hastily, raising his hand defensively as Freyt, Mercant and
even Bell offered protests at the same time, тАЬwe donтАЩt have any other choice,
though I donтАЩt dare try to predict whether this stay of execution will help us
overcome our internal difficulties or not. Frankly, the change of opinion in the
press is a riddle to me.тАЭ
тАЬNot to me,тАЭ rumbled Bell. тАЬEveryoneтАЩs afraid that the Battle of Terra could be
fought all over again, and once people start asking themselves where the Druuf
ships have gone weтАЩll really be in for it. WeтАЩll be the scapegoats for having led the
Earth into this latent danger and then not even Atlan could help us. Then weтАЩll be
swept away.тАЭ
тАЬWhatтАЩs bothering me is the Springer patriarch Cokaze,тАЭ said Mercant, giving
expression to his pessimistic opinion. тАЬCokaze has cleared all his ships out of the
spaceports on Earth but now theyтАЩre holed up on Venus and Mars. Are the
Springers still hoping to force us into giving them a trading monopoly?тАЭ
тАЬWhoтАЩs the defence chief here, you or me?тАЭ demanded Rhodan sharply.