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

suspicion of being a dictatorтАжтАЭ
The intercom loudspeaker crackled.
When Rhodan and Bell had met for their conference an hour before, Rhodan
had expressly forbidden any disturbance. Only Solar Marshal Allan D. Mercant,
who directed the Solar Defence, or John Marshall, Chief of the Mutant Corps,
were able to ignore the instruction.
The vidscreen flickered. The grey disappeared, colours showed up, flowed here
and there and stabilized into Alan D. MercantтАЩs face.
тАЬSir, some very important news has just come in. Unfortunately, the most
important item is still just a rumour. Patrick OтАЩNeil reports from Washington that
the Euro-American bloc of representatives is negotiating with the Asiatic and
African blocs to call the Parliament of the Solar Imperium into session in Terrania
in three days.
тАЬThe rumours also say that the main topic will be the question of trust in the
administration along with a vote of confidence but the Euro-American bloc is
refusing to debate the expansion of the Emergency Powers Act!тАЭ
Rhodan bad listened with a strained expression, then spoke into the intercom
microphone. тАЬMercant, put all your available men into the field at once! Their job
will be to help make sure that the representatives actually do convene in Terrania
three days hence andтАжтАЭ
Allan D. Mercant, kept young because of the cell renewal treatment on the
planet Wanderer, gave a start, looking astounded. Now he interrupted the
administrator. тАЬSir,тАЭ he said in an excited voice, тАЬyou arenтАЩt aware of the rest of
the reports yet. They all refer to NicktownтАЩs article in the New World Press and
they allтАжтАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm referring to that article myself,тАЭ Rhodan answered with the hint of a grin.
тАЬThe political atmosphere is currently so polluted that only a drastic airing out
will make it healthy again. Nicktown has made us aware that itтАЩs high time
something was done. ThatтАЩs why IтАЩll be glad to stand before Parliament in three
days.
Mercant, the best informed man in the Solar Imperium with the exception of
Bell and Rhodan, and a genius in the area of defence and related subjects. He
shook his head doubtfully. тАЬSir, thereтАЩll be a hot debate. Public opinion in the
Imperium is a cause for considerable concern. YouтАЩve lost sympathy everywhere
since the Battle of TerraтАжтАЭ
Rhodan did not let him finish. His tone sharper than before, he asked, тАЬMercant,
are your men able to see to it that Parliament will convene in three days or
notтАж?тАЭ
Not only the Defence chief was startled but Bell too. RhodanтАЩs eyes once again
had that steel-hard look that was always to be seen when he faced an important
decision. It was not the look of someone betting more than he dared risk; it was a
look that was indescribable and, to someone who had seen it before, unforgettable.
It was also a look that inspired and filled with enthusiasm anyтАФone toward whom
it was directed.
Like Bell, Mercant felt himself addressed by it. The Solar Marshal sat up
straight without consciously wanting to and declared: тАЬSir, I believe I can assure
you that Parliament will convene in Terrania in three days.тАЭ
тАЬThank you, Mercant,тАЭ answered Rhodan. тАЬI expected nothing less from you!тАЭ

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