" Perry Rhodan 0097 - (89) Powers Price" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Perry RhodanтАЩs commentary was longer. "Allan D. Mercant believes that in a few hours heтАЩll be able to
tell us if AtlanтАЩs suspicion is justified."

"Then IтАЩll have to prepare myself for some surprises," growled Bell and it was plain to see that he too
suspected someone from the Solar System in the bombing. "Yeah, yeahтАж ItтАЩs a blessing that today is
November 21st and the year 2044 will be over in 40 days!"



****



The three of them stood in the evaluation wing of the mammoth Brain, waiting out the last few minutes.
Ten minutes before, they had been notified that the calculation of somewhat more than 4,000,000
possibilities would shortly be completed.

Each of them, whether Atlan, Rhodan or Bell, was accustomed to submitting complicated questions to
the positronicon but seldom was a computer given a problem with such ramifications and fateful
importance as this one. It had resulted in a mind-wrenching number of possibilities having to be weighed
against one another. Only Arkonide hyper-mathematics and logic could even attempt such a task.

The room in which the three men now found themselves was dominated by Spartan practicality but the
Arkonide scientists, who thousands of years before had built and programmed the gigantic computer, had
imparted a style even to technology in its naked form that gave the feeling that, at the time of its
construction, the Arkonides were masters of technology and not its slaves.

From that feeling generated Reginald BellтАЩs hostility to that unequalled masterpiece of Arkonide
advancement because the reverse had been true for so long.

He had never been able to get used to the idea that a positronicon was ruling a stellar empire the size of
the Arkonide Imperium, and Atlan knew BellтАЩs feeling better than anyone.

Such were the AdmiralтАЩs thoughts as a feeling of emptiness overcame him along with something akin to
fear of the future.

He had his cell activator once more. His life seemed to be assured for centuries, perhaps even for
millenniums to come, but he had lived on Earth for too long to think only of himself.

100,000 Arkonides, active and filled with vitality, stemming from the Golden Age of the Arkonide
people, now stood at his side. In two or three years each of them would be a leader at the place to which
he had been assigned. But what were 100,000 active and energetic Arkonides when the mass of people
was growing increasingly degenerate and its undesirable characteristics were multiplying? The raceтАЩs sole
concern now seemed to be avoiding all challenges so that it could lead an indolent and duty free
existence.

Atlan felt a hand on his shoulder. Bell was standing next to him with something to say. "Admiral! WeтАЩve
overlooked a small trifle! All 100,000 able Arkonides!"

"Overlooked? When?" demanded Atlan, irritated that he understood neither BellтАЩs firstтАФnor his second