" Perry Rhodan 0099 - (91) Friend to Mankind" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

1/ A TIME TO LIVE, A PLACE TO DIE



RhodanтАЩs boots left a deep imprint in the moist sand. A gentle breeze stirred the surface of the big lake
and raised foamy crests. Shells and colourful stones covered the shore.

On a steep incline behind Rhodan rested the mightySolar System on its landing struts. Even to the
ImperiumтАЩs Administrator who was accustomed to the sight, the 200 meter heavy cruiser looked like a
menacing prehistoric monster in these surroundings.

Rhodan stopped and deeply inhaled the clear air. The cargo hatch of theSolar System opened and a
loading beam swung out. The wiry figure of Lt. Chad Tuncher emerged in the opening as he gave his
instructions.

For the firstime Rhodan looked at the man who stood a few steps away at the shore. "Where would you
like to have the house set up, Khrest?" he inquired.

There must have been a special sound in his voice that made the old Arkonide come over and put his
hand on RhodanтАЩs shoulder. "You donтАЩt agree wholeheartedly with my wish to live the last days of my life
in this place, do you, Perry?"

"It goes against my grain to leave a friend all alone," Rhodan replied quietly. His face betrayed no
emotion but even a less observant man than Khrest would have noticed RhodanтАЩs tightly clenched fists.

"I know what meaning the word тАШfriendтАЩ has for you," Khrest said. His voice sounded clear, belying his
old body. However there was no denying that the life of the Arkonide scientist neared its end. Neither
Khrest nor Thora, the late wife of Perry Rhodan, had received the cell shower on the planet Wanderer
and were not granted the gift of eternal life. The skill and medical knowledge of the Arkonide physicians
enabled them to prolong KhrestтАЩs life but they could not perform miracles beyond the limit of biological
science. Khrest had attained a philosophic attitude in which he adequately faced reality. He felt that his
death was imminent. He went to Rhodan and requested his transfer to this planet. He was already too far
alienated from the world of Arkon to return to his homeworld. Neither did he wish to die on Earth. With
grim irony he had explained to Rhodan that he did not want to end his life in a bed surrounded by
тАШmourning barbariansтАЩ.

The Arkonide told Rhodan of a small solar system, 6381 light-years from Earth and heretofore unknown
to the inhabitants of Terra. Its yellow sun Soltyp was orbited by 5 planets and had been discovered many
thousands of years ago by the Arkonide Ufgar after whom the system was named. The second planet
was a little larger than Mars and contained an abundance of water and oxygen. Its gravity measured 0.84
G. Primeval forests and oceans covered the planet but there were no intelligent beings present.

Khrest had chosen this world on which to live out the waning days of his life and Rhodan finally
acquiesced to the urgent plea of the scientist and left Terrania with him aboard theSolar System . Now
they had arrived to select a suitable location.

"Look out down there!" Lt. Tuncher bellowed. At the same moment he recognized that it was Rhodan
who was in his way. "I beg your pardon, sir," he shouted, more subdued.

The house suspended on the hook of the crane began to sway. Tuncher yelled angrily, waving his arms.