" Perry Rhodan 0103 - (95) The Plasma Monster" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Now, please-are you familiar with the seal of Solar Intelligence? Then read my
orders. It's against regulations to show them to you but I'll take that risk
if it will convince you. Perry Rhodan wants to talk with you-not Intelligence.
And that, Mr. Ballin, is an unusual opportunity. What journalist can say's
he's interviewed the Administrator alone?" Walt Ballin was still suspicious.
The thought of Rhodan's having been influenced enough by his lead article to
take interest in a mere newspaper hack like himself was such a shock that he
simply couldn't believe the invitation. "Mr. Garibaldi," he finally inquired,
"would Solar Intelligence cover the bill if I were to put in a call to
Terrania?" "With whom do you wish to speak there?" asked the little fat man
maintaining an outward indifference. "You mean Rhodan?" "Who else? If as you
say he wants me to come to Terrania, then he probably won't have any objection
if I speak to him briefly-or would he...?" Jeff Garibaldi could not answer
the question but he explained that the Paris headquarters of Solar
Intelligence would assume the cost of a call to Terrania. "Good! I can hardly
wait!" was all Ballin could manage to reply. He got up from sitting on the
edge of his desk and made a connection with the main switchboard of the Europa
News. Although it did not have a French name, in terms of circulation it was
the largest of the French language newspapers. "This is a call to Terrania,"
he said into the seefone. "Put me through to the First Administrator." "With
whom, please?" The voice that rang in the speaker was that of a robot
operator. "Perry Rhodan," Ballin confirmed positively while glancing across
at Garibaldi. The Terrania connection came through only a barely perceptible
flicker of the viewscreen betrayed the action of a positronic relay as it
opened a security circuit to Rhodan's line. "Yes?" Walt Ballin swallowed
involuntarily. He was looking into a pair of calm grey eyes as the mightiest
man in the Solar Imperium faced him on the viewscreen. It was the latter who
was first to speak. "If I have my signals straight, you must be Walt Ballin.
May I expect you today in Terrania, Mr. Ballin? Just let me know when you
arrive. Will you do that?" The Parisian journalist was plainly flabbergasted.
"Yessir... uh, sure thing!" he managed to stutter in reply. A fleeting smile
touched Rhodan's lips. "I'm looking forward to chatting with you, Mr. Ballin.
Was there anything else?" "No, sir... thank you, sir... there's nothing else,
sir!" Ballin was already bathed in sweat as the viewscreen started to darken
but then flickered to life again. At the other end of the line was Mr.
Jacquuse, the owner of the Europa News. "Mr. Ballin!" he snapped sharply.
"You have just made a global call without permission!" By this time, however,
Walt Ballin was no longer in doubt of where he stood. "Of course!" he answered
confidently. "I was just thanking the First Administrator for his special
invitation, Mr. Jacquuse." "You, Mr. Ballin?-with Perry Rhodan...?" Ballin
ignored the other's amazement and took advantage of the situation. "Sir, at
13:40 a space jet will be waiting for me at the spaceport. I'd like to request
unlimited leave for my visit to Terrania. My phone call will be..." Mr.
Jacquuse interrupted magnanimously. "But my dear Ballin!" he exclaimed. "Of
course you may have the leave-that goes without saying! And naturally we'll
bear the cost of that call. But before you go to the spaceport you'll still
hand in your article for the evening edition, won't you?" Walt Ballin wasn't
aware of any article he was due to turn in that day. "But my dear Ballin..."
And Ballin could not recall when the arrogant Jacquuse had ever addressed him
as "my dear". The Frenchman continued hastily. "I'll hold the presses for you!