" Perry Rhodan 0104 - (96) Horn Green" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Perry Rhodan 104 Horn Green by William Voltz PROLOG IN THE COURSE of the
years the Earth has become a giant cargo-handling and shipping centre for
interstellar trade goods and the Solar Imperium has emerged as a major
commercial power. However, for First Administrator Perry Rhodan and his
colleagues the expansion of Terra's commercial relations has brought up new
problems. There is strong competition from the Galactic Traders who are still
fighting for their old monopolies, by fair means or foul. The Springers
conceive of a means of discrediting the Earth in galactic trade relationships,
or of possibly eliminating Terra entirely as a competitor. Their plan involves
the dissemination of Earthly alkaloids through the galaxy-that is, the spread
of narcotics such as opium, which has a devastating effect on extraterrestrial
organisms. In spite of intensive efforts on the part of Solar Intelligence,
so far it has not been possible to eliminate the interstellar narcotics ring
in which unscrupulous Terrans are also active. For Rhodan's extraterrestrial
politics this illegal operation is a very serious matter because after all,
this poisonous commodity does have an Earthly origin! The situation doesn't
look very promising for humanity. An attack by the Akons has just been
repulsed and it is feared that the inhabitants of the Blue System will
undertake new action against the Earth. At this time of high tensions an
accidental caprice of fortune comes to Perry Rhodan's aid. The 'accidental'
factor appears in the ungainly form of greenhorn John Edgar Pincer... 1/ A
SUPER TENDERFOOT IN ERROR WITH A SIGH, Mark Denniston sank into the thickly
upholstered chair in front of Pincer's desk. Denniston was a powerful,
energetic man in his mid-40s whose hands were like bear paws. However, at the
moment not much of his usual vigour was in evidence. He groaned aloud.
"Chief, you can't ask me to do that! You know that I'd bring you a crate of
coals from Hell, but that-no!" Pincer regarded the slumped figure of the
spaceman with a trace of appreciation. Even though his bushy brows knit
together more severely, he gave Denniston a wink. "Do you know what I like
about you, Mark?" he asked. Inasmuch as Denniston didn't seem to care about
pleasing anyone and maintained a stubborn silence, he continued. "You have
such a nice way of criticizing my orders-and then finally accepting
them." Denniston pressed his giant hands together as though he wanted to
crush something with them. "Listen, Chief," he said, making a new attempt to
appeal his case, "I'm one of your freighter captains-I deliver fruit and
produce to the Vega System for you or wherever else you want me to haul them.
I've worked faithfully for the Intercosmic Fruit Company for a number of
years, so what's my reward? You ask me to become a babysitter!" Pincer's
expression changed as though he'd just bitten into a sour pickle. "You're
speaking of my son, Mark-John Edgar Pincer. That particular 'baby' happens to
be the vice-president of the company." Denniston made no comment but it could
be seen from his face that he did not think much of vice-presidents, and
particularly this one. He stared glumly at Pincer. "The good lad has gotten
himself married, Mark," continued Pincer, contributing further to Denniston's
disturbed condition. "I've made a present of one of our smallest spaceships to
him and his wife and he wants to use it for a honeymoon trip. Since our family
has the habit of combining business with pleasure he's going to carry a cargo
of Super Tenderleaf, which is to be delivered to the Vega planet of
Ferrol." For the first time the space veteran revealed a spark of interest.
"Super Tenderleaf?" he asked. "What's that?" Archibald Pincer, chairman of