"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0006 - (3b) The Mutant Corps" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

On the second page Adams found a headline that did not surprise him much. After all, this occurrence had played a big role in his calculations, and he had been quite convinced that it had a high degree of probability. This news was extremely important for him and for John Marshall, too.

"Would you like to know what happened to the Tokyo jet we missed in London?"

"Well what happened to it?"

"The jet exploded near Kiev and fell into the Black Sea."

"Are you serious?"

"Well, you can read it here, black. on white." Adams handed the newspaper to his companion, who quickly glanced at the report.

"Well, we can consider ourselves lucky that we missed that plane," said Marshall.

"Yes, certainly. Life is much more important than the few material things we own. Nevertheless, I hope you were not carrying anything of value in your luggage."

John Marshall smiled enigmatically. "Nothing of importance, Mr. Adams. All that matters to me can be carried in this small bag, which I never let go. The clothing that I have lost in my, suitcases can be easily replaced. I am not, too worried that my luggage seems to have been destroyed, but I sincerely hope for your own sake that things are the same way with you, sir."

Adams felt MarshallТs searching gaze resting on him and he did not know what to make of it. Marshall was tall, young and healthy. His face bore a frank expression and bespoke undeniable honesty, but his eyes appeared far more mature than his chronological age would have led one to believe.Since Homer G. AdamТs trip was for top secret purposes, he took refuge in obvious silence. He did not answer MarshallТs question but brought the conversation back to insignificant small talk, since he did not want to appear too rude.Above the Indian Ocean the situation changed completely.

"You have a great deal of money with you, donТt you, Mr. Adams?" said Marshall suddenly after a long period of silence."What makes you think so?"

"Because you are looking at your bag at regular intervals with the same attentiveness that I do. People donТt usually turn their head to look up at the luggage rack that often if they have just a few sandwiches and a newspaper in their suitcase."

"That is most interesting. You seem to be interested in psychological studies, Marshall."

"ThatТs right. IТve been interested in psychology for a long time, but you are avoiding my question."

"If you are interested only in theoretical psychological problems, it could hardly be much of your concern whether I really carry a large sum of money with me."

"I only asked in your own interest, Mr. Adams. Provided you have a lot of money here with you, you should carry your suspicions much farther than you have so far. Then just looking at our bag wonТt be enough."

"As long as my luggage is up there on the rack, that is enough for me to know. That tells me that my money is still there. Or would you, being a psychologist, suggest a different logical conclusion to my thoughts?"

"Your little suitcase is new. It still carries the label from a store on Regent Street. I would bet you anything that you bought it only this morning."

"Absolutely right," said Adams, perplexed. "But what is that supposed to mean?"

John Marshall leaned over to him and whispered softly, "It is possible that someone else has purchased the same type of bag. If that bag, then, were in the luggage rack above us, your logical conclusion would not amount to much."

Adams just shrugged. He thought of the gun in his pocket, which he, could use if Marshall tried to pull some dirty trick-which would hardly be feasible here, where there were eighty eye-witnesses present. "Okay," he said finally. "Obviously you would like to see a lot of money in one little suitcase. All right, IТll do you that favour."He stood up, took a bag down from the luggage rack, sat down again and opened the little suitcase. That same instant, he had the same sensation he had had many years ago when he saw his big deal slip through his fingers.

He closed his eyes and counted to ten silently. That was old habit that helped him to remain calm. in critical situations. When he looked up again he was once again the old, sober genius of the stock market who never lost his nerve.

"How come you knew my money had been stolen, Marshall? I demand that you speak up now without further ado and that you leave out your rather doubtful psychological tricks."

"I believe it hardly matters any more how I knew this. You should rather ask who has the money now."

"And do you know where it is?"