"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0023 - (16) Secret Barrier X" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

The ultra-frequency seer was pleased to see the two carbines, the pistols and the sack full of canned food. Then he clambered up and brought down their few things.
"We'll have to move all this stuff as fast as possible," Rhodan declared. "In 20 minutes Wallerinski is going to find his three tied-up guards. If we don't have a good head start, we'll get into plenty of trouble."
"I'll last a few miles," the small Japanese said cheerfully and put more than half of the baggage on his back.
They were in a lower part of the forest where the growth was so dense that it looked as if some giant had knitted it together in an intricate pattern. A fast march was out of the question regardless of how hard they tried; but every step forward was a little more security gained. The primeval forest was growing so vigorously that it seemed to be-by human standards-in fast motion.
Reginald Bell once declared that it was actually possible to see the growth if one stared at it for two minutes. This was true in a sense. The path of Rhodan's and Okura's flight would be virtually unrecognizable by pursuers half a Terra-hour later.

* * *

"I'm out of ammunition," Thora panted. She was close by the side of the general. He handed her two new clips.
"These are the last ones I've got. If they're gone you'll have to crawl back 200 yards and get some from the supply depot providing it's still in our hands. Shoot only when you can see the enemy clearly."
"If you say so, General!"
The engagement had already lasted well over 15 minutes. More than 30 men had crowded around Gen. Tomisenkow and formed a hedgehog position.
Not one of Wallerinski's pacifists had dared come closer than a stone's throw to their miniature fortress.
Tomisenkow's order to conserve ammunition was not only meant for Thora. He passed the instructions on down the line. "Never fire unless you're sure to hit somebody. I can't pull bullets out of a hat."
Nobody had any thought of abandoning their position. He had lost contact with the other members of his troop. However, the sound of uninterrupted rifle fire from several directions was proof that they had taken up similar defensive positions. Tomisenkow was convinced that Wallerinski was not in control of the battle. He had already twice heard the voice of the ambitious lieutenant breaking in anger as he shouted his orders.
"Listen to that, ma'am! The president is getting hoarse from yelling. The president! Get that? That young brat calls himself president! The entire planet is a lunatic asylum! Watch me-this is how you do it. I bet you haven't even noticed it. Over to the left of the three purple orchids is another dead body now, a 'pacifist' who wanted to play war." Tomisenkow ended his words with a gruesome laugh.
One hour later he was as hoarse as his rival. He was so irritated that he could barely whisper when he gave his commands.
Wallerinski had suddenly broken off the engagement. His orders were audible in Tomisenkow's position.
"This could be a feint," the General told Thora. This suspicion was shared by all and so they waited a little. Then Tomisenkow sent messengers to the front and rear and directed his troops to close ranks. The officers were called for a consultation while the noncoms and privates collected their fallen comrades.
This was a painful task which delayed their march for many hours. Yet this was only one of their hardships.
"You'll have many heartbreaks on this planet," Thora had told the General. Now he was reminded of her prediction.
They found over 50 bodies. More than half were Wallerinski's followers. However, their own losses were not all accounted for.
"We're short 27 men," Tomisenkow stated at the review to the officers. "What's your explanation, Colonel?"
Popolzak shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
"They must have overlooked a few bodies."
"Not 27!"
"Some might have gone over to Wallerinski. How do you know on whose side your soldiers' sympathies are?"
"Col. Popolzak! What kind of loose talk is this? It seems to me you too have been infected by this planet."
"We're all infected, General! Everybody is susceptible in some way. And you're no exception either."
"And what exactly do you mean by that."
"You're labouring under the delusion that you're commanding disciplined troops when the fact is the men are in rags, they don't give a damn about discipline once they are out of earshot and curse you because of your inability to face the facts. Their herd instinct is the only reason you have this pitiful remnant of your airborne division left. Otherwise they would've run away long ago if they could. Wherever they turn, hell opens up. They stick together mainly because of fear and for self-preservation. Don't think that anyone believes you can lead them into paradise. Even your plans to conquer the Venus fortress are considered nothing but pipe-dreams and fairy tales."
Deadly silence followed Popolzak's lengthy speech.
The General had turned white as a sheet and the devastating answer did not come. "Is that true?" he finally asked softly and they all knew that it was not because he wanted to save his strained vocal chords.
There was no response. No one else dared state an opinion.
"Well," Tomisenkow nodded after a pause, "I'll think about what you've told me, Colonel. I suppose all of us are now much too upset to deal objectively with these matters."
The column resumed its march.
At 143:00 o'clock they reached the river and crossed it at the ford above the waterfalls where the natural lane opened up in the forest, promising an easy walk.
At that point a sergeant brought a note one of his soldiers had found pinned on a tree. It read:
"Gen. Tomisenkow, do not take this path. The pacifists are hiding in the trees and plan to ambush you."
"Who the devil, could have written this?" Tomisenkow wondered.
Thora could have told him where it came from since she recognized the handwriting. But she chose to remain silent.








5/ Rhodan To The Rescue