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

Would they consider him a coward if he called for help? He hesitated for a few minutes. Then he made up his mind and turned the little wheel which switched on the transmitter. He pulled the miniature antenna out with his fingernails. The wavelength had already been set.
"Calling Perry Rhodan! John Marshall speaking. Calling Perry Rhodan! This is an emergency, sir..."
He waited 10 seconds.
The impulse from his transmitter automatically activated the receiver.
Then came the answer.
"This is Rhodan! What's wrong, Marshall?"
"The seals didn't come, sir. I'm afraid the distance is too great. I've tried for hours without success. The enemy is breathing down my neck. I've been surrounded on a strip of land without trees or grass and only a little pile of sand as cover. The enemy is waiting in the forest. I'm fairly safe from small arms but I must expect them to lob in rifle grenades. They're determined to get me. Can you do something to help me?"
"Damn it, John, you're in a hell of a mess. I'm glad you called me. Tomisenkow and the rebels are so busy clobbering each other right now that we don't have to worry about being intercepted by their radio detectors. Okura and I have managed to get ahead of the General's troops and we've already gained a good lead. I guess we can join you in about four hours. Try to hold out till then! Give us a short radio signal every 10 minutes so we don't lose our direction. Keep your chin up, Marshall! We'll get you out!"
Soon after finishing the call, the soldiers on the shore renewed their barrage. Marshall spotted the flashes from their muzzles in three places and answered their fire with his impulse-beamer.
Two thirds of the raygun's energy was still effective at 1000 yards. A bluish white light flashed at the rim of the forest and its heat caused the succulent vegetation to vaporize. In no time a strip along the shore was engulfed in man-made fog.
"Hey!" Marshall exulted. "A bonus! I hadn't even thought of this effect. I'll keep it up and keep 'em in a fog. That ought to but 'em and keep them busy for a while."

* * *

"Come on, Okura! We'll have to step on it, we two cripples. Can you make it?"
The frequency seer forced a valiant little grin.
Rhodan could see that the boy's strenuous effort had exceeded his strength.
"All right, Son! Let me have those three shooting irons and the bag with the food. It's my turn to be the pack burro."
"Don't talk as if I'd carried everything up to now. You've got to take it easy with your shoulder."
"Nonsense! My shoulder's getting much better. Give me the stuff and take the machete. You can go first the next few miles. That'll give you enough to do."
The slender Japanese gave in and they penetrated deeper into the jungle.
They had crossed the river long ago.
Meanwhile Rhodan had received Marshall's call for help and it was now impossible for him to remain close to Thora. He was forced to reach the ocean as quickly as feasible. He could only hope that someone from Tomisenkow's troop had found his note, warning them about Wallerinski's planned ambush from the trees.
Hours had passed and they had not heard a shot.
"I'm certain they found the note," Okura assured him. "We couldn't have failed to notice the battle if Tomisenkow had passed under the trees and fallen into Wallerinski's trap."
"I suppose Thora is safe for the time being. It won't take much longer till we get to her. When night comes, you'll be our biggest help, Son!
Perry Rhodan was referring to Okura's gift as ultra-frequency seer. Although he required glasses for normal sight, his eyes had an ability unmatched by any other man. The range of his vision extended far into the wavelengths of ultra-violet and infra-red. He was, therefore, capable of seeing with perfect clarity at night.
"When night comes..." Okura repeated and it sounded as though he longed for it. "I can't help it, sir, but I prefer the change of night and day on Earth. There are still three days until night here. And we'll have to rescue Marshall from his precarious position in that time."
"I'm afraid," Rhodan replied, "we won't have that much time left."
Recently they had made comparatively good progress, not because the terrain had become less tortuous but rather because they had learned to improve their routine of travelling through the jungle.
At regular intervals they received Marshall's radio guide signals, enabling them to take the shortest way to him.
At about 152:00 o'clock Rhodan claimed he could smell the ocean.
"You'll have to be extremely careful now, Son," Rhodan warned. "The woods are full of fighters."
Then they suddenly stood at the ocean. It had come into view without warning. Only a minute ago they had struggled through the thickest undergrowth obstructing their sight.
"Look at that fog!" Rhodan muttered. "I can't see a thing."
Okura smiled.
"It's a very peculiar fog, sir, but it doesn't disturb me. It's getting denser toward the left if I'm not mistaken."
"No, you're right, Son. Can you recognize anything?"
"I can see right through it. At least 20 men are lying in the grass at the edge of the forest less than 300 yards from us. They seem to think they can use the fog as a cover."
"And where's Marshall?"
"The landstrip begins a little farther back."
"Now I can see the tip way out there. I recognize a black spot. That must be John. I don't understand why this fog is limited to such a small space. Everything else in the landscape is visible."
Okura had no explanation either.
"Shall I go alone? I can find my way."
"Wait a minute. That can wait." Rhodan rummaged in the bag he had taken away from the 'pacifists' and extracted two landmines. "I imagine this ought to stir them up."
They returned to the forest and treaded their way to the back of the hostile platoon. They deposited the mines at their flank and set the time fuses at an interval of 30 seconds. Then they quickly retreated and watched the proceedings from a safe cover.
"One more minute to go."
Okura nodded.
Then the first mine blew up.
"They jumped up and are running around wildly. They're shouting something to each other..."