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

A sergeant appeared from among the various sets.
"Yes, sir!"
"Radio silence is lifted. Get your transmitter ready at once. Connect a microphone for me and recording tape!"
"For a coded message?"
"Damn it! Don't ask questions, Sergeant!"
"Sorry, sir! What wavelength do you require?"
"The official wavelength, man! Or do you think I want to carry on a private conversation? Stay here, ma'am! You're not going to take off into the jungle now."
Thora had stepped back a little to sit down on a fallen tree trunk. To his surprise she smiled and answered: "Don't let me disturb you, General! I won't run away."
Chekovich tested his transmitter, taped a few words and played them back.
"The sender is ready, sir!"
Tomisenkow took the microphone.
"This is Gen. Tomisenkow, Commander of the Airborne Landing Division Venus, speaking! Order to the four helicopters! Land immediately in my zone and report to me! Acknowledge order and state name of officer in charge!"
Quite unexpectedly, the answer came without delay. "This is Col. Raskujan speaking! I salute you, General! However I must disappoint you if you believe that you can give me orders. On the contrary, I suggest that you surrender. Unconditionally, you understand! Then we'll have time to talk calmly about the details."
"Have you lost your senses, Colonel? Where in the world have you been all this time? You were supposed to report to me a year ago as the deputy commander of my supply units. It didn't take you 12 Terrestrial months to make the trip from Earth?"
"No, it went a little faster than that," Raskujan laughed cynically. "Let me set you straight about our present situation. My reinforcement fleet landed already 11 months ago on Venus. However, there was no division left that rated any support. Take note, General, that I'm the sole commander in charge on Venus."
"This is insubordination!" Tomisenkow panted into the microphone, hardly able to hold it in his hand in his anger. "The Space Department has assigned you to me and it is your duty to report to me."
"Which I'm doing herewith. I hope you'll excuse the little delay."
Raskujan's voice was dripping with sarcasm, enraging the General all the more.
"I repeat for the last time, Col. Raskujan! Report to me at once! I'm not going to discuss the details over the radio. If you disobey my orders, you'll have to answer to the highest authority!"
"I'm afraid that you misjudge the situation badly," Raskujan replied, assuming a friendly conversational tone. "I am the highest authority! The past year is now history. You should learn from the past. I, Col. Raskujan, alone hold power on Venus. The whole planet is under my command. And believe me, I've got the means to enforce my orders. Don't confuse your band of pirates with the division you once had, General! I repeat my offer. Tell your unruly soldiers to surrender to me unconditionally. I'm prepared to make normal civilized beings out of them once again. Each one is guaranteed to be treated according to his ability and goodwill. I'm signing off, Mr. Tomisenkow. You know how to reach me.
The General shouted something about traitors into the microphone. However, it was apparent that the other side had already cut him off.
Then the man whose mind had been sorely tried to the limit, fell silent. He touched his throat.
"You should save your voice," Thora advised him with her typical lack of feeling. Her smile revealed how much she relished his discomfiture.
"How can a thing like this happen? That wretched Raskujan was once in my company. I know him like my own hand. He used to be a good soldier and there was nothing to indicate that he would lose his mind."
"Venus does something to everybody. Or do you still consider yourself to be normal?"
"I'm a General and he's a Colonel. Isn't that clear enough?"
"Evidently not on Venus, General. Raskujan has started over here. For your rival, a new planet, a new life. These are the facts."
"It is also a fact that we wear the same uniform."
"Maybe he took it off. In any case, his behaviour and the deployment of the helicopters make it clear that you're dealing with a strictly organized military force. His power is undoubtedly superior. I don't have to tell you this. You know better than I that the remnants of your old division are nothing but a bunch of run-down stragglers."
"Ma'am!" Tomisenkow protested angrily but refrained from continuing when he faced her cold gaze. There was an invisible wall between them through which there could be no contact and short conversations like these did not change their alienation.
Col. Popolzak reported that his troops were ready for the roll call. They had found 38 bodies and collected them nearby.
"We've removed their weapons and their papers and deposited them at headquarters, sir!"
Tomisenkow nodded as though it was the most important consideration that the bookkeeping records be kept straight.
"Fifteen men have been wounded," Popolzak continued.
Tomisenkow looked at him with irritation as if such a possibility had never occurred to him.
"Isn't Dr. Militch taking care of them?"
"As best he can. You know we've hardly any medicine and bandages left."
"He'll have to ration them. He's the doctor."
Popolzak had never seen Tomisenkow's face so thin and haggard as today. And he had never heard his chief speak so indifferently about the casualties. Raskujan's appearance had deeply upset him and had left a terrible mark.
The General inspected his troops. There was no resemblance to a disciplined division. Neither in numerical strength nor in their formation. They had assembled in groups as closely as the matted brush permitted.
Tomisenkow addressed his men, repeating in no uncertain terms what he had already told Raskujan via radio.
"We've suffered losses," he said at the end of his speech, "not because the deserter Raskujan is stronger but because he has caught us unawares. He was ordered by the government of the Eastern Bloc to report to me with reinforcements a year ago. We'll subjugate him with all the means at our command and compel him to do his duty. We've been warned and we'll act accordingly under the prevailing circumstances. We're going to reach the ocean in a few more miles. From now on we'll be advancing in the lowlands of the jungle where we can't be seen. The enemy won't be able to detect us until we've reached our goal. The Arkonide prisoner is our assurance that we'll gain access to the Venus fortress. At that time we'll even the score with Raskujan. He can put a hundred helicopters into the air and it's not going to help him. Our power will be so great that he will be annihilated. All battalions are ordered to get ready to depart! The company commanders are to report to Dr. Militch! The transport of all disabled soldiers must be promptly arranged. Thank you!"

* * *

The artificial fog had wafted away.
Rhodan, Marshall and Okura retreated a short way back into the forest. The fighters who had fled west were nowhere in sight. There was, however, the danger that they, too, would return to the forest and sneak up from behind. As no more explosions of land-mines were heard in their proximity, it might have rekindled their flagging spirits.
But Rhodan didn't subscribe to this opinion.
"The two landmines were child's play compared to what's going on in the jungle there. Those must certainly have been bombs. None of the groups we've met have such ordnance to my knowledge. There can be only one explanation for which I've been prepared long ago."
"You're thinking of the enemy's support fleet, sir, aren't you?"