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

"H'm, what do you make of it, Son?"
"They probably are in a military encampment. From a hedgehog position they can easily repulse Wallerinski's raids."
"If it was Wallerinski!"
They continued to surmise several possibilities without getting at the truth. They did not know that Gen. Tomisenkow had destroyed robot R-17.
"We want to keep a little more to the left," Rhodan decided. "Our distance from the Easterners is much too great. Caution can be overdone, too."
"One can never be too careful," Okura opined. His boss smiled at the lecture.
"Of course not. Still, there's a possibility that we're needed. By Thora, for instance."
Rhodan's plan was put in operation. After six more miles they built another tree house and made themselves comfortable. Before going to sleep they made their usual attempt to establish radio communications with Bell. They pulled the tiny pin of the antenna out and kept calling persistently. However, Good Hope V failed to answer. There was the same silence as on all the previous days.
"Secret barrier X," Rhodan murmured. "It really seems to be in effect."
"Or Bell has already long ago returned to Earth."
"He promised to stick around. Be that as it may, from now on we're strictly on our own. Good night, Son!"
"Good night, sir!"
It sounded incongruous as the morning sun was still high in the Venusian sky.
This time they were awakened from their sleep by the explosions of firearms. Okura felt Rhodan's warning hand on his arm. "Quiet, my boy! It must be quite close."
Indeed, it sounded as if the firing came from below their tree. However, the foliated crowns of the 50 yard high trees distorted the acoustics.
They peered through the leaves of their hut.
"I can't see a thing," Okura said.
"No wonder, with this obstructed view," Rhodan grunted. "If I only knew... What the devil is going on there?"
He pointed to a spot where his companion also recognized some movement. There were people in the underbrush, no more than 100 yards away.
More shots rang out. The gun fire, at first staccato, was followed by a hail of shots.
"The battle is farther left. Probably 500 yards from here. But obviously some men are moving around down there."
"Right, sir! I saw someone's head."
"Okay. I'm going to take a look."
"I wouldn't do that, sir. They'll..."
Rhodan waved him away.
"They'll do nothing because I'll be careful. You stay here and hold the position. Whatever happens, don't give yourself away by shooting. Most likely a group of rebels is stationed there. Perhaps they've got something to eat for us. We've got to have more ammunition and food."
Son Okura was accustomed to following orders. He merely nodded silently.
Rhodan slipped over the edge of the platform. If he descended slowly enough, the risk of discovery was remote. The dense foliage and parasitic lianas provided good cover all the way down to the ground.
He had to lower himself about 20 yards. To relieve his right shoulder he put his weight on his left hand.
He reached the ground undetected. Visibility was now even more limited. He knew the direction and worked his way forward. The continuing fight distracted the foreigners. None of the rebels even suspected that someone was behind their backs. There was more of a danger from Venusian animals than from deserted soldiers but Rhodan had learned from experience to watch his surroundings.
Rhodan was in luck. He evaded caterpillars, bugs and swarming butterflies. They could be poisonous but they left him alone. Any attack by them could have occurred only by happenstance.
The vines were a more difficult obstacle. At times they formed tight hedges so that he was compelled to squeeze himself through like a snake. To cut these tough plants would have taken too much time. Moreover, there was always the danger that they were under tension. Rhodan had often observed how the severed lianas whipped like a bowstring. They made a noise that aroused suspicion and they could kill a man if he had the misfortune to be hit by one of them.
When no more than 30 yards separated him from the camp, he paused for a while. His hands and face were scratched up. He wiped the sweat from his eyes with a handkerchief and noticed that it was stained with blood.
Minor scratches and abrasions, thought Rhodan as he contemplated the discovery behind which lurked the disquieting doubt whether it was wise to minimize the hazards of the unknown wilderness of this planet. To be sure, botanists had studied the Venusian flora but only a small part had been classified and chemically analysed. Each innocuous looking thorn could carry deadly germs.
Rhodan rid himself of this distressing thought with determination and concentrated on the people in front of him. He had no trouble listening in on their conversation. They were rather taciturn and all he could learn was that they were tired and thought that Wallerinski's attack on Tomisenkow was too perilous. They spoke in such low voices that Rhodan was unable to hear all their words.
He would have to get a little closer.
Moving cautiously, he advanced much slower than before. The battle in the distance had grown fiercer and there was little probability that the rebels would return very soon. Unless, of course, Wallerinski suffered a decisive defeat and was overrun by Tomisenkow's troops.
Finally, Rhodan discovered a small clearing. Just a place where the grass was trampled down. Its diameter was 20 yards at the most. The interlocking treetops formed a dense roof above and permitted no more light to reach the ground than elsewhere. The orchid-like blossoms of the vines displayed their gorgeous colours in the murky twilight.
Rhodan saw five men.
Four of them were sleeping or just lying in the grass. The other sat leaning against a tree.
The equipment guarded by the soldiers made Rhodan envious. In particular, they were well provided with handguns. In addition to several boxes with descriptive labels at least 40 or 50 automatic carbines were lying under a tree close to him.
"The president ought to clarify his ideology," one of those lying in the grass said. "It's not a very original idea to fight for peace with force."
"You mean we can be real pacifists only when everybody else is a pacifist."
"Nonsense! We're already true pacifists. You must be sleeping in class."
The man against the tree made an exasperated gesture.
"Quit your ignorant babbling. All that matters now is what the president will accomplish. This engagement already lasts much too long for my taste. If an ambush doesn't come off at once, I can see nothing but trouble."
"You're going to be in trouble the way you're shooting off your mouth, Igor. The president knows what he's doing. I've got complete confidence in him."
"He'll be very proud of that, Mitja. I also know that he thinks you're a smart Alec. He doesn't like people like that."
"Think what you want. I know he likes me; that's all I care. If you're referring to the advice I gave him, I can assure you that Wallerinski was very grateful. We'll set that trap from the trees as soon as we reach the river."
"Oh no! You've really talked him into that? Then why did he attack the General today?"