"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0041 - (33) The Giant's Partner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Rhodan laughed. "Let down the ramp. I'll have a closer look at that funny-looking bird."
Hemor was patiently waiting and finally his persistence paid off. Rhodan had arrived to take the first step inside the trap that had been prepared for him.
Hemor walked over to the hated alien visitor on his home planet who threatened to wreck all their carefully laid plans. "No need to apologize," he began politely with an obliging smile. "The Zarlt also doesn't always have time for unannounced visitors." That was a veiled hint and a direct threat at the same time. "The Zarlt would be pleased to receive you tonight as his guest. No festivities, just an important discussion of the situation."
Rhodan feigned surprise: "A discussion of the situation? In what manner am I involved in the situation on Zalit?"
Hemor blinked his eyes against the bright midday sun. "A great deal, I suppose. Since you choose not to reveal your secret to the Zarlt we'll just have to attack the Brain without your assistance. The Zarlt wishes to inform you of his plans and to request you to depart from Zalit. But he wishes to tell you all this himself. I should not steal a march on him with this information."
But this was exactly what Hemor had just done. And on purpose! He wanted to arouse Rhodan's curiosity. His move seemed to be a success.
"Aha, you finally are going to attack Arkon... And I'm supposed to leave Zalit? The robot brain will start hunting me down."
"It will be too busy coping with us," asserted a very self-assured Hemor. "We are of the opinion that it will no longer bother you once we are through with it."
Was Hemor speaking the truth? Rhodan regretted now that he had come without Marshall. He couldn't decline the Zarlt's invitation, that would look too suspicious. He had to keep pretending that he fully trusted the Zarlt, still hoping to become his partner in the battle against the robot brain. Rhodan decided to change the topic of conversation.
"What happened yesterday? We observed several explosions in the city and a great deal of activity of your spacefleet. Was there any trouble?"
"A few minor incidents, nothing important. The Zarlt will tell you all about it if you are interested. May, I inform him that you accept his invitation?"
"I accept and will bring along some of my advisers."
"Come 2 hours before sunset," Hemor said in parting and walked over to his car. Without looking back even once he got into his car and motioned to his driver. The vehicle set itself in motion immediately, driving toward the edge of the landing field where the exit led onto the main road toward the city.
The official Zalite car, which was constantly ready for Rhodan's use, was waiting as usual in its old place. Tonight it would carry them to the Zarlt's palace.
Suddenly Rhodan was overcome by a strong doubt as to whether his generous host's intention that the car would also bring them back again to the Titan...

* * * *

The day passed quietly.
Ras Tschubai was travelling around with Tama Yokida, putting Mooff after Mooff out of action. John Marshall, accompanied by Admiral Zernif and the teleporter Tako Kakuta, had rushed from one rebel hide-away to the next in order to make preparations for the final revolt against the Zarlt. The various commando troops were all in a state of readiness. A brief message would propel them into action. Each group had been outfitted with a special receiver which would transmit the signal for attack.
Zernif returned with Marshall to the Titan. He would lead the action from the giant spacesphere.
3 hours before sunset Rhodan called a meeting in the mess hall of the mutants. In addition there were present the 2 Arkonides, Bell and Lt. Tifflor as liaison officer to the Ganymede.
"The Zarlt has invited me to a discussion of the current situation on Zalit. Bell and Marshall will accompany me there. Needle-ray guns will be our only weapons. To be quite frank: I smell a rat. Therefore the Mutant Corps will remain in a state of constant readiness for immediate action. John Marshall's liaison will be Betty Toufry. Listen, Betty, you must stay in uninterrupted telepathic contact with Marshall, is that clear?" Rhodan waited until the still very young girl-a gifted telepath and telekin-had nodded her head in agreement. Then he continued. "Thora will assume the command of the Titan. At the first sign of a serious attack you are to take off! Yes, Thora, I said take off! Execute a transition across 2 light-years to a point in space whose co-ordinates are to be found on the navigation desk. Colonel Freyt will be informed by Tiff. Neither the Titan nor the Ganymede must be exposed to any danger although it is difficult to imagine that their protecting forcefields could be penetrated. But I am foremost concerned that no unnecessary bloodshed will occur."
Pucky, who had been lying in a comfortable armchair, all coiled up and apparently disinterested in what was going on, stretched to his full length of one yard. A furtive reproach was in his clever brown eyes. "And how about us?" he asked. "Are we supposed to take off with the Titan while all the action is going to be here on Zalit?"
Smiling, Rhodan shook his head. "Who said any such thing? Before the Titan departs, the teleporters will transport all members of the Mutant Corps to the prepared hide-outs of the rebels. This will also include Zernif. Then all operations against the Zarlt will start immediately. Everything is ready. Only the exact time is not yet determined. That depends entirely on the Zarlt..."
Pucky breathed a sigh of relief. "And I was sure we were supposed to sleep while you would carry on with your mission here on Zalit all by yourself."
Rhodan's smile vanished abruptly. "I have a feeling that I couldn't manage by myself, Pucky. A decision may be made tonight..."

The creature was round, with a diameter of 3 feet and about as tall as wide. It squatted without moving in a pressurized container, which was filled with a dense methane atmosphere. This was the life-sustaining environment for the Mooffs.
The container was standing in a closed room inside the Zarlt's palace, not far from the small hall where the discussion with Rhodan was scheduled to take place.
As was his daily custom, the Mooff carefully probed the thoughts of all the Zalites who were present in the Zarlt's palace. There was no traitor among them, he quickly ascertained. Then he started concentrating on the Zarlt and suggested his thought-image to him: Zarlt Demesor, what are your plans for tonight?
Demesor was in his private quarters getting dressed when he 'saw' the question. He could literally perceive it like some physical object before his mind's eye. He realized that one of the Mooffs was trying to get in touch with him. They were faithful and dependable servants.
I have invited Perry Rhodan. You are to survey his thoughts and inform me if he has come with treacherous intentions.
The Zarlt knew that the Mooff could understand him. The confirmation followed promptly. Rhodan is Zalit's enemy. He must be killed. We'll help you with it. But you must proceed very cautiously. Some of his companions are very capable telepaths. They can read your thoughts. I'll therefore take care that you as well as all others who know of your project will receive a defence-block to shield your minds.
Demesor was happy to learn that his vague notion about Rhodan's friends numbering some telepaths among them was now borne out by the Mooff. He appreciated the Mooff's warning. "Thank you," he said out loud. "This means that Rhodan won't have any forewarning what we have in store for him?"
He won't have the faintest inkling until the moment you start acting. And then it'll be too late for him to do anything about it. After you have taken him prisoner, have him brought to me. To the big hall of the telepaths. Don't forget!
For a moment Demesor believed he heard some threat expressed with this demand but his doubts were quickly dispelled; they totally vanished. Why, of course, the Mooff was right if he wished to reserve for himself the right to cross-examine Rhodan. A telepath was much better qualified to dig out secrets from his prisoners.
Zarlt Demesor smiled.
He was actually looking forward to this very promising evening.








4/ GOLDEN GIRLS WITH HEARTS
OF STEEL