"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0041 - (33) The Giant's Partner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)
"Red-skinned beauties with copper-coloured hair?" Rhodan shook his head and winked an eye at Marshall, who was impatiently waiting at the door. "I'm afraid the Zarlt is too preoccupied with worrying about certain other matters to find time to make sure we can indulge in pleasant female company. You'll just have to do without the ladies."
"They probably don't have any pretty girls anyway!" Bell gave up brushing his unruly hair in disgust.
"Sounds like sour skapes (Exceedingly bitter Venusian lemon-size snow white berries) to me," growled Marshall, who grew more impatient by the second. "I'd like to know if that's all that is bothering you, Reggie."
"That's all," Bell confirmed with a wide grin.
Rhodan checked the charge of his small needle-beamer before he stashed it away in his rear pocket. Then he motioned to his 2 friends. "Ready to leave? Okay, then let's go."
3 minutes later, the exit hatch closed behind them with a dull thud. The Zarlt's car was waiting for them. They climbed aboard and the car drove off quickly across the field until it reached the main road leading to the city. They were travelling along the highway at breakneck speed toward the silhouette of the distant capital of Zalit. Soon the outlines of the characteristic funnel-shaped buildings were clearly discernible against the bright sky. It was 2 hours till sunset.
Now they were driving through the suburbs with their many parks and green pleasure belts. Rhodan knew that this area was crisscrossed with subterranean passages and rooms where the rebels were lying in wait for the signal to attack. Marshall needed only send out a telepathic command which would be received and transmitted by Betty Toufry for the revolution to start...
But this point was still in the future. It all depended on the Zarlt's actions-but nobody knew what his exact plans actually were.
The palace came into sight. Its tall walls rose to a height of 450 feet, easily surpassing all other buildings around it. The palace walls reared upward and out at an angle to the ground. Their red hues were intensified by the slanting rays of the setting sun, Voga. Rhodan noticed that the usual guard posts near the palace portal had not been reinforced. This seemed almost suspicious, considered in the light of the events which had taken place the previous day. Glancing swiftly to the side he also realized that there was a new Mooff inside the pressurized container standing on the wide lawn-its former inhabitant had been exterminated by the action of his Mutant Corps.
Perry Rhodan could already feel the probing thoughts and attempted suggestions by the new replacement: the usual request to hand over to the guard post all weapons that the visitor might be bringing along. The strength of this hypno-command was almost negligible. Rhodan and his 2 companions simply ignored it.
The car came to a halt.
"That driver could at least open the car doors for us," grumbled Bell, using the English language, "seeing we're not being welcomed like regular guests with a little reception committee."
"It's not customary here," Rhodan enlightened him as he got out of the car. "Besides, this is not an official visit, just an ordinary 'friendly' call."
"We'll know afterwards if everything is just 'friendly' here," Bell countered with distrust. "I have a feeling..."
He could not elaborate further what these feelings were. He was interrupted by the appearance of 3 gaudily uniformed Zalites who stepped forth from the inner portal. Their shouldered arms aroused anything else but reassuring feelings in Rhodan and his friends. Both gunstocks and barrels were profusely ornamented with gold and silver; the slings were elaborately embroidered.
"For heaven's sake!" exclaimed Bell. "Looks like an operetta-are we supposed to be playing extras with a walk-on part?"
Marshall suppressed a grin. He searched quickly in the thoughts of the 3 guards but encountered nothing but very superficial impressions. The first one thought of anything but the task at hand. He couldn't be less interested in receiving the Zarlt's visitors, who meant nothing to him. The second was busy figuring out what practical joke he could play on his wife's brother. The third post...
The third post had no thoughts whatsoever! Marshall noted, perplexed.
There was no time, however, for Marshall to ponder this psychological curiosity for the 3 guards stopped in front of them, presented arms, smartly executed an about-face and began to march slowly into the building. With a quick nod Rhodan urged his friends to follow. The little procession advanced solemnly to the nearest elevator, which brought them to a higher floor. Here they were taken over by 3 other operetta soldiers. Marshall had no opportunity to check out their thoughts because he suddenly sensed strong impulses originating from various directions. He was certain that these were not any hypno commands and that therefore he was the only person to notice them. But before he could make sure what the meaning of these impulses could be, they weakened and vanished. The whole interlude lasted barely 30 seconds.
They were following their soldier guides through a long, slightly curved corridor. All the while, Marshall was frantically racking his brain trying to grasp the significance of these thought impulses. Were they an attempt by the Mooffs to probe the visitors' minds? In that case the Mooffs already had found out who their enemies were.
But hadn't they always been aware of this fact?
The 3 guards came to a halt. Again they presented arms. A door opened. A small hall could be seen with a table in its centre: 5 persons were seated at this table. In the background rose a flat podium framed by colourful curtains.
4 of the assembled Zalites remained seated. Only the Zarlt rose and walked toward his guests, his hand outstretched in greeting. "Welcome, Perry Rhodan. You are on time."
Rhodan shook hands but did not return his host's firm grasp. Bell and Marshall were welcomed in the same manner. Bell grimaced as if he had touched something repulsive. The Zarlt did not seem to notice.
Rhodan sat down in the centre, flanked on either side by Marshall and Bell. Demesor took the seat directly opposite Perry Rhodan. The Zarlt had Hemor and Milfor to his right while Cenets and Orbson were to his left.
While the company was still exchanging some polite small talk, Marshall experienced his first big disappointment. He concentrated on his task to explore the thoughts in the Zalites' subconscious mind. He started out with Demesor.
He encountered a defence-block erected by one of the Mooffs.
It could not be anything else because non-telepaths were unable to shield off their thoughts on their own without many years of special training. Moreover, a certain parapsychic talent was needed for this feat. And this is what the Mooffs had in ample supply. This meant then that they had already inserted themselves in the proceedings.
Next he tried out the 4 officers but found out quickly that the situation was similar in their case as with the Zarlt: it was impossible for him to read the thoughts of the 5 Zalites sitting across the table from him. This was a handicap nobody had taken into account. And Marshall least of all. He had to warn Rhodan, who was a telepath with a limited range of abilities.
"No, just a few accidents," said the Zarlt at this moment in answer to Rhodan's question what the cause of yesterday's disturbances had been. "Negligence. Such things will happen occasionally. Those derelict in their duty have already been punished."
Rhodan smiled in silent acknowledgment. The same instant he was receiving Marshall's telepathic message and warning. Not only that the minds of the Zarlt and his vassals remained inaccessible but a new danger was added: the Mooffs could read the Earthmen's thoughts and could of course take the necessary steps. A defence screen was the only way to prevent that.
Rhodan, Marshall and Bell quickly erected a barrier around their mind while Marshall, in addition, continued to break through the Zarlt's block in order to reach the actual point of origin, the Mooff suggestor.
Servants brought platters heaped with local fruit and various beverages. Rhodan preferred to drink fruit juices while Bell indulged in the heavy Zalit wines. He took great delight in watching the pretty servant girls who came to replenish their empty glasses.
The Zalit girls were indeed very pretty. The Zarlt had good taste, even Bell, the connoisseur, had to admit. The red-skinned girls walked around gracefully and made sure that the glasses were always full. Bell kept imbibing heavily, just to be able to admire the magnificent movements whose even rhythm began to fascinate him.
"You like them, do you?" the Zarlt inquired with a smile. And as Bell absentmindedly nodded his approval, the Zarlt added: "They can do more than just serve at table."
This remark startled Bell.
"Oh, no... that's not what I meant," the Zarlt laughed in amusement. "They can also dance-that's what I intended to say."
"Can you read thoughts?" Bell burst out. For a fleeting moment his cheeks blushed deeply in embarrassment. Rhodan came to his assistance in order to extricate him from this tight spot.
"Your remark was a bit ambiguous, Zarlt," Rhodan said with a friendly reproach that nobody took seriously. "But we have no objections to a little dance performance."
"Let's first discuss pertinent matters of strategy." Demesor felt impelled to broach the urgent subject that had induced his guests to accept tonight's invitation. "I'm referring to our common action against Arkon."
Rhodan's eyebrows shot up. "Against Arkon?" he echoed in wonder.
"Of course I mean to say against the robot brain," the Zarlt corrected himself. "It's only because of our love for the Empire that we want to remove the rule of a robot. You can appreciate this even if you are at home in another system-even in another part of the galaxy presumably."
Clever, clever, boy, thought Rhodan to himself. Now I'm supposed to think of Earth and give away its position. Then the Mooffs-presuming they can read my mind-will know what they're after. Or rather their masters on whose behalf they're acting. Demesor probably doesn't even know why he made that remark. He's just an unwitting puppet in the hands of the Mooffs.
"True, my system is not part of the Arkonide Empire and therefore its fate needn't concern me. Unfortunately, however, I became embroiled in its affairs. The Brain is after me and I need some protection which you were kind enough to offer me. I am in your debt."
Milfor leaned forward and directed an icy glance at Rhodan. "Isn't it time now to express your appreciation in more than a few polite words?"
It was plainly evident that the Zarlt did not care for this direct approach. He tried to mediate. "I'm sure Milfor didn't mean it that way, Rhodan. Naturally, I'm also counting on it that you'll assist us in our enterprise. After all, you made a promise to that effect. As you know, we are mainly concerned with the fortified ring around Arkon. It seems impossible to penetrate it. But you were successful."
This was a question even though phrased in terms of a statement.
Bell drained his goblet and motioned to the beauty with the coppery hair. He drank in her graceful movements almost more appreciatively than the wine she poured for him. It wasn't entirely by chance when he brushed his hand against her temptingly red-brown arm. Her skin was taut, smooth-and cold.
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