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

The Mooffs were the driving force behind the Zarlt's sudden activity. That's what it was!
Rhodan became aware of increased probing of his brain, all coming from the same direction-from straight ahead.
Their captors were taking them to the Mooffs...?
Despite his hardly enviable situation Rhodan hastily managed to develop a theory. Experience had taught them that a single Mooff did not possess sufficient suggestive powers to force its will upon an Earthman. The Mooffs were good telepaths but not as effective in their role as suggestors.
But what would happen, Rhodan continued his stream of thoughts, if 4 or 5 Mooffs would simultaneously concentrate their efforts on one single Earthling's mind? Would the 5 fold increased energy suffice to bring their victim under their will?
The Mooffs seemed to have made identical deliberations and to be convinced of a positive outcome, for Rhodan was certain now that it wasn't just one but at least 4 or 5 Mooffs that tried to examine his mind.
That was an eventuality he had failed to take into consideration.
And this very eventuality constituted a tremendous threat.
He communicated this assumption to Marshall, who received the news with a very worried expression. But then no more time was left to make any further reflections on their situation.
The Zarlt came to a halt in front of a door. Milfor started to grin in a frankly sadistic manner and nudged Bell in the ribs. The redhead responded with an outraged roar. Demesor opened the door and led the way. The 4 officers and the 6 robots with their captives followed.
Rhodan saw that his fears had not been unfounded.
They entered a big, high-ceilinged vault which was lit up by bright lamps. Along the back wall stood a long row of pressure-tight containers holding about one dozen Mooffs. Glistening pipes connected the pressure chambers with a regeneration aggregate which continuously renewed the methane atmosphere the Mooffs needed for breathing. The alien creatures-huge jellyfish some 4-5 feet in height and measuring 3 feet across-sat motionless inside their containers and gaped with their fixed button-eyes at the arrivals.
Rhodan felt a wave of suggestive impulses wash over him. With what little powers of concentration were left to him he fought against the violent forces beamed at his brain. The 4 arms of the robot girls constrained him so tight that he was unable to move. True, there was nothing to be accomplished if he tried to use physical strength.
Now the Zarlt's voice broke in. "Rhodan, how did you succeed in overcoming the outer ring of fortifications around Arkon? Speak up or I'll hand you over to my scientists."
Rhodan remembered that the Zarlt had no inkling of the Mooffs' suggestive talents. The Zarlt believed he would simply check on the veracity of Rhodan's statements with the help of the Mooffs. He did not realize that he himself was in the power of the jelly-fish creatures who caused him to act according to their own designs. Demesor and his 4 officers were no different in this respect from Rhodan and his 2 companions-they too were prisoners of the Mooffs.
However these 5 Zalites would not have changed their basic views even without the Mooffs' suggestions. And it was this fact alone which confirmed the sentence which had long since been pronounced and was waiting now to be finally carried out.
"You won't find out anything from me, Zarlt," said Rhodan.
The beams of suggestive forces which had temporarily eased became stronger again. Rhodan noticed that neither Bell nor Marshall were affected by it-but then he needed his undivided concentration to meet the renewed assault of the Mooffs.
It was a silent duel. Only Rhodan understood the question that suddenly was present in his brain:
Do you know who we are? Why are you trying to fight us off?
Because I know who you are!
Rhodan was simply thinking this phrase and he knew that the 12 Mooffs understood him. It was the first time that he was establishing a direct contact with his opponent though the circumstances were not of his own choosing nor to his liking.
You will tell the Zarlt how it is possible to attack Arkon!
Why should I? A person like Demesor is not capable of ruling the Arkonide Empire. Or is it rather that you want to obtain this information?
Yes, we want to find this out from you!
On whose behalf?
For a few marvellous seconds all suggestive impulses disappeared, the pressure in his brain vanished. It seemed the 12 Mooffs had withdrawn in order to consult with each other. Rhodan made use of this wonderful reprieve to send a swift thought message to Marshall: What's going on with our mutants? Are the rebels attacking? Do they know what has happened to us? Hurry up and answer me aloud in English! I can't concentrate sufficiently in order to receive your thoughts directly.
"Mutant Corps in action! Rebellion starting! Assault on the Titan has begun. Another half an hour, Pucky thinks..."
He could not finish. Milfor approached and hit Marshall in the mouth with his fist.
"You aren't supposed to talk with each other!" Demesor commanded furiously. "Only when you are asked. And I have put a question to you, Rhodan!"
"Just go on waiting for an answer!" Rhodan suggested coldly while he calculated what might happen in this next half hour. Of course, there was always the possibility of simply telling the truth to Demesor. What good would the information do him unless he had a teleнtransmitter." Besides, Demesor's reign-if all went according to plan-would last only another 30 minutes. -But then Rhodan's unflinching pride and unshakable will to triumph over his adversaries won out. "You can wait till you fry in hell!"
Demesor had perfect self-control, or maybe the Mooffs gave him an order not to lose his temper. Anyhow, he remained silent and kept watching the events unfolding in front of his eyes.
Now the Mooffs proceeded ruthlessly. They resumed their assault on Rhodan with combined and concentrated forces. A tidal wave of painful thought impulses stormed against Rhodan's brain, threatening to drown it under their weight. Rhodan's mental capacities had been greatly reinforced thanks to Khrest's hypno-training. Thus he managed to erect a thought-shield which weakened the incoming impulses of the Mooffs. Nevertheless it was a superhuman effort to resist them.
Rhodan fought the bitterest battle of his life.
His opponents remained immobile inside their transparent boxes, relatively harmless and totally defenceless foes-provided their intended victim had full use of his arms and legs. They were mute by nature and therefore communicated only via telepathy; in their home world they had developed parapsychological abilities which constituted an unimaginable force-if applied in coordination.
Rhodan realized now that they had underestimated the Mooffs-unless the latter had only recently learned to deploy their suggestive forces according to some predestined plan at the proper time.
Time...
Rhodan knew he had to gain time. He could sense his resistance fade away under the onslaught of the alien monsters' suggestive impulses. He tried to maintain his mental defences with every fibre of his being. He was still holding out. But for how much longer...?
He almost collapsed as the Mooffs. abruptly withdrew. Just like a man who is throwing his full weight against a door which suddenly gives way.
25 minutes to go!
Marshall's eyes assumed a fixed stare. Rhodan realized that the Mooffs had selected another victim. Perhaps they might try later on once more with him but they seemed more interested in finding the weakest of their 3 prisoners.
The Zalites remained quiet. They appeared as if seized by a spell, unaware what was going on before their eyes. Rhodan felt no pity for them. He pictured in his mind's eye what would happen to the Empire if they would seize power and eliminate the robot brain from its present position as ruler. It would be a reign of puppets, moving to the strings held by the Mooffs who again in turn were acting according to the commands of some mightier and more clever unknown third party.
No!
Misplaced compassion might bring about the fall of an empire and serfdom for hundreds of worlds. Alarmed, Rhodan turned his attention to Marshall who, being a telepath, had enough experience and energy to ward off the Mooffs' assault.
Scarcely 4 minutes later the jellyfish creatures gave up their attempt.
Before they attacked their third victim, Rhodan sent thoughts in Marshall's direction. Call Pucky! Urge him to hurry up! Only Pucky can help us now!
Now it was Bell's turn...
He, too, had gone through the hypno-schooling of the Arkonides, which had tremendously enlarged his knowledge. Yet the capacity of his mental defences was not sufficient to entirely ward off the Mooffs' attack.
His face was contorted with pain. Beads of perspiration covered his forehead as the agonizing impulses threatened to corrode his brain. His lips began to stammer helplessly and his eyes no longer perceived where his body was.
The hall of the telepaths... had chosen its victim!