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

6/ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Pucky studied the map very carefully.
He was squatting on his broad hind parts, holding the paper in his front paws, which resembled human hands although they were much smaller and very hairy. Looking at this little fellow one would be hard put to believe that he generally surpassed human beings in talents and intelligence. There was no other mutant besides the little mouse-beaver who simultaneously mastered telepathy, telekinetics and teleportation. Pucky's IQ was comparable to Rhodan's although he had never had the advantage of receiving as thorough a hypno-training as his adored human friend. His greatest strength lay, however, in his inconspicuous outer appearance.
An animal-yet superior to man...
Pucky's high voice said in shrill tones:
"It's exactly 758 feet from here to the palace entrance. The last time I could track Marshall's thought-streams I pinpointed his location at some 750 feet away. This indicates clearly that the underground vault is situated in our direction. Thus we know the direction. I'll jump to the Palace, 30 feet below the surface and approximately for a distance of 750 feet. This ought to permit me to materialize at the spot where Marshall, and presumably also Rhodan and Bell, were a few minutes ago."
Wuriu demurred. "Hadn't I better come along? After all I can see through solid walls."
"I'll pick you up shortly." Pucky nodded reassuringly at him-and vanished.
When his eyes could see again, he found himself standing in a corridor not far from an elevator door. All was quiet; not a sound to be heard.
But Pucky did not have to rely on his sense of hearing. His sensitive brain reacted immediately. But Rhodan's and Marshall's brains were strongly overlain by the alien impulses emanating from the Mooffs. Their intensity indicated that he was only a short distance removed from their source. The captives might be hidden behind the next door.
Pucky made a return leap and fetched Wuriu Sengu first and Kitai Ishibashi next.
The two Japanese mutants had drawn their small but powerful pulse rayguns. Pucky dispensed with any weapon.
"Well, Wuriu, can you see anything?"
Marshall's thought-streams, Pucky ascertained now, had been completely submerged in the whirlpool of the Mooffs' impulses. Even Pucky could feel how powerful the attempt of the jellyfish-telepaths was to subdue the Earthman under their will.
And then, suddenly, Marshall was free from this torture. The third and this time decisive assault on Bell had begun. There was no doubt that the Mooffs would be successful with him.
Marshall at once established contact with Pucky, whose probing thought-approaches he perceived again once the Mooffs had turned their attention away from him.
Where are you, Pucky? They're working Reggie over now. He won't be able to hold out for long. Answer me...
The mouse-beaver was waiting for the seer's report. Wuriu suddenly nodded his head while he stared at the nearest wall. "I can see them," he whispered excitedly. "Hardly 30 feet from here. That door over there!" He pointed to the second door. "They seem to have concentrated on Bell now. What business have those pretty girls participating in this whole affair?"
"What girls?" Pucky wanted to know. He fondly remembered girls: they were much better at gently stroking his fur and softly scratching him all over. Much better than lazy, self-centred men. "There are girls in there?"
"Yes. They are holding down Rhodan, Marshall and Bell," Wuriu reported, astonished. He could not get over this strange sight. "Now Bell is no longer trying to fight back."
"Won't do him any harm to have his brain convolutions cleaned out a bit," Pucky warbled mischievously. In reality he thought quite differently. The Mooffs were in for something! Then he beamed a thought in Marshall's direction: We'll attack in seconds!
Proceed with caution! came Marshall's thought-reply. The Zarlt and his officers have our weapons. The 6 robots must be put out of action. The Mooffs...
Robots? Wuriu hasn't seen any robots.
They are built like pretty girls. We fell into their trap.
Pucky looked completely perplexed. What a pity that no one could appreciate this funny sight! Then he spoke grimly: "Wuriu! Kitai! You know your job. Kitai will concentrate on the Mooffs and make sure that their emission of suggestions will be interrupted long enough till I can take care of them. Wuriu, you'll be in charge of the Zalites. And I..." and Pucky grinned, flashing his incisor, looking very content, I'll devote myself to the lovely handmaidens."
"Who...?" Wuriu gaped dumbfounded. "The handmaidens?"
"So what!" growled the little mouse-beaver as he stopped in front of the door. "Or has any of you ever witnessed when I couldn't handle 6 girls at the same time?"
The Japanese mutants fell silent, perplexed. Indeed, they had never witnessed such a sight.

* * * *

Bell's mental and physical collapse was nearly complete. The only reason he remained standing upright were the strong arms of the seductive robot girls encircling and supporting his body. The 5 Zalites stood aside waiting with stoic calm what would happen next. One of the 12 Mooffs seemed to have them under his control, for their powers of resistance were far weaker than those of the Earthmen.
Rhodan and Marshall were entirely free of any hypnotic onslaught. At least 11 Mooffs were concentrating their efforts on poor Bell, who couldn't possibly withstand this assault.
"Unless Pucky gets here soon," Rhodan murmured, "I don't know what might happen."
"They're already outside in the corridor," Marshall whispered back. "In a few seconds..."
Kitai materialized in the hall together with Pucky. The latter however vanished at once. One second later he returned with Wuriu Sengu, whose pulse raygun went immediately into action. The Zalites never knew that they were dying. They had no chance whatsoever to defend themselves.
Kitai was a quite capable suggestor. Measured by the Mooffs' standards he seemed a veritable giant. Before the jellyfish-creatures could register any change and then to adapt to it, they were attacked and shaken by such powerful impulses that they let go immediately of their victim. Bell hung limply in the arms of the robot girls. His eyes were closed but he was alive.
Pucky focused first telekinetic energy beams on the 2 robots who held Rhodan in their tight embrace. He forced their arms apart, slowly, inch by inch until Rhodan managed to free himself. The pretty guards remained standing there, immobilized in a rigid posture. Pucky could of course not keep up this trick indefinitely. There were too many other tasks to be accomplished. He motioned to Wuriu without looking at him.
"Play your beamer on the robots-regardless how darling they look."
Seconds later the 2 dancing girls had changed into small heaps of molten metal and plastic.
"Brrrr," Pucky shivered, shaking his fur like a wet dog. "Who would've thought that pretty girls look like that on the inside!"
Marshall was set free next and his guards were annihilated.
Then it was Bell's turn.
In his case Pucky had to be very careful that his friend would not slump to the ground like a sack of potatoes the moment the robots would release their grip on him. But fortunately for Pucky, Bell regained consciousness just in time.