"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0053 - (45) Unknown Sector Milky Way" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

The battle, itself, was over. With one well-aimed shot, Marshall had stunned Belal with his shock-gun. Rhodan had blasted the last grenade launcher out of existence, along with its ammunition.
Inasmuch as the destruction of the grenade throwers removed the major threat, Rhodan left his position and came out to the lock exit. He demanded to speak to a negotiator and since Belal wasn't in a condition to exercise his stubbornness at the moment, Rhodan's request was very quickly complied with.
He was short and to the point. He gave Belal's men a choice between surrender and annihilation. They did not take more than 5 minutes to decide on capitulation. Belal, who would no doubt have objected to this choice, was still unconscious.
His men lay down their weapons and crouched in a huddled group together in the trampled grass, under cover of the shock-guns in the hands of Rhodan and Marshall.








6/ SURRENDER-OR ANNIHILATION

Ivsera hardly noticed when the laboratory door opened. She paid no attention until Irvin emitted a cry of astonishment. Then she jumped up from her stool and stared at the 2 men who stood in the doorway.
One of them she had never seen before. He appeared to be slightly stupid but the machine pistol he carded under his arm in fire readiness served to discourage any laughter over his mental state.
However, Ivsera knew the other one-only too well. He followed her every movement with that same mocking, presumptive grin that Ivsera hated him for.
Havan!
When he observed her shocked reaction, he said, "There's no reason to be afraid." He called across the laboratory, "You know in what way you can be safe with me."
Ivsera knew what he meant but at the moment she was not convinced that she would have to beg Havan for anything. Perry was close by. So was Ther. And Feriar would back her up.
She shouted at him angrily. "Get out of here as fast as you can! Otherwise you will be executed!"
Havan made an ugly grimace. "Do you think so?" he asked and he came into the laboratory. "I have put off this visit until I could be sure that the entire bunker was in my hands. Look there!"
He motioned to the soldier in the doorway. The latter made a gesture to others behind him and a few moments later the bound figures of Ther and Feriar were shoved into the room.
Ivsera paled. She didn't think of Perry just then. Perry was a stranger and nobody knew what he would do. But Ther was a strong, intelligent man. She had always felt safe in his protection and that was the real reason she had assigned him to sorting and stacking the clothing in the laboratory.
Havan had captured Ther and Feriar. He asserted that the entire bunker was now in his hands. So what hope was left?
Without revealing her inner fears, she stood there motionlessly as Havan approached her. "May your heart burst!" she shouted at him in sudden anger.
Havan stopped and waved to the guard. "Tie her up, too," he ordered, as he leered at her meaningfully.

* * * *

Laury would have felt better if she were somewhat acquainted with the people she suddenly had to contend with. Everyone was concerned about her and the mouse-beaver but every few minutes she was confronted with a new strange face and it irritated her.
She was waiting for Rhodan or Marshall to come back. But the hours passed without her seeing either of them.
Finally, she was not surprised to see a heavily armed man enter her room and stare at her.
"What is it?" she asked.
The armed man didn't take his eyes off her.
"Stop looking at me like that!" she demanded. "What do you want here?"
Laury had not taken advantage of the special short training course that Rhodan had set up for the purpose of learning how to speak the language of this world fluently. Laury spoke the more elegant Arkonide tongue that was used almost everywhere in the galaxy but nevertheless the man understood her.
"I'm looking for you!" he answered.
"What for?"
"To take you prisoner."
Laury jumped. In the last moment she remembered the weapon that she was carrying. But before she could move her hand, the man aimed his gun with a warning: "Just relax where you are or I'll shoot!"
Laury obeyed. She cast a desperate glance in Pucky's direction but the mouse-beaver lay motionlessly on a couch in the back of the room, sleeping in exhaustion, oblivious to what went on around him.
Laury did not know, now that she was in Havan's power, that Havan was the undisputed lord of the Fenomat bunker...

* * * *

Rhodan became impatient when Feriar and Ther did not show up at the appointed time. "I have an uneasy premonition," he said to Marshall in English. "Don't forget Havan. Heaven only knows what kind of skullduggery he may have cooked up!"
"Hm-m-m," mumbled Marshall and looked aside. "We might as well let these men go. Without weapons they can't be dangerous to anybody."
Rhodan sprang to his feet. "Good. Get rid of them. I'll try to reach Laury."
Marshall took care of his chore in a hurry. He pressed the helmet of his transport suit against the anti-radiation helmet of the nearest prisoner and shouted: "Make tracks, you men! You're free. But make sure you're not seen again in dangerous company!"