"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0085 - (77) Conflict Center Naator" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Rhog had almost given up hope of finding even a small niche in the wall but here was something quite unexpected. He readjusted his pack of provisions and groped his way into the narrow passage, which turned out to be a small canyon. He had expected to get to the end of it quickly but was in for a surprise. True, the walls converged slightly, leaving a 4-meter gap between them, but then they fell away from each other-in fact very far away. Rhog could no longer see them although the night had brightened considerably.
Instead of a closed wall of rock, from what he could make out he was facing a wide, flat area. It lay here in the mountains like a deep basin surrounded by cliffs. Above was a circular section of sky where thousands of stars could be seen. The locked valley had a diameter of at least 500 meters.
Was that a fire flickering over there? It must be burning inside a cave because there were only flitting shadows to be seen.
Rebels? Conscientious objectors? Perhaps some of his friends?
He was seized by a sudden hope. Throwing caution to the winds, he moved toward the flickering fire. He had to admit that this group had selected an excellent place of concealment. It was sheer coincidence that he had discovered the entrance at all.
Then suddenly he knew what they were: freight vehicles such as were used for transporting merchandise through the desert. Using such equipment was the only alternative to the more expensive method of transport by air.
He had chanced upon a caravan camp.
But he had also come to a stop. A caravan?-here, so far north? The wide valley that was the regular pass through the mountains still lay a good 100 kilometres to the South. Why should a caravan make such a detour merely to spend the night?
There was something strange about this caravan, that was for sure.
But caution was only necessary in regard to Arkonides. The most he could encounter here would be some extension of Zalite civilian authority from which nothing was to be feared. There was only one way to find out what was going on. With his right hand on the butt of his weapon, he crept toward the fire which was still hidden from direct view by outcroppings of rock.
A loud voice suddenly rang out close behind him: "If I were you, friend, I'd stand still and put my hands in the air, real slow. It's much too dangerous to sneak up on a campfire at night without announcing yourself."
Rhog stiffened. Slowly and carefully he pulled his right hand out of his pocket to show that it was empty and he raised it simultaneously with his left hand. Somebody stepped up from behind and relieved him of the needle beamer.
"Very good, my friend. But now we must still find out who this is who travels by night in the desert. You'd better think up a very likely story. All right, get moving...!"
Rhog stumbled toward the rock outcropping that obscured the flickering fire.

* * * *

The city of Tagnor had the semblance of an armed camp. Everywhere one encountered the robot patrols of the Arkonides. Whoever was caught without a valid draft card would have to expect to be arrested. Actually there were only a few men to be seen. Pedestrians in the streets consisted mainly of tall, slender Zalite women with reddish-gleaming hair.
To the right of the broad avenue leading to the cone-shaped palace of the Zarlt, the arena lay empty and deserted. No war games had taken place here for a long time, even though the arena's entrepreneur and manager had not been conscripted by the Arkonides. This man, named Garak, still apparently made every effort to scare up wild animals and gladiators wherever he could.
He had just returned from Larg where he had gotten a few things under way which would certainly have interested Admiral Calus very much. Satisfied with both himself and Zalit, Garak hurried down into his subterranean hideout in the catacombs of the arena. He took a careful look around before disappearing into the broad passage that led steeply into the depths.
Here it was dark and he had to turn on his small hand lamp in order not to miss the place he was looking for. Then, finally, he stood before the secret door. There was no sign of such an opening in the smooth rock wall but a slight pressure with the flat of the hand was enough to cause the wall panel to slide suddenly aside. Garak was bathed in light as the door closed again behind him.
He stood in a spacious rock chamber that had been subdivided by low walls. Zalites sat there or stood about and looked toward him curiously. In fact one of them approached him.
"Well, Toffner...? How did you do?"
The man did not speak the usual Zalite language, which was a slight variation of Arkonide, but instead spoke purest English. And now all at once Garak had become Toffner. In fact, Jeremy Toffner was a cosmic agent from the Earth.
"So far so good, Major. Our friend Hhogka in Larg has organized a caravan and is sending it this way through the desert. It started out day before yesterday and ought to reach the cave by today. After going through the, regular mountain pass it has to go north a hundred kilometres. They're waiting for us in that boxed-in canyon.
Maj. Rosberg was a Solar Intelligence specialist for transmitter installations. Now he nodded, satisfied. "That's great! I sent out my hypercom dispatch to the California yesterday. The cruiser is on standby for us, and so tomorrow morning, Earth time, it ought to be delivering the stuff we asked for. That's also tomorrow morning, Zalite time, incidentally."
In these few words the major outlined a very comprehensive program that was not without its dangers. It was true that the California would only emerge from transition for a period of one minute and it only needed to switch on its five matter transmitters in order to transmit the materials requested but this one strategic minute could lead to a catastrophe. All space around Zalit had been blocked off by Arkon ships.
Something moved in the back of the subterranean chamber and then someone approached. This 'someone' was just one meter tall, was covered with a rust-brown pelt of hair, looked like a giant mouse and was also provided with the wide, flat tail of a beaver.
This creature straightened to its full height before the two men and spoke to them in a squeaky voice. "Then don't you think it's about time that we turned on the transmitter's receiving station in the cave?"
Maj. Rosberg and Toffner nodded in mutual agreement.
"That's right, Pucky," said Rosberg to the remarkable creature, who spoke flawless English. "But early tomorrow morning will do just as well. You can make your jump then with the three men."
The term 'jump' referred to Pucky's mutant capability of teleporting. But in addition to this the mouse-beaver was also a telepath as well as a top expert in telekinesis. In actuality he was the most talented parapsychic in the Solar Imperium-and he took no little pride in the fact. Pucky wobbled his big ears, revealed his incisor tooth in a friendly grin and retired to his corner of the room with a waddling strut that was characteristic of him.
Toffner watched him with amusement. "If we didn't have Pucky we'd lose a lot of time," he commented. "And everything would also become more dangerous."
"Rhodan must have his reasons for leaving Pucky behind with us," said Rosberg, confirming the other's sentiments. He went with Toffner to a table where they both sat down on a rough-hewn bench. "Betty Toufry advises us that some big transport ships will be taking off for Arkon in the next few days. Let's hope they get to go with this shipment."
'They' referred to Rhodan and his 150-man team. Disguised as Zalites, they were presently in the Arkonide's mobilization camp. They had succeeded in obtaining key positions of duty and rank among the new conscriptees and now they waited to embark for Arkon along with the regular Zalite draftees, who of course were by no means volunteers. The impending transfer of troops placed Arkon somewhat in the position of ancient Troy on Earth, because Rhodan and his men were the conquerors who figuratively remained hidden within the belly of the 'wooden horse'.
"Why shouldn't they go this time?"
"Today they shipped out 50,000 troops, Toffner, and Rhodan and his men were not among them. Do you have any idea of the size of this operation?" As Toffner remained silent, Rosberg changed the subject: "What did Hhogka have to say about your proposition?"
I went to him as soon as I arrived in Larg. At first he was sceptical but what convinced him was the good job we did on the fake I.D. passes, which even carry the signature of Calus. The caravan is at the cave today and by tomorrow it can be all loaded and get under way to Tagnor. We should be able to expect its arrival in three days."
"And that's the crisis!" put in Rosberg. "We have to join it before it's stopped by the robots at the edge of the city. Maybe we'll grab an Arkonide officer to help us. We have the necessary means at our disposal so that we can lay a hypnoblock on him. Then he'll do exactly what we want him to do. Maybe we should get hold of the fellow we've treated already, the one you encountered a few days ago outside in the passage. Try tomorrow to find him in Tagnor and bring him here. Using him it'll be a cinch to get the caravan into the city. Then under cover of night it should be easy to guide it down here in the catacombs."
Toffner rested his chin on both hands with his elbows propped up on the wooden tabletop. "I've been the only Earthman on Zalit for the past three years and although I'll admit it was lonesome duty I always felt comparatively secure. Today I'm no longer alone-but don't think I haven't felt safer."
"Toffner, you know that the robot Brain-the Regent of the Arkonide Empire-is planning to destroy the Earth. "Rhodan wants to steal the march on him by making a preventive attack. It's the only choice he has if he wants to save the Earth."
"I know," acknowledged Toffner.
But for the rest of the day he was somewhat silent.

* * * *

A fire actually was burning inside the cave. Rhog made out nine Zalites in its flickering glow. Some of them were lying on blankets along the wall and they sat up as he stumbled in over the threshold and came to a stop. Others sat directly around the fire and looked up at him curiously.
"Just take a look at what I found outside," said the man who had brought Rhog into the cave. "He says he found this place by accident. He's also armed with an Arkonide hand-beamer. Suspicious, don't you think?"
A bearded Zalite got up slowly and came to the prisoner. "Who are you?" he asked.
Before answering, Rhog looked carefully around. He couldn't quite figure out what kind of a situation he'd stumbled upon by chance. This did not appear to be any normal caravan. In the centre of the wide cave was a remarkable object. It consisted of two principal parts-a metal block base that appeared to be very inert and heavy, and a cage. It truly looked like a cage but at his first glance Rhog knew it had to be something else. The glistening power cables connecting the cage to its base were enough to lead one to this conclusion.