"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0099 - (91) Friend to Mankind" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"Does that mean that you don't care to take the cell shower treatment next time?" Rhodan inquired in a mocking tone.
Bell gave him a sour look.
"Besides there is other work we have to do," the Administrator continued. "We must fortify our positions. Atlan is busy with his own problems and he won't be able to help us when we need him."
Bell grinned smugly. "I believe the admiral bit off more of the cosmos than he can chew."
"I appreciate your penchant for loose metaphors but I would be grateful if you could express your opinions in a manner which would enable normal men to partake of your peculiar insights." Rhodan glanced expectantly at his friend.
Grand Marshall Reginald Bell, Deputy Administrator of the Solar Imperium, rose in a rather lax manner from his chair and went to the stellar charts at the wall. He made a sweeping gesture across a map and said: "Atlan's Great Imperium! It will collapse unless he is willing to accept our active support. His race has degenerated so much that he can do nothing with his people."
"You forget the ship of sleepers," Rhodan reminded him. "Those Arkonides are not degenerated."
Bell snapped his fingers. "How much effect would they have over these tremendous distances? No, our friend will never make it without our assistance. It is only a question of time before he will appeal to us to send Terrans to the Great Imperium in order to breathe new life into his tired establishment and give it some luster."
Rhodan went back to the window. "I wonder how Khrest is getting along?" he said abruptly.
"Aha," Bell exclaimed, "that's what's been ailing you all this time. You worry about the old man."
Rhodan nodded. "We shouldn't have left him alone. It was irresponsible."
"You shouldn't think so," Bell replied. "I believe a man like Khrest is entitled to choose his way of dying and the Arkonide preferred to wait for his death alone."
"His strength was already at a low ebb," Perry Rhodan pointed out. "How can he help himself if something unforeseen happens?"
"Keep in mind that he has two robots for protection," Bell countered. "One of them has been programmed to send a radio message to Terrania if the slightest irregularity occurs. Not even Khrest knows about this precaution. Let him have his well-earned rest."
A few days later Bell would have liked to eat his words. But the two men dropped the subject for the time being.


100 ADVENTURES FROM NOW
It's the
End of-(no, we won't tell!)






5/ "THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO DEAL
WITH AN ARKONIDE!"

It was believed the reflexes of Unithers were considerably slower than those of Earthlings. Due to their bulky physique their movements seemed slow and cumbersome to human eyes. But the speed with which Zerft had pulled out his beamer to shoot Khrest contradicted these assumptions.
But Golath was just as swift. He instantly lashed out Zerft's out with his trunk, curled it around Zerft's hand and pulled it aside. Zerft lost his balance and reeled back. He trumpeted his rage and tried to tear himself away.
"You mustn't kill him!" Golath shouted.
However the rabid Zerft refused to listen. He threw the mass of his 400 pound body against Golath, who was forced to release his grip on Zerft's arm to parry the thrust. The two brown Unithers rammed each other with the force of giants. Liszog wailed and implored them to stop their fight while the prisoner watched the battle in silence.
Zerft's gun clattered to the floor and Golath managed to kick it out of range. Zerft wound his trunk around Golath's head and began to twist it, making him close his eyes and groan under the painful pressure. His hands clamped Zerft's chest in a vice. The room reverberated from the noise of their violent clash. Golath knew that the other one had terrific strength but had underestimated his brute power nevertheless. He would take his last breath in a few more seconds unless he succeeded in breaking the murderous grip. Golath hooked his leg into Zerft's knee and tried to pull him down but Zerft stood like a rock. Golath was in the throes of despair. Zerft's trunk was clamped around his neck and cut off the circulation of his blood. The lack of blood and air robbed Golath of his ability to think clearly and made him feel dizzy. He made fierce attempts to free himself from the arms Zerft held around his waist. Zerft counteracted by leaning back. Golath abruptly lunged forward, forcing Zerft to take a step back. He stumbled and Golath kept pushing instinctively. They crashed to the floor, both trumpeting furiously. The contest grew more and more savage and Zerft had all the advantages.
Liszog felt compelled to make a decision. The fear that Golath might be killed goaded him into taking action. He knew that Zerft would never be in a position to get the ship of the Arkonide started and take it back to Unith. Thus the young Unither raised the barrel of his thermo-beamer. He hesitated for a moment, staring at the ponderous opponents rolling on the floor. "Stop it!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "If you don't break it up at once, I'll start shooting."
The interlocked bodies at his feet ceased their combat and jumped up, gasping for air.
"What's this nonsense?" Zerft screamed menacingly. "Put that gun down!"
Liszog's hand trembled and he had trouble looking into the eye of the older man but he kept his weapon pointed at Zerft and Golath. "Throw your thermo-beamer over to me, Golath!" he demanded.
Golath sneered but complied and tossed his weapon at Liszog's feet. "Now we've got a new leader," he taunted Zerft.
The young exile kicked the gun away before he spoke again. His injured hand had stopped bleeding. The stranger attentively observed the scene without uttering a sound.
"I'm putting Golath back in charge again," Liszog announced.
Zerft exploded in a curse. Only the threat of the gun kept him from hurling himself at Liszog. His eyes glowered, full of hate.
"Very good," Golath exclaimed with satisfaction. "Give me my weapon, boy."
"No," replied Liszog, shaking his trunk firmly.
Golath looked at him in astonishment and new respect. "I can do nothing without a weapon," he said. "I can't order Zerft to do anything unless I can back it up with a gun."
"I know," Liszog admitted. "I'll give it to you later. First, I have to take care of something else."
"What's that?" Golath muttered.
Liszog pointed his trunk at the Arkonide. "I'm going to kill him," he explained.
Zerft jumped on Golath's back and clutched his arms around him. Golath could feel his hot breath puffing down his neck. "Go ahead, boy!" Zerft yelled ferociously. "I won't let Golath bungle that job again."
Liszog went to the trunk-cleaner and switched it off as the prisoner followed him with his eyes without revealing the slightest emotion. The Arkonide was released.