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

"Yes sir," Tuncher stammered in confusion.
Khrest laughed in amusement as the lieutenant trotted off. "If he runs into a horned burrower, he will really flip his mind."
"These animals are supposed to be very dangerous," Rhodan commented with arched brows. "You'd better be careful where you walk, Khrest."
"Of course," the Arkonide agreed. "I'll also look out that none of the acidthrowers gets close to me. These beasts are much too excitable. I wouldn't care to be a target of their streams of concentrated acid. Ufgar has described these two animals very thoroughly in his report on this planet."
The tall lanky man with the almost haggard face gazed at his old friend. "We will mark this world on our stellar maps as Khrest's Planet," he declared. Before the Arkonide could protest, he continued: "The spacejet which we leave for you will be protected by an energy screen. When you want to board the little spaceship you will have to transmit the code signal to deactivate the protective screen."
"You don't take any chances with an old man like me, do you, Perry?"
"No," Rhodan replied. "Tuncher also brought a little motorboat for you which you can use to fish on the lake. Please tell me if there is anything else I can do for you."
They left Khrest's new home and watched Tuncher and his crew unload the spacejet. The disk-shaped spaceship had been constructed in secrecy and measured 35 meters in diameter. The sleek lines of its dome merged into the even surface. The bubble accommodated a small crew and the most modern equipment of the Solar Fleet. The design of the ship enabled a single pilot to operate it by himself.
Khrest, who was familiar with the gigantic battleships of the Arkonide fleet, did not conceal his admiration. After the machine had been moored on the ground, he remarked approvingly: "This is another proof that I'm no longer needed. People who can build such fine products are able to take care of themselves. The Earthlings have achieved so much in a relatively shortime. Perry, regard me as a symbol of an epoch which has run its course. Youth will take my place and I will soon be forgotten."
"Mankind will never forget you," Rhodan assured him. "Your departure will leave a gap that cannot be closed for a long time. Looking at it in this light, you are only too right when you speak of the end of an epoch."
They spent the next few hours walking along the shore while the crew of the Solar System was busy putting the last touches on Khrest's abode. In their conversation long forgotten events were brought back to life. Rhodan continued in his attempts to make the scientist return to Earth with him but Khrest's decision remained unshakable.
Finally Lt. Tuncher appeared to report that the work was completed and the Solar System was ready to take off again.
"The crew wants to say goodbye to you," Rhodan said.
They were about 600 meters from the heavy cruiser. Khrest gravely shook his head. "Give the men my regards and convey my best wishes to them," he said.
Rhodan stood still. His hand touched the Arkonide's arm and Khrest, who had shared Rhodan's company for years and years, felt that the Terranian had trouble finding the right words. "Don't say anything," Khrest begged softly. "Just go."
Perry Rhodan took the hand of the old man. They looked once more into each others' eyes. For a moment the pressure of their hands intensified. "Thank you, my friend," Rhodan whispered hoarsely. Then he turned abruptly around and followed Lt. Tuncher.
Khrest stood motionless, following them with his eyes. Rhodan and Tuncher ascended the steep incline without turning around. Khrest squinted into the low sun behind the Solar System. Next to the mighty vessel the two men looked like ants. Then they disappeared altogether.
Minutes later the sphere lifted off, borne by its powerful engines and propelled by the thunderous forces of atomic heat. The ground began to tremble and Khrest's ears felt a pain.
At the altitude of 2000 meters the ship's crew chose its own way of saying goodbye to Khrest. A flaming beam shot from a gun turret and coloured the sky blood-red. A last salute to a great friend of mankind!
"Famal Gosner!" Khrest whispered. It was an Arkonide expression meaning "Farewell!"
Soon the Solar System vanished in space. Khrest slowly walked to his little house at the shore of the lake. He was in no hurry. An old man waiting for his death.
Khrest had no inkling that his solitude was destined to be disturbed with sinister intent.


10 ADVENTURES FROM NOW
You'll come up against
Blockade: Lepso








2/ THE THREE FUGITIVES

Golath was seriously worried. The air purification system was on the verge of breaking down. Although there were some oxygen tanks aboard the Kaszill, not Golath, Liszog nor Zerft had been able to discover them.
The Kaszill was already no more than a wreck when they were locked up in the ship and chased out into space. It was utterly incomprehensible to Golath why this creaking container-for which the designation 'spaceship' was a fatal misnomer-was not already ruptured by the first blast. Zerft was kept busy plugging constant new leaks. His work had become such a skilful routine that Golath still nourished a spark of hope for their survival.
The only machine which still functioned faultlessly aboard the Kaszill was the automatic trunk-cleaner. Thus the three Unithers were still able to clean their trunk regularly of the residue of food deposits. After such a rejuvenating treatment even the foul air seemed a little more bearable to Golath.
Liszog, who had been sitting in front of the rangefinder in deep thought, reached over to Golath with his trunk and gave him a little shove. "It's time for you to take your turn," he said.
Golath, who fancied himself as the captain of the ship, complied with Liszog's request with considerable displeasure. Especially since he was convinced that they could sit before the rangefinder for the next 100 years without detecting anything significant. Not that the three Unithers could expect to live that long. The life expectancy of the Kaszill was zero even in the most optimistic estimation.
The three Unithers were the same height as Terrans but their bodies were much more massive and bulky. In addition to arms and legs-they possessed a trunk as long as an arm which served as a tool as well as for the intake of food. Their heads were semi-spherical and had two large eyes which sat directly on their shoulders and were barely movable. A smooth tough hide of light-brown hue covered their bodies.
After Golath took Liszog's place, the latter reclined on the trunk-cleaner. Zerft, who had remained in a state of relaxation since repairing the latest leak, rose awkwardly. He stepped behind Golath and looked over his shoulder at the instruments.
"Do you think you can see more than I?" Golath asked, irritated.
Zerft took his time before he answered in a conciliatory tone: "I believe I see the same as you do-nothing."
Liszog's trunk was stuffed by the rinsing appendage which made him difficult to understand when he said: "We will have to resign ourselves to the fact that we will never be able to return to Unith. It's impossible to perform a heroic deed with this dilapidated ship which could grant us a rehabilitation. It would be better to look for a suitable planet where we can land as long as there is still time."
"Liszog is right," Zerft agreed. "Our history has never reported a case when an expelled member has met the conditions for a return home. Even if we were to detect a spaceship of another race-how could we capture it?"
Golath slid his hand across the rangefinder screen. "Are you ready to give up then?" he asked.
"Yes," Zerft replied firmly. "Right now."