"002 The Third Power" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Its power must have failed."
"And why didnТt Rhodan land with the help of remote control, which surely would
have brought his rocket into the Nevada Fields landing area? Why did he assume
command himself? Will you explain that to me?"
General Pounder shook his head helplessly. "This is exactly what I canТt do; but
it is still no justification for making prisoners of myself and all my staff.
YouТve surrounded all of Nevada Fields with your people."
"Just a precautionary measure, nothing more," said Mercant, smiling calmly.
"There is an old saying, if you expect the worst, you wonТt be disappointed."
"Let us suppose that Rhodan made the decision himself to land in the Gobi Desert
and therefore has very definite plans," Pounder said.
"IТll gladly believe that," Mercant remarked with sarcasm.
"A plan or an intention that is in no respect directed against us," the general
continued. "If youТre suggesting, perhaps, that he wants to hand over the
Stardust to the Asiatics, you are entirely mistaken."
"And what other intention do you suppose he could have?"
"That I donТt know," Pounder admitted, "but I do know Major Rhodan. He is
reliable and above suspicion."
"A human being is an uncertain factor in any equation, General. No one can look
into the heart of another. Wealth and power, or at least the chance for these
two can confuse even the most loyal mind."
General Pounder seemed to sit a bit larger behind his desk. "Do you mean to say
with all this that Rhodan might have become mentally disturbed?"
"Not at all, General! No one who strives for wealth and power can be wholly
insane. He is nothing but a traitor!"
In one swift movement, Pounder rose from his chair, bent his massive body over
the desk and thrust his fist under the manТs nose. "Stop that now! Even if you
are Allan D. Mercant, I wonТt have my people insulted by you! Rhodan is not a
traitor. It was an emergency landing for the Stardust. And please, before you
continue like this, will you kindly offer proof to the contrary? By the way,
Washington has already entered into negotiations with the government of the
Asiatic Federation."
"Interesting," was MercantТs comment as he pushed aside the fist with a careless
elegance that disarmed Pounder. "Is it also possible to know of the result?"
"Nothing so far," confessed Pounder. "IТm still awaiting word directly from my
staff in Washington."
"Then IТll tell you what the report will say. Quote, СThe government of the
Asiatic Federation of course regrets the incident and promises to do everything
possible to rescue the stranded space pilots. The wreck of the Stardust, if not
already burned, will be released for return.Т Shortly thereafter there will be a
second announcement saying that the Stardust was totally destroyed on impact and
that only the unrecognisable remains of the crew could be found. And then
silence will descend over the whole affair, and no one will ever talk about it
again. In reality, however, have been quite different."
"If I had your imagination IТd be writing novels." Pounder seemed to envy the
man across from his desk. "Nevertheless, letТs hear how it could have been,
according to your opinion. How could it have been in reality?"
"The Asiatics will dismantle the Stardust and evaluate for themselves the result
of the moonflight. Rhodan and his men will receive their promised reward upon
surrender of all their newly gained knowledge. Perhaps a villa in Tibet or