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

are consequently pushed out of the way. One suffocates, so to speak, even though
he may breathe fully throughout his lungs-for what good are lungs filled with
oxygen when there are no red blood corpuscles to transport the oxygen to the
organs that require it? At first, fatigue manifests itself. The sick man becomes
progressively weaker. The physical deterioration is followed by a gradual
wasting away of the mind. Just recently has a means to conquer leukaemia been
discovered. It was an Australian research scientist who developed the
antileukaemia serum."
"Of course weТll be able to help you, Khrest," Perry concluded. "But we can do
this only if there is mutual trust. I am interested in your invention, in your
technical advancement and letТs be honest, your weaponry. In exchange for this
information, I can offer you recovery and complete regeneration. ItТs a business
proposition, if you like."
"Your honesty is refreshing. Thus did our race behave some thousand years ago;
but nowadays too many of us are weary of such forthrightness. I almost believe
we could learn something from you."
Perry thought of the Arkonides who, far away on the surface of the moon,
reclined on their couches and sought to while away the hours by watching three
dimensional abstract images on screens with six planes. By this occupation they
convinced themselves that they did not suffer from boredom. Their emotional
inertia did not permit them even to attempt a repair of their gigantic
spacecraft. Many millennia of computerized government and untiring robot
servants had made the Arkonides aesthetes whose only raison dТetre was to lie on
their backs and dream with open eyes.
"A renewal of blood is known to us also as the best precaution against
degeneration and genetic decay," the major said.
Khrest sat up on the bunk. He leaned his back against the wall and one could see
that he was at least a bead taller than Perry. Externally, he seemed to differ
but little from a human being. His only extraordinary features were his almost
white hair, albinoid eyes, and unusually high forehead. Invisible to the naked
eye, an extra brain, unknown in any earthly creature, was situated atop the
normal mantle of the cortex. This hypercranium possessed a photographic memory
and an intricately developed memory bank. That Khrest had a protective
breastplate instead of ribs surrounding his heart and lungs was also unknown to
any of the four crewmen. Khrest, for all his unique anatomy, was the last
descendant of the ruling dynasty of Arkon, home planet of his race. Being a
scientist, he interpreted PerryТs remark concerning a "renewal of blood perhaps
too literally.
"Of course, such an intermixture of blood would show positive results. But
fraternization with the members of a primitive" He paused, then tactfully
rephrased his statement. "not yet completely developed race would stand in
defiance of our law."
"I have no intention of marrying Thora." Perry smiled a bit dryly. Reg, who had
just entered the doorway, broke out unabashedly into a bleat of laughter that
seemed incongruous coming from his bulky body. Manoli carefully took his
patientТs pulse. Fletcher showed no reaction.
For a fleeting moment Perry felt himself transported back to the immense
spherical spacecraft of the Arkonides on the moon. In his mind he saw Thora,
commanding officer of the expedition whose task was to search for the planet of
eternal life. She was a tall and singularly beautiful woman with light, almost