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

negotiations with your government, if necessary. As for you, Marshal Roon, IТd
like to recommend the recall of those troops already on their way here to seize
an American moon rocket as a booty. Is that clear?"
Major ButaТan had stepped back, his right hand on the stock of his pistol. His
lips were firmly drawn together. Something was flickering in his eyes.
Marshal Roon, on the other hand, was much more in control of himself. He smiled
with disarming courtesy. "You are joking, Mr. Rhodan! It is our lawful right to
inspect any and all aircraft that land in our territory. In case there should be
no cause for suspicion, we will release it as soon as possible. That so-called
neutral power I will overlook as a bad joke."
"ThatТs up to you. IТve given you fair warning. And now, goodbye. IТm sure weТll
be running into each other again, on some other occasion."
"Just a moment." Major ButaТan had raised his weapon and aimed it at Perry. It
was a large calibre pistol that used high explosive shells, a bit old-fashioned,
but still effective, especially at such short range.
Perry folded his arms over his chest. He could sense how, at about eighty yards
behind him, Reg was itching to try out the ray gun. He would surely have done so
long before now, had Perry not remained in the direct line of fire.
"Yes?"
"You are a spy, Mr. Rhodan. Your moonship is nothing but an outpost for the
Americans, who landed you here on purpose. A military base, if you wish. At
first we hoped that we could be lenient with you, because we believed you were
in difficulty. But we have seen through you. We how what your designs are, and
we shall"
"DonТt make any promises you wonТt be able to keep," Perry warned. "The
Americans are just as surprised as you are that we landed in this place. TheyТre
just as ignorant of our intentions. We would send them off, just the same, if
they tried to approach us. Is that finally clear? All right, then. Permit me to
return to the rocket. IТll tell you once again, Marshal, withdraw your troops.
Otherwise, I cannot be held responsible for anything that might happen."
He nodded briefly to both officers, casting a glance of warning at the pilot
with the machine gun. He turned and walked slowly back to the Stardust, where
Reg was standing in the hatch, the silver rod playing undecidedly in his hands.
One could almost feel RegТs relief when his commanding officer stepped out of
the line of fire.
"ShouldnТt we get them?" he called to Perry. "The one with the golden trousers
is certainly a general. IТd implant the suggestion that he is a doorman in a
circus and then send him back. WouldnТt that be fun?"
Perry had reached the bottom of the ladder. He turned around.
Marshal Roon and Major ButaТan (Perry could have bet that the major belonged to
the counterespionage authority) both stood quiet, waiting and indecisive.
ButaТan still held the weapon in his hand.
"IТve nothing against some fun," Perry admitted, when he stood next to Reg in
the hatch. "Go get the neutralizer."
Reg disappeared at once and seconds later reappeared with a small rectangular
metal box that looked so unobtrusive but could nevertheless work wonders. This
box must have a tremendous capacity for storing large amounts of energy in a
very small space. Gravity neutralizer, Khrest had called it. What was hidden in
this single phrase? The dream of many generations.
Perry set up the apparatus and slowly pulled forward the lever that activated