"006 The Mutant Corps" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

CHAPTER ONE

"Perry!" boomed the voice of Reginald Bell in the low ceiling room. Then he pushed the stop button and turned expectantly toward the door. Soon Perry Rhodan entered the cabin.

"Stop yelling like that, Reg!" he reprimanded his ebullient friend. RhodanТs face showed no trace of the excitement he really felt. Only his eyes gave away how eager he was to hear the news. "I hope you have something vitally important to tell me."Reginald Bell turned again to the tape recorder and depressed the REWIND button for about three seconds. "I received a message from Geneva for you. It came just a few minute ago."

Rhodan stepped closer. "Did you get results already? I thought it would take the big powers at least a day. to come to an agreement about us. If they got through so fast, they probably broke off negotiations without any result. Come on, Reg, let me hear it! What is it?"

"Just listen to that taped message and enjoy every second of your triumph!"

Reg started the tape and then settled comfortably in his chair.

"This is the secretaryТs office of the Federated World Powers. We are calling Mr. Perry Rhodan to inform him of the results of our conference. This communiquщ? will be broadcast at the same time over all stations for general publication."The representatives of the NATO states, the Eastern Bloc and the Asiatic Federation have conferred today about the international legal status of the so-called Third Power.

"The events of the past few days, especially those which, happened outside EarthТs gravisphere, have given rise to serious concern in all parts of our world. The undoubtedly hostile approach of a spaceship of an unknown extraterrestrial race constitutes a case of clear and present danger for all mankind. On the basis of thorough discussions by the delegates of the NATO, the Eastern Bloc and the Asiatic Federation, we concede to the Third Power that only thanks to their successful intervention, a total destruction of the hostile intruderТs spacecraft on the moon has been brought about. Therefore, the participants in this conference deem it advisable to recognize that a certain loyalty was demonstrated by the Third Power toward the common interests of all men. We have therefore decided, to recognize officially the Third Power as a sovereign government whose domain will extend within the limits of its present location in the Gobi Desert."Mr. Perry Rhodan is herewith requested to confirm receipt of this communiquщ? and to make suggestions for the establishment of diplomatic relations."

Bell stopped the tape and waited for RhodanТs reaction to the good news."We have made it, Reg!" he said almost humbly. "It seems that the nations are slowly coming to understand that their enemy is to be found somewhere out there in the universe, and not here on Earth from the Third Power.

"But these gentlemen in their high posts can just forget about our establishing extensive diplomatic relations. They would like to exchange with us a couple of dozen ambassadors. But we are a special case in world diplomacy. They have become used to this by now to some extent. And they will have to do so even more in the future. Take down this answer, Reg, will you?"

"Why not speak directly to them, Perry?"

"I have my reasons for that."

Reg simply shrugged. "All right, then. Go ahead."

"Tell them that I am very pleased to have received such a positive report and that I appreciate the insight that was displayed during the Geneva negotiations. But I will have to wait to take up diplomatic relations, since we are suffering from an acute lack of space in our tiny domain, which does not justify the presence of diplomatic representatives. However, contacts of any other nature will be welcome at any time."

"Thanks for this message, Perry!" Bell countered in desperation. "IТll have to rack my brain to express it in diplomatic language."

"You will have to answer at once, my dear friend! There is no time to waste in long deliberations. The big power blocs have demonstrated with todayТs meeting that a new wind is blowing. We must keep up with this new speed."

"Right, boss. Is there anything else you want from me?"

"Yes. You can request the Peking delegation in Geneva. to make some proposals about selling us the land on which our sovereign state is situated. I definitely donТt intend to lease this parcel of land from them. The Third Power must own its own land."

"How large do you imagine our new state is?"

"The site of the space sphere is to be at the center of our domain, which should have a radius of at least thirty miles."

With these words Rhodan turned and left the room. As important as these dealings with the other governments of the world were for all concerned, there were still more vital matters he had to attend to immediately.

He stepped outside. Far in the background of their tiny base was the building housing the gigantic positronic computer that had been transferred to this spot from the Arkonide vessel. This was the supercomputer whose microphysical reactions could determine the future history of mankind the brain that would guide Rhodan in the decisions he would have to make.

Rhodan sped over to the computer building within seconds with the help of his special Arkonide suit. He entered the hall and walked directly to the machine that had been a present of the two Arkonides.

Rhodan knew that he was facing a problem of a greater magnitude than any human being had ever faced before. The problem he would feed into the computer today would surpass in significance any previous questions. This time the survival of the whole human race depended on it.

Rhodan busied himself at the control panel. A low hum, hardly audible, came from the machine. The brain bad been activated. The brain was not subject to any mental influence, and it worked 100 percent according to the laws of logic. It was totally immune to influence by the significance of any problem it was asked to solve. It did not know any of the value judgments that were applied, at least unconsciously, by a human being. The brain was concerned only with the meaning and content of the matter fed into it. It calculated the probable solutions for the outcome of a football game or a political election with the same matter of course approach as the outcome of a worldwide war. If later events did not coincide with the answer given, the deviation was due solely to an incorrect way of asking the question. Therefore, everything depended now on how Rhodan formulated his questions.