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

He had just begun to suggest that Zimmerman seek medical attention, when he became aware of the deadly thought. He managed to complete, his remarks without any apparent interruption.

"What discovery, sir? Oh, that was just a joke!"

"You mean to say you were taking the liberty of playing jokes on me?" asked Mercant sharply. He was still standing behind the captain, who was seated in a chair. Mercant did not have the slightest intention of abandoning this advantageous position.

"That joke was intended for Sergeant OТHealy. I had no idea that he would report this to you."

"Very odd, Zimmerman, what strange notions you suddenly develop about our regulations here on the base. On the one hand you go out on patrol flights for the protection of our center, and on the other hand you indulge in silly jokes. This seems rather incompatible to me. Well then, tell me what you saw out there."

"Nothing, Sir."

"Remain seated, Captain!" commanded Mercant as Zimmerman began to stand up.

Mercant was fighting to achieve utmost concentration. Several weeks ago he had read in the newspapers about an Australian bank teller who had foiled some bank robbers thanks to his telepathic powers. For quite some time Mercant had noticed similar abilities in himself. He had finally realized what it meant that he was capable of reading someone elseТs mind, so to speak, during critical moments. He would have given anything now to be a genuine telepath! He was nothing but a clumsy, amateur in this field. He was unable to comprehend clearly the other personТs thought. He could not discern word by word, but only get general impression of thoughts.How was it possible to avoid misunderstandings? Why should Zimmerman be thinking of killing him? There was murder on ZimmermanТs mind, though, quite unmistakably. This murderous desire was concentrated on the Chief of the International Intelligence Agency. That meant him-Allan D. Mercant! He had become absolutely sure of this now.Mercant glanced over ZimmermanТs shoulder and saw his gun in the holster. For a split second he pondered taking possession of it by a surprise move, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Zimmerman, his mind preoccupied with the intention of killing Mercant, was already concentrating on his weapon and would beat the physically inferior Mercant to it. Mercant had to get to his own gun now-the one in the-bottom drawer of his desk just next to the radio transmitter.If both were equally armed, Mercant would have the advantage, for the captain had not the least inkling that his intended victim was forewarned. To bring about this situation would involve a great risk for about five to six seconds, since Mercant had to leave his sheltered place behind Zimmerman to reach his writing desk. MercantТs ruse was the skilful use of words, which made his adversary curious and caused him to hesitate in anticipation."Wait a minute, Captain Zimmerman. I listened in to your radio conversation with Sergeant OТHealy and taped it. Something was said there that puzzled me, and you might supply an explanation. I was not under the impression that you were merely joking. Or how would you explain the following matter?Е"

"What do you mean by that?"

Mercant started his dangerous walk around the writing desk. Zimmerman turned with his swivel chair, following Mercant with his eyes. Finally both men sat facing each other, the huge desk between them. Curiosity had won out in Zimmerman. He did not shoot; he waited.

Mercant opened the desk drawer and switched on the tape recorder. At the same time he grasped his gun. At once he felt safe again. He turned the tape recorder off.

Zimmerman flared up. "Why did you stop? Why donТt you play the tape? No secrecy all of a sudden, sir!"

"Patience patience, Zimmerman! just a question before I start playing that tape-what advantage do you expect if you kill me?"

This question brought about the end of their conversation. Zimmerman was too startled by the unexpected turn in their talk to maintain total control over his body. The would-be assassin knew he had been found out, but he still to wanted to execute his plan.

He tore his gun from the holster, but before he could aim and shoot, he had lost valuable time. MercantТs weapon had been pointed at Zimmerman through the knee opening in his desk. Mercant simply pulled the trigger while the assailant was still trying to get into position.The captain collapsed like an empty sack. He was dead before he could cock his pistol.

An unprecedented event in the history of the Greenland base of the International Intelligence Agency followed-Sergeant OТHealy stormed into MercantТs private office without having been summoned! He was wildly waving his gun, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw the unharmed colonel sitting in his chair. Wild eyed, he stared at the dead man in the chair in front of the desk."Sir, what has happened here?"

"I shot Captain Zimmerman, Give the general alarm! IТll give the orders myself for sealing off the buildings."OТHealy saluted and disappeared. Shortly thereafter the sirens began howling on all floors of the underground installation.Mercant went to the intercom and spoke over the public address system. "Mercant speaking. Calling all personnel. We are in a state of emergency from this moment on! Officer of the Guard, Lieutenant Houseman-blockade all exits! Special surveillance of all elevator shafts. All other personnel to go immediately to their work stations or private quarters. Members of foreign delegations please assemble in the transfer hotel on the top floor. Await further instructions there. Explanations will follow later. Colonel Cretcher and Dr. Curtis are to report at once to my office. Thank you."

The colonel and the physician arrived almost simultaneously at MercantТs private office. Dr. Curtis stepped over to ZimmermanТs body."Please, Dr. Curtis, examine him at once. and tell me if he is dead."

"Do you need any confirmation for that, Mr. Mercant?"

"Yes, for the sake of formality."

"Killing a person is not a matter of formality, sir," protested Cretcher. "Why did you shoot him?"

"To prevent him from shooting me first."

"You mean to say that Captain Zimmerman attacked you? Pardon me, sir, for being so blunt. Do you have any eyewitnesses that can confirm you acted in self-defence?"

"You will forgive me for being equally frank, Cretcher. You have no business accusing me here. I called you to help me clear up many problems that pose themselves in this situation. I know very little about the scene that just took place here in this room. All I can tell you is that he wanted to kill me and I prevented him from doing so by shooting him. These are the facts. But I must learn the reasons that led one of our most trustworthy people to such an attack on my person. ZimmermanТs action seems so absurd that we must consider the possibility of a plot. That is why I have declared a state of emergency. We must proceed swiftly in case there should be any accomplices of ZimmermanТs on the base who have been plotting against myself and our headquarters."Mercant turned to the doctor. "You have noted that Zimmerman is I dead, Dr. Curtis. There is no doubt what led to his demise. Nevertheless, I would like you to examine ZimmermanТs head. I have noticed there a very conspicuous wound. The captain gave me a rather odd reason how he obtained it."Curtis examined the wound and stated, "Somebody must have struck a violent blow against ZimmermanТs skull from above. But how is this possible? You told me yourself that you shot him."

"How do you mean that?"