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

"He is resting in his cabin. Both of us had decided not to participate actively in this mission."

The same moment Khrest spoke up via the intercom system. "I have listened in, Rhodan. Although I share ThoraТs opinion that there is no enemy craft out here in this part of the EarthТs gravisphere, I do not agree that your question to the brain must of necessity have been wrong. The brain stated that the invasion has already started; it did not inform you, though, at what time the expected landing of the invaders would take place. It is quite possible that the enemy forces are still at a distance of many light-years from here. They might reach Earth only within the next few days. I have no objections to this patrol flight and I consider it a very good precautionary measure on your part. You should repeat it in regular intervals, if I might make this suggestion, Rhodan."

"You certainly may, Khrest! Many thanks."

"Shall I proceed with the landing?" inquired Bell.

"Circle once around Earth over both poles. And in the meantime you can tell me what you have been able to accomplish in your talks with Peking."

"Well the Asiatic Federation believes that that desolate stretch of desert around the Goshun salt lake, exactly 102 degrees eastern longitude and 38 degrees northern latitude, is the most valuable piece of real estate anyone has ever imagined in his wildest dreams!"

"Have they quoted you a price already?"

"Why do you think I am so upset about these gentlemen? They are asking seven billion dollars! They do agree, though, on our request for a diameter of sixty miles across our territory."

"Did you tell them that we donТt have that kind of money? One billion would have been more than enough!"These bloodsuckers are sitting on their high horse, and they wonТt give in a penny. It would be sheer waste of time to try to get them to come down in their price. They outright refuse to do so. We will just have to see how we can get that sum, Perry.С"Seven billion Е" said Rhodan. "We need half of that sum alone for our assembly plants inside the energy dome. But we donТt have that much money even for our important industrial needs."Bell chuckled. "The mightiest government on Earth is also the smallest and the poorest. Quite a paradox, isnТt it?"

"You are digressing, Reg. Kakuta has found a few productive suppliers of industrial goods for us. But they canТt supply us with the money we need. We have only several ridiculously small bank accounts in some countries around the globe. What we need is a financial wizard."

"And even he would first want to find out about his salary from us. Whichever way we turn, Perry, we canТt escape the fact that you must have the money before you can buy land, factories and materials and hire people. We must establish credit first of all."

"DonТt we have any credit?" interjected Manoli, "DonТt you know the old saying of our bankers-whoever has power has credit too?"

"That bit of СwisdomТ implies the misuse of powers," explained Rhodan. "It reminds me of armed robbery."

"There are spiritual weapons. None of us would approve if we were to threaten them with our superior means of physical destruction," commented Bell.

"But to acquire superior mental ammunition brings us back to what I said before-we need a sharp mind, a financial genius."

"We certainly show here no lack of superior minds," remarked Bell.

"Would you like the job of Secretary of the Treasury of the Third Power? Could you guarantee that you will influence the financial world market within half a year so that the Third Power will completely dominate it?"

"I am an astronaut, astronavigator, and electronic engineer. I have studied astromedicine and geology. I have undergone the same hypnotraining of the Arkonides as you did. I consider myself to be way above the average intellect. But as for money-I have never been particularly lucky at it."

"So you decline my offer of that high financial post in our government?"

"I definitely do. I have no ambitions along that line, Perry."

"There will be plenty of opportunity to prove your superior mind in other ways," Rhodan reassured him. "Just wait until we have landed. Then all of us here will meet together with Tako Kakuta. I have something special in mind for him to do."

The space sphere shot down almost vertically toward the Gobi Desert. The protective energy screen was opened for a brief time to let them pass through. As the mighty vessel touched down a faint pinkish glow appeared on the eastern horizon.



Eight men were assembled around the big table-Rhodan, Bell, Manoli, Haggard, Kakuta, Klein, Li Tschai-tung and Peter -Kosnow.

All listened attentively as Rhodan addressed them "Friends! I hardly need lose any time discussing our present situation. We are in possession of power and diplomatic recognition. On the other hand, we are quite destitute despite the beginnings of an industry of our own. In addition to that we are threatened any hour now with the onset of an enemy invasion from outer space. I have you together here to tell you that you will be called upon to accomplish the utmost in the near future. I will have to demand from you a total commitment. Our job requires not only an enormous potential capacity of energy, but also speed and perfect reaction.