"Perry Rhodan 033 - Snowman in Flames" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

With the same speed which they had carried out their attack, the two heavy cruisers Terra and Solar System withdrew from the scene. Under no circumstances could they risk endangering these two ships, for they were the only thing for the time being with which Earth could confront the assailants from the depths of the universe. Even though Earth was 320 light-years distant from this spot, what difference did it make if it was possible to travel even greater distances with hyperspace transitions lasting but a few seconds?
In this moment of greatest danger Earth stood but a short distance away from the final union of all mankind. The formation of a world government was only a question of a few more days. The representative of the New Power, Colonel Freyt, would do his utmost to make this union a reality as quickly as possible.
The threat of the galactic traders-the Springers-could not be compared with that of earlier invasions. The New Power had succeeded in driving off the Mindsnatchers, thanks to Earth's superior technological means. Also the lizard-like Topides from the Vega system had not represented too great a danger to mankind.
But the Springers were a far more serious menace to the safety of Terra.
The mighty race of the Springers-whose attention had been focused on Earth as a result of a tragic event-was in every respect superior. They were closely related to the Arkonides, the former masters of the universe-they possessed Arkonide weapons, knew and used their tactics and were fully aware of the Arkonides' weaknesses.
The Traders regarded Earth and in particular Perry Rhodan as a threat to their unrestricted galactic trading monopoly. They felt they had to bend him to their will-or else destroy him.
But neither possibility was so simple, it turned out. For this adversary was almost in the same class as the Springers themselves. Neither the Terranians nor Etztak's Springer clan realized that a third party had already entered the dispute. Alerted by the repeated space ruptures caused by many transitions, Topthor had intervened in this fight.
Topthor, also of the Springer race, belonged to the clan of the Mounders. In olden times, long since forgotten his ancestors had lived on a planet with a very high gravity.
During the course of many thousands of years the former Arkonides had lost their humanoid shape to some extent: they became wider and shorter. The present day Mounders never measured more than 64 inches-in height as well as in width. They were square-shaped, squat people weighing around half a ton.
Topthor had eight ships which were circling around Earth's solar system beyond Pluto. With eight additional ships he had followed Rhodan to the vicinity of the Planet of Eternal Life. Upon his return from that artificial world, Rhodan had surprised Topthor, who had attacked the New Power's Stardust, with the new weapon obtained from the Immortal. Five of Topthor's ships had been annihilated during this battle. Topthor fled panicstricken, found however still enough time before setting out on a blind transition to send a message via hyperwave radio to the members of his race. Rhodan could not prevent Topthor from sending this warning to Etztak but he knew its contents.
Some 1500 light-years from Beta-Albireo, Topthor's three ships emerged from hyperspace. It took several hours until they calculated their exact position and found the coЎrdinates for the next jump.
The leader of the clan of the Mounders, Topthor, intended to return to that solar system in which Terra was revolving around its own sun as the third planet. Topthor still possessed eleven ships. This was sufficient, if necessary, to destroy Earth.
But this would mean at the same time the destruction of a potentially very lucrative colony. And Topthor was foremost a businessman, even if his clan dealt more with convoy duties than trade. The other traders would summon him and his battle fleet to come to their aid whenever they would run into difficulties. And Topthor was well paid for these services.
This time, however, the opportunity had presented itself for Topthor himself to found such a colony-besides that, Rhodan owed him five ships.
Topthor therefore ordered his ships to leap back to the solar system of Earth.
And apart from the insignificant fighter forces of the New Power, Earth was at this moment quite helpless.

* * * *

About every 123 years there was an 80-year long Ice Age on the second planet of the system Beta-Albireo. This was caused by its eccentric orbit which again was the result of its twin sun system. The central star, an orange-coloured giant, was 600 million miles distant from the second planet, while its blue companion was still another 180 million miles farther away. Because of their present tremendous distance the double suns supplied so little light and warmth to the second planet that there reigned forever twilight and an average temperature of minus 150░ Fahrenheit on this frozen planet.
This iceworld called Snowman was a hell, a very frigid inferno.
Despite this, some human beings lived on it. While fleeing from the Springers they had been forced to an emergency landing which left them shipwrecked in this unfriendly climate. Since that time they had been condemned to lead a life of inactive waiting on this lonely, dead world; but they knew that Rhodan had not forgotten them and would come to their rescue.
Julian Tifflor, the leader of the little shipwrecked band, was 21 years old and reputed to be the best mathematician of the Space Academy of the New Power. Rhodan in person had selected him for this special mission, although Tifflor had not been properly informed of its purpose.
The second man on Snowman was Humpry Hifield. He was 20 years old, had straw-blond, stiff hair and believed himself to be irresistibly handsome. He could not understand, therefore, why Tiff had been able to snatch from under his nose the 19-year-old Mildred Orsons. He lived in constant dread of not being sufficiently noticed by others and despite his physical superiority was forever plagued by inferiority complexes. This was at the bottom, though not exclusively, of his hidden hostile feelings toward Tiff.
Cadet Klaus Eberhardt was the third man of the expedition which was now waiting on this deserted world to be rescued. His hair was dark-blond and he was rather stocky and thickset. He always needed time to solve problems; quick action was not his forte.
Mildred Orsons, the cosmo-bacteriologist, could rightfully be proud of her pitch-black hair, her dark eyes and her finely chiselled features. Until recently she could never make up her mind between her two admirers Tiff and Hump but this seemed to have changed now. Quite openly she had made it clear to Hump that she preferred Tiff.
And finally Felicita Kergonen should be mentioned, the rather reticent galacto-botanist with blond hair and a dainty figure. Her secret love was Humpry, the plump and awkward one, who apparently noticed nothing of Felicita's affection. Felicita was all of 18 years old and was thus the youngest member of the foundered expedition.
That is, of course, if one forgot Pucky.
Pucky-it must be emphasized however-was not a member of the human race, and nobody knew how old he was. The 3-foot tall mouse-beaver came from a far distant planet where he had managed to stow away on Rhodan's spaceship. Ever since that time, Pucky would not leave Rhodan's side unless he was forced to by an important mission. Pucky's outer appearance resembled strongly that of an oversized mouse with a very broad beaver tail. He was especially remarkable for his lone incisor which was particularly noticeable whenever Pucky was grinning.
Unfortunately, there was not the slightest reason at this moment for a happy grin.
Pucky distinguished himself mainly through his almost unbelievable talents, which made him the most amazing of all the mutants. This mouse-beaver, who looked so harmless and droll, was an outstanding telepath and therefore capable of learning at an incredible speed most languages. In addition, he had mastered teleportation, so that he could transport himself at any time wherever he pleased. And finally, Pucky was a telekineticist. Using only his mental powers he was able to move objects and living creatures without having to lay as much as a paw on them.
All these mutant traits had not fully unfolded until the past few months, for in the beginning of his friendship with Rhodan, and particularly with Bell, he was only capable of telekinesis. But then, being constantly in the company of the members of Rhodan's Mutant Corps, Pucky had plenty of opportunity to improve his talents. He was certain to eventually uncover additional hidden abilities presently lying dormant inside him.
This strange little furry creature was gifted with an astonishing degree of adaptability. He was hardly bothered by the icy cold of the dead planet. He could stay out of doors for a short while without the benefit of a spacesuit and could breathe easily the icy air. On this world existed only one other being which was his equal in this respect.
But could a robot really be called a 'being?'
RB-013 'Aubrey'-was over 7 feet tall, had two powerful legs and four arms. His two lower arms were actually perfect energy rayguns. The robot was part of the routine equipment of the three-man destroyer and it was the only thing the crew had been able to salvage, besides their lives, when their craft had been shipwrecked. Only thanks to the robot's assistance had they succeeded in melting a livable cave into the icy surface of the deadly planet. Aubrey was an excellent fighter and also a superb, untiring worker.
Ever since Pucky had been deposited by Bell on this iceworld-a dare-devil feat in itself-in order to come to the aid of Tiff and his crew, the situation had become more bearable, although nerves were on edge from the constant attacks by the Springers. However, now they had a large enough supply of food and equipment to hold out for awhile.
Pucky was sitting on a box in a corner having his furry stomach tickled by the kind-hearted Felicita Kergonen.
"You are an angel," Pucky chirped with an improbably high-pitched voice. "I already envy your future husband."
"Let's hope all he'll want is to have his stomach tickled!" Humpry Hifield said spitefully from another corner.
"Sour grapes!" remarked Klaus Eberhardt with surprising reaction speed this time. "If I were a girl I wouldn't tickle your stomach!"
"I'm glad you aren't a girl," countered Humpry coldly. His voice lacked any warmth although it was fairly warm in the cave. The robot had built a small airlock so that at least here inside they could open their helmets.
"Can't you can your eternal squabbling!" intervened Tiff. "There are plenty of more urgent things to worry about. If the Springers manage to locate our robot, they'll gas us down here. They've already removed the ice cover from half the planet-we're lucky we didn't drown so far."
"Thank heavens the cave is on a mountain-or isn't it?" Hump asked insolently.
"And if they rake the mountain with their ship's cannons, Hump, what then?"
Hump did not answer. Pucky sighed in his corner: "Isn't it lucky I'm the only telepath here!"
Tiff threw a swift glance at the mouse-beaver. He was getting sick and tired of the whole affair with Hump and he decided not to mince any words toward Rhodan when...
Yes, indeed, when!
Suddenly Pucky rose to his full height. The hair on the back of his neck was bristling. Slowly he pushed Felicita's hand aside, cocked his head as if listening to something. Tiff noticed at once. He watched the mouse-beaver with great interest. Finally he could restrain himself no longer.
"Something going on, Pucky?"
"Yes, I think so. They're attacking again. Three ships this time. And they're flying suspiciously slow."