"Perry Rhodan 040 - Challenge of the Unknown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Why do you screen yourself? There can thus be no communication between us.
Ras decided not to waste the unusual opportunity. He concentrated: What-who are you?
I am Mooff, came the answer, along with a powerful thrust at the teleporter's mind. Ras suddenly felt impelled to come nearer to the pressure chamber. When he took a step closer, the mental thrust strengthened perceptibly.
Somewhere in the depths of him alarms began to sound.
But not only inside him: the sirens also rang in his ears. The shrilling sound was physically real; it rang through the entire ship. He heard the sound of running feet. They approached the observation chamber. He heard doors banging open, a storm of shouted questions.
Danger!
Ras concentrated on the Titan and sprang. That is, he intended to make the teleport jump but something held him, preventing him from dematerialising. It was as though a thousand invisible eyes clutched after him and his brain. The mental thrust became stronger, accompanied by an order to stay. The monster was trying to hypnotize him.
The magnitude of the trap he'd fallen into began to dawn on Tschubai. He had to break loose from it or he would endanger not only Rhodan but all humanity. The prime commandment of the Terranian astronauts was never to betray mankind, even at the cost of one's own life.
Well, it hadn't quite come to that point!
He strained with every ounce of concentration of which he was capable, forcing himself to think of Rhodan in the control room. He envisioned Rhodan before him, realizing the terrible danger to which he, too, was now exposed. It seemed to repeat for him the scene in the jungle when the great carnivore had leapt toward him. Only this time there was no lion but a terrifying monstrosity, a telepathic thing that was his enemy and possessed strong powers of suggestion.
But his efforts succeeded.
As someone burst through the door of the observation chamber, he dematerialised. He found himself staring at the back of an unknown person who faced Rhodan and seemed not to notice his arrival.








3/ THE REAL RULERS

John Marshall met the visitor in the airlock and escorted him through numberless corridors and antigrav lifts to the central control room. This way he found sufficient opportunity to sound out the thoughts of their guest and give them a thorough analysis. The Zalite had no inkling of this. He was not a telepath, as John could easily perceive. This was surprising because Pucky had insisted that telepaths dwelled on board the other ship.
Waiting for the visitor were Rhodan, the two Arkonides and Bell. Pucky located himself nearby in the communications section; it seemed better, for the time being, for him to remain in the background.
Rhodan stood up as John Marshall and the stranger entered. The Zalite didn't make too bad an impression but there was something in his eyes that Rhodan didn't like. His copper-coloured hair was long and slightly wavy. Even here under the artificial lighting his skin appeared reddishнbrown and tanned. He was wearing a type of uniform that bore gold and silver insignia.
"You requested a parley with me," said Rhodan, opening the discussion.
"I am Hemor, commandant of the small ship that the Zarlt has dispatched to you. I am commissioned to present certain proposals to you, which I trust you are ready to accept."
Rhodan's brows raised. "That will depend on the nature of the proposals," he replied. In his tone was a challenge, which did not escape Hemor.
With what appeared to be considerable selfнconfidence, Hemor began. "You have stolen this spaceship from Arkon. The entire Empire is hunting for you. Until now, no one knew where you were located."
"But you do."
"Only we!" nodded Hemor with a cold smile. "It was pure chance but the fact is-we know. However, don't let this be of concern, as we have no intention of making your position known to Arkon. The Zarlt wishes to speak with you."
"Who is the Zarlt?"
The Zalite couldn't subdue his astonishment. He seemed to have taken it for granted that every intelligence in the Universe was aware of the Zarlt's identity.
"He is ruler of the Voga system and ViceнImperator of Arkon, therefore second in command to the Emperor himself. He is Admiral Demesor and he awaits you now in Tagnor, the capital of Zalit, which is the fourth planet of the Voga system."
"And what does he want of me?" Rhodan's voice was cool and deliberate. He comported himself as though this were the most insignificant of occasions, hardly worthy of attention. Inwardly he was anxious to learn what the ViceнImperator of the Arkonide Empire was after.
"I am not empowered to discuss the matter-other than trivialities, perhaps. You have questions?"
Rhodan glanced briefly at John Marshall and the telepath nodded to him. "Has the robot brain on Arkon declared me an enemy of the State?"
Hemor took a few seconds to answer. "Not expressly, but it pursues you with every means at its disposal. Does that answer your question?"
"Yes, thank you, Second question: What has your Zarlt to do with this? Why doesn't he follow the orders of the Brain?"
I am not empowered to answer that."
John Marshall in his corner nodded imperceptibly. Rhodan shrugged his shoulders. 'Very well, I'll soon find out. What happens if I Don't accept the invitation?"
Hemor smiled faintly. "Our entire fleet is on alert. To the present moment, they have been under orders to conduct you to Zalit, which they will do, provided that a counterнorder is not given. This counterнorder will not come from me but from my second in command if I am not back within a certain time. You can see that we have taken all eventualities into consideration."
Rhodan praised the Zalite's circumspection. "Indeed you have! But I think that further questions would not be of any use here. I will therefore listen to what your Zarlt has to tell me."
Hemor's face lighted with relief. A load had lifted from his chest. Then he glanced at Thora and Khrest, who had remained silent until now. "I did not know this ship harboured Arkonides. Nothing of this was ever mentioned."
Khrest made a deprecating gesture. "Does it matter?" he asked, casually.
The door opened and the communications chief entered the command centre. "A fleet is approaching from the System," he announced. "It consists of at least 200 units, which are falling into attack formation."
Rhodan gave Hemor a questioning look.
The Zalite smiled. "Only a precautionary measure, nothing more. But you will accompany us, if I have understood you correctly. Am I now permitted to return to my vessel?"
At this moment the figure of Ras Tschubai materialized directly behind Hemor. For a second Ras appeared to be confused, then he grasped the meaning of Rhodan's silent signal and turned toward the wall. Everyone except the Zalite had witnessed his return out of nothingness.
"You are free to do so," Rhodan replied. "Is the landing field on Zalit clearly marked?"