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

"You need only to follow me," said Hemor. He made a curt bow and turned around. He glanced questioningly at Marshall, who had conducted him here. Then without further ado he strode into the corridor, followed by the telepath.
Rhodan gazed after him reflectively.
Bell was stirred up. "That guy sure has his nose in the air. He has the kind of face that makes you want to punch it. I'd like to know what's on his mind."
"We'll learn that as soon as Marshall gets back. Now will you kindly let the Titan follow the small ship. Issue the necessary instructions to Col. Freyt. So let's take a closer look at Zalit and the Zarlt. I have a strange hunch."
"I, too," said Khrest from the other side of the room. "It appears to me that the Zalites are not as dependable as we had always assumed. Perhaps we can demonstrate our services to the Empire."
"That," said Rhodan, "is exactly what I intend to do."
Three minutes later John Marshall returned to the command central and overheard the last words of Ras Tschubai's report: "...this jellyfish thing was trying to take possession of my will. I took off immediately but I'm afraid I was seen. At least the ship alarm was activated."
"No matter," Rhodan reassured him. "They certainly don't know they were dealing with a teleporter. What became of Tako?"
Pucky came waddling into the room. "He's back" he chirped. "Scared a number of men half to death and then sneaked out." He turned to Marshall. "Will you make the report? I also picked up what Hemor was thinking."
Alright. Correct me if I forget anything." Marshall looked at Rhodan. I took him back to the airlock. He wants you to know that the flight to Zalit will begin in three minutes. We are to maintain synchronous velocity. Now as to what he was thinking... Actually, not too much. I could just get a little-maybe Pucky had more luck-to the effect, anyway, that the Zarlt wants to try, with our help, to play a trick on the robot brain. He does not seem to be well disposed toward the Empire."
"Just what I thought!" sighed Khrest.
Rhodan smiled. "It's not too surprising. Who wants to be ruled by machines? Do you have anything else of significance, Marshall?"
"Not particularly. just once, though, this Hemor thought about a certain Mooff but I don't know who that is."
"We know about that already. Ras has encountered this Mooff. It's an animal of some kind."
"Some kind is right!" shrilled Pucky. "That's the beast whose thoughts were superimposed on those of the Zalites. That's why I didn't pick up much from them. In any case, the Mooff is a telepath and suggestive hypnotist."
"Yes, and I'm a star witness to that!" put in Ras.
Bell was not concerned with the discussion. He waited out the three minutes and then cut in the engines. Slowly and carefully, he followed the comparatively tiny ship, noting at the same time that the Ganymede also slipped out of its orbit. The ships pressed on toward the giant red sun with a moderate acceleration. The entire fleet followed at a respectful distance.
"What is this Mooff?" asked Rhodan.
"I have never in my life heard of a Mooff," said Khrest. "They must be of recent origin among us."
"My guess is, they're a kind of talisman," surmised Ras, "like a magic mascot or something. What else would be the reason for dragging along a thing like that in your ship? Besides, the Mooffs only seem to be able to exist in a special atmosphere, because they have to stay in a pressure chamber."
"That was the aquarium that Marten was looking through. He evidently zeroed right in on the Mooff."
"Of course," asserted Pucky. "The Mooff sends out the strongest vibes. It's no wonder that Marten slipped right into him."
Rhodan added it all up. "So, a talisman-hmнm, perhaps. I think there's more there than meets the eye. And it may well be that we're in for a surprise."
Bell turned around. "I'll buy that!" he agreed. Obviously he referred to the Zalite fighting ships. "Maybe they're no threat to us but I wouldn't like to be on the Ganymede just now."
Rhodan rejected any thought of acute danger. "No one will attack us. The Zarlt is too curious about meeting us. Up to that point we are safe."
Suddenly Pucky straightened up. He looked quickly at Marshall and then said softly, "Try not to think consciously of what I'm saying but try to surround your mind with a defensive screen. Someone is trying to read our thoughts! A good telepath but not yet in our class. There's not only one-there are many. In fact, very many..."
Rhodan's eyes narrowed. For a moment he seemed uncertain, then he whispered as though to himself: Somewhere a terrible danger threatens-quite definitely, and I can guess what it is. But this danger doesn't carry the label of Zalite! It has another name."
"Mooff!" said John Marshall decisively.
Rhodan nodded. "Yes, I believe so. The Mooff is the real source of our danger."
Pucky shook his mouseнeared head so violently that he came near to losing his balance and falling off his fat hindquarters. "No, not the Mooff! At least 200 Mooffs! There's one of them on each of the Zalite ships!"
No one had any comment to offer.

* * * *

The city of Tagnor covered the surface equivalent to a small country on Earth. Compared to the eight billion inhabitants on the entire planet of Zalit, Tagnor's 30 million citizens did not seem to be too startling a population. As on the planet of Arkon, the curious funnelнshaped buildings dominated. Below at the stem of each was the entrance, which led one into a secluded world. One was surrounded by the far slanting walls on whose circular terraces lay colourful gardens and beautiful decorative verandas. Then private dwellings, each individually secluded and separated from the next by another garden. The funnel form of the buildings conformed with the need of the Arkonides to live as much alone and undisturbed as possible. The Zalites, being descended from the Arkonides, had taken over and preserved the old customs.
The redнhued giant cone of the government palace dominated the scene with a splendour that overshadowed even the spaceport. Even while approaching from high altitude, it made an impression on Rhodan, and as if by chance one of the Zalites on board the small pilotship was thinking of the palace. Marshall passed the information on to Rhodan.
There also resided the Zarlt.
The landing field was of gigantic proportions. It was bordered by mighty buildings all the way to the horizon. It was a full 12 miles wide. When the escort fleet descended and made an orderly landing in formation, Rhodan realized that even this field was none too spacious.
The Titan touched down as lightly as a weightless ball. The antigrav beams supported it until the telescoping landing struts had found a solid anchorage. Rhodan did not venture to cut off the antigravs entirely; he feared that the incredible weight of the Titan might get them all halfstuck in the surface of the planet. Allowing the antigravs to remain at partial strength reduced the effective weight of the vessel to half.
A strangely shaped torpedo car curved to a parking position and waited patiently until the visitors were disposed to leave their ship. Rhodan's plans had already been formulated.
"Khrest, Bell and John Marshall will accompany me. It's better if there are only a few of us-as few as possible. I think it's best for Thora to remain here on board. Lieutenant Tifflor, you stay here at command centre and keep in touch with me. I'll take the miniature wrist-transmitter and leave it on. That way you'll be continuously advised of what's going on out there. If anybody tries to get us into a trap, you're to move in with the mutants. Is that clear?"
"What about the Ganymede?"

"On standby for instant takeнoff. That means split at the first sign of attack. The Titan stays; it can defend itself. I feel, however, that we don't have to fear such eventualities. The Zalites have other plans."
"And I?" Pucky squatted near the door with eyes pleading so hard that it almost melted Rhodan's resolve.

But Rhodan shook his head negatively. "It won't work, Pucky-not today! We don't want the Zalites to know more than is absolutely necessary. Besides, somebody has to lead the mutants in case of an attack. You can understand that you are very urgently needed here on board. I'd like to be certain you're my reinforcement backup-a solid insurance policy, see?"
The mouseнbeaver understood. He gave Bell a scornful look askance and waddled out of the command centre as if to say that of course Bell should go with Rhodan instead of him!-since Bell's presence on board the Titan was of absolute insignificance! He was heard tittering ecstatically to himself in the exit passage, a sure sign Rhodan had genuinely meant it when he voiced such a comparison.
"Do we go armed?" asked Bell.
"Small needle rayguns in our pockets should be enough," advised Rhodan. "Anything else would be senseless."