"Perry Rhodan 064 - Prisoner of Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"Very interesting," interrupted the Arkonide without any trace of emotion. "Unfortunately, I've never heard of this phenomenon before."
"That isn't surprising," Rous explained to him. "The Regent decided it would be best not to panic the Imperium. Also, it was never before possible to predict an imminent attack. The aliens simply moved in and there was no defence."
"And why, then, do you come to Tats-Tor and babble the Regent's secrets?"
Rous answered simply. "Because according to our calculations, Tats-Tor is the next planet in line to be rolled over by the time boundary."
The Administrator looked at Rous in disbelief but showed neither excitement nor especial interest. "So? You've come to warn us, then?"
"You could say that."
"Why? What point is there in it for you? Why give us a warning at all if there aren't any means of defence?"
Rous was disappointed by the Administrator's questions. "It's our intention to develop a weapon against the time-aliens but we lack the experience. That's why we came to Tats-Tor. We wanted to carry out our experiments here and for that we need your permission. You surely would have no objections if we tried to-"
"Not in Akonar under any circumstances," the Administrator broke in. "I cannot allow human life to be endangered. Make your experiments wherever you like but not in the capital!"
"We aren't asking to carry out our experiments here. Our main task is look for the signs that indicate the approach of the enemy front. I don't know if we'll be able to save your world from disaster but we at least want to try to learn something from it. Do you understand me now?"
"I understand only that you want to gain some advantage for yourself from this alleged danger to us," said the Arkonide, leaning back. "There is probably some other motive behind your actions than you've revealed. I'm sorry, my dear Terrans, or whatever you may call yourselves, but I would like nothing better than to see you leave our world as quickly as possible. Before sundown today, let's say. Agreed?"
Rous did not move to stand up. A cold glitter suddenly appeared in his eyes-let his opponents beware! He laid both hands on the, table calmly. Calmness was really out of character for him, for the dark-haired and agile Frenchman was well known for his impulsiveness. "You don't believe me, then?" he inquired, his voice almost friendly.
"I don't want you to cause a panic," said the Arkonide, evading the direct question. "Our world has never been attacked before this and if someone should attack us, we have the protection of the Imperium battlefleet. A call for help would be enough to-"
"Not this time," Rous told the Administrator evenly. "You would be terribly disappointed because the Regent can't fight the Unseen from another time plane. All the worlds they have attacked are now empty and deserted. Even the insects are gone. Those worlds stand completely devoid of life."
The Arkonide had gone pale. His red eyes blazed like live coals from his white face. "You lie, Terrans! Our Regent fears no enemy! I am going to find out what you really intend by your behaviour."
Rous stood up without any warning. "You can undoubtedly deny us your support but I don't believe you can forbid us to remain on Tats-Tor. So save yourself the trouble of telling us to leave. In any event, we'll let you know as soon as the signs indicate the invasion has begun."
The Administrator returned Rous' look coolly and arrogantly. "I don't need your warning. If an attack should actually take place, I'll know myself what to do. Of course I can't forbid you to remain on the spaceport field but I must ask you not to stir up the population of Akonar with your wild stories. I would be grateful if you would leave me now."
Noir had also stood up. He asked in English: "Should I try to influence him, Marcel? I could 'persuade' him to put a few people at our disposal and-"
"That would be against Rhodan's orders, Andrщ," Rous replied. "If these conceited fellows don't want us to help them, we should leave it at that. Let's go." He turned to the Administrator and, in Arkonese, added: "It would be advisable for you to have your radio stations keep their receivers open on the general trade frequencies. Goodbye, Arkonide."
He had consciously neglected to use the Administrator's official title. By the Administrator's start he knew that the Arkonide had well understood the intended insult. Without waiting for an answer, the 2 men left the room and returned to their ship.
No one tried to stop them.

* * * *

The Russoterranian Ivan Ragov was one of those people who believed he could find a peace-loving element in the character of any other person. It stemmed naturally from his own wish to be left alone and to live in peace. Moreover, his professional specialty seemed to contribute its share: whoever concerns himself to a large extent with plants and animals and is a doctor besides must believe in the peaceful coexistence of even the most different forms of life.
Ragov strolled through the crowded streets of Akonar, carrying on a private study of the life there. Rous had had no objections to his wish to look around the capital city. Thanks to the tiny, all but invisible transmitters built into finger rings by the Swoons, Ragov was constantly in touch with the Gazelle. The communications officer on duty-Fred Harras at the moment-hold him under constant surveillance.
Ragov cautiously stepped out of the way of a shapeless being, encased in a spacesuit, walking past him. He overtook the strange creature and avoided letting his curiosity show too obviously. Still, he could not resist risking a glance to the side. Although he had already visited many planets, he had never seen anything like this. The alien's 'atmosphere' splashed against the transparent helmet: it 'breathed' an oily liquid of unknown composition. Now Ragov noticed that the creature had gills on the side of its head.
Unfortunately, Ragov had to turn his head away again in order not to arouse any unpleasant attention. Only provincials turned to stare at aliens, marvelled at the way they looked and considered themselves the most perfect beings in the Universe.
Ragov stayed on the main business avenue, which led from the spaceport. Here lived the traders and the visitors in large hotels whose signs shone harshly in the sun. Ragov did not understand a single word in the welter of conversations around him and he regretted not being a telepath.
He stopped in front of one of the numerous shops. Naturally, as one could have suspected, the salesman was no Arkonide. A Springer with a pointed beard loudly ballyhooed the worth of his merchandise, souvenirs from all parts of the galaxy.
Ragov stepped closer and looked at the selection. Fortunately the goods were labelled in Arkonese and he would not have to arouse the attention of the Springer, then occupied with calling out irresistible bargains to passersby, with unnecessary questions.
There were stuffed mugglis from the 3rd planet of the star Thorakl, 2000 light-years away. They looked like lizards and had 3 tails: if the label did not lie, the middle tail functioned as a radio antenna. Even though the animal was dead, its body could still be used as a transmitter.
Nearby was a colourfully glistening stone, which came from the planet Temporalis near the centre of the galaxy. If the stone was placed under a recently developed projection device, the past would live again for the stone gave off rays which could be made visible. Events of thousands of years before could be projected on an electronic screen. The stone had absorbed optical impressions and stored them like a natural camera and film.
Ragov was debating whether to buy such a stone when his glance fell on a small object in the 3rd row.
He gasped for breath.
Lying there was a commonplace razor of the sort in use more than a century before on Earth. The label read: "Throat-slitter from the planet Terra, position unknown. When they desire a new wife, male Terrans murder the old one with this instrument. In common use all over Terra. Very valuable artifact of an alien culture."
Ragov did not know if he should laugh or cry. The shameless exaggeration in the razor's description made him doubt the authenticity of the information given for the other rarities but what still had to be explained was how the shopkeeper had come by an Earthly razor in the first place. Ragov wondered if he should ask him.
Hardly had he struggled to a decision when 2 men came up from behind. He recognized them immediately as Arkonides. Their uniforms showed that they were policemen or soldiers.
"Are you one of the Terrans who came in the small flat ship?" asked one of them with the usual arrogance of a petty official fully conscious of his power over mere mortals. "Then follow us, please."
Ragov was not ready to go off with them just like that. He shook loose of the man's hand. "I'm a Terran but that hardly gives you the right to arrest me in the middle of an open street. What do you want from me?"
"The Administrator will tell you that," answered the Arkonide. "Will you come voluntarily or will we have to force you? You will be allowed to return to your ship after the interview."
Ragov thought of his battlesuit. Should he make himself invisible and just leave a stunned pair of Arkonides behind him? Or should he simply fly away? No, that would attract unwelcome attention and not serve the mission at all. Besides, it would be rather interesting to find out what the Administrator wanted from them this time. 3 days ago he had come across to Rous and Noir as tight-lipped and restrained.
"I'll come along but only voluntarily!" Ragov finally said and threw a last look at the ominous razor in the Springer's shop. He would look into it later. "Go ahead. I'll follow you."
They did just what he asked. They had probably received strict orders not to use force. Ragov let them go a little distance ahead, then held his hand to his mouth and whispered: "Hey, Harras! Did you hear that? I've got to go see the Administrator. Let Rous know about this, will you?"
"He already knows, Ragov. You're to go along. We're keeping an eye on you, don't worry. The second there's any danger, well come and get you."
"Just don't be too slow!" Ragov said and followed the 2 Arkonides.
There was no difficulty at the barrier checkpoint and 10 minutes later Ragov stood across from the Administrator.
The Russian, with only Rous' description to go on, had imagined the Administrator to look somewhat different, or at least more arrogant and conceited. However, it looked as though the high official had no time for such nonsense. Different emotions seemed to shine through his red eyes: uncertainty was the most obvious.
"Please sit down, Terran," he said hoarsely and with a forced calm. "I wanted to speak to your 2 friends who came here 3 days ago but my men found only you. Were you informed of the things that brought you to Tats-Tor?"
"If you mean the imminent attack of the Unseen, yes, I was informed."