"Perry Rhodan 123 - Saboteurs in A-1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

With the same calm confidence the Arkonide entered the building. With hardly a glance at the robot guards he passed through the entrance checkpoint, went to the door at the end of the hall and opened it. The 3 young men inside had apparently been waiting for him because they revealed no surprise when the older man entered and closed the door behind him. Two of them were obviously Ekhonides and the third was an Arkonide.
Taking a seat, the newcomer asked, УHas anything new come in during the last hour concerning JukanТs murder?Ф
Neither of the two Ekhonides made a move to speak but the young Arkonide answered in a firm tone of voice. УWe just received the third report a few minutes ago, Drakont, thanks to an undercover man we have had working a few months now in LukleinТs fake company. The Springer, Jukan, was shot by an unknown assassin right while he was looking for LukleinТs private residence.Ф
УSo it wasnТt one of us who did it, Mith?Ф asked the older one called Drakont.
УJukan was to have been cancelled out today. Hoga had already made all the preparations when the news of the SpringerТs death reached him. As soon as he heard about it, he put out the alarm.Ф
Drakont nodded. УI heard it while flying in here. And what was in the other 2 messages, Mith?Ф
УThe first one to follow the news of JukanТs death revealed that Solar Intelligence has been suspecting for some days now that Jukan belonged to ThekusТ group. The Terrans are supposed to have had him under surveillance when he died.Ф
УThen maybe the unknown assailant did us a favour?Ф
УI wouldnТt venture to say that,Ф said Mith, Уbecause we donТt know who he was. Maybe the assailant and the people behind him knew more about Jukan than we suspect.Ф
Drakont looked at the younger man sharply. УAre you thinking that Jukan could have been a double agent?Ф he asked. There was an almost threatening note in his voice.
Mith was silent for a moment, as if not wanting to answer the question. However, when he revealed the contents of the third report that had come in, it more or less took the place of an answer. УThis morning on Arkon 3 when Jukan changed ships, a passenger got on board behind him and took a seat next to him although there was plenty of room elsewhere. Jukan was supposed to have been under surveillance of G56 and S21 but theyТve confessed that they were momentarily distracted by the massive landing manoeuvres of the Terran fleet on Arkon 3, so they failed to give the newcomer the usual inspection. Later on Trum, as we know, Jukan was murdered in front of LukleinТs private residenceЧbut it was only minutes prior to the actual assassination that the identity of the stranger was discovered during a checkout of the films that were taken at the time of the ship transfer. The assailant was a courier working for the radicals.Ф
Drakont made no comment regarding this unusually alarming piece of news. He seemed more concerned with the fact that the Springer had immediately gotten in touch with the Terran agent Joe Luklein after leaving Hoga. УHow was Jukan able to make contact with Luklein?Ф he asked.
УSo far, Hoga and his men havenТt been able to determine that. He couldnТt dig too deeply into it because the situation on Trum is critical. Solar intelligence has stepped up operations there to a frightening extent. The word is out that the Terran mutants are back in the action. Which has made it necessary for Hoga and his top men to go under Сprotective cover.ТФ
Mith grinned broadly when he used this terminology and even Drakont could not suppress a slight smirk. The two Ekhonides stared at them in surprise and puzzlement but were not enlightened on the subject.
Drakont continued probing into the puzzling murder of the Springer. УMith, could JukanТs death be an act of revenge on the part of an accomplice?Ф
Mith, who evidently held an important position in the Thekus faction, shook his head in denial. УNo! The Subbu swindle left no enemies in its wake among those who were involved. With Jukan it was apparently a case of honour among thieves. To cheat on another cohort was crime number one. He and his accomplices divided up the very rich haul as they had agreed to. In the short time Hoga had to look into it, he found out that not one of the swindlers left his concealment.Ф
DrakontТs face continued to show deep concern. JukanТs case and its accompanying developments had filled him with more alarm than anything else since the Thekus resistance group had been in existence. As a courier between the strongholds of the anarchists, Jukan had become a very important man. During the past few months he had acquired a unique overview of the various resistance groups which was second to none. Although he was not too familiar with the plans he knew where the general headquarters base was located. And he must have also known that Solar Intelligence had been doing everything possible in the past few weeks to find out what world ThekusТ nephew had retreated to.
For a few minutes an oppressive silence pervaded the room. But Drakont and Mith occasionally exchanged significant glances. The situation made the Ekhonides feel like unwelcome visitors.
The Ekhonide with the abnormally large hands had clenched his fists. УWe might as well leave if weТre disturbing you two!Ф he said angrily.
Drakont answered him coldly. УThatТs a completely superfluous remark. Why have you taken this long to leave?Ф
However, Mith wasnТt in agreement with this sharp rejoinder. He straightened up quickly. УNoЧyou stay! Drakont doesnТt know yet that you are the authors of operation Imperator.Ф
УWhat?Ф queried Drakont sharply, staring incredulously at the Ekhonides. УYou two came up with that idea?Ф
УNot only that, Drakont,Ф said Mith with a slight edge to his voice. He pointed to the Ekhonide with the huge hands. УTro-lugo has an uncle who serves in the Crystal Palace of the Imperator. Without this uncle the plan could not be consummated.Ф
DrakontТs features quickly relaxed and he offered a curt apology. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out an impulse beamer. Casually he placed the dangerous weapon on the table before them. УThere it is,Ф he said, and fell silent.
The 3 younger men leaned forward and looked at the weapon as though it were the first time they had ever seen a raygunЧbut no one ventured to pick it up.
УItТs still harmless!Ф Drakont told them with a touch of sarcasm. УHere!Ф He picked it up and pointed to the safety setting as he smirked at each of them. УA pretty little Terran impulse beamer, donТt you think?Ф
The other three could see nothing pretty about it.
Drakont placed the weapon back on the table. He reached into his other pocket an pulled out a flat, encapsulated instrument case. On its surface were 2 circular areas, each the size of a thumbnail. One was green; the other was fiery red. УThis is the remote control. Maximum range, one-thousandth of a light-second.Ф
УWhat about the bomb inside the gun?Ф asked Mith. He had composed himself again but still regarded the impulse blaster distrustfully.
УIn a 3-km area it wonТt leave one stone on top of another. But you donТt have to tell that to your uncle, Tro-lugoЕФ
Tro-lugo turned pale. Now that his uncleТs life was actually threatened, it came to him for the first time how monstrous their plans were. With inhuman callousness Drakont had suggested that he sacrifice his uncle in cold blood.
Drakont attempted to calm him down. УEverything has its price, Tro-lugo. Unfortunately the elimination of Gonozal will take a few innocent people down with him in the destruction but we mustnТt let that stand in our way. The existence of the Imperium is involved. It is vital for the rightful ruler to take the destiny of the Greater Empire in his hands.Ф
This piece of fervent rhetoric failed to make an impression on the Ekhonide. УI donТt see why our plan to get rid of Imperator Gonozal has been changed. The original idea merely involved a demolition charge, so how did this miniature atom bomb come into the picture, Drakont?Ф
The yellowish eyes of the older Arkonide suddenly gleamed coldly. He leaned toward Tro-lugo and spoke in an icy tone.У Because Carba, the future Imperator, has ordered it! Now if that isnТt enough for you, Tro-lugo, must I remind you of what you swore when you joined us?Ф
Mith had also been regarding the Ekhonide steadily and knew what he must be feeling at this moment. He tried to minimize the harshness of DrakontТs words. УTro-lugo, you know weТve all sworn to give our lives to this cause if necessary. When you consider that fact, your uncleТs death may not seem to be so terrible.Ф
УBut heТs not one of us!Ф objected Tro-lugo.
УYes he is!Ф retorted Mith sharply. УHeТs one of us even if he hasnТt sworn the oath. He has declared himself ready to remove the impulse blaster from the holster of this Terran John Marshall and exchange it for this one here on the table. Now am I right or am I wrong?Ф
УNoЧthatТs right butЕФ
Mith interrupted him. УHas your uncle been on a leave of absence for some weeks now to be trained in the art of lightning-swift weapons switching or has he not?Ф
УWell, yesЕФ
УDoes your uncle know that this Terran, Marshall, is a thought reader, or doesnТt he know it? Does he know that in attempting to arm the Terran with our specially-prepared weapon he will be placing himself in deadly danger or doesnТt he?Ф
УHe knows these things, Mith...Ф
УSo what more do you want? A few minutes after the exchange of weapons, Marshall will be standing in front of Gonozal, and with our remote control we will detonate the mini-bomb that will be in the blaster. But the fate your uncle will suffer then is no different from the one he has declared himself ready to face, in case Marshall detects him at the moment of the switch. In either case heТll be dead. Are you still going to tell me that what I have explained to you goes against logic?Ф
УBut isnТt it inhuman to show gratitude to someone for risking his life to help usЧby letting him die?Ф
УIf you give me this argument, Tro-lugo, IТll have to remind you that your uncle is willing to murder Gonozal VIIIЕФ

УBut Gonozal is an Arkonide who has used the help of the Terrans to make him Imperator over the Greater Empire. This fact alone is enough to justify his death, Mith!Ф
УI agree, Tro-lugo, but where is the official court of justice that has sentenced Gonozal to death for this crime? We in the Thekus coalition are not yet in power. We may only act in an official capacity when Carba is sitting on the throne and ruling the Arkon Imperium. So weТre still in the wrong, where all revolutionaries have had to beЧeven when fighting for a good cause as we are. And the insurrection must always be atoned for if it fails. A true and honourable revolutionary must be prepared to give his life without hesitation but he must be equally prepared to sacrifice another.Ф
УWell, there still ought to be some way of warning my uncle. After he switches the weapons he should have a chance to get himself to safety, Mith.Ф Tro-lugo the conspirator was now begging for the life of his uncle, to whom he owed everything. The man had become a father image to him and had given him an expensive education.
Drakont had listened in amazement to MithТs clever rebuttal and only realized now how shrewd the young Arkonide was. He came hack into the discussion, this time with a note of sympathy in his voice. УTro-lugo, your uncle must not be warned. And we cannot make any plans for bringing him to safety in a fast aircar. The weapons switch is complicated enough without adding any more factors of risk. Each additional manipulation in the area of the Crystal Palace only creates additional security setups. Too many assassination attempts against Gonozal have been tried already and failed. So your uncle must be sacrificed. If we try to help him we are all endangered. Have you forgotten your 3 children, Tro-lugo?Ф