" Perry Rhodan 0016 - (10) Ghosts of Gol" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

1 SPOOKY PHENOMENA



Rhodan’s stern voice, resounding from the telecoms in all the corridors of the mighty spaceship, broke
the quiet which had prevailed for several hours aboard theStardust II .

"Commander to all Guppies! Prepare your ships for takeoff at nine-twenty ship time. I repeat…"

The previous quiet had been deceptive. Beneath its surface, tension was growing, perhaps even fear,
most certainly the disquieting realization of involvement with things beyond the comprehension of human
brains. To theStardust ’s crew of five hundred, never before had it been so apparent as in the past few
days and hours to just what extraordinary degree the welfare of the entire ship depended on the
capabilities of a single man.

A single man: Perry Rhodan.

Many of the men did not know the reasons for Rhodan’s actions and the leader of the New Power did
not deem it necessary to enlighten them. So rumours spread, at first ridiculed, then embellished with
hair-raising details and finally accepted.

Rhodan’s latest order meant new excitement for two hundred men of the crew. After the unnerving
experience of hours of uncertain waiting, they preferred plunge into the most dangerous adventure rather
than remain inactive a moment longer.

Guppies were the eight auxiliary ships of theGood Hope class carried aboard theStardust II . Nobody
remembered who first called them such but "Guppies" was now accepted as the common code name for
the two hundred-foot-long ships.

The all clear reports for the Guppies had come. Perry Rhodan sat in the pilot seat in the Control Centre
and listened to the telecom with an impassive face. He looked as if he were not interested in the chatter
but after the eighth report he leaned over the mike and ordered:

"Proceed in accordance with the data of your automatic navigation control. Hold your ships in standby
position in your respective target areas and scan the sector for structural changes. Keep your structure
sensors manned at all times and report immediately any change in the spacetime continuum. Start at
prearranged time."

With an abrupt move of his hand he switched off the telecom. He whirled around in his chair.

He was alone in the Command Centre with Reginald Bell, his companion ever since their first flight to
Earth’s moon and still his best friend on their way to the Unknown.

Bell tried to smile but managed only a half-hearted grin. Cheerfulness seemed out of place these days.

"What do you anticipate?" asked Bell. "Alien ships?"
Rhodan stared thoughtfully at him for a few seconds. Then he shook his head in vigorous negation and
got up.

"No, no ships," he answered.