" Perry Rhodan 0029 - (22) Fleet of the Springers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

warships!" Orlgans ordered. "At once! And send additional guards over to the
enemy ship. They must secure all important corridors. I wouldn't like the
aliens to get away in the confusion." Ornafer acknowledged the orders and
proceeded to comply with them. The Springers were a peculiar lot. They had no
homes but lived on their ships, travelling through the Galaxy. They considered
it their life's purpose to trade and to prevent anyone who also wanted to from
doing so. They claimed a monopoly on intergalactic trade. As worldly and
open-minded as they were, they believed with religious fervour that a mythical
deity had bestowed the intergalactic trade monopoly on them at the beginning
of their history. In a sense the situation of the Springers in the Galactic
Imperium-whose centre was the world of Arkon-was unique. The Arkonides had
always considered it below their dignity to engage in trade with anyone. The
Springers, who actually were distant relatives, filled the gap and made
themselves so indispensable that all those who wished to conduct any business
across long distances required their services. The Springers were always
primarily concerned about their own profits. They were the ones who always
incited rivalries within the Imperium because they hoped to gain more markets
for their business by the creation of splinter groups. They were tolerant
toward all since they had no reason to quarrel with anybody. However there was
something they would never permit, namely any infringement on their monopoly.
Their formidable fleet of battleships gave them great power and helped them to
gain a decisive edge over the Arkonides. The Springers being usually
individualists by conviction and having great fun snatching their profits from
each other, realized in good time that even individualists had to practice
some forethought to protect their common interests. They had built a
battlefleet that cruised watchfully in space and waited for the moment it was
called to come to the aid of a commercial ship. In times of danger the
Springers, who were normally dispersed throughout the whole Galaxy and
competed among themselves, became united, bound by an oath. Live separately
and unite for defence-a motto that much resembled one on Earth-had become a
basic doctrine of Springer policy. Ornafer, broadcasting his call for help
into space by hyperwave, could be sure that assistance would be on the way in
the shortest time possible. Then he took care of the second part of Orlgans'
order by sending five additional guards over to the captured enemy
ship. .... It took Tiff 20 minutes to activate the machinery of the K-7 in
the planned manner. It would now require about one more hour till the K-7
would apply the total power of its engines to free itself from the magnetic
grip of Orla XI and to flee from the foe. Tiff was resolved to leave the
enemy unhurt again just as Deringhouse had done before. He left the command
centre unseen. He began to whistle the song that was the agreed signal and
Eberhardt, Hifield and the three other cadets came forward from their niches
in the storeroom where they had kept themselves hidden. The giggling of the
girls was still audible up from the right. "How did it go?" Hifield asked
Tiff. "Without a hitch. The K-7 will cut loose from our opponents in an hour.
Until then well have to watch out for the guards." Then Tiff ordered: "Back to
the messhall! We've got to give the word to the others." He had hardly taken
two steps when the alarm sirens began to wail. Tiff stopped and listened to
the rhythm. The sound was interrupted at irregular intervals. Tiff was unable
to recognize the signal. He heard the two guards stomp through the side
corridor. "Let's get out of here," Tiff whispered. "Don't let 'em catch us