" Perry Rhodan 0055 - (47) Shadow of the Mutant Master" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

2.46 light-years from Volat.

Capt. Jim Markus’ eyes wandered from the observation screen to the calendar and he read
absentmindedly the date: July 12, standard time. He was alarmed by crackling noises emanating from the
micro-loudspeaker of the hypercom-receiver.

A message came through!

The interference lasted only a few seconds. It was followed by a short call and all was silent again.

The shipboard positronic of theLotus was automatically activated and the decoder of the computer
unscrambled the message. Capt. Markus walked with anxious foreboding to the positronicomputer and
watched the slot from which the transcript appeared. He hastily took the plastic strip ejected by the
machine. The message consisted of 2 words which the Ultra-Esper Ralph Sikeron had transmitted to the
Lotus from the planet Volat: 3 BELLS!

Capt. Jim Markus pushed the alarm button.

Sound alarm, optical alarm, vibration alarm stirred up the cruiser at the same moment. The huge
positronic centre of theLotus was alerted and thousands of the ship’s functions were activated from their
zero position. All converters shot up to their maximum output and the power stations were switched on.
The energy banks were charged to the limit and were ready for the moment when the load was needed.
The members of the crew raced to their cannons on the speed conveyors and in the antigrav shafts. The
Lotus gave the appearance of a stirred up anthill but instead of a panicky commotion it was a manoeuvre
which had been proven a thousand times. All movements meshed and the light cruiser was ready for
action at all posts within a minute.

Then came the ominous words over the communication system: "Radio connection with Ralph Sikeron
broken off!"

For Capt. Jim Markus the news meant once more: 3 BELLS!

3 Bells was the highest state of alarm. The code word stood for Mortal Danger. The mission and the life
of the agent were threatened and it warned that Earth was exposed to serious perils as well.

"Transition in 30 seconds!" the tinny voice of the positronic squeaked in all departments of theLotus .

The memory bank of the computer brain stored—ready to be tapped—all data required for a jump of
theLotus through hyperspace across thousands of light-years in zero-time, a concept that could be
understood only in mathematical terms. However a ship like the light cruiser, which was in standby
position, still required half a minute to bring its machinery up to high gear in order, to perform a transition.

Jim Markus sat in the pilot and Bendler, the First Officer, was his co-pilot. Both listened to hear if the
radio centre reported another message while X-time rapidly approached X minus zero.

The metallic voice of the, positronicomputer called out each of the last 30 seconds. The countdown was
a mental strain for Capt. Markus since he was aware that the transition jeopardized the audio-monitor
Ralph Sikeron, if the cosmic agent was still alive.

But the radio centre reported no new connection with Ralph Sikeron although 2 dozen men tried