" Perry Rhodan 0085 - (77) Conflict Center Naator" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Arkon’s war did not concern them but they did not dare to make an open rebellion. They knew full well
that their own weak spacefleet would have no chance against the Arkonide superships which were
mostly manned by robots. Moreover, they could not rely on their Zarlt. The ruler of the Zalites had
already grown old and maintained a good relationship with Arkon because he had no other choice.

High up on one of the mountain peaks stood the lookout, a young man who exhibited the usual
copper-hued hair of the Zalites. His skin was more red than brown and his clothing appeared to be too
large for him. He had a good view of the desert toward the West and about 500 kilometres away in that
direction lay Tagnor, the capital city of the planet. But the Arkonides and their robots were in Tagnor
also. At the spaceport was their mobilization centre and boot camp for Zalites who had been drafted into
service. From here the recruits were evacuated to Arkon where their final training took place.

Arkon’s representative on Zalit was the Arkonide Admiral Calus, a shrewd and capable man but at the
same time cruel and pitiless when it came to carrying out orders of the robot Brain. All of the hatred of
the Zalites had been focussed upon this one Arkonide official.

The lonely sentinel on the mountaintop removed his gaze from the western horizon, beyond which lay
Tagnor his hometown. His sharp eyes scanned the desert below but failed to discover any suspicious
movement there. A few animals grazed on the slopes where there was still some grass.

He stood on a small plateau area that was enclosed by a low wall. A rocky overhang concealed him
from any curious eyes that might be above him—and it was very seldom that the gliders of the hated
Arkonides patrolled low above the mountains in search of deserters.

The Zalite smiled grimly to himself. So far his group had been very lucky. They numbered some 200
men, all of them draftable age. Chance had thrown them together and now they were determined to stay
with each other until the Arkonides departed from Zalit.

He tensed suddenly as he heard a noise on the rocky path that gave access to his position but then he
relaxed when he realized it must be his relief guard. They had not yet chosen an official leader among
them, since reason alone had thus far held them together and governed their existence. But if it had come
to a vote it would certainly have been Cagrib, the man who was now coming to relieve him, who would
have been selected as leader.

"You happy now?" asked Cagrib as he came around the rock shoulder and satisfied himself with a
glance that all was in order. "I hope the watch wasn’t too long for you, Rhog."

"Under the clear, open sky it would never be too long for me," declared the lonely guard, and he shook
his head. It was a gesture which meant the same on Zalit as it would have on Earth. "As long as the
weather holds up…"

"We have some new information," the other interrupted him calmly. "Admiral Calus has just finished
speaking." The Arkonide admiral spoke almost daily over all television transmitters on Zalit,
always-announcing new and drastic measures he hoped to employ in the attainment of his goal. "Now
even the older men are supposed to show up for conscription. Nobody is safe from them any more."

Rhog narrowed his eyes. "We’re safe here—but is that enough? Do you think we should just stand by
and look on while our countrymen are subjugated and the young men are carried off into slavery? Why
don’t we do something?"
 Cagrib’s eyes suddenly narrowed also. "Whatcan we do? In your opinion do you think it would maybe