"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0002 - (1b) The Third Power" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

CHAPTER ONE


The silence was deceptive.

The mirrorlike surface of the Koshun salt lake in northern. China was unbroken by movement. Still as death, the lake lay sprawled across the wide desert. Not the slightest breeze could be felt, and the atmosphere was oppressively hot and dry. The glimmering air was buoyed above the heated stones and lost itself in the blue of a cloudless sky. Far away on the horizon rose a ridge of low mountains, from which had come the river that fed the salt lake.

The river was the only thing that stirred in this part of the Gobi Desert. Heavy and sluggish the river flowed, neither wide nor deep but never becoming completely dry.

Vegetation could not have grown on this stony ground, and animal life would not have found food amongst the flat rocks. Nothing was alive; yet the silence was deceptive.

A slender structure of glittering silver stood close beside the banks of the river. It did not fit into the picture of this lonely wilderness, for it was an interplanetary craft more than ninety feet long whose aerodynamically designed hull and delta wings were in stark contrast to an environment so inimical to human life.

The Stardust, the first terrestrial spaceship ever to land on the moon, had returned to Earth and landed in the Gobi Desert. The whole world already knew this, but only a few would begin to suspect that it had been not an emergency landing but an intentional manoeuvre.

In the hull of the vehicle, a rectangular opening appeared. A man came into view in the opening. His gaze swept along the river, across to the mountains and then to the lake, where it remained. Captain Reginald Bell, test pilot for the U.S. Space Explorations Command and engineer of the Stardust, drew in the air with eager breath, although it was anything but refreshing. The captain was short and heavyset. He wore the tightfitting blue uniform of the newly created Space Navy and held his cap under his right arm.

His eyes, which seemed almost devoid of colour, bore a faint glimmer of hope as he turned and called into the interior of the spaceship. "You think itТs possible to take a bath in that puddle over there?"Someone emerged from the dark corridor and stepped up beside Reg. He wore the same uniform but without epaulets. He seemed to be about thirty-five years old, tall and lean, and above a face with hard grey blue eyes there fell short blond hair. This was Major Perry Rhodan, commander of the Stardust and leader of the first lunar expedition.

"Of course itТs possible," he said in answer to RegТs question, "but the water is warm and hardly inviting. Besides, itТs far too salty for my taste.""Oh, I always liked highly seasoned food," declared Reg in a very serious tone. "I could even drink the whole lake, if necessary."

"YouТd really be in for a surprise. The waters of the Atlantic would taste like sickening sweet lemonade compared with that over there."Reg squinted up at the sun, which was nearly at its zenith. "I hope IТll have a chance to find out, because they wonТt be leaving us in peace much longer. I hope Khrest has thought of something in the meantime."Khrest was the scientific leader of an extraterrestrial expedition that had had to crashland on the moon. His race, which had been master of a large part of the Milky Way for many thousands of years, had degenerated through the centuries. Now he and his people were suffering from leukaemia. His blood had begun to deteriorate. He was hopelessly lost if the human race would not choose to help him. Therefore, he had agreed to come to Earth with the Stardust; but so far no one had any idea of the great secret that had accompanied the spaceship back to Earth.

"The protective umbrella will be sufficient for the time being. Khrest has assured me that nothing can penetrate it, not even a hydrogen bomb. One twist of a lever and weТll lie under a transparent dome of energy against which our whole world could rage in vain.""That sets my mind at ease." Reg nodded. "The Chinese wonТt keep us waiting very long. before they arrive. They probably think that we fell into their big sandbox here just by accident and that weТre only waiting to be picked up by them. WouldnТt they give their eye teeth to get hold of the Stardust!""And their right arms as well, if they only knew what kind of passenger we have with us," Perry assured him. "I only know from some hints what powerful means the Arkonides possess, but itТs already quite clear to me that Khrest all by himself is capable of keeping the world at bay. In any event, you can rest assured that pretty soon a lot of people will be very annoyed with us.A shadow darted across RegТs broad face. "IТm afraid our own people will be among them. CouldnТt we explain to them, at least, why we didnТt return to Nevada Fields?"Perry shook his head. "DonТt you know General Pounder by now? DonТt you think he, to say nothing of the national security and international defence people would be most interested in our extraterrestrial guest? And donТt forget Mercant..."Allan D. Mercant, Secretary of the NATO Division of International Defence, had only the higher Commands of NATO above him. Additionally, Mercant was head of the special department known by the official designation of International Intelligence Agency. There was no country that did not unknowingly play host to some of MercantТs agents.Reg sighed deeply. "I can understand Fletch wanting to return home. At heart he probably understands that youТve done whatТs right, but he canТt help thinking of his young wife and the baby sheТs expecting. I really donТt know if we can keep him here for any length of time.""He can leave if he wants to," Perry said, to RegТs surprise.Reg gulped. "Leave? Where to?" With his short, stubby fingers he pointed toward the desert. "To go there? Do you want him to get lost in that desert?"

"It wonТt be lonely here very much longer." Perry glanced at his watch. "IТm only surprised that no reconnaissance plane has shown up before now."He nodded briefly toward Reg and returned to the interior of the craft. In the rather crowded mess hall, Dr. Eric Manoli, the shipТs physician, was tending to Khrest, who lay stretched out on a narrow bunk. Clark G. Fletcher stood at the hatch and, his lips tightly pressed together, looked out into the desert."Well," said Perry, as Manoli looked up, "how is he getting along?"

Khrest answered before the physician could reply. "I am well, thank you, Mr. Rhodan. I feel a bit weak, but that is all. The air of your planet does me a great deal of good. Do you really believe you can help me?"

Dr. Manoli began to discuss KhrestТs condition. "Leukaemia is a disproportionate increase in the number of white blood cells. The oxygen carrying red blood cells are consequently pushed out of the way. One suffocates, so to speak, even though he may breathe fully throughout his lungs-for what good are lungs filled with oxygen when there are no red blood corpuscles to transport the oxygen to the organs that require it? At first, fatigue manifests itself. The sick man becomes progressively weaker. The physical deterioration is followed by a gradual wasting away of the mind. Just recently has a means to conquer leukaemia been discovered. It was an Australian research scientist who developed the antileukaemia serum.""Of course weТll be able to help you, Khrest," Perry concluded. "But we can do this only if there is mutual trust. I am interested in your invention, in your technical advancement and letТs be honest, your weaponry. In exchange for this information, I can offer you recovery and complete regeneration. ItТs a business proposition, if you like.""Your honesty is refreshing. Thus did our race behave some thousand years ago; but nowadays too many of us are weary of such forthrightness. I almost believe we could learn something from you."

Perry thought of the Arkonides who, far away on the surface of the moon, reclined on their couches and sought to while away the hours by watching three dimensional abstract images on screens with six planes. By this occupation they convinced themselves that they did not suffer from boredom. Their emotional inertia did not permit them even to attempt a repair of their gigantic spacecraft. Many millennia of computerized government and untiring robot servants had made the Arkonides aesthetes whose only raison dТetre was to lie on their backs and dream with open eyes."A renewal of blood is known to us also as the best precaution against degeneration and genetic decay," the major said.

Khrest sat up on the bunk. He leaned his back against the wall and one could see that he was at least a bead taller than Perry. Externally, he seemed to differ but little from a human being. His only extraordinary features were his almost white hair, albinoid eyes, and unusually high forehead. Invisible to the naked eye, an extra brain, unknown in any earthly creature, was situated atop the normal mantle of the cortex. This hypercranium possessed a photographic memory and an intricately developed memory bank. That Khrest had a protective breastplate instead of ribs surrounding his heart and lungs was also unknown to any of the four crewmen. Khrest, for all his unique anatomy, was the last descendant of the ruling dynasty of Arkon, home planet of his race. Being a scientist, he interpreted PerryТs remark concerning a "renewal of bloodХ perhaps too literally."Of course, such an intermixture of blood would show positive results. But fraternization with the members of a primitiveЕ" He paused, then tactfully rephrased his statement. "Еnot yet completely developed race would stand in defiance of our law.""I have no intention of marrying Thora." Perry smiled a bit dryly. Reg, who had just entered the doorway, broke out unabashedly into a bleat of laughter that seemed incongruous coming from his bulky body. Manoli carefully took his patientТs pulse. Fletcher showed no reaction.For a fleeting moment Perry felt himself transported back to the immense spherical spacecraft of the Arkonides on the moon. In his mind he saw Thora, commanding officer of the expedition whose task was to search for the planet of eternal life. She was a tall and singularly beautiful woman with light, almost white blond hair and large eyes glowing golden red.

A woman? Perhaps, fudging by her outer appearance; but that was all. In reality, she was a creature cold and calculating, with crystal clear reasoning ability and the highest intellect. Her attitude toward "the lower forms of life," Homo sapiens among them, was ruled by an incredible prejudice. Only her logical mind had permitted her to conclude a compromise with Rhodan. She hew that no other alternative had remained, unless she wanted to spend the rest of her life on the moon.

Khrest slowly shook his head. "I admire your imagination; yet I believe we should abandon these useless words and think rather of what should he done. You promised me help."

"And you shall get help," Perry assured him. He turned to face Reg. "Forget about that bath. Take care of the news first, try to tune in to the most important broadcasts. We must know whatТs happening in the world now.""NobodyТs going to inform us officially if they plan an action against us. IТd rather speak directly to Pounder.""Nothing but silence at the beginning, Reg. Let them rack their brains for the reason we donТt answer. I must get them good and ready for what I intend to do."Perry paid no further attention to him. He knew Reg, and he knew he could depend on him. "Eric, you take care of Khrest and do nothing else but that. Fletch, IТd appreciate it if you could get us some food. Later on we probably wonТt have time for that. Meanwhile, IТll worry about the strategic end of things. What kind of weapons has Thora sent along, Khrest?"The Arkonide was still sitting on the bunk, his hands folded in his lap. "To begin with, the force field, which should be the most important. It serves only for defence, but it should not fail to leave a certain impression on potential aggressors. Further, we have three hand weapons called psychoradiators. Their strength can be regulated. At maximum intensity they call paralyse a human being at a distance of up to one and a third miles, but they can never kill; at lesser intensity the victimТs conscious awareness is so weakened that it will be quite easy, even for you, to dominate him. Moreover, one may give posthypnotic commands, which must be carried out at all costs, even when the person affected no longer remains within the radius of these psychorays. Connected with these is an artificially induced amnesia. He is simply unable to remember a thing.""That seems like it might be useful." Perry nodded. "What else have we got?"

"Only the broadcasting set, with which we can reach Thora at any time. You are probably aware that these special waves will penetrate even there mass of the moon. That is necessary because our ship is on the other side of your satellite."

"Hmm," Perry muttered pensively. Khrest understood.

"Do not worry. The energy vault and the psychoradiator will do for the time being. In the event of further difficulty, Thora will intervene."

"What about the G force neutralizer, the thing you brought along to nullify the interior effects of our acceleration when we were blasting off in the Stardust?""I almost forgot about it. It cannot really be considered a weapon. Its range is enormous, more than six miles, straight ahead as well as in a circle. You may free an expanse of about six miles in length or a circle of twelve miles in diameter from the EarthТs gravity. The neutralizer is at the centre of the circle, in our case, the Stardust.""Excellent," said Perry. "That should be quite enough." He went to the door.

Clark G. Fletcher, the podgy faced giant with the gentle touch, turned away from viewing the desert and stared defiantly at Perry. But when his glance met the steel hard gaze of his commanding officer, he nodded hesitatingly.