"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0040 - (32) Challenge of the Unknown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"I understand, sir!" he squeaked, and hobbled away. He forgot completely that he could teleport. He seemed to have
been a bit shaken by the alien ESP probes. Ralph Marten followed him.
Rhodan had Thora and Khrest come into the control room. Together with Bell and the telepath John Marshall, they
waited for the alien commander.
Ras Tschubai measured six feet six inches in height, which was the sole indication of his descent from a line of
warlike Sudanese chieftains. Once when his life was in danger he discovered his capability of wishing himself to
another location. A lion had sprung at him-but the lion's claws swiped through empty air. Ras Tschubai
disappeared, finding himself about 1800 miles away in his home village. It was in this manner that his career as a
teleporter began.
The case had been similar with Tako Kakuta. The delicate Japanese had discovered his extraordinary faculty as a
result of a catastrophe and had kept it a secret until he became a part of Rhodan's Mutant Corps.
When these two received their orders, they responded at once. The teleport leap to the alien ship where it was
docked against the Titan's hull was a minor detail; it would be another matter to remain undetected by its alien crew.
They worked separately. While Tako concentrated on the after-deck areas, Ras took on the middle portion of the
ship.
As he materialized and his vision cleared, he was able to determine with relief that he was alone. In this particular
room were all kinds of equipment, the purpose of which at first eluded him. Since he saw no portholes he deduced
that he must be deep inside, away from the outer hull.
He decided to start a routine search. The room had two doors. One of these was easily opened by pushing against it
and he found himself in a corridor containing a number of doors. He didn't dare open any of them so he went
onward, ready at any second to quickly dematerialise.
The forward opening was a bulkhead door, obviously leading to a continuation of the corridors. He hesitated a
moment before he swung it open. The passage behind it was clear. He stood with his back to the wall and listened.
Somewhere ahead he heard human voices. They conversed in Intercosmo. Thanks to hypno-schooling, he had
mastered this Esperanto of space. In spite of this, however, he couldn't understand a single word of the present
conversation. Yet it devolved on him to learn what he could about the Zalites on this ship.
Cautiously he stalked onward until he could hear the voices more clearly. They emerged from one of the rooms
behind one of the numerous doors. Inwardly triggered to teleport, he pressed an ear against the smooth surface. Now
he could understand them.
".we are probably putting our foot in it."
The unknown speaker did not say this in so many words but the sense of it was the same. Another voice answered,
"Hemor certainly must know what he's doing. He's operating under orders of the Zarlt. And he must know very well
what he's about."
"I'll grant you that but you can't play games with the Empire. If it's detected that we're being deceptive, there'll be
a whole fleet on our necks. We should avoid such an eventuality."
"Our opportunity is unique. just remember that this alien from the Universe has outwitted the great Brain!"
"My very point! And now the Zarlt thinks he'll be even smarter. To me, its a rash undertaking."
A slight pause ensued. Tschubai heard footsteps coming toward the door. He drew back and looked for an exit so he
could avoid having to teleport. But there was little time to decide. The door was shoved open and a head appeared in
the corridor.
Tschubai wouldn't have ventured to say later whether or not the Zalite had seen him. He dematerialised in the same
second and simultaneously concentrated on the bow section, where the alien ship's control room would be located. It
was a big risk but he had the assurance of knowing that he could disappear again at any moment if he ran into any
people.
He was lucky.
While his vision returned and he readied himself for another transfer, he perceived that he was alone. Surrounding
him completely was-the Universe.
But it was filled with air and he could breathe.
Fortunately, his initial fear that his direction had gone wrong and that he had landed in the vacuum of space, was
unfounded. Much to his amazement he stood in the middle of a sphere-like room, the walls and deck and ceiling of