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

be as flabby as the rest of the horrible shape. The whole mess was topped off by a ball-shaped head as though
plunked into the middle of a pudding. Large, knob-like eyes stared at him with baleful intent.
The most curious part of the situation was that the weird creature squatted in a glass container which appeared to be
hermetically sealed on all sides. Ras recognized it at once as a spherical pressure chamber. Silvery metal pipes
connected the container with an apparatus that was similar to an oxygen tank. An under-chassis of simple
construction completed the picture.
Ras remained motionless and regarded the creature, sensing that it actually would not harm him. This was the only
reason he stayed. He had an awareness of having discovered something very important.
Where do you come from?
Ras was very familiar with telepathy. Often enough he had practiced it with John Marshall and the mentalists of the
Corps. The projected thought stood clearly in his mind. The monster was a telepath.
He ignored the question and took a few steps closer to the container, coming within about six feet of it. The cold,
searching eyes made him wary; a certain threat emanated from them, the nature of which Ras was not able yet to
determine. He was wondering what Rhodan would make of this discovery
Who is Rhodan? came the next question.
Ras was apprehensive now. If this beast could read thoughts, then the situation became dangerous. He strained to
apply the training he had received, to screen his mind from telepathic surveillance. He must have succeeded as the
next thought seemed to confirm.
Why do you screen yourself? There can thus be no communication between us.
Ras decided not to waste the unusual opportunity. He concentrated: What-who are you?
I am Mooff, came the answer, along with a powerful thrust at the teleporter's mind. Ras suddenly felt impelled to
come nearer to the pressure chamber. When he took a step closer, the mental thrust strengthened perceptibly.
Somewhere in the depths of him alarms began to sound.
But not only inside him: the sirens also rang in his ears. The shrilling sound was physically real; it rang through the
entire ship. He heard the sound of running feet. They approached the observation chamber. He heard doors banging
open, a storm of shouted questions.
Danger!
Ras concentrated on the Titan and sprang. That is, he intended to make the teleport jump but something held him,
preventing him from dematerialising. It was as though a thousand invisible eyes clutched after him and his brain.
The mental thrust became stronger, accompanied by an order to stay. The monster was trying to hypnotize him.
The magnitude of the trap he'd fallen into began to dawn on Tschubai. He had to break loose from it or he would
endanger not only Rhodan but all humanity. The prime commandment of the Terranian astronauts was never to
betray mankind, even at the cost of one's own life.
Well, it hadn't quite come to that point!
He strained with every ounce of concentration of which he was capable, forcing himself to think of Rhodan in the
control room. He envisioned Rhodan before him, realizing the terrible danger to which he, too, was now exposed. It
seemed to repeat for him the scene in the jungle when the great carnivore had leapt toward him. Only this time there
was no lion but a terrifying monstrosity, a telepathic thing that was his enemy and possessed strong powers of
suggestion.
But his efforts succeeded.
As someone burst through the door of the observation chamber, he dematerialised. He found himself staring at the
back of an unknown person who faced Rhodan and seemed not to notice his arrival.

3/ THE REAL RULERS

John Marshall met the visitor in the airlock and escorted him through numberless corridors and antigrav lifts to the
central control room. This way he found sufficient opportunity to sound out the thoughts of their guest and give
them a thorough analysis. The Zalite had no inkling of this. He was not a telepath, as John could easily perceive.
This was surprising because Pucky had insisted that telepaths dwelled on board the other ship.
Waiting for the visitor were Rhodan, the two Arkonides and Bell. Pucky located himself nearby in the