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

Representing the Mutant Corps was the telepath John Marshall, originally from Australia. He was standing beside
Thora, whose dreams of a glorious return to Arkon had been so abruptly shattered. Her tall, slender figure revealed
nothing of the keen disappointment that had almost destroyed her emotionally. On the contrary: Rhodan thought he
had never seen the white-haired, golden-eyed Arkonide woman look so determined and full of vigour as at this very
moment. Also Khrest, her older companion and leader of the expedition that 13 years ago had crash-landed on
Earth's moon, seemed to have awakened from a long and refreshing sleep.
Rhodan noted this change for the better with a sense of relief. At first he had feared their painful disappointment
would have a disastrous effect on his friends but now it became evident that just the opposite had been the case.
Col. Freyt, now commander of the Ganymede was also present. His external appearance resembled that of Perry
Rhodan, which always filled him with secret pride and gave Bell a chance occasionally to tease him in a
good-natured way.
Bell and Tifflor were standing side by side. The young lieutenant, former cadet of the Terranian Space Academy,
had gained the full confidence of his superiors and had become part of the 'family', a term frequently used by Bell.
Many missions together had resulted in a close friendship between the two men.
And of course, there was Pucky!
Three feet tall, covered with a rust-brown fur, Pucky resembled a giant-sized mouse with a broad, flat beaver-tail.
His brown eyes with their endearing look had given him the nickname 'the monster with the guileless glance'. For
he was a monster, at least as regards his special abilities. He liked to be known as an animal, since he refused
categorically to be compared with a human being-an insult in his eyes. Pucky had stolen aboard the Stardust when
it landed on the Planet of the Dying Sun. There Pucky began to deploy his telekinetic gift in a playful manner.
Nobody at that time had any inkling that he also possessed the gift of telepathy and teleportation. Not even Pucky
himself was aware of his talents. Not until he had been thoroughly trained by Rhodan's other mutants had his talents
properly emerged and then been improved.
Today Pucky was counted among Rhodan's best and most capable friends.
He was sitting upright, his back leaning against the wall. His sole incisor, slightly protruding, lent a roguish grin to
his cute pointed mouse-face. A look of impatience had replaced the usual expression of devotion in his eyes.
And then Pucky said in faultless Intercosmo: "If I'm not mistaken everyone is here now. Can't we finally get
started? I'd like to know where we're at and what our plans are."
His voice rang out in high-pitched, chirping notes. Bell grinned and inconspicuously poked Tifflor in the ribs.
"Isn't it marvellous to have Pucky around? I just saved myself asking that dumb question."
Rhodan smiled in Pucky's direction and threw a brief glance of warning at Bell. There was no time now for the
customary squabbles which usually would end with Bell's getting the short end of it.
"Let's examine our situation," Rhodan began. "The red giant sun is not registered in our terrestrial star catalogues
and will therefore be named by us. Our calculations so far have shown that it is being orbited by 15 planets, of
which several are inhabited or at least sparsely settled. We are not quite sure but the fourth planet appears to be main
world of this solar system. So far we haven't been discovered, which is not surprising considering all this traffic."
"Traffic?" Tifflor asked, failing to understand.
"Yes, traffic. Don't forget, lieutenant, we are here at the centre of a huge star realm. The three light-years distance to
Arkon is practically negligible. In any case, we're much safer here than in some deserted sector of the galaxy where
every transition is bound to be noted at once. Here, however, it was merely one among many others. Nobody has
become aware of our arrival here. For that reason I believe it'll be right to continue with the training of our crews
before we make plans for our flight back home to Earth-if at all."
Bell stepped forward. He believed there was a question he ought to ask for the benefit of all concerned. "Why should
we stay here any longer? Haven't we accomplished our mission by doing our best to help Thora and Khrest return to
Arkon? Why don't you ask them if they're still interested in remaining any longer in this section of the Milky Way,
which is so decadent and robot ruled."
"You really think we accomplished our mission, Reg? I don't. What did we find out? A computer, built once upon a
time by superior Arkonide intellects, is now ruling the mighty star realm by force and cold logic. Without this
positronic brain this realm would no longer exist. But even the Brain can make mistakes. We've seen proof of that-
and without that proof we wouldn't be alive today. The Brain was wrong. Therefore we are justified to assume that