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

"What's going on?" Col. Freyt called out. After all, being the commander of the other ship he had to be sure that she
was circling around the sun Voga in a stable orbit, the same as the Titan. "The Ganymede can't move away from the
Titan! Not until her engines have been started up."
"But she's doing it all the same!" insisted John. "I received the thought impulses of an officer standing in the
Ganymede's control centre as he was making this observation. He'll report in shortly!"
Indeed it was hardly three seconds till the intercom began to hum.
Rhodan bounded halfway across the room to switch on the receiver. A few more seconds passed and the videoscreen
lit up. A young man's worried face appeared on it.
Col. Freyt stepped next to Rhodan.
"What's happened, Lt. Marten? How can it be possible that the Ganymede is moving away from the Titan when
"You know about it?" Marten wondered out loud, quite perplexed. But then he understood as soon as he caught sight
of the two telepaths Marshall and Pucky. "Aha-I see. Was I thinking so strongly? Yes, sir, it seems the Ganymede
has left its orbital path and is moving closer to the red sun. I'm at a loss to find any explanation for this and I am
waiting for your orders."
"Just a minute!" Rhodan interjected and switched on additional direct optical observation screens. "First we have to
make sure what is actually taking place here. Maybe it's just an illusion."
"It's definitely not an illusion, sir!" Lt. Marten exclaimed desperately, seeing that nobody would believe his words.
"We are definitely moving away from you."
Rhodan did not reply. He waited until the observation screens lit up. There was a long wide row across the wall
reflecting an image of the world outside the ship.
The Titan was still circling the red sun in the same orbit as heretofore, while the Ganymede indeed moved away
toward the giant red sun with considerable acceleration.
"Don't do anything!" Rhodan instructed the lieutenant. "Wait until you receive further orders from me. Do you
understand?"
"Yes, sir," came the reply but Lt. Marten's face made it obvious he'd prefer not to have understood. Waiting
passively was definitely not one of his great attributes.
Rhodan turned to Bell.
"Feed the following problem at top speed to the navigational brain: "Did the Titan leave its orbit around Voga? If
the answer is positive: by how much? Now hurry up, Reg!"
"The Titan?" Bell stammered, bewildered. "You mean the Ganymede, don't you, Perry?"
"You heard me right the first time. The Titan is what I'm interested to find out. Ever heard anything about optical
illusions or the relativity principle, old boy? If you try to watch something with just your unaided eye you can't
ascertain whether we or the others are actively moving away. And since we seem to be moving in the direction of
Arkon I have some well-founded doubts about the whole affair. Get it?"
The sudden silence in the control centre was sufficient proof that they had indeed understood him.
* * * *
The calculations indicated plainly that the Titan had been drawn out of the gravitational field of the giant sun by
invisible and immeasurable forces. On the other hand, the Ganymede orbited afar in unchanged free fall around the
entire giant system.
As Bell showed him the positronicon's figures, Rhodan flipped on the intercom. He only nodded and waited for the
com system to warm up. Various pushbuttons provided connections with all sections of the ship, so that his voice
could be heard everywhere.
"Attention, all hands!" Rhodan began. His grey-eyed lean countenance was tense, revealing the iron will ready not
only to take on human enemies but also, if necessary, a giant robot brain. "By all indications, we've strayed within
range of a powerful tractor beam. In view of the fact that we're being deviated toward Arkon, we can assume the
transmitter is in that area. So much for the facts. All hands will repair immediately to battle stations. We may be
attacked as soon as our position is known. I want five guppies manned and held ready for use. Further orders will
follow." He cut off the intercom and established video connection with the Ganymede. "Lieutenant Marten? Your
status remains quo. Do not attempt any tactic at this time. While Col. Freyt is on board the Titan, you have the
command of the Ganymede. Please confirm."