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

was not anxious to have another demonstration of the fact that telekinetics are stronger than normal mortals-in
spite of the benefits of the biological cell shower.
Reassured, Pucky turned once more to Rhodan. "The circuit was located just under the outer ring bulge and was
hermetically sealed. With the best instruments and the most powerful cutting torches, we would have required
months to get through the dense arkonite panels. Wuriu located the receiver. Together with Anne I was able to
disconnect it and make sure it was jammed." Pucky was still grinning. "It was only possible through telekinesis. I
can assume that the designers didn't reckon with that."
"Well done," praised Rhodan. He stroked the silky pelt of the mouse-beaver's neck almost caressingly. "Sometimes
I think I'd never make it without you."
Pucky ceased grinning. The incisor tooth disappeared quickly. Almost humbly, the little fellow bowed his head and
placed his face on Rhodan's hands, which he had drawn to him with a paw. Then he straightened up and turned
around. "I am going to show you right now, Reginald, which of us is the bigger hypocrite. You have just earned
yourself another lesson." And before anyone could intercept him, Pucky had slipped out of the seat and gone over to
Bell. With his startled victim, who hadn't been able to bridle his thoughts, he disappeared without a trace. He and
Pucky were transferred elsewhere.
Col. Freyt appeared to be very nonplussed. "Will somebody give me a playback on that.?"
Rhodan smiled and signalled for data from the navigation computer. "You have to get used to that, Colonel. Pucky
and Bell are the best of friends, except that they won't admit it. If I know that mouse-beaver, be's giving his friend a
little education so that he can relax for a few days. Ah-the new data." He took the foil in his hand and nodded with
satisfaction. "Now we're down to our initial free fall velocity. That can be changed."
Once again the impulse-converter droned into life but this time not in vain. In the course of a few seconds the wild
flight of the Titan toward Arkon was arrested and the return course reinstated. Only two minutes later the Ganymede
was back in visual range.
The instruments indicated that the distant robot brain's tractor beams were still everywhere in evidence, except that
now they could find no anchorage. Thereby it was taken as a proof that their location was not known and that they
had merely fallen accidentally within range of the tractor beam's indiscriminate transmission.
When the Titan drifted within close range of the Ganymede and locked into its former orbit, Pucky popped up in the
control room. He acted very innocent and gave no answer to questions regarding Bell. Only when further
discussions ensued without bringing Bell to light, Rhodan began to worry. He had not been in his cabin. Had he
again gone off on his own into his journeys of exploration? His aversion to the great size of the Titan was well
known, so the latter possibility seemed unlikely. However, Pucky continued his silence. Even Marshall failed to
uncover anything because the mouse-beaver had screened off his mind.
It was not until six hours later that one of the technicians, making his rounds through the corridors of the sphere's
inner segments, heard unusual knocking sounds coming from one of the unused portions of the ship. He followed
the sound while conjuring up in his mind unsuspected monsters that had probably taken up their abode somewhere
in the depths of the gigantic spaceship. The pounding emerged from the area of the men's lavs. In between these
sounds, an uncanny howling was heard, as though coming from someone who no longer could decide whether to
give vent to rage or despair.
The technician stood in front of a closed door. The fairly simple lock mechanism could only be operated from the
outside if not barricaded on the inside. The designers of the Titan were only human, after all. So was the technician.
He felt compassion mingled with a heroic urge to discovery.
He drew his weapon and opened the door. Cautiously he sprang back and raised the weapon but then lowered it
when he recognized the pitiable human wretch who after six hours of despairful waiting could finally leave the small
room that normally was not intended for such an extended sojourn.
It was Bell who had been missed for so long. No one could surmise just how he had come to be trapped in a room
that was locked from the outside. Only Rhodan and the other crew members in the control room had their
suspicions.
And other than Bell there was only one who knew what had really happened-Pucky, with his innocent stare. He,
however, was as reticent as Reg.