"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0045 - (37) Epidemic Center Aralon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"But they are descended from the Traders!" said Rhodan, with a peculiar emphasis. "They support themselves not alone through their science but also by commerce. This heritage of their race they still adhere to. Unfortunately, they trade not only in medicines, they are also merchants of death!"
"The proof!"
Rhodan sighed. "We found plenty of proof on Honur and Mooff 6. We learned that the Aras infect entire planets deliberately and then later supply the necessary antidote at exorbitant prices. Do you consider such a practice to be fair play, Regent?"
The robot brain required one second in which to formulate an answer. "It is a criminal offence against the laws of the Empire. But we have need of the Aras; otherwise I would initiate an immediate destruction of all their worlds."
Rhodan nodded. "I am in accord with you. But there must be a way of forcing them to observe the Law without depriving ourselves of their medical knowledge. I am urgently in need of a cure for the hyper-euphoria. Thora of Zoltral has fallen ill."
Rhodan thought he detected a trace of excitement in the impersonal voice but it could just as well have been an illusion.
"Thora, ill...? Infected by the Aras? Ah yes, I'm aware of that. You reported it to me already. So no cure has been forthcoming?"
"Only the Aras can furnish it."
"They don't have any specific home base but they maintain many planetary strongholds."
Rhodan tossed in the bait: "For example, perhaps such a planet as Aralon?"
It worked... The robot brain let 5 seconds go by before it answered: "Aralon is considered to be the central world of the Aras. How do you know this, Perry Rhodan of Terra?"
"Ara captives revealed it to me but I couldn't be sure that they were telling the truth. So it is a fact, then? Aralon is the principal world of the galactic Medical Masters?"
"Yes. Aralon is the 4th of 7 planets orbiting the small, yellow sun of Kesnar, whose position I will furnish you. Other important data are: Aralon is an unarmed world and does not possess an actual spacefleet. It has not been necessary for the Aras to defend themselves. As I now understand it, they have managed over millennia of time to keep their infectious bacterial and viral strains from dying out. The entire galaxy needs the Aras and their medicinal arts, so it maintains good relations with them. From this point of view, the Aras are the most powerful people in the Empire-that's why they have no weapons or battleships of any kind. They can't be forced against their wills to produce a specific medicine and deliver it."
Rhodan recognized that the Regent spoke a truth that was founded on logic. If he, Rhodan, were to attack the world of Aralon, there was a danger that he could annihilate the very scientists who had developed both the causative agent and the cure for the hyper-euphoric sickness.
"But there is a way of putting a stop to their activities. For the good of the entire Empire and all intelligent races of the galaxy, it must be employed."
"What way is that?" asked the Brain.
"Strategy!"
"Explain more precisely what you mean," demanded the Regent calmly.
"First I'd like to show you what can happen to the Arkonides if it occurs to the Aras to bring the epidemic to Arkon," said Rhodan and he signalled to Khrest.
The white-haired scientist withdrew and reappeared moments later with Thora in her portable bed. Her eyes were open and she smiled radiantly. Her face reflected complete unconcern but her features were thin and hollow-cheeked. Even the intravenous feeding could not prevent the patients from starving gradually while still alive. "That is Thora, of Zoltral, the commander of this ship. She does not know that she is sick, Regent, but death is already reaching for her. She will continue to smile even as she dies. The Aras infected her-and only they can heal her again."
The robot brain remained silent for almost a minute. Then, when it answered, there was just a hint of emotion in the mechanical voice. "Explain to me your strategy, Rhodan. If you can convince me that an attack against Aralon will not endanger the Empire, I will place all of my resources at your disposal."
Rhodan breathed a sigh of relief. He saw to it that Thora was taken back to her hospital station. Then he pointed to Lt. Tifflor, who stood in the rear of the Com Central next to the Japanese, Sengu. "The name of my strategy is Lt. Tifflor, Regent. He has already saved an inhabited world from the clutches of the Galactic Traders, by posing as a 'cosmic decoy'."
"A-cosmic decoy?"
"A tiny transmitter has been installed in his body, which radiates pulses continuously. The important feature of this is the fact that these impulses are propagated without any time loss and are perceptible at a distance of 2 light-years. Also they are telepathic in nature rather than from any kind of radio apparatus. So Lt. Tifflor is a sort of synthetic telepath, who can transmit his thoughts over 2 light-years-and, as mentioned, without any time loss."
"That is a technology that is unfamiliar to me. You have things at your command, Rhodan, which could be very useful to the Empire."
"This is why we became partners," Rhodan reminded the robot brain, and continued objectively: "I will infiltrate Tifflor onto the planet Aralon. One man alone will be inconspicuous. He can hardly be suspected of being the advance agent of a galactic force of arms. We can thus he constantly informed of everything that happens thereafter on Aralon. And then we can move in."
"That's a very risky undertaking," cautioned the Brain.
"Thora must be cured! So it's necessary that we take some degree of risk. But when we also consider that its not only Thora who's involved here but that all of Arkon could be afflicted with this sickness, then you see the risk is comparatively small. The Aras have to be convinced that they can offer a better service to the Empire if they merely operate properly. Their swindling and deception in regard to the health of the Empire comes under the heading of high treason."
"Let me have time to evaluate this new information," requested the Regent.
"The crackling of the loudspeaker indicated that the acoustical part of the connection had been interrupted. The picture portion remained on the screen. Rhodan cut off the transmitter and tamed to Tifflor. "Well, Tiff, you can see you've got a job ahead of you. My plan isn't clear yet but I more or less know how we can trick the Aras. I want you to take Wuriu Sengu and Thora to Aralon."
Khrest took an involuntary step forward. He stared in shocked amazement at his friend. "Perry, surely you don't want to expose Thora to this danger?"
Rhodan smiled softly. "On the contrary, Khrest, Thora will be the first to receive the serum that will heal her-and mind you, at the hands of the physicians of Aralon. That's the way we will have the proof that they are also the originators of the epidemic and at the same time we'll know that the cure is possible."
"And how do you expect to bring the Aras to do this?"
"I'm not down to the fine details yet but it'll all come to me before we are orbiting over Aralon... with military power at our back in such force that we can show our fist to any possible attacker."
"But I heard that Aralon is supposed to be without weapons and is fully demobilized..."
"...which in no way means that Aralon is defenceless, Khrest. I believe the Aras have powerful friends, if it comes to that."
"The Aras, and friends? To whom do you refer?"
"Don't forget that they belong to the race of the Springers," Rhodan reminded him. But then he made a hasty motion for silence. The loudspeaker had come to life. He quickly threw in the transmitter key again.
Seconds later, the cold voice of the Regent resounded: "The star Kesnar is 38 of your light-years distant from Arkon. All other data is in agreement with what your prisoners have told you. You have from me full and unlimited authority and may operate on the basis of your own judgment. In addition, I will place at your disposal a robot-controlled battlefleet, which until further notice will be programmed to obey your commands. Identification will follow on the same frequency on which I am speaking to you now. You are the commander of this fleet. The units will be at your disposal within 10 minutes. You will instruct me concerning the measures you are taking at the moment of their introduction. I wish to caution and warn you: do not attack Aralon without sufficient reason. We still urgently need the Aras. There are still diseases and sicknesses on the worlds of the Empire."
"Yes, that is true, Regent, and it will continue to be so just as long as the Aras are allowed to continue working without restriction.
"You have received my instructions," replied the Regent unemotionally. "You will adhere to them if we are to be partners. For the rest I wish you good luck and success, Perry Rhodan. If you need further help, call me. End of message."
Rhodan waited until the picture on the screen became dark. Then he cut off the transmitter and the receiver. With a great sigh of relief, he sat down in the nearest chair. For long moments he sat there as though in near collapse, his head supported in his hands. No one ventured to disturb him and even Pucky remained quiet.
Khrest waited patiently.
Finally, Rhodan looked up. He smiled slightly and said, "I'm gradually getting the message that the robot brain is making me into some kind of policeman. Keep the peace-keep order and you will be paid! Well, as long as his interests and mine coincide, that kind of thing can continue. But woe be unto something!-if our interests happen to clash! What will happen then is not yet clear to me."
Men we'll simply depose the Regent and take over the Government," twittered Pucky confidently and slipped off the couch. He drew himself up and thrust out his bright, furry chest, deliberately putting on airs like the old-fashioned dictators of Earth. "I feel I'm especially qualified for the post of Foreign Minister."
Tiff grinned. "I think you'd make a better Minister of Entertainment," he suggested. And then he became serious again. "You want to set me down on Aralon, Mr. Rhodan? And what am I supposed to do there? I don't know Aralon."
"Nobody knows this world where the Aras have their medical and biochemical laboratories. I'll wager, however, that we'll know a lot more about it after you've been there for a few clays."
"And Thora is coming with me?"
Rhodan nodded. "She has to come with you! Without her the operation wouldn't have any purpose. Yes, what is it, Lt. Fox?"
During Rhodan's conference with the robot brain the older officer had been assigned the task of watching the picture screens of the Control Central in order to be able to report any possible changes of circumstance there. Rhodan did not choose to rely exclusively on his instruments at all times. Normally Fox performed his duties as watch officer of the Communications Central.