"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0115 - (107) The Emperor and the Monster" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

The two officers had known each other ever since the first mission of the Fantasy. Together with Perry Rhodan they had survived the shipwreck and had been rescued by Capt. Samuel Graybound. A bond of friendship had developed between the two which was far more than the usual G.I. buddy relationship. From a military standpoint the two were a fantastically coцrdinated team. One Brazo Alkher at the fire control centre of a spaceship was more deadly than 10 heavy cruisers.
If one were to question Alkher concerning his special abilities he would modestly reply: "I work the guns, that's all." But how he worked them was something else again.
Their imprisonment on Saos had drawn the two more closely together than ever. They knew that they had only one man to thank for their involuntary sojourn on the Anti planet-the man they all took to be Perry Rhodan. Cardif-Rhodan had ruthlessly abandoned them on the enemy's ship and on top of it had issued orders to open fire on the vessel.
"So now what does he want of us?" asked Nolinov. He had come to a stop. The mixed tone of suspicion and rejection in his voice was obvious.
Alkher shook his head regretfully. "You're talking about the Chief," he reminded his friend.
"Of course I am!" retorted Nolinov bitterly.
They had stopped in front of a cabin and now Alkher knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
Alkher opened the door and stepped into the small room. The floor was covered with the fragments of a shattered mirror. In some confusion, Alkher looked across at the bed where Perry Rhodan was lying.
The Administrator had taken off his uniform jacket and exchanged it for a bulky sweater. Over his eyes he wore a pair of dark goggles of a type used by technicians in the converter rooms. Alkher heard Nolinov come in behind him.
"You called us, sir?"
He could not make out Rhodan's eyes behind the opaque goggles. When the Administrator sat up, Alkher could not be sure whether he was looking at him or at Nolinov.
Unexpectedly, Rhodan seemed to be quite friendly. "You know that I consider you two to be my closest confidants," he told them.
"Yessir," answered the 2 lieutenants in unison.
Alkher felt rather than saw Nolinov's mystified glance. It was not evident to either of them why they should have arrived at such a special consideration.
"I selected you two to go to Wanderer with me," he reminded them. "Your special qualities have not escaped my notice."
Alkher felt his uneasiness increase. This whole approach was leading to something that was certainly not suitable for bolstering Rhodan's crumbling influence.
"We realize that, sir," said Alkher cautiously. He figured it was best for him to do the talking. Nolinov's impulsive nature might only get them into trouble.
As Rhodan stood up he stepped on one of the glass fragments and the grinding sound made Alkher shudder. Against the wall he saw the frame of what was left of the mirror. Apparently the Administrator had shattered it in a fit of rage.
"You were present during the undisciplined exhibition of Maj. Krefenbac," said Cardif-Rhodan. "You have witnessed how far an officer can go in his psychopathic arrogance."
Nolinov gasped audibly. Alkher nudged him with an elbow and hoped that Rhodan hadn't noticed it.
"We saw everything that happened," confirmed the lieutenant quietly.
"Maj. Krefenbac is the Ironduke's First Officer, " said Rhodan, "but that's going to come to an end."
"Sir!" exclaimed Alkher, dismayed.
"I'm going to remove him from that responsible position," announced Rhodan. "It's just not suitable for that kind of a man to hold a position that is vital to the life of the ship. Major Krefenbac can't carry out a simple order-so what would he do in case of important decisions? I rather imagine that the major would lose his nerve in a space battle and would refuse to obey a command."
Alkher forced himself to remain calm. His thoughts were racing in new confusion. He regretted that Bell was not present. Rhodan's closest friend was still the only one who had any influence over this sick man.
Nolinov could not suppress a comment: "Sir, I regard Maj. Krefenbac as a capable man and as my superior officer."
Rhodan nodded. He had sat down on the bed again and his hands began to dig into the covers repeatedly-like claws. "That only proves that you don't have an eye for such men, lieutenant," he said. "It's important to study the men around you. You practically have to dissect their character, Nolinov. If you put them in a carefully planned psychological situation-as I did-then you will find sometimes that a villainous disposition can be lurking under a very polished facade."
"Yessir," replied Nolinov but his tone was cool and aloof.
Suddenly Alkher felt that Rhodan's eyes were fixed upon him behind the dark goggle lenses. He strove to meet his unseen gaze with firmness.
"Lt. Alkher, you appear to me to be good officer material," Rhodan informed him.
"I do my best, sir," said Alkher, and he tried to make his voice sound friendlier than he was feeling at the moment.
Rhodan nodded in satisfaction. "Lieutenant, I am going to appoint you First Officer of the Ironduke."
For a moment Alkher was too perplexed to think of an answer. The problems that loomed up behind this fatal offer seemed to him to be insurmountable. He blinked in his confusion.
Rhodan laughed hoarsely. "That probably comes as a surprise to you, Alkher, doesn't it?"
"That would be no exaggeration, sir," the lieutenant managed to say.
Rhodan got up and walked toward him over the cracking and crunching fragments of glass. Alkher involuntarily took a step back but Rhodan clapped him on the shoulder.
"You'll be able to handle it alright," he told him with a cordiality that seemed to be overdone.
It made Alkher wince. Nolinov seemed to have stiffened into a post. Brazo glanced toward him helplessly then stared at Rhodan again. "Sir, I am grateful for your confidence in me," he stammered.
Rhodan's hand weighed heavily on his shoulder but Alkher didn't dare move. He suddenly remembered the first time he had met Rhodan. He had mistaken him for a mechanic and had treated him accordingly. But the Rhodan he remembered was a different man from the one who stood before him now.
"You and Nolinov know that stronghold on Saos better than anyone," said Rhodan. "You are both capable of leading the attack against the Antis. With Krefenbac eliminated, nothing more can go wrong. I shall relay my orders through you to the fighting units."
"Sir, I... " Alkher struggled to find words.
Rhodan's voice became sharp. "Perhaps you have an objection, Lieutenant?"
Alkher swallowed hard. His brown eyes acquired a feverish intensity. It was not the man himself who disturbed him so much-but his deeds, his history, his legend. With a courage born of desperation he finally blurted out: "Sir, I have to decline your offer-I'm very sorry, sir!"
"What?!" shouted Rhodan. "Are you insane, Lieutenant? I offer you the greatest chance of your life and you dare to refuse it?"
Brazo Alkher could only stare in wide-eyed consternation at the raving Administrator. He felt the colour draining from his face and there was sweat in the palms of his hands. He fought against a tendency to tremble in his agitation. Nolinov stood tight-lipped and silent nearby.
"Are you working in collusion with this useless Krefenbac?" Rhodan continued to rave. "I will see to it that my commands are obeyed!"
"Every one of your commands is obeyed, sir," Alkher half-whispered. "However, the regulations permit me to think about a promotion or to decline it if I do not feel qualified to handle the new assignment."
"Out!" shouted Rhodan. "Get out!"
Alkher and Nolinov saluted stiffly and made a hasty exit from the cabin. It was only when they were at a safe distance that Nolinov finally expressed himself with a note of relief.