"002 The Third Power" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Perkins thought of the cleverly constructed metal box that contained no more
than a battery and some cables inside and a few dials and several buttons
outside. He nodded.
"But of course! Do you think I would come to you without the necessary
equipment? When shall we start?"
"In one hour, if you like. We are still expecting confirmation from the proper
authorities."
If only everything goes well, Perkins thought, although no one could do anything
to him. His papers were probably more authentic than those of the Chinese.
Nevertheless.
In the little cafe across the street, Perkins quickly drank a bottle of lemonade
and gave a few coins to a beggar who, in a loud, high voice, lamented his misery
and bewailed having to feed seven small children.
The man in rags thanked him for the coins with many bows and in between the many
bows suddenly whispered, "O father of justice, heavenly paragon of human pity,
thanks be to you for your kindness! (Hey, fellow, don’t you recognize your old
friends any more?) My children will offer up prayers to our ancestors for you.
(Why did Mercant have to send you of all people?) May the goddess of fertility
bless you, my lord, for having given such riches to an undeserving beggar! (By
the way, the government official on the plane is one of our men. Go easy on
him.) Permit me to kiss your feet."
Perkins briefly winked at the beggar, then turned away with a gesture of
displeasure. He tossed a coin on the table and left the cafe.

It was a jaunty little jet. Aboard, besides the pilot, were a representative of
the government, a chief engineer, and Perkins. The small cabin showed evidence
of some luxury and thus indicated that it also served in a private capacity.
Interchangeable skid runners and pontoons enabled it to land on uneven ground or
on water.
The jet engine roared, but the noise almost entirely lost itself in flight.
Peking sank below them. The jet flew straight westward. Fertile valleys receded
quickly into the east. The first mountain ranges appeared, then brown arid
deserts.
The government official bent forward and tapped the shoulder of the engineer,
who was sitting next to Perkins. "Where is this region located, Lan-Yu?"
"East of Suchou, near the Koshun salt lake, near where the American moon rocket
is supposed to have crashlanded."
"Do you know something about it?" The words escaped the government
representative quite against his will.
"I’ve heard about it." The engineer tried to evade the issue. "Just rumours."
Then he looked around and grinned. "Or is there truth to that rumour?"
"Of course not! Nothing but idle rumours, what else?"
They had been in flight for some ninety minutes when the pilot opened the tiny
door of the cabin and said, "The flight centre in Peking has just given us
orders to turn around at once. We are forbidden to fly over the area between
Ordos, Shan-si, the Nan-shan mountains, and Ninghsia. The Koshun salt lake lies
exactly in this area. No reason was given."
Lan-Yu looked at the government official, who nervously chewed at his lower lip.
"What does that mean? You received permission from the authorities to accompany
us on this flight. You should have known in advance."