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

Milky Way for many thousands of years, had degenerated through the centuries.
Now he and his people were suffering from leukaemia. His blood had begun to
deteriorate. He was hopelessly lost if the human race would not choose to help
him. Therefore, he had agreed to come to Earth with the Stardust; but so far no
one had any idea of the great secret that had accompanied the spaceship back to
Earth.
"The protective umbrella will be sufficient for the time being. Khrest has
assured me that nothing can penetrate it, not even a hydrogen bomb. One twist of
a lever and we’ll lie under a transparent dome of energy against which our whole
world could rage in vain."
"That sets my mind at ease." Reg nodded. "The Chinese won’t keep us waiting very
long. before they arrive. They probably think that we fell into their big
sandbox here just by accident and that we’re only waiting to be picked up by
them. Wouldn’t they give their eye teeth to get hold of the Stardust!"
"And their right arms as well, if they only knew what kind of passenger we have
with us," Perry assured him. "I only know from some hints what powerful means
the Arkonides possess, but it’s already quite clear to me that Khrest all by
himself is capable of keeping the world at bay. In any event, you can rest
assured that pretty soon a lot of people will be very annoyed with us.
A shadow darted across Reg’s broad face. "I’m afraid our own people will be
among them. Couldn’t we explain to them, at least, why we didn’t return to
Nevada Fields?"
Perry shook his head. "Don’t you know General Pounder by now? Don’t you think
he, to say nothing of the national security and international defence people
would be most interested in our extraterrestrial guest? And don’t forget
Mercant..."
Allan D. Mercant, Secretary of the NATO Division of International Defence, had
only the higher Commands of NATO above him. Additionally, Mercant was head of
the special department known by the official designation of International
Intelligence Agency. There was no country that did not unknowingly play host to
some of Mercant’s agents.
Reg sighed deeply. "I can understand Fletch wanting to return home. At heart he
probably understands that you’ve done what’s right, but he can’t help thinking
of his young wife and the baby she’s expecting. I really don’t know if we can
keep him here for any length of time."
"He can leave if he wants to," Perry said, to Reg’s surprise.
Reg gulped. "Leave? Where to?" With his short, stubby fingers he pointed toward
the desert. "To go there? Do you want him to get lost in that desert?"
"It won’t be lonely here very much longer." Perry glanced at his watch. "I’m
only surprised that no reconnaissance plane has shown up before now."
He nodded briefly toward Reg and returned to the interior of the craft. In the
rather crowded mess hall, Dr. Eric Manoli, the ship’s physician, was tending to
Khrest, who lay stretched out on a narrow bunk. Clark G. Fletcher stood at the
hatch and, his lips tightly pressed together, looked out into the desert.
"Well," said Perry, as Manoli looked up, "how is he getting along?"
Khrest answered before the physician could reply. "I am well, thank you, Mr.
Rhodan. I feel a bit weak, but that is all. The air of your planet does me a
great deal of good. Do you really believe you can help me?"
Dr. Manoli began to discuss Khrest’s condition. "Leukaemia is a disproportionate
increase in the number of white blood cells. The oxygen carrying red blood cells