The Pseudo One Read online

  Now he had to go personally to Tolimon in order to rescue his two mutants from unknown dangers.

  Which was the causative factor behind Pucky's surprising departure from Venus.

  The steel dome lay under the shimmering heat of a short Hellgate day. In its interior reigned a climate suitable for anyone accustomed to Earth's temperate regions.

  Rhodan lay in his bath.

  In the last few days he had listened once more to all intercepted hyperspace communications, which were registered automatically in the receiving station. Thus he was able to make a complete survey of events both inside and outside the Arkonide Empire. The ruling robot brain had succeeded in reestablishing law and order. Peace reigned in the Empire, a peace which was even respected by the Springers and the Aras. Nothing at all was ever mentioned these days concerning the annihilated Earth and also one Perry Rhodan appeared to have been forgotten, although at one time he had represented a monstrous danger to the Empire.

  Rhodan smiled and stretched himself. Rendered almost weightless by built-in antigrav fields, he floated on the surface of the blue-green water. His body was bathed in the cool liquid, only his head remaining free. Without the slightest exertion, Rhodan remained afloat and enjoyed the rare experience of the grav-lav to the fullest.

  He was not pleased by the prospect of the imminent flight to Tolimon.

  He no longer feared the consequences of being discovered again by the Arkonide Empire but he wanted to defer such a rediscovery until he learned the secret of permanently prolonging life. So if he was going to have a look at Tolimon he would have to be disguised.

  Upstairs in the Control Central a bell sounded followed by a piercing buzzer.

  Rhodan made a few swimming motions and clambered out of the bath. In a few seconds a hot air stream dried his wet body. Wrapped in his bathrobe, he ran to the Control Central and with the aid of the monitoring instruments there was able to determine that a small ship was orbiting Hellgate and attempting to establish radio contact.

  Pucky...?

  One minute later the viewscreen lit up. The life-sized image of Pucky's grinning face appeared, starting with his oversized ears, then his furrowed brow, those hound-dog faithful eyes of his, and the gleaming incisor tooth, ending finally with the green collar of his special uniform.

  "Hiya, Chief! Can I land now?"

  Rhodan shook his head reproachfully. "It's lucky for you, Pucky, that I had the foresight to shut off the automatic defense weapons. Otherwise nobody would ever have found a trace of you."

  "But you were supposed to be expecting me, weren't you...?"

  Rhodan sighed. "Pucky, you know your carelessness is almost fabulous. Okay, then, come on down! The invisibility screen has been lifted; you'll have no trouble locating the dome. Cut in your grav-fields so we can bring the ship inside. I'll open the lock."

  He nodded once more to the mouse-beaver and turned off the communications. He dressed himself quickly and got into a spacesuit. Then he went to the airlock of the hangar where his other ship was stored. Two minutes later he stepped out onto the glistening sand of the hell planet. The space suit's cooling system lowered the temperature to an endurable level.

  Pucky was just landing.

  Stay in the Control Central, Rhodan thought intensely. He knew that since the mouse-beaver was a telepath he would be able to receive and understand his thought impulses with ease. Turn on the grav-field generator. I'll bring the boat into the lock.

  Pucky caught on immediately. The Koos-Nor became weightless, lighter than a sheet of paper. With his mass tractor beam, Rhodan was able to direct the hundred-foot vessel into the lock, close the hatch door, turn on the air system and finally allow the craft to settle on the hangar floor. While he was still in the process of getting out of his suit, the Space yacht's oval hatch opened—and then with one jump Pucky was in his arms.

  "Am I ever glad to see you again, Chief!" he twittered almost tenderly and threw his thin arms around Perry's neck. "I'm supposed to bring you greetings from everybody—and very especially from Betty."

  "Alright, Pucky," Rhodan answered, deeply touched, and he stroked his little friend gently. There was an unusual friendship between this mightiest man of an entire solar system and this furry little "animal" who possessed the IQ of an above-average gifted human, in addition to being the most versatile of all the mutants. "I'm just as happy as you are, that you are with me."

  "You could have fetched me sooner, you know."

  "The necessity for it just came up and you know we can't be guided in these matters by sentiment. Have you brought everything I ordered?"

  "Don't ask me. Betty took care of everything."

  Men it should all check out. We'll take a look later. Let's go to the Control Central. I'll explain to you there what I'm planning. But I can tell you this much for sure: it's going to be a very dangerous affair."

  "Suits me," grinned Pucky and he jumped to the floor. "I've been sitting around long enough getting bored to death on Terra and Venus."

  "You'll be surprised," Rhodan smiled and he set up a screen around his thoughts so that Pucky couldn't read them. Though he himself was only a weak telepath, he was aware of his little friend's curiosity.

  They arrived in the half-rounded Control Central of the dome and sat down. "Now little buddy, I want you to listen real well," Rhodan began. "You know that John and Laury were infiltrated on Tolimon in order to obtain the secret of the elixir of life from the Medical Masters. They were able to get hold of a flask of the liquid but then they ran into trouble. Since then we've lost contact completely. I don't know what's happened but one thing is certain: they need my help. Incidentally, you took your time getting here."

  The mouse-beaver declared his innocence. "Betty told me I had 10 hours. So I flew under light-speed and only made three transitions. I didn't want to get here too early."

  "When I told Betty not to take more than six days, she must have taken my instructions literally. I failed to suggest that five days, or even four would be preferable. Well, it can't be helped now. You are here. We can begin."

  "With what?"

  "With our preparations. We will disguise ourselves. Well, not you, of course, there'd be no point to it. Nobody knows you in this region of space so there's little danger anyone would associate you with me. I am going as an Arkonide—in fact, as a government inspector."

  "Inspector?!" Pucky's eyes rounded in questioning amazement.

  "That's right: inspector. I've learned from intercepted messages that the robot brain on Arkon is in the habit of sending out government inspectors to the worlds of the Empire to keep law and order under control. So if I turn up on Tolimon as an inspector, all doors will be open to me and I'll be paid the respect to which I'll be entitled. During the past six decades, respect for the Arkonides has been reestablished. Apparently that degenerated race has recovered. Be that as it may, you've brought me a complete outfit, everything I need for this masquerade."

  "And what about me?"

  Rhodan smiled inscrutably. "Tolimon is a very unusual world, little friend. It's known as the Galactic Zoo. For the most part they collect semi-intelligent creatures which, though admittedly developed beyond the animal stage, are not regarded as full-fledged intelligences. So people on Tolimon will be more interested in you than in me."

  "Interested in me!" Pucky cried out suddenly filled with a terrible presentiment. "You "Don't mean to tell me, that I... no, you couldn’t ask me to do that!"

  "Why not? I'll be the powerful inspector from Arkon and you will represent a harmless, half-intelligent furry creature that I keep as a servant. You'll see how much the Aras make over you. You're just the thing they need to complete their zoo. And then they will pay less attention to me."

  "It's all very fine, indeed-but you want me to play the idiot role? Frankly, I don't think it's very funny."

  "There isn't anything funny about this at all, Pucky. The situation is pretty darn serious because we don't know what's happened to
Marshall and Laury. They may be in grave danger. When we show up there, our objective is to divert the Aras from them. And your part will be to divert the Aras from me. If you have any scruples about acting stupid, just remember this: if it takes a truly intelligent person to act less intelligent than he is. It's the stupid ones who always strive to act smarter than they are. That's just the way things are in nature."

  Pucky cocked his head to one side, considering. "I know that's some of your Terranian philosophy but it's still a rough deal for me to act the part of your house pet."

  "And my valet," added Rhodan. "Remember that I'm an extravagant Arkonide and I'm indulging in having a freak for a servant. Now don't be a party pooper, Pucky, or I may regret that it was you and no one else that I requested."

  "Why didn't you choose Bell for the job? He wouldn't have to act like an imbecile!" Pucky grinned, pleased by the idea, but then became serious again. "Alright, let's get to work. When do we take off for this zany zoo planet of yours?"

  "In exactly 10 hours. That's how long it'll still take for us to get ready. I have to brief you more in detail."

  "Such as what's the full story on Marshall and Laury?"

  "Their last report indicated that they had obtained a test sample of the serum but were in very great danger. Then they were cut off. It could be that their transmitter simply broke down but there could be other reasons behind the sudden silence. We soon know."

  Pucky straightened up. In his brown eyes there was still a slight trace of indignant reproach but it was already mixed with a bit of eager anticipation.

  Perhaps this adventure would end up being a ball, after all...

  • • •

  The wake-up signal shrilled through the steel dome.

  The 10 hours had passed. Rhodan and Pucky had a short but refreshing nap behind them. Everything was ready. Mission 'Masquerade' could now get under way.

  "Do the imperial inspectors of Arkon always flit around in luxury yachts?" inquired Pucky while smoothing down his brown pelt. "You know, incidentally, I feel rather indecent without my impulse-beamer and my uniform."

  "A dumb animal had to be naked," advised Rhodan. "And you are terribly dumb; never forget that!"

  "It's a monstrous injustice, Chief! You have to promise that you won't let anybody get wind of the actual circumstances of this mission—especially Bell. Just think of what I'd have to put up with."

  "It will remain our secret," Rhodan assured him. "Even Marshall won't have much chance to notice it because as soon as we've found him our masquerade will be just about over with. Is everything ready for takeoff?"

  Pucky nodded absentmindedly. He couldn't take his eyes off Rhodan, who wore a gold-laden uniform covered with countless insignia of rank. Rhodan's lean figure resembled that of the Arkonides of the old dynastic ruling class. Thanks to an excellent tincture, the whites of his eyes now gleamed red and his hair, now white, would remove all doubt that one was dealing here with a genuine Arkonide.

  "Everything ready," squeaked the mouse-beaver and he seated himself in the co-pilot's position next to his friend and master. "As far as I'm concerned, let 'er rip!"

  "Then here we go," nodded Rhodan grasping the controls. The Koos-Nor, already outside the cupola, lifted weightlessly and rose slowly into the sky. Rhodan had studied the yacht's blueprints sufficiently to be familiar with the small ship from the ground up. The operation of its machinery was comparatively simple.

  He decided against a long flight below light velocity. Instead, he threw in the hyper-compensator and made a single transit jump deep into the Milky Way. A second jump brought him close to the vicinity of Arkon. Here Rhodan turned the ship around and deliberately shut off the anti-tracking protection of the compensator, whereupon he made a hytrans leap back in the direction of Tolimon.

  For every hypersensor operator it would thus appear to them that a ship was approaching Revnur's Star from the direction of Arkon. Which was Rhodan's exact intention. The Aras on Tolimon had to be under the impression that somebody was going to pay them a visit but they would not be given time to make an investigation. Revnur's Star was far removed from Arkon and could be compared with an advance outpost of the Empire. It might even be surmised that the inhabitants of Tolimon were not overly anxious to establish contact with the Arkonides, least of all with one of the feared and unpopular inspectors.

  The final transition jump brought the Koos-Nor directly into the middle of the system of the six planets of Revnur's Star. The disturbance of the space-time structure caused by the materialization was such that it could now no longer be ignored and so it was not surprising that radio calls made themselves heard in the receiver only a few minutes later.

  Rhodan let his craft glide toward Tolimon at exactly the speed of light. He concentrated on the communications equipment, while Pucky hunched in his seat nursing an inner rage but nevertheless practicing how to be a stupid animal, which of course he was not, in any sense of the word.

  A powerful voice sounded in the speaker. "Give your identification!" Its volume blanked out all other incoming signals. "What ship is that?"

  "Here's where we separate the men from the boys," murmured Rhodan and he cut in his transmitter. "Arkon Inspector Tristol here," he announced and he made every effort to give his voice an arrogant, nasal inflection. "By order of the Regent of Arkon, I am arriving to conduct a routine inspection. Give me your landing co-ordinates.

  The radio calls ceased as though cut by an axe. Rhodan's identification must have been picked up and comprehended by all ships in the vicinity. The shock of surprise appeared to have made the Tolimonites temporarily speechless. Probably the video image of his ship was already being relayed from station to station and security centers were busy checking their catalogs and searching for a classification. Perhaps they were also looking up the inspector's name: Tristol! Well, that part might be tough, because Rhodan had chosen the name arbitrarily. But after all, there were many inspectors.

  "This is Tolimon Space Traffic Central! Landing permission granted. Come in at Trulan Spaceport. We will give you a guide beam without remote control. Everything has been prepared to receive you. End of transmission."

  "Approach course as indicated," returned Rhodan and he shut off the transmitter. He faced Pucky with a faint smile. "Well, what do you think? How do I come off as an Arkonide?"

  The mouse-beaver made a face as though someone had robbed him of his last carrot. "You make a good Arkonide but that's a better deal than I've got, having to play an idiot. I know I'm never going to live this down..."

  "The dumber you are, the higher your life expectancy will be," advised Rhodan as he permitted the Koos-Nor to descend toward the second planet. It wasn't long before the critical moment arrived.

  A number of leading scientists and politicians had insisted upon greeting the Arkonide inspector right at the spaceport. They had gotten out of their ground cars and now approached the yacht in a colorful procession. As Aras and descendants of the Springers they were completely humanoid and resembled frightfully thin Earthmen. Their dress was distinctive. The scientists wore long white smocks of the type used by physicians on the hospital worlds of the Aras. On the other hand, the politicians preferred uniforms and colorful civilian clothing. It appeared that none of them was armed.

  They stopped expectantly in front of the Koos-Nor .

  Rhodan had observed the approach of the delegation and had not missed the opportunity to let Pucky search their minds. He could detect nothing more than a curious expectancy among the Tolimonites, as well as a slight trace of fear, but untouched by any particular malevolence. It was merely the completely normal reaction of intelligent beings to the advent of an important personage.

  "Don't pull any bummers now!" warned Rhodan, swatting the mouse-beaver lightly on his broad hindquarters. "You follow me as soon as I give you the mental command. Don't forget that you're supposed to be one of those semi-intelligent creatures they collect here."

  "So I'm supposed to act stup
id but not make any blunders," sulked Pucky as he slipped off the couch. "That would strain the brain of a creature of total intelligence. Well, here goes!"

  Rhodan raised an index finger warningly as the jovial smile disappeared from his face. As he opened the outer hatch of the lock, he transformed himself into a virtual mask of arrogance. He had rehearsed his role carefully.

  The landing ladder extended itself automatically and forced some of the Tolimonites who had come too close to spring back out of the way. Rhodan hardly deigned to give even a nod to the upraised faces before him; then he negotiated the few steps of the ladder and stood on the planet Tolimon, which was known as the Galactic Zoo.

  He waited in silence to be addressed.

  A heavily decorated officer stepped forward, making the pretense of a bow, and spoke in pure Arkonide: "Velkata Dolimon, Lukstar Drizdl. Welcome to Tolimon, Inspector Tristol. We will make your stay on our planet as pleasant as possible in order to alleviate the burden of your heavy responsibilities. May we inquire how long you plan to stay?'

  Rhodan glanced at him disdainfully. "That will depend on the circumstances. It has come to our attention that certain discrepancies have occurred in the management of the zoo. As inspector it is my mission here to investigate the case and to render an account to the Regent of Arkon."

  "Oh but there must be some mistake!" The officer started and turned pale. "For a number of decades now there have been no complaints. I don't understand..."

  Rhodan was able to determine telepathically that the man really didn't comprehend anything and he marveled that he was able to receive the thoughts so clearly. Maybe Pucky was helping...?

  I will be the judge of that!" he interrupted, the officer. With a side glance at the other Tolimonites he added: "Who are these people? I wish no publicity, if you please."

  A very tall and thin Ara hastened to reassure him. "Your wish is our command, sir. We only thought you'd consider it proper for us to send you a government delegation, so that we might determine your wishes immediately and attempt to satisfy them."