Recruits for Arkon Page 4

  The next station after the biochemical lab was the clothing department. Every participant in the forthcoming operation was outfitted here with typical Zalite garments, tailored after painstaking research data. As was to be expected of 'mufti' or civilian clothes, each outfit varied somewhat in style or characteristic from the other. The wide trousers sagged or flapped a bit about the calves but they became accustomed to it. Bell had not been spared from this process any more than Rhodan and he must have tolerated a few well-intentioned pieces of advice because finally he had less baggy pants than anybody.

  There was only one exception to the disguising procedure, which everyone could understand and agree with. The mouse-beaver Pucky remained as he was. There was no possibility of changing him into a Zalite. He was just a giant mouse with a fiat beaver tail. Being only too well aware of the exception he represented, Pucky strutted proudly among the men and dispensed a priceless variety of wisecracks concerning the masquerade. Rhodan gave him a free hand because he knew the men needed a boost to their morale.

  Two days later the last mission-briefing took place. By morning they would all be under way.

  "So the two vessels departing will be the Drusus, with the teletransmitter, and the California with the five standard matter transmitters. The fewer ships we take into star cluster M13, the less danger there will be of discovery. We have to extract a maximum utilization from the least possible amount of equipment. There can't be any slip-ups or we'll be fire bait (21st Cent. slang: our fat will be in the fire), gentlemen. Our lives are also going to depend on the capability of our agent Toffner. He has received instructions to set up a portable bearing transmitter for our purposes at a certain location on Zalit."

  The combat commandos sat there watching Rhodan in silence. After a short pause he continued: "After making a few camouflaged transition jumps, we will reach the Voga System. That's when the Drusus will have to make a lightning-fast operation. Using the teletransmitter guided by Toffner's location beacon, it will transfer a regulation matter-receiver station to the surface of Zalit in the place we have designated. After that, the Drusus has to disappear as quickly as possible. The rest is strategically less complex. On board the California are five sending stations for the transmission of material. We are also on board the California, gentlemen, and that means all our equipment as well. The transfer to the ground must happen fast. In fact, we have to make sure we're on Zalit within 10 minutes after a 'go' signal because we have to expect that our approach flight will not have gone unobserved. So even while the California is being tracked and maybe pursued, we have to already be secured on the surface. You have all been briefed on what's to happen and why. The only thing left for us to do is wish each other luck. We'll certainly need all of that we can get. Any further questions on the subject?"

  The 200 men—and one mouse-beaver—only looked at Rhodan. Nobody seemed to have a question. Or was there someone...?

  Maj. Rosberg's gruff voice interrupted the tense silence. "And what will we be doing on Zalit, sir? So we look like Zalites—that's fine. But what's the purpose and goal of the action? I'm assuming we're not merely going to Zalit to give the people a scare..."

  "Of course not, Major," retorted Rhodan with a slight edge to his voice. "But don't forget that Zalit is only three light-years distant from Arkon. From the cosmic point of view, that is a mere cat's jump. For us, Zalit is the gateway to Arkon."

  "Or the portal to hell," added Rosberg and fell into a silence of foreboding.

  Laconically, Rhodan replied: "Perhaps."

  • • •

  Jeremy Toffner stopped at the door before leaving. "This is what you wanted, friends, so don't complain. Nobody's going to find you here—that I can guarantee you—but it isn't exactly a villa. You have enough to eat and drink and you're not lacking in books to read. The only thing missing is your freedom."

  "The supplies will last half a year," replied Kharra cheerfully, "and this Calus fellow won't be here on Zalit that long. The main thing is, they won't be sticking me in a uniform. I have never in my life ever cared for uniforms."

  "Nor I," agreed Markh and he shuddered. "I'd rather live in this cave than die for Arkon. And what will you do, Garak?"

  "I still have eight days to make up my mind," Toffner told them, yet he was in a fever of inner anxiety, wondering what he actually should do in the week that was left. There was no way he could remain above. "At any rate I'm going to get some provisions together for myself. Then I'll try to search out some Zalite on the outside who will be able to send us word when the way is clear again."

  "Go to Hhokga the fabric merchant in Larg," said Markh. "He's way too old for Arkon military service. And he's absolutely reliable."

  "I'll look him up," Toffner promised. "Of course we have television sets that could keep us in touch with life on the surface but who will know if the commentators are speaking the truth? Under Arkon's persuasion they could deceive the Zalites who are illegally hiding out and everybody could be lured into a trap. That's why I think that a trustworthy personal ally is indispensable. Tomorrow or the day after I'll be back."

  He signaled a goodbye to his two friends and stepped out into the passage. He carefully closed the outer door of stone and satisfied himself that the hideout was practically undetectable. Then he hurried as swiftly as he could to his own rock chamber.

  When he entered, he knew at once that the urgently hoped for message had arrived in the meantime.

  • • •

  Rhodan looked on silently while David Stern, Chief Com Officer of the Drusus, beamed out the coded message. Now in the same second, via hyperspace, the Burma would receive the dispatch and relay it onward immediately. At least within the same minute, Jeremy Toffner could have it in his possession, if he happened to be sitting at his receiver.

  The waiting game was being played in a wide enough area. The Drusus and the California were orbiting the Sol System at a distance of six billion miles. Here Rhodan was determined to wait until the final signal from Zalit came in—which would be the confirmation of his instructions and the date of reception. Once that had occurred, only then would their mission even make sense.

  The existence of the Solar Empire dangled by a thread.

  • • •

  With a pounding heart Jeremy Toffner climbed the few steps which led to Hhokga's living quarters. He was now faced with the necessity of staking everything on a single card. If Markh was mistaken in his evaluation of the fabric merchant, all was lost. Of course, if Hhokga refused to help after being confided in, he could always be killed, but it would have been repugnant to Toffner to have to kill an innocent man.

  Besides, he was old and defenseless. In any case he was a man who would not be taking any risk whatsoever if he merely abided by the existing laws.

  Toffner had spent the previous night in Tagnor and made all preparations necessary for answering Rhodan's message as swiftly as possible. He knew they were waiting for his reply and that without his direction they would not be able to start their operation. On the other hand he was only too well aware of his responsibility in the matter and he was not about to give those waiting commandos a green light until complete safety had been assured.

  Now tonight the time was pressing and so he had decided to combine his own plans with this visit to Hhokga and maybe kill two birds with one stone.

  Hesitantly he pressed the buzzer.

  For awhile nothing stirred inside. The fabric dealer lived in one of the standard cone-shaped buildings where each tenant lived in seclusion and enjoyed a maximum of privacy. He might as well have been living in a cabin somewhere in the wilderness because each apartment had its separate entrance. And if one took the stairs instead of the lift he was safe from the eyes of any curious neighbor.

  Now he could hear footsteps behind the door. Was Hhokga himself coming to open it? Perhaps he lived here alone. Markh had said that he was not married, and the hired help didn't stay here at night.

  The door opened and the e
lderly man stared at Toffner in astonishment. "It's you Garak—but here in Larg?"

  "I just wanted to..."

  "Come in, Garak, come in!" He stepped to one side to make room, after which he carefully closed the door again. "Certainly you haven't come here just to wish an old man a good evening."

  "You're not all that old, Hhokga," Toffner parried as he took a preferred chair. "In fact, you're at the best age of all right now. Nowadays a lot of men would love to be your age."

  Hhokga was not slow-witted by any means. He looked at Toffner attentively and then nodded several times to himself. "That's a matter of opinion, Garak. If I were younger... or let me put it in another way: I'd be happy to join up with the Arkonides or even be drafted by them—if it would make me younger."

  "One is always filled with a noble spirit of sacrifice if he is offered some impossible gift in return, Hhokga. But the young men of Zalit think otherwise because they are young!"

  Hhokga ruminated a moment. "It always depends on the point of view, my young friend. In other respects I'm afraid that I'm not yet old enough to escape the Arkonides in the long run. Do you see my point?"

  Toffner got the point but did not share the merchant's pessimism. "You still have plenty of time, Hhokga. It'll be years yet before all the younger men on Zalit have been pressed into service. By that time you will have gotten still older. So I don't see any reason..."

  "By the way, have you seen our mutual friend Markh in the last few days?" As Hhokga suddenly interrupted him his eyes were fixed very attentively on Toffner. "Night before last was our card night but he didn't show up."

  Coincidence? Or a trap?

  Toffner could see in the old man's eyes that he could never be a traitor or deceiver. He decided to stake everything on one card and draw Hhokga into his confidence. It had to happen sooner or later and now seemed to be the most logical time.

  "Yes, I ran into Markh. He came to Tagnor to ask me for help. I hid him down in the catacombs along with the merchant Kharra, whom you also know very well. Neither one of them wants to report to the Arkonides for conscription. In fact, they sent me to you!"

  Hhokga appeared to reflect upon this for a moment. Then his pale reddish eyes lit up. "You have faith in me—you and my friends. But why burden me with this liability? Why have I become an accessory to secret information which can be fatal?"

  Toffner explained everything to him and concluded: "You will receive a portion of Markh's financial assets and you won't have anything to do other than deliver basic food and provisions at certain set intervals. But above all you have to advise Markh when the Arkonides have left Zalit—and especially this Admiral Calus. There's nothing else you have to do."

  "I'd be a poor friend if I were to refuse," replied the old merchant and he offered his hand on the proposition. "You may rely on me. Just don't think that I'm in favor of what these high-nosed Arkonides are doing. Quite the contrary! But what can I do to fight it? Even a passive resistance is dangerous. However, if I can help my friends, that's the way it's going to be. But money I don't need."

  Toffner was relieved to have reached this point of the negotiation but there was still another matter to take care of. It had to do with Rhodan's hypercom message. He was not familiar enough with Zalit, himself, to be able to locate a suitable place for the Terranian operation, even though Markh had given him some good descriptions of likely areas. So in this regard Hhokga would have to also help.

  "I have one more request It's absolutely necessary that I locate a well-hidden, camouflaged place somewhere in the desert, west of here and between Larg and Tagnor. From the air I noticed that the desert in that area is divided by a ridge of high hills. On the western side of that ridge there are supposed to be some caves, according to what Markh told me. He also assured me that you were familiar with those caves because of excursions you and he have made there in the past. Would you lead me there?"

  Hhokga shook his head. "Garak, don't be angry with me if I don't help you with that. It would hurt you as well as myself if anybody became suspicious and that's what would happen if I were to go to the desert. It wouldn't be unusual for an animal collector like Markh to visit that region but it probably would appear to be for an old man like me. However, even if I don't go with you I'm perfectly willing to give you information that will certainly be helpful. I know the caves of which you speak."

  Toffner felt a great burden lifted from him. Perhaps it would be much better for him to go alone. It would attract less attention to leave the city without being accompanied by the merchant. If anybody should follow to check up on him he could say that he was looking for the animal dealer Markh, who was probably camped somewhere in the foothills of the desert region.

  "That sounds like a deal," he answered. "You mean you can describe the caves for me so that I can find them easily?"

  "I'd be glad to."

  Toffner leaned forward and asked pointedly: "Why don't you ask me what I want to go to the caves for?"

  Hhokga smiled prudently. "Garak, the less a man knows the better it is for his health. I'll help you to help yourself. Why you want to find the caves is no concern of mine. Wait here and I'll get a piece of foil so that I can draw you a map."

  Toffner leaned back again. He was very pleased with the progress he was making. If he could find a suitable cave he could give Rhodan the signal by tomorrow. He reached into his pocket and felt the triangular shape of the metallic box. It was the bearing transmitter or location beam generator that he had to place inside the cave. Once activated, it was capable of beaming out a signal for an entire week, using a frequency that was known only to Rhodan. Except by some incredibly remote accident, it was impossible for anyone else to intercept the signal. And even then the interloper wouldn't be able to decipher its meaning.

  Hhokga came back with a very thin piece of metal foil and spread it out on the table. In his hand he held a magnetic writing instrument.

  "I presume, naturally, that you are going to fly there, Garak?"

  "Yes, I've rented a glider."

  "Good, then follow me closely here. This is Larg..." He drew a circle on the righthand side of the sheet. "And here is Tagnor." The second circle was larger and was located at the far left. Then Hhokga drew an uneven line down the middle, from the top of the sheet to the bottom. "Here is that stretch of small mountains that comes through the desert in this area. The two cities are about 600 miles apart. Nobody lives in that wasteland and certainly not in those desolate hills. Our ancestors did not believe it was necessary to cultivate that part of the country—nor is there any need for doing so today. Who for? The Arkonides?" He sighed and turned again to the map. "Just about here... you will find the caves. I'd say that the largest cavern could almost hold a spaceship inside it. Some of them show traces of earlier inhabitants but that must have been very long ago. Perhaps fugitives..." He smiled at Toffner. "Whatever you're going to use those caves for, there you will have the greatest possible concealment. No one will be able to find you."

  Toffner realized Hhokga was misconstruing, believing they were going to conceal themselves in the caves. He probably even thought that there was a subterranean passage between the catacombs and the mountains.

  "I'll find the caves," he assured the old man but said nothing else to enlighten him. "First thing tomorrow I'll start the search." The merchant invited Toffner to spend the night in his apartment. Toffner was happy to do so and he had a sound and restful sleep in the security of a private home. On the following morning he said goodbye and reached the parking area by taxi, where he found his rental glider waiting intact. Before leaving, he deposited a fairly large sum of money in Hhokga's account at the bank.

  Once he had fed his destination coordinates into the robot pilot, the aircraft rose up gently and then climbed swiftly into the heights. Soon the city of Larg was out of sight and he could not surmise when the next time would be that he would see it again—if ever.

  Monotonous and barren, the desert swept past below. Only rar
ely was it broken here and there by a rocky plateau or a dry creek bed. Once there was even a sparse woodland where he made out a herd of animals that scattered wildly at his approach. So at least there was a source of fresh meat—just for future reference.

  After that the long range of low mountains rose before him on the horizon. They were not actually as flat as such formations always seemed to be when seen from a high altitude. Toffner estimated that the peaks, on the average, rose up to somewhere between 6000 and 7000 feet. The clearness of the air seemed to shrink distances.

  He checked his map and corrected his course. His speed lessened as the glider dropped lower. Gliding along closely above the peaks, he followed the gradual slopes of the other side. Somewhere beyond the horizon lay Tagnor.

  The glider finally landed in a hidden basin in the hills. Prior to this, Toffner had ascertained by a local survey flight that a narrow embrasure led out into the desert. But from the desert side the canyon cut was hardly noticeable.

  The valley basin was almost circular in shape, with a diameter of about 1500 feet. The monotony of the surrounding cliffs was broken by the dark mouths of caves.

  He was at his destination.

  After a two hour search he finally discovered the most suitable place. It was certainly not the largest of the available caverns but it was spacious enough for the planned purpose. Also there was no problem about the access opening, which was easily passable. A whole army could be quartered in this basin without any danger of discovery.