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  Rhodan reached for the controls and switched off the television unit. He slowly turned towards Bell, Freyt and Mercant. “The opposing sides are finally beginning to clearly form up.”

  That was what he had to say about that.

  3/ END OF THE RHODAN ERA?

  The solar system experienced a double sensation!

  First, Thomas Cardif’s proclamation had exploded like a bomb, and hours later, when the first excitement had dissipated to some extent, the second sensation became apparent: the Administrator was not reacting!

  The government of the Solar Imperium had taken no official notice of the changed conditions on Venus and Mars.

  Eight hours and five minutes after Cardif had named himself the new Administrator, the huge Amazon River dam at Manaus blew up.

  Twenty minutes after that, medium-weight TNT bombs exploded in power stations on the Niger, utterly destroying the installations.

  Three minutes after that act of sabotage, two almost-completed rollband roads on the moon went up in flames.

  From then on it went from blow to blow. Each new piece of news was worse than the previous one. The Earth, the moon and even the ice world Pluto and the moons of the larger planets seemed to have become witches’ cauldrons of terrible catastrophes.

  Solar Fleet installations were destroyed along with civil buildings. Private factories, power plants, publicly owned industries, small research institutes—nothing was safe from the undiscriminating blasts.

  The press began to cry out.

  Even the most comfortable and unconcerned of solid citizens was shocked out of his calm and shouted for defense while explosions detonated all around and the wave of destruction rolled over the worlds of the Solar Imperium.

  Only on Venus and Mars was it relatively quiet, although bombs exploded on both planets, robbing thousands of their property. Nevertheless, the situation on these two planets could still be termed bearable in comparison with the others.

  Fourteen hours after the Amazon dam had blown up, the hellish nightmare stopped as suddenly as it had begun.

  Those 14 hours, however, had been enough to shake the Solar Imperium to its very foundations.

  The planets were rising up against Rhodan!

  The mob was screaming for his head!

  The masses were hailing Thomas Cardif!

  The Rhodan Era had come to an end! The man who did not grow older had to leave!

  It could be heard everywhere... except in Terrania.

  Terrania lay under a news blackout. No one came out of the city, no one went in.

  The vast spaceport was empty. Not a single spacesphere was left.

  Three hours earlier, the last ship had taken off: the Drusus. Now it circled the Earth in company of about 100 other ships. None of them flew higher than 10 kilometers. The State Class spacers, only 100 meters in diameter, could easily be seen from the ground at an altitude of 5000 meters.

  That was Perry Rhodan’s first answer to the remonstrations of the mob that had crawled out of a hole somewhere, sniffing its opportunity.

  The Press, all but for a few papers on the side of the opposition, called the demonstration Perry Rhodan’s Dictatorship.

  Perry Rhodan, the man with the striking face and the indescribably impressive grey eyes, said nothing to the media.

  He had been surprised by the wave of sabotage. It had hit him completely unexpectedly and when he was finally able to bring all means to bear to deal with it, it had suddenly ceased.

  At 1430 hours, the Springer patriarch Cokaze called and demanded permission to land.

  “He demands...” Bell had observed. “Nothing like subtlety—and this is nothing like it.”

  It was always suspicious when Reginald Bell expressed himself in moderate terms in situations like this one.

  Rhodan sat at his desk, going through the flood of messages that had come in. He did not allow himself to be disturbed by Bell’s nervous pacing back and forth. Only once did he say casually: “You ought to do some work on something yourself, Reggie. Don’t feel like it today?”

  Bell wanted to answer with a strong reply but understood what Rhodan had said to him in time. “What’s new?” he asked instead. “Is there finally some good news?”

  “Yes,” answered Rhodan, giving Bell a report. “Read this...”

  Bell’s eyes went wide. He gasped audibly, reached for his collar as though it had suddenly become too tight, and then moaned: “You call this good news, Perry? Parliaments being called into a special session the day after tomorrow by the Senior Council?”

  “Yes! And it doesn’t interest me today, nor will it interest me the day after tomorrow if some representatives are toying with the idea of Thomas Cardif as new Administrator. Whatever happens, we have our duty, and that duty demands of us that we meet the challenge of even enormous internal difficulties. Above all,

  I’m going to see to it that the day after tomorrow the expanded Emergency Powers Act is passed!”

  “You’re joking!” said Bell.

  “I’m not joking now,” said Rhodan in return. “We need that EPA expansion and this time I want to get it from Parliament. And Reggie, I’m going to get it!”

  Bell looked on in disbelief, deciding not to make any comments.

  Rhodan was reminded that the time was 1430 hours. The Springer patriarch Cokaze and his three oldest sons were waiting out in the anteroom.

  John Marshall, chief of the secret Mutant Corps and most capable telepath in the group, led the four Galactic Traders in.

  With a gesture Rhodan had them sit down in the chairs around a circular table. The Springers took their seats hesitantly, staring at Rhodan. According to their information, he was the most important Terran. Bell hardly looked at them, and John Marshall, who read their thoughts like an open book, even less.

  At the moment, Marshall was telepathically informing Rhodan, who had a weak telepathic ability himself, of what intentions Cokaze had in coming to Terrania from Venus. And it was only because of that visit that the Administrator learned his son Thomas was aboard the Cokaz 1.

  “Yes, Terran,” said Cokaze, beginning the conference, “our way of life is not much different from yours. Sometimes we’re lucky, sometimes we’re not. It doesn’t look especially good for the Solar System now and it looks even worse for the government but my clan would be glad to declare itself ready to do everything necessary to support the government if we could come to terms about the trade monopoly. About 5000 modern cylindrical spacers are standing on Mars and Venus, Rhodan. They are well-armed ships and their crews are well trained and experienced. Any government with us for friends need have no worry of being overthrown.”

  It was the most unabashed speech Rhodan and Bell had ever been required to listen to. Cokaze the Springer was tempting them with all manner of promises with no compunctions. He was even daring to threaten them, as indicated by his reference to the good armament of his cylindrical ships.

  The sons of Cokaze had nodded in agreement to the words of their father. Not yet were they allowed to take part in the negotiations. The clan leader would have to give them permission first. No one paid stricter observance to old customs and rituals than the Galactic Traders.

  “Springer,” replied Rhodan, unmoved, while Bell drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair, “during my lifetime I’ve always tried to have friends everywhere and I’m happy to have friends in the clan of Cokaze. How highly you regard me has been shown by your promise of protecting my position as Administrator of the Solar Imperium from an overthrow by Parliament but haven’t you yourself pointed out to me how weak my position is? For that reason alone I’m simply not able to discuss issuing any trade monopolies. Besides, that bloody and incomprehensible wave of sabotage has shaken my position as Administrator even more, for the government has not succeeded in capturing even a single saboteur. Springer, I regret not being able to tell you anything different.”

  Marshall took up telepathicontact with Rhodan. The Springer is boiling in
anger, sir. He has no intention of leaving this room without the monopoly in his pocket. Right now he’s wondering if he should mention that Mars and Venus are for all practical purposes in his control.

  “Rhodan,” began Cokaze, his tone somewhat sharper, “I’m going to overlook the fact your readiness to negotiate with us Galactic Traders leaves much to be desired. Only with our help will you be able to remain Administrator. It is no small danger that has risen against you in the person of Thomas Cardif...”

  “A deserter...” Rhodan interrupted.

  “Your son, Rhodan...” Cokaze corrected.

  “My son, Springer?” A grim smile came to Rhodan’s face. “I know that you are wrong, Cokaze! A Rhodan never deserts! Therefore Thomas Cardif can be no Rhodan but perhaps a degenerate Arkonide. That is something I don’t care to dispute!”

  “Wasn’t your wife also an Arkonide?” the patriarch dared to ask.

  Bell sat up in his chair with a start and Marshall had half risen to his feet; only Perry Rhodan showed no reaction. In a miracle of self-control, he smiled thinly. His grey eyes shone. Now Rhodan slowly leaned forward. Then came the surprising nod of his head. “Yes,” he said in confirmation, “of course. My wife was Arkonide. How thoughtful of you to remind me, Cokaze!”

  Four Galactic Traders simultaneously gave a start, as though struck by a whip. Rhodan did not allow them any time to even make an attempt at apology.

  He stood up. “Springer, it is now 1448 hours. My robots will take you and your sons back to your ship. At 1510 you will be given permission to take off. The permit will remain in effect until 1515. Farewell, Cokaze!”

  He watched them go, arms folded across his chest They left in silence. The door closed behind them almost without a sound.

  4/ MOUSE-BEAVER ON A MISSION

  Cokaze’s agents were not idle.

  The patriarch, now Rhodan’s greatest enemy after his rebuff, knew only one goal: annexing the Solar Imperium with Arkon and making his clan sole proprietors of the export-import business.

  Thomas Cardif was only a means to an end for him. As long as that young man was useful to him, he treated him with deference. In reality, everything he did was with his own advantage in mind.

  After his brief parley with Rhodan, Cokaze had returned to Venus hurriedly. Then he mobilized all the agents he had at his disposal on Earth.

  The sabotage wave on Terra was to be renewed, only 10 times more intensive.

  Thomas Cardif warned him.

  * * * *

  Cokaze cut him short abruptly. “I know more about this than you, Terran!” He simply could not accustom himself to the young man continually giving voice to his unsolicited opinions.

  Cardif laughed mockingly. He had never resembled his father more than he did now. “You mean you should know more than I, Cokaze, but unfortunately you don’t. You don’t even know why Rhodan has stationed about 100,000 battle-ready men in four different places on the Earth. Have your agents finally found out what Rhodan plans to do with that giant reserve?”

  “Rhodan... Rhodan and still more Rhodan! I’m sick of hearing that name!” expostulated the patriarch. “Rhodan is the most dangerous vermin in the universe!”

  “Why are you getting so worked up, Cokaze?” Cardif asked him calmly. “All it means for you is making a hypercom call and within two to four days there will be several thousand cylindrical spacers from other clans here, and the Solar Imperium will cease to exist. Why don’t you call them?”

  “Because only a Terran can ask such stupid questions!” sputtered the old clan chieftain, although he silently admitted Cardif was right. But if he called other Springer clans for help now, he would also have to share the booty with them, and that was something Cokaze did not want at all.

  “Alright,” said Thomas Cardif agreeably, sitting down across from the patriarch, “then I’m stupid. But instead of more sabotage, I would make an attempt to influence the parliamentary representatives and the media.”

  “They aren’t all named Thomas Cardif!” exclaimed the Galactic Trader, uninhibited by self-control.

  “You mean they aren’t all traitors like I am, Springer? I’ve never said that but these days the press and the representatives are hard-put to say anything good about Rhodan. More can be accomplished with some careful and skilfully planted whispering campaigns than with mindless, brutal force. You’ve never asked me why I became a deserter. I’ll tell you without being asked.”

  “In opposition to the advice of all the doctors, Perry Rhodan sent my mother on a mission to arrange with the Robot Regent the purchase of 100 warships. Already at death’s door, my mother did not survive the mission.

  “Spread that as a rumor across the face of the Earth, Cokaze... that will break Perry Rhodan’s back. That will sweep him away. People will talk about it and take it to heart, especially the women, and the influence of women on Terra is much larger than you know.”

  “Only by this means can you fight Perry Rhodan. You hate to attack him where he has no defense.”

  “But surely your claim that Rhodan consciously sent his wife to her death is untrue, Cardif?”

  “Untrue? Untrue, Springer? It was for that reason that I broke the oath I had sworn to the Solar Imperium. It was for that reason that I rose to destroy the murderer of my mother. I want no more than that. When I’ve succeeded, then my life will have had a purpose!”

  The Springer brushed away the papers lying in front of him. He stared at the young man. Again and again he felt fear in the face of his ice-cold hatred. Never before had be encountered a man who was composed of nothing but hate. And this young man had just made one of the most terrible charges possible against his own father—he had accused him of the murder of his mother.

  “No, Cardif, I can’t believe that. I can’t forget Rhodan’s grey eyes. There isn’t any sign of murder in them...” Then a repugnant grin flashed across his face. “... But the idea’s a good one! Yes, it will finish him once and for all. Agreed, Cardif: 24 hours before Parliament convenes, my agents will spread this rumor all over the entire Earth.”

  “One more thing, Springer, which you seem to be intent on forgetting: Rhodan’s mutants. Don’t forget that these people have incredible abilities. Some are capable of going through walls, while others can disappear in one place and reappear at the same second some 100,000 kilometers farther away...”

  “But no more than that?” mocked Cokaze with a disparaging wave of his hand. “I’ve heard of them but most of it is no doubt exaggeration.”

  “It isn’t exaggeration at all, Cokaze. Here’s my advice: don’t stay on Venus with the Cokaz 1. Take the ship out into open space. You won’t be 100% safe there but you’ll be much safer there from Rhodan’s mutants than anywhere else!”

  Once more Cokaze was impressed by Thomas Cardif’s words. He silently conceded that this young deserter must have a better knowledge of conditions in this small star system than his own best experts. And what had been known about Rhodan’s realm up to now? For as long as no one knew where the system could be found, unbelievable exaggerations brought disquiet to the galaxy and many persons went so far as to believe that Rhodan was even more powerful than the Arkonide Imperium.

  “What about you, Cardif? Aren’t you afraid of Rhodan’s all-powerful mutants?”

  “Look!” cried Cardif, and Cokaze leaped from his seat.

  Like lightning, the young deserter had produced two impulse-beamers from some hiding-place or other and now held them aimed at the patriarch. “I’m ready for those mutants with these, Cokaze! Fortunately, I know some of them, and those I don’t know I’ll recognize when they show up. Then it’ll be them or me! That’s because Rhodan will do everything he can to get hold of me. I’m more important to him than you with your 4000 or more spacers...”

  “Well, it’s nice to see you don’t have an inferiority complex...” said the patriarch, grinning.

  Thomas Cardif did not follow up the insinuation but neither did, he forget it. He looked at
the floor, lost in thought. He felt the Springer watching him but he did not see it. “Cokaze,” he went on, “we can’t bring Rhodan down with just a whispering campaign. Why are you letting your ships rust away on Mars and Venus? Why don’t you grab all the trade here and on Mars for yourself? The commerce between Mars and Venus alone ought to be enough to at least pay for the expenses this operation is costing your everyday.”

  “Arkonide...!” For the first time Cokaze had called the defected lieutenant from the Solar Fleet an Arkonide. This young man, whom he had wanted to use only as means to an end, was revealing himself more and more as an ice-cold, devious tactician who overlooked his own advantages no more than he failed. to pinpoint his enemy’s weak points.

  Thomas Cardif paid no attention to the Springer’s astonishment. “I’ll contribute my share to Rhodan’s downfall,” he said calmly. “Two hours before Parliament convenes in Terrania, I’m going to speak to the earth by hypercom! Cokaze, will your hypercom unit be available to me for that purpose?”

  “Of course, but I request that I be informed in advance of the content of your speech, Arkonide...”

  Cardif’s reddish eyes seemed to light up. Losing his self-control, he lashed out angrily at the patriarch. “I must have proven to you by this time that I’m not working against your interests—yet I can’t rid myself of the suspicion that the Cokaze clan is only using me as means to an end!”

  “Springer, don’t confirm my suspicion. I am an Arkonide! I am certain the Robot Brain will recognize me as such. Take that fact into account and then act accordingly. Only then can we remain friends.”

  He whirled abruptly around and left Cokaze’s large cabin before the surprised and slightly frightened Springer chief was able to reply to his words.

  “O gods,” Cokaze thought worriedly, “can that young traitor read my thoughts?”

  * * * *

  The Solar Fleet was no longer circling the Earth. It had taken up positions between Mars, Earth and Venus.

  For the moment, Mars and Venus were lost. Whoever tried to deny the fact was only deceiving himself. The rulers of Mars and Venus were Galactic Traders from the clan of Cokaze. But the Earth did not belong to them and the Solar Fleet still existed as a battle force capable of bringing death to all enemies.