A World Gone Mad Read online

  "Us?" Rhodan smiled broadly and seemed to enjoy himself greatly, which annoyed Bell only more. Nor could Deringhouse, Nyssen and McClears see why it was so amusing to beat a retreat.

  Only the telepaths Enzally, Marshall and Pucky grinned as if they had been ordered to do so.

  "Very simple, my friends," Rhodan continued. "We'll act crazy—that's all."

  • • •

  The three cruisers Solar System ,Terra and Centurio had hardly been stowed in the huge berths under the spaceport when Lt. Fisher caused some more excitement with a new report. "Sir! The fleet of the Springers is being dispersed. They are still 15 light-hours away and have begun to separate. It looks as if they want to blockade the entire planetary system."

  Rhodan, who had listened to the broadcast on his little ristrad, waited a few seconds before he replied. He stood at the border of the spaceport and watched as the camouflaged gates slowly closed. The cruisers had disappeared from the face of the planet. Several reprogrammed robots of the Springers were posted at the controls. Anybody who wanted to open the hangars had to deal with them first.

  "Tell Maj. Deringhouse to send me a reliable pilot with a pursuit ship!"

  Once the Stardust was at the bottom of the ocean it would be impossible to monitor the movements of the hostile fleet. But Rhodan had no intention of leaving the imminent developments to chance. His assumption that the fleet of the Springers would land on the planet in a closed formation apparently was not justified.

  A minute later one of the smaller hatches of the Stardust opened up and a trim torpedo floated out. It touched down a few feet from Rhodan. The cockpit slid open and the youthful face of a man looked with an expectant smile down to Rhodan. "Sgt. Harnahan reporting for special mission, sir!"

  Rhodan smiled back. "It won't be easy for you, Sergeant. You'll have to take the fleet of the Springers under observation and report every movement. Keep in constant touch with Lt. Fisher by radio. Go far out in space and avoid any encounters with the Springers. It is vitally important that nobody learns of your presence. You're our eyes and ears, Harnahan. Our rangefinders are blind. Good luck!"

  "Thank you, sir!" the Sergeant replied and shut his cockpit. A second later the antigrav field carried the pursuit ship up high. Then Harnahan started his engine and in a few moments disappeared in the blue haze of the atmosphere.

  Rhodan watched him leave and felt considerably relieved. The small, highly manoeuvrable craft were lightning fast rockets which had room enough for one pilot only. Their armament consisted of one energy beamer and they were equipped with a defense screen. The pressurized cockpit was provided with climate control and a tiny airlock. The small fins of the needle-nosed rocket made flight in the atmosphere possible when the pilot preferred not to use the antigrav field which was the latest addition.

  Many of these fighter craft were also equipped with the most sensitive rangefinder instruments, as was the case with Sgt. Harnahan's ship.

  Bell came over to Rhodan and saw him peering into the sky. He followed his eyes and shook his head. "What are you staring at up there, hm? Harnahan is already thousands of miles away and he can't hear you if you're calling him. I think it's getting time we make the Stardust disappear."

  Maj. Nyssen was put in charge of the spherical spacer and quickly steered the vessel to the selected spot 20 miles from the mainland. A few minutes later the colossus submerged in the waves of the ocean. A tenuous radio communication was its only link to the outside world, which was now hastily being prepared for the next scene.

  A scene in a comedy with a very grim background.

  Rhodan assigned the roles. "Pucky will lead the dockyard commando. The teleporter Tako Kakuta and telekin Tama Yokida will go with him. You'll take the new apparatus with you and your first job will be to immobilize the robots. The new instructions will have to be transmitted later on. I can take care of that myself. Ralv and his men will receive further instructions from Marshall, who is already informed about his task. Since we've no way of knowing what the Springers have in mind or whether they plan to land all together, we must be prepared for all eventualities. In any event we're going to amaze them with what can happen if the population of a planet loses its memory–and its inhibitions."

  "The pestilence again?" Kitai Ishibashi, the suggestor of the Mutant Corps, inquired.

  "Not quite," Rhodan grinned. "It would be too laborious and time-consuming. This time we'll have to act quickly as the Springers can arrive in 10 hours. Marshall will have Ralv and his assistants tattoo about 10,000 Goszuls and..."

  "Tattoo?" Bell gasped.

  "Right!" Rhodan said. "It's a harmless liquid but if it's applied to the face the skin will break out in magnificent colors. The people will look as if they had fallen into some paint cans. And that's just how the natives looked when they came down with the plague. Now if a colorful crowd like this plays the fool, the impression ought to be convincing. Kitai will see to it that the Goszuls put on a splendid show."

  The Japanese grinned. "Nothing to it. The Springers will be flabbergasted to see what a man without memory can do."

  It was easy enough for him to say. As a suggestor he was capable of imposing his will on the Goszuls and of helping them to perform the intended spectacle. If necessary the Goszuls would be accomplished actors without being aware of it.

  Maj. Deringhouse looked out of the window of the squat building where they had taken up their position. The sun was low above the horizon and would soon go down. The Springers could be expected here at sunrise.

  He sighed. "And what's my part?"

  Rhodan cast a quick glance at him. "It's possible there'll be nothing for you to do, Major. It all depends on how things go, particularly whether the Springers drop in and what risks they, re prepared to take. The five pilots and space fighters you're holding in reserve in the mountains will be inadequate to oppose the ships of the Springers but they can be deployed to good purpose against landing commandos. You'll have to wait for my orders. Don't act on your own!"

  Bell stuck out his chest. "And what do you want me to do?"

  "I'm afraid I'll have to disenchant you again," Rhodan replied. "You'll stick with me, where nothing is likely to happen."

  "Headquarters again!" Bell growled in dismay. "While everybody else will cover himself with glory, we have to rot here. Here? Are we really going to remain here?" Suddenly he looked very apprehensive. "Not at the spaceport! What if the Springers decide to land here?"

  "Then," Rhodan smiled amiably, "you'll have your adventure!"

  A shrill voice interrupted the conversation. "Are you ready to take off?" Pucky looked urgently at Tako. The telekin Tama got up. Since he was unable to teleport himself he depended on Pucky or Tako for his transportation.

  "Be careful!" Rhodan warned them and handed Tako a little rectangular metal box with various buttons and scales. "Take on the robots one by one. They must be lulled into a false sense of security or they'll sound the alarm."

  "Don't worry, we'll be quiet as mice," Pucky chirped.

  Bell snickered. "That shouldn't be very hard for you."

  Pucky gave him a devastating look before he took Tako and Tama by the hand. Then a shimmering curtain seemed to be drawn between them and the others who were present and they vanished instantly.

  They would materialize in the same second behind the stack of boxes in the mountain.

  Rhodan motioned to Marshall. "You'll immediately initiate your action. Ralv already has his instructions. If the Springers touch down at some other place on the planet we'll be out of luck. But this is extremely unlikely. They are mainly interested in this continent and little else. Moreover this is the only spaceport which exists on Goszul's Planet."

  Marshall saluted and left the building. A car was waiting for him and took him and his paraphernalia to the nearby harbor town where Ralv had assembled his faithful followers,

  Only Rhodan, Bell and Deringhouse remained behind and the suggestor Kitai who was slated to follow Marsha
ll a little later.

  "And now," said the bored Deringhouse, "are we going to stand here till we take root?"

  "No," Rhodan retorted. "Only till the Springers arrive."

  3/ SPHERE OF MYSTERY

  Darkness fell when Pucky and his two companions materialized near the pile of boxes. Fortunately nobody was around and they could rush unseen to hide in the shadow of the boxes where they were safe for the time being.

  "I wonder if they keep working during the night?" Tama asked in a whisper. The strange surroundings gave him a creepy feeling, as if he were constantly watched by unseen eyes.

  "Robots don't know fatigue," the mouse-beaver lectured him. "I'm sure that Borator will permit no interruption of work. He's well aware of what happened on Goszul's Planet and will be anxious to reach safety. The ship fits perfectly into his plans and you can almost guess what they are."

  "You mean he wants to escape in it?"

  "What else? But quiet, I hear somebody coming." Pucky waited a few seconds and then whispered, "It's the Springer; I can pick up his thoughts. He didn't go to sleep yet."

  The three became motionless shadows crouching behind the boxes. Pucky listened into the darkness.

  Only five more days, Borator thought with a mixture of satisfaction and impatience. Then it'll be done. Those miserable patriarchs have left me in the lurch. They think I'll catch the disease and forget that I'm building a ship for them, If they believe that I'll hand over the spacer to them after it's finished they're badly mistaken. The pestilence didn't spread here and I can take a few battle-robots and some specialists with me; no problem. Are they going to get a surprise! These despicable...

  Pucky grinned happily. Their fear that the vessel would leave in five days with the arranged co-ordinates was unfounded. Borator had other fish to fry. Perhaps he even wanted to establish a new clan after seizing the ship.

  He informed his friends in a low voice and added, "Borator is going to bed now. Maybe I can find out a few more details. We'd like to let him finish the job but unfortunately we don't have the time. When the Springers land the plant must be in our possession. Wait here, I want to snoop around a little."

  This was another one of the expressions he had picked up from Bell. There were many more, less refined.

  The two Japanese had mixed emotions about remaining behind in the unfamiliar place. They assured Pucky. that they wouldn't move from the spot and the mouse-beaver leaped behind Borator.

  The Springer turned around the corner of a warehouse and walked between some patrolling robots toward his living quarters which were located a short distance away from the shops. Pucky didn't consider it advisable to test the sympathies of the robots for a rabbit again and so he teleported himself to the house of the Springer where he waited for him in the shadow of a few dried-up bushes.

  Borator kept thinking continually as he walked across his front yard, which was illuminated by a few lamps. He thought about everything except his precise plans. Unwarily, yet full of impatience, he ambled past Puck without an inkling that he was under surveillance. He opened his bungalow and switched on the light. The bright light shone on the bush behind which the mouse-beaver concealed himself. But Borator had only one thought in mind: to go to sleep. He was very tired. The thought crossed his mind how lucky he was that the robots never got weary and he hoped they would succeed in getting the ship ready to start in four days already.

  Pucky waited patiently. When he concentrated very deeply he was able to see through Borator's eyes and watch what he was doing. A little meal, a shower and then to bed. The thoughts grew more confused and soon trailed off into irreality. Borator had fallen asleep.

  Now Pucky hesitated no longer. He disdained using his special gifts and instead simply climbed through the open window and cautiously jumped down to the floor of the bedroom. Borator snored and made a considerable noise which suited the mouse-beaver fine. Before he awakened the Springer he wanted to take some precautionary measures. Besides he thought he had noticed a sound in the hallway.

  Did Borator have a special guard?

  The door was left a little ajar and Pucky crept through the semi-darkness. A light was visible through the crack of the door and was reflected from the metallic back of a battle-robot standing motionlessly in front of the door.

  Pucky pressed the impulsator to his body. Now was the time for the new gadget to show its worth. Without moving he aimed the lens at the back of the head of the automaton and pressed a button. He held it for five seconds and let go again. If the gadget really worked, the robot was deactivated and could be reprogrammed anytime without difficulty. It now was prevented from interfering in the events unless it received a special order to do so.

  But who should do it if not Borator? Before Pucky turned his attention to Borator again he had to make sure that his cure was in fact successful. Holding his box tightly he went out into the hallway and stood up before the robot. He looked into its blank lenses and tried to detect a trace of life but the positronic brain failed to notice him. It no longer showed any reaction.

  Highly satisfied with the result Pucky decided to take care of Borator, when he suddenly noticed that the Springer had stopped snoring. He quickly increased his telepathic attention in order to receive Borator's thoughts. He was right. Borator had become awake. He was suspicious and wanted to check up if anything was wrong. As far as Pucky could tell Borator was armed with an energy-beamer.

  Of course Pucky could have taken the safe way out by teleportation. However this was not only against his nature but also could have created the danger that the Springer would be warned and would take some undesirable measures.

  The light flared up. Borator stood in the door opening and blinked in confusion at the scene before his eyes. There was the robot standing rigidly in the hall and the same creature which he had treated with a kick earlier in the day squatted in front of the mechanical titan. And what did he hold in his paws? A box? What kind of animal was it that intruded in strange houses at night with a box? Borator was asking too many questions and forgot to take action. Pucky took care of it for him.

  With irresistible force the raygun was wrested from the Springer's grip and weightlessly floated up to the ceiling, where it hovered in the highest corner, its barrel, aimed at Borator who followed the phenomenon with bulging eyes. His chaotic shreds of thoughts told Pucky that he began to question his own sanity. Well, this impression could be reinforced.

  Pucky remembered with bitterness the kick he had," suffered and decided to combine business with pleasure. Borator didn't know what happened to him when he suddenly lost the ground beneath his feet.

  After turning around 90° he was suspended horizontally above the floor, unable to move. In helpless fascination he stared at the shiny tooth of the 'rabbit' and wondered whether the animal was responsible for his incomprehensible misery or whether he was losing his mind. Yet he had to blame the little beast as it hopped below him to his bed and methodically began to tear the cover into strips, fashioning a rope by knotting them together. The odd metal box had been put on the floor while he was thus occupied.

  Pucky returned and skilfully proceeded to tie up Borator, which he could do without trouble as Borator was still weightless and elevated three feet above the floor. The robot stood idly by as if this was none of its business which, in a sense, was correct.

  Borator was tied up in a bundle. As a precaution Pucky held him at the end of the rope. Then he gave the robot a friendly pat on the backside, took his impulse transmitter under one arm and the raygun, which was slowly floating down, under the other—and sauntered out of the house.

  Borator followed him like a balloon, seemingly held only by the rope in Pucky's paw. The telekinetic power currents of the mouse-beaver kept him stiff and straight but Pucky was convinced that this effect could be achieved by Borator's ghastly fear alone.

  Tako and Tama were seared to death when they saw the weird bundle floating through the night toward them. Pucky hung onto the line as
if he were afraid to be carried away. His incisor glittered in his joy.

  "We got him under control," Pucky giggled contentedly. "Tama can watch him while Tako and I go disable the robots."

  The bound-up Borator sank to the floor and remained there immobilized. His eyes were shut. "It's a shame he's fainted," Pucky regretted. "I'll attend to him later. Stay awake, Tama!"

  "You expect me to sleep with all this excitement!" Tama protested the insinuation. "Don't be long!"

  "Ninety-nine robots! Do you think we can take care of them with a snap of our fingers?"

  Pucky took Tako by the hand and they vanished in a jiffy. Tama, who didn't feel very well, remained behind alone with the Springer who at this moment felt nothing at all.

  • • •

  The first battle-robot presented no problem. It was posted close to the biggest warehouse at the beginning of a long chain of metallic sentries. Pucky and Tako were able to approach it within a few feet without being seen. Fortunately the lenses of the robots were directed toward the exit of the valley because no enemies were suspected to be in the basin.

  Rhodan had stressed that the range of the instrument was limited and had been tested to be effective only up to 100 feet. The situation had one welcome and practicable advantage: although the robots acted independently of each other their reactions were also based on the attitude of the others. If one of the robots allowed Pucky to pass without challenging him it meant to the next guard that he was harmless. Its vigilance was influenced accordingly.

  Pucky based his tactic on this experience. "You stay here!" he whispered to Tako as they stopped in the shadow of the warehouse. "You've got a good view from here. If anything unforeseen should happen, teleport yourself back to Tama and see to it that the Springer is transported to Rhodan. Then you can get Tama. Don't worry about me! I can take care of myself."

  Tama tried to hold him back. "What could happen to me? I've got a raygun and can blast a robot..."