Under the Stars of Druufon Read online

  Harno grew larger and sank lower.

  I can show you Druufon if you wish.

  With a start Rhodan whirled around. His face showed surprise. “I almost forgot you,” he admitted, thus answering the message of his new ally. “You can show us the world of the Druufs? Fine—I'd like to see what it looks like.”

  Then look at me—I show you Druufon...

  • • •

  In the caves of the Hope Mountains on Hades, the matter transmitter seemed to be overflowing.

  New shipments from Rhodan's three ships arrived constantly and were unloaded and taken away by the base personnel. There was considerable uproar when Lt. Potkin arrived with 100 men and 500 Swoons.

  The 100 men were hardly astonished by the transition but the Swoons certainly were. These small beings, who looked like cucumbers and measured barely half a meter tall, were the most capable microtechnicians in the universe. They worked for the Arkonide Imperium but Rhodan had been able to make friends of a large number of them and bring them to Earth.

  Potkin's Swoon company had been given the assignment of developing and building as fast as they could a device that would neutralize the unavoidable vibrations resulting from the operation of a matter transmitter. The base on Hades must under no circumstances be located or even detected by the Druufs.

  At about the same time the last supplies reached Hades and the transmitter was shut down, the living vidscreen of the sphere creature Harno faded out and the image died.

  Rhodan leaned back and waited until Harno had shrunk once more to the size of an apple. Atlan, Sikerman and Bell returned to their seats.

  “Fantastic,” said Rhodan and it was not immediately evident if he meant Harno's ability or what he had just seen. “It's really fantastic.”

  “Druufon looks more like the Earth than I first thought,” commented Bell drily. “Even the vegetation shows similarities. The Druuf cities are impressive conglomerations of concrete and metal; their houses are just as impressive. I have to admit they've built up a powerful civilization.”

  “It would be all the same to us if they'd just leave us alone,” Atlan observed bitterly. “And when I think that we're dealing with the same Druufs who once had more than a little to do with the sinking of Atlantis... since for them only a few months have gone by while in our universe 10,000 years have passed—you're right. It really is fantastic!”

  “But what are 10,000 years, really...?” Rhodan began. He was interrupted by the humming of the intercom.

  It was the communications officer. “We have contact with the Druufs,” he said hastily. “We've picked up a message being sent to us. It isn't from the wreck—it's from the Druuf planet.”

  Rhodan sprang from his seat. “Is the connection still in existence?”

  On the vidscreen the Siamed system was now presented. The red-green double sun shone like gorgeous colored jewels in a corner of the screen. Large and round and fully illuminated by the reflection of its 21 moons, Druufon resembled an oversized Earth. Only the continents and oceans had unfamiliar outlines.

  Druufon was still five light-seconds away.

  “Connection in effect,” answered the com officer.

  “I'm coming myself,” Rhodan called, hurrying to the door. “Now we'll see if I can talk with them.”

  Lt. David Stern was on duty in the com center.

  He pointed to the vidscreen on which nothing was to be seen but patterns of color moving slowly in the shape of odd spiral.

  “Unfortunately, I can't pick up any picture. Perhaps the frequencies are too different.”

  “It would be more the difference in time,” said Rhodan. “All intelligent races come sooner or later to the same conclusions and use identical methods for reaching similar goals. The only thing that surprises me is that we can receive their speech normally...”

  David Stern smiled fleetingly. “We've hooked in a regulator, sir. It speeds up messages coming to us from Siamed and slows down ours going out.”

  Rhodan smiled back in acknowledgment. “One often forgets the simplest things. Now, let's get on with it! I'm curious to find out what they have to say to us.”

  Stern made a few adjustments, then a voice suddenly sounded loud and clear from the loudspeakers: “...repeat. To the aliens from the other universe: We have received your message as well as the report of our commander, whom you saved from destruction. We are interested in entering into negotiations with you. Let us know your conditions. End of message.”

  Rhodan looked at Stern. “Adjust for a transmission. I want to try it.” Then he spoke in the microphone. “To the Druufs—as we call you. We have received your broadcast. We wish permission to land on your planet and the promise that we may take off again at any time. We also desire an escort for landing. End of message.”

  The answer came 20 seconds later: “Granted. We are sending a fleet out to you. End.”

  There were no further transmissions. David Stern looked questioningly at Rhodan.

  “Keep the receiver open,” Rhodan told him. “But I don't believe we'll learn any more. The Druufs will transmit messages between themselves in a language unknown to us. I don't know yet how our translating devices are working.”

  Then he returned to the control room where he informed Sikerman, Atlan and Bell of what had happened.

  About half an hour went by. The three ships had meanwhile sharply reduced their speed and flew at only a few kilometers per second. The damaged Druuf ship had long disappeared from their field of vision to land on Druufon.

  Then the announced fleet finally appeared: 100 rod-shaped vessels rushing towards them in regular formation and then surrounding the Terran ships. The armada sank towards the Druuf planet at a constant speed and prepared to land.

  It was now proving a good thing that Harno had showed them Druufon. But the special abilities of the sphere-being now also gave them a look into the interiors of the ships accompanying them. It could be seen that these ships were not manned by the usual members of subject or allied races, or even robots, but by Druufs alone. This was another unmistakable proof that they were approaching the nerve center and headquarters of the Druufs. Here slaves were not admitted. And, so it seemed, even robots were distrusted.

  “The Druufs think very logically,” said Rhodan. Another 10 minutes remained before the landing would be complete. “They have clearly recognized that a strong power is standing guard on the other side of the time opening. If they want to force their way into our universe, they have to eliminate that power. Our offer came to them at just the right time and is quite welcome to them.”

  Atlan's expression was apprehension. “Up to now I haven't warned you yet,” he said earnestly. “Your tactical considerations are of course justified and I am very much in favor of feigning an alliance with the Druufs for the purpose of turning the tables on the Robot Brain of Arkon. But there is one thing you must be well aware of, Rhodan: when the Robot Brain is decisively defeated by the Druufs, the Solar Imperium will be lost too. The Druufs will swarm out all over the entire galaxy and conquer it.”

  Rhodan was suddenly quite serious as he replied: “It'll never come to that, Atlan. We'll wait for the right moment, then switch sides. That may sound rather dishonorable but it's the only reasonable solution. And then, together with a Regent desperate for help, we'll beat the Druufs back and weaken them so much they'll never again try to attack us.”

  “If you see it that way—your plan could succeed,” Atlan admitted. It looked as though he had not completely overcome his skepticism. “In any case, I'll be sure to remind you when the time comes to change flags so we don't let it go by.”

  Rhodan did not reply. He looked down at the surface of the huge planet slowly drawing closer. Some of the escort ships were already preparing to land. Then his eyes rested on Bell.

  “Summon the telepaths, Reggie. John Marshall and Pucky. I have an idea.”

  At the door, Bell said: “If they're telepaths, why don't they already know they're supposed
to come here? If I were a thought-reader...”

  ...No one would ever feel safe from your snooping!” Rhodan said, finishing Bell's sentence. “No one could even dream without you looking in on their secret thoughts. No, it's better this way that those who are telepaths aren't very curious and...”

  The word stuck in his throat.

  In the middle of the control room the air shimmered and Pucky materialized. He grinned in apology, showing his incisor tooth. “Excuse me but I just happened to pick up some thoughts...”

  “'Just happened!'” exclaimed Bell, emphasizing the words and looking at Rhodan pointedly. “Don't make me laugh! I'm not the only curious one around here. Oh well, I'll go get Marshall. At least he—”

  He opened the door and collided with John Marshall, who moved to one side with a courteous smile and went on into the control room. Bell turned around.

  “Pucky informed me,” said Marshall.

  Bell groaned. “They stick together like glue,” he complained. “A normal person doesn't have a chance against them.” To Rhodan he turned and said: “Order carried out without moving a finger, sir.”

  Rhodan was about to say something but suddenly fell silent.

  Alien impulses forced their way into his mind, so powerful that they overpowered everything else. Judging from the faces of the other men present in the control room, he saw that they too were receiving and understanding the telepathic message.

  Do you hear me, Perry Rhodan? I am the friend who saved you weeks ago. Think of me so that I may know I am reaching you with my call.

  But Rhodan answered aloud in order that the others could hear him as well.

  “I hear you, my friend. Who are you and what are you?”

  Perhaps you will meet me on Druufon—you call this world. Who am I? I do not know, Perry Rhodan. But it seems to me we have known each other for a long time. I warn you—turn back before it is too late! Do not land on Druufon!

  “You tell me not to land on Druufon—and yet at the same time you express the hope that we'll meet there. What is the meaning of this contradiction?”

  I knew that you would ignore my advice—that is why!

  “How will I find you?”

  You have capable telepaths, Perry Rhodan. Any attempt to give you directions would only confuse you, so have them track me.

  Rhodan looked up to the ceiling where Harno floated. The sphere-being knew what Rhodan wanted of him even without receiving any mental orders.

  Harno sank slowly lower, becoming larger as he came until his surface was a vidscreen.

  Pale impressions flashed across the sphere's surface, then stabilized. A technical control room could be seen, crowded with unknown equipment and an abundance of incomprehensible details.

  In front of a giant control panel stood a Druuf.

  From him came the thoughts of friendship to Rhodan.

  Of course I am a Druuf—what else should I be? I have been a Druuf for as long as I can remember. Can you see me?

  Rhodan realized that keeping any secrets would be pointless and could only anger their helper. “One of us is able to transmit a picture of you here so that we may see you. How is it that a Druuf is inclined to be friendly to us?”

  I don't know!

  That was not only mysterious, that was absurd!

  “You don't know?” said Rhodan, astonished. “If you want to help us, you must have a motive!”

  I do it because I must. But I don't know why I must.

  Suddenly Pucky said: “He's the Chief Physicist of the Druufs on Druufon! He has enormous responsibility and a knowledge that seems unbelievable. He's the greatest living genius of the Druufs. But he doesn't know where he knows us from. He's the smartest Druuf of them all but he doesn't know who he is himself.”

  Rhodan looked sharply at the mouse-beaver. “And how do you know that?”

  “My friend Harno told me, asking that I pass it on. He saves energy that way.”

  “You're maintaining contact with each other without the rest of us picking up any impulses?” asked Rhodan, who was only a weak telepath himself. “How?”

  “Nontelepaths don't normally receive any telepathic messages. The alien has to radiate suggestive impulses at the same time for you to hear anything.”

  Rhodan was silent for a few seconds, then he requested: “Try to learn more about the unknown Druuf. Where is he?”

  “In the subterranean control room of the Druufs. The general direction can be made out—and now the contact's just been broken off!”

  Pucky had said it in a shocked and slightly helpless voice.

  The others had already noticed it.

  The impulses suddenly died and did not return.

  Harno's picture had vanished. His curved surface showed nothing but deep black. Simultaneously he grew smaller again and climbed up to the ceiling, remaining there without moving. But he must have stayed in touch with Pucky for the mouse-beaver spoke slowly, as though repeating what the sphere-being told him.

  “The unknown helper is beyond all doubt a Druuf. It is inconceivable that this fact could be denied. He's searching in his memory for something but he can't find it. The incident can't be explained. We'll have to wait for our next contact. Until then, we can't do anything further in that direction.” Then Pucky was silent.

  Lost in thought, Rhodan stared at the large vidscreen. The Druufon spaceport could now be plainly seen. It was surrounded by structures of gigantic proportions. On the edge of the field stood hundreds of the slender, rod-shaped warships of the Druufs.

  In the middle, a considerable area had been cleared.

  “Order the Kublai Khan and the California to land,” said Rhodan to Sikerman. “We'll land with the cruiser in the middle; that way we can cover it with our weapons if need be.” He waited until Sikerman had given the necessary instruction, then turned towards the others, added: “However, I don't think it'll come to that. The Druufs have never needed a friend and ally more than they do now.”

  “Or so we hope,” said Atlan, still skeptical.

  And then they were silent and looked down on the capital city of the Druufs, stretched out before them as though on a map.

  A city in which all life moved and existed only half as fast as on any planet in their own universe.

  4/ TO CONQUER THE ARKON IMPERIUM

  The broad spaceport seemed devoid of all life.

  The Druufs were evidently waiting for the aliens to initiate something. They did not make themselves evident in any way, not even to make radio contact.

  Meanwhile, work in the physics laboratory aboard the Drusus proceeded without pause, feeding the data to the control room. Rhodan read the reports and announced his summary:

  “The atmosphere is breathable as it's more or less identical with our own on Earth. We can therefore leave the ship without spacesuits or breathing apparatus. A day lasts 48.6 hours, twice Earth's. I don't think we have to worry anymore about Druufs' time-rate. The difference is no longer noticeable and the Druufs will hardly be concerned if we move twice as fast as they do. We're smaller and thinner than they are. Besides, I think it's possible that they're already aware of the difference. They've penetrated our universe often enough.”

  “What's supposed to happen?” demanded Bell impatiently. “Are we just going to wait here until the cows come home?”

  “The Druufs will contact us, never fear,” Rhodan assured him. “In the final analysis, they are the ones who need an ally—or at least they think they do.”

  “Are the translating machines ready?” inquired Atlan. “We still don't have any idea if...”

  “Oh, they'll work,” Rhodan assured him. “Of course we don't even know yet if the Druufs can speak at all—which doesn't mean that the translators won't be any good, should that be the case. I think we shouldn't worry about it, though, until the Druufs actually show up.

  Sikerman, who had been observing the spaceport, spoke up. “Here comes a Druuf—he's alone.”

  Rhodan looked at th
e vidscreen. For the first time now they had the opportunity to examine a Druuf without disturbance or distraction.

  The creature was at least three meters tall and had a squarish, clumsy body. No hair could be seen but the color of the leathery skin was clearly evident, a range from brown to black which might have been due to the odd twilight of afternoon. The massive body rested on two ponderous legs that resembled pillars. The spherical head was 50 centimeters in diameter. Most astounding were the eyes: there were two under the forehead, facing ahead, plus two more where a human's temples would be. The arrangement enlarged the Druufs' field of vision by no small amount, although they could not see directly behind.

  There were no visible ears or nose but there was definitely a mouth, resembling in form an isosceles triangle. At the end of the two bulky arms were slender, delicate fingers, all out of proportion to the rest of the massive body.

  The Druuf approached the three ships with slow and cautious steps. He carried neither weapons nor any kind of equipment with him.

  “A negotiator,” Rhodan ventured. “We should show him we've seen him. Reggie, go to exit hatch B-4 and extend the ladder.”

  "But that's a freight hatch...”

  “Do you think that giant out there can climb up a normal personnel ladder?”

  “Will he come voluntarily into our ship...?”

  “He will if you invite him in.”

  Bell shrugged his shoulders and left. Rhodan then issued various orders calculated to make sure that nothing would happen on the other two ships which might raise the suspicions of the Druufs.

  Less than 10 minutes later, the monstrous being entered the control room of the Drusus with Bell at his side.

  The doors, halls and rooms aboard the battleship could not be considered small but the Druuf had to stoop to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling. Rhodan offered him a bunk to sit on. The negotiator sat down cautiously, taking care he did not damage anything. Luckily there was just enough space to accommodate him.

  “He understood me immediately,” said Bell, a bit pale, “but he didn't say anything. I'd like to know what he has that triangle mouth for.”