The Pseudo One Read online

  "I'm a Frogh, you little vermin! And if I'm not mistaken, you'd be better off in the zoo than running around free. I'm going to take you with me."

  "Don't come within three feet of me," warned Pucky and he drew back a yard or so in order not to come in contact with the nauseous mass of flesh. "And where the zoo is concerned, you're mistaken. Incidentally, since we don't happen to be bosom buddies, I'll have you watch your language. You will oblige me by answering my questions, you traveling smokestack!"

  The Frogh appeared to be more accustomed to deference and fear for its presence. It must have been incredible to the creature that anyone could comport himself in this manner. Laboriously, it took a deep breath. "I'll make you pay for that, you vermin!" This seemed to be its favorite insult. "This very day you will be taken before the zoo administration. Do you know what happens then?"

  "I couldn't care less," replied Pucky, unmoved. "And if you don't answer my questions now, I'll throw you against the wall and then out the window."

  The Frogh began to shake, which encompassed a considerable mass. The long worm almost filled the room. With interest, Pucky noticed that the serpent-like body began to turn pink. Perhaps that was what a young lieutenant would look like if one of his recruits asked him to shine his boots.

  "You little wretch!" growled the enraged zoo guard. "Do you dare—?"

  "You are looking for a Springer," Pucky interrupted, with continued disrespect. "Why here, of all places? Answer me or you'll be in for a surprise."

  The mouse-beaver was gradually losing patience; moreover he saw that he could not retreat any farther. Certainly this Frogh would have to be eliminated but first it was going to reveal what it knew.

  The Frogh was momentarily distracted. "The Springer? What do you know about the Springer I'm looking for?"

  "I will do the questioning, do you understand? Now then, how did you pick up his trail?"

  But the Frogh was not ready to surrender its secret. Fortunately, however, it was thinking on the subject. And that was all Pucky needed. "Aha!" he observed calmly. "Another Springer revealed it to you. So you tortured him, did you? You're a murderer! And at that he lied to you, because there is no one in this room—besides myself."

  In a state of complete bewilderment, the Frogh stared at the small mouse-beaver who could extract thoughts from its mind in such a cavalier manner. Its mental impulses became increasingly confused until they finally reached a climax with the decision to seize this uncanny opponent.

  The Frogh made a quick movement toward Pucky to grasp him. It didn't quite know what was happening then but it felt itself gripped by an invisible force and was hurled against the dressing table. It fell to the floor but quickly righted itself again.

  Once more it charged Pucky but the mouse-beaver appeared to have grown weary of the argument. He activated his full telekinetic power, lifting the frog upward and holding it firmly in the middle of the air.

  Terrified, the centipede began to screech piercingly while its body took on a discolored, purplish hue. Its countless legs fanned the empty air desperately, trying to find something solid to stand on.

  Its terror increased considerably, however, when it began to float toward the window, which opened as though pushed by a ghostly hand. Far below was the hard pavement of the street.

  Pucky didn't hesitate any longer. He knew everything now that the Frogh knew and as a merciless zoo guard it had earned death a thousand times over. So Marshall was hiding out with the Springers, who maintained a small headquarters on Tolimon. There he was in comparative safety.

  No matter how hard the Frogh sought to halt its passage by grasping the window frame, it moved outside into emptiness. And so it happened that the residents of the poor section of Trulan witnessed an incredible spectacle. They saw a flying Frogh. The hated creature sailed elegantly out of an attic window, turned a few perfect spirals and then hurtled vertically downward a thousand feet to the pavement.

  Its crashing fall attracted a commensurate amount of attention, even though this riddle of a flying centipede never could be solved.

  By that time, however, Pucky was already back at the hotel waiting for Rhodan, whom he had kept telepathically informed of all occurrences.

  The circle was closing in on Marshall and his companions. It could only be a matter of time before they were found.

  Pucky was lolling lazily on the bed with his eyes closed. Suddenly, he was shaken to alertness when a thought-impulse hammered in on his consciousness. It was a thought-burst that came through with unusual sharpness. By all the galactic nebulas! If Rhodan doesn't show up soon, these guys are going to rob me blind...!

  Pucky let out a whistle that was way off key and then he established contact with Marshall.

  3/ A SURPRISE FOR THE SPRINGERS

  The room was dimly illuminated by a battered lamp and a few slanting rays of sunlight coming down from a small, barred window. Five people sat around a worn-out wooden table. Apparently they formed two groups because the two husky men with beards hunched together and regarded the other three persons in an unfriendly manner.

  John Marshall searched the bearded Springers' minds and knew that from now on the partnership was not going to be either easy or cheap. The spirit of the Galactic Trader had been awakened in the two confederates and for such even friendship was a trade commodity.

  Next to John sat Laury Marten, who had just turned 23. She was the daughter of the mutants Anne Sloane and Ralf Marten and she had inherited their telepathic faculties. But in addition to this she was also capable of changing molecular compositions in matter by means of her mental powers and so was able to walk through walls. The Japanese blood of her father had left traces in her features and it was her almond-shaped eyes in particular which had so infatuated Count Rodrigo de Berceo.

  Rodrigo, who was the son of an Aztec princess and a Spanish nobleman, had been living in the zoo on Tolimon for almost 300 years. Together with three other Earthmen he had been abducted by space travelers during the 17th century and all had been made immortal by means of the mysterious elixir of life. His extraordinarily magnificent appearance had had its effect on Laury. A blindman could sense that the two were in love with each other. Rodrigo could thank this fact for his escape from the zoo.

  His clothes, carefully reproduced by the tailor experts at the zoo, were quite out of the ordinary because they were in the style of the 17th century. Tight-fitting hip boots took in his short-length breeches; a broad waistband held his short armless doublet together. His wide shirt collar covered the upper portion of this jacket-like apparel with its pointed ends. Perpetually he wore his wide sword belt containing its sharply honed blade. On his lap lay his wide-brimmed hat with the long-flowing feather. Gleaming conspicuously over his doublet was a gold necklace from which depended an amulet depicting the Aztec sun god.

  Under no circumstances would Rodrigo part with his unusual clothing and his primitive stabbing weapons. This had already led to many complications because the Count was a hotheaded and spirited man who made much of honor and pride.

  He stroked Laury's hand beside him. "Just keep calm, my darling; we shall show them a thing or two. We were able to take care of the Froghs, so why not do the same for these mercenary petty merchants?"

  Marshall gave him a warning look. He felt pretty well battered. The waiting for news of Rhodan had become endless and constantly thinking of lurking dangers had had an abrasive effect on him. Since he had left his quarters in the slum district, he had become uncertain. Added to this was the fact that the Springers were not to be trusted any longer, as the present conference had clearly demonstrated.

  "Alright, now, Berzan, your offer can be discussed. You two are in the same trap as we are and that's why we're able to negotiate. If you turn us over to the authorities you'll also betray yourselves and then nobody gets helped, least of all us. The Aras are enemies of yours as well as ours. You want money in return for helping us further. But we don't have any money. In a few days, however, we'
ll be able to give you more than you could spent if you lived to be 100."

  Berzan, the old greybeard, blinked his crafty eyes. "And where are you going to get the money?" he wanted to know. "How do I know you're not lying? Tulin and Egmon have warned us. They claim that you can read thoughts."

  "I'm supposed to be a telepath? That's ridiculous! Wouldn't I have been wise, then, to the treachery you planned. Would I have come to you then and asked you for help? No, Berzan, the contention of your two friends is absurd."

  "That's what I told them, too, my friend. But however that may be, we're demanding a better payment from you, because aren't we also putting ourselves in danger to protect you? Half of the planet is chasing you. The police are following every clue. And maybe one of those clues will lead them to us, in which case the work of decades will have been in vain."

  "If they come, we will help you," assured Marshall in an attempt to be consoling but he recognized the validity of the other's reasoning. "In a few days, anyhow, you'll be rid of us."

  The younger Springer leaned forward and looked at Marshall. "Where is it you want to get to? Who is going to suddenly provide you with money?"

  In Rodrigo's thoughts, Marshall read the man's rising impatience. It wouldn't be long before the fiery Count would be after the two blackmailers with drawn sword. He would get the worst of it because the Springers were armed with impulse-beamers.

  "Faran, you have to be satisfied with the fact that we are staying here with you until our contact man shows up with the money. Be patient." He turned to the Count. "And you, too, Rodrigo."

  The two men were good friends and had long since dropped all formalities between them. The Count was also aware of Marshall and Laury's telepathic characteristics. So he drew his hand away from his sword, nodded slowly, and answered cautiously in Spanish: "I'd much prefer to run them through but if you think it best I will not do them violence."

  "What did he say?" asked Berzan suspiciously.

  "He believes that our contact may show up even today."

  "Let's hope so," growled Berzan as he looked up at the window. "We're going now but don't get any smart ideas. The house is staked out. An attempt at escape would be foolish because we would alert the Trulan police. We have other hideouts besides this one, so they would lose track of us. But you they would find."

  He got up with Feran and the two left the room. The door closed with a dull thud of the bolt as a heavy key turned in the lock.

  They were alone.

  "By the sun god of my mother!" Rodrigo sprang up trembling in every limb. "Why don't we have done with these greedy star pirates once and for all!?"

  "Because we have to be smarter than they are," Marshall cautioned him, as he paced back and forth in the small room. "If I only knew in what region of Trulan we were in. They brought us here in the middle of the night."

  "As far as I know, it's a suburb," put in Laury, who had remained silent until now. She took the Counts finely shaped hand in hers and glanced at him tenderly. "Our surroundings don't make any difference, sweetheart. Can't we be happy here just as well?"

  Marshall came to an abrupt halt. "Laury!" he said sharply. "I don't object to your happiness but before you can enjoy it we have to hand over that serum to Rhodan. Your passion has lost us the last chance to obtain the formula for its manufacture."

  "But we have a sample of the miracle serum," the girl retorted, blushing, and she tapped the wide belt of her uniform. "It's only a small vial, I'll admit, but nevertheless it is a sample. Maybe our scientists can analyze it."

  "If we ever get it to them," said Marshall, realistically. Then he changed the subject. "Why do we hear nothing at all from Rhodan? I can't understand it."

  "We've hardly had any chance to send out any intensive thought impulses, John. We were never left alone and were always on the run. Our thought transmissions were drowned in the ocean of other thoughts in Trulan. Besides, Rhodan only has weak telepathic capacities. We have to think with more concentration, and then maybe we'll succeed in making a contact. Rhodan must be somewhere on Tolimon by now. It's been eight days since we sent the distress signal."

  "Yes, and then the transmitter broke down," said Marshall bitterly. "So let's make use of this time and put out calls to Rhodan. Maybe we'll be lucky. If the Springers come back, it will be too late. Even at night they don't give us any peace."

  "Indeed they don't!" sighed Rodrigo and he drew Laury to him gently. Their lips touched fleetingly.

  A suppressed curse escaped from Marshall as he turned discreetly away from them. "Rodrigo, perhaps you'll be good enough to leave Laury alone for a little while. She has to concentrate if we don't want to stay here in this hole forever. Even if Rhodan listens for us day and night he can never pick up our impulses unless they reach him in a concentrated form. He has to differentiate our thoughts from thousands of others and that he can never do unless we concentrate on him. Not even Pucky could do it, if he were here. But unfortunately he isn't."

  Gently, Laury extricated herself from the arms of her lover. "Rod, he's right. Our love can wait until later. Just now our safety comes first and the task of delivering the serum unharmed. Our whole mission here will be in vain if we don't accomplish that."

  Marshall turned around. "That's a wise decision, little girl. So I still have hope."

  Rodrigo stood up, his brow furrowed indignantly. "John, if you were not my friend I should be angry with you but I can understand that your mission takes precedence. So what should I do while you two go into your telepathic work?"

  Marshall gave a sigh of relief and smiled. "Nothing, Rod. Just sit there on the couch and cogitate, or as far as I'm concerned you can sleep. Laury and I will concentrate our thoughts on our position and broadcast it in all directions. I wish we knew more exactly what section of Trulan we are in. That would make the task simpler."

  The Count sat down laboriously on the couch. His fighting blade hindered him in almost all of his movements but he did not seem to be able to part with it. "I'll take a nap because I am a bit tired. But wake me up if anything happens." Then he stretched out and soon the even rhythm of his snoring announced that he was asleep.

  Marshall and Laury then concentrated on the task before them.

  • • •

  Rhodan dismissed the car and went into the Hotel without his usual display. He found Pucky waiting for him.

  "It's about time you got here," said the mouse-beaver. "Marshall is waiting for our help. I already know the direction but of course it's hard to gauge the distance. I'll have to make a jump."

  "That's a bit dangerous," replied Rhodan. "In the meantime I also made contact and promised to put in an appearance as soon as possible. I had my hands full getting out of an invitation from the president to visit the zoo. He wanted to drive out there with me this very evening so that we'd have the whole day tomorrow for an inspection. I almost have the feeling that since I'm the assumed Inspector they want to get in good standing with me. So maybe they've got something on their slate to answer for."

  Pucky wasn't paying the least attention to what Rhodan was saying. "But how else can we find Marshall? I have to jump. Then if I pick up the impulses from behind me we only have the final portion of the way to trace down."

  "And I'm supposed to stay here in the hotel?"

  "What else?"

  Rhodan's expression was grave when he said, "My little friend, I'm afraid you haven't fully assessed the situation. Admittedly I came here very well disguised and nobody became suspicious. However, I happened accidentally to overhear the conversation of two Ara officers. The government of Tolimon has sent an official inquiry to Arkon to find out whether or not they have an inspector by the name of Tristol."

  Now Pucky also became earnest. "Did they get an answer yet?"

  "Naturally not. The Arkon registrar will not work that fast but I'm sure that it'll be stirring up some circuits in the mind of the Robot Regent. So you see that there's no other recourse but to pull a disappearance as soon
as possible. So for that reason I'm going to go with you."

  "You mean—go together in the teleport jumps?"

  "Of course not. I'll take a taxi, preferably one of those fast airboats, and I'll follow you on each stage of your progress. We'll keep in mental contact and Marshall has only to keep up a normal rate of thinking. From here on, we won't lose him again. Let people think I'm making a minor inspection incognito. No one will dare stand in my way.

  Pucky sighed and slipped off the bed. Marshall, do you hear me? We're pushing out in your direction. Just keep on thinking and for my sake make it hot sausages or chilled carrots. As far as I'm concerned you can even tell jokes. The main thing is, one of you has to stay awake. Do you get me?

  We understand!came the double reply. Laury was also telepathing. But hurry! And bring money with you, for the Springers!

  The hair at the base of Pucky's neck stood up. Money? For those swindlers..."

  Rhodan mixed into the thought stream: String the Springers along until we've found you. I'll take care of them.

  Pucky shrugged and proceeded to pack his uniform in Rhodan's suitcase. "You and your eternal appeasement policy! One of these days you'll pay for it with a load of grief."

  "No more grief, I'm sure, Pucky, than your predilection for clever tricks in the wrong place. I even suggest that you stay out of sight during our dealings with the Springer agents. After all, the Springers have very unpleasant memories of a mouse-beaver who crossed their path in the past. I don't want to refresh those memories, by any means."

  "They only got what they deserved then," said Pucky indignantly. "I think I've played this idiot business long enough now, not to have to stand aside while our friends are being saved. What will Miss Laury think of me? Or even this comical Count that they freed from the zoo. No, I'm coming with you!"

  Rhodan raised his brows in astonishment. "You're certainly resolute about it, little fellow. Do you want to get us all into danger?"