The Stolen Spacefleet Page 7

  And now for the second one!

  Meanwhile, Ranault had realized that the immediate danger was past. Pucky's voice had been unmistakable. Cautiously he crept out of his concealment and stood up. No Akon was in sight but even Pucky was nowhere to be seen.

  Here was his chance. He took the remaining capsule from his pocket and hurried to the activation station. The cover was still standing open but no one had noticed it. Swiftly yet carefully he clipped the microelement into its tension fasteners, checked its contacts and switched on the robot signal-receiver. Then he closed the panel and breathed a sigh of relief.

  He remembered the 8 other patch-mods he had left in the hiding place. Should he still try to get them? He didn't get to make the decision.

  "Ranault? Where are you?"

  It was Pucky! Had he been able to take care of the two Akons?

  "Here!" he answered and looked about the room. Where was the furry rascal? "I'm over here!"

  "Run to the corridor! I'll be there!" Pucky had spoken English instead of Arkonide.

  Ranault abandoned the other 8 capsules and raced to the corridor but Pucky was held up. And for a very good reason.

  The affair with the first Akon had gone so well that he had become incautious. Let the fellow blab out all he wanted to later, he thought. He hadn't seen anybody so there was nobody he could describe. Maybe they would believe his story and maybe not.

  It was at this point that Pucky had called to Ranault and advised him to get out of the room.

  He reasoned that the technician must be out in the passage already and so he could not be seen by the remaining Akon. But even while Pucky was thinking of this with satisfaction, an energy beam hissed past him so closely that it singed the fur on his back. He sensed the heat and instinctively teleported to the other comer of the room.

  The Akon had discovered him and seen him clearly. He had shot at the strange intruder and missed. Then in the same second his target had disappeared. The Akon stood there dumbfounded and looked about him. The heavy weapon was poised in his hand, ready for action. Where had the alien creature gone? He couldn't have just vanished in thin air.

  There was a noise behind him in the corner. He ducked down and hurried in that direction as swiftly as possible. He had no fear whatsoever, to which his bitterest enemy could testify. Yet he was alone in the ship with some unknown entity that must be gifted with astonishing capabilities.

  He almost stumbled over his comrade who lay unconscious on the floor. At first he thought he was dead but he soon realized he was wrong. The other must have struck the wall with his head. The Akon chanced to look upward and he discovered a few blood spots just below the ceiling on the wall. The conclusion to be drawn from this observation defied all laws of logic. In order for his companion to strike his head against the wall at that level, four meters above the deck, he would have to fly horizontally through the air. And he knew that Akons couldn't fly, at least not without technical assistance.

  He jumped behind the nearest generator because he heard footsteps somewhere. Somebody was approaching him.

  And of course this was Pucky, who had seen the Akon and read his thoughts. Too bad the man had seen him. He would know that the intruder here could not be an Akon or a Terran, that he was a strange being with telekinetic abilities.

  Cautiously, Pucky came around the corner of the huge generator casing and then he faced the Akon. The mouse-beaver acted at once but he could not help the fact that the man stared at him for what seemed to be the longest second in history. The beam weapon appeared to have a mind of its own as it flew away and landed somewhere between the consoles. Then the Akon was gripped by an invisible force and began to whirl around, faster and faster and with increasing force until everything in the room was a blur to his vision. The centrifugal force was too much for him and he lost consciousness.

  Pucky took the Akon by the hand and teleported to the top of the nearest battleship. When he stretched the unconscious man out on top of the great hull he was very certain that no explanation for this would ever be found. The man's claim that he had encountered some strange creature in another ship and then wound up here would be met with nothing but disbelief. It was at least a poor consolation, Pucky had to admit to himself, but what else could he have done?

  He teleported back and relieved Ranault of his uncertainty. The technician completely forgot about the remaining 8 micro-mods in his relief at seeing the mouse-beaver. "So there you are, Pucky! What happened?"

  "You mean with the Akons? They're taking a little sneeze. Come on-let's get out of here!" (Snooze, Ranault thought to himself, inwardly smiling at Pucky's wrong word.)

  They jumped back to the hilltop and then to the base, where everybody was waiting for them in worried impatience. Pucky reported and didn't try to varnish over anything. He left open the possibility that the guard had seen him clearly even though he only had a brief second to observe him. But it was also probable that nobody would believe the man's story because actually it would sound too fantastic.

  "And I had to leave the bag with 8 of the patch-mods in it," Ranault confessed. "But I hid it so well that nobody will be able to find it."

  Rhodan pondered for a moment. "The ship is hooked up, so we'll get those modules back again," he said. "It would be too dangerous now to try finishing the installations."

  "There are only 8 light cruisers to go," Marshall reminded him.

  "It would be better for the Akons to keep them than it would for them to catch us now," Rhodan decided. "There are still a few hours before sunrise. Let's get to bed. Who knows what's ahead of us tomorrow?"

  But Pucky was still uneasy. "Why don't we simply pull out of here? Are we going to just wait around here until they get suspicious?"

  "And you think they wouldn't do that if we were to disappear in the middle of the night? You forget that I've arranged to make an inspection tour of the agricultural industry with Auris tomorrow. Nobody can prove that we're doing anything suspicious. I have to stay with my diplomatic itinerary."

  "Oh yes, Auris!" said Pucky knowingly. And he waddled out of the room.

  5/ THE LONG-SHOT BLUFF

  At dawn Rhodan was rudely awakened.

  Without warning, Stanislaus Jakobowski burst into the room where the Administrator was sleeping. "Sir-the blue energy screen!" he cried out. "They've turned it on! Our radio traffic with the Odin has been cut off!"

  Rhodan remained where he was. "I figured as much. So they've found the two guards. They don't take long to react-you have to give them that." He nodded to Jakobowski. "Alright, wake up the others. We'll meet in 10 minutes in the front room."

  He waited until he was alone before he got up and dressed. He washed up, carefully combed his hair and noted that his next shave wouldn't be due for weeks yet. Actually what was involved was not shaving but a treatment with hair-stultifier.

  Lt. Groder and Marshall were conversing as Rhodan came into the room. Both men expressed their concern to him but he smiled.

  "Nothing's happened that we hadn't planned on," he said as he sat down. "Obviously the Akons have noticed something but I'll lay you any odds that they haven't the slightest idea what's really going on."

  "But the blue screen!" Groder reminded him. "We're cut off from any contact with the Odin."

  "Maj. Scott will proceed according to instructions. He will report it to Atlan and Bell. Time is on our side-not in favor of the Akons. At least this time."

  Alex Wiener came in and announced the results of his first investigation. "The blue screen lies at an altitude of 10 kilometers. No linear-drive ship could come through without crashing."

  Rhodan nodded. "Ten kilometers, is it?" he said thoughtfully. "That means the air traffic over Akon isn't restricted. In which case we can be expecting a visit soon."

  The glider landed 20 minutes later.

  Auris of Las-Toor came out of it in the company of three officers. Rhodan approached her casually and extended his hand, which she grasped involuntarily. But th
en she withdrew it almost too quickly.

  "I want an explanation for what happened last night," she said coldly. "The Council has authorized me to advise you that for the time being you may not leave this planet. We can only discuss your return to Terra when the guilty ones are found."

  Rhodan was obviously surprised. "What do you mean, Auris of Las-Toor? What happened?"

  She looked at him sharply. The expressions of her companions were threatening and determined. Their hands rested conspicuously on the butts of their energy weapons.

  "You know very well what I'm referring to, Perry Rhodan. Last night somebody penetrated the fleet base and almost killed two of our security men-under very unusual circumstances."

  "How would I know anything about that?" asked Rhodan in amazement.

  "You really don't know? Then I'll tell you!" She described how the two police guards were found. "This is something that could only have been accomplished by a mutant-in fact by that small hairy creature who is often seen in your company. We know that it possesses very astonishing powers."

  "Oh, you mean Pucky?" Rhodan laughed as though he were relieved. "I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. Pucky is back on Earth. Surely you don't believe that he could get here without a spaceship and without my knowing it!"

  She looked at him searchingly. "The little creature isn't here?" Her gaze went past him and lingered on the residence building where several figures were to be seen. "Would you permit me and my officers to search the station?"

  "If you absolutely insist on it and if it will rest your mind-please do," he answered. "But when you're through I ask that you turn off your screen. It interferes with our communications."

  "We shall turn off the screen when we are ready to," she said impertinently. "You are suspected of a very serious crime and we do not intend to stand idly by without getting to the bottom of the matter. The Council has suspended all action on the extension of your base until this affair has been cleared up."

  Take off Merk! Rhodan thought intensively, hoping that Pucky was in telepathic contact with him. He himself was too weak in his telepathy to concentrate on Pucky's thought impulses without being obvious about it.

  Auris and the officers dedicated themselves thoroughly to the task of searching every room in the house. Rhodan assisted them in the process and even led them into the basement. There was no direct evidence of the 'small, hairy creature' but one of the officers stepped on a half-eaten carrot which caused him to slip and almost fall. None of the Akons recognized this as a clue to Pucky's presence although to those who knew him it was like a signed confession.

  A half-hour later Rhodan accompanied his guests to the glider. "When will you expect me for the inspection tour we agreed upon?" he asked Auris.

  "I shall not expect you, Rhodan. And our defense screen will remain in operation. You will hear from me again."

  Rhodan checked his watch casually. In two hours the countdown he had arranged with Maj. Scott would be completed. The time would be up.

  "You're making a mistake, Auris," he told her in a tone of deep concern. "This interruption of my contact with Terra will precipitate certain actions which you will come to regret. Your fleet is by no means ready. What will you do when my ships attack?"

  She looked at him sadly. It was obvious that she was acting against both her will and her own convictions. "The blue screen will protect us."

  "No way!" he retorted. "You know that we can get through the screen with linear drive."

  This time she smiled. "Such ships would be shattered and the crews would die."

  He returned her smile. "You're absolutely correct-except that they will be unmanned ships with a very dangerous payload. Upon impact those Arkon bombs will detonate, you know. Your blue screen will collapse, we will be picked up and you will be left to your fate."

  Auris stared at him while the velvety-brown coloration of her skin seemed to pale. There was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes as she prepared to leave. "I shall give my report to the Ruling Council. You will be notified."

  This time she did not give him her hand but Rhodan sensed that it was only because of the officers who had silently taken in this conversation. The hatch closed and the glider lifted into the air finally turning swiftly away toward the city.

  Rhodan watched it until it had disappeared beyond the mountaintop. Then he walked slowly back to the house. His friends were outside waiting for him. Behind them stood Pucky, who had just returned. He had teleported to the same hilltop that had served him before as an intermediate jumping point. There he had concentrated on the conversation between Rhodan and Auris and thus he knew when the glider departed.

  "What now?" asked John Marshall.

  "First of all, Atlan will play his part. As you all know, the blue energy screen isn't able to jam or block out hypercom frequencies entirely. With a sufficiently powerful transmitter it can be penetrated but not by normal radio waves. So Atlan will 'just happen' to get in touch with me and he'll learn what's going on. That's when I'll ask him for help. The Akons will also be able to listen in on our conversation and they will be witnesses to the fact that my plea for help..."

  He was interrupted before he could tell them the rest of it. Axel Wiener had been on duty at the receiver and now he came out to them. "Hypercom call, sir! Arkon Central!"

  Rhodan waved a hand as though to confirm his explanation. "This is it! Let's hope the Akons are at their receivers. They will have a pleasant surprise which should make the following shock more effective."

  The others followed him curiously. Rhodan entered the Com Room and saw the face of his friend Atlan on the viewscreen. The features of the Imperator were very blurred, however. It was obvious that the blue energy screen was seriously affecting the reception.

  Atlan began the conversation. "You are on the world of my ancestors. I can barely see you, Perry. Actually there was no special reason for my call but if you can spare any time on your way back to Terra I'd like to ask you to fly to the Proxyta System. On the second planet..."

  At this point Rhodan interrupted him. "It's a good thing you called me, Atlan. My equipment here would have been too weak to get through the screen without using your own directional beam. I'm in a ticklish situation. The Akons are making things difficult. You have to help me."

  According to their prearranged plan, Atlan pretended to be surprised. "Help you? Tell me what's happened?"

  And Rhodan gave him his report. He reproached the Akons bitterly but repeatedly emphasized the fact that he had no inclination to get into diplomatic entanglements with them. Yet if they gave him no other choice he would have to defend himself.

  "How are you going to do that without a fleet?" inquired Atlan. There was a certain scornful undertone in his voice which was intended to make the Akons take notice. "I myself must avoid getting involved in helping you. After all, the Akons are the mother race of my people. We are descended from them and even though there were conflicts between us these have been resolved. There is friendship now between Arkon and Akon."

  Rhodan appeared to be undecided. "I'm asking for your help, Atlan. You can't simply refuse to do anything. Think of our treaty!"

  "I also have a treaty with Akon and that takes precedence. In this case, Perry, I can't help you without running the risk of a war with Akon. Is the issue worth that?"

  "No, I guess not," admitted Rhodan with an anguished effort. "Actually this is all a bag of feathers anyway. Pucky is back on Earth but the guard who was attacked claims to have seen him in one of the Akon ships. Nobody can prove such a thing and yet they..."

  "Try to get their permission to take off, and get away from Akon! That's the only advice I can give you. I'm sorry but I have to stand on the side of my ancestors. They are in the right because Akon is their home planet. Terrans have no business there."

  Rhodan glared at him in a furious rage. "Do what you please, Atlan. I'll not forget your lack of cooperation!"

  He snapped off the transmitter. Moments later Atlan's
image faded from the receiver screen as the hyper-beam was extinguished on Arkon.

  Groder and the others stared at him disconcertedly.

  But Rhodan smiled. "That was something, wasn't it? Don't you think Atlan and I missed our calling? We should have been actors!"

  Marshall had perceived the pattern of Rhodan's thoughts and he only grinned.

  Not so Lt. Groder. "Sir, you don't mean to say..."

  "Of course! What else? My argument with Atlan was all a part of it. And within an hour Bell will bring in the second act! It will be easier for the Akons to accede to my demands if they know they have Atlan on their side. Sounds like a paradox, doesn't it?" He smiled ironically. "But it isn't. The Akons will be glad to get rid of me if they get Atlan as an ally in the bargain. We'll soon see. Besides that, Atlan's declarations will appear more credible to them later-and that's just what everything depends on."

  Everyone turned around as someone cleared his throat in the background. Pucky was standing there rather pensively stroking the fur on his chest. "I must say it's very involved and complicated. That's putting on an act alright-and I guess show business is illusion, if that's what you want to call a flat-out lie!" He whistled disapprovingly. "So, in civilized circles this whole thing is what you simply refer to as diplomacy!" He waddled away disdainfully.

  • • •

  Naturally the Akon stations had picked up the hypervideo conversation between Rhodan and Atlan. The Ruling Council was convened to consider the new set of circumstances. In this particular session Auris of Las-Toor was very restrained and seemed to give the impression of being disappointed or disillusioned. At first her attitude was a bit baffling but when the first reports began to come in from the Akon cruisers patrolling the outer fringes of the system, many of the Council members believed they knew what was behind the restraint and disappointment of their female representative.

  For the reports were very disturbing indeed. An incessant series of hyper shockwaves registered in the near vicinity of the Blue System indicated that a tremendous fleet was gradually materializing. It was emerging from hyperspace and was deploying into a pattern that was systematically encircling Akon. Intercepted spacecom traffic revealed that it was a fleet from Terra which had come to rescue Rhodan.