To Arkon! Page 8

  In the meantime a call had arrived from Arkon and Sergh had had to bother his poor tired head with other things. But now, since he had remembered all this, he quickly regained his emotional equilibrium. He smiled at the strangers and said: "I'm pleased to see you up close and not from such a distance. It was quite amusing to watch you groping your way along into the house."

  One of the three, the fat man of medium height, was just about to push his helmet from his head. Sergh heard a hissing sound as the stranger inhaled the air. Sergh took this to be a sign that he had succeeded in startling the stranger. But none of the other two gave evidence of a similar reaction. The smallest one with the yellow skin kept on smiling and in the grey eyes of the tallest intruder stood the same frightening hardness as earlier when Sergh had first laid eyes on him. "You have observed us?" he asked, apparently without much interest.

  Sergh felt annoyed that the stranger did not address him with his proper title. But the pleasure and thrill Sergh was presently experiencing made him forget this lack of good manners. "Yes," he admitted, "we had you under surveillance. From the moment you trampled in my French flowerbed."

  Rhodan looked at Bell and Tako. The Japanese bowed slightly and apologized in English: "This is probably my fault, sir. I fell into a flowerbed when I made my first telejump into the funnel-house."

  Rhodan dismissed this with a negligent wave of his hand. "Fine." He turned to the administrator. "Then you have found out meanwhile who we are and you probably can guess why we have come here."

  Sergh was honestly perplexed. "Oh, no," he protested "I know nothing about either of these two points. Both of us - my deputy Ghorn and I myself - have felt an extraordinary pleasure in observing you ..."

  "You already said that!" Rhodan interrupted him so sharply that Sergh jumped with fright. "I am the commander of the spaceship you are holding captive without and justification on your spaceport. I demand the immediate release of my ship!"

  Sergh experienced fear. Never before had he heard a man speak so sharply in his presence - so full of energy and vitality. The man with the steely-grey eyes radiated so much dynamism that Sergh could feel it almost physically. He felt deeply frightened.

  "Your ship is not detained by me," countered Sergh, hardly noticing that he was about to offer an apology. "I received orders to detain your ship and there is nothing I can do about them ..."

  Bell stepped forward. Rhodan did not restrain him. Sergh had gotten off his couch in the meantime. Bell to avert his eyes slightly.

  "Fyrka-jyrka. Now hear this, my good man!" Bell started to grumble in his crude rendition of the Arkonide language. "We aren't interested in who actually issued these orders to keep the Ganymede tied down to the ground. We're only interested in who can set our ship free again. And you are it! And that's why we're going to stay here till we get news from our ship that it's en route here to pick us up and fly with us to Arkon! Kao? Understand?"

  Sergh could feel the stranger's breath in his face. It was nauseating. At the same time he heard his loud, forceful voice, which frightened him. He was only half aware that Ghorn - to whom nobody any longer seemed to pay attention - had stepped over to the wall. Sergh felt a bit relieved. Foe undoubtedly Ghorn would release the emergency signal—

  Bell whirled around on his heel when he noticed that Sergh's glance had moved over to one side for a fraction of a second. "Hey, you, glaig-glaig! Hold it right there!" he shouted furiously at Ghorn. The deputy had already raised his hand to depress the emergency button. "Yes, I know if nobody prevented you from pressing that button this place would be filled with some kind of gas and alarm would be sounded somewhere!"

  Ghorn's face turned ashen. His hand sank at his side as if suddenly it had grown too heavy for him. Sergh felt so weak that he slid down once more onto the couch in a prone position. Automatically the vibrator began to work but this time the administrator experienced nothing but nervousness as the usually soothing vibrations penetrated his body.

  "You understood what we want," Rhodan said firmly. "So act accordingly. There is more involved for us than you could guess. We don't care at all about stepping on the Exalted Administrator's toes to reach our goal!"

  Sergh waved his soft hands in futile, mollifying movements, "Wait, wait!" he panted. "Just wait a few minutes! I'm expecting some guests, in whose presence I'll explain what the situation really is like. But permit a little breather to an old man!"

  "Alright," Rhodan agreed. "We'll wait. But just remember one thing: if either of you should try to cross us - it will be the sorriest day of your lives!"

  • • •

  It was actually not so much the present circumstances that struck terror into Sergh's heart. After all, being an Arkonide he had at his disposal such superior means that in the long run he felt confident of coping with any dangerous situation. That he would choose capitulation at this moment was due to his first confrontation with living beings who pursued their goals with such incredible determination and vitality.

  Sergh had never any doubts that he could easily get the better of these unwelcome intruders.

  But he first needed some peace and quiet. His Arkonide brain, the result of many centuries of continuous decadence, had not escaped unscathed from this deteriorating process. The Arkonides' thought processes had slowed down. Sergh required a pause in which he could recall all the possibilities at his disposal in order to get rid of these strangers.

  But not for a single instant had the conviction left him that he was always master of the situation. His assertion, however, that he was expecting some guests and that he intended to give them some explanations which in turn would also touch upon the questions the strange intruder had posed, was absolutely true.

  Sergh stretched all the way out on his divan, placed his limp arms gingerly alongside his body, closed his eyes and started to meditate. Ghorn and the three strangers meanwhile sat down. An oppressive silence fell over Sergh's simultan game room.

  • • •

  Taking into consideration all Thora and Khrest had seen during the past hours and days, they entered Sergh's funnel palace without any illusions what welcome would await them there. They fully realized they would not find the kind of reception due to members of the famous clan of the Zoltral.

  Hardly had they entered the entrance hall when a metallic voice rudely ordered them to make their way as fast as possible to the 35th floor - this taught them a painful lesson that their expectations had been still too high after all.

  They were even refused the customary welcome drink - a symbol rather than an actual drink - which was always offered to even the most humble visitors. Thora and Khrest floated upwards through the anti-grav shafts. Viewing all the familiar splendors around them inside the funnel-building, they felt only the sharp pangs of melancholy, and after they had reached the 35th floor, as they had been commanded to do, their nostalgic mood had given way to deep depression and hopelessness similar to that time when the immortal collective-being on the planet Wanderer had refused to give them the biological cell-shower which could have bestowed eternal life on them.

  Doors opened automatically when they approached, pointing the path they were to follow in a most impersonal manner. Not a single inhabitant of this huge building was to be seen anywhere. They passed through the small anteroom leading to Sergh's simultan game chamber and Thora stopped short when the door slid aside permitting her a full view of the room.

  Rhodan rose to his feet the moment he heard steps approaching and took up a position next to the door. He was afraid Ghorn might use the general distraction which would accompany the visitors' entrance to release some emergency alarm signal. But Ghorn was still paralyzed with fear. He did not budge.

  "Rhodan ... you ... ?" Thora said startled.

  Rhodan greeted her with a silent nod and pointed to a chair. "Have a seat!" he invited her. "That man over there on the couch has something to tell us and I presume he has meanwhile gathered up sufficient strength."

  Sergh slowly
turned over on his side and eyed the two Arkonides from head to toe.

  "On your feet!" Thora ordered sharply, "When you're talking to one of the Zoltrals!"

  A tired smile came over Sergh's face but he remained lying on his couch. "This is one of the things," he said casually, "that I was going to tell you. The Zoltral clan is finished on Arkon!"

  Thora and Khrest seemed to have expected something of the kind. Thora sank back into the chair Rhodan had offered her.

  "Tell me everything and start at the beginning!" Thora requested.

  "And put your feet on the floor! That's the least you can do! growled Bell. "I can't stand people stretched out on their backs who talk to me."

  To everyone's surprise, Sergh obeyed Bell's command, but Rhodan looked at Bell in silent disapproval as if to say: no use creating artificial trouble.

  "Also the Zoltrals," Sergh began in a bored tone of voice, "didn't know that already many years ago some wise men devised a mechanism for Arkon and its Empire which would be set in motion at that moment when our nation's decadence and lethargy would reach such a degree as to endanger the continued existence of our galactic realm.

  "And this moment," here Sergh paused for a few seconds, cleared his throat circumspectly before he went on, "arrived six years ago. Obeying certain cues and special evaluation procedures, which no one has bothered investigating, the mightiest of all positronic computers ever built proceeded to take over as ruler of the Arkonide Empire and Arkon itself.

  "At the same time that the machine was taking charge of the most important administrative duties, it also relieved the ruling dynasty of its offices and privileges. The Zoltrals were forced to abdicate and a new ruler acceded to the throne. And because our race descended to its lowest point during the reign of the Zoltrals, necessitating assumption of power by the positronic brain, this clan has also fallen into disfavor ... so that you two are barely tolerated from that day on.

  "Just remember that and don't ever try again to force an old man to stand, just because you belong to that Zoltral family.

  "But despite all that I have recently received the news that you will be permitted to visit our home planet. In a few hours a spaceship will land here at our spaceport to pick you up and take you to Arkon. How long you can stay there and what you may do there, you'll find out once you arrive."

  Totally exhausted from his long speech, Sergh reclined on his side and closed his eyes. Thora was sitting stiff-backed in her chair, while Khrest stood behind her, leaning against the seat for support.

  "A machine ... !" moaned Khrest.

  Sergh nodded with a bored expression. "Yes, and it does its work far better than any previous imperator of the Zoltrals could ever manage. The machine equips all spaceships with robots and needn't worry about the crews since Naats and other races can be taken aboard to work there under the watchful eyes of these robot masters."

  Thora's old temper flared up. "We know well enough," she hissed, "that most imperators were no good. But it cannot be left up to a machine to change that sad state of affairs! This positronic brain is the beginning of the end. The rule of that machine will bring swift ruin to our galactic empire, while it would take several thousands of years to die of senile decrepitude if it had been left under the imperators' reign."

  Sergh was not in the least bit interested. "You'd better hurry up," he suggested in a weary voice, "or else you might miss the spaceship from Arkon! The positronic won't wait, and if you should miss this opportunity you'll never again get another chance to obtain landing permission on Arkon."

  And what will happen to the ship that brought us here?" Thora inquired angrily.

  "Why should you worry about that?" Sergh asked in turn.

  Thora glanced at Rhodan, who reassured her in English. "Don't worry about us! Try to get to Arkon. Maybe we'll make it there meanwhile on our own; and if we shouldn't succeed, you might be better able to help us if you are already there!"

  Thora rose from her chair. "We're leaving!" she said to Sergh, and Rhodan could hear from her voice how close she was to bursting into tears.

  "Yes, do leave," murmured Sergh without bothering to look at her.

  Rhodan attempted to wave to Thora as a sign of encouragement, while she and Khrest were leaving the room; but she did not look back in his direction. His hand was arrested in midair without completing his farewell gesture. And once more Rhodan and his companions were left alone with the tired administrator and his scared deputy.

  • • •

  Sergh moaned and looked at Rhodan and his two friends. "I thought you'd left together with the two Arkonides." It was impossible to know whether he meant this seriously; his voice sounded as bored as ever.

  Rhodan got up. "That's where you are wrong," he said icily. "You know why we came here to see you and you also know that we won't leave until you've met our demands."

  "A few slaps might make him understand quicker," suggested Bell. "Otherwise he won't be completely awake in another live hours to understand what's wanted from him."

  Rhodan nodded and carefully contemplated Sergh's face as if he were trying to pick the best spot to hit him. "Yes, that's a great idea, Bell," he answered.

  Sergh reacted with amazing speed. His passivity vanished instantaneously as he jumped off the couch.

  "Sorry, sorry ... I didn't mean it that way!" he protested with an embarrassed smile. "Although it would undoubtedly be rather interesting to find out what emotions as evoked if one is physically punished - what an atavistic method, hitting someone in the face! - but I'm afraid it might be painful, so I'd rather after all..."

  "Go on, go on!" Rhodan encouraged him. "But when we leave this room, you and your deputy will come with us. I'm certain nobody will bother us as long as the Exalted Administrator is at the end of my impulse gun!"

  Sergh couldn't agree more. "The control board for the generators of the suction field is installed at the bottom of the funnel stem. We must get down there."

  Rhodan gave orders how to proceed. Reginald Bell led the group. He was followed by the Administrator; next came the deputy, while Tako brought up the rear. Rhodan tried to be everywhere at the same time.

  The funnel's interior was still completely deserted. Rhodan suddenly regretted not having brought along with him one of the telepaths who could have told him what Sergh was thinking at any moment.

  But when they had set out on this mission it was difficult to know in advance that four men could just as easily have made their way inside Sergh's funnel palace without being seen as the three of them.

  Passing through a series of anti-grav shafts they descended terrace by terrace. Rhodan started to believe finally that Sergh was so intimidated that he'd no longer make an attempt to entrap them.

  This evidently was the reason Rhodan's sense of caution was somewhat relaxed. Moreover, the surprise happened at a place where no one would have expected it - in the middle of an anti-grav shaft.

  Sergh exposed himself to an astonishing degree of discomfort in order to rid himself of these bothersome guests. After all, he and Ghorn were in the same spot as the three Terranians, in the center of the long tunnel when all of a sudden the anti-grav field stopped and changed poles. Everything inside the shaft was pulled downwards with irresistible force, hurled against the floor of the next lower room.

  A mento-monitor, one of the few present in the building, had registered Sergh's urgent, anxious thoughts and had promptly reacted to them. Sergh had chosen this passage on purpose because he knew that its walls had such a built-in monitor.

  Sergh and Ghorn lost consciousness as a result of the crash, as did also the slightly-built Japanese. Rhodan and Bell felt only stunned; but before they had a chance to scramble to their feet, paralyzing nerve gas sprayed from needle-thin jets in the ceiling, the floor and the walls. Unconscious and stunned alike were freely inhaling the gas. Rhodan and Bell had not closed their helmets, which could have protected them, since they wanted to be able to speak with the Arkonides - and the jets w
ere working noiselessly.

  Within a few seconds Rhodan and Bell were unable to move. They did not become completely unconscious; they still managed to perceive what was going on around them, although all seemed to happen in a daze. Their active thought processes had nearly come to a standstill and their motor impulses were blocked.

  After a few minutes, about a dozen helmeted figures emerged from the four anti-grav shafts which all ended in this room. Rhodan was vaguely aware that these helmets were in reality filters which shielded their wearers against the effects of the numbing gas.

  The figures picked up the immobilized men and transported them upstairs. Rhodan failed to notice at what point the men carrying Sergh and Ghorn became separated from the rest. But he was fully aware that the room where both he and his two unconscious companions were eventually deposited, was dark and shut off from the outside world.

  He was overcome by fatigue - a result of the nerve gas action - and despite a valiant struggle it took barely a couple of moments before he fell asleep.

  • • •

  When Rhodan came to again, he had no idea how much time had passed but he-noted with satisfaction

  that the sleep had left him much stronger. Yet he could move his arms and legs only with great effort and his movements were as slow as if he had been an old, sick man. Still, slow and painful movements were better than none at all!

  The room was as dark as before. Not even the tiniest ray of light penetrated inside. As Rhodan was struggling to move his limbs, he heard a rustling sound on the floor from which he concluded that the Arkonides had placed their prisoners on the bare plastic covering.

  A mumbling, heavy voice came from the darkness: "If I could lay my hands on that rickety Administrator I'd let him have it! Perry, is that you?"