The Secret of the Time Vault Read online

  The fortieth planet was a gigantic world. No wonder that it formed its own system together with its six moons, the smallest being about the size of Pluto. One of these six moons even possessed a satellite of its own as large as a continent - a cosmic curiosity.

  Deringhouse and his space-fighter squadron were in hot pursuit of the fleeing Topidian fleet, which was just crossing the orbit of the thirty-ninth planet. To Deringhouse's great surprise, the enemy suddenly deviated from its straight course and entered the orbital path of the fortieth planet. He'd assumed the enemy would head out of the system and then vanish into hyperspace. And now this!

  But this wasn't the only surprise the Topidian fleet had in store for him. The cigar-shaped ships with the bulging middles broke rank, forming six equal-sized groups, and dispersed, each in a different direction. Deringhouse had the presence of mind to send some of his fighters after each of the lizards" smaller formations. He kept in constant touch with his men via long-range videophone. Because of this he had a pretty good idea what was happening.

  The Topides had no intention whatsoever of abandoning their plans regarding the Vega system. Return to their home planet was out of the question, unless they came as victors. Therefore they hit upon the obvious solution: withdrawal to the outermost reaches of the Vega system, where they'd try to establish a new strong hold. The six moons of the fortieth planet seemed the ideal spot for this.

  Deringhouse gave orders to six of his fighter planes to stay behind and keep the Topidian fleet under constant surveillance. They were to inform him of any suspicious moves of the enemy. Then Deringhouse, accompanied by the rest of his squadron, set course again for Rofus in order to give a personal report to Perry Rhodan about the unexpected turn of events.

  To his great dismay, his news didn't result in the startled reaction he'd imagined. Rhodan listened calmly and then issued orders to ring the fortieth planet with patrol posts, at the proper distance, of course, to make sure that the lizards wouldn't suddenly start out on a surprise attack on the inner planets of the Vega system. Then he added:

  "There were several more important things I want to see taken care of. You'll be in charge of the guard detail, Deringhouse, that will send out the alarm in case the lizards try to start new trouble. Thanks, that's all." Rhodan waited until Deringhouse had left. Then he turned to Bell, who'd watched the scene, sitting quietly in a chair. "Go and get the Thort, Reg! Also Khrest and Thora. I want to have a talk with them."

  "May I stay here during this meeting?"

  "Absolutely. You have to be here with us, Reg. Also, get John Marshall to come here. I want to make sure that the Thort isn't trying to pull the wool over my eyes. He's been known to have lied before ... Now, get a move on, friend!"

  "Your wish is my command, sir," mocked Bell. "I'll be back in no time." He got out of his chair as slowly as he possibly could, and dragged his feet, then left the room with a nonchalant grin.

  Rhodan didn't pay any attention to his antics, he was already lost in thoughts: The Topides are just a secondary problem that will find its solution in due time. The more immediate problem is the Ferrons. And especially the Thort. We've helped them out of a critical situation, and they owe us debt of gratitude. But they don't seem to much inclined to be grateful, and willing to do us some favors in return now. I'll simply have to force them to do so. The secret of the matter transmitter ...

  Khrest and Thora were the first to arrive. The sage old Arkonide scientist shook hands with Rhodan and took a seat next to him. Thora, apparently in a more affable mood than usual, smiled and held Rhodan's hand for a second longer than was really necessary. There was something in her eyes that caused Rhodan to wonder; he was filled with rather pleasant emotions at this unexpected change in her. He knew he could count on her support, for today at least, and this was unfortunately so rarely the case.

  "I'm glad you got here before the Thort," Rhodan began. "I'd like to inform you about my plans. I know you're as much interested in the transmitter as I am myself. We must obtain the designs and blueprints for its construction, at all costs. The Thort isn't going to supply them to us voluntarily, even if he had them in his possession. But I'm sure he can give us at least some hints as to how we can get them. Lossosher revealed that there's some kind of a formula, known only to the Thort. This secret formula has been bad they have no idea what to do with it. I believe this formula is the encoded password that will open the five-dimensional lock of the secret vault."

  "Do you really think the Ferron will disclose this formula to you?" Thora asked.

  "He'll have to." Rhodan smiled. "If he won't hand it over willingly, then we'll find other means to make him part with it. After all, that's a job for the mutant corps. Somebody will take over his mind and ..."

  Now Bell entered together with the Thort. John Marshall followed on their heels. They nodded a silent greeting and sat down. The Thort appeared to be in low spirits; he certainly guessed what was awaiting him.

  Perry Rhodan came quickly to the point.

  "The Topides have been chased away from Ferrol; nothing stands in the way any longer for the Ferronian government to return to their homeland. The time has come, therefore, Thort, for us to say goodbye."

  The leader of the Ferrons could hardly hide his fear. "But the Topides are still somewhere within our solar system," he objected timidly. "I've just learned this from your friend Bell. You know very well that we're incapable of warding off a renewed invasion all by ourselves."

  Rhodan leaned forward, closer to the Thort.

  "I wonder why I even bothered coming to your assistance, Thort." Rhodan spoke with great insistence. "But you make no attempt to help us in return. True, I'll admit, you allowed the scientist Lossosher to reveal some of the background on how you came into possession of the matter transmttters. But what good does this knowledge do us? The few machines of this amazing invention are in your hands. I must get the construction plans; I must know how more of these wonderful machines can be built by us. Those blueprints that you gave me some time ago were nothing but skillful forgeries. You tried to put me off with these worthless plans. You realize, of course, that five-dimensional thought processes are impossible to express in three-dimensional figures. You have a choice now: if you wish to enjoy our protection in the future, if you want to make sure that your realm will survive, then you must tell us how to open the crypt in the Red Palace. Otherwise we'll leave you here to your own devices and to certain defeat at the hands of the lizard invaders."

  Rhodan had put his cards on the table. The Thort knew exactly what was wanted of him. He had to come to a decision. Marshall signaled that the Ferronian leader wasn't thinking of treason. He was toying with the thought of coming out with the truth. But it took several minutes until he could definitely make up his mind.

  "I know of some clue, but I doubt it will bring you closer to the solution of your problem. I'd like to know something first, though: what will happen once you can construct these matter transmitters?"

  Khrest took it upon himself to answer. "I don't understand your concern in this matter, Thort. Are you afraid, maybe, that this would change the course of history in our universe!" We possess space ships that work on the same basic principle as your matter transmitters. We dematerialize and continue our journey in hyperspace. This is what happens in your matter transmitters, too. We're only interested in a simplification of this method, that's all. I assure you, our galaxy won't go to rack and ruin if this is what you're afraid of Thort."

  "But the wise ones that entrusted this secret to us were thinking ahead. They considered it essential that only those persons would comprehend the method of construction, who had acquired the necessary maturity - even if this would take millions of years. Why should we break this law now?"

  Rhodan advanced the decisive argument. "You give us the secret formula, and if we succeed in opening the vault, this would be sufficient proof of our degree of maturity, don't you agree?"

  The Thort looked into Rhodan's q
uestioning eyes. For a moment he seemed to be overwhelmed by Rhodan's compelling glance, to be swallowed up by this ocean of steely strength. Then, mustering all his forces of resistance, he freed himself from this almost hypnotic compulsion, and arrived at a decision out of his own free will.

  "I see your point." He conceded defeat. "I'll hand this formula over to you. It's very simple and easy to remember - but it doesn't make any sense to me. This is it: Dimension X = pentagon of space-time simultan. That's all."

  All were silent.

  Khrest and Thora exchanged quick glances, which plainly showed they neither understood the formula nor had come to some consensus of opinion. Bell opened his mouth wide as if to yawn, but then seemed to reconsider, and closed his mouth, sighing noisily.

  John Marshall signaled silently: That's all, indeed Rhodan concentrated on memorizing the mysterious words of the formula.

  Breaking the general silence, the Thort remarked, not without a trace of gratification: "I'm sorry that you obviously don't know what to make of these words either. We've known this formula for thousands of years, but its meaning has remained a mystery to us to this day. I've done all now that's within my power, and I hope that you'll appreciate my effort."

  Rhodan nodded casually. "Thank you, Thort. "We certainly appreciate this. But let's discuss something now of more immediate importance, the real reason why I've called this meeting. When do you intend to return to Ferrol, Thort?"

  The Thort reacted to this change of topic with obvious relief.

  "We've already begun with our preparations. Our fleet's ready to start. I and some of the members of my government will return this very day to Ferrol via matter transmitter. We'll proceed directly to Thorta; the receiving stations have been set up there in the meantime. There'll be a big victory celebration and I'd like to invite both you and your friends to honor us with your presence there."

  "Thanks," replied Rhodan with a hint of sarcasm. "We'll certainly accept this invitation. At the same time I'd like to ask you to put at our disposal a restricted area where we'll erect a base for your protection against any alien enemies."

  "Don't you plan on staying here on Rofus?" asked the Thort.

  "No. When the Topides renew the battle, they'll attack Ferrol and not Rofus. Besides, I have other reasons."

  It was easy to see that the Thort would have loved knowing these reasons, but he didn't dare ask what they were. He simply said: "We'll decide about that after our victory celebration. I hardly believe that there'll be any objections to your request. Since our business has been concluded I'd like to ask your permission to leave now. My people ..."

  He had barely left the room when Bell gave vent to his pent-up feelings. He breathed deeply, then exhaled forcefully and noisily, as if he were afraid that he might otherwise burst.

  "How about that formula?" he exploded impatiently. His eyes were aglitter with curiosity. Khrest and Thora glanced at Rhodan who, evidently bored by all this excitement, studied some invisible speck high up on the ceiling. "Why do you ask me? How should I know?"

  Khrest's face showed something akin to disappointment, while Thora smiled disdainly.

  "Who else, Perry? Who else could I ask?" Bell insisted.

  "The same authority I'm going to consult for advice now," Rhodan answered, and started to leave the room.

  He'd almost reached the door, but Bell had rushed over to him and grasped his arm. "And who would that be, Perry?"

  "The positronic super brain on the Stardust II, of course, my friend."

  Now Khrest's face also lit up with a smile. But his smile held no sarcasm, only pleasure.

  The first big victory party had come and gone and the second even bigger one was supposed to follow shortly.

  The Thort had taken up residence again in the Red Palace and had resumed his official duties. All signs of the invaders occupation were quickly removed everywhere on Ferrol. The population was overjoyed to return to their normal daily lives.

  Rhodan's request for a base was granted without delay by the hastily called assembly of the ministers' council. The restricted area was situated near the mountains, which were the home of the Sichas. The following day, the Stardust II landed in the rocky desert. The ship's powerful ray beams created an immense cave, more than one thousand yards deep. Quickly the giant spacesphere hid inside, disappearing from the surface of the eighth planet. Labor robots soon set to work and constructed Rhodan's first galactic base. Corridors, elevators, living quarters, workshops and laboratories were built. Storerooms and hangars for the space-fighters were installed in the molten rock. Finally, an Arkonide reactor supplied the power to erect an enormous energy screen above the whole installation, rendering it thus unassailable.

  The native population watched all this activity with mixed emotions, as Rhodan's mutant corps easily found out. The Ferrons were none too happy to see the former occupational enemy forces being replaced by some new type of regimentation. Rhodan kept reassuring the Thort that his people would only derive benefit from this military base. But how could the Ferrons comprehend what Rhodan meant by that? How could they know that Rhodan considered them to be the first colony of the galactic empire he intended to create?"

  In addition to all the planning and work that went into the establishment of his first galactic base, Rhodan's mind was set upon solving the problem that was his foremost concern. He made his final preparations to wrest the big mystery from the dim past of Ferronian history. He held lengthy dialogue with the gigantic brain in the Stardust II, presenting to it the formula he'd obtained from the Thort. Rhodan learned the answers he'd hoped for. At this juncture Khrest joined him in the huge room which housed the positronic brain.

  "I knew you'd choose the only possible way, the right way," Khrest commented.

  "Was there any other way, Khrest? The positronic brain is thinking in a five-dimensional manner, the same way you do and I myself, at least partially thanks to my hypno-psych training. However, neither you nor I could've found the solution on our own, as simple as it appears to be. The whole secret is contained in this notion of 'simultan'. Also 'pentagon' plays a role. But only everything in its proper combination, in its overall gestalt, makes sense."

  "Doesn't five-dimensional thought always make sense," Khrest smiled gently.

  "Not in our universe," replied Rhodan, and he smiled, too. "But to be frank with you, Khrest, I'm a bit disappointed. The five-dimensionally secured vault is in reality a quite normal four-dimensional affair. The documents do exist, but not in the present time, that is the fourth-dimensional factor of the mystery. The protective shield consists of transformed radiowaves of far distant radio stars - well, simply cosmic rays. Add to that some technical tricks, effects, created by bending light rays, and naturally existing energy walls. All these obstacles can be rendered ineffective when certain events occur at the 'simultan' instant."

  "And how do you intend to cause these events to occur?" Khrest asked with a certain curiosity that revealed unmistakably that he already knew the answer. Rhodan played along with him.

  "I'll use my mutants. Tanaka Seiko is a natural-born detection finder. He can receive normal radiowaves, sent by intelligent living beings and understand them. But in addition to that, he can also receive the waves emanating from the radio stars - the same waves that form the energy screen around the secret vault. If he succeeds in detecting them, we'll gain unhindered access to the documents, which will simultaneously be brought to the present time. That, in a nutshell, is the whole problem."

  "Do you have any idea why and how all this comes about?"

  "No, Khrest, I must confess that I really don't know. I told you all the information that the positronic brain supplied to me. Tanaka won't be able to manage by himself, but together with several other mutants it will be possible, thanks to the fact that their individual gifts can be combined in their effect when the mutants touch each other or hold hands. I'll need a telekinetic and a teleporter and, of course, also Sengu, who will announce when th
e barrier collapses."

  "What will become of these plans?" Thora had entered the room, unnoticed by the two men, who turned around on hearing her question. Thora looked inquiringly at Rhodan with her unfathomable red-gold eyes.

  Khrest tried to act as a mediator. "In case Rhodan should obtain them, he has a claim on them, for otherwise he'd never succeed in opening the vault."

  "He does that with the help of the Arkonide brain."

  "Which would no longer exist if it hadn't been for his intervention at the time - at least not as far as we're concerned. Therefore ..."

  "A very logical argument, indeed," Thora scoffed, unconvinced but in a more conciliatory mood. "What will Rhodan do with these plans!"

  Khrest shrugged his shoulders. "That's his affair. Why should he not build any transmitters? Perhaps we might even establish a direct connection between Terra and Arkon. Who knows what potential developments the future might bring?"

  Rhodan decided the moment had come for him to enter into the argument. He tried to reassure Thora. "Thora, don't worry. I'd never build the transmitter unless all of us agreed on it. The secret will belong to all of us. Please trust me!"

  It was the first time in quite a while that he spoke to her in such a personal manner, but she didn't seem to notice. She pretended to have forgotten the brief period in the past when she and Rhodan had come closer to each other. Once again he'd become for her the ambitious Terran who threatened to topple over with one mighty sweep the tottering interstellar empire of the Arkonides.

  "I thought it necessary to express my doubts, if you don't mind, Rhodan. But if Khrest agrees with you - well, I won't oppose him. But I have warned you, Khrest!"

  She didn't wait for an answer but left the room. Khrest looked at the control board of the positronic brain. "we could consult it," he suggested. Rhodan shook his head. "Consult it to find out whether I'm reliable or not? No thanks. In case you have your doubts too" Khrest" you can ask the brain when I'm not in the room. After all, I wouldn't want anyone to say that the brain was under undue influence."