Part 8 (1/2)

And a montage of friendly ghosts melded mistily together on the darkling screen of his dying mind... foremost Thora... then Perry... here Pucky... there Atlan... again Thora... now Perry... his revered Mother and Father... the beloved grandparents, both maternal and paternal, who tutored and spoiled him in his youth.

And then, at the penultimate moment of life's parting, as though seen through the enamoured eyes of an 18-year-old youth in the thrall of first love, a young maid of Arkon appeared to Khrest, a sylph with skin so fair and hair so l.u.s.trous and lips so luscious and eyes so luminous that one might wonder were she but a poet or a painter's idyll of perfection, a bright illusion, or had she truly ever lived...

Khrest bad kept his promise. The s.p.a.cejet remained in the hands of the Earthlings. In the capable strong hands of men of a young and daring race.

Thank you, my friend! a familiar voice seemed to say inside Khrest's head, momentarily disturbing the vision of supernal feminine loveliness as a stone cast in a pool might vibrate a beautiful girl's reflection.

”Goodbye, Perry,” Khrest said almost inaudibly. Only the Universe heard his dying breath.

Still one last sound silently echoed in his soul, the beautiful name that named the fair lost vision of his youth, the secret sorrow which even his most intimate friends had never suspicioned in the later years of his life. His image: ever the solitary, dedicated savant. But once there had been... Lurvanii.

And the Universe was diminished as Khrest, the wise old Arkonide scientist, expired; dying as he had lived-serenely and with a gentle smile upon his lips-as the dearest desire of his ardent manhood reappeared, released with his final heartbeat from the recesses of irreality, to welcome her eternal love home to infinite peace.

For the firstime in his life Lt. Davis Bowler stood face to face with the Administrator. But he was far from elated, seeing the sorrow in those pain-filled eyes.

Rhodan looked up, turning the message between his fingers. ”You may leave, Lt. Bowler,” he said with outward calm.

Bowler saluted and left the room as quickly as discipline permitted.

Rhodan flipped on the mike. ”Rhodan speaking. Please find Reginald Bell and send him to me at once.”

He waited for the confirmation and leaned back in his chair. Something unforeseen had happened on Khrest's Planet: the Arkonide had apparently been able to save the s.p.a.cejet but had sacrificed his life for it.

Bell came without delay. He knew Perry Rhodan well enough to realize that this was no time for levity.