Part 3 (1/2)
c.o.kaze managed to meet four industrial tyc.o.o.ns at an appointed place. He negotiated with them alone. When he returned three hours later on board the c.o.kaz 2, he handed Thomas Cardif 9 additional doc.u.ments to scan.
”c.o.kaze, for the first time in my life I admire a Galactic Trader!” Cardif impulsively said, extending his arm for a handshake in Terran fas.h.i.+on.
The Patriarch had encountered this custom on Earth and often made fun of it. Now, however, he did not hesitate to grasp Cardif's hand and return the firm handshake. c.o.kaze was beaming. He was pleased by Cardif's genuine admiration.
At the same time hypercom impulses were flas.h.i.+ng back and forth between Arkon and Terra. It was impossible to listen in on this radio transmission and stretch the short impulses to their normal time-span. Furthermore, the antennas beamed them scrambled and coded. But without any noticeable time lag they came out of the hyperradio loudspeaker in clear text at Rhodan's end and at Atlan's.
”But that's not all, Admiral,” Rhodan said into the microphone. ”I can see it in your face. So?”
Across the distance of 34,000 light-years Atlan looked at his friend. ”Right, Perry! I haven't informed you of everything and now I am sorry that I have to be telling you this: the one behind all these intrigues is Thomas Cardif! He is the strategist!”
”Thomas Cardif?” Rhodan sharply interrupted the Arkonide in disbelief. ”He has just grown up and...”
From the gigantic domed hall of the mammoth positronic computer on Arkon heavy breathing could be heard. The coloured screen in front of Rhodan showed Atlan shaking his head. Now he changed from shaking to nodding. ”Perry, you would be right if Thomas Cardif weren't your son! Do you know which answer the giant computer gave me when I asked: who is behind the subversive movement? It named your name. It said: Rhodan! But it didn't say which Rhodan.”
”And you believe it?” the Administrator asked more sharply than he had intended.
”Don't you, barbarian? Actually you could be proud of your son, if he weren't out to destroy you by way of driving me out. That, my friend, I wanted to keep from you, but we probably know each other too well to be able to conceal anything. Rhodan against Rhodan... who would have thought it?”
A pause ensued: silence. Only the picture remained.
This call from Arkon had been scheduled. Rhodan had had the time to summon his closest co-workers. Now they were sitting behind him. They could see the hypercom screen and hear every word.
Rhodan against Rhodan-who would have thought it? That last sentence was ringing in all their ears. They were still filled with horror by Atlan's information, according to which the largest positronic computer of the Galaxy had identified the initiator of rebellion in the Arkonide Empire as being a Rhodan.
Mercant, Freyt, Deringhouse, Marshall and Reginald Bell refused to accept it; they did not want to believe that Rhodan's son had inherited these abilities from his father.
”Perry,” Atlan began again in the great hall of the mammoth computer on Arkon 3, ”I am pulling all the combat s.h.i.+ps still flying under robot crews away from the Druuf front.”
”Admiral, if I were you I would follow the computer's advice this time. If you yourself intervene, or have your robot s.h.i.+ps do so, you will ignite the flames in your Empire that can never be extinguished. I have had an idea ever since your first call but I must still wait until my scientists are finished with one part of the problem of linear hyper-propulsion. Now do you understand me?”
Rhodan had purposely not spoken directly. He did not rely very much on the hypertransmission specialists' a.s.surance that transmissions of this sort were impossible to monitor.
”Got it, Perry,” Atlan replied after brief consideration, ”but I still don't get the entire picture. Does it have something to do with me and the Springers?”
Rhodan smiled lamely. ”I hope to be in the possession of a Fly Swatter!”
Sighs could be heard on Arkon. ”Perry, at this moment I thank our G.o.ds for having met you, barbarian, but if you think I am a super-Arkonide, I thank you for your faith but I am no such thing. 10,000 years spent on Earth seem to have bestowed human weaknesses on me: I am beginning to be pessimistic and to think of Reggie's thumb and your Fly Swatter...” As he spoke his Arkonide eyes widened. ”That...? Eternal G.o.ds! Perry! Now it seemed as if Atlan were trying to reach across 34,000 light-years to place his hands on Rhodan's shoulders. ”Your Fly Swatter should...”
Rhodan interrupted brusquely. ”We have understood each other, Admiral!”
”No, we have not, barbarian! Do you want to drive out the devil with Beelzebub?” Atlan responded even more sharply.
Rhodan replied with calm emphasis: I was speaking about a Fly Swatter, not about the devil or Beelzebub. You can sometimes get two flies with one swatter!”
”I don't understand that either, barbarian. How lucky we are at least that Thomas Cardif does not have your experience!”
The conversation between Earth and Arkon was concluded.
For Perry Rhodan and his a.s.sociates work began. Only Allan D. Mercant, head of Solar Security, knew about the Administrator's daring plan.
But mission Fly Swatter would remain in the idea stage as long as Team 065Propulsion was still working on their task.
The man who suddenly supplied the required impetus was called Rabintorge-the Indian from Lah.o.r.e.
4/ A WARNING OF DOOM.
24 hours later the major transmitters of the robot computer on Arkon 3 tuned into the most important hypercom news phases. The typical call code insignia of the mammoth positronic computer appeared on screens throughout the realm of the Great Empire. It was replaced by the familiar picture of the domed building and then the metallic voice of the computer could be heard.
The voice was 'threatening; it was not threatening in tone or in expression, it threatened with its soulless logic, not hesitating to speak openly about the plans of the Springers, Aras, Ekhonides and 50 other large nations within the Arkonide Empire.
The computer did not warn against impending chaos; it did not even indicate it. But it did speak about the Druuf front in the form of an ultimatum without setting any time limit.
”...We shall withdraw the fleets. We shall not undertake anything further to prevent the Druufs from flying into our Empire. We will withdraw our fleets so slowly and inconspicuously that the Druuf battles.h.i.+ps will have to find their way into the Great Empire.”
”An Empire that is no longer willing to preserve itself has no more justification for existence.”
In conclusion the large dome of the mammoth computer could be seen on all screens, followed by the wave pattern.
For many intelligent beings in the Arkonide Empire it was a warning of doom!
On the return Right from Aralon after their successful conference with the Council of 10, c.o.kaze and Thomas Cardif had heard this transmission. It seemed to impress the Patriarch but not to have the least effect on Cardif.
”Bluff!” That was his opinion. ”Atlan is still hiding behind the Robot Brain, c.o.kaze. Really. If the positronicon had spoken on its own initiative it wouldn't have given you Traders a chance. But today the Computer is no longer what it used to be. Hasn't Atlan now offered proof that I have counselled you correctly when I suggested you make contact with the squadron commander at the Druuf front?” Cold laughter crossed Cardif's face. His voice sounded ice-cold, the voice that was a dead ringer for Rhodan's. But the father of this young man had never spoken so coldly, so devoid of any feeling.
Instinctive defence compelled the Patriarch to lean back. Cardif discerned the significance of his movement. ”I... the monster, right, Springer? You are thinking that again but haven't you overlooked that my plan does not contain any warlike engagements? I do not want to become the monster that brings blood and tears over the Great Empire. I want to destroy Rhodan; eradicate his name so that in 10 years not one person will mention it. After that I will withdraw, be forgotten as well, and until the end of my days I will know that my life has had a purpose! Thus far it has been meaningless.”
”Cardif, is Rhodan like you?” Patriarch c.o.kaze simply had to ask that question. An irresistible, inner urge drove him to it.
The ice-cold smile reappeared on the face of the young man. ”Rhodan like me? No, Springer!” Only the face I was given makes us similar. He is a Terranian, a conglomeration of feelings which are in constant contradiction to his insights. I, however, feel and am like an Arkonide!
Now the merchant in c.o.kaze spoke. ”Don't you want to take advantage of Rhodan's downfall in any way?”
”Advantages? For me? I'm not even toying with the idea of becoming his successor in the Solar System. I want to destroy him, to punish him for the murder of my mother. Then I will be satisfied and the knowledge that he got what he deserved is enough for me. But why do you always compel me to talk about Rhodan and myself?”