by Perry Rhodan
He went to the window and looked out on some of the building clusters of the university which was located only 20 meters below the surface. The 'sky' consisted of a smooth ceiling of stone with a regular pattern of lamp fixtures. The subterranean world was well illuminated. It was almost as bright as under the sky outside but it was much warmer.
Waff was startled when Pucky made his entrance again. He brought Andre Noir back as well as a muscular black Terranian, the teleporter Ras Tschubai.
Markas came in at the same moment through the door which was only half a meter high. The place looked like a medium-sized room to Noir and Tschubai. At least they could move around in it without bumping their heads against the ceiling.
"The optical technicians have all agreed to leave Swoofon and work for Perry Rhodan," Markas announced joyfully. Then he looked at the two Terrans. "Oh, we've got visitors."
Pucky introduced Ras Tschubai to Markas, whom he met for the first time
"And now it's time to break off all connections with the outside world," Pucky said. "We'll have to disrupt the railway service, the radio stations and so on. How many radio stations do you have down here, Markas?"
"Only one. Waff knows all about it." Markas was rather impatient. "I still have to talk to a number of other groups of the academy. Those who have opted to stay on Swoofon will go to the railway station after packing their bags."
"Very good." Pucky was pleased. "Noir and Ras will attend to them."
Noir removed the last shred of memory from each Swoon as to what they had heard and seen of the exodus. Ras performed a short tele-jump in order to reconnoiter the surroundings and then transported the group in batches to Gorla where he simply deposited the Swoons close to the elevators. Afterwards not a single Swoon was able to tell how he managed to get to Gorla. For the present nobody showed very much interest in them anyway because there were more important problems to worry about.
Meanwhile Pucky waddled to the entrance of the railway tunnel and teleported himself into the tunnel to a place about five kilometers from the Research Center. It was a simple matter to dislodge telekinetically a supporting arch so that the rocks crashed down with a thunderous noise and buried the tracks. He made sure that no train would get through for a while.
Then he jumped back and enlisted the help of Waff to interrupt the radio service. This presented no difficulties either. All he had to do was to cut off the power reactor by forcing an insulating shield between the critical elements. If anyone wanted to restore its operation again, he would have to take it apart, which would require at least 10 hours. But by then...
Pucky removed a few atomic batteries as well as some vital parts of the transmitter and placed them in a crevice between the rocks on the surface. After he was satisfied that his task was completed, he returned to the room where Tschubai and Noir waited for him together with Waff and Markas.
"We're ready," Markas said. "All the Swoons that are still here want to go to Terra. How are we going to transport them? There's only room for 10 in each elevator cabin. They were only provided for an emergency and... "
"No problem, Markas. Ras and I'll organize a—how shall I call it?—a teleportation channel from here to the Drusus which will land directly above us. This can be done thanks to our special abilities. Then we'll send your people as well as the scientific equipment of the Research Institute through this channel directly into the Drusus, which has already been prepared to receive the whole works. Wait and see, Markas, it'll be no trouble at all. I'll notify Rhodan whenever you're ready."
"Let's go, Pucky!" Markas replied.
Rather than jumping to the surface, Pucky used the little transceiver he wore on his wrist to contact Rhodan and waited till he answered. He briefed Rhodan on the situation and asked for further instructions.
Rhodan's low voice emanated from the tiny speaker: "I'll set down the Drusus exactly over the academy in five minutes. Make sure everything is ready when I call you.
Pucky gazed at his transceiver and said to Markas after switching it off: "Tell all Swoons to gather their personal belongings and meet on the big square in front of the auditorium in 25 minutes. Ras Tschubai and I will begin at once to secure the desired instruments and experimental equipment from the Institute. We don't want to forget anything. Let's get to work. Noir, you can help Markas and Waff. We'll see you in half an hour outside the auditorium, where they always hold their graduation exercises. This time, everybody is leaving the university from the auditorium once again."
He took off together with Ras Tschubai.
• • •
Five minutes after Pucky's radio call the officers and men of the Drusus witnessed a strange and baffling spectacle.
The gigantic sphere had silently taken off from the spaceport at Swatran after Rhodan had officially ordered the end of the blockade by a public radio announcement. The interned Springers were set free and permitted to return to their houses or ships. The normal life of Swoofon was resumed again—with a few minor exceptions.
The radio connection with the University of Swoofon was broken off. It was the only institution on a planet shared by many nations, where no discrimination between races and people was tolerated, a place where the elite of the Swoons lived. However they would live here only for another half an hour if everything went according to plan because that puzzling spectacle was already underway.
As far as the men on the Drusus were concerned, the spectacle was more amazing than puzzling. Pucky and Ras teleported the whole complicated-looking apparatus of the Research Center. Machines, large and small generators, consoles and cabinets with special instruments and loads of intricate equipment were stowed away along the walls of the hangar for later use.
Mike Tompetch stood near his dismantled G-33 with his mouth open. Pucky suddenly appeared above his head with a big metal trunk and moved it telekinetically to the growing pile of equipment. Ras Tschubai followed him with a big generator which was still anchored to its base. Then Pucky appeared again with an entire residential block, measuring 20 by five meters. Tompetch could see a complete kitchen through a transparent wall.
The hangars of the Drusus were filled with a collection of everything from the Swoons' world. This much Tompetch could see for himself although he still was at a loss to understand the purpose his Guppy was to serve and how it tied in with the action in progress.
Suddenly he felt how the ship's usual gravity of 1G was diminishing. Normally the antigrav field inside the Drusus was regulated to correspond to the gravity of Terra. Wherever they happened to be—in free space or on alien worlds—no change could be felt inside the ship.
However now a modification had occurred without warning. Some of the younger cadets in the adjacent hangar took advantage of the light gravitation, now reduced to 0.25G, to have a little fun. They performed daring leaps that would have broken their bones under the customary conditions of gravity.
Under any other circumstances Mike Tompetch would have thoroughly enjoyed the performance but now he was in no mood to be amused. Not as long as he was in a state of uncertain suspense himself. But his tension was soon to be relieved.
Ras and Pucky materialized once again one meter above the floor of the hangar with a flock of Swoons. Pucky let them float down to the floor in slow motion where they dispersed with astounding speed. Although they had never before been on the Drusus, they seemed to know exactly what to do and where to go.
Tompetch and the crew had already been earlier informed of the Swoons' embarkation and consequently were not in the least surprised. The cadets ended their frolics and assisted the Swoons. Soon a torrent of lively cucumbers flooded the Drusus and the crew was hard put to show them quickly enough to their quarters to prevent a logjam in the hangar of the G-33 which was filled to the brim.
"The invasion of the cucumbers!" a booming voice exclaimed from the door to the inner corridor. Tompetch looked around and noticed Reginald Bell on a raised platform. There the proud and self-important deputy of Rhoda
n stood, shaking with laughter. His merriment was justified if one didn't look too closely at the scene which could give the superficial impression that a cargo of cucumbers was being taken on by the Drusus.
Suddenly there was another figure standing next to Bell: Perry Rhodan. "I wouldn't laugh so much if I were you, Reggie," he said with a serious face. "Do you think that the Swoons look that funny... "
"It isn't that so much as the way they come in bundles and then drift to the floor like wilted leaves."
"Well, your exhibition of glee could lead to misunderstandings, although I must admit that I've a little trouble myself to keep a straight face. The Swoons are our friends and they'll make it possible for us in the next 10 years to leap a century of micro-technology. Think of it, when you feel like laughing." And after a little pause he added: "Come to think of it, you probably look a little ridiculous to the Swoons yourself. Only their good manners keep them from expressing their true feelings."
Dumbfounded, Bell followed Rhodan with his eyes as he left again. Then he caught Tompetch's quizzical glance and decided to leave the hangar very quickly, too.
• • •
Four hours later the transfer was completed.
20,000 Swoons had come aboard the Drusus with their special tools and their best machines to seek a new home in the Solar system. The huge excavated hall 20 meters beneath the surface of Swoofon was empty. The Research Institute was liquidated.
Rhodan was convinced that the Swoons would reestablish their academy in the course of the next five years but he was also quite certain that the construction of the compensation-detector would be delayed by a few weeks or even months by an imminent event.
The event he was thinking about was related to Tompetch's apprehensions and he alleviated them by informing the lieutenant of his plan.
"The Drusus lifted off after issuing a vague radio call and went into orbit in the stratosphere of Swoofon at an altitude of 300 kilometers.
Pucky had taken up his position aboard the G-33 for his mission. This time he was all alone. The entire responsibility rested on his shoulders if he failed to pull it off. But why worry? Everything would turn out just as he and Rhodan had planned.
There were no more Swoons in the berth of the G-33. The doors to their quarters were closed. It was unnecessary that they witness what was going to take place.
Pucky crouched tensely behind the controls of the Guppy. There was hardly anything left of its instruments. The technicians had stripped it almost completely. The propulsion system was still intact but all navigation instruments and steering controls to keep it on a normal course were missing. The ship had to be steered by sight and could no longer pass the speed of light.
But this was not what Pucky intended to do. He watched through his optical instruments how the big hatch doors of the Drusus slid back and opened the way into space. His big moment had come.
His wrist radio clicked. "Hi, shorty!" It was the voice of Bell, who supervised the action from the Command Center of the Drusus. "Are you ready?"
"What are you waiting for, fatso? I'm raring to go!"
There was a short pause. Then: "Start in 10 seconds! Take course as instructed. Acceleration steady at 1G. Five seconds to go... "
When Bell called out "one... go!" Pucky pushed the drive lever forward. The Guppy rose off the floor and glided between the magnetic field barriers of the hangar, through the hatch, and blasted off into space.
Pucky glanced at the observation screen. The Drusus fell back rapidly but then followed him in a graceful curve as if they wanted to overtake the Guppy. Simultaneously David Stern broadcast a radio call from the communication center, which was received by all stations of the Springers on Swoofon:
ATTENTION! FUGITIVE CRIMINAL ESCAPED IN ROUND AUXILIARY SHIP. THE PUBLIC IS HEREBY WARNED NOT TO ABET THE FUGITIVE. THE AUXILIARY SHIP IS ARMED. PERRY RHODAN.
The radio message was designed to accomplish three things. First of all it should make the population of Swoofon believe that the action initiated by Rhodan on behalf of Arkon had been successfully concluded. It was a diversionary trick. Secondly it should explain the catastrophe about to overtake their brethren and keep them from speculating about other purposes and reasons which, in any event, would be too difficult to fathom for them. Third, it would serve to cover up the disappearance of 20,000 Swoons.
Pucky grinned happily when he heard the message on his tiny transceiver. He changed the course of his ship to make it enter the denser atmosphere. His velocity diminished as he held back with his acceleration. The gravity of Swoofon grabbed the G-33.
"Attention!" Bell shouted over the radio. "Circle halfway around and you'll be there!"
The Drusus followed Pucky's craft at a distance of no more than 50 kilometers. The strength of the radio signal was barely enough to reach Pucky so that there was no danger that anyone else could intercept their communications without a special receiver.
"You'll have to describe the target very precisely," Pucky requested. "You know I don't have a map."
"Don't worry, my pet. I'll put you right on target."
Several long minutes elapsed as Pucky raced aimlessly, or so it seemed, around Swoofon. The ship lost altitude and was apparently unable to get back in orbit. Several poorly aimed energy shots from the Drusus made it obvious that the fugitive would under no circumstances be allowed to escape.
Bell gave his final instructions in a calm and efficient manner: "Watch the mountains coming up over the horizon, Pucky. First we're approaching a plain with several peaks jutting out like needles. The one in the middle is the highest. There are two lower ones to the left and the right. Got it?"
"I can see the peak in the middle right in front of me," the mouse-beaver confirmed. "Hurry up, I'll be there in eight seconds."
"In front of that peak is a little round valley. It can be clearly seen. It looks like a dry lake. Aim straight for it! There!"
"I see!"
Pucky stared at the observation screen as he bore down on the described valley with blinding speed. At an altitude of 20 kilometers the Guppy was set on a collision course.
Higher up, the Drusus made no effort to follow the plunging auxiliary ship. To an outside observer it would have appeared that the controls of the little ship were blocked by remote control so that it would be forced to crash.
10 kilometers!
Pucky began to sweat a little but he stuck to his guns. He had already taken his hands off the vessel's controls. The course was right on the button and needed no correction. What was he waiting for? If he kept sitting there much longer he would crack up with his Guppy and get blown to smithereens.
Now he was down to the height of the peak, which seemed to shoot up into the clear sky. Down below the valley widened as if it wanted to swallow the diving craft following its inexorable path to destruction.
Pucky concentrated his mind on Bell in the Command Center of the Drusus, closed his eyes with a shudder
—and jumped.
Not a second too soon.
The Guppy crashed into the rocky ground like a tremendous meteor, piercing it to a depth of 20 or 30 meters before it exploded and tore a huge hole in the surface of Swoofon. The impact of the ship's body slowly began to raise a circular wall around the site of the crash as if the rocks were a viscous mass.
And then, seconds later, an eruption hurled glowing and liquid masses of rock up into the air for kilometers. The mushroom of an atomic explosion began to sprout in the sky and spread its fearful clouds.
Bell breathlessly beheld the awesome display without paying any attention to Pucky, who had materialized on his lap and watched the spectacle with him. Rhodan stood not far away. His lips were tightly pressed together. The question whether he had acted correctly and responsibly crossed his mind. There couldn't be any doubt of course that the deed was in the best interest of Terra. But could the question be answered in the affirmative with respect to the Imperium?
He tried to dismiss his qualms. In the
end, of this he was convinced, the net result of the action on Swoofon could only prove to be beneficial to the common cause of Terra and Arkon. Taking the long view, the operation must be considered as a step forward for all concerned, and not for Earth alone.
Khrest stood beside Rhodan and looked pensive. A mental shield prevented the reading of his thoughts. His reflections would remain his secret, as was so frequently the case.
Atlan was different. The immortal Arkonide sat in his chair and observed the mushrooming cloud with a cold smile. During his long life he had formed the opinion that truly great goals cannot always be attained exclusively by well-intentioned and praiseworthy deeds. He believed that the just sometimes were compelled to use the forces of evil to bring victory for the good. He had already learned beyond doubt that Rhodan was striving to achieve the best not only for Earth and its mankind.
Down there on Swoofon steaming lava sizzled in a huge crater. It measured almost one kilometer in diameter and must have been at least 50 meters deep. Swoons and Springers alike must all be persuaded that the University of the Swoons was demolished in the disaster. The nuclear reaction of the hyper-propulsion engine in the ship had failed to be shut off and the resulting explosion had devastated everything around it.
20,000 Swoons, the elite of the Swoons' nations, had perished in a terrible catastrophe perpetrated by an unknown outlaw. This was the sole judgment to be drawn.
Rhodan seemed to wake up after a dream. Moving almost awkwardly, he went over to the communication center and silently sifted through the incoming reports, which confirmed his expectations. Two minutes later he said to Stern: "That's enough, Stern. Switch to hyperradio. We're ready to leave."
He returned to the Command Center where Khrest walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "It had to be done, Perry. Remember that nobody got hurt. Not one Swoon lost his life."
"But the others believe that 20,000 of their people died. Where is the difference? The population of an entire planet is convinced that the elite of their people has been killed. As far as they're concerned they've lost 20,000 of their best brothers."
