Escape to Venus, page 11
part #15 of The Third Power Series
"Now that everything is taken care of, Marshall, you'd better catch a few more hours' sleep. Later we'll discuss further details about your trip."
Meanwhile it had become day. The bright daylight pierced the canopy of the jungle and removed the last vestiges of the all-concealing veils of the night. The tree house seemed to swim in a sea of bright orchids which floated like giant jelly-fish in a green ocean. Multi-colored bugs were crawling and scurrying over the branches and the tree trunks. From higher up came a cacophony of cawing, twittering and singing, contributed to the riot of color and sound by the feathered inhabitants of the primeval jungle.
Marshall had taken leave of Rhodan and Okura and had climbed down to the jungle floor. There he paused for a moment, heavy-hearted, feeling lost among the giant trees, and waved a last farewell to his friends. Then he resolutely set out on his march toward the washed-out spot of the sun that stood somewhere far to the east above the green wilderness. A few minutes later he had disappeared from sight, swallowed by the dense underbrush. For a little while longer, Rhodan and Okura could still hear his cautiously advancing steps; then they, too, vanished.
Rhodan and Okura remained alone in their tree house. They were condemned to inactivity until Marshall's return. That might take several days. Bright daylight would last another 120 hours before once more the long Venusian night would fall. If Marshall could accomplish his mission by then, they would have made a giant step forward. However, if not...
Okura sat lost in sombre thoughts, idly fingering his all-purpose instrument, worn like a wristband, when suddenly a hardly audible voice came from the miniaturized loudspeaker:
"...calling Perry Rhodan! We're calling Perry Rhodan! Come in, Perry Rhodan !"
The voice grew louder, as if the sender were approaching rapidly, broadcasting the same message over and over again.
Okura switched on the direction finder immediately and then looked almost straight up. His features expressed doubt. Rhodan smiled: "That's Bell. Send the signal!"
Several seconds later they could clearly hear Bell's voice call out in astonishment which soon changed to relief:
"Perry, Perry, where the devil are you hiding yourself? I've been searching for you like a needle in a haystack. Why the long radio silence?"
"Take it easy, Reg. Where are you calling from?"
"From the Good Hope V; we are circling above this damned planet and can't come in for a landing. That cursed positronic brain...
"So, that's it!" Rhodan interrupted and sighed. "Now it's certain that nobody is able to land on Venus. Bell, you'd better return to Earth and wait for a message from me that I have arrived at the station. There's nothing else you can do for me now."
"Where's Thora?"
"She's in good hands," replied Rhodan sarcastically.
"I'm not returning to Earth," said Bell suddenly. His voice sounded rather faint already, because of the increasing distance. "I'm going to stay here until I'm able to land. And that's all there is to it!"
Rhodan knew his friend well enough to recognize this special tone of voice. Nothing in the universe would now deter Bell from what he had decided to do.
"Alright, then, just keep on orbiting Venus. Okura and I are perched on a tree in the jungle, playing Tarzan, while Marshall is on his way to negotiate with the Venusian seals. Otherwise, everything is just fine down here. Say hello to everyone on the Good Hope V!"
Bell's voice was almost inaudible by now but Okura could have sworn his reply had been a hearty curse.
Rhodan smiled, trying to hide the pain in his shoulder. He leaned back against the curtain formed by huge lianas. A blood-red orchid, as big as a man's head, hung just above his head. "He'll be cursing more than once, if I know him! He hates nothing worse than having to stand idly by while others enjoy all kinds of adventures."
"And he can't even join in all the fun second hand and watch it from up there," joked Okura, pointing to the eternal cloud layer above the jungle canopy.
Rhodan closed his eyes and nodded, saying nothing. There was so much to be done, so many gigantic tasks to be undertaken. His life's work had just begun; he had no more than laid a foundation stone. Somewhere far away in the Milky Way the star realm of the Arkonides was crumbling away and decaying. Perhaps at this very moment new invasion fleets were taking off, light years away, planning to pay Earth a surprise visit.
For the time being, fate had wrested responsibility from his hands, but he was certain it would be returned to him some day, increased a thousand fold.
And while the giant saurians were browsing in the grassy lowlands, making their way back to the ocean through the swampy shores, stomping and roaring; while Thora was doggedly bargaining for her price with Gen Tomisenkow; while Marshall was making his way all alone through the desolate jungle; and while Bell continued to orbit in helpless rage around and around the planet—Perry Rhodan slept peacefully on Venus, recuperating his strength.
Son Okura watched faithfully over his leader, making certain nothing disturbed the Peacelord's sleep.
The future was used to waiting for the present to catch up with it. The hour of decision had been moved far ahead and the future waited patiently for tomorrow and tomorrow... and Perry Rhodan.
ESCAPE TO VENUS
Copyright © Ace Books 1972,
by Ace Publishing Corporation
All Rights Reserved
Perry Rhodan, Escape to Venus
