by Perry Rhodan
On the other hand as far as Ron was concerned there was no mystery connected with the strange voice that had fought with the Baalol priests for Ron's and Larry's lives and which had finally freed the two prisoners from the surreal room filled with clamor and unbearable noises. Ron had recognized it immediately when he first heard it.
Indeed, his friend from Machraamp had amazing, powerful means at his disposal.
• • •
The two friends remained silent while they were making their way back to the air-taxi. They trudged over the rows of dunes and soon lost sight of the temple city. From time to time they looked back to make sure the priests were not pursuing them. However it appeared the priests had been left totally exhausted by their mental battle with the creature from the planet Machraamp. The desert stretched out in silence and the heat made the air shimmer above the sand.
Finally the taxi-gyro appeared ahead of them beyond the crest of a dune. Tired and perspiring they slid down the slope of the last dune. Side by side they trotted toward the vehicle.
All of a sudden Ron stopped in his tracks and grabbed Larry by the shoulder.
The car was empty; no trace of Gerard Lobson was to be seen.
"That fool!" Larry cried out angrily. "Where does he want to go here in the middle of the desert?"
They were searching for footprints. But the wind seemed to have been blowing hard in the meantime; they could barely make out some indistinct impressions in the sand which led to the north between the dunes; nobody could say for sure whether these tracks were their own from early in the morning or if they had been left by Gerard Lobson.
Larry walked all around the vehicle while Ron remained standing on one spot for a little while to ponder whether he should climb up on the next dune to look around from there. He did not have a chance to come to a decision. Coming from behind he heard a scratching, rustling sound. He whirled around.
But faster than Ron could complete his turn, Gerard Lobson rose from the hole he had dug into the ground to hide himself.
Gerard stood there, slightly leaning forward. A silly grin on his face was proof of how much ge enjoyed this situation.
Worst of all for Ron and Larry: the dark-haired man held a needle-beamer, a small but deadly weapon in his right hand.
6/ A SINISTER POWER
At first glance it seemed Gerard had put himself in a rather foolish position. He was forced to divide his attention in two directions and both men he had to deal with were armed the same as he was. There appeared no way he could succeed.
Upon a second, more critical evaluation of the situation the matter took on quite a different aspect. Gerard had had plenty of time to make his plans and he used this time to his advantage. He stood about 15 meters from the taxi. That was close enough not to miss his target and far enough to keep an eye on both men without having to turn his head. Yet Ron and Larry were unable to see each other. Larry had disappeared behind the gyro and had stopped there. Most likely Gerard would protest any attempt to move that Larry might undertake. That meant the two friends could not communicate with either gestures or glances and plot any course of action together. Neither knew what the other was doing.
Apparently Gerard had gotten his fill as he enjoyed the rare sight of having trapped these two men by surprise. He began to talk and, oddly enough, his voice had changed to a hoarse, grating sound.
"We'll fly back now to Zanithon," he announced. "The two of you up front and I in the back. You'll be unarmed and I'll have my needle-beamer pointed at your heads all throughout the trip home."
Larry seemed to have moved at this moment. With lightning speed, Gerard gave a slight turn to his weapon. He yelled: "Stand still! Don't move!"
Apparently Larry obeyed this command, for Gerard relaxed again.
"We planned anyhow to fly back to Zanithon. What's all this fuss about?" Ron said casually.
"You wouldn't have gone where I want to take you," said Gerard.
"Where do you want to go?"
"To my friends who'll owe me quite a few things once I've handed you over to them."
"You mean the Springers, don't you?" Ron began to needle him.
It was a stab in the dark, for Ron had no proof that Gerard was cooperating willingly with the Springers. But the stab hit home.
"How do you know that?" Gerard cried out, his eyes widening in amazement.
Ron chuckled sarcastically. "You've told me so many lies, Lobson, that I had to figure out this story on my own. You say you were sitting with the two Springers and the Ara in Dr. Zuglert's office, didn't you? Suddenly one of the Springers jumped up and left the room—that's what you told me, didn't you? And when he returned he carried me in his arms? For crying out loud, next time try to tell a more believable story! You were standing down in the lobby as the lookout man, that's the truth of the matter. The Springers suspected me ever since I arrived on Lepso with the Ephraim. The simplest way to find out if their suspicions were justified was simply to wait and see if I really would come to Zuglert's office. There wasn't even any necessity to put me under surveillance. All they needed to do was to place a lookout in front of the building on 86th street... and of course to make a few additional preparations of a technical nature. You were standing guard there, Lobson, and the preparations consisted of making sure they could switch off and on as needed at any given time the antigrav field of any of the many elevator shafts. All that was required of you was to report: watch out, he's coming! And don't try and tell me one of the Springers could carry me upstairs on his own! You have to have two persons for that. After all, it had to be done quickly: there were other people inside the building whose suspicions might otherwise be aroused.
You helped that Springer, didn't you, Lobson?"
For awhile it looked as if Gerard had lost his composure. But he quickly pulled himself together again and grinned impertinently at Ron. "So what? Why should it bother you?"
Ron shook his head. "It doesn't," he replied seriously. "Mainly because I realize that you are not really responsible for your actions."
Gerard was startled and frightened once more. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Ron brushed off the question with a slight disdainful gesture. "You'll find out later. Now you are holding the trump cards in your hand, so to speak. Do you mind answering a few questions for me?"
Ron had sized up Gerard correctly. Now during his moment of triumph he was most willing to brag about what he knew. He nodded with a patronizing air and requested: "Go ahead! Ask me!"
"Your friends, the Springers, have placed a tap on the telecom line of the Terran Trade Mission. Is that correct?"
Gerard nodded affirmation.
• • •
"And Zuglert made a call from this tapped line?"
"Yes, as far as I know. But not from the building where the Mission is located. To make matters more convenient for the Springers they had the tap extended all the way to their own Trade Commission. Zuglert made his call from their offices when he was left unguarded for a few minutes."
"How did he get there?"
"After I ran out of Dr. Zuglert's office, he must have gathered up the rest of his strength and left his office to get some help."
"Just a moment," interrupted Ron. "Didn't he have a seephone in his office? Why didn't he make his call for help from there?"
Gerard hesitated. "Maybe he thought the affair was so important that he didn't want to take into his confidence any of the persons he could have reached by vidphone. Later on, when he was at the Springers' Trade Commission, he didn't call just anybody. He requested the telecom operator to connect him with the nearest Terran war ship. He probably was on his way to find a telecom line when he left his office."
Gerard smiled sarcastically. "But he had underestimated the ever-watchful Springers. There is hardly any building downtown that is not kept under their surveillance. They discovered him in time and took him along with them. That's when unfortunately this mishap occurred and when he managed to spe
ak with the Florida... though fortunately on the other hand without being able to reveal too much."
Now it was Ron's turn to smile sarcastically. "You took care of that for me, Lobson; you told me all I needed to know."
"I! Impossible!"
"Sure enough. Didn't you repeat to me word for word what Zuglert had said after he was overcome by exhaustion? 'Important for Earth!... all must be warned... alcoholic solution, quite inconspicuous.' Don't you think I can put two and two together?"
Gerard shook his head quite mechanically. "No," he said rejecting Ron's suggestion. "I think..."
Ron interrupted. "Tell me another thing. Why are all the sick people brought here to this desert? What are the Baalol priests doing with them?"
Gerard gave a nervous start and grew noticeably pale. "I don't know the answer," he shouted excitedly. "Don't mention that name again! Baalol is a sinister power!"
Ron recalled what had happened to Larry and himself and was inclined to agree completely with Gerard on that point.
"Well, then," he said coldly, "you don't seem to know it."
He looked Gerard in his eyes. "But I know something," he added. "You have become an addict... that's the thing you need doesn't cost very much but you had no money at all. That's why you went to see Dr. Zuglert: you needed his help for some dirty trick by which you wanted to get some money. But Zuglert knew your bad reputation and knew in advance what you wanted. He wished to help you—judging by all you have told me— but apparently help you only in an honest way. When Zuglert became ill, you took to your heels. Maybe it's true the Springers caught you when you later returned to Zuglert's office... maybe you went to them also out of your own free will. In any case, you got from the Springers as much of the dope as you needed. That's why you became a slave to them. All for a few sips of a liqueur-like substance that's sold in tiny bottles with violet-yellow labels."
Gerard stared at him dumbfounded. As in a dream he stepped back one step. His mouth moved. He tried to form some words but they would not pass over his lips.
Ron tried hard not to look to the side. He had to keep eyes locked with Gerard. Most of what Ron had said had been mere conjectures on his part. But Gerard's reaction had clearly shown that he had guessed right. Ron had spoken to Gerard in a very insistent manner. Gerard had been frightened to death because he saw his secret laid bare to Ron. Now was the time for Larry to come to his aid!
A fraction of a second later he realized that his friend had not disappointed him in his expectations. Gerard's attention was suddenly attracted by something outside Ron's range of vision. He tried to jump aside, stumbled and fell headlong into the sand.
In the same moment Larry's bright-glowing shot came hissing from behind the vehicle. Ron ducked, ready to jump in order to divert Gerard's attention in case Larry's shot missed.
But Larry's aim was perfect. He hit Gerard's right arm, and Gerard howled in pain.
Ron walked slowly over to him. He seized him by the shoulders, pulled him up to a standing position.
"Now we'll fly back to Zanithon," he said in a soothing tone to the addict. "And you'll get your liqueur—even without the Springers' help.
• • •
Their return flight passed without any further incidents. Gerard Lobson got what he craved and Ron found on this occasion that the drug was known by the name of Liquitiv and was everywhere obtainable on Lepso. It was sold as a liqueur and nobody seemed to have the slightest inkling what danger it harbored.
Gerard was a changed man. He was no longer interested in returning to the Springers ever since Ron had purchased a sufficient quantity of Liquitiv to keep him supplied for a long time. Ron also wanted to have some of the drug on hand to send back home to Earth so that the experts could make a thorough chemical analysis of it. Gerard had even agreed that he too would be taken back to Earth at the next opportunity. Maybe the experts might also find a cure for his addiction.
Meanwhile Ron sent a comprehensive coded report to Nike Quinto. While he was waiting for his reply he finally had his long-planned conversation with inspector Neary of the Terran Trade Commission.
Neary was quite surprised to learn about the wiretap on one of his lines. The place where his wire had been tapped was quickly located and the line leading away from it was followed within the office building. It ended in a relay station established four floors below in a small office belonging to the Transall Import-Export Co. The tenants were not present while the discovery was made—nor were they ever seen there again. From that time on the Springers were no longer able to listen in illegally to the conversations made by the Terran Mission.
As a result of further inquiries Neary discovered that it was a mystery where this drug was originally produced. Some 12 years ago it had made its first appearance on Lepso, where it was traded freely. Nearly disposed of special methods and means to obtain such information—the purchasing lists of the liquor dealers, customers of the big restaurants in the city and several Lepso policemen. However, not until a few months before had Liquitiv become available for planet-wide consumption. Overnight its sales had increased one hundredfold. This was also the observation Larry had made to Ron when he pretended to be a Zanithon taxi driver—although Larry had in turn learned about this second hand only: some months back Lepso had suddenly gone "crazy". The inhabitants were seized by a feverish activity; everybody started rushing around, driving at breakneck speed, imbued with a sense of sudden strength as if all had turned into Supermen.
Neary also discovered that 48 Terran citizens of all those registered with the Terran Trade Commission on the planet Lepso had vanished. All evidence pointed to the likelihood that they had been taken to the temple city of the Baalol priests. But as Ron estimated, there was enough space for several thousand inhabitants, assuming that each of the little houses contained at least three occupants. This led to the conclusion that not only Terrans but also members of other galactic races had fallen victim to the dangerous liqueur.
Neary was still carrying on his investigations when Ron was ordered back immediately to Earth together with Larry Randall. Ron informed his friend of their impending departure and arranged for them to meet in his hotel.
Then Ron took leave of Neary. During the past days he had been able to see and talk with several employees of the Trade Mission. He left the Mission with the peculiar feeling that even its employees gave evidence of excessive activity and restlessness. But he made no mention of this fact to Neary.
However, Ron realized by now that the drug Liquitiv had found a wider circle of customers than he had believed before.
• • •
When he arrived in his hotel's lobby he saw again the blond Araukarian girl standing behind the reception desk. Ron knew now he had wronged her in those first days when he suspected her of collaborating with the Springers. Liquitiv was nothing but one of many available popular drinks. At that moment it was in great demand on Lepso; besides, it was known for its invigorating effect. Nobody had the slightest idea that its users would become addicted to it—at least nobody seemed to be aware of it. It was just courtesy on the part of the hotel management to offer their newly-arrived guests a little glass of the liqueur—for cash, of course; nothing came free of charge even here on Lepso.
Anyway, Ron grinned, the second glass on the tray the girl had brought up to his room that first day had certainly not been put there because of the usual service regulations!
He smiled at the girl as he was passing by her desk.
Upstairs in his room he was met by Larry Randall and Gerard Lobson. Gerard was as usual full of eagerness and impatience. He did not calm down at all even when Ron assured him they would have to leave Lepso this very day.
While Ron had been busy dealing with inspector Neary, Larry and Gerard had undertaken some investigations of their own. According to their findings, Neary's data seemed to be correct on the whole. Liquitiv had appeared on the market here some 12 years ago. Nobody knew its point of origin. The small restaurant owner
had purchased it from a retailer, who in turn had been supplied by a wholesale merchant, who again in turn received the merchandise from the general distributor who had imported the liqueur from Zinema in the Lorraine system. And it was safe to assume that the people on Zinema were not the actual producers of the drug. The product passed through so many hands, and when all was said and done it was astonishing that its price was still reasonable enough so the eventual consumer could afford to buy it.
"That means," concluded Ron, "that Liquitiv results in various or rather in two different effects."
Larry looked up. "You lost me there," he said with a smile. "Please explain this to me."
"Look—Armin Zuglert was a robust, sports type. Nobody would have guessed by looking at him that he was addicted to Liquitiv. Suddenly he collapses and changes into a walking corpse. Why would that be?"
"Withdrawal symptoms. He could no longer get any Liquitiv," Larry answered quickly.
Ron pointed his finger at him. "Wrong! You can buy Liquitiv anywhere you please. Zuglert had money. He also was aware of his addiction to the drug and knew one could not simply stop taking it. So why shouldn't he just go out and buy a few bottles if he had run out of his own supply? No, that was not the reason for his sudden deterioration. In addition to the addictive qualities of the drug it has still another effect on the consumer who has taken it regularly for a certain length of time: it turns them into zombies. And how long does this process take from the beginning to the end? All we can say at this point is not more than 12 years and a few months. For this is how long Zuglert has been able to obtain the poison on Lepso, not any earlier."
Larry thought awhile. Then he declared, "I believe we could find out a great deal more if we could get a closer and more thorough look at those poor guys in the Baalol temple city."
He got up and walked over to the window. He sighed. "I also believe that Nike Quinto is calling us back home for the same reason. You want to bet we won't enjoy any well-deserved vacation after this trip home?"