Infinity Flight

by Perry Rhodan

  The city came into view. The landing field seemed to have become larger. New buildings rose at the perimeter. The big hall was still standing as before. The entrance was open. A forlorn human figure stood below at the edge of the field and looked up at them.

  Homunk—the artificial creation of the Immortal. It represented him, the great invisible being, and was the middleman between It and the Earthlings. With It's unfathomable knowledge It had created a man out of matter—and there were no more unanswered questions for this creature.

  The Stardust touched down.

  Rhodan and Bell were the first to leave the spaceship. They walked over to Homunk, who waited for them with a smile.

  "Welcome on Wanderer, the eternal planet," he said and shook hands with the two new arrivals. "So this time it's a weapon you want. A telematter transmitter, so my master has informed me. Your wish is granted. I received orders to install two such machines in the battle stations of your spaceship. You'll help me with this task."

  Rhodan was astonished how fast the Immortal was acceding to his request. This did not fit at all the image It had created formerly in his visitors' minds—if Rhodan overlooked the 10 weeks he had just spent together with It.

  "Of course we'll help with the installation." Rhodan had to repress an irresistible urge to give Homunk a friendly slap on the back and to call him simply "old friend." The artificial man was smiling. "Shall we begin?"

  No further ado, no delay. Why should the Immortal be interested in not losing any time—after all, wasn't It Time's master? For a moment Rhodan had forgotten that It possessed a very peculiar sense of humor. The work started at once. Fifty Arkonide robots stationed aboard the Stardust started installing both transmitters under the direction and supervision of Homunk.

  Two weeks went by.

  Rhodan grew steadily more worried that this project was taking up too much time. Also, Bell could not conceal his apprehensions. At the beginning of the third week, while the work was still proceeding, Bell had a private talk with Rhodan. The two friends were standing on a small hill and looked over in direction of the imitation Alps. To their left they could see the shining surface of an ocean. The artificial sun was straight overhead. It was pleasantly warm on this artificial world.

  "Have you discussed this matter with It ?" inquired Bell.

  "You mean our being pressed for time?" Rhodan countered, though he knew exactly what Bell was referring to. "I've made several attempts but have never been able to get a straightforward reply. Judging by our previous experiences it's quite possible that only a few weeks will go by here in outer space while on Earth several years may have elapsed. This would be a catastrophe. What good would these super weapons do us if we'd arrive too late—too late to save the Earth and the universe?"

  "We ought to..." began Bell, but stopped short. Rhodan noticed his hesitation and suddenly he knew what had silenced Bell: he was looking out over the ocean from whence a colorful sphere came sailing across the gentle dunes. It was drifting toward them as if borne by the wind. Then a familiar voice sounded forth from it, unmistakably that of the Immortal, loud and clear, mingled with the usual overtones of derision.

  "I've assumed a very impressive shape, don't you agree? I could also have appeared in the form of a monster but that would be too unaesthetic. The multicolored soap bubble looks so much more beautiful."

  "Couldn't it also burst?" Bell asked without respect.

  "Why sure!" came the Immortal's explosive laughter. It sounded hilarious. "Would you like to watch me do it?"

  Rhodan was in no mood for fun and games now. He didn't want to waste the opportunity to carry out the mission he had come here for in the first place. He shouted: "Don't! I've come to ask you a favor."

  "Another one?"

  "Yes, another favor, old friend. You know my situation. Our opponents have seized the advantage over us, have placed our system under siege. They've lured my friends into a trap and will wipe them out unless I return in time to save them. Your world is situated on another time plane than ours. When I visited you here for the first time more than four weeks had gone by on Earth in the meantime. This mustn't happen again. Even two weeks would be fatal. I'd like to ask you..."

  "Would 10 minutes be enough?" inquired the Immortal. The colorful sphere seemed to puff up and more and more colors glistened on its surface. Rhodan, quite perplexed nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, 10 minutes."

  "Alright. And just think what you have experienced during this time. You have made a flight through infinity, witnessed the fate of a race—and you have been able to equip your ship with a marvelous new weapon. By the way, I have many other and even better weapons here but you didn't ask for them. And I am not in a position to give them to you unless you specifically ask for them. Perhaps later..."

  "Homunk threw out a few hints yesterday," Bell remembered and grew quite excited. "But he wouldn't answer any questions."

  "He hasn't been authorized to do so," responded the sphere which now was hovering directly overhead. "But the few clues should suffice to set you thinking. Maybe on your next visit you'll be able to supply more precise data as to what you would like to have from me. I'll be glad to help you then. You wouldn't want the Barkonides to be disappointed when they return home."

  Bell looked puzzled. "The Barkonides? Don't you mean the Arkonides?"

  A gigantic laugh reverberated from the skies. But before Bell could say anything he was almost thrown to the ground by a violent blast of wind. The brightly opalescent bubble had indeed burst! Air rushed from all sides to fill the vacuum, then calm reigned again.

  "I can't see why my question should have been so hilarious," mumbled Bell and pulled Rhodan down the hill with him. "Who are these Barkonides?"

  "That's a long story," Rhodan replied softly. Then after a slight pause he added: "Maybe it's just a legend—I don't really know. I'll tell it to you sometime. Thank Heavens we're rid of our main worries now. We won't miss any time."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Absolutely sure!" And Rhodan started to walk briskly away. Down below on the wide field stood the wafting Stardust. Tomorrow the new weapon would be ready to be put into action.

  • • •

  Homunk had come into the, command center. "I am to tell you, Rhodan, that you can start now."

  "Won't we have a chance to say goodbye to It ?" Rhodan was genuinely surprised.

  "Iris doing so through me—besides,It is here with us now, this very second."

  Bell looked around the room but could see nothing. "Where is It ?" he wanted to know. Apparently he had expected another brightly shimmering sphere to appear inside the command center.

  Homunk smiled. "In the form of a human being—somebody you are most fond of, Reg," the artificial man gave him a hint. Then he became serious again. My master wants you to depart in 10 minutes. Push through the energy bell in a vertical direction. You'll return the same day you originally left."

  Once again Rhodan experienced a sense of relief on hearing the renewed confirmation. "And the weapon? How will it work?"

  "Find out for yourself," suggested Homunk.

  Rhodan switched on the intercom and sent through some orders to the weapons center. Then he consulted his watch. "I hope my old friend won't mind if I try it out here inside his own domain." And with another glance at his watch, "How deep is this ocean?"

  Homunk replied at once as if he had expected the question: "12,000 feet."

  "Excellent!" Again Rhodan spoke with his weapons center. He relayed some data. Then the order: "Ready? I'm releasing it!"

  He depressed a lever. Some seconds passed. Then far out in the ocean a huge water mountain arose, piled up into a gigantic cone, then collapsed again. White vapors ascended in whirling clouds into the artificial sky. Then a tidal wave swept toward the shore, flooding a large part of the coast.

  At the same time it began to rain.

  Somewhere somebody was laughing. "Well done, old friend. You know how to handle my weapons. B
ut I'm warning you once more: your superiority must serve exclusively for the preservation of peace—otherwise the weapon will be turned against you. Only if you are being attacked may you annihilate your opponent. But never, never must you be the first to attack! I'm warning you, old friend. I'm deadly serious on this point."

  "Your concern is unfounded," Rhodan reassured It. "Our superior arms will be used only to realize the dream of the Barkonides—we are agreed on that, aren't we?"

  "Completely! And now farewell, Perry Rhodan. But, just a moment, before I forget—I promised Bell a little present. He'll find it in his cabin."

  Once more the laughter of the invisible Immortal, then all was quiet in the room.

  Homunk walked over to the door. "All my best wishes accompany you. And let me give you some advice: as soon as you leave the protective hull of this world and reenter the normal plane of existence—watch out! Goodbye, my friends!"

  He had vanished before they could answer.

  Bell had fixed his gaze on an empty spot in the air in front of him. "In my cabin? What has It promised to give me, I wonder?"

  "How am I supposed to know?" Rhodan shrugged his shoulders. "It seems like an eternity since we first came here. I can't remember everything."

  "You're right, two and a half weeks is a long time."

  Rhodan smiled in amusement. So Bell had lived for 17 days in the meantime. And how about himself? 13½ weeks? Or an eternity—twice 150,000 years?

  Or only 10 minutes!

  He raised his hand and activated the intercom. "Attention, crew! We're starting in one minute! Get ready! Safety precautions effective! We'll pass through the energy bell in exactly three minutes! Countdown!"

  The robot counter took over.

  The Stardust lifted off and rose slowly and majestically into the unnaturally blue sky. The clouds of the underwater atomic detonation had already settled out. High above, the artificial sun lavished its golden rays.

  "I'm going to my cabin to stretch out on my bed," announced Bell. "Let me know when we're ready for the transjump."

  Rhodan nodded briefly. He remained all alone now in the center. The pilot's chair would provide sufficient protection to withstand even the strongest shock unharmed. From here he could steer the giant sphere with one hand, unless he preferred to switch over the controls to the automatic guidance system. Precisely two minutes after its launching the Stardust thrust through the energy bell that enveloped the artificial planet Wanderer. The shock raced through all the rooms of the Stardust but was largely compensated for by the gravitational fields.

  Seconds before this penetration was to take place, a small signal light began to glow. It was Bell, trying to call the command center via the intercom. Rhodan felt annoyed and didn't answer. He had no time to spare now to listen to some silly joke. The situation demanded his undivided attention and besides his thoughts were occupied with Homunk's warning to be especially on guard right after the breakthrough. Although Rhodan could not imagine why the prophesied time leap should represent a danger, he was not about to ignore the warning.

  He looked at the clock on the panel which now, seconds before the breakthrough, showed Terra time still unchanged. Then came the concussion. Instantly the planet Wanderer disappeared to make room for the familiar view of outer space. The numbers on the digital clock in front of Rhodan's eyes were racing madly. The shipboard calendar adjusted itself to the new time plane. Exactly ten and a half minutes earlier they had first penetrated here at the same spot into the energy bell of the planet Wanderer. Seven hours ago they had started out from Earth.

  In 40 minutes the Immortal would take him along—to a flight into the depths of the abyss between the spiral nebulae. To a flight through infinity...

  Rhodan felt his hair stand on end—and the same second the general alarm system shrilled through the Stardust. The location instruments had discovered matter although there was not supposed to be any matter within a radius of 50 light-years!

  Seconds later there came a report from the weapons center: "All set to fire. Teletransmitter ready for action!"

  Before the hatches closed, Rhodan saw the eight barrel-shaped ships of the Springers resolutely pouncing on the Stardust although they must have been taken by surprise by the sudden appearance of the spacesphere. Seconds later the electronic impulses were racing through the automated installations. Simultaneously, Rhodan heard a resounding laughter in his ears and somebody was shouting gaily: "Hello, old friend! Now you can really try out your new weapon—it's the greatest fun of all times and places in the universe..."

  Rhodan didn't share It's opinion. His eyes narrowed and he bit down on his lower lip. He shouted into the microphone: "Transmitter one—action!"

  At that instant the Stardust became the deadliest and most dangerous monster in the universe.

  6/ Time Stands Still

  Topthor couldn't believe his eyes.

  Just a few minutes earlier he had issued a command for a short rest period for his crew as lie had counted on the likelihood that Rhodan would remain longer on the seemingly invisible planet. As soon as the giant sphere reappeared he planned to strike a lightning blow against the enemy ship and destroy it. Afterwards it shouldn't be too difficult to find the Planet of Eternal Life.

  And now the Stardust suddenly materialized out of the void, right in front of his nose, barely 10 minutes after it had vanished. At once he was wide awake. His mighty hand hit down hard on the lever which established visual communication with the other ships of his fleet.

  "Alarm! Rhodan is back again! Attack and destroy! I'll quickly calculate the co-ordinates of his point of reappearance."

  Grogham was at his post. With a few terse words he gave the order to attack. He sent forward five of his ships while his vessel and Topthor's kept their present positions. This manoeuvre saved both their lives. The five ships drew wide apart until they finally formed a ring in whose center the Stardust stood waiting without making any attempt at defense.

  "Torpedoes!" roared Grogham. The commanding officers of the five battleships, who so often had rushed to the aid of other trader clans, received the broadcast command. They went into action. Five heavy fighter torpedoes with fusion bombs left the fire hatches and sped with increasing speed toward the Stardust.

  Tense with expectation, Topthor and Grogham watched for further developments. They counted of course on the appearance of a powerful defense screen of the Terranian but both hoped secretly that it would not be able to withstand the assault of five superheavy atom bombs.

  Five blinding explosions flared up almost simultaneously around the Stardust. Dazzled, Topthor closed his eyes to wait until the first blaze died down; he could not help feeling a certain pride. Hopefully he had now succeeded in accomplishing what Etztak and Orlgans had tried in vain—to annihilate Rhodan. But this was not the only payoff he would receive for all his troubles. He had also found the legendary World of Eternal Life—or at least almost.

  He opened his eyes slowly.

  He saw the undamaged giant spacesphere floating majestically inside the surrounding circle of the five barrel-shaped battleships of Topthor's clan of the Mounders.

  Beside himself with rage he thundered: "Two torpedoes this time! Each ship two torpedoes simultaneously!"

  Grogham again led the attack. Part of his confidence was gone and he suffered from a gnawing uncertainty, that this time they had found not only their match but, worse still, their master. And again this time Rhodan's protective screen withstood the 10 detonations and the impact of the energy discharges. It meant straining the generators to the breaking point, however. If the traders should triple their initial onslaught the Stardust would be lost.

  "Transmitter one—ready for action!"

  "Ready!" The confirmation was stated in calm and matter of fact tones. The armament center was waiting. The men had full confidence in the new weapon—and especially in Rhodan.

  Thank heavens they didn't continue their attack with the torpedoes any longer, R
hodan noted with relief. Now they were trying it with concentrated heat ray beams. A formidable weapon but not powerful enough to overtax the defensive powers of the Stardust's energy screen.

  Now it was Rhodan's first chance to devote his attention to Bell, who meanwhile had come storming into the command center, his red hair standing on edge.

  "Had a good rest?" inquired Rhodan gently.

  "What do you mean by that remark?" Bell seemed as mad as a hatter and without any good reason, it seemed to Rhodan. Bell raged on. "While you have your fun here with those fat Springer sausages, I have to..."

  "What did you call those ships?" Rhodan thought he had not understood his friend correctly.

  "Fat sausages, you heard me right the first time—they belong to the Springers, don't they? So—I'll call them any name I please!"

  "What's the matter with you, Reggie, why are you so irritated? Something rubbed you the wrong way...?"

  "Did it ever!" burst out Bell but he still managed to observe with great interest how the hostile heat-rays glanced off their own energy screen without harming the Stardust. "That Immortal! If I ever meet that thing again, I'll... hum, it's actually also just as much my fault."

  Rhodan, worriedly, shook his head. "I'm afraid the latest timejump didn't agree with you, although you must have slept right through it. Or did someone bump you on the head?"

  "Nobody bumped me on the head or anywhere else!" yelled Bell furiously and stomped his foot. His red hair bristles were trembling with excitement. "That Immortal..."

  "What's the matter with me?" said a voice from the ceiling. Rhodan and Bell looked up and grew numb. Close above their heads hovered a fist-sized sphere, opalescing in all colors of the rainbow and sending forth a whitish glow. "And I meant to do you a favor, Reggie. You are an ingrate! By the way, Rhodan, don't waste your precious time with his temper tantrums. Your opponents are planning an attack with the gravitation bomb. This will hurl your ship Stardust into the fifth dimension..."