Caves of the Druufs

by Perry Rhodan

  "Let's not just stand here," Deringhouse suggested. "Our friend from Vagabond in particular is in need of a cozy room in which he will not be disturbed. You see, in the course of the next few hours a high degree of concentration will be demanded of him."

  Smiling, Capt. Rous regarded the mouse-beaver, who was glancing around curiously and acting as if he had not heard one word of that had been said.

  Rous led them along the aisle separating the two rows of transmitters. The air in the hall was cool and fresh. One noticed nothing of the inferno of a world lurking outside the gates of the base, a world that always had the same side facing its central star and knew no moderate temperatures, only extremes. The young technology of Terra had applied all of its talents to create this base in secrecy and haste. Located in the midst of enemy territory, it was almost more of a bridgehead.

  "Adjacent to the transmitter hall were the administration rooms, among them the office in which Marcel Rous spent his time when on duty. Sometimes he even stayed there longer, which is why the office contained an article of furniture that by nature did not belong there: a sofa. The sofa was just what Pucky the mouse-beaver was looking for. With one leap he was on it and making himself comfortable.

  Capt. Rous instructed an orderly to fetch breakfast for the guests. Deringhouse informed him that it would best be called supper, for at that moment the clocks pointed to 20 hours, Terra time. Rous laughed self-consciously and explained that they weren't so particular about those things on Hades. The sun lamps inside the base were never switched off and it was up to the individual what he considered day and what he considered night.

  The snack appeared with such rapidity, it aroused the suspicion that it had been produced out of tin cans. The orderly withdrew, awaiting further orders at all times, and Gen. Deringhouse began to describe what had transpired on Terra that had prompted his flight to Hades.

  "You are of the opinion, sir," asked Marcel Rous when he had concluded, "that Ellert's emergency call and our SOS signal have the same cause?"

  "Wrong," answered Deringhouse. "I am not of that opinion. I only contend it could be possible, which is why there is nothing more urgent to do than to get in touch with Ellert. We must know what prompted his call."

  Marcel Rous had a vacant stare. It was obvious that he still had something on his mind.

  "Do you have any other suggestions, Captain?" asked Deringhouse.

  Rous nodded. His words came hesitantly. "We have received transmitter shipments of parts of various scoutships, Gazelles, sir. The vessels are assembled and ready for action. I don't think the risk would be too great if we sent one of the Gazelles to Roland to do some scouting."

  Deringhouse nodded. "I believe that is a good suggestion," he agreed, "but the vessel is not to start before we have heard from Ellert."

  At that moment Pucky made himself heard in the background, "Just a wee bit of patience... I will warine him!"

  Nobody knew what "warine" meant. However, Pucky's telepathic signals did seem to be underway to Druufon, to Ernst Ellert.

  In a few moments Ellert would send his report and—hopefully—solve the mystery surrounding his emergency call to Earth.

  • • •

  The base was on its toes. Gen. Deringhouse had taken over the command. It seemed that after long days of leisure something big was brewing.

  A Gazelle was ready for action in the big hangar-lock. Who was to fly it—and above all, where it was bound—was not known. Rumor had it that Deringhouse himself would be the pilot.

  Deringhouse himself? What was it all about? Was Druufon to be attacked? Was Terra now preparing to seize power in the time plane of the Druufs? Now, of all times, just a few days after Perry Rhodan's death?

  Speculation was rampant. But those who knew anything let nothing slip.

  Marcel Rous was satisfied with things. He remembered the hunch he had had while seeking the origin of the SOS signal. If there were really such important people involved as Perry Rhodan, Reginald Bell and Atlan the Arkonide, then it was better that someone else bore the responsibility. He had not yet spoken to anyone about his hunch, not even Gen. Deringhouse.

  Quite apart from that, Pucky's efforts to establish contact with Ernst Ellert had been completely abortive. The distance between Hades and Druufon was too great. It looked as if there was no progress to be made in that respect. Pucky received telepathic signals but they were incomprehensible. He could not grasp one single thought. Ellert's human body, which had functioned as a telepathic relay station in his transmission to Earth, was missing here on Hades. Although the distance from Druufon to Hades was vastly smaller than from Druufon to Terra, not a fraction of what Betty Toufry had understood in front of the mausoleum in Terrania could be understood here.

  It was absolutely clear to Conrad Deringhouse that he could not afford to lose any more time. Whatever Ernst Ellert had to say, Pucky felt that it was very important and that Ellert's thoughts were urgent. That was all he could understand.

  Twenty hours after his arrival on Hades, Deringhouse decided that the Gazelle would have to start without Ellert's information. Its destination was Roland. Deringhouse himself would be on board. Ras Tschubai would attempt to reach the surface of the planet via teleportation, should a landing turn out to be too dangerous. In addition, Pucky was part of the crew of the scoutship. If there were any Terranians on Roland, he would be able to recognize that by the waves radiated by their brains.

  The last briefing took place in Marcel Rous' office.

  "You know that we are taking a risk," Deringhouse declared to the Captain. "Not just the crew of the Gazelle but all of us... including the personnel of the base. As yet the Druufs do not know about the odd bird that Terra has roosting right in the middle of their own system. It is possible that they discover this because of our flight and then attack the base. So stay vigilant. Should it come to the worst, hang on until the transmitter of the California beams the green signal and then attempt to rescue as many people as possible. Is that clear?"

  Rous nodded. Of course that was clear. The base had been in constant danger from the very first moment on. It always had to be vigilant. The takeoff of the Gazelle would not worsen the situation radically.

  Marcel Rous tried to imagine what might happen when the Druufs were first confronted with a spaceship that disappeared from the spot when the situation became dangerous—without leaving behind even the slightest trace of a transition. Everything that had come from the Einstein Universe over here into Druuf Space retained its own specific time. That meant that a Gazelle could achieve speeds impossible in the Druuf Universe, because they lay above the threshold speed of light valid here. An object that moved faster than light no longer belonged to the space in which it had previously been present. To a Druuf it would appear as if the Gazelle had simply vanished.

  The thought amused Marcel Rous. He would like to see the Druuf who experienced that.

  Rous realized that Deringhouse was still talking. He tried to put aside his own train of thoughts and concentrate on Deringhouse's words but he did not succeed.

  How was that with the Druuf? From the Command Console of his spaceship he would see the Gazelle disappearing on the spot. It would surprise him beyond measure. But not one Druuf. Ernst Ellert. He knew all about differences between specific times and could imagine which effects this phenomenon could produce. But Ernst Ellert lived on Druufon, was an acclaimed scientist and would surely never enter a warship.

  Someone said: "I have the feeling, Captain, that you are not devoting your entire attention to this matter!"

  Rous heard these words but he could not cease thinking, about his problem. It is quite funny, he thought without being too amazed. It's as if someone has a hold on my mind.

  He thought about Ernst Ellert. Ellert would never board a warship... no, of course not. Or would he? The matter that had led him to call Earth—was it possibly so important that he would do things for its sake he wouldn't otherwise do? Just why had he actually calle
d? What was going on?

  Marcel Rous suddenly saw a Druuf before him, black-skinned, spherical head and gigantic. He seemed to be approaching him and Rous was absolutely certain this Druuf was Ernst Ellert. It was the Druuf in whose body Ellert's mind lived while his human body lay seemingly dead in the mausoleum of Terra.

  What did he want?

  Marcel Rous wanted to duck but something held him tight. The Druuf drew nearer, as if he wanted to run him over. But when he touched him, they, melted into each other and became one. Suddenly he knew what the Druuf was thinking and when he opened his mouth to speak, it occurred at the wish and with the thoughts of the Druuf in whose body Ernst Ellert lived.

  For the bystanders the event was more astonishing than frightening. Conrad Deringhouse had been the first to notice that Capt. Rous was submerged in his own thought rather than listening. He let it ride awhile, then made his comment. Rous had not seemed to hear him. He continued to stare blankly and seemed to be engrossed by a very important problem.

  Suddenly his eyes widened. He seemed to see something the others could not see. Deringhouse wanted to grab him, grip his shoulders and shake him awake. But something warned him against it. For some reason, unknown even to himself, he was convinced that something important was about to happen and that he was best advised to keep himself and the others perfectly still.

  Then he stopped talking and signaled the others to be quiet as well. Marcel Rous attempted to move. It looked as if he wanted to step back and to one side. Deringhouse had the impression he was trying to avoid someone. But he remained where he was. Something seemed to lame him. His face took on an expression of amazement, then fear and finally horror. At the height of his dismay, Rous suddenly relaxed and took a deep breath.

  Then he began to speak. The words came out awkwardly and in a voice that did not seem to belong to Rous.

  "Don't be frightened," the voice said. "I am not drunk. I merely have to become accustomed to the larynx construction of this man."

  That sounded monstrous. Who was the man speaking out of Rous?

  "I am Ernst Ellert," said Rous. "I choose this way to make myself understood because all others have failed. I beg you not to spend too much time thinking about how I succeeded in taking possession of Marcel Rous' body. Listen to me instead. It is an important enough matter. Understood?"

  "Understood," Deringhouse answered without knowing what he was saying.

  "Good. Then we can begin," said Rous. Ellert seemed to be getting used to the strange speech apparatus. The words came more fluently but still with a strange intonation.

  "One of our ships—I mean: a short while ago a Druuf ship succeeded in breaking through the Arkonide blockade and penetrating the Arkon Universe. Far beyond the overlap zone it came across a cruising enemy ship manned by allies of the Arkonides that had four prisoners on board. Terranians. The Druufs left the allies of the Arkonides where they were but took the prisoners on board their own ship.

  Now here's the important part: I was unable to find out who the prisoners are. The whole thing is top secret. The prisoners were brought to the 36th planet of that system, a methane world similar to Jupiter, and within one of the next few days a commission of high officials will set off to question the prisoners.

  This allows only one conclusion: the four prisoners must be extremely important people. And if they are important to us, to the Druufs, then I think they should be to you Terranians too.

  That was the reason for my call. I thought you might be missing four people and that I could help you find them.

  He was silent and his audience was silent because no one was able to find the words for an answer. The number four had stricken them dumb. Since the loss of Grautier in the Arkonide surprise attack,four Terranians were missing and Ellert was absolutely right in thinking that important people were involved. The most important of all in the Solar Empire.

  Gen. Deringhouse's mind was working feverishly. He tried to fathom what had happened on Grautier at that time—two weeks ago when he had circled the dying planet with the Drusus at neck-breaking speed to search for the survivors of the catastrophe who had sent an emergency call via telecom. There had been no further sign of life on Grautier. Deringhouse had been convinced then that the people who had called for help had long since ceased to live when the Drusus appeared. But Ellert's report presented a completely new aspect. Another ship had been quicker than the Drusus —one which, as Ellert put it, was manned by Arkonide allies. It made no difference who that might have been. The only thing that mattered was that the confederates of the Arkonides had not gotten very far with the prisoners. Something must have happened to their ship. The Druufs found it drifting in space. Why they found it altogether was unclear. Perhaps the Arkonide ship had sent out an emergency call and the Druufs intercepted it. Or any number of things might have happened.

  Deringhouse was about to drop that thought when something occurred to him: 11 or 12 days earlier, Terranian patrol ships had picked up a telecom transmission. Its text was composed in the Arkonide language and read as follows:

  LAMIRA 12 CALLING YNLISS.

  STATION GOSHUN.

  The commanders had taken special notice of this. It seemed like a routine message sent by a spaceship by the name of Lamira 12 —probably a ship of the Springer fleet—to a place or a man by the name of Ynliss. The only strange thing was the name of the Station of Lamira 12 : Goshun. Goshun happened to be the name of the lake at whose shores the capital of Earth, Terrania was situated. It was highly improbable that somewhere in the Galaxy there was a second place with the exact same name, particularly in another language. So Terranian patrol ships set out to find the transmitter that had sent that peculiar message.

  The tracker had revealed that the Terranian ship nearest to the transmitter was still over 5,000 light-years away from it. Since it had only reported one more time after the sensational message, and with a coded Arkonide message at that, it was difficult for the Terranians, almost impossible, to trace the ship. They abandoned the search after several days and returned to their stations. The incident was eventually forgotten.

  Now, after Ellert's report, it regained significance. Deringhouse was almost positive that it had been one of the four prisoners who had sent the Goshun dispatch. He had to phrase it that way, since he had to take into account that any less casual sounding message would immediately attract a host of Arkonide ships anxious to get a closer look.

  Hence the prisoners must have managed to take over a telecom transmitter on board the Arkonide ship. What a disappointment it must have been for the prisoners when, instead of the anticipated Terranian ship, a Druuf ship appeared and they went from the frying pan into the fire!

  So the Druufs brought them to Roland. Ellert had learned of this, even though he had not discovered who was involved, and the prisoners themselves had actuated a gravity generator, trying by this clumsy means to inform the Hades base of their situation.

  The fact itself that they had made such an attempt proved that they knew of the existence of the Hades support base. For no one could possibly assume that signals sent by a generator would traverse the overlap front, reach the Einstein Universe and somewhere there be received by a Terranian ship. The very knowledge of the existence of the support base on Hades considerably narrowed the circle of people who might be identified as the four prisoners. Hades was a project of the highest category of secrecy.

  Conrad Deringhouse was convinced that the prisoners were the four men who had stayed on Grautier until the very last. It was known that they were to join the fleet standing by for a prepared attack on Arkon: Fellmer Lloyd, Atlan, Reginald Bell and—Perry Rhodan!

  It took a great effort on Deringhouse's part to retain his composure. Ernst Ellert knew that the prisoners were being held on Roland. Did he also know the exact location of their prison?

  He asked Rous about that. Ellert promptly answered through the mouth of Marcel Rous: "On the methane planet there is a subterranean base that is primarily
used for dangerous experiments which cannot be carried out elsewhere. Of course I can tell you where it is. I have often been there myself.

  He paused. "I have to think in your terms first, though," he continued. "Druuf measurements are different than yours. Wait—let's define the north pole! The north pole is that end of the axis standing above which you would see the planet turning to the left, just like Earth. Is that clear?"

  Deringhouse tried to imagine it. "Yes, that's clear," he answered.

  "Good. The base lies in the northern hemisphere. About at half latitude, that is about the 45° Latitude North, as you would say. Is that clear too?"

  "Naturally."

  "Then to continue. The longitude is of course difficult to determine as the point of reference is arbitrarily chosen. But you will not be able to overlook a horseshoe-shaped lake situated almost exactly at the equator. It is quite large, half an ocean by Earth standards. The two legs of the horseshoe are each 2,000 kilometers long and at its widest point it is just as far across. The 0 meridian passes through the vertex of the horseshoe. Now take into account that the Druufs divide the circle into 512 degrees. They use an octal system. 5.12 = 83. Then the cavern base lies at 120 Druuf degrees Longitude East. You can convert that, can't you?"

  "Yes, if someone has meanwhile jotted it down," Deringhouse responded unfazed.

  "I have, sir!" Ras Tschubai called out of the background.

  "There is nothing further I can tell you," Ellert continued, "except perhaps that you must naturally be on guard. The Druufs consider the cavern base quite important. That is why it has a permanent force of 2,000. Aid from Druufon or from one of the other fleet support bases can be summoned within a few minutes. If something happened on the methane planet, it certainly wouldn't take longer than an hour until the fleet appeared. Yes, and... the gravitation of the methane planet is 1.34 times that of Druufon. You can convert that yourself, too. It is quite a lot."