Death's Demand

by Perry Rhodan

  Ron Landry had been here before, so the confusion of round, square and straight or out-flanging structures was familiar to him. He had walked through these streets, which were lined on the right and left with the show windows of the various stores and he was used to the throngs of people who swarmed through the avenues and filled the arcades and grav-lifts and shopping emporiums. This was the place where the Arkonides openly admitted that their vaunted civilization couldn't quite satisfy all their needs. In their private homes all they had to do was press a button to have everything they desired delivered to them immediately—but that still omitted something. The Arkonides still had to seek things out on their own. They had to personally feel or smell or hear the product they planned to buy. They wanted to discuss the price with somebody and where possible they liked to haggle a bit. It was a sort of micro-adventure for them and although they were usually so apathetic and weary that they could seldom do more than watch their fictive recitals, in this regard they would sometimes make the effort to drive a few miles to indulge in the last remnants of an instinctive pleasure.

  Of course without exception the owners of the stores were non-Arkonides. No self-respecting Arkonide would stoop to the level of being a common tradesman.

  Within the marketing zone both air and surface traffic was forbidden, so Admiral Thekus' aircar lowered itself obediently into a parking area on the edge of the shopping center. Ron was the first to get out. Thekus waited until the auto-pilot went through the routine of asking for instructions: whether to wait here or to return. Thekus pressed the "wait" button on the front panel and got out. From there on he led the way, since Ron wasn't all that familiar with the district. As he followed Thekus he managed to keep a hand inconspicuously in one of his pockets. The small, blunt micro-beamer was activated and ready for firing. He could feel it vibrating in his hand.

  A few steps beyond the parking area the press of the shopping throngs was immediately noticeable. Ron found it difficult to stay close to Thekus. On the other hand he didn't think that the enemy would try anything with the Admiral in a place like this. Thekus moved confidently through the crowd and finally turned into a side street where the pedestrian traffic wasn't as dense. This particular street was laid out on a peculiar pattern of curves. The buildings on both sides looked like giant eggs standing on end. Usually the lower half of each "egg" consisted of a single giant window from which emanated a strange red glow. Upon closer scrutiny it could be seen that there was a fluid substance behind the windows instead of air, and it was this alien liquid that was producing the light. From time to time grotesque creatures appeared to move sluggishly through this fluidic element. They would seem to hover near the windowpanes for awhile and then would recede into murky depths in the background.

  This was the street of the Laurelians. It was here that the Arkonides obtained the most cherished type of house pets—creatures from Laurel, whose grotesque form was matched by their unusually amusing capabilities.

  Thekus stopped at one of the arching windows. "My niece loves Laurelian animals," he said to Ron. "I think I'll send her a Mokoki."

  Ron smiled. Such a decision was worthy of an Arkonide admiral. A major in the Terran spacefleet would have to work two years to even save up the price for one such creature. A Mokoki was the most exclusive animal that one could imagine for a house pet. Actually, among Arkonides it was the highest type of status symbol to possess a Mokoki.

  There was a side entrance to the egg-structure. The door opened automatically as soon as anyone came within less than a meter of it. Upon entering they found themselves in a dimly-lit passage that was filled with a musty cellar smell. The fluid containing the Laurelian creatures consisted of sulphur-dioxide, chlorine and cyanogen compounds suspended in a solution. The passage widened out after a short distance and ended in a kind of dome which was glass-enclosed on all sides. It was in fact a large aquarium. Behind the glass flowed the red-glowing liquid in which a great variety of creatures were moving about. There was no light inside the dome other than the reddish glow of the liquid.

  Thekus and Ron did not have long to wait. A dark, unwieldy shape emerged from the red gloom and swam forward to the glass. Four tentacles shot out of the apparently amorphous mass. When they touched the glass they widened into suction cups.

  A fifth tentacle reached upward toward the top of the dome and then a mechanical voice spoke from a concealed loudspeaker. "This is a very special honor for me," said the voice in Arkonide, "to see His Excellence the Admiral here. How may I serve you, gentlemen?"

  Ron was fascinated as he looked at the creature behind the glass wall. This was the store's proprietor, himself a Laurelian. He had come to Arkon from his homeworld in a fluid-filled spaceship in order to carry on a profitable trade with the animals he had brought from Laurel. He was the oldest of the Laurelians on Arkon and his example had set a precedent. Other intelligences from Laurel had come here and now they occupied an entire street in the eastern shopping district.

  "I'd like to buy a Mokoki," replied Thekus.

  There was a gurgling sound from the loudspeaker, which sounded like moist gulping. "Excellent, Your Eminence! You know that this is where you may always find the smartest and most beautiful Mokokis. I'll show you a few of them—naturally, the very finest!"

  The merchant did not leave his position. Apparently he had his own way of calling his animals to him. Suddenly 10 or 12 small creatures appeared. They were perfectly round, each of them being about the size of a child's head. They rushed forward and attached themselves to the glass wall with graceful, delicate tentacles.

  Ron watched them with interest. Seemingly devoid of muscles, they appeared to be composed of soft flesh which was continuously in motion. Their skin surface was a yellowish white, brighter in shade than that of the Laurelian proprietor. With a Mokoki one couldn't be sure of identifying any particular feature. A small feeler or horn-like protuberance in the center of the spherical body could have been an eye or an ear, until the horn disappeared. Then its function would be taken over by another part of its body.

  It was not long before one of the Mokokis began to change in a very peculiar manner. At first it appeared to elongate vertically so that it was more like an egg. But then came angular contours and in the upper portion a series of horizontal lines, like furrows, became visible. Under these formed two depressions which were symmetrically aligned with the vertical axis. Between these holes a kind of horny ridge built up and lengthened itself downward. Finally a horizontal cleft formed beneath this ridge and then the lower end of the strange shape pushed forward to take on the form of a firm and prominent chin.

  All of this had not required more than a few seconds but the Mokoki's little feat was now complete and perfect. Ron was prepared to be surprised by the marvelous capabilities of the little creature but for a moment or two he was dumbfounded when he beheld his own face before him. Everything was there, each individual line and characteristic. If it hadn't been for the missing hair and the hollow eye sockets he might have been looking at his reflection in a mirror.

  In the meantime another Mokoki had assumed the likeness of the Admiral. But of course Thekus was fully aware of what a Mokoki could do and he didn't seem to be quite as flabbergasted. However he smiled in amusement when the creature had completed his little performance. Mokokis were galactic parrots. They didn't imitate words but faces.

  "Marvelous!" Thekus exclaimed. "I'll take this one here."

  "As Your Excellence wishes," came the voice simulation from the loudspeaker. "I shall prepare the shipment at once."

  Thekus waved a hand. "No, don't do that," he called out. "I'll take the Mokoki with me now."

  Ron glanced at him in surprise. This wish was not a part of Thekus' program. He had evolved this desire all by himself, which of course lay within the range of his tremendous capabilities. The Terrans were basing many of their hopes on Thekus' ability to adjust to difficult situations by correctly making his own decisions.

  But why s
hould he do so in this case?

  The Laurelian trader confirmed that he understood his wish. He politely requested his two customers to wait until he had "packed" the selected animal and prepared it for carrying. Then he released his suction grip on the glass and disappeared into the red-glowing depths of his element.

  Thekus turned around suddenly. "Watch out!" he whispered warningly. "Somebody is coming!"

  At that moment the door opened at the end of the passage and for a few seconds there was a bright glare of daylight. Quite clearly, Ron could make out the figures of the four men who quickly entered. Their arms were raised in front of them and there were weapons in their hands.

  • • •

  Ron didn't even hesitate half a second. He pulled out the micro-beamer and aimed it at the shadowy figures in the passage. A needle-fine spray of white-hot energy leapt from the muzzle and he heard someone cry out.

  Thekus moved to one side and pressed against the glass wall. Ron sprang to the other side. Thekus himself had no weapon and Ron doubted whether he could drive back the assailants alone with his small beamer. This place was practically tailor-made for the purposes of a swift attack. They shouldn't have lingered here so long.

  A widely fanned-out beam shot from the dimly-lit passage. It was aimed in such a way that it wounded neither Thekus nor Ron but it struck the glass wall behind which the costly creatures from Laurel were swimming. However it did not quite cause the barrier to melt because the energy burst had been too short in duration. But the next one could penetrate the glass and then there'd be the devil to pay. In that reddish brew with its poisonous components a man wouldn't live long enough to even be swept out the door in the resulting flood.

  Ron answered the fan-shot with his weapon and another cry rang out. Then the enemy attacked in earnest. A shadow-shape suddenly charged Ron out of the half darkness but he turned in time to break the impact with his shoulder. The stranger was thrown back and he fell. Ron jumped him instantly and landed a heavy blow but at the same time something struck him over the head. For a few seconds it dazed him. He felt himself going to the floor while the loud noises around him faded to a distant murmur.

  By the time he could think clearly again it was all over with. When he sat up he saw that a transparent cube-shaped container with red fluid was directly in front of him on the glass floor. The Mokoki that Thekus had purchased was swimming inside it. Apparently the Laurelian merchant hadn't been too much concerned about the incident.

  Thekus was standing nearby, leaning against the wall. Nothing seemed to have happened to him.

  Ron looked at him closely. "What happened?" he asked.

  "Apparently they wanted to capture me," replied Thekus. "You must have wounded one of them pretty badly because only three of them came in here. When you overpowered one of them, another man struck you down from behind. The third assailant was about to charge me but at that moment the floor opened up and a servo-mechanism brought up the container with the Mokoki in it. Apparently this made the third man apprehensive. He called to the other two and they ran out. They took their wounded companion with them."

  Ron thought this over and shook his head. It all sounded so senseless. If the 3 assailants were intent upon kidnapping the Admiral, why should they be frightened by a little Mokoki?

  "They really didn't want to kill you, sir?" he inquired.

  "No, I didn't get that impression. The man who meant to take me put his weapon away beforehand."

  Ron realized that he had made a mistake. To let the Admiral be kidnapped was right in line with Nike Quinto's plan. Thekus was supposed to get captured because he was equipped with little intercom elements which could be activated from Quinto's desk. By this means Quinto would be able to find out who the kidnappers were and what their object was. If Ron had been certain that only an abduction was intended here in the establishment of the Laurelian, he would have only pretended to resist. But the men had come in with readied weapons. He was forced to think that they were attempting to assassinate the Admiral a second time. And of course the death of this Thekus would have scrapped all of Nike Quinto's plans.

  The Laurelian clamped himself to the glass again. "I see that everything turned out alright," said the mechanical voice. "I'm glad that my aquarium wasn't damaged in the process. Excellence, your Mokoki is there on the floor. May I ask..."

  Thekus nodded and went over to the container on which the price was marked. He drew a checkbook from his pocket and wrote a draft for the same amount. He tore out the piece of foil and placed it on the floor near the container. A square section of the floor dropped away, leaving a dark hole. After awhile the glass plate came back into place and it was empty.

  Simultaneously the Laurelian's voice came from the loudspeaker. "I am much obliged to you, Your Excellence. Please honor me with a visit soon again."

  Thekus waved goodbye. Ron picked up the Mokoki container and they went out.

  • • •

  As soon as he could, Ron called Col. Quinto from the car. Nike Quinto listened to the entire story before he made a decision. "Drive back to Thekus' house. Meech and I will be there."

  When Ron transmitted this instruction to Thekus, the latter fed his own address into the auto-pilot. The car took off, and a few minutes later it landed in front of Thekus' conical house. Thekus paid the rental fee. They got out and watched the aircar as it lifted over the treetops and disappeared in a westerly direction.

  Thekus opened the door with a coded key. He allowed Ron to go in first with the heavy container in his arms.

  "Shaft three, please!"

  Ron started. That had been Nike Quinto's voice, slightly disguised yet recognizable. What was Quinto trying to do?

  He swung into the indicated shaft and was followed by Thekus. At the fifth level they got out. After crossing the veranda they entered the room where Ron had ordered the rental car some two hours before. Or rather, they started to enter the room.

  Somebody had turned off the lights and had darkened the windows that faced the veranda. The room was pitch dark. Ron hesitated. Then something took hold of him mightily and threw him to one side. Ron clutched the container to him instinctively to preserve the costly animal but it kept him from breaking his fall. When he crashed to the floor it still cost him precious seconds to carefully shove the container to one side and place it out of harm's way.

  When he sprang to his feet again there was a brilliant flash of light from the back of the room. He tensed his muscles, expecting to feel the cutting pain of the shot, but nothing hit him. Instead something else flamed brightly in an opposite direction. Within the brief glare Ron recognized the outlines of the robot who was playing the role of Thekus. He could see his priceless outer covering take fire and he also saw that the metal plastic which formed the frame of the synthetic body was melting.

  Ron was filled with a terrible rage. He pulled out his own weapon and aimed it at the spot where he had seen the bright flash before Thekus was hit. But he didn't come to the point of firing because a voice called to him sharply. "Don't, sir! Put your weapon away!"

  Ron froze. It was Meech Hannigan's voice. Meech was here somewhere in the darkness. But why ... ?

  Near the entrance all that was left of Thekus was a glowing, smoking pile of melted metal-plastic parts. The heat and smell of the remains filled the room. Why had Meech permitted Thekus to be destroyed?

  The lights came on. At the far end of the room was Nike Quinto, still standing there with the heavy raygun in his hand. Behind Ron, near the door, Meech Hannigan was waiting. Ron looked from one to the other and finally lowered his weapon arm.

  "Now I—I'm completely lost!" he stammered.

  4/ A STUDY IN SCARLET

  Nike Quinto came up to him. "It's all quite simple," he said in his high-pitched voice. "The enemy has played our own trick on us." When he saw that Ron still didn't understand, he continued. "While you were gone with Thekus we didn't monitor the instruments. Why should we? You had the Admiral under your eye
all the time. But we became suspicious after we got your call from the shopping center and you told us about that peculiar incident. So we tried to put ourselves in contact with Thekus. We contacted him alright. He was already on board a spaceship...on his way to Arkon 2."

  Even when Ron took another look at the smoking remains on the floor he still didn't quite comprehend. "And...this here?" he asked uncertainly.

  "That's a second robot that the enemy substituted for Admiral Thekus to fool you."

  Quinto watched Ron's reaction for a few moments and then he began to laugh uproariously. He was still laughing by the time they had left Thekus' house and returned to their own. At first Ron didn't feel at all amused. He thought that he had played a rather miserable role in the whole affair. But in time he began to appreciate what Nike Quinto found to be so funny about it.

  In place of Admiral Thekus they had used a robot as a decoy for the enemy. But the enemy had kidnapped their false Admiral and in order to gain time they had fooled his bodyguard by substituting a robot of their own. The exchange had taken place in the Laurelian aquarium. Ron recalled that he had lost consciousness for a few moments. The assailants had used this time to capture the first Thekus-robot and leave a false one on its place.

  That much was clear. But now the question remained: did the enemy know that they had kidnapped a robot?

  Ron decided that if this were the case then their whole project had failed. The opposition would know that the real Admiral Thekus was dead and that the Terran "physicians" hadn't been able to bring him back to life. But it had been their object to get Thekus out of the way. The enemy wouldn't make a move, once he knew that the new Thekus was a robot. It meant that no further clues would be left behind. In that case Nike Quinto and his crew might as well pack their bags and leave. They wouldn't find out anything more.

  Ron argued this point with Quinto.

  "Use your head!" said Quinto. "Nothing has happened to definitely prove to them that Thekus is actually a robot. Just the fact alone that they've gone to all this trouble to capture him shows that he hasn't made them suspicious."