Under the Stars of Druufon

by Perry Rhodan

  That's true, Pucky had to admit.

  The Druuf at the instrument board was occupied with some scientific problem Pucky did not understand in the slightest. It had something to do with time. The Druuf was a researcher attempting to come to grips with the nature of time.

  Only once had Pucky seen the unknown helper as a Druuf, and who could tell one of those creatures from another? This Druuf might be the one and it might just as easily not be the one.

  Nevertheless, the laboratory seemed familiar to Pucky. But couldn't there be hundreds of them just like it?

  How could they communicate? Certainly he could receive and understand the Druuf's thoughts but the Druufs were not telepathic. If any conversation at all could result, it would be rather one-sided.

  The Druufs did not have ears; could they hear?

  Pucky cleared his throat and said: “Hey—Jumbo! Don't we know each other?”

  The Druuf did not react. He continued to work with his instruments and to watch the dials anxiously. But as he turned his head a bit to one side, he must have spotted his visitor. With a speed no one would have ever guessed he possessed, he whirled around and stared at the mouse-beaver with wide-opened eyes.

  By all of the 66! came his thought-impulses clearly to Pucky. Who or what is that?

  Tensed and concentrating, Pucky answered: We're the ones you warned! Do you understand me?

  But the Druuf's answer showed only too clearly that he in no way was identical with the unknown helper who, whatever else he may have been, was a good telepath.

  ...Never seen anything like it! Does it have something to do with my experiments—or is it pure chance...?

  Pucky now knew one thing: this Druuf was no telepath!

  He waddled a few meters back, preparing to disappear with a teleportation spring.

  Come down, Harno! We goofed!

  That is impossible! I tracked the mental impulses of our helper from the surface. This Druuf here must be the one!

  Pucky was at a loss. He made use of the short pause by beaming a short message to Marshall aboard the Drusus. He was taken aback when he did not receive a reply. Marshall had to have heard him! Why was he not responding?

  Let's go, Harno!

  Wait a moment!

  The Druuf thought in an uninterrupted stream but there was nothing coherent for Pucky. Whatever he was thinking, it had nothing to do with the unknown helper. They were not one and the same, even if they did possess similar-looking bodies.

  Then a quiver showed in the monstrous being's face, as though he felt pain. The slender fingers moved crampedly, closed, then opened again. He slowly turned around. The massive arm rose only with difficulty. Then his fingers wrapped around a lever.

  It all took place in slow motion, giving the impression the Druuf acted while in a dreamlike state and was being forced into action from within. He tried to resist but finally fell subject to the order of his subconscious.

  The humming in the room suddenly died away.

  At the same time, Pucky received a relieved message from Marshall: Ah, there you are, Pucky! What happened? We couldn't track you or hear you.

  Don't disturb me just yet! Pucky answered. Everything's alright!

  Marshall's impulses died away immediately. He had understood.

  But Pucky had also understood.

  When the Druuf had shut off the machinery, telepathicontact with the Drusus had been reestablished. Since contact had existed previously between him and Harno, it could be concluded that an energy field of some kind had sealed the subterranean chamber off from the outer world.

  But something more happened.

  A crystal clear thought-impulse drove into Pucky's mind and it did not come from Harno who was still floating motionless on the ceiling.

  You have found me? That was risky! I don't know how you managed to come here, but you are in great danger! I cannot help you now! This Druuf will soon repress me again...

  Pucky stared at the Druuf, who seemed to be frozen in the middle of his movement. He stood there motionless, one hand still raised and just above the lever he had pulled down.

  You aren't the Druuf? Who are you, then?

  Even though the colossus did not move, thoughts emanated from him perfectly:

  I am not the Druuf—and yet I am! I am in his body but he does not know it. His spirit is still stronger than mine when I act against his will.

  Who are you? Pucky asked, repeating the question that had not been answered before. Why do you want to help us?

  This time, some seconds went by before the Druuf replied. I don't know who I am. I have always lived in alien bodies. They were always other intelligences— when I was lucky. Often my spirit inhabited the bodies of creatures of lesser intelligence, which I easily learned to control. But it was not interesting.

  But you must know why you're helping us against the Druuf!

  No, I don't know why. But I do know Perry Rhodan!

  That was the first direct clue!

  Where do you know him from and how long have you known him?

  Again the hesitation. The answer came only slowly. I don't know—if only I knew...!

  Pucky sensed that the impulses were growing weaker, overpowered by other, stronger impulses that could come only from the Druuf himself.

  Can you take over other bodies? Pucky asked.

  The reply did not answer the question. I must go now—I cannot hold the Druuf back. I will get in touch with you later. Get yourselves to safety. This Druuf is the Chief Physicist of the Druufs. He became so thanks to my knowledge. When I leave him, he will be as stupid as he was when he was born. Or else he will die. Farewell...

  The Druuf began to move again in the same second. For him no time must have elapsed, for his thoughts took up again where they had left off.

  ...must have been pure chance! Even when I create artificial time-fields and superimpose them, no creatures from the past or future could materialize here. I think I'll try to catch it...

  Pucky drew a few meters back. Harno came quickly down from the ceiling and landed safely between the mouse-beaver’s small paws.

  Before the Druuf could get to them, Pucky and Harno dematerialized.

  Behind they left a Druuf staring without comprehension at a spot where there was nothing more to see.

  5/ “YOU'RE IN OUR POWER, PERRY!”

  “Many of their names and terms are unpronounceable,” reported John Marshall, who had spent the whole night trying to telepathically listen in on individual Druufs in the city. He had no idea who or where the Druufs he listened to were, he only collected their impulses and put them together like a mosaic. The result, however, consisted of valuable information which created an entire picture. “We have type names for them. 'Tommy' we have already. An 'Oscar' is an officer or scientist. The translator uses 'Mike' to refer to a simple Druuf. They've built the social structure of their civilization on this division into three parts.”

  Rhodan listened attentively. Outside on the spacefield and over the city, it had become day again. The night had passed quietly and without incident. Pucky and Harno had returned and reported their experience. Certainly no light had been thrown on the mystery of the unknown helper but nevertheless Rhodan had plunged into deep thought and retired to his cabin. The thought-screen he put up around his mind could not he broken even by the curious Pucky.

  “The Druufs have conquered all the worlds in this universe and are the absolute masters of their time-plane. No wonder, then, if their Tommies have decided to conquer our galaxy too. Their weapons are mostly of a destructive nature but so far as I can tell we and the Arkonides have better ones, though not enough of them.”

  “Are you sure of this, Marshall?” Rhodan asked.

  “I listened in on a high officer who was contemplating the upcoming offensive against Arkon. He belongs to the Council of 66 and thus was informed of these matters. They're planning to ally themselves with us if we can prove to them we have a strong fleet. If we can't, they'll try t
o take us by surprise and confiscate our ships. In thinking about that plan, the officer thought of our weapons. They don't have either gravity bombs or Arkon bombs. Their energy defense screens aren't as strong as ours. If we attack them with our entire fleet, it might be possible...”

  Marshall was suddenly quiet and looked at Rhodan.

  “Well?”

  “Perhaps I'm being too confident, sir. On the other side of the coin there are aspects which recommend that we be cautious. The Druufs have weapons we aren't familiar with. The officer thought briefly of them but I couldn't make out any details. In any case, they're able to displace an entire planet into a plane of existence where time stands still. No matter how much the inhabitants of that world might defend themselves, it would be pointless. Thousands of years would go by before they could fire a shot.”

  Rhodan looked attentively at Marshall. Deep creases appeared on his forehead. “That would be monstrous, Marshall!” he said slowly. “I can't believe they have such means at their disposal. Playing with time...”

  “It wasn't very clear if it involved just attempts or successfully completed tests. It's an insane thought, anyway.”

  “Our unknown friend and helper is holing up in the skin of a time-scientist,” Pucky reminded from the control room bunk where he lay still somewhat exhausted.

  Rhodan threw a quick glance at him before he looked up at the ceiling. “Is there a connection, Harno?”

  Oscar-1 and our friend are the same person!

  “What a crazy idea,” commented Bell, who had enjoyed a good night's sleep after Pucky's return and now made a refreshed impression. “First he helps us, then he designs a weapon that can wipe us out at any time. This is a case of first-class schizophrenia and then some!”

  “I don't know if that's quite it,” said Rhodan, shaking his head. “Harno, what's our friend doing now?”

  But the answer, which Pucky relayed, was disappointing. “He must have turned on his artificial time-field again for experimenting because none of his thoughts are coming through. Harno can't even get us a picture of him.”

  Rhodan was about to say something but at that moment Sikerman, who in the meantime had also resumed his post, called. “The Druuf is coming again, sir!”

  It was plain to see on the vidscreen. The Druuf who had visited them the day before approached the ship at a calm, slow pace. Perhaps it was not the same one; it was impossible to tell the monstrous beings apart without the help of a translating device.

  Again it was Bell who went to meet the negotiator and bring him to the control room. The translator was in operation and the conference could begin at once.

  “We are happy that you have returned, Tommy-1,” said Rhodan, opening the discussion whose content was already as good as known. “What has the Council of 66 decided?”

  The Druuf had sat down on the wide bunk. He observed the men carefully with his four eyes. His gaze wandered searchingly over the numerous controls and instruments in the room and finally settled for some time on the panorama vidscreen which showed the area of the spaceport. Then he answered. “We have decided to accept your offer. Together we will he able to defeat and destroy our enemy. When the war is over we will make a new treaty based on the new situation. Until then we will exchange our experience and military secrets. If you are agreeable, your commander may go with me to the Council of 66 to seal our alliance.”

  “The commander can't send any representatives?”

  “No, only the commander himself—you, in other words!”

  That could be a trick—a trap! If they seized the most important man, they could put forth their own conditions. And they certainly had a means of enforcing agreements once made as binding and unbreakable on the partners, though just how they could do that remained their secret for the time being.

  They're going to take you prisoner, Rhodan, Harno warned silently. Then they'll nominate a new commander who will be responsive to their wishes. Extortion, you might say.

  Rhodan stood up. “Alright, then,” he said to the Druuf. “Let's not lose any more time here and go before the Council. I'm ready to accede to your conditions. We need a strong ally; otherwise we would have already dealt with our enemy.”

  The Druuf stood up carefully. “Let's go.”

  Do you really want to go with him? Harno asked soundless.

  Rhodan switched off the translation device and took the portable silvery-shining box under his arm. “Of course I want to go with him, Harno. Pucky, don't let me out of your observation for a second! And when I give the order, come get me! Understand?”

  “I'll teleport myself right on those leather monsters' fat bellies and make them lose their breakfast—”

  “Marshall will stand watch with you,” Rhodan interrupted, then followed the Druuf who had already gone ahead. “Reggie! During my absence you'll take over command of the three ships.”

  They watched him go as he disappeared with the Druuf around a bend in the corridor.

  • • •

  Rhodan did not accompany the Druuf because be expected anything out of the parley with the Druufs; instead he went because he might possibly get in touch with his uncanny friend again. Besides, he was curious to see how the Druufs would react to a few suggestions.

  As they left the landing field and descended the wide steps to a sunken street circling the spaceport, Rhodan felt the almost double gravity of the planet. He had been able to tolerate it better during the first few minutes. He was irritated with himself for not having put on a spacesuit which could have neutralized the change.

  A vehicle was waiting at the edge of the street. It was shaped like a torpedo and had only one door. The Druuf pressed a hidden button and the door opened. A wide seat, on which three Druufs could have found places next to each other, became visible.

  Rhodan felt oddly small as he sat on the seat. The weight of his body barely made an impression: the upholstery had been made to accommodate different weights.

  Then came the Druuf and shut the door. He pressed a button on the instrument panel and the vehicle started off. It was remote controlled, probably from some central headquarters somewhere in the middle of the city.

  The scenery was just as Pucky had described it. The streets were all but deserted. Only occasionally did Rhodan see a Druuf, making his slow and ponderous way along the looming building walls toward an unknown destination. The auto raced through the empty streets at a relatively high speed, then glided up a diagonally ascending trafficway.

  Rhodan looked down at the giant complex of the spaceport. Hundreds of ships stood at the edge of the field, ready for takeoff. Small caterpillar-tractors brought weapons, munitions and equipment. A column of Druufs marched somewhere in the twilight of the double sun. Their slow and weighty movements seemed dreamlike and unreal, as though happening in slow motion.

  The city sank into the depths. Then the auto reached the upper trafficway. Here there was more traffic but it was hardly a problem. The automatic remote control functioned smoothly.

  They sped towards a dome-like building rising from approximately the center of the city. The road branched off and led directly to the building. Although no Druufs could be seen, a wide door opened and the auto rolled inside.

  Behind them the door slid back to its original position. Daylight was extinguished. The domed ceiling of the building lit up harshly, allowing Rhodan to see where he was.

  Hey, Pucky! Marshal! How's the contact?

  If he fell into a field that blocked telepathic impulses as Pucky had earlier, then the situation would be critical. How could Pucky ever find him then? But the answer came instantly and quite clearly.

  The connection's fine! We're waiting for your signal! It's not necessary yet, Rhodan answered, then devoted his attention to his immediate surroundings.

  They did not especially surprise him.

  The vehicle stopped as soon it had reached the center of the circular arena. It had a diameter of at least 100 meters and was bounded around the edge
by a wall three meters high. At first Rhodan could not help but think of a comparison with the ancient Roman circuses in which gladiators fought for their lives in order to entertain Caesar. He also noticed the rows of oversized seats circling the arena in steadily elevating rings up to the ceiling 50 meters above the ground.

  The Druuf ordered Rhodan out of the car with a wave of the hand. Rhodan turned on the translator and asked: “What's the meaning of this? I thought I was being taken to the Council so that we could work out the terms of the treaty.”

  “You are now in the Great Hall of the Council. You will wait here until the Council appears.”

  When in Rome... Rhodan thought resignedly and climbed down from his seat once the Druuf had slid to one side to allow him to pass by. Then, as the car drove away, he stood alone and deserted in the middle of the arena, feeling like a lost gladiator.

  Should I come? asked Pucky, who had been following along telepathically. We'll put on a circus of our own—with Druufs for clowns! With a little assist, that is, from The Great Pucko and his telekinesis!

  There aren't any Druufs here, Rhodan told him. Stay there and wait until I call for you!

  The harsh light bothered Rhodan. He looked up, blinking at the ceiling, and saw that a door up there had been opened. Right under the roof by the uppermost row of seats. Dignified and ponderous Druufs entered the room one after the other and took their places. It looked as though the general populace was allowed to attend sessions most of the time but today only the 66 themselves were on hand. The leaders of the Druuf race sat scattered around the uppermost row of seats. They were at least 70 meters away from the ground, barely visible in the glare from the harsh lights.

  Their gaze rested appraisingly on the tiny Terran who had dared to make them a proposition. Rhodan's feeling of helplessness was increased by the fact he stood small and alone in the middle of the illuminated arena and had to look up.

  Because of the 'wireless' means of communication the Druufs employed the distance from him to them was not a problem. Besides, the 'Tommies' had their own translation equipment as well. So communication was not difficult.