Perry Rhodan - Friend To Mankind Part 8

And a montage of friendly ghosts melded mistily together on the darkling screen of his dying mind... foremost Thora... then Perry... here Pucky... there Atlan... again Thora... now Perry... his revered Mother and Father... the beloved grandparents, both maternal and paternal, who tutored and spoiled him in his youth.

And then, at the penultimate moment of life's parting, as though seen through the enamoured eyes of an 18-year-old youth in the thrall of first love, a young maid of Arkon appeared to Khrest, a sylph with skin so fair and hair so l.u.s.trous and lips so luscious and eyes so luminous that one might wonder were she but a poet or a painter's idyll of perfection, a bright illusion, or had she truly ever lived...

Khrest bad kept his promise. The s.p.a.cejet remained in the hands of the Earthlings. In the capable strong hands of men of a young and daring race.

Thank you, my friend! a familiar voice seemed to say inside Khrest's head, momentarily disturbing the vision of supernal feminine loveliness as a stone cast in a pool might vibrate a beautiful girl's reflection.

"Goodbye, Perry," Khrest said almost inaudibly. Only the Universe heard his dying breath.

Still one last sound silently echoed in his soul, the beautiful name that named the fair lost vision of his youth, the secret sorrow which even his most intimate friends had never suspicioned in the later years of his life. His image: ever the solitary, dedicated savant. But once there had been... Lurvanii.

And the Universe was diminished as Khrest, the wise old Arkonide scientist, expired; dying as he had lived-serenely and with a gentle smile upon his lips-as the dearest desire of his ardent manhood reappeared, released with his final heartbeat from the recesses of irreality, to welcome her eternal love home to infinite peace.

For the firstime in his life Lt. Davis Bowler stood face to face with the Administrator. But he was far from elated, seeing the sorrow in those pain-filled eyes.

Rhodan looked up, turning the message between his fingers. "You may leave, Lt. Bowler," he said with outward calm.

Bowler saluted and left the room as quickly as discipline permitted.

Rhodan flipped on the mike. "Rhodan speaking. Please find Reginald Bell and send him to me at once."

He waited for the confirmation and leaned back in his chair. Something unforeseen had happened on Khrest's Planet: the Arkonide had apparently been able to save the s.p.a.cejet but had sacrificed his life for it.

Bell came without delay. He knew Perry Rhodan well enough to realize that this was no time for levity.

The Administrator rose from his seat and gazed into the eyes of his old friend-one of the last he still could cherish. "Come, Reggie," he said softly. "We want to take our friend home."

600 ADVENTURES FROM NOW.

We reach Medaillon: Alien Sun

THE s.h.i.+P OF THINGS TO COME.

THE DAWN of a new era is depicted starting next issue! 57 years have pa.s.sed. On Earth it is now 2102 AD.

Conditions and relations.h.i.+ps have been consolidated. Atlan's position as Imperator Gonozal has been established with the help of his Terranian friends. Terrans have also occupied important positions on Arkon itself in order to keep the Greater Imperium operable.

The Solar Empire has become the greatest commercial power in the known Milky Way as well as in Star Cl.u.s.ter M-13 beyond the galactic rim. Great transports carry a continuous stream of emigrants to far worlds of the interstellar frontier and contacts with numerous intelligent alien races are being cultivated.

It is at this time that a top-secret new s.p.a.cedrive is put to the test-a propulsion system that will bring the science of s.p.a.ce travel to an undreamed of new era of development.

In our next account of the life and times of the Peacelord we learn what happens during the far journey of the Fantasy to its unexpected

TARGET STAR.

By K.H. Scheer

PS: Also there begins a new love epoch for Perry Rhodan as he meets Auris of Las-Toor on the planet Sphynx...