He waited until the girl had nodded in agreement. Then he said: "This means you can at this instant act against his will?" She nodded once more to confirm what he surmised to be true. "Do you realize that he issues orders to his collaborators to will themselves to death as soon as they fall into our hands?"

"They actually obey his command and die," said Rhodan with brutal candour. "So you be very careful to maintain this shield. You are probably the only living human being over which the supermutant has no control. Except for us, of course, because he doesn't know our brain-wave patterns. He can exert a certain influence but can't give orders to out hearts to stop."

"That's horrible!" she exclaimed. Tatjana could not get over the fact that her master was a person without scruples. Rhodan took advantage of this situation.

"The mutant master caused one of my companies to mutiny and forced them to shoot at their own comrades. Fortunately we could prevent him from completely carrying out his evil plans."

Tatjana clapped her hands over her face. "And I was so deluded that I almost murdered hundreds of innocent people. The bomb..."

"Don't think back on that," Rhodan said softly and with emphasis. "Many men have done worse things acting in good faith. You followed your own convictions. As soon as you've recovered from this unpleasant experience, Lloyd will return you to Moscow. n.o.body forces you to stay here."

She regarded him in amazement. "You'll let me go free?"

"Why should I hold you against your will? I hardly believe you'll ever again make the same mistake of letting yourself be misled by stupid slogans. The supermutant is not merely a narrow-minded zealot, he's also a criminal thirsting for power. Some day I'll learn who hides beneath the mask of the mutant master."

Tatjana raised her head and her eyes were filled with surprise as she looked straight into Rhodan's eyes. "You don't know who he is?" she asked.

Rhodan shook his head but his steel-grey eyes became suddenly cold and more alert than usual. "Do you?" he asked.

Tatjana seemed to savour the moment when she could feel superior to a giant like Perry Rhodan. She nodded and replied: "I even have met him in person."

3/ WORLD ENEMY #1.

In the vicinity of Alamogordo, where the first atom bomb was detonated in 1945, a nuclear reactor accident occurred during testing. Many scientists and workers were killed by the leaking radiation but just as many people who worked there escaped with their lives.

Among these was the physicist Monterny, who married a short time afterwards. His marriage was very brief but also very happy. His wife bore him a son, Clifford Monterny. Clifford was a mutant of the first degree, a hypno of incredible power.

Like his father before him, Clifford studied physics. Due to his superior intelligence he obtained an influential position and acquired a considerable fortune but he was no longer a youngster when he discovered his unusual mutant characteristics. He could force his will on others with the greatest of ease. It took him two years to find out that this hypnotic influence was not restricted by spatial distances. Once he had met, or even only seen a person, he could locate and influence them with his extrasensory powers.

Clifford Monterny was fat, puffy and unattractive. Women shunned him, which certainly had an effect on the development of his character. His small, deepset eyes always bore an expression of distrust and envy. At the age of 32 he had already lost all his hair, a fact he tried to hide by usually wearing a hat. His outstanding intelligence stood in harsh contrast to his disagreeable exterior.

With great interest he followed the founding of the New Power and the successful path taken by Perry Rhodan. He observed how Rhodan's mutant corps was organized and more than once he was tempted to put his talents at Rhodan's disposal. But he never took the decisive step.

After all, wasn't he a superior mutant in his own right? If he so chose, couldn't he himself guide the destiny of mankind? Was he not capable of concentrating more power in his hands than ever anybody alive before him? Why not set up a mutant corps of his own?

And thus Clifford Monterny began to gather, in all secrecy, a group of mutants around him.

Clifford Monterny became the master of the mutants, a man known hardly to anyone but one who seemed to be everywhere-and nowhere. Thanks to his considerable fortune he built a veritable fortress in the mountains of Utah. Nearly 60 miles to the east of the great Salt Lake, at the foot of Emmons Peak, was his farm and adjoining land covering an area of nearly four square miles. His house resembled a fortress which had been made impregnable. All the latest modern technical devices had been installed to insure proper announcement of any visitors and their surveillance. Any unwelcome visitors or intruders would of course be effectively repelled.

When Clifford Monterny reached the age of 35 his telepathic abilities had finally matured and reached their peak. Combined with his hypno talent he was now able to dominate unconditionally any person he had once encountered and whose vibration pattern was known to him. There was no escape for his unfortunate victims for he would infallibly find them again wherever they might try to flee.

Shrouded in complete secrecy, the headquarters of a malign power had grown in the rocky mountains of Utah, an organization that threatened even Perry Rhodan's existence. Their first attack on the financial and economic strength of the New Power had been warded off by Perry Rhodan but now the mutant master was concentrating on more direct method of striking at the heart of the realm of the Power.

At this point in the development of this struggle Perry Rhodan finally found out the ident.i.ty of his unknown, bitter foe.

All the secret services of the world had joined in one organization, the Terranian Defence Federation. The General Secretary of this influential federation was Allan D. Mercant.

Mercant was hastily running his fingers through the thin crown of blond hair, trying to pat the unruly strands into place, when a visitor was announced.

"Rhodan in person?" he asked to rea.s.sure himself. It had been ages since he had last talked to him. "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and show him in!"

The young officer whirled around so swiftly that he almost knocked over Rhodan who entered the room smilingly cordially in greeting to Mercant. "It's good to see you again. You still look as lively as ever."

"Don't be deceived by my looks, I'm getting on in age," complained Mercant bitterly and smoothed the wispy curls on his temples. His temples had turned grey but the blond of his thin wreath of hair around his big skull had stubbornly retained its colour, thought Rhodan with a sudden suspicion. "To what do I owe the honour of your visit?"

"Nothing pleasant brings me here," replied Rhodan and sat down on the proferred chair. "I need your help."

"Help?" Mercant's eyes looked saucer-like in astonishment. "I am supposed to help you?"

"This time, yes," smiled Rhodan; "it's an exception; I don't want to cause any political difficulties. You know yourself how sensitive some people's feelings are in that respect."

"How true," nodded Mercant to express his agreement and compa.s.sion. "After all, we still don't have a United Government of the World."

Rhodan leaned forward and looked inquiringly into Mercant's eyes. "Do you know a Clifford Monterny?"

Mercant's face grew pensive and he reflected for awhile, then hesitantly he nodded his head. "I know of him but haven't met him personally."

"Very fortunate for you," interjected Rhodan. Mercant overlooked this remark.

"There was once a well-known physicist by the name of Monterny but he lost his life quite some time ago during an explosion."

"That was the father. I mean his son Clifford."

"Isn't he a physicist, too? Yes, I know of him. He's made a few inventions but has never come to the attention of the Terranian Defence Federation. Seems to have a lot of money. Has a ranch somewhere out west. But what do you want to know that for?"

"I'd like to obtain your permission to fly over the territory of the United States with a squadron of my s.p.a.ce-destroyers and raze Monterny's ranch to the ground. I hope you understand now why it is necessary for me first to get some official sanction."

"What do you want? I believe..." shouted Mercant excitedly.

"Don't believe anything, Mercant. Clifford Monterny is the mysterious mutant master, in case you are interested. He is about to shake the world order to its very foundations. He is a hypno and can cause any statesman of this globe at any moment to drop his country's stockpile of atom bombs over their neighbour's territory. Clifford Monterny is world enemy number one. Only his ruthless extinction can save us all from certain ruin. This is why I came to see you."

Mercant had already turned to a table mike and spoke into it his request to the FBI to supply him with all available data on Monterny. Then he looked up. "You can count on my complete cooperation, Rhodan. Within a few minutes we should be in touch with the President of the USA. But one question in the mean time: where are your destroyers now?"

Rhodan smiled gently. "Overhead, my dear Mercant. Exactly 18 miles above us. Are you surprised?"

Cadet Tifflor saw in front of him the rounded disk of Terra. It was surrounded by a milky layer of the denser atmosphere, then the sky's colour gradually deepened from violet to black. The bigger stars were shimmering without sparkling, although the sun was shining.

Without special formalities Tiff had been transferred by Perry Rhodan to the fleet of the New Power. He had been entrusted with the command of a destroyer. Together with Ray Gall and Pete Maros he was positioned now with his Z-35 at a height of 18 miles above the headquarters of the Terranian Defence Federation, where Perry Rhodan was presently negotiating with Mercant.

Eight additional destroyers were hovering close by, supported in place by their gravity neutralizers. Much higher up, invisible to the naked eye, stood the mighty s.p.a.ceship Stardust II in the void of s.p.a.ce. Bell acted as the commander replacing Rhodan who was on Earth. The New Power had begun its action against the mutant master.

Mercant had issued the necessary instructions and n.o.body would attempt to bother the nine cruisers-that were waiting above the territory of the United States. Besides, there was no weapon against the mighty s.p.a.cesphere of the Stardust II, whose diameter was almost half a mile.

Tiff breathed a sigh of relief when the screen before him lit up showing the familiar face of Reginald Bell. Tiff knew that all the commanders of the other eight destroyers were simultaneously put in touch with the Stardust II.

"Calling all destroyers! Rhodan will arrive in a few minutes here on the Stardust II via an auxiliary vessel. Action will proceed according to plan. Adhere to permanent instructions!"

The picture screen remained brightly lit. Bell's face moved sideways and out of view. The audio contact was interrupted. This lasted 10 minutes, then came data on which course the destroyers were to set. Bell's calm voice guided the nine-destroyers to their destination.

Deep down below the Earth's surface lay Clifford Monterny's command centre.

Surrounded by innumerable picture screens and other communication devices sat the supermutant in his command centre like a spider in its gigantic web. He held in his hands all the strings of his far flung enterprise and from here the monster was directing his battles which were mainly conducted in an inconspicuous manner.

One of the screens lit up. The face of an Oriental man came on. The image was flickering and distorted. There must be many relay stations between the sender and the receiver of this broadcast.

"What do you have to report, S-7?" asked Monterny.

"While conducting new research experiments the Syntak Works were destroyed last night. They are in Australia and 65% of its stock is owned by the General Cosmic Company."

"Thank you, S-7, you'll get your check."

The screen grew dark. Another face came on as another screen shone brightly. A black man. "This is M-3 speaking. This morning the Governor of Sirapolis died during a traffic accident. The driver of the car escaped unknown."

"Good, M-3. You know your next mission?"

"I received instructions from..."

"That'll do, M-3. I'm awaiting your report: mission accomplished."

A third screen. "h.e.l.lo, chief. This is Sp-6. Unusual flight activity observed in the air s.p.a.ce above the Terranian Defence Federation. Sighted a s.p.a.cesphere. The FBI was requested to provide data regarding Clifford Monterny."

"What did you say?" Monterny leaned forward. "About me?"

"I have this information from an absolutely reliable source. Chief. The only thing I couldn't find out is who asked for this information."

"Dammit, that's impossible. n.o.body knows my ident.i.ty. Or should perhaps...?"

He had a sudden vision of the oval face of a pretty woman with whom he had lost contact for a few days.

Tatjana Michalowna!

He had lost touch with her when she failed to execute her last mission. He knew that she was a powerful telepath, just like himself. But in addition she had the special gift of being able to place a protective screen around her brain and thus elude outside influences. Even his own.

Could Tatjana have dared betray him? And why? Hadn't she been one of his most loyal and most firmly convinced followers? He had always had to be on his guard when the was around not to think any 'wrong thoughts.'

"It must have been one of our own people," Monterny heard his agent's reply. "As soon as I find out who demanded these data about you from the FBI I'll report again to you." Monterny paused for a minute with the reception of his agents' newscast. He was deeply absorbed in his thoughts. His superbrain reached out and searched where his mutants were in all parts of the world. This was not always an easy task and this was the reason he kept up this daily news report for all routine announcements. But if necessary he could keep his agents under surveillance without technical installations.

He currently had 13 mutants under his command. One of them, the most important one, could not report, since he was not on Earth. Eleven mutants called in and were instructed to return to the base immediately. One mutant only did not answer Monterny's call: Tatjana Michalowna.

The supermutant did not waste any time with long reflections. He sounded the first-stage alarm. The first of his mutants were due to arrive soon. The entire fortress was put in a state of defence.

Tiny jet planes were now coming in for a landing on the vast fields surrounding the farm house. They were bringing Monterny's main a.s.sistants, the mutants. They had left their posts and were rushing back to headquarters in order to receive new and direct orders. In the underground shafts of the former mines a feverish activity unfolded. Modern artillery was carried close below the surface by freight elevators and then placed in strategic positions, ready for action. All was accomplished completely automatically and by electronic guidance.

The mutant master sat in his command centre and kept everything under his control. On various screens he could observe the environs of his farm house in all details but hard as he might try he couldn't detect any suspicious movements. There was no sign of any potential attacker.

Perhaps agent Sp-6 had been mistaken and this request from the FBI was just a routine matter; but he couldn't be too careful in his position. If only his man in Terrania would get in touch with him.

Monterny had no idea that this man would never again get in touch with him. As strenuously as his searching mind was trying to locate him. Monterny was unable to find a dead man's brain. Tatjana had taken care that no threat any longer existed for Terrania from this end. When put under arrest this agent was shot in self-defence.

But the supermutant knew nothing of these events. He was waiting in vain for some news from his agent in Terrania. And thus he also remained ignorant of whether Perry Rhodan might have learned something about his ident.i.ty.

All was quiet for the time being.

But at the slightest sign of an impending attack the harmless Monterny ranch would change into a fire-spewing fortress.

The mutant master had mobilized his defence forces and was all set, ready for action.

Perry Rhodan and Reginald Bell took their time.

The Stardust II and the nine destroyers had climbed to the edge of the atmosphere in order to foil all attempts to locate him by the mutant master's radar installations. They were now holding their final council of war.

"Our mutants have done a splendid job," reported Bell and threw a warning glance in the direction of Pucky, who was squatting in a corner. "Several agents of the supermutant were put out of action. We couldn't catch any of his mutants. According to Tatjana there were 12 other mutants besides herself. She knows 11 in person but not the 12th. He seems to be extraordinarily capable specimen."

"More capable than I?" asked Pucky from his corner.

This was actually very difficult to imagine. As far as his looks were concerned, Pucky would not be surpa.s.sed by any human being, for Pucky did not belong to the human race. Some time back, when Rhodan had set out on his search for the Immortal and had made a temporary landing on the lonely planet Vagabond while on his way from the planet Wanderer, the mouse-beaver Pucky, as he was later christened by a member of the crew, had stowed away on board the Stardust. From that moment on the little mouse-beaver had been inseparable from Rhodan and Bell. Pucky's fur was reddish-brown; he had the head of a mouse and the tail of a beaver, which he used for additional support when he was walking upright. His extraordinary intelligence had enabled him to learn very quickly the language of the 'two-legged creatures.' He was an outstanding telepath, master to perfection of the art of telekinesis and teleportation. On occasion it had happened that he would cause an entire fleet of smaller s.p.a.ceships to execute the fanciest manoeuvres much against the will of their pilots.

Bell examined the little mouse-beaver quizzically. "To a certain extent he might perhaps be more capable than you, Pucky, but we don't know that for sure. But please, don't disturb us now, even if you are a full-fledged member of the mutant corps, we must discuss very important matters now." Bell concluded excitedly and looked at Rhodan. "Where was I when we were so rudely interrupted?"