104 HORN: GREEN William Voltz HORN: GREEN IT'S ALL A MATTER OF TURNING OVER A 'NEW LEAF' FOR- PERRY RHODAN-A distress call relieves the Solar Administrator's distress PUCKY-The mousebeaver doesn't carrot-all for 'yellow journalism' Reginald Bell-The Solar First Deputy learns about cosmic discretion Allan D. Mercant-Chief of Solar Intelligence Michael Freyt-Solar Marshal John Edgar Pincer-The IFC's Vice-President tries a honeymoon that almost goes to the dogs Cora Pincer-John Pincer's pretty young bride doesn't appreciate side trips Archibald Pincer-Proud father of the Greenhorn Mark Denniston-The IFC's chief pilot is hounded by a sense of retribution Valmonze-The Springer patriarch hates spinach! Toraman-Eldest son of Valmonze Zomak-A Springer patriarch Razmon-A Springer pilot in a dilemma Clifton Shaugnessy-One 'lousy human' who pays his dues Amat-Palong-This Ara is for the 'birds' Schnitz, Kankantz, Lupatz and Tonitutz-Natives of Alazee's planet who give the 'no-flies' a lift Maj. James Woodworth-The Cape Kennedy's commander believes in advertising Stanour-Irate alien ambassador from Morg Eduard Deegan-Terran Trade Commissioner Jens Poulson Oliver Durban, Buster Felton, Adam Spahn-Officers and noncoms serving under Maj. Woodworth Vincent Aplied-Chief of an interstellar narcotics ring Quartrox-Zuat-Emperor of Saastal, sister planet of Morg ... and the spaceships Neptune, Error, Val 1/4/7 and Cape Kennedy ALL SYSTEMS GREEN FOR GO-GO-GO ACTION! PERRY RHODAN: Peacelord of the Universe Series and characters created and directed by Karl-Herbert Scheer and Walter Ernsting. ACE BOOKS EDITION Managing Editor: FORREST J ACKERMAN WENDAYNE ACKERMAN Translator?in?Chief and Series C?ordinator CHARLES VOLPE Art Director PAT LOBRUTTO Editor Sig Wahrman Associate Translator Stuart J. Byrne Dwight R. Decker Assistant Translators HORN: GREEN by William Voltz A Division of Charter Communications Inc. 1120 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10036 HORN: GREEN Copyright (c) 1976 Ace Books An Ace Book by arrangement with Arthur Moewig Verlag All Rights Reserved. Original German Title: "Nur ein Greenhorn" First Ace Printing: June 1976 Printed in U.S.A ORDER OF THE ACTION 1/ A SUPER TENDERFOOT IN ERROR page * 2/ THE ERROR IS MISTAKEN page * 3/ A VERY SEEDY DEAL page * 4/ SPINACH IS BAD FOR THE HEALTH page * 5/ THE GREENHORN'S GALACTIC GAMBIT page * 6/ FLIGHT OF THE FLEEING NO-FLIES page * 7/ THE CARROT EATER'S LAMENT page * 8/ A PINCER MANEUVER page * 9/ THE KAMIKAZE CAPERS page * 10/ EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY page * PROLOG IN THE COURSE of the years the Earth has become a giant cargo-handling and shipping centre for interstellar trade goods and the Solar Imperium has emerged as a major commercial power. However, for First Administrator Perry Rhodan and his colleagues the expansion of Terra's commercial relations has brought up new problems. There is strong competition from the Galactic Traders who are still fighting for their old monopolies, by fair means or foul. The Springers conceive of a means of discrediting the Earth in galactic trade relationships, or of possibly eliminating Terra entirely as a competitor. Their plan involves the dissemination of Earthly alkaloids through the galaxy-that is, the spread of narcotics such as opium, which has a devastating effect on extraterrestrial organisms. In spite of intensive efforts on the part of Solar Intelligence, so far it has not been possible to eliminate the interstellar narcotics ring in which unscrupulous Terrans are also active. For Rhodan's extraterrestrial politics this illegal operation is a very serious matter because after all, this poisonous commodity does have an Earthly origin! The situation doesn't look very promising for humanity. An attack by the Akons has just been repulsed and it is feared that the inhabitants of the Blue System will undertake new action against the Earth. At this time of high tensions an accidental caprice of fortune comes to Perry Rhodan's aid. The 'accidental' factor appears in the ungainly form of greenhorn John Edgar Pincer... 1/ A SUPER TENDERFOOT IN ERROR WITH A SIGH, Mark Denniston sank into the thickly upholstered chair in front of Pincer's desk. Denniston was a powerful, energetic man in his mid-40s whose hands were like bear paws. However, at the moment not much of his usual vigour was in evidence. He groaned aloud. "Chief, you can't ask me to do that! You know that I'd bring you a crate of coals from Hell, but that-no!" Pincer regarded the slumped figure of the spaceman with a trace of appreciation. Even though his bushy brows knit together more severely, he gave Denniston a wink. "Do you know what I like about you, Mark?" he asked. Inasmuch as Denniston didn't seem to care about pleasing anyone and maintained a stubborn silence, he continued. "You have such a nice way of criticizing my orders-and then finally accepting them." Denniston pressed his giant hands together as though he wanted to crush something with them. "Listen, Chief," he said, making a new attempt to appeal his case, "I'm one of your freighter captains-I deliver fruit and produce to the Vega System for you or wherever else you want me to haul them. I've worked faithfully for the Intercosmic Fruit Company for a number of years, so what's my reward? You ask me to become a babysitter!" Pincer's expression changed as though he'd just bitten into a sour pickle. "You're speaking of my son, Mark-John Edgar Pincer. That particular 'baby' happens to be the vice-president of the company." Denniston made no comment but it could be seen from his face that he did not think much of vice-presidents, and particularly this one. He stared glumly at Pincer. "The good lad has gotten himself married, Mark," continued Pincer, contributing further to Denniston's disturbed condition. "I've made a present of one of our smallest spaceships to him and his wife and he wants to use it for a honeymoon trip. Since our family has the habit of combining business with pleasure he's going to carry a cargo of Super Tenderleaf, which is to be delivered to the Vega planet of Ferrol." For the first time the space veteran revealed a spark of interest. "Super Tenderleaf?" he asked. "What's that?" Archibald Pincer, chairman of the board for IFC, gave him a disapproving look as though to say that he didn't think much of anybody who couldn't imagine what "Super Tenderleaf might be. In an appropriate tone of dignity he explained: "That happens to be our newest development of spinach seeds." Denniston reddened. "Spinach...?" he asked incredulously. "You are expecting me to fly to Vega with a cargo of spinach and a couple of newlyweds?" "Restrain yourself now, Mark," cautioned the elder Pincer severely. "It is not customary for members of the Firm to belittle our own products." Denniston appeared to be somewhat helpless. "Alright, A.P.," he grumbled, "I'll eat sour apples for you. Tell your son we'll be taking off in a few days." But Pincer had every appearance of still holding something back as a surprise for the captain. In fact it turned out to be a further shock. "As you know, Mark, my son was not accepted into the Solar Fleet. Presumably he's supposed to have some deficiency in his skeletal structure and he's colourblind. These insignificant factors were enough, however, to cause the examiners to reject him on a number of occasions. So I gave John Edgar the chance to apply for a 2nd class space pilot's license through a private space academy. Therefore he's cleared to fly the disc-ship that I've given him for a wedding present." A flicker of something like hope appeared in Denniston's eyes. "Then by all means your son would be able to get along without me!" The IFC president shook his head. "No, Mark. John Edgar doesn't have any space experience. Besides, his mother raised him a bit on the soft side while she was alive. He needs a firm hand. So I want you to go along with him and just make sure that I get to see him again all in one piece." "What you're saying is, he's a great advertisement for Super Tenderleaf-a greenhorn!" retorted the spaceman. Pincer raised a hand in defence. "Don't try to browbeat him or crack a whip over him, Mark. Just let him take charge of things. He doesn't know you're an old spacehound. In fact he thinks you're to go along... well, as a sort of butler..." "Butler!" groaned Denniston. "It goes as far as that?" "Don't throw the book at him or try to set down any rules. I want the boy to become self-sufficient. Promise me, Mark, that you'll only butt in when it's absolutely necessary." Denniston answered somewhat stiffly. "Why not? A butler has to know his place!" "In the meantime the global quarantine has been lifted," said Pincer. "The entire population of the Earth has been inoculated against a recurrence of the plasma plague. Ships are only restricted from takeoff in Terrania itself. I think Rhodan's order in this respect is very wise. He doesn't want to take any risks. Well, if there are no more cases of the sickness in the next week or two then everything will be clear even in Terrania. At any rate we can take off-meaning Cora, John Edgar and you, Mark." "Not to mention Super Spinach!" added Denniston peevishly. * * * * The private spaceport of the Intercosmic Fruit Company was situated 100 miles from Denver, capital city of the U.S. federated state of Colorado. It was an ideal location for the centralization ...
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