Fear that man

Titel: Fear that man Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Dean Koontz

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        Coro wasnt in pain, Sam realized. Coro was trying, in the short moments between waves of the alien song, to crawl toward the opening they had burned in the hull. Sam collapsed onto the deck, rolled onto his stomach. His eyes were swimming, hazed red as his temples throbbed with pain that was not so much pain as severe weariness. He tried crawling a few inches before the song crashed back again.
         We thank the Central Being for goodness. We thank the Central Being for the continuation of the egg egg egg egg
        Sam knew he wouldnt make it. Coro had been closer to the hull, and he might. But Sam was lost. Each time, the crawling became more difficult. Each time, the lull between throbs of the song seemed shorter. He realized that he had to combat the song, not just crawl from it. He had to engage himself in some mental task and fight to concentrate on that task when the song was in full blast. If not, the alien thought-concepts would cripple his logic, crush his humanness from him. Quickly, before the next wave hit him, he struck upon a plan. He would trace the submelodies of the song, search the rhythm patterns for some clues. He would play detective to save his mind. He would concentrate on discovering what the Central Being was. He would have to cling to the detective role when the wave came. Over and over, he repeated to himself: What is the Central Being?
        SHIPSCORESHIPSCORE
         shipscoreshipscore
         Central Being ş şSHIPS
        CORESHIFSCOREships
         coreshipscorecentra
         lbeing ş şSHIPs
        Sam came into the trough between waves, back into reality. His nerves vibrated now, almost to the tune but raggedly nearly beyond control. His mouth was a dirty, dry rag, his tongue a lump of wiped-up dirt. He dragged against the deck, inches only. He was so very tired. Mentally and physically. The undercurrents of the Racesong were opening before him as he traced them under the crest of their influence, to seek the identity of the Central Being. Even the first bars of the submelodies hinted at the Central Beings true nature. But he refused to believe it. Refused absolutely.
         Central Being, Central Being
         Ships Core
         She-hips Co-ore
         being being being
        Coro was almost to the hole. Sam pushed himself as hard as he could. His mind was spinning with what he had found, twisting and turning to seek a way to discount the submelodies and what they revealed. Coro was out of the hole, tumbling into the tall grass outside, away from the influence of Racesong.
         being
         core of being
         core of core of

        BEING!

        Sam felt strong hands on his wrists. Then he was being pulled from the ship, dragged brutally across the fine sharp edges of the crude portal and onto the ground. Racesong faded and did not return. But it was-in one way-too late for him. He knew the answer. Maintaining his sanity, he had found out what the Central Being of Raceship was.
        And, loudly, in the night, he screamed.

----

    VIII

        Coro used the medikit preparedermics, injecting him with alternating doses of semi-sedatives and mild stimulants, rocking his body in a chemical cradle to bring him back from the screaming and the blackness that bubbled in his mind. But it wasnt an easy trip. He had succeeded in getting out of Raceship physically intact, but his mental arrangement had suffered severe blows under the uncensored realization of the nature of the Central Being. But for Coros expert chemical manipulation, he might have let the desire to scream run rampant and run on.
        What is it? Coro asked, holding him as an ancient might have held an epileptic, careful that he could not damage himself if he tried again to thrash about. They were still under the overwhelming shadow of the alien monolith, pebbles next to the mountain. Whats the matter?
        The Central Being, he managed. His lips were strangely dry, cracking and sore. His tongue felt swollen and furry.
        The what?
        Briefly, he detailed the basics he had learned, holding out on the scream-causer.
        Its alien, Coro said, his voice fatherly and comforting. But what is there to scream about? Ive seen Beasts with stranger methods of reproduction and-
        Sam forced himself to a sitting