lrh.fortuneoffear-第12章

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　　　〃The　gold　reserves　of　Switzerland？〃　they　breathed　in　awe　and　greed。
　　　〃Just　that；〃　I　said。　I　spoke　to　Captain　Stabb　but　let　the　others　hear。　〃In　order　to　steal　something；　it　is　necessary　to　know　where　it　is。〃
　　　They　nodded。
　　　〃So　at　great　risk　to　myself；　I　am　going　to　do　just　that。〃
　　　〃How？〃　whispered　Stabb。
　　　〃Look　at　that　platform；〃　I　said。
　　　They　did。　What　they　really　saw　was　what　they　supposed　was　a　steel　platform　with　nine　bullion　cases　lashed　to　the　top。
　　　〃The　gold　in　those　boxes；〃　I　said；　〃isn't　gold　at　all。　It　is　just　lead　bars　painted　with　gold　paint。　Check　them　and　see　for　yourself。〃
　　　They　undid　a　lashing。　With　a　careful　dagger；　they　verified　it。　I　took　a　small　hammer　and　repaired　the　damage。
　　　〃But　how　does　this　rob　Switzerland？〃　said　Stabb。
　　　〃Very　simple；〃　I　said。　〃You　are　going　to　land　me　and　this　at　Kloten　Airport　in　Zurich。　They　will　take　it　to　their　vaults　and　I　will　follow　them。　I　will　pinpoint　exactly　where　the　vaults　are　and　when　we　have　planned　the　raid　all　out　we'll　go　back　and　lift　the　whole　thing　away　with　the　line…jumper！〃
　　　〃Oh；〃　said　Stabb；　his　eyes　glowing　as　I　knew　they　would。　〃There's　only　one　trouble　with　the　plan。　The　line…jumper　will　only　lift　about　two　hundred　tons。〃
　　　〃Better　a　little　than　none；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Two　hundred　tons　of　gold；〃　said　an　Antimanco　engineer。　〃Devils！　That　would　buy　half　a　country　at　the　price　of　gold　here！〃
　　　〃It's　a　big　risk　for　you；〃　said　Stabb。
　　　〃That's　why　I　am　carrying　this　gun；〃　I　said；　patting　〃The　Brute。〃
　　　〃And　then　we　pick　you　up？〃　said　Stabb。
　　　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃All　you　have　to　do　is　put　this　platform　near　their　customs　shed。　I　will　climb　out　of　the　ship　and　down　onto　it。　And　then　you　cut　for　home。　I'll　fight　my　own　way　out。〃
　　　〃Devils；〃　said　a　pilot　in　awe。　〃That's　nerve。〃
　　　〃So；　quick；　get　yourselves　ready；〃　I　said。　〃We'll　take　off　within　the　hour。〃
　　　They　scrambled！

Chapter　6

　　　The　personnel　area　of　the　line…jumper　consisted　of　forward　seats　for　the　two　pilots　and　rear　seats　for　a　tank　crew　of　six。　It　was　a　peaked　partment　way　up　at　the　top　of　the　bell　and　it　was　almost　without　ports…it　had　small　slits　that　could　be　opened　or　closed　so　as　to　not　leave　any　reflective　surface　for　detection　beams。
　　　The　engine　room　was　elementary　and　required　only　one　engineer　but　two　of　the　Antimanco　crew　got　into　it。　It　lay　just　below　the　personnel　partment　and　one　went　through　it　to　climb　down　and　out。
　　　The　rest　of　the　ship　was　just　like　a　flared　bell　mouth。　In　fact；　if　you　looked　at　the　ship　from　the　side；　it　had　the　appearance　of　an　enormous　church　bell。
　　　Stabb　got　the　two　pilots　into　their　seats　and　stood　between　them。　They　were　going　over　the　charts　they　had。
　　　I　sat　down　on　a　ledge　seat　clear　at　the　back　of　the　partment。　I　buckled　myself　in　very　loosely　so　nothing　would　impede　my　getting　to　my　guns。
　　　I　watched　anxiously　for　any　sign　that　the　Antimancos　had　not　been　taken　in。　It　was　a　bit　nerve…wracking。
　　　Stabb　came　back　to　me。　〃This　'border…jumper；'　as　we　call　it；　is　useful　in　atmosphere　only。　We're　only　going　to　go　up　about　a　hundred　thousand　feet。　The　trip　is　about　a　thousand　miles　one　way　and　we　don't　have　to　go　very　fast。　We'll　arrive　there　at　about　7：30　P。　M。；　their　local　time；　allowing　for　time　differences。　They'll　probably　still　be　groggy　from　dinner；　a　factor　we　always　take　into　account　in　pirating。　Now；　does　that　fit　in　with　your　plans？〃
　　　〃Exactly；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Then　we're　ready　to　go；〃　he　said。
　　　They　got　their　motors　going　and　their　screens　live。
　　　They　lifted　it　in　the　hangar　and　settled　it　down　over　the　platform。　They　attached　safety　lines　to　the　new　structure。　They　turned　on　the　traction　beams　and　engines　again　and　floated　the　whole　ship　and　platform　a　few　feet　off　the　hangar　floor。
　　　An　engineer　swarmed　down　with　a　radiative　test　meter　and　checked　the　ship　and　platform　for　reflectance　of　radar　beams。
　　　He　leaped　up　on　the　platform；　swarmed　back　into　his　engine　room　and　shouted　up　to　the　flight　area。　〃All　responses　null！〃
　　　Stabb　tapped　the　pilot　at　the　main　controls　on　the　shoulder　and　up　we　went　through　the　electronic　illusion；　ZOOM！
　　　I　opened　a　slot。　I　wanted　to　glance　down　at　the　receding　Earth　and　maybe　make　sure　we　hadn't　left　the　platform　behind。
　　　Stabb　reached　across　and　closed　the　slot。　〃No；　no；〃　he　said　with　a　finger　wag。　〃They　got　radar　on　their　satellites　now　and　could　detect　a　blip；　even　as　small　as　that　one。　Watch　those　screens　instead。〃　He　pointed　forward。
　　　I　couldn't　see　very　much　of　the　flight　deck。　I　was　also　pinned　to　the　seat　by　our　upward　motion。　This　craft　didn't　have　anything　like　the　vast　array　on　the　tug。　It　was　pretty　elementary。　I　guessed　the　army　or　whoever　had　designed　them　didn't　have　much　familiarity　with　space…flight。　I　could　only　assume　we　were　on　our　way。　I　was　worried　that　we'd　left　the　platform　behind。
　　　An　engineer　was　yelling　up　through　the　shaft。　Stabb　knelt　over　the　opening。　They　talked。　Stabb　came　back。
　　　〃That　（bleeped）　platform；〃　he　said。
　　　Alarm　shot　through　me。　〃It's　all　right？〃　I　begged。
　　　〃Yeah；　it's　all　right。　But　it　is　registering　a　higher　weight　value　than　it　should。〃
　　　I　went　cold。　I　had　had　it　built　of　aluminum　and　then　had　them　make　it　look　like　heavy　steel。　I　thought　that　would　make　it　seem　the　right　weight　even　when　filled　with　gold　bars。
　　　At　a　hundred　thousand　feet；　they　sent　the　line…jumper　streaking　along　on　course　to　Zurich。　I　worried　that　at　this　speed　it　might　be　making　a　sonic　boom　that　nobody　below　on　the　planet　would　be　able　to　account　for。
　　　Then　I　made　a　discovery　that　really　stood　my　hair　on　end。　In　trying　to　rise　enough　to　look　past　a　pilot's　shoulder　and　see　a　viewscreen；　I　didn't　feel　the　customary　thump　of　the　control　star　against　my　bare　chest。
　　　I　had　forgotten　to　put　it　on！
　　　I　was　sitting　here　without　the　basic　control　device　for　these　bloodthirsty　（bleepards）！
　　　Only　my　few　puny　weapons　were　on　hand　to　defend　me。
　　　As　the　shock　of　it　passed；　I　realized　what　had　happened。　It　had　been　occasioned　by　a　slip　of　the　Freudian　unconscious；　a　deep…seated　reaction　against　lockets　in　general　caused　by　my　recent　traumatic　experience。　But　realizing　it　didn't　ease　my　sudden　surge　of　roaring　anxiety。
　　　Stabb　didn't　help　a　bit。　He　said；　〃Oh；　you're　trying　to　get　a　glimpse　of　the　screen　and　see　where　we　are？　We're　right　over　the　Sava　River　in　Yugoslavia：　if　you　got　dumped　into　it　you　wouldn't　last　five　seconds。　Look　at　that　torrent　roar！〃
　　　Soundlessly；　trying　not　to　move　my　lips；　I　began　praying　to　the　god　of　voyagers。
　　　The　line…jumper　boomed　onward　through　the　night；　flying　at　a　speed　that　kept　the　Earth　below　shadowed　from　the　sun。　I　wished　I　could　open　the　slit。　I　knew　what　I　would　get：　a　blast　of　setting　sun　at　this　altitude　and　nothing　but　ink　on　the　ground　below。　But　I　wished　I　could　anyway：　it　would　make　me　feel　less　trapped。
　　　Stabb　had　moved　ahead；　whispering　to　the　pilots　above　the　roar　of　engines　and　rushing　air。　Were　they　plotting　against　my　life？
　　　He　came　back　through　the　empty　seats　to　where　I　sat。　By　the　interior　green　glowlight；　his　beady　eyes　looked　like　those　of　a　wolf。
　　　〃We're　just　about　to　cross　the　Rhaetian　Alps。　Piz　Bernina　is　right　below：　thirteen　thousand　feet。　You　should　see　those　crevasses！　Dump　a　man　in　there　and　you'd　never　find　him　until　the　end　of　the　world。　And　right　after　we　pass　the　lights　of　St。　Moritz　we'll　be　over　the　real　deep　ones！〃
　　　I　held　my　lips　rigid。　I　was　praying　harder；　but　now　I　was　addressing　the　god　of　pirates。　Wasn't　there　something　he　could　do？　Any　favor　would　be　appreciated。
　　　He　answered；　but　not　in　the　right　way。　A　pilot　yelled　back　above　the　din。　〃It's　time　to　dump　him　now！〃
　　　I　must　have　fainted。　Stabb　was　pushing　at　my　shoulder。　He　was　doing　something　with　my　safety　belts。　Trying　to　get　at　my　guns　and　disarm　me？
　　　He　had　a　hard　grip　on　me；　his　fingers　entwined　in　the　straps。
　　　Then　I　saw　his　feet　were　off　the　floor。　Was　he　going　to　kick　me　into　submission　first？
　　　〃Hey；　Captain！〃　a　pilot　yelled　back。　〃This　must　be　Kloten　Airport。　There's　more　（bleeped）　airplanes　down　there　than　I　ever　seen　before　in　one　place！〃
　　　Stabb's　feet　settled　back。　He　had　simply　been　lifted　up　and　forward　by　deceleration　and　was　holding　himself　with　my　straps。
　　　He　was　on　his　own　feet　again。　He　looked　ahead；　peering　at　the　screen。
　　　I　was　able　to　speak。　〃Be　careful；〃　I　said。　〃Kloten　is　the　busiest　airport　in　Switzerland；　if　this　is　Switzerland。　Don't　land　me　in　a　runway　and　get　me　knocked　down　by　a　superjet。〃
　　　〃Turn　up　the　magnification；〃　yelled　Stabb　into　the　parative　silence　of　the　hovering　line…jumper。　I　tried　to　rise　so　I　could　see　the　screen。　Were　we　really　over　Zurich's　main　airport　or　some　crevasse？　Stabb　pushed　me　back。　〃Shift　the　scanner　around；〃　he　yelled。　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　read　some　of　those　signs！〃
　　　Glaciers　seldom　had　signs。　I　was　reassured。
　　　Stabb　said；　〃Devils；　I　can't　read　a　single　word　of　that　gobbledegook。〃
　　　〃Put　me　off　a　runway　and　close　to　their　customs　shed；〃　I　begged。
　　　〃It's　a　bad　scanner；〃　said　Stabb。　〃We'll　have　to　improve　it。　I　can't　make　out　if　they　are　letters　or　snow　splashes；　even　if　I　could　read　their　alphabet。　Awful　definition　for　only　a　hundred　thousand　feet。〃
　　　I　tried　to　get　up　again。　Stabb　pushed　me　back。　〃We'll　handle　it；〃　he　said。　He　yelled　to　the　pilot；　〃Some　of　those　buildings　are　hangars；　so　eliminate　them。　One　is　the　main　terminal；　so　eliminate　that。　Choose　a　shed　that　looks　like　it　could　be　defended　and　put　us　down。〃　He　turned　to　me。　〃We　can't　hover　here　all　night　trying　to　read　languages；　even　if　we　could　read　them。〃
　　　〃Hold　on！〃　yelled　the　pilot。
　　　Stabb　gripped　my　shoulder　safety　straps　again。
　　　SWOOSH！
　　　His　feet　came　off　the　floor　and　my　stomach　stayed　at　a　hundred　thousand　feet。
　　　We　went　down　twenty　miles　like　a　rocket　in　reverse。
　　　CRUNCH！
　　　Stabb　used　my　body　for　a　cushion　to　land　on。
　　　I　didn't　know　how　he　kept　his　breath。　I　didn't。　〃Fast　now。　Out　you　go！〃
　　　I　grabbed　the　FIE　shotgun。　Stabb　unsnapped　the　seat　and　shoulder　belts。　I　was　propelled　down　the　ladder。
　　　The　engineers　were　already　out。　They　were　standing　on　the　platform；　casting　off　the　safety　lines。
　　　My　feet　connected　with　the　boxes　of　the　fake　bars。　I　tried　to　get　my　balance。
　　　The　engineers　swarmed　up　the　ladder。　I　stared　up。　Stabb's　pointed　head　was　silhouetted　against　the　green　glow　of　the　engine　room　as　he　peered　down　through　the　hatch　at　me。
　　　〃Don't　leave　a　single　man　alive！〃　he　yelled。
　　　The　hatch　clanged　shut。
　　　The　line…jumper　leaped　into　the　air。
　　　It　was　swallowed　instantly　in　glowing　white　mist。
　　　I　had　arrived。
　　　I　was　amazed　to　still　be　in　the　world　of　living　things！

Chapter　7

　　　I　had　arrived。　But　where？
　　　The　only　real　clue　I　had　that　it　was　Zurich　was　the　fog。　They　have　a　trick　wind。　It　is　called　the　fцhn。　It　es　into　these　cold　confines　from　the　south　and；　being　a　warm　wind；　creates　fog　which　lasts　for　weeks　on　end。　The　airport　lights　were　making　it　glow　so　that　one　felt　he　was　packed　in