lrh.fortuneoffear-第17章

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problems　are　just　buzzing　flies　and　with　cunning　and　money；　you　can　swat　them。　Even　Heller　and　Krak。〃
　　　I　lay　down　for　my　well…earned　rest　and　dreamed　dreams　that　were　bloody　and　very　sweet。

Chapter　4

　　　I　slept　until　all　hours；　making　up　for　the　high　excitement　of　recent　days。　I　dressed　in　a　new；　red　sports　suit。　Musef　was　on　duty。　Karagoz　had　a　black　eye　and　even　though　it　was　midafternoon；　I　got　a　breakfast　in　which　the　coffee　was　hot；　the　melon　cold　and　the　eggs　were　quite　all　right。
　　　A　marked　change　had　occurred　all　around　me。　It　was　wonderful。
　　　Lacking；　now；　immediate　plans；　I　thought　I　had　better　gather　data。　It's　a　good　excuse　one　can　give　oneself　when　he　feels　too　smug　and　self…satisfied　to　do　any　real　work　for　the　moment。　Also；　one　likes　to　savor　the　suffering　of　those　who　are　about　to　writhe　in　agony。
　　　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　had　both　viewers　together。　But　working　two　screens；　I　could　get　a　much　more　precise　idea　of　reactions　and　actions；　for　Krak　would　be　looking　at　Heller　from　time　to　time　and　vice　versa。
　　　I　got　Krak's　going　first。　I　didn't　need　the　second　viewer　to　see　what　she　looked　like　today。　She　was　washing　a　window！　Her　reflection　in　the　glass　was　quite　clear　against　the　dingy　morning　of　a　smoggy　New　York　day。　She　had　on　space　coveralls　and　her　hair　was　tucked　under　one　of　Heller's　baseball　caps！
　　　Something　was　moving　to　her　right　in　the　reflection。　The　cat。　It　was　sitting　on　the　desk　washing　its　face。
　　　Well；　if　getting　busy　to　go　home　to　Voltar　meant　washing　office　windows；　I　certainly　was　safe。　If　I　could　just　keep　them　slowed　down　long　enough；　keep　them　from　doing　anything　effective；　word　would　e　one　of　these　days　that　the　Heller　reports　made　no　difference　now　and　they　could　both　be　safely　killed。　So　wash　away；　Krak。　You're　doing　just　fine。
　　　There　was　something　else　behind　her；　somebody　standing　there　motionlessly　and　staring　at　her　back。
　　　It　was　Izzy！
　　　Krak；　too；　became　aware　of　it。　She　gave　the　window　one　last　wipe　and　turned　around。　Izzy　backed　up。　He　sank　down　on　the　edge　of　a　couch　and　started　crying！
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Why；　Izzy。　What　on　Earth　is　wrong？〃
　　　Izzy　sobbed　a　while。　Then　he　said　in　a　muffled　voice；　〃You're　too　beautiful　to　have　to　live　in　an　office。〃
　　　Beautiful？　In　space　coveralls　too　big　and　a　baseball　cap　too　big？　What　was　Izzy　up　to　now？　Some　con；　I　wagered。　I　waited　with　interest　to　see　what　it　was。
　　　Krak　said；　〃But　this　is　a　beautiful　office；　Izzy。〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　he　said；　〃not　beautiful　enough　for　you。　You　deserve　a　gorgeous　apartment。〃
　　　She　seemed　to　think　about　it。　Then　she　said；　〃Well；　I　have　a　credit　card。　Maybe　I　could　rent　one　with　that。〃
　　　My　hair　went　straight　up！
　　　Then　Izzy　said　something　that　really　warmed　my　heart。　I　really　realized　what　a　sterling　true…blue　character　he　was　after　all。　〃No；　no；　no！　I　am　responsible　for　Mr。　Jet。　If　any　apartments　are　to　be　gotten；　I　will　get　them。　Please　promise　me　you　won't　do　that。　You　wouldn't　find　anything　beautiful　enough　for　you。〃
　　　I　couldn't　quite　figure　it　out。　Was　he　angling　for　a　mission　or　what？
　　　On　Heller's　viewer；　I　had　just　been　seeing　elevators　and　halls。　But　here　was　a　view　of　the　office。　He　had　just　walked　in。　He　took　a　look　at　Izzy。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　　　Izzy　was　crying　again　on　both　viewers。　He　was　pointing　helplessly　at　Krak。
　　　Heller　said　to　her；　〃Dear；　would　you　please　step　into　the　'thinking　room'　and　clean　it　up。　Close　the　door　so　I　can　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　before　he　jumps　off　something　again　and　beats　me　to　it。〃
　　　When　Krak　had　closed　the　door；　Heller　said；　〃What's　wrong；　Izzy？〃
　　　Izzy　was　mopping　at　his　eyes　with　the　heel　of　his　palm。　〃The　bartender　thinks　she　must　be　a　movie　star　or　is　about　to　be。　The　model　agency　down　the　hall　has　been　pestering　me　to　get　her　to　run　for　Miss　America　so　they　can　have　a　contract　to　use　her　in　the　Coca…Cola　ads。　Bang…Bang　says　she　is　the　most　beautiful　woman　on　the　planet。　And　because　I　am　a　failure；　I　am　forcing　her　to　live　here　without　any　home　at　all。〃
　　　〃Well；〃　said　Heller；　〃buy　a　condo　or　something。〃
　　　Izzy　went　into　a　fresh　spasm　of　wailing。　Then　he　said；　〃That's　the　trouble。　We're　barely　making　expenses　on　arbitrage。　IRS　is　boring　in　and　we　can't　pay　them。　And　when　I　came　in　a　little　while　ago　and　saw　her　again；　I　realized　I　was　condemning　her　to　squalor　and　poverty。　It　drove　the　ruin　home　so　hard　I　couldn't　stand　it！〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃Well；　all　right。　I'll　go　out　and　make　some　money。〃
　　　Izzy　amazed　me。　Here　he　had　led　it　all　up　to　some　perfect　con。　But　he　leaped　up　in　alarm；　waving　his　arms。　〃No；　no；　no！　Don't　try　to　persuade　somebody　to　shoot　at　you　again　so　you　can　collect　the　fee。　That's　too　dangerous！〃
　　　Heller　laughed。　He　said；　〃I'll　think　of　something　else。〃
　　　〃You're　taking　over　my　job　and　I　deserve　it。　But　please；　please　promise　me　you　won't　do　anything　foolish！〃
　　　〃I　can　only　promise　to　try　not　to；〃　said　Heller。
　　　Krak　came　out　of　the　other　room；　putting　a　pillow　in　its　case。　Izzy　instantly　leaped　for　the　door　and　fled。
　　　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃　said　Krak。
　　　〃He　thinks　you're　too　beautiful；〃　said　Heller。　〃But　so　do　I。　Especially　with　the　very　best　brand　of　New　York　soot　on　the　end　of　your　nose。〃
　　　She　threw　the　pillow　at　him。　He　caught　it　and；　on　the　pretext　of　giving　it　back；　kissed　her。　Both　my　viewers　went　FLASH！
　　　But　Heller　did　not　hold　her　long。　He　let　go　of　her　and　wandered　over　to　the　bar。　She　stood　staring　after　him。　He　picked　up　a　newspaper　somebody　must　have　been　reading　and　started　going　through　it。
　　　〃Money；〃　he　was　muttering　to　himself。　〃Money；　money；　money。　This　planet　doesn't　run　on　an　axis。　It　runs　on　money！〃　He　passed　the　ic　page　too　fast　to　let　me　see　what　was　happening　to　Bugs　Bunny　these　days。
　　　He　stopped　suddenly　at　an　ad。　It　said：

ATLANTIC　CITY　
WINTER　CASINO　PECTACULAR
5　Casino　5　
EXTRAVAGANZA！
New　Year's　Bills　Getting　You　Down？　
RECOVER　WITH　ROULETTE


　　　He　looked　up。　He　said　to　Krak；　〃You're　working　too　hard。　We're　going　to　Atlantic　City。〃
　　　She　stopped　putting　cleaning　things　away　and　looked　at　him　with　a　shocked　expression　on　her　face。　〃WHAT？　And　leave　your　own　work　undone　on　this　planet？〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　he　said。　〃Not　Atalanta；　Manco。　Atlantic　City；　New　Jersey。　And　wash　your　face。　This　has　got　to　be　a　clean　hit。〃
　　　〃Where　is　this　place？〃　said　Krak；　ing　over　to　him。
　　　He　showed　her　the　ad。　He　hadn't　read　it　all。　Toward　the　bottom　it　said：

FREE　FLOOR　SHOW
The　Clowns
The　Apes
Dingle…Poop　Rock　Band　
Mamie　Boomp；　Continental　Singer

　　　〃Oh；〃　said　Krak；　〃I　know　her。　And　I　want　to　see　her；　top；　to　get　her　opinion　on　spring　styles。〃
　　　A　voice　sounded　behind　them。　〃Anybody　home？〃　It　was　Bang…Bang。　He　was　carrying　a　sack。　〃I'm　sorry；　Joy；　but　those　birds　in　that　fancy　shop　never　heard　of　nothing　called　'hot　jolt。'　So　I　got　the　Bavarian　Mocha　Mint　and　the　champagne。　But　I　think　that　Scotch　would　go　better　in　it。　Not　even　the　cat　will　touch　champagne：　it　gets　in　his　nose。〃
　　　〃Where'd　you　park　the　cab？〃　said　Heller。　〃We're　going　to　Atlantic　City。〃　He　held　up　the　ad。
　　　Bang…Bang　looked　at　it。　His　finger　came　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　page。　He　was　pointing　out　the　final　line　to　Heller。　It　said：

Scalpello　Casino　Corp。　of　New　Jersey

　　　Bang…Bang　said；　〃That's　the　Atlantic　City　Mafia。　Small　time；　maybe；　but　vicious。　If　you're　going　to　knock　the　place　over；　I　ought　to　go　with　you　as　a　back…up　gun。　But　that　（bleeped）　parole　officer　is　narrow…minded：　He　won't　let　me　set　foot　out　of　New　York。　So　you　be　awful　careful；　Jet…you　hear　me　speaking？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃The　lady　and　I　will　be　all　right。〃
　　　Bang…Bang's　eyes　shot　wide。　〃The　lady！　You　takin'　Joy　down　there？　Jesus…beggin'　your　pardon；　miss…but　she's　too　beautiful　to　let　them　punks　even　glance　at　her！　They　don't　deserve　it！〃
　　　〃She'll　be　all　right；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Oh；　Jet；〃　said　Bang…Bang；　〃that's　a　（bleeped）　…　begging　your　pardon；　miss…dangerous　place。　Those　（bleepards）　…　begging　your　pardon；　miss…don't　care　who　the　hell　they　shoot。〃　He　apparently　saw　Jet　wasn't　impressed。　He　gave　up。　Then　he　rallied。　〃Well；　at　least　I　won't　let　her　be　driven　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　in　that　（bleeped）　…　begging　your　pardon；　miss…cab。　It　doesn't　ride　near　good　enough。　I'll　phone　the　34th　Street　East　Heliport　for　reservations　and　run　you　across　town。　They　got　a　new　fast　chopper　run　to　Atlantic　City　that's　safe　and　fortable。　And　I'll　sweep　out　the　cab。〃
　　　He　grabbed　a　phone。
　　　Heller　was　rummaging　around；　picking　up　this　and　that。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　raced　into　the　secretary's　boudoir　and　shut　the　door；　going　to　get　dressed；　I　guessed；　and　pack　a　bag。
　　　I　was　really　smiling。　The　Atlantic　City　Mafia。　I　had　heard　all　about　them。　They　specialized　in　hijacking　and　beating　up　high　winners。
　　　My　euphoria　increased。　There　wasn't　any　way　I　could　lose。　If　Heller　lost　money；　it　would　be　just　that　much　less　that　they　would　have　to　meet　their　bills。　If　he　won；　the　Atlantic　City　Mafia　would　attack　him　and　maybe　he　and　Krak　would　both　wind　up　in　the　hospital。
　　　What　a　beautiful　day！　It　might　be　cold　winter　for　a　lot　of　people。　It　seemed　like　the　balmiest　possible　weather　to　me。　It　was　a　downright　rosy　world！

Chapter　5

　　　Despite　the　wintry　day；　I　went　out　and　took　a　turn　around　the　yard。　I　felt　too　full　of　springs　to　sit　too　long。
　　　Torgut　was　on　duty。　He　was　wearing　a　new　sheepskin　coat　and　boots　and　cap。　He　was　carrying　a　club。　He　looked　much　better　fed。　He　bowed　ceremoniously。　That　was　good。
　　　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　some　of　the　staff。　Their　faces　were　white　with　fright。　How　very　satisfactory！
　　　The　BMW　was　gone　and　there　was　no　trace　of　the　little　boys。　How　nice　and　quiet！
　　　I　went　back　in　and　cleaned　and　oiled　some　of　my　guns　to　while　away　the　time。　And；　as　I　worked；　a　message　came　through　the　slot。　It　said：

Be　advised　I　am　shifting　the　transmitters　to　Atlantic　City　area。
Raht

　　　That　made　me　blink。　I　myself　had　forgotten　that　Heller　and　Krak　were　going　to　go　beyond　the　two…hundred…mile　activator…receiver　range。　How　had　he　found　out？
　　　Raht；　to　make　up　for　the　lack　of　his　partner　Terb；　must　have　that　office　bugged。　He　might　even　have　bugs　of　his　own　on　Heller　and　Krak。　I　felt　very　heartened。　I　had　even　scared　Raht　into　doing　his　job　for　a　change。　My；　things　certainly　were　looking　up！
　　　Heller　and　Krak　didn't　stand　a　chance！　I　could　order　them　shot　at　any　time。　All　I　needed　was　the　word　from　Lombar　that　Heller's　munication　terminal　on　Voltar　had　been　nullified。　Now　all　I　had　to　do　was　make　sure　they　were　enough　slowed　down　so　that　they　acplished　nothing　that　would　upset　Lombar's　plans！　And　I　certainly　had　the　money　to　do　that！
　　　Tolerantly；　as　one　looks　at　cripples　who　are　sure　to　lose　any　race；　I　turned　my　attention　back　to　the　screens。
　　　〃But　why　do　they　have　those　silly　blades　on　top？〃　Krak　wanted　to　know。
　　　They　were　riding　in　a　multipassenger　helicopter。
　　　〃To　keep　the　pilot's　head　cool；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Oh；　Jettero；　you're　fooling　me。〃
　　　〃Why；　I　wouldn't　do　that。　They　have　very　hotheaded　pilots。〃
　　　〃Well