lrh.fortuneoffear-第29章

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　　　I　stumbled　around　the　car　and　tried　to　shoo　the　onlookers　away。　They　ignored　me。　Then　I　shrugged。　Let　the　animals　gratify　their　voyeur　tendencies：　it　had　been　great。
　　　Ters　appeared　from　somewhere　and　gave　vent　to　his　evil　laugh。
　　　Not　even　that　fazed　me。
　　　Ters　saw　that　a　tire　was　flat；　got　out　a　pressure　can　with　goo　and　inflated　it。
　　　He　got　in　the　car；　gave　another　evil　laugh　and　drove　off。
　　　In　the　back　window；　lit　by　moonlight；　I　could　see　the　woman　staring　back　at　me。　She　had　a　very　beseeching　look。
　　　Ah；　I　thought　triumphantly；　there　goes　a　VERY　satisfied　female！
　　　Despite　all　the　disturbance；　it　had　been　quite　a　night！

Chapter　8

　　　The　very　next　night　was　quite　similar　to　the　first。　The　half…hour　delay　was　the　same。　This　girl　looked　a　little　plumper　and　a　little　older。　She　seemed；　however；　strangely　tired　and　wan　when　I　arrived。
　　　The　caravan　traffic　was　even　more　intense　and　its　interest　in　the　car　was　just　as　great；　but　I　did　not　let　little　things　bother　me。　I　am　the　sort　of　man　who　stays　right　on　course；　regardless　of　minor　disturbances；　and　gets　the　job　done。
　　　The　only　major　difference　between　the　first　and　second　nights　was　that　a　donkey；　since　the　window　had　stuck　open；　reached　right　in　and　nipped　me。　I　got　rid　of　him　with　a　punch　in　the　nose。
　　　But　Ters　had　at　last　driven　the　second　woman　away　with　her　staring　out　the　rear　window；　her　eyes　and　gestures　pleading。　I　felt　I　was　really　making　a　hit！
　　　The　third　night　had　some　variation。　Some　camel　drivers　had　built　a　campfire　near　the　car　and　were　sitting　around　it。　The　red　eagles　and　the　gold　letters　of　my　name　were　really　prominent　in　the　leaping　firelight。
　　　Ahmed　came　to　me　where　I　eagerly　waited；　just　outside　the　gate　before　he　blew　his　horn。
　　　〃I've　got　to　get　rid　of　them　first；〃　he　told　me。　〃Give　me　a　few　lira　and　go　back　inside　the　villa　pound：　these　rendezvous　of　yours　are　secret　and　mustn't　be　seen。
　　　I　did　as　he　told　me。　An　awful　lot　of　time　passed：　another　half　hour。　Eventually　the　horn　was　sounded。　I　rushed　out　again。
　　　The　fire　that　had　been　flaming　there　was　almost　out：　just　a　few　sparks　remained。
　　　〃What　was　the　delay？〃　I　demanded。　〃Those　camel　drivers　are　long　gone！〃
　　　〃It's　the　woman；〃　Ahmed　said。　〃She's　a　very　virtuous　girl；　this　one。　Terrified　of　her　reputation。　When　we　arrived　and　she　spotted　the　camel　drivers　and　fire；　she　fainted。　It　took　us　until　just　now　to　bring　her　to！〃
　　　I　was　eager　to　get　down　to　business　and　leaped　into　the　car。　But　they　hadn't　done　a　very　good　job　in　bringing　her　around。　She　still　seemed　to　be　unconscious。
　　　I　yanked　the　veil　off　her　face。　This　third　one　had　a　tawny　plexion。　She　seemed　to　be　quite　young。　Then　I　saw　that　tears　were　running　out　of　her　eyes。
　　　I　understood　at　once。　She　had　just　worn　herself　out　in　the　eagerness　of　waiting。
　　　Well；　here　was　one　that　wasn't　waiting！
　　　The　car　springs　began　to　rock。
　　　〃O　Allah！〃　sobbed　the　girl。
　　　After　a　while；　I　heard　an　evil　laugh。　I　saw　that　Ters　was　standing；　leaning　against　the　tree；　watching　the　road。
　　　A　passing　caravan　suddenly　veered　when　the　girl　screamed　〃O　ALLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAH！〃
　　　A　little　later；　I　looked　up　and　Ters　was　actually　herding　some　camels　and　donkeys　closer　to　the　car！
　　　〃Get　them　away　from　here！〃　I　screamed　at　him。　〃How　can　I　concentrate！〃
　　　〃The　animals　hide　the　car！〃　said　Ters。　〃Ahmed　said　it　must　be　secret。〃　He　gave　his　evil　laugh。
　　　But　even　so；　despite　the　camels；　the　evening　came　off　all　right。
　　　And　once　more　Ters　drove　away　with　the　girl　looking　out　the　back　window；　the　moonlight　plainly　lighting　the　pleading　look　she　was　giving　me。
　　　Contented；　I　knew　I　was　really　a　hit　amongst　hits！　Every　night；　that　same　beseeching　look。　These　women　must　be　going　absolutely　insane　over　me！
　　　What　a　beautiful　idea；　the　car　and　the　women！
　　　All　the　third　morning；　I　slept　a　dreamless　sleep。　I　awoke　and　had　a　bounteous　breakfast　served　by　a　cringing　staff。　Totally　enjoyable。
　　　Torgut；　who　was　standing　there　with　a　club　in　his　hand　in　case　the　waiter　tried　to　get　off　his　knees；　asked；　however；　an　unfortunate　question。　〃Will　it　be　the　same　schedule　tonight；　O　Master？〃　he　said。
　　　I　was　about　to　say　yes　when　a　thought　suddenly　struck　me。　I　must　be　almost　out　of　money！
　　　I　rushed　to　my　safe。
　　　Fatality！　I　didn't　have　two　hundred　thousand　lira　left！
　　　However；　that　was　soon　handled。　I　was　a　very　rich
　　　Gris　and　had　not　drawn　my　million…lira　allowance　for　the　week。
　　　I　dressed　in　a　purple　silk　shirt　and　a　charcoal　suit　with　purple　pinstripes。　I　put　on　my　bearskin　coat　and　my　karakul　hat。　Because　I　would　be　carrying　money；　I　picked　the　FIE　shotgun　out　of　the　case　and　checked　its　load。
　　　Word　had　been　taken　to　Ters。　The　Daimler…Benz　was　already　warming　up。
　　　The　back　seat　was　all　cleaned　up。　I　got　in。　He　closed　the　door。　He　got　under　the　wheel。　He　gave　his　evil　laugh。　I　shuddered　at　it　a　little　bit　but　away　we　went。
　　　We　tore　along　the　road　remarkably　fast。　We　spilled　a　camel　load　of　opium　and　it　cheered　me　greatly　when　the　donkey　who　had　been　leading　the　camel　bucked　and　brayed。　It　was　a　beautiful　if　bitterly　cold　day。　And　that　little　drama　made　it　perfect。　Nobody　was　going　to　argue　with　this　huge；　bulletproof　limousine　and　its　red　eagles！
　　　We　blocked　the　traffic　before　the　Piastre　Branch　Bank　in　Afyon　and　I　went　in。
　　　The　teller　recognized　me　on　sight。　He　called　the　manager。　The　manager　beckoned　me　into　his　office　and　set　a　chair　for　me。
　　　〃Mudur　Zengin　in　Istanbul　asked　for　you　to　call　when　you　came　in；〃　he　said。　〃If　you。。。〃
　　　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　to　Zengin；〃　I　said。　〃I　just　want　my　million…lira　allowance　for　the　week。　I　can't　send　a　messenger；　you　know。　Only　I　can　pick　it　up。〃
　　　〃Please；〃　he　said。
　　　He　got　Mudur　Zengin　on　the　phone　quite　quickly　for　Turkey。　I　put　the　shotgun　down　on　a　chair　and　took　the　proffered　instrument。
　　　〃Hello；　Zengin；〃　I　said。　〃I　trust　there's　no　hanky…panky　about　my　weekly　allowance。〃
　　　〃No；〃　said　Mudur　Zengin。　〃That　is；　not　at　the　moment。　I　wanted　to　tell　you　personally　and　in　confidence　that　your　concubine　is　not　following　your　orders　pletely。　While　all　purchases　have　stopped　elsewhere；　they　are　still　ing　in　from　the　Bonbucks　Teller　Central　Purchasing　agent　on　the　Squeeza　credit　card。　We've　just　gotten　one　here　for　nearly　a　hundred　and　eighty　thousand　dollars。〃
　　　〃Look　at　the　date；〃　I　said。　〃I　think　you　will　find　it　predates　my　orders　to　her。　They　simply　sent　it　in　late。〃　（Bleep）　that　Krak！
　　　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　call　Squeeza　on　the　other　phone？　They　did　not　give　me　the　exact　date　of　invoice　at　the　store。〃
　　　Go　ahead；　I　thought。　That's　pretty　ancient　history。
　　　He　came　back　on。　〃You　were　right　about　the　date　of　that　one。　But　what　they　told　me　was　correct。　They　have　quite　a　few　ing　in　since。　They　are　small。　But　they　exist。　Your　concubine　has　not　obeyed　your　orders　and　is　still　purchasing；　evidently　by　phone　to　New　York。〃　（Bleep）；　（bleep）；　（bleep）　that　Krak！
　　　〃I　wanted　to　be　sure　you　knew；〃　said　Zengin。　〃You　see；　this　pulls　down　the　amount　of　money　I　can　invest　from　the　sums　you　left　me　and　if　it　keeps　up；　it　will　reduce　the　allowance。　In　fact；　it　already　has。　And　I　can　only　authorize　eight　hundred　thousand　this　week　to　protect　your　capital　here。　Unless　of　course；　you　wish　to　drive　up　and　give　me　further　money；　which　I　don't　advise。〃
　　　〃（Bleep）；　（bleep）；　（bleep）；　（bleep）；　（bleep）　that　Krak！〃　I　inadvertently　said　aloud。
　　　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　said　Zengin。
　　　〃It's　just　that　I'm　mad　at　the　concubine；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Well；　I　would　advise　you　to　really　get　onto　her　about　it；〃　said　Zengin。
　　　I　couldn't。　And　if　I　went　to　Istanbul　I　would　miss　a　night　of　ecstasy。　And　I　could　see　Zengin　pulling　down　my　deposit　box　to　grains　of　dust。
　　　〃Authorize　the　eight　hundred　thousand；〃　I　snarled。　I　handed　the　phone　to　the　manager　and　Zengin　did。
　　　I　went　home　with　my　slightly　lesser　bale　of　lira。　I　put　it　in　the　safe。　It　was　only　four　days'　worth。
　　　I　tried　to　reason　with　the　taxi　driver　when　he　came　at　six。　〃You've　got　to　get　a　cheaper　rate！〃　I　said。
　　　He　stood　there；　staring　at　me。　〃Boss；　I　know　for　a　fact　that　you　have　no　plaints　at　all。　That's　because　the　merchandise　is　such　top　quality。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　cannot　let　you　cheapen　your　delight。〃
　　　〃Listen；〃　I　said。　〃Those　first　three　girls　were　over　the　wall　about　me。　They　were　looking　through　the　back　window　when　they　drove　away。　Why　can't　you　persuade　one　of　them　to　e　back？〃
　　　〃Alas；〃　he　said；　〃that　parting　glance　you　see　is　the　look　of　forlorn；　never…never　again。　They　were　taken　back　to　their　homes。　They　have　their　dowries　now。　And　I　know　very　well　you　don't　want　to　marry　one　of　them。〃
　　　I　turned　ice…cold　at　the　very　thought　of　marriage。　It　sends　shivers　of　horror　through　me　any　time　I　hear　the　word。
　　　〃Did　you　know　that　that　first　girl　was　married　just　today？　To　a　fine　young　fellow。　And　the　second　girl　is　now　going　to　go　away　to　join　her　sweetheart　who　is　an　immigrant　worker　in　Germany。　That's　what　we're　up　against：　prior　mitments。　That's　the　only　type　I　can　get。　We　could；　however；　cut　it　down　to　once　a　week。。。。〃
　　　〃No！〃　I　shouted。　〃Never！　Here's　a　girl's　two　hundred　thousand　for　tonight。　And　get　one　who　is　less　tired　to　begin　with。　They　are　cheating　me　with　the　first　go。
　　　The　following　ones　are　okay　but　that　first　one　needs　pepping　up。〃
　　　He　rushed　off　in　a　blast　of　Citroen　smoke。
　　　And　that　night；　again　half　an　hour　late；　I　was　back　under　the　cedar　tree　with　a　sloe…eyed　creature；　dusky　in　the　dim　light　of　the　limousine。　Tired　out　at　the　start　but　gathering　energy　as　we　engaged；　she　tried　to　claw　my　eyes　out　as　we　progressed。　She　screamed　〃Allah！〃　so　loud　that　at　the　night's　end　I　hardly　heard　the　old　man's　evil　laugh。
　　　And　so　the　nights　flowed　on。　Woman　after　woman。　All　a　half　hour　late。　All　different。　All　tired　at　the　start。　All　soon　desperate　and　clawing。　All　soon　screaming　〃Allah。〃　And　all　of　them　looking　pleadingly　out　the　window　as　they　drove　away。
　　　My　calls　at　the　bank　had　to　bee　more　frequent。　The　allowance　got　reduced　to　six　hundred　and　then　to　four　hundred。　And　finally；　I　was　calling　the　bank　every　day。
　　　〃You're　eating　into　your　capital　like　a　buzz　saw；〃　Zengin　said。　〃You're　spending　one　million　four　hundred　thousand　lira　a　week　and　the　branch　manager　tells　me　you　also　have　some　local　gasoline　bills　and　other　things　you'll　have　to　pay。　That　concubine　keeps　buying　flowers　and　theater　tickets　in　New　York。　You　should　take　a　whip　to　her！〃
　　　Oh　Gods；　if　I　only　dared　take　a　whip　to　Krak！
　　　〃Let　it　eat　into　the　capital　and　be　（bleeped）　to　it；〃　I　said。　〃I　must　have　a　minimum　of　two　hundred　thousand　lira　a　night！〃
　　　〃Then；　as　your　banker；〃　he　said；　〃I　advise　you　to　e　to　Istanbul　and　open　your　box。　If　you　give　me　another　million　dollars；　I　can　get　you　an　ine　like　that　and　you　won't　be　slicing　capital　away；　which　is　the　height　of　folly。〃
　　　〃I　can't　spare　the　time！〃　I　said。
　　　He　hung　up。
　　　And　so　the　days　passed；　with；　oh；　those　lovely　nights。　A　new　woman　every　time！　Fat　and　thin；　tall　and　short；　but