lrh.fortuneoffear-第30章

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　　　And　so　the　days　passed；　with；　oh；　those　lovely　nights。　A　new　woman　every　time！　Fat　and　thin；　tall　and　short；　but　all　of　them　all　woman！　At　first　every　one　seemed　totally　limp；　but　soon　enough　they　were　frantic。　All　they　ever　said　was　〃O　Allah！〃　and　〃I'm　drowning！〃　But　not　even　curious　animals　could　distract　me　from　my　duty。
　　　And　every　night；　without　exception；　when　they　were　driven　away　by　the　evilly　laughing　Ters；　they　had　the　same　beseeching　look。
　　　I　hadn't　realized　how　the　time　was　passing　until　I　saw　a　bud　on　a　shrub　one　day。　Was　it　actually　moving　into　spring？
　　　But　not　for　me。　Suddenly；　without　any　slightest　fore…hint；　my　dearest　dreams　turned　into　horror；　my　connections　disconnected　into　a　tangle　of　terror　and　my　whole　life　came　unstuck。　All　in　the　torture　of　slow　motion　like　you　see　a　proud　building　ing　down　to　land　at　last　in　a　heap　of　shuddering　rubble。
　　　Fate　had　only　been　toying　with　me。　And　with　the　planet。

PART　FORTY
Chapter　1

　　　It　was　midafternoon　where　I　was。　I　had　very　little　to　do。　I　wandered　into　my　secret　room　and　was　struck　with　the　whim　that；　like　Roman　emperors　of　old；　I　might　enjoy　the　suffering　of　those　who　were　about　to　die　in　the　arena。
　　　I　brushed　off　some　webs　from　the　blanket　covering　of　the　viewers　and　even　killed　a　spider　or　two　as　a　sort　of　hors　d'oeuvre　to　the　main　bout。　I　threw　back　the　cover　and　sat　down。
　　　For　a　moment　I　thought　I　had　gotten　the　wrong　station　or　something。　It　was　a　hall。　People　were　rushing　back　and　forth　in　mad　streams；　very　busy。　It　was　Heller's　view　of　the　world。　He　must　be　in　some　other　building。　Their　half　floor　at　the　Empire　State　had　never　had　that　much　traffic　tearing　around。　But　no；　it　was　their　floor　all　right。　A　nearby　sign　said：
　　　Wonderful　Oil　for　Maysabongo　Front　Office
　　　What　on　Earth　was　going　on？　They　didn't　ever　have　that　much　staff。　Or　did　they？
　　　He　was　now　passing　the　Telex　munication　Centrale。　It　was　pretty　jammed　up。　Machines　were　hammering　away　inside。
　　　A　man　in　white　overalls　stopped　him。　〃New　York　Telephone　pany；　Lease　Line　Crew　Chief；　Alf　Underwood〃　was　on　the　badge　Heller　looked　at。
　　　〃Hey；　you；〃　said　the　man　to　Heller；　〃you　look　like　an　executive。　We　got　an　order　here　to　run　three　more　lease　lines　from　this　floor　to　the　Chryster　Building。　We　dunno　where　you　want　the　automatic　relay　switchboard。〃
　　　Heller　looked　into　the　munications　room。　Gods；　there　was　an　operator　at　every　machine　and　they　were　working　like　crazy。　Heller　pointed　to　a　young　man　at　the　end　machine。　〃See　him；〃　he　said　to　the　crew　chief。　〃The　one　in　the　lavender　shirt。　And　if　he　can't　tell　you；　see　Mr。　Epstein　over　at　Multinational；　third　corridor　to　your　right。〃
　　　Heller　went　on。　He　was　breasting　quite　a　stream　of　clerks　and　callers。　He　arrived　near　the　door　of　Multinational；　marked　with　its　big　logo　of　an　anarchist　bomb。
　　　So　many　people　were　rushing　in　and　out　that　he　was　stalled。　He　finally　got　into　a　line　of　people　waiting　to　go　in。
　　　It　looked　like　he　would　take　so　long　that　I　switched　my　attention　to　the　other　viewer。　Krak　was　somewhere　else。　Looked　like　Fifth　Avenue。　She　was　going　along；　looking　into　shop　windows。　My　attention　was　at　once　riveted。　She　must　be　going　to　buy　something　and　on　my　Squeeza　credit　card。　The　scene　had　such　potential　havoc　in　it　that　I　didn't　want　to　look。　But　just　as　one's　eyes　will　rivet　upon　an　imminent　disaster；　I　could　not　tear　my　attention　away。
　　　She　passed　by　Tiffany's　with　only　a　casual　glance　and　I　began　to　breathe　once　more。　But　the　way　she　was　staring　at　street　numbers　quickened　my　pulse。　Then　she　saw　something　ahead。　It　was　a　banner　sign　in　a　window：

Grand　Opening　
Post　Winter　Sale

　　　FURS！
　　　They　had　racks　of　them；　visible　through　the　window。
　　　She　went　in。　A　clerk　bustled　over。
　　　〃I　wonder；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　〃if　you　have　something　suitable　for　a　space　voyage。〃
　　　I　felt　the　blood　rushing　to　my　head！　It　could　only　mean　one　thing。　She　was　doing　some　sort　of　planning　about　going　home！　Maybe　they　had　had　a　huge　breakthrough！
　　　〃Space　voyage；　madam？〃
　　　〃Yes。　Something　soft　and　warm　and　fortable　that　can　be　worn　instead　of　a　pressure　suit。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　am　sorry；　madam；〃　began　the　clerk。
　　　A　tall　gentleman　in　a　pinstripe　tail　coat　had　e　up。　〃Please　answer　the　phone；　Beevertail；〃　he　said　sharply　to　the　clerk。　〃Madam；　I　could　not　help　but　overhear　your　request。　Beevertail　is　a　bit　new：　came　in　with　our　last　shipment　of　pelts　from　Canada。　He　would　not　understand　that　you　are　from　NASA。　Now；　it　just　happens　that　we　have　a　mink　jump　suit　that　would　be　just　the　very　thing　you　are　looking　for。　This　way；　please。〃
　　　Hastily；　I　turned　to　the　other　viewer。　Maybe　Heller　was　making　enough　money　now　to　pay　for　such　frills　as　mink　jump　suits。　Such　a　thing　would　cost　a　fortune！　I　knew　by　experience！
　　　Izzy　just　that　moment　spotted　Heller　in　the　line。　He　jumped　up。　He　grabbed　a　young　clerk　and　shoved　him　bodily　into　the　chair　to　handle　the　callers　and　then　grabbed　Heller　and　pulled　him　out　of　the　line　into　the　hall。
　　　〃Oh；　Mr。　Jet。　I　do　apologize　for　keeping　you　waiting。　It's　because　I　am　so　inefficient。〃
　　　Heller　got　him　out　of　there　and　into　a　vacant　space　in　the　hall。　He　had　a　sheet　of　paper　and　showed　it　to　Izzy；　speaking　very　low；　like　a　conspirator。　〃It's　your　daily　broker　order　list。　Chicago　Board　of　Trade：　Sell　your　1；000　contracts　of　March　wheat　today；　it　is　going　down　by　market　opening　tomorrow　by　ten　cents　a　bushel。　At　market　opening　tomorrow；　sell　short　1；000　contracts　of　corn；　it　is　going　to　drop　thirty　cents　before　close。　Chicago　Mercantile　Exchange：　Get　rid　of　all　our　feeder　cattle　today；　they'll　be　going　down　to　hoof　level　by　tomorrow　morning。　New　York　modity　Exchange：　Buy　2；000　contracts　of　gold　at　market　opening　and　place　a　sell　order　at　869。15　an　ounce；　that's　what　it　will　hit　at　3：30　tomorrow　afternoon。　New　York　Cotton　Exchange：　Offload　every　contract　of　cotton　we　have　today；　as　the　price　has　peaked。　Got　it？〃
　　　〃Just　a　minute；〃　said　Izzy。　He　yelled　for　another　clerk　and　gave　him　the　list　to　rush　to　the　brokers　at　once。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Heller。　〃Mr。　Jet；　I　don't　know　how　you　get　these　lists。　You　must　know　some　cow　at　the　Chicago　stockyards　and　the　head　of　the　Federal　Reserve。　Oy！　Such　lists！　You　haven't　failed　once　in　thirty　days　of　modity　trading。　You　know　within　two；　twenty…four；　thirty…six　hours；　exactly　what　the　market　will　do！　You　never　lose！　You　buy；　sell。　Always　right　on　the　money！〃
　　　〃I'm　trying　to　make　a　few　billion；〃　said　Heller。　〃We　need　it　for　the　spores　plant；　we　need　it　to　buy　Chryster　back　from　IRS　and　the　government；　and　you　need　it　to　get　your　plan　to　take　over　the　world　with　corporations　going。〃
　　　〃Yes；　yes。　I　know　that　and　we　are　already　a　half　a　billion　on　our　way　to　it。　But　I'm　scared　to　death。　The　quantities　we　buy　are　so　big。　If　we　ever　missed；　we'd　be　wiped　out。　I　go　have　nightmares　every　night　that　this　will　turn　into　another　Atlantic　City！〃
　　　Oh；　I　hoped　it　would！　This　scene　was　giving　me　chills！　Half　a　billion？　That　was　almost　twice　what　I　had！　Money　is　power　and　with　enough　money；　Heller　could　succeed！　All　this　had　been　going　on；　like　an　avalanche　roaring　at　me　down　the　mountainside；　while　I　was　just　peacefully　whistling。
　　　〃Be　calm；　Izzy；〃　said　Heller。　〃Be　calm。　Here；　e　with　me。　I've　been　meaning　to　show　you　because　I　can't　be　here　all　the　time　and　you'll　have　to　know　how　to　do　it。〃
　　　They　walked　through　the　throng　of　hurrying　people。　Heller　stopped　before　a　blank　door　and　took　out　a　key。　〃This　is　the　spare　office　I　asked　you　to　give　me　last　month。　Now；　don't　start　screeching　that　I　have　ruined　the　decor　or　something；　because　I　can　patch　up　the　holes　in　the　wall　and　the　floor　and　nobody　will　know　the　difference。〃
　　　They　went　in。　Heller　locked　the　door　behind　him。
　　　It　was　a　very　wide　office　now　because　some　of　the　partitions　or　internal　divisions　had　been　removed　and　were　stacked　up　over　at　the　side。
　　　A　huge；　long　sheet　of　slate　covered　the　entire　far　wall。　It　had　white　columns　painted　on　it。　At　the　tops　of　these　columns　were　〃Wheat；〃　〃Corn；〃　〃Soybeans；〃　〃Cattle；〃　etc。；　etc。…all　the　various　things　sold　on　the　modity　markets　in　terms　of　futures。　Under　each　was　a　column　of　figures；　very　large。　Over　to　the　left　were　columns　of　times　and　months　of　contracts。
　　　Along　the　far　right　wall；　a　set　of　ticker…tape　machines　stood　chattering　away；　spewing　out　tape。
　　　A　stack　of　newspapers　littered　a　desk。
　　　Close　to　the　wall　opposite　the　huge　slate　stood　a　contraption　that　looked　like　it　was　built　of　armor　steel。　It　had　a　padlock　on　the　back　and　Heller　unlocked　it　and　opened　the　door。　The　time…sight！
　　　Heller　stuck　his　eye　to　the　eyepiece　and　twiddled　a　side　knob。　I　couldn't　make　out　the　numbers　but　they　seemed　to　be　future　numbers　on　the　slate　up　to；　perhaps；　thirty　hours。　At　least　that　was　what　the　digital　in　the　frame　was　spitting　as　time。
　　　〃Izzy；〃　said　Heller。　〃This　is　very　confidential。　The　public　must　not　get　possession　of　these。　It's　a　navigational　time…sight。〃　〃A　what？〃
　　　〃It　reads　the　future；〃　said　Heller。　〃Right　now；　if　that　board　is　kept　up　daily；　this　device　reads　the　future　of　that　board。　You　can　see　what　it　will　be　reading　this　afternoon　or　tomorrow　at　specific　times。　It　reads　whatever　is　put　on　the　board　in　the　future。〃
　　　〃Magic！〃　said　Izzy　in　tones　of　horror。　〃Divination！　Oy！〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　said　Heller。　〃It's　just　a　machine；　an　invention。　Look　into　the　eyepiece。〃
　　　〃Never！〃　said　Izzy。　〃Black　magic！　Necromancy！　My　mother　would　never　forgive　me。　My　rabbi　would　go　into　shock！　He'd　revoke　my　bar　mitzvah！　One　must　never　touch　magic！　Moses　would　roll　in　his　grave　fast　enough　to　turn　the　Red　Sea　into　buttermilk！〃
　　　〃Izzy〃　said　Heller；　〃it　has　nothing　to　do　with　magic。　It's　just　that　time　is　the　dominant　factor　in　this　universe　and　forms　the　positions　of　matter　in　space。　The　machine　simply　operates　on　a　feedback。〃
　　　Izzy　was　shuddering　back；　afraid　of　his　future　chances　in　Heaven。
　　　Heller　said；　〃All　it's　reading　right　now　is　future　dollar　marks。〃
　　　〃Dollar　marks？〃　said　Izzy。
　　　〃Correct　and　direct；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Well；　that　puts　a　different　value　on　it；〃　said　Izzy。
　　　Heller　said；　〃Izzy；　I　have　to　e　in　here　twice　a　day　and　chalk　up　the　whole　board；　using　the　data　from　those　machines。　If　I　get　busy　on　something　else；　we　lose　out。　I　also　have　to　read　the　sight　and　figure　out　what　to　buy　and　sell。　And　you；　with　your　business　administration　knowledge；　would　be　much　better　at　it　than　I　am。　You　could　probably　make　the　setup　grind　out　twice　as　much　as　I　do。〃
　　　〃You　mean　we　would　make　a　billion　a　month？〃
　　　〃Whatever　you　say；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃How　do　you　operate　the　machine？〃　said　Izzy。
　　　〃Well；　I　can't　demonstrate　that　until　you　take　an　Oath　of　State　Secrecy。　The　Fleet　is　very　touchy　about　these。〃
　　　Izzy　promptly　raised　his　right　hand。
　　　〃No；〃　said　Heller。　〃Put　your　hand　on　your　heart。〃
　　　Izzy　did。
　　　Heller　said；　〃Repeat　after　me：　'I　do　hereby　solemnly　acknowledge　that　I　have　been　entrusted。。。'　〃
　　　Izzy　did。
　　　Heller　continued；　〃'。。。　with　a　secret　of　state　and　swear　never　hereafter　to　impart　its　p