lrh.fortuneoffear-第34章

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　　　〃Pregnancy！〃　I　said。　〃You've　got　to　handle　it！〃
　　　Young　Doctor　Prahd　Bittlestiffender　looked　at　me。　In　a　sad　voice　he　said；　〃I　am　glad　you　have　finally　e　to　confess。〃
　　　〃I　didn't　mean　to；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　an　accident。　She　looked　so　beautiful　lying　there；　I　could　not　resist。〃
　　　〃And　you　took　no　precautions。〃
　　　〃How　was　I　to　know　she　would　get　pregnant　just　that　one　time！　It　was　up　to　her　to　take　precautions！〃
　　　〃And　you　expect　a　young　girl　to　know　these　things？〃　he　said。
　　　〃She's　not　that　young！〃　I　disputed。
　　　〃She's　young　enough　that　her　father　is　raving　mad　about　it！　And　she　isn't　even　of　age。〃
　　　A　horrible　thought　struck　me。　〃Who　are　we　talking　about？〃
　　　〃Nurse　Bildirjin；〃　said　Prahd。　〃Oh；　Officer　Gris；　to　think　that　you　would　contribute　to　the　delinquency　of　a　minor　behind　my　back；　to　leap　on　her　and　rape　her…　…　〃
　　　〃Hold　it！〃　I　cried。　〃If　we're　talking　about　Nurse　Bildirjin；　SHE　raped　me！〃
　　　〃You　just　confessed　that　she　was　just　lying　there　and　you　could　not　resist　jumping　on　her！〃
　　　〃No；　no！　That　was　somebody　else！〃　My　head　was　spinning。　Suddenly　I　got　a　grip　on　it。　〃Wait；　you　sleep　with　Nurse　Bildirjin　all　the　time！〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　said　Prahd。　〃I　take　the　most　careful　precautions。　You　don't　think　a　qualified　cellologist　would　take　a　chance　like　that…she　being　a　minor　and　all。　Besides；　I've　made　scope　tests　and　examined　the　gene　pattern；　and　just　like　the　Widow　Tayl's；　it's　indubitably　yours。　And　now　you　infer　there　is　some　other　woman；　too！　Officer　Gris；　you　should　control　yourself！　You　can't　just　run　around　impregnating　women　left　and　right；　day　in　and　day　out。　And　on　two　different　planets；　too！〃
　　　〃Listen；〃　I　said。　〃As　a　cellologist　you　would　have　no　trouble　at　all　terminating　these　pregnancies。　I　tell　you　the　planets　are　overpopulated　anyway。　Just　perform　some　abortions　and　that　will　be　that。〃
　　　〃That　would　not　be　that；〃　said　young　Doctor　Prahd。　〃That　would　be　murder。　And　murder　is　something　not　even　you　can　make　me　do；　Officer　Gris。　Unlike　some　I　know；　I　have　my　own　moral　standards；　to　say　nothing　of　the　cellologist's　code。　Murder　is　out！〃
　　　〃Then　what　can　I　do？〃　I　cried；　wringing　my　hands。
　　　〃You're　asking　me　after　you　seduce　my　girl？〃
　　　〃Prahd；　remember　that　we　are　friends；　and　what　is　a　girl　between　friends？〃
　　　〃Trouble；〃　said　Prahd。　〃You　see；　it　wouldn't　be　so　bad　if　she　had　not　been　morning…sick。　Her　father　is　the　leading　doctor　of　the　area　and　noticed　it。　And　she　told　him。　You　probably　know　that　his　favorite　sport　is　quail　hunting。　That's　why　he　named　his　daughter　Bildirjin；　which　means　'quail'　in　Turkish。　He's　one　of　the　best　shots　in　the　country　and　he　has　one　of　the　biggest　shotguns。　And　as　she　is　a　minor；　you　could　also　go　to　prison。　Have　you　ever　seen　the　inside　of　a　Turkish　jail？〃
　　　I　was　beginning　to　moan。
　　　He　continued；　〃I　think　he　has　a　thing　about　cutting　off　testicles；　so　possibly　shooting　off　yours　would　be　how　his　mind　is　running　right　now。　However；　if　you　would　really　take　my　suggestion。。。〃
　　　It　was　too　much。　I　could　no　longer　stand　his　sadistic　chatter。　It　was　obvious　he；　too；　was　after　me！
　　　I　rushed　out　of　his　office。　I　looked　up　and　down　the　corridor。　Thank　Gods；　it　was　way　past　hours　when　the　town　doctors　worked　in　the　free　clinic。
　　　I　sped　to　the　car。　I　leaped　in。
　　　〃Take　me　home；　quick！〃　I　pleaded。　In　the　villa　I　would　be　able　to　fort　up　and　defend　myself！
　　　In　the　yard；　I　was　out　of　the　car　before　it　stopped　moving。　I　raced　across　the　patio　and　into　my　room。　I　barred　the　door　and　stood　there　with　my　back　against　it；　breathing　hard。
　　　What　a　disaster！　How　was　I　going　to　get　out　of　it？
　　　There　was　a　knock。　For　a　moment　I　thought　that　Nurse　Bildirjin's　father　had　followed　me　up。　Then　I　realized　that　the　sound　came　from　the　secret　tunnel　door。
　　　The　father　would　not　know　about　that。　I　opened　it　cautiously。
　　　There　stood　Faht　Bey。
　　　He　came　in　looking　over　his　shoulder　fearfully。
　　　He　spoke　in　a　very　low　voice；　〃This　is　real　trouble；　Gris。　I　told　you　I　would　let　you　know　when　I　had　found　out。　Well；　unfortunately；　I　have　found　out。　It　is　pretty　awful。〃
　　　I　got　a　grip　on　the　bottom　of　the　bed。　I　would　take　it　like　a　man。　〃Tell　me；〃　I　said。
　　　Faht　Bey　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Are　you　sure　that　you　can　take　this？〃
　　　〃Go　ahead；〃　I　said；　bracing　myself　further。
　　　〃It's　pretty　bad　news；〃　he　said。
　　　〃For　Gods'　sake；　tell　me；〃　I　pleaded。
　　　〃You　know　the　taxi　driver；　Ahmed。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　know　the　taxi　driver；　Ahmed！〃
　　　〃He's　going　to　testify　that　it　was　at　your　orders。〃
　　　〃WHAT　was　at　my　orders？〃　I　screeched。
　　　〃And　it　very　well　could　get　him　off。〃
　　　〃Testify　to　WHAT？〃　I　begged。
　　　〃Maybe　you　better　sit　down　in　the　chair　there；〃　said　Faht　Bey。　〃This　is　pretty　awful。〃
　　　I　collapsed。
　　　〃Here；〃　said　Faht　Bey；　taking　a　bullet　out　of　his　shoulder　gun　and　putting　it　between　my　teeth。　〃Bite　on　that　and　you　won't　break　your　molars　when　I　tell　you。〃
　　　I　bit　on　it。
　　　〃You　know　that　the　taxi　driver　they　call　Ahmed　is　really　a　convicted　criminal　from　Modon。〃
　　　I　nodded。
　　　〃Did　you　know　that　the　driver　Ters　is　a　Turkish　munist　who　just　served　twenty…seven　years　in　jail　for　murdering　the　general？〃
　　　I　shook　my　head　the　other　way。　This　was　not　going　very　well。
　　　〃For　the　past　several　weeks；〃　said　Faht　Bey；　〃the　taxi　driver　has　been　going　out　with　this　Turkish　murderer　in　that　car　with　your　name　all　over　it。　The　way　they　worked　was　to　go　to　a　farm　and　look　over　the　women；　and　if　they　found　a　good…looking　one；　they　would　tell　her　husband　and　the　family　that　it　was　at　your　orders　that　they　burn　the　whole　farm　down　unless　the　woman　consented　to　spend　an　evening　with　you　in　your　car。　And　that　if　anyone　went　to　the　police；　that　farm；　nearby　farms　and　the　closest　village　would　be　put　to　the　torch。〃
　　　I　bit　on　the　bullet。　The　taxi　driver　had　been　keeping　that　fee　for　himself！
　　　〃That's　not　all；〃　said　Faht　Bey。　〃They　told　the　woman　that　if　she　hadn't　pleased　you；　they　would　murder　her　husband。〃
　　　I　clamped　down　harder　on　the　bullet。　That　explained　those　beseeching　looks　I　had　mistaken　for　a　plea　to　be　with　me　again　in　the　future！
　　　〃This　all　came　out　because　they　thought　I　knew　you　and　somebody　suggested　they　e　see　me　for　advice。〃
　　　Utanc！　In　a　jealous　rage；　she　had　set　them　on　me！
　　　〃But　that's　not　all〃　said　Faht　Bey。　〃When　the　taxi　driver　and　Ters　came　to　the　rendezvous；　Ahmed　and　then　Ters　raped　the　woman　first。〃
　　　My　teeth　were　sinking　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　brass。　No　wonder　the　women　had　been　so　tired。　No　wonder　they　had　always　been　so　moist！　Those　（bleeped）　（bleepards）　had　kept　me　waiting　for　half　an　hour　while　they　both　（bleeped）　away　and　then　they　had　called　me　to　take　their　leavings！　They　must　have　been　shrieking　with　laughter　over　it！
　　　〃One　more　thing；〃　said　Faht　Bey。　〃This　is　adultery。　In　the　Qur'an　it　states　that　the　punishment　shall　be　one　hundred　lashes　for　unmarried　persons。　But　these　women　were　married；　so　the　punishment　for　you　would　be　entirely　different。　The　Qur'an　states　that　in　such　a　case　the　offender　shall　be　stoned　to　death。〃
　　　That　settled　it。　The　powder　in　the　cartridge　case　spilled　bitterly　into　my　mouth　as　my　teeth　pierced　it　through。
　　　I　would　have　to　leave　Turkey。
　　　There　was　no　other　way。
　　　And　I　would　have　to　leave　Turkey　AT　ONCE！

Chapter　7

　　　I　grabbed　a　bag。　I　looked　around　wildly。
　　　Where　would　I　go？
　　　What　would　I　take？
　　　Faht　Bey　said；　〃If　you　are　leaving；　I　want　to　remind　you　that　the　Blixo　will　be　in；　in　a　day　or　so。　They　always　have　something　for　you。　What　do　I　tell　them？〃
　　　My　attention　snapped　painfully　back　to　him。　The　Blixo？　They　were　probably　after　me；　too！
　　　Faht　Bey　went　on：　〃Those　homo　couriers　you　get　always　demand　postcards　for　some　reason。　You　better　give　me　some。〃
　　　Postcards？　Postcards？　I　made　my　mind　focus。　He　was　talking　about　the　magic…mail　cards。　If　they　didn't　get　mailed　on　time；　their　mothers　would　be　killed。　That　would　make　the　couriers　go　after　me；　too！
　　　I　opened　up　the　safe。　I　grabbed　the　whole　pack　of　magic…mail　cards。　I　threw　them　at　Faht　Bey。
　　　Where　would　I　go？
　　　What　should　I　take？
　　　I　ran　around　the　room　looking　under　things。
　　　Faht　Bey　was　still　there。　He　said；　〃If　you're　going　to　run　out；　there's　nobody　here　can　stamp　cargos　in。　They　have　to　be　stamped　in　as　received　on　Voltar　before　they　leave。　Why　don't　you　give　me　your　identoplate？〃
　　　I　fished　it　out。
　　　I　threw　it　at　him。
　　　Enough　was　enough。　〃Get　out！　Get　out！　Get　out！〃　I　screamed　at　him。　〃Can't　you　see　my　sanity　is　on　the　ragged　edge？　STOP　BOTHERING　ME！　I　have　to　think！〃
　　　He　gathered　up　the　postcards　and　identoplate　and　left。
　　　Only　then　could　I　begin　to　get　my　wits　in　order。
　　　What　should　I　take？
　　　A　tough　problem　when　you　don't　know　where　you　are　going　to　go。　The　only　destination　I　had　was　OUT！
　　　Blind　instinct　saved　me。
　　　I　opened　the　grip。　Into　it　I　packed　guns　and　ammunition　so　I　could　defend　myself。　I　packed　the　phony　Ink…switch　federal　I。D。　so　I　could　change　my　identity。　I　grabbed　some　instant　gas　pellets　that　would　render　any　assailant　unconscious　and　packed　them。　I　snatched　up　the　two…way…response　radio　and　packed　it。　I　stuffed　in　the　three　sets　of　viewers。　I　strapped　the　grip　up。　Then　I　realized　I　had　forgotten　to　put　in　any　clothes　and　unstrapped　it。　I　put　in　a　business　suit；　some　shirts　and　ties　and　a　bat　camouflage　dress。　I　strapped　it　up。　I　realized　I　had　not　put　in　any　money。　I　unstrapped　it。　I　looked　in　the　safe　and　found　I　didn't　have　any　money。　I　strapped　the　grip　up。　I　wondered　if　I　had　forgotten　anything　and　unstrapped　it　to　look。　I　grabbed　some　things　at　random　and　threw　them　in；　just　in　case。　I　strapped　it　up　again。
　　　It　suddenly　occurred　to　me　I　hadn't　left　yet。　I　had　better　get　going。　I　started　out　the　door。　Then　I　realized　I　was　not　dressed　for　travel。　I　came　back。　I　got　into　a　business　suit。　I　couldn't　find　any　shoes　so　I　put　my　military　boots　back　on。　I　started　out　the　door　again　and　saw　I　had　forgotten　my　bag。　I　went　back。　I　needed　something　to　discourage　pursuit。　I　saw　a　pile　of　plunger　time…fuse　bombs　in　the　gun　case。　I　stuffed　them　in　my　pocket。
　　　Wait　a　minute。　My　documents　were　in　the　grip。　I　needed　a　passport。　The　Achmed　Ben　Nutti　diplomatic　passport　from　the　United　Arab　League　was　on　top　of　the　pile。　It　would　get　my　guns　and　money　through　to　wherever　I　was　going。　I　put　it　in　my　pocket。　Money。　I　didn't　have　any　money。　I　must　avoid　Afyon：　they　would　be　waiting　for　me　with　a　pile　of　lethal　rocks　and　stones。　I　had　it。　I　must　get　to　Istanbul。　Mudur　Zengin　would　wele　the　chance　to　give　me　money。
　　　As　an　afterthought；　working　fast；　I　closed　and　locked　my　safe　and　secret　partments。　I　must　get　out　of　here。　They　might　e　for　me　at　any　minute。
　　　I　picked　up　my　grip。　I　forced　myself　to　stop　shaking。　I　walked　across　the　patio　and　into　the　yard。
　　　With　a　surge　of　purest　hate；　I　saw　the　taxi　driver。　He　was　polishing　the　new　Mercedes…Benz。
　　　Apparatus　training　makes　one　rise　to　any　emergency。　The　hate　distilled　into　the　purest　cunning。　I　determined　th