lrh.fortuneoffear-第4章

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　　　〃It　has　been　a　pleasure　to　serve　your　ladyship。〃　He　bowed。　Gods；　you'd　think　he　was　in　a　Royal　court！〃A　pleasant　journey　and　happy　return。〃　I　sure　didn't　share　the　latter　sentiment。　Once　the　Countess　Krak　left　here　she　would　be　gone　for　good！　He　actually　backed　out　of　the　door！
　　　She　was　packing　the　greatcoat　and　spacer　coveralls　in　her　grip。　I　had　to　get　her　out　of　here。　Just　being　near　her　made　my　hands　shake。　I　got　out　her　ticket　and　passport。
　　　〃That's　your　name　for　this　planet；〃　I　said。
　　　She　looked　at　the　passport。　〃Heavenly　Joy　Krackle！〃　she　said。　〃I'd　guess　you　thought　of　that；　Soltan。　How　sweet　of　you！〃
　　　〃And　here's　your　money。　You'll　need　it　for　cab　fare　at　the　other　end。〃　I　gave　her　the　fifty　dollars。
　　　She　looked　at　it　curiously。　And　I　will　say　that　modern　U。　S。　money；　a　dingy　blackish　green　on　gray…green　paper；　does　not　pare　very　well　in　appearance　to　the　gold　gleam　of　Voltar　currency。　She　was　looking　at　the　picture。　〃Grant？　In　English；　that　means　'give　away。'　This　bill　can't　be　very　valuable　if　they　just　give　them　away。　How　much　is　this　worth　in　credits？〃
　　　〃They　don't　know　of　us　yet；〃　I　said；　〃so　the　U。　S。　dollar　doesn't　exchange　against　credits。　But；　at　a　guess；　one　dollar　is　about　one…fifth　of　a　credit。〃
　　　〃Oh；　dear；〃　she　said。　〃This　is　only　ten　credits；　then。　I　don't　have　any　clothes；　Soltan。　I　mustn't　let　Jettero　see　me　like　this！　Can't　you　at　least　loan　me　some　money？〃
　　　In　no　manner　whatever；　I　thought。　This　was　the　cream　of　the　jest。　In　my　recent　trip　to　the　U。　S。　I　had　found　to　my　agony　what　women　would　spend　on　clothes。　But；　thanks　to　my　exploits；　Heller　was　pretty　flat。　A　few　pretty　dresses　and　fur　coats　would　break　him。　I　was　exporting　financial　ruin　to　him。　And　he　deserved　it　for　all　the　trouble　he　made。
　　　I　must　have　spent　too　much　time　gloating。　She　was　speaking　again。　〃Soltan；　I　know　you　are　the　handler　for　Mission　Earth。　You　made　that　very　plain　back　at　Spiteos　when　you　brought　Jettero　to　me　to　language…train。　A　mission　handler　also　handles　mission　expenses。　I　know　that　your　boss；　Lombar　Hisst；　thinks　this　is　a　pretty　important　mission。　He　told　me　so　when　I　left。　He　said　I　was　being　sent　to　make　sure　the　person　on　the　mission　was　happy　and　not　too　overworked。　And　I　know　from　the　secret　documents　you　showed　me；　His　Majesty　thinks　it　is　very　important；　too。　So　I　can't　imagine　their　skimping　on　finance　for　it！〃
　　　His　Majesty　indeed！　If　she　only　knew：　Those　〃Royal　Proclamations〃　that　guaranteed　her　and　Heller　a　happy　life　back　on　Voltar　were　mere　forgeries　I　had　created　to　trick　her。　I　had　to　get　her　off　the　subject。
　　　Inspiration　struck。　〃Actually；　Countess；　they　don't　use　money　on　this　planet　very　much。　They　have　a　thing　called　credit　cards。〃　Oh；　man；　was　I　going　to　mess　Heller　up！〃The　thing　for　you　to　do　is　get　yourself　a　whole　stack　of　credit　cards　and　use　them　all　you　want。　Just　buy；　buy；　buy！　That's　the　way　it's　done。　So　when　you　get　to　New　York；　use　credit　cards　and　buy　anything　you　please。　Load　yourself　up！〃
　　　〃Credit　cards？〃　she　said。　〃That　means　'money'　cards。　Oh；　is　THAT　what　they　use　instead　of　this　gringy　paper？〃
　　　〃Exactly；〃　I　said。　〃Hardly　any　money　actually　changes　hands。　It's　all　done　with　CREDIT　cards。〃　I　pulled　a　sheaf　of　the　（bleeped）　things　out　of　my　pocket　and　showed　her。
　　　〃Ah；　that's　why　you　don't　have　any　money！〃
　　　〃True！　That's　too　true！〃　I　said　with　plete　sincerity。
　　　〃Strange　planet；〃　she　said。　〃You　mean；　you　just　take　one　of　these　cards　and　they　give　you　anything　you　want？　Weird。〃
　　　〃You　can　repeat　that　with　fanfares；〃　I　said　with　a　trace　of　bitterness。　I　took　them　all　back　and　put　them　in　my　pocket。
　　　She　was　thoughtful。　〃But　I　don't　have　any　of　these　cards。　I'll　have　to　do　something。　I　can't　let　Jettero　see　me　like　this。〃　She　sighed。　She　stood　up。　〃Well；　thank　you　for　the　briefing；　anyway。　You're　a　true　friend；　Soltan。〃　And　she　patted　me　on　the　shoulder。
　　　I　flinched　but　I　covered　it　up　quickly。　She　must　not　suspect　I　had　just　conned　her　into　ruining　Heller　utterly。　I　glanced　at　my　watch。　〃Oh；　Heavens！〃　I　said。　〃We'll　miss　the　plane！〃
　　　What　a　relief　it　would　be　to　have　her　off　my　hands！

Chapter　3

　　　I　got　the　taxi　and　we　got　her　to　the　airport　with　the　huge　cases；　hypnohelmet　cartons　and　grip。　Using　the　taxi　driver　and　a　porter；　I　got　the　luggage　and　her　to　the　check…in　counter。　There　was　excess　baggage；　of　course…329！　I　had　told　her　I　didn't　have　any　money。　But　I　was　up　to　it。
　　　When　they　gave　her　her　boarding　pass；　I　led　her　over　to　a　waiting…room　seat　and　seated　her。　Then　I　went　back　to　the　counter。　By　the　simple　mechanism　of　giving　the　clerk　a　twenty…dollar　bill　for　himself　personally；　I　got　the　baggage　marked　Paid　Excess　through　to　New　York。
　　　She　was　looking　around　her　at　the　several　passengers　who　were　waiting。　Even　if　they　were　in　cloaks　and　veils；　the　women　were　not　badly　dressed。　White　silk　and　gold　brocade　were　visible　through　slits　in　the　outer　covering。
　　　She　looked　down　ruefully　at　herself。　The　parison　was　not　favorable。　I　suppressed　my　mirth。　She　did　look　pretty　awful　in　that　dingy　cloak　and　hood　with　the　holes　in　it。　And　the　veil　was　gray　with　age。　Oh；　she'd　force　Heller　to　foot　the　bill　for　clothes；　all　right！
　　　The　echoey　P。　A。　system　was　calling　her　flight；　in　Turkish　and　then　in　English；　〃Passengers　now　boarding　THY　Flight　19　for　Istanbul。　Gate　One。〃
　　　Afyon　is　just　a　little　airport　with　only　one　plane　a　day　and　one　gate；　but　since　it　reopened　some　years　back；　they　like　to　do　things　big　city　style。
　　　〃That's　your　plane；〃　I　said　urgently。　Just　being　around　her　was　a　pretty　nerve…wracking　experience。　If　she　guessed　what　I　was　putting　her　up　to；　she　was　quite　capable　of　stamping　me　into　the　waiting…room　floor。
　　　〃Wait；〃　she　said。　〃Haven't　you　forgotten　something；　Soltan？〃
　　　I　looked　down。　I　was　still　holding　her　flight　envelope。
　　　〃Here；〃　I　said。　〃Here　is　the　rest　of　your　ticket　and　your　baggage　and　excess　check。　The　gate　is　right　over　there。。。。〃
　　　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　taking　them　and　also　pulling　the　boarding　pass　out　of　my　other　hand。　〃But　I'm　told　New　York　is　the　biggest　city　on　the　planet。　And　although　I　am　sure　that　everybody　would　know　Jettero　by　this　time；　maybe　he　is　using　a　different　name　like　you　did　with　me。　And　I　don't　even　have　his　address！〃
　　　Oh；　my　Gods；　how　could　I　overlook　that！　If　she　couldn't　find　him　they　might　send　her　straight　back　to　point　of　origin。
　　　The　P。　A。　blared　out　hollowly　again。　Whoever　was　manning　that　P。　A。　system　could　visibly　see　he　had　passengers　stalled　and　not　moving　toward　the　gate…namely　us！〃THY　Flight　19！　Gate　One。　You'll　miss　your　flight；　Sultan　Bey！　Move　it！〃
　　　（Bleep）　being　too　well…known。　It　threw　me　into　confusion。　I　didn't　have　a　pencil。　I　rushed　to　a　counter　and　got　one。　There　was　no　paper。　I　dug　into　my　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　scrap。　I　hastily　wrote　Heller's　Earth　name　and　address　on　the　back　of　it。　I　rushed　back　to　the　Countess　Krak；　pushed　it　into　her　hand　and　shoved　her　bodily　toward　Gate　One。
　　　The　man　there　took　her　boarding　pass　and　urgently　pointed　at　the　plane。　Everybody　else　was　aboard。　But　the　Countess　Krak　turned。　She　seized　me　by　the　shoulders　and　right　through　her　veil　gave　me　a　kiss　on　the　cheek。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Soltan；〃　she　said。　〃I　appreciate　what　you　have　done。　You　are　a　good　man；　Soltan。〃
　　　She　turned　and　raced　over　to　the　plane；　and　sped　up　the　steps。　At　the　top　she　turned　and　waved　back　to　me。　Then　she　vanished　inside。
　　　I　stood　there；　very　uneasy　indeed。　On　the　surface　of　it；　getting　her　here；　getting　her　scars　removed　and　getting　her　on　her　way　to　see　the　man　she　loved　would　seem　to　merit　appreciation。　But　looking　only　at　the　surface　could　get　one　into　deep　trouble　in　dealing　with　the　Countess　Krak。　She　had　been　up　to　something。　That　burst　of　affection　was　so　unlike　her；　I　knew　down　to　the　roots　of　my　soul　that　it　boded　no　good。　Yes；　the　more　I　thought　of　it；　the　more　certain　I　became。　Some　horrible　trick　was　involved！　I　knew　her　too　well！　And　to　my　sorrow！
　　　The　plane　rumbled　away　to　the　takeoff　area　and　then；　with　a　roar；　rushed　down　the　runway　and　into　the　sky。
　　　I　was　not　out　of　the　woods　yet。　She　might　not　transfer　to　the　international　flight　at　Istanbul。　She　might　have　second　thoughts　and　e　back。
　　　The　taxi　rushed　me　back　to　the　hospital。　I　entered　the　interview　room　and　locked　the　door　behind　me。　I　unlocked　the　cabinet　and　got　out　the　viewer。

Chapter　4

　　　There　she　was　in　the　Turkish　Airlines　plane。　She　had　taken　off　the　veil。　The　stewardess　was　giving　her　coffee　and　a　small；　dried…out　roll。　She　took　the　little　tray　and　examined　it　minutely；　feeling　the　paper；　trying　to　read　the　label　on　the　sugar　cube…which　was　in　Turkish。　She　didn't　know　that　she　was　supposed　to　put　the　sugar　cube　in　the　coffee。　A　taste　of　the　beverage　did　not　meet　with　her　approval。　She　saw　a　passenger　ring　a　buzzer　and　get　the　stewardess　so　she　tried　it。　The　stewardess　came　over。
　　　〃This　is　awfully　bitter；〃　the　Countess　said　in　English。　〃Do　you　have　some　hot　jolt？〃
　　　Oh；　Gods。　Code　break！　But　it　wouldn't　have　done　any　good　to　brief　her。　She　would　just　have　said；　I'm　not　in　the　military！
　　　The　stewardess　looked　shocked。　〃We　usually　don't　serve　hard　liquor　on　the　early　morning　flight；　ma'am。〃
　　　〃But　this　is　so　bitter！〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　stewardess；　〃you　haven't　put　the　sugar　in。〃　She　opened　a　couple　of　cubes　and　dropped　them　in　the　cup。　She　must　have　thought　the　Countess　Krak　was　feebleminded。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　studied　the　blunt；　odd…shaped　knife。　She　must　have　decided　you　could　stir　with　it；　for　that　is　how　she　used　it。　Then　she　found　the　spoon　still　wrapped　up　in　the　napkin。　She　studied　that。　There　was　a　pat　of　butter　for　the　roll。　She　took　some　of　it　with　the　spoon　and　tasted　it　cautiously。　She　sipped　at　the　coffee。　Then　she　put　everything　back　down　on　the　tray。　She　muttered；　in　Voltarian；　〃Jettero　must　be　starving　to　death　on　this　planet！〃
　　　That　was　the　most　cheerful　thought　I　had　heard　all　day！　I　took　off　my　cap　and　got　out　of　my　bearskin　coat。　I　put　the　viewer　on　the　examination　couch　and　sat　down　in　a　chair。　I　might　as　well　make　myself　fortable。　I　was　going　to　make　very　sure　this　lepertige　got　out　of　Turkey。
　　　I　reached　up　to　fondle　my　〃rank　locket〃　as　one　will。　My　hand　met　empty　air！
　　　I　looked。
　　　GONE！
　　　I　must　have　dropped　it！
　　　A　sick　feeling　coursed　through　me。　I　had　intended　just　to　borrow　Utanc's　emerald　locket　to　give　myself　the　necessary　air　of　authority　when　I　couldn't　find　mine。　I　had　intended；　before　this　day　was　out；　to　sneak　it　back　into　her　wardrobe　jewel　drawer。　Oh；　my　Gods；　her　rage　at　me　would　make　the　villa　utterly　uninhabitable！
　　　Wait。　Where　had　I　felt　it　last？　I　couldn't　recall。
　　　I　raced　out　into　the　hall。　I　almost　collided　head…on　with　Prahd。　〃Have　you　found　a　locket？〃　I　screamed　at　him。
　　　He　said；　〃Sssh；　sssh！〃　He　pushed　me　back　into　his　office。　〃Don't　yell　so。　And　you've　taken　off　your　fur　coat。　You　can't　run　around　in　public　in　a　Voltar　uniform！　Here。〃　He　grabbed　a　white　doctor's　coat　out　of　a　drawer　and　shoved　it　at　me。
　　　I　steadied　myself　down　long　enough　to　put　it　on。　The　skirt　and　slee