lrh.fortuneoffear-第42章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　I　finished　showering。　I　smelled　disgustingly　clean…　or　was　that　oatmeal？
　　　I　put　on　the　Ninja　robe。　I　picked　up　a　gun。　I　was　just　putting　my　hand　out　to　open　the　door　when　I　heard　them　talking。　They　had　e　to！　I　listened。　Maybe　I　could　pick　up　a　clue　that　would　tell　me　what　to　do　next。
　　　Pinch's　voice；　〃All　right；　then；　you　tell　him。〃
　　　Candy　said；　〃No。　You　tell　him。　You're　much　better　at　tricky　things。〃
　　　〃He　won't　believe　me；〃　said　Pinch。　〃He　doesn't　trust　me。〃
　　　〃He's　got　to　believe　you；〃　said　Candy。
　　　〃I　don't　think　I　can　con　him。〃
　　　Candy　said；　〃You've　GOT　to　try！　This　is　intolerable。　He　might　do　the　most　awful　thing　I　can　think　of。〃
　　　Pinch　said；　〃God　（bleep）　it；　he　might　at　that。　This　is　pretty　desperate！〃
　　　Aha！　They　thought　it　was　desperate；　did　they？　My　heart　leaped　with　hope。　There　was　something　they　were　terrified　of。　I　took　a　chance。　I　walked　in；　gun　ready。
　　　They　were　both　staring　at　me；　Candy　tied　up　on　the　sofa；　Pinch　securely　manacled　on　the　bed。　Was　there　fear　in　their　eyes？　Aha！　There　was！　Unmistakable。　They　were　terrified！
　　　Miss　Pinch　took　a　deep　breath。　She　said；　〃If　you　unchain　me　and　leave　the　room；　I　will　open　the　safe　and　give　you　your　money。〃
　　　Oh；　man。　I　had　accidentally　hit　upon　something　they　were　afraid　I　would　do。　I　must　pretend　I　knew　what　it　was；　even　though　I　didn't。
　　　But　I　knew　Miss　Pinch。　She　was；　even　more　than　other　women；　tricky　to　the　last　stab　in　the　back。　I　would　outsmart　her。　I　would　at　least　hear　what　this　was　before　I　murdered　both　of　them。
　　　I　went　around　the　room　and　collected　every　knife　display　and　weapon　in　it。　I　even　found　the　old　duelling　pistols　of　such　painful　memory。　It　took　me　three　trips　to　Candy's　room　before　I　had　the　lot　piled　in　there。
　　　I　ripped　out　the　telephone　cord。　I　ripped　out　the　connections　on　the　bank　camera；　after　making　sure　it　would　not　trip　some　remote。　I　looked　in　the　cupboard　and　got　all　the　pepper　and　mustard　and　Tabasco　sauce　and　added　them　to　the　weapons　pile。
　　　With　expert　loops；　I　untied　Candy's　feet　from　the　lashing　under　the　couch　and　retied　her　ankles。　She　knew　better　than　to　fight：　I　was　holding　a　knife　in　my　teeth。
　　　I　held　a　pistol　to　her　head　and　dragged　her　into　her　bedroom　and　tied　her　to　the　bureau。
　　　I　came　back；　and　with　the　Ruger　Blackhawk　cocked　in　my　left　hand；　I　unshackled　Miss　Pinch　and　drew　back　hastily。
　　　〃One　false　move　from　you；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　will　blow　Candy's　head　off。　Now　open　the　safe。〃
　　　〃When　you've　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door；〃　she　said。
　　　It　was　taking　a　terrible　chance。　But　I　needed　that　money　in　order　to　continue　on　my　way　to　wreck　the　cause　of　all　my　woes；　Heller。
　　　I　backed　out　of　the　door　and　closed　it。　I　held　the　gun　ready　on　Candy　in　case　there　was　any　treachery　afoot。
　　　Some　small　sounds　in　the　other　room。　Believe　me；　this　was　one　of　the　touchiest　points　in　my　whole　career。　I　had　to　continue　to　look　calm　to　them　but　it　was　very　difficult。
　　　I　could　almost　hear　my　own　heart　trying　to　climb　into　my　throat。　Women　are　always　dangerous　and　when　they　are　lesbians　they　are　doubly　dangerous…and　when　they　are　Miss　Pinch；　watch　it；　man；　for　she　was　all　three。
　　　A　voice　from　the　other　room。　〃You　can　e　in　now。〃
　　　I　was　not　to　be　taken　unawares。　I　got　hold　of　the　naked　Candy；　still　tied；　and　used　her　as　a　body　shield。　I　kicked　open　the　door。
　　　Miss　Pinch　was　kneeling；　propitiative；　in　front　of　the　safe。　She　had　her　hands　behind　her。　Trickery！　The　safe　was　closed！　I　held　the　Ruger　to　Candy's　temple；　finger　on　the　hair　trigger。
　　　〃What　treachery　is　this？〃　I　demanded。
　　　Miss　Pinch　took　her　hands　from　behind　her　back。　She　was　holding　a　thousand…dollar　bill。　She　said；　〃This　is　yours　if　you　don't　do　it。〃　Fear　was　in　her　eyes。
　　　It　was　time　I　found　out　what　they　were　terrified　of。　〃If　I　don't　do　what？〃　I　grated。
　　　It　was　Candy　that　answered；　all　in　a　babble；　the　accents　of　sheer　horror；　〃YOU　MIGHT　WALK　OUT　THAT　DOOR　AND　LEAVE！　WE　MIGHT　NEVER　SEE　YOU　AGAIN！〃
　　　I　blinked。　A　new　kind　of　trick。　They　had　a　trap　out　there　and　were　using　the　negative　ploy；　page　two　million　and　three　of　the　Apparatus　manual　on　hoodwinking。
　　　Miss　Pinch　was　talking。　There　was　pleading　in　her　voice。　〃Your　money　is　still　in　the　safe。　By　your　signing　a　blank　invoice　I　can　even　get　you　more。　But　this　is　all　you　can　have　right　now。　There　are　conditions。〃
　　　〃Yes？〃　I　said　suspiciously。
　　　〃You　can　have　a　thousand　dollars　every　day　if　you　will　live　here　with　us　and　promise　to　do　that　same　thing　every　night。〃
　　　〃To　both　of　us；〃　said　Candy。　〃Every　night。〃
　　　Oh；　this　was　very　suspicious。　I　said；　〃What　about　Psychiatric　Birth　Control？〃
　　　Miss　Pinch　said；　〃Anything　that　gets　in　the　road　of　something　that　feels　that　wonderful　can　stuff　it。〃
　　　〃To　hell　with　Psychiatric　Birth　Control！〃　said　Candy。
　　　Miss　Pinch　said；　〃They　have　lied　to　us。　We　have　been　biting　and　scratching　and　smearing　lipstick　in　that　back　room　for　years。　We　have　followed　the　Psychiatric　Birth　Control　texts　exactly。　We　have　even　had　consultations　with　the　psychiatrist　in　charge　of　it。　And　no　one；　not　once；　has　ever　told　us　the　sensation　was　supposed　to　e　from　down　THERE！　Isn't　that　right；　Candy？〃
　　　〃That　is　correct；〃　said　Candy。　〃Not　the　faintest　mention　of　it　anywhere！　I　was　almost　to　the　breaking　point　of　pretending；　until　I　had　that。。。　that。。。〃
　　　〃Orgasm？〃　I　said。
　　　〃Oh；　is　THAT　what　an　organism　is？〃　said　Candy。
　　　〃O…R…G…A…S…M；〃　I　spelled　out　for　her。　〃Orgasm。〃
　　　〃Crikes；　what　a　beautiful　word；〃　said　Candy。　〃I　know　why　people　take　up　Christianity　now；　if　that　is　going　to　Heaven。〃
　　　〃They　lied　to　us；〃　said　Miss　Pinch　bitterly。　〃They　simply　told　us　that；　to　carry　out　Rockecenter's　program　to　cut　down　the　population　of　the　world；　we　had　to　be　lesbians。　I　was　supposed　to　be　the　man…one　and　Candy　was　supposed　to　be　my　wife。　We　couldn't　do　anything　else；　as　they've　also　turned　all　the　males　into　gays　and　made　it　a　crime　to　break　up　their　marriages。〃
　　　She　stood　up　suddenly。　It　made　me　very　nervous。　She　looked　around。　She　couldn't　find　anything　portable　to　throw　so　she　slammed　the　whole　Iron　Maiden　over　frontwards　on　the　floor。　〃（Bleep）　them！〃　she　gritted。　〃They've　made　us　underprivileged！　They　have　been　depriving　us　of　women's　rights　for　all　these　years！　I'm　going　to　get　my　revenge！〃
　　　I　was　alarmed。　〃Wait　a　minute。　This　is　treason；〃　I　said。　〃What　about　Rockecenter？〃
　　　She　spat！　She　picked　up　a　beer　can　and　slammed　it　down　on　the　floor。　〃Rockecenter　can　go　（bleep）　himself！
　　　Psychiatric　Birth　Control！　I　spit　on　Psychiatric　Birth　Control。〃　She　picked　up　another　beer　can　and　threw　it　down　with　a　crash。　〃I　spit　on　the　Chief　Psychiatrist！　I　spit　on　psychiatry！　I　spit　on　Rockecenter　for　promoting　psychiatry！　They've　cost　us　years　and　years　and　years　of　a　very　beautiful　thing！〃　She　was　looking　around　wildly　for　something　else　to　throw　down。
　　　I　knew　how　to　stop　this　barrage。　It　might　e　my　way　in　a　minute。　It　wasn't　psychology；　it　was　a　sense　of　self…preservation。　〃You　can't　expect　me　to　live　here　in　the　midst　of　all　this　mess…all　this　torture　equipment。　I'd　have　nightmares　and　walk　out　the　door。〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　said　Candy　hurriedly。
　　　〃No；　no；〃　said　Miss　Pinch　in　a　sudden　change　of　attitude。　She　dive…bombed　straight　down　into　propitiation。　〃Listen。　We'll　have　it　all　moved　out。　We'll　redecorate　the　place。　You　can　have　the　back　room。　We'll　have　a　lock　put　on　the　inside　of　the　door。　We'll　have　the　garden　cleaned　up　so　you　can　have　a　nice　view　and　sit　and　rest　between　times。　You　can　e　and　go　as　you　please。　All　you　have　to　do　is　sleep　with　us　in　the　front　room　every　night　and　do　it　to　us。〃
　　　〃Not　in　that　bed；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃And　no　shackles　or　mustard。〃
　　　〃We'll　get　a　nice　big　bed　to　hold　three；〃　said　Candy。
　　　〃No　shackles；　no　mustard；〃　said　Miss　Pinch。　〃Oh；　please　don't　be　a　hard…hearted　（bleepard）；　Inkswitch　dear。　Please；　please；　pretty　please；　say　yes。〃
　　　She　looked　like　she　was　on　the　verge　of　honest　tears。　I　said；　〃Yes。〃
　　　〃Oh！〃　screamed　Candy；　〃untie　me　quick　so　I　can　kiss　you；　you　dear　man！〃
　　　I　had　trouble　cutting　her　bonds　off。　Miss　Pinch　was　hugging　me　and　letting　out　little　snarling　sounds。
　　　Candy　got　loose　finally　and　kissed　me。
　　　Miss　Pinch　said；　〃You'll　get　your　thousand　bucks　every　day。　And　we'll　fix　up　the　place。〃　Then　she　added；　〃And　it's　all　settled？〃　as　though　she　wanted　to　be　reassured。
　　　〃Yes；〃　I　said　again。
　　　〃Oh；　goody！〃　cried　Candy；　clapping　her　hands。　〃Let's　all　get　dressed　and　go　to　a　restaurant　and　have　a　deflowering　celebration。〃
　　　〃No；〃　said　Miss　Pinch；　looking　at　me　with　a　cocked　head；　pressed　mouth　and　hungry　eye；　〃Let's　stay　right　here　and　do　it　all　over　again。　We've　got　the　whole　night。　But　I'm　first　this　time；　Candy。　You　can　watch　if　you　promise　not　to　scream。　I'M　the　one　who　gets　to　scream　when　I　have　another　of　those　GORGEOUS　orgasms。　I'm　getting　breathless　just　thinking　about　it。〃
　　　That　was　how　I　got　the　safe　open。　In　fact；　three　safes。　Well；　not　exactly　as　I　planned；　but　one　must　learn　to　improvise。　One　must　know　how　to　go　deeper　into　things　than　one　might　have；　at　first；　intended。
　　　One　has　to　know　when　to　take　things　lying　down。
　　　Alas；　if　it　had　only　kept　up　on　a　level　with　that　night。

Chapter　10

　　　For　more　than　sixty　hours　now；　my　best…laid　plans　were　getting　blocked。　Stopping　Heller　was　not　making　any　progress；　and　it　MUST；　it　MUST；　it　MUST！
　　　In　the　back　room　of　the　apartment；　I　was　fidgeting。　Part　of　it　was　scratching　fleas。
　　　For　two　days　a　Hellish　din　had　been　going　on　in　the　basement　flat　and　garden。　Redecoration　and　refurnishing　were　proceeding　apace。
　　　I　had　signed　a　couple　of　Octopus　Oil　blank　petty　cash　invoices　with　the　name　John　Smith；　and　after　that　all　Hades　had　e　unstuck。　Workmen　in　the　front　room；　workmen　in　the　back　room；　workmen　in　the　garden。　Plumbers；　painters；　electricians　and　even　gays　directing　the　new　decor　and　furnishings。　It　was　a　very　good　lesson　that　one　should　never　sign　invoices！
　　　But　the　main　reason　I　was　fidgeting　（aside　from　scratching　fleas）　was　my　inability　to　raise　Raht　on　the　two…way…response　radio。　I　knew　he　had　it　and　I　also　knew　he　was　refusing　to　answer　it；　just　to　spite　me。
　　　I　did　not　dare　phone　the　New　York　office；　as　I　was　on　the　run。　Raht　was　different；　because　on　the　two…way　I　could　fool　him　into　thinking　I　was　in　Africa。
　　　That　I　contact　him　was　desperately　crucial：　The　831　Relayers　were　on　and　at　this　close　range　my　viewers　were　just　flared　out。　I　did　NOT　know　what　was　going　on　with　my　Target　One：　Heller！　Without　that　data　and　without　a　check　on　that　hellhound；　the　Countess　Krak；　I　dared　not　act。
　　　I　was　in　a　rage　to　get　something…anything…done　to　begin　the　job　of　finishing　him　off。
　　　I　had　money…three　thousand　dollars。　Two　of　the　bills　were　my　regular　pay。　The　third　one　was　for　overtime。
　　　I　stared　disconsolately　into　a　bucket　of　daffodil…yellow　paint。　A　flea　was　swimming　around　in　it；　getting　all　yellow。　I　was　about　to　push　him　under　with　a　paint　paddle　when　he　jumped　out　and　vanished。　The　incident　sharpened　my　restless　mood。　I　had　to　get　out　of　this