lrh.fortuneoffear-第45章

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t　was　mostly　hit　or　miss。　There　was　a　needle　under　glass　on　top　of　it　and　a　red　button　there　which　should　light。　Trying　to　get　more　fortable　and　avoid　the　paint；　I　accidentally　touched　it。　It　lit　up！　That　was　the　first　time　that　had　happened。　Had　it　been　on　when　I　had　used　these　things　before？　Such　radios　came　only　in　pairs：　they　were　very　simple　rigs。　The　Department　of　the　Army　used　them　between　generals　so　they　had　to　be　very　elementary。
　　　I　shook　it　to　see　if　anything　was　loose。
　　　〃Yes？〃　Raht's　voice！
　　　〃You've　been　sleeping　on　the　job！〃　I　railed　at　him。　〃And　this　proves　it！〃
　　　〃Officer　Gris？　Where　are　you？〃
　　　〃I'm　in　Africa；　you　idiot！　Where　did　you　think　I　was？〃
　　　〃You　sound　awfully　loud　to　be　in　Africa；　Officer　Gris。　You　almost　blew　my　ear　out。　But　now　I've　turned　my　volume　almost　down　to　nothing。〃
　　　〃It　must　be　a　skip　wave；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　still　in　Africa　and　don't　you　forget　it。　I　can　barely　hear　you！　But　this　is　no　time　to　argue。　Turn　all　three　831　Relayers　off　right　away！〃
　　　〃If　you　want　them　off；〃　said　Raht；　〃that　must　mean　you　are　within　two　hundred　miles　of　me。　The　direction　needle。。。〃
　　　I　clicked　the　radio　off　hastily。　He　wasn't　going　to　trick　me　into　telling　him　where　I　was　and　open　up　the　trail。　No　indeed！
　　　I　went　into　the　chaos　of　the　back　room　and　got　my　three　viewers　and　a　portable　TV。　I　went　back　into　the　closet。　It　was　pretty　unfortable；　what　with　paint　fumes　and　scratching　fleas。　But　I　knew　I　had　to　do　my　duty。　The　way　of　an　Apparatus　officer　was　hard；　especially　in　this　apartment。
　　　The　viewers　were　still　flared　out；　as　it　would　take　him　a　while　to　scale　those　antennas　on　the　Empire　State　Building。　But　the　TV　set　was　live。　All　three　networks　were　giving　heavy　coverage　to　the　event。
　　　Some　political　mentator　was　giving　a　long　rundown　on　the　background　of　the　measure　and　all　the　national　battling　that　had　gone　on　around　the　world。　I　smiled　a　superior　smile：　those　national　battlings　had　been　done　in　bed　at　the　Gracious　Palms！
　　　After　half　an　hour　of　suffocating　and　scratching；　my　viewers　stopped　flaring　out　and　steadied　down。
　　　Crobe's　came　on　first。　He　had　some　woman　on　a　couch　and　was　apparently　psychoanalyzing　her；　for　she　was　saying　over　and　over　how　her　three…year…old　brother　had　raped　her　when　she　was　sixteen。　Crobe　might　or　might　not　have　been　listening　but　his　vision　was　exploring　her　genitalia　in　depth。　He　looked　up　once　and；　my；　they　had　given　him　a　beautiful　office：　whole　shelves　full　of　skulls　and　his　psychiatric　diploma　framed　in　gold。　But；　beyond　noting　that　he　was　far　from　a　lost　resource　and　that　Bellevue　seemed　to　be　providing　him　with　its　best　facilities；　I　had　no　interest　today　in　Crobe。　I　turned　his　viewer　off　so　it　wouldn't　distract　me。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　sitting　in　Heller's　Empire　State　main　office。　No；　correction。　She　was　lying　on　the　floor；　chin　propped　up　with　her　hands；　reading　a　book；　The　Food　of　Many　Lands；　according　to　the　print　across　the　page　top。　She　was　going　over　all　the　recipes　of　India。　Then　she　made　a　clicking　sound　and　the　page　turned。　It　startled　me。　Then　I　saw　that　it　was　just　the　cat。　She　started　on　the　recipes　of　Indonesia。
　　　Heller's　viewer　was　showing　the　same　TV　program　that　I　had　on　my　portable　TV；　only　Heller's　viewer　was　much　clearer　and　the　colors　were　better。　Wise　fellow。　He　had　not　gone　in　person　this　day。　The　women　of　the　Gracious　Palms　would　have　been　there　and　he　would　have　had　a　bad　time　trying　to　explain　all　this　to　Krak。
　　　She　looked　sideways　at　Heller；　sitting　there　in　a　chair。　〃You　looked　worried；　dear。　Is　something　wrong？〃
　　　〃It's　this　UN　thing；〃　said　Heller。　〃I　don't　like　the　lay　of　the　land。　From　what　the　mentators　say；　it　looks　sticky。　The　measure　I'm　interested　in　passed　the　General　Assembly。　But　to　go　into　force　it　now　has　to　pass　the　Security　Council。　The　Security　Council　has　fifteen　members；　but　a　single　veto　from　one　of　the　great　powers　can　kill　the　bill。〃
　　　〃Great　powers？〃　said　Krak。
　　　〃United　States；　France；　United　Kingdom；　Russia　and　China。　Even　if　nine　members　vote　for　it　and　just　one　of　those　five　vetoes　it；　it's　finished。〃
　　　〃What　is　the　measure；　dear？〃
　　　〃Women's　rights；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Hmm；〃　said　the　Countess。　She　got　up　and　sat　down　on　a　sofa　near　him。　〃I　don't　really　understand　why　they　have　to　have　a　law　to　give　women　rights。　Women　make　their　own　rights。　Why　are　you　so　interested　in　this；　dear？〃
　　　〃It's　important；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Hmm；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　At　that　moment　some　crowd　shots　came　on。　There　were　mobs　of　women　around　the　UN；　carrying　placards　on　poles；　waving　flags；　singing；　being　cheer　leadered。
　　　The　camera　focused　on　one　group　with　huge　placards　and　Heller　gave　a　small　laugh。　The　Countess　looked　at　him　sharply。　He　was　smiling　at　the　screen。
　　　One　huge　placard　read：

The　UN　Security　Council
Will　Be　Boycotted
at　the　Gracious　Palms
If　They　Do　Not　Pass
UN　Resolution
678…546…452

　　　The　Countess　looked　back　at　the　screen。　The　camera　focused　in　on　one　huge　poster　this　group　was　carrying。　It　said：

In　Memory　of　Pretty　Boy

　　　The　picture　was　a　poor　one　but　it　certainly　looked　like　Heller！
　　　The　Countess　said；　〃Who　are　those　ladies；　dear？〃
　　　〃Where？〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Hmm；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　The　cameras　were　working　inside　the　Security　Council　room。　A　pan　along　the　mural　picked　up　the　symbols　of　Peace　and　Liberty；　Equality　and　Fraternity。　Then　the　view　travelled　along　the　member　representatives。　They　were　getting　busy。
　　　The　president　of　the　Security　Council　this　month　was　Russian。　He　had　a　big；　square　face　and　Mongolian　eyes。　He　brought　the　meeting　to　order　by　banging　his　fist　on　his　desk。　Through　the　translator　who　was　putting　it　out　on　the　networks　in　English；　the　Russian　said；　〃I　call　this　waste…of…time　meeting　to　order。〃
　　　〃Oh；　oh；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃I　had　to　e　all　the　way　back　from　Yakut　in　Siberia；〃　continued　the　Russian；　〃just　to　attend　this　special　meeting。　And　all　because　the　silly　General　Assembly　passed　some　silly　nonsense。〃
　　　〃Oh；　oh；　oh！〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃So　I　read　it；〃　said　the　Russian。　'〃UN　Resolution…which　is　not　resolved　and　if　it　is　resolved　I　go　back　to　Siberia…'678…546…452。'　Hereas；　et　cetera；　to　wit：
'RESOLVED：　WOMEN　HAVE　THE　RIGHT　NOT　TO　BE　THERMONUCLEAR　BOMBED　AND　NOT　TO　BE　FORCED　TO　SHUT　UP　BY　SLAPPING　OR　TORTURE。'〃
　　　〃That's　a　good　resolution；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃It's　the　first　sensible　law　I've　heard　on　this　planet。　I'm　amazed　it　isn't　in　force　already。　But　you　seem　very　interested；　dear。　Did　you　have　something　to　do　with　it？〃
　　　〃It's　a　political　matter；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Hmm；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　The　Russian　was　talking　again。　〃We　will　now　have　the　debate。　I　will　be　the　first　one　to　debate。　So　listen；　rades：　It　is　well　known　that　the　only　workers　who　can　be　made　to　do　any　work　are　women。　If　the　women　did　not　do　all　the　work；　men　would　have　no　time　to　sit　around　and　drink　vodka。　But；〃　and　he　fixed　the　other　members　with　a　ferocious　glare；　〃you　know　and　I　know　and　everybody　knows　and　Karl　Marx　who　had　an　awful　married　life　knew；　too；　that　if　you　don't　slap　women　they　talk　all　the　time；　day　and　night。　And　if　they　talk；　talk；　talk；　where　goes　the　Five　Year　Plans　then；　right？　And　if　they　make　the　Five　Year　Plans　fail；　they　are　counterrevolutionaries　and　ought　to　be　thermonuclear…bombed　once　and　for　all　so　we　could　have　some　peace。　And　that's　all　there　is　to　it；　rades。　This　resolution　would　undermine　the　already　undermined　theory　of　Marxist　Leninism。　Russia　votes　against　it…nyet；　nyet；　nyet…　and　spits　on　it；　too。　So　there　is　no　point　in　debating　further　or　even　voting；　as　a　great　power　has　vetoed　it。　Meeting　adjourned！〃　And　he　got　up　and　put　on　his　fur　coat　and　stamped　out　of　the　hall　where　a　regiment　of　KGB　guards　got　him　into　a　helicopter　and　away。
　　　〃Oh；　blast；　blast　those　Russians！〃　said　Heller。　〃The　girls　will　be　SO　disappointed　after　all　their　hard　work！〃
　　　〃What　girls？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　very　alert。
　　　〃And　there　goes　any　chance　I　had　with　Miss　Simmons！〃　said　Heller。　〃Confound　those　Russians！〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　very　loudly；　〃WHO　is　Miss　Simmons？〃
　　　Heller　came　out　of　it。　He　looked　at　the　Countess。　〃What？〃
　　　〃I　said；　'WHO　is　Miss　Simmons？'〃
　　　〃My　teacher　in　Nature　Appreciation。　That's　the　class　I　have　to　personally　attend　each　Sunday。〃
　　　〃Oh；　is　that　what　you　have　been　doing　Sundays？　I　notice　that　you　use　the　words　'have　to　attend。'　However；　I　have　been　told　personally　by　Izzy　that　you　are　going　to　the　university　just　wonderfully　and　all　without　attending　any　classes　whatever。　Bang…Bang　tells　me　that　you　are　just　doing　splendidly　in　the　ROTC；　and　yet　you　don't　have　to　attend　any　drills　or　ROTC　classes。　Now；　WHY；　Jettero；　do　you　have　to　attend　the　Sunday　class　of　this　Miss　Simmons？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃She　forced　me　into　it。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Jettero；　I　can　understand　pletely　why　she　is　infatuated　with　you；　but　I　cannot　for　the　life　of　me　see　why　you　are　infatuated　with　her。〃
　　　〃I'M　NOT！〃
　　　〃Jettero；　you　need　not　be　defensive。　You　are　not　being　accused　of　anything。　I　just　want　to　know　why　you　are　infatuated　with　her。〃
　　　〃I　HATE　the　hussy！〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Oh；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　〃be　very　careful　of　hate。　The　poet　says　it　is　the　closest　neighbor　of　love。〃
　　　〃Oh；　Gods；　he　didn't　know　Miss　Simmons！　Listen；　that　woman　is　working　day　and　night　to　wreck　my　plans。　She　is　not　only　going　to　fail　me；　she　is　tearing　around　demanding　that　others　flunk　me！〃
　　　〃Jettero；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　〃maybe　you　had　better　tell　me　about　this　very　exactly。〃
　　　Heller　told　her　about　needing　a　diploma　so　people　would　listen　to　him　and　how　Miss　Simmons　hated　nuclear　physicists　and　had　forced　him　to　take　an　optional　on　Nature　Appreciation；　which　she　herself　taught。　Then　he　drew　a　long　breath　and　told　her　in　detail　about　following　her　into　Van　Cortlandt　Park；　finishing　off　the　attackers　and　taking　Miss　Simmons　to　the　hospital。　And　how；　in　the　new　term；　they　had　released　her　from　the　psychiatric　ward　so　she　could　resume　teaching。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　nodded　gravely。　〃I　understand　it　pletely　now。　She　walked　into　that　park　well　knowing　there　were　unscrupulous　men　about　and　lured　you　after　her。　She　is　the　kind　of　woman　who　craves　to　be　raped。　Oh；　I　am　afraid　this　has　gone　far　enough；　Jettero。　I　knew　all　the　beautiful　women　on　this　planet　would　be　after　you　and　I　now　know　that　my　worst　fears　have　been　realized。　I　could　forgive　that　Miss　America　thing；　but　this　has　gone　on　and　on　right　under　my　nose　every　Sunday。〃
　　　〃Please；〃　begged　Heller。　〃If　I　take　you　to　the　theater　and　buy　you　a　dozen　roses　and　get　up　first　every　morning　for　a　week　and　get　the　room　warm；　will　you；　in　return；　stop　talking　about　Miss　Simmons？〃
　　　〃Hmm；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　She　got　up　and　went　into　the　secretary　boudoir。
　　　She　paced　up　and　down。　Then　she　suddenly　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　couch　and　punched　a　button　and　had　Mamie　on　the　phone　promptly。
　　　〃Mamie；〃　she　said；　〃it　has　happened。　I've　got　to　have　your　advice。〃
　　　〃Certainly；　dearie。　You　just　tell　Mama　Mamie。〃
　　　〃He　is　so　disturbed　that　I