lrh.fortuneoffear-第47章

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k　I'm　paranoid　about　him。　And　just　to　make　matters　worse；　the　New　York　Tactical　Police　Force　is　after　me　again。〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　was　having　trouble　locating　the　Countess　to　talk　to　her。　The　Countess　must　have　seen　that　she　was　speaking　to　someone　who　was　as　blind　as　a　bat。
　　　〃The　police！〃　said　the　Countess。　〃Then　you　need　head　protection。〃　She　kicked　the　door　shut　behind　her　and　right　in　front　of　Simmons　took　the　hypnohelmet　out　of　the　square　shopping　bag。
　　　I　suddenly　realized　that　I　still　had　Simmons'　glasses　in　my　pocket。　Unwittingly；　I　had　made　it　very　easy　for　Krak。
　　　The　Countess　simply　turned　the　helmet　on　and　dropped　it　over　Simmons'　head！　Just　like　that！
　　　Krak　looked　around　the　rather　large　and　well…furnished　living　room。　Looking　for　a　place　to　stamp；　I　thought。　A　radio　seemed　to　be　playing　in　the　next　apartment。　The　Countess　Krak　saw　that　a　corridor　led　to　a　bedroom。　She　pushed　Simmons　toward　it。
　　　Like　a　sleepwalker；　my　favorite　ally　went　down　the　hall　toward　her　doom。
　　　There　was　a　wide　bed；　a　boudoir　table　and　an　easy　chair；　all　decorated　in　frilly　white　organdy。　The　Countess　Krak　closed　the　bedroom　door。　She　lowered　Simmons　onto　the　bed。　She　arranged　the　pillow　so　it　would　support　the　helmet　properly。　She　plugged　in　her　microphone　and　then　sat　down　in　the　easy　chair。
　　　Simmons　had　evidently　been　changing　out　of　her　street　clothes　when　the　door　buzzer　went；　for　they　were　lying　on　the　floor。　She　had　tossed　on　a　dressing　gown。　It　had　opened　now　as　she　sprawled　there。　Not　a　bad…looking　body。
　　　Krak　apparently　didn't　care　for　that。　She　moved　out　of　the　chair　again　and　pulled　the　dressing　gown　together　to　make　Simmons　decent。　Then　she　laid　her　sable　cape　aside　and　took　off　her　own　jacket；　the　equivalent　of　rolling　up　her　sleeves　to　get　to　work。
　　　The　Countess　spoke　into　her　microphone。　〃Be　calm；　relax。　You　are　quite　safe。〃　Oh；　what　a　liar；　I　thought。　〃Sleep；　sleep；　pretty　sleep。　Can　you　hear　me？〃
　　　Muffled；　〃Yes。〃
　　　〃What　were　those　eight　men　going　to　do　to　you　in　Van　Cortlandt　Park？〃　said　the　Countess；　leaning　back　in　her　chair。
　　　Muffled；　〃Rape　me。　All　eight　of　them。　They　were　going　to　rape　me　hour　after　hour。〃
　　　The　Countess　lowered　her　mike　and　pushed　it　into　her　shoulder。　〃I　thought　so；〃　she　muttered　in　Voltarian。　〃A　real　rape…crazy　slut。　The　whole　thing　has　been　just　a　pose　to　steal　Jettero！〃　She　raised　the　mike　and　reverted　to　English。　〃When　was　the　first　time　you　saw　Wister？〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　flung　out　her　arms；　throwing　the　robe　wide　open。　Her　hands　extended　down；　straight　out；　so　rigid　they　were　quivering。　Her　feet　jerked　down。　She　looked　like　she'd　been　put　on　an　electric　rack。　A　faint　scream　came；　muffled；　from　under　the　helmet。
　　　〃Answer　me！〃　snapped　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　Simmons　said；　〃Registration　Hall　last　September。〃　The　quivers　increased。
　　　Krak　said；　〃You　are　there　at　that　moment。　You　see　Wister。　What　do　you　really　think？〃
　　　Simmons　let　out　a　faint　scream。　The　vibrations　of　her　body　increased　as　the　rigidity　grew。
　　　〃Answer　me！〃
　　　Simmons　said；　〃He　is　too　good…looking。〃
　　　The　Countess　lowered　the　mike　into　her　shoulder　and　muttered　in　Voltarian；　〃Just　as　I　thought。　Love　at　first　sight。〃　In　English　she　said　into　the　mike；　〃Anything　else？〃
　　　The　answer　was　a　muffled　scream；　〃That　it　was　awful　that　he　was　a　nuclear　physicist　major　and　had　to　be　stopped。〃
　　　〃Why？〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　Miss　Simmons　looked　to　be　in　torment。　She　shouted；　〃THERE　MUST　BE　NO　EXPLOSIONS！〃　Then　in　lower　volume；　muffled　by　the　helmet；　〃My　father　held　the　chair　of　psychology　at　Brooklyn　University。　He　said　explosions　were　substitutions　for　sexual　（bleepulations）　and　a　girl　must　be　frigid；　frigid；　frigid　to　protect　herself。〃　She　was　stiff；　stretched　out　now　like　hard　marble；　totally　rigid。
　　　Krak　spoke　into　the　mike；　〃When　did　he　say　that？〃
　　　〃When　he　caught　me　putting　firecrackers　in　the　dog's　（bleep）。〃
　　　The　Countess　dropped　the　mike。　In　Voltarian　she　muttered；　〃What　a　weird　planet！〃　She　sat　there　a　bit　and　then　picked　it　up　and　said　in　English；　〃The　real　incident　was　different。　Your　father　made　a　mistake。　You　get　NO　pleasure　out　of　hurting　animals。　You　were　feeding　the　dog　milk　and　petting　it。　That　is　really　what　you　were　doing　and　what　really　happened。　Your　father　was　totally　wrong。　Accept　it。〃
　　　Simmons　suddenly　relaxed。　She　whispered；　〃I　accept　it。　Oh；　I　am　SO　glad　that　was　really　what　happened。　Then　my　father　must　have　been　wrong　about　everything。〃
　　　〃Right；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　villainously　undoing　in　a　breath　what　that　poor；　laboring　psychologist…father　had　devoted　his　whole　life　to　build　up。　What　a　destructive　Manco　Devil　that　Krak　was！
　　　The　Countess　took　a　firmer　grip　on　the　microphone。　She　was　obviously　through　playing　around。　Now　she　was　going　to　get　down　to　business。　She　said；　〃Now　we're　back　to　the　first　time　you　saw　Wister。　What　you　really　thought　was　that　you　were　not　good　enough　for　him。　Correct？〃
　　　Simmons　said；　under　the　helmet；　〃Correct。〃
　　　Krak　said；　〃Now　it　is　the　time　of　the　first　Nature　Appreciation　class　last　fall。　You　are　alone；　you　are　leaving　the　UN。　You　do　not　want　Wister　to　follow　you　because　you　know　you　are　not　good　enough　for　him。　You　feel　very　sad　about　it；　right？〃
　　　Simmons　said；　〃Right。〃
　　　Aha；　here　it　came。　I　knew　that　Krak　was　going　to　order　her；　now；　to　write　a　suicide　note。　For　that　is　exactly　what　I　would　have　done。　Simmons　was　finished！
　　　The　doorbell　rang。
　　　I　let　out　a　wheeze　of　relief　for　Simmons。　She　had　been　saved　by　the　bell。　Grafferty！　All　was　not　lost。　He　was　just　a　little　early；　for　there　was　no　corpse　there　yet。　But　he　would　see　at　once　what　this　was　all　about：　he　would　find　Simmons　in　a　hypnotic　trance　and　know　that　murder　was　in　the　air。
　　　Krak　said　into　the　mike；　〃You　will　lie　there　quietly　for　the　moment　and　ignore　anything　you　hear　until　I　get　back。〃
　　　She　put　down　the　mike。　She　went　out　of　the　bedroom　and　closed　its　door　behind　her。　She　went　into　the　living　room。　She　peeled　off　her　gloves；　threw　them　aside　and　fluffed　her　hair。　She　opened　the　door。
　　　DOCTOR　KUTZBRAIN！
　　　He　was　standing　there　in　a　bowler　hat　and　black　overcoat。　He　lifted　up　his　inch…thick　glasses　and　stared　at　Krak。　〃Well；　well！　Lizzie　Borden！〃　Then　he　smiled　like　a　hungry　wolf　and　pushed　his　way　in　and　banged　the　door　shut　behind　him。
　　　As　soon　as　he　was　in；　he　said；　〃I　just　stopped　by　to　tear　off　a　little　（bleep）。　I　always　visit　my　patients　in　times　of　stress；　namely　mine。〃
　　　In　a　disgusted　voice　the　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Really。〃
　　　Kutzbrain　was　taking　off　his　overcoat。　He　said；　〃Nothing　like　a　little　psychiatric　therapy　to　cheer　one　up。〃
　　　The　Countess　said；　〃Do　you　live　with　Miss　Simmons？〃
　　　〃Oh；　no；　no。　I'm　Doctor　Kutzbrain；　her　psychiatrist　at　the　University　Hospital。　But　I'm　impartial。　I　spread　my　professional　skills　around。　I　don't　think　you've　been　an　inmate　of　my　ward　yet；　Borden；　but　you're　a　real　looker　so　I'll　make　sure　you　soon　will　be。　So　just　lie　down　on　that　sofa　and　pull　up　your　skirt　and　we'll　get　into　the　preliminary　professional　psychiatric　examination。　If　it　feels　good　enough；　I　can　get　you　into　the　ward　instantly。　Those　look　like　nice　（bleeps）　under　your　shirt。　But　they　need　a　（bleep）　erection　test。〃
　　　My　hair　rose。　The　Countess　Krak　had　killed　three　men　just　for　extending　a　hand　toward　her　sexually。　This　dumb　（bleepard）　was　about　to　be　stamped　to　jelly！　And　then　I　really　laughed　with　glee。　Grafferty　was　going　to　find　a　real　corpse！
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　reaching　into　the　plastic　shopping　bag。　I　knew　it　was　for　some　lethal　weapon。　It　was　a　roll　of　something　black。　She　tore　one　of　the　perforated　bits　from　it。
　　　The　doctor's　hand　was　still　reaching。　She　put　the　small　black　square　in　it。　〃Hold　this；〃　she　said　icily。
　　　He　took　it　and　stared　at　it。
　　　She　reached　into　the　black　plastic　bag。　There　was　a　little　dynamo　in　there。　She　touched　a　plunger　which　started　it。
　　　Doctor　Kutzbrain　stood　straight　up。　He　went　utterly　rigid。　His　face　went　blank。　He　was　fixed　in　place　like　an　awkward　statue！
　　　Oh；　my　Gods！　One　of　the　Eyes　and　Ears　of　Voltar　devices　she　had　filched　from　the　Afyon　hospital！　I　remembered　it。　It　was　a　remote…control　rig。　When　one　had　one　of　those　black　patches　planted　on　him　and　the　device　was　activated　by　the　tiny　dynamo；　the　person　went　rigid　and　blank　and　stayed　that　way　as　long　as　the　dynamo　ran；　and　when　it　was　cut　off　the　person　returned　to　motion　without　being　aware　of　the　halt。　According　to　the　directions　I　had　fleetingly　seen；　they　used　it　to　obtain　evidence　photographs　in　low…level　light　conditions。　But　she　was　simply　using　it　to　immobilize　Doctor　Kutzbrain。
　　　Probably　she　would　kill　him　later。　Grafferty　still　had　a　chance　to　get　his　corpse；　so　necessary　to　headlines　and　to　my　plans　for　finally　wrecking　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　Still；　even　if　Grafferty　came　early；　there　was　quite　enough　to　cook　her　goose：　a　leading　psychiatrist　of　the　city　standing　like　a　catatonic　statue　in　the　middle　of　the　living　room　and　a　very　pathetic　victim　hypnotized　in　the　back　bedroom。　Whichever　way　the　cards　fell；　the　Countess　Krak　was　for　it！　New　York　City　would　give　her　Hells；　to　mention　nothing　of　Voltar　penalties　for　Code　breaks。
　　　She　made　sure　that　Doctor　Kutzbrain　was　remaining　statuized。　Then　she　went　back　into　the　bedroom　to　finish　off　Simmons；　all　unaware　that　the　police　were　howling　on　their　way。　I　knew　that　she　could　never　get　out　of　there　in　time。

Chapter　5

　　　The　Countess　Krak　closed　the　bedroom　door　behind　her。　Miss　Simmons　was　sprawled　on　the　bed…breasts；　belly　and　thighs　bare。　The　Countess　reached　over　and　pulled　the　bathrobe　closed：　I　could　not　figure　why　she　was　doing　that；　I　myself　thought　Simmons'　nakedness　pretty　stimulating。
　　　Krak　sat　down　in　the　chair　and　again　took　up　the　microphone。　〃It　is　just　after　the　first　Nature　Appreciation　class　last　fall。　You　have　left　the　UN　and　are　now　entering　Van　Cortlandt　Park。　Where　are　you？〃
　　　〃Just　entering　Van　Cortlandt　Park；〃　said　Simmons；　very　muffled　under　the　helmet。　Her　body　started　to　stiffen。
　　　〃You　see　that　Wister　is　following　you。　You　know　you　are　not　good　enough　for　him。　You　plead　with　him　to　go　away。〃
　　　From　under　the　helmet；　〃Please　go　away；　Wister。〃
　　　〃Good。　Now　he　has　gone　away。　You　walk　further　into　the　park。　You　see　eight　men　following　you。　Look　back　at　them。　What　do　you　see？〃
　　　Miss　Simmons'　body　went　more　rigid　and　began　to　twitch。
　　　〃I　see　eight　men　following　me。〃
　　　Krak　said；　〃You　are　looking　for　a　secluded　place。　You　find　one。　What　does　it　look　like？〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　went　more　tense。　She　said；　〃A　hollow　with　a　high　bank　all　around。　The　path　es　down　from　the　hill　into　it。　The　grass　is　green；　there　is　a　brook。〃
　　　〃Good；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃One　of　the　men　is　closer　than　the　rest。　What　would　you　really　want　him　to　do。〃
　　　〃Like　it　says　in　Krafft…Ebing。〃
　　　〃What　is　Krafft…Ebing？〃　asked　Krak　in　a　puzzled　voice。
　　　〃The　books　like　Psychopathia　Sexualis。　Like　Have…lock　Ellis'　books　or　Sigmund　Freud's。　My　father　used　to　read　them　to　me　every　night　at　bedtime。　As　a　psychologist　he　said　that