lrh.fortuneoffear-第5章

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　　　I　steadied　myself　down　long　enough　to　put　it　on。　The　skirt　and　sleeves　were　much　too　long。　〃The　locket
　　　I　was　wearing　to　show　my　rank；〃　I　said。　〃It's　gone。　Please　help　me　look　for　it。〃
　　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　an　operation　scheduled。　Just　remember　the　places　you　have　been　and　go　look。〃
　　　That　was　wise　advice。　I　went　to　the　operating　room　we　had　used　last　night。　A　cleaning　team　was　in　there。　No；　they　hadn't　seen　a　green　locket。
　　　I　went　to　where　I　had　stood　looking　through　the　oneway　window。　No；　no　locket　on　the　floor。
　　　Bright　idea：　I　called　the　taxi　driver　on　the　phone。　I　held　on　while　he　went　and　looked　in　his　cab。　No；　no　locket。
　　　Pleadingly；　I　told　him　to　drive　out　to　the　airport　and　look　around　the　floor　and　call　back。　He　said　he　would。
　　　I　paced。　Oh；　Gods；　Utanc　would　scream　and　rage　and　throw　things　in　absolute　hurricanes　for　days；　weeks；　months！　It　was　the　biggest　stone　in　that　drawer。　It　must　be　worth　fifty　thousand　dollars　at　least！
　　　That　called　to　mind　the　state　of　my　finances。　Very　soon　those　credit…card　vultures　would　be　back。　I　hadn't　any　notion　how　much　I　still　owed　from　my　trip　to　the　U。　S。；　but　it　would　not　be　less　than　another　half　a　million。　No　possible　chance　existed　of　getting　it　from　the　hospital　or　Faht　Bey。　As　it　stood　now；　maybe　they　would　be　satisfied　just　by　selling　off　the　villa　and　the　staff。　But　if　I　bought　another　locket　for　replacement　and　ran　up　even　more　bills　than　I　had；　maybe　they　would　sell　me；　too！
　　　No；　buying　another　locket　was　out　of　the　question！　The　very　thought　of　more　bills　turned　my　blood　cold。
　　　An　hour　went　by。　The　taxi　driver　called　back。　No；　there　was　no　locket　on　the　floor　of　the　airport　and　nobody　had　turned　one　in　and　I　now　owed　him　another　fifteen　dollars！　It　made　me　feel　pretty　angry。　Not　only　had　he　probably　tipped　the　scales　in　favor　of　mayhem　from　the　collectors　by　buying　me　that　new　wardrobe　on　my　credit　cards；　he　now　couldn't　even　do　a　simple　thing　like　finding　a　locket！　But　I　didn't　rage　at　him。　He　was　the　only　excuse　for　a　friend　I　had。　I　simply　hung　up。
　　　Dispiritedly；　I　wandered　back　to　the　interview　room　I　had　been　using；　went　in　and　closed　the　door。
　　　The　Countess　had　transferred　at　Istanbul　and　was　on　her　way　to　Brussels　for　the　next　plane　change。
　　　Apparently；　in　the　transit　lounge；　she　had　made　some　acquisitions。　They　have　a　pretty　plete　snack　and　magazine　stand　there　and　she　had　invested　heavily。　She　had　a　lot　of　periodicals　on　her　lap。　She　was　selecting　one。　She　had　a　French　one　called　Oo　La　La；　La　Femme。
　　　The　elation　I　should　be　feeling　at　the　realization　that　she　was　out　of　Turkey　and　that　every　second　was　taking　her　further　away　did　not　e。
　　　Maybe　it　was　the　magazine　which　made　me　feel　suppressed。　It　was　a　fashion　magazine。　I　knew　that　she　didn't　read　French　but　those　huge　color　plates　of　clothes　didn't　need　words。　What　they　were　saying　to　her；　I　did　not　know。　But　what　they　said　to　me　was　〃Expensive！〃　I　was　a　man　of　experience　now　where　women's　clothes　were　concerned！
　　　Gradually；　however；　I　began　to　cheer　up。　Those　gorgeous　color　plates　of　weirdly　posing　models　draped　in　impossibly　bizarre　garments　were　going　to　cost　Heller　a　roaring　fortune！　A　Parisienne　designer　doesn't　look　at　his　client's　figure：　he　looks　only　at　her　checkbook。　As　he　expects　both　to　be　very　fat；　I　wondered　why　the　models　in　such　fashion　plates　were　always　as　thin　as　chicken　bones。　Strange　world；　women's　fashions。　The　French　were　featuring；　I　could　make　out；　Le　Look　Garbage。
　　　Somebody　had　explained　all　this　to　me　once…a　man　on　a　plane。　He　had　said　the　fashion　designers　were　all　homos　and　they　hated　women　because　they　saw　in　them　petition。　So　they　covertly　dressed　them　as　bizarrely　as　possible　to　keep　men　off　of　them。　He　was　probably　right。　Looking　at　these　pictures　made　me　hate　homos　all　the　more！　To　dress　women　strangely　was　one　thing　but　to　dress　them　so　expensively　was　unforgivable！
　　　The　Countess　Krak　eventually　threw　it　aside。　She　picked　up　a　huge　American　edition　of　a　periodical　called　Vague。　More　fashion　plates。　They　were；　strangely　enough；　quite　different　from　the　French。　It　was　not　that　they　were　less　bizarre；　it　was　not　that　the　models　had　any　more　meat　on　them；　it　was　not　that　the　（bleeping）　homos　had　been　any　less　industrious　in　trying　to　make　women　look　awful　and　thus　get　the　men　into　their　own　beds：　they　were　just　entirely　different。　The　American　gays　were　pushing　The　Marionette　Look。　The　magazine　was　even　full　of　little　side　sketches　showing　marionettes　with　their　legs　all　tangled　up　and　crossed　and　bending　the　wrong　way　and　the　strings　strangling　them。
　　　〃Dearie；　I　see　you're　studying　fashions。〃　A　new　voice。　Krak　looked　sideways　at　her　seat　panion。　The　speaker　was　a　blowzy　blonde　of　about　forty；　with　peroxided　hair。　〃I　can　see　it's　about　time！〃　She　smiled。　〃I'm　Mamie　Boomp；　heading　back　to　the　Big　Apple　and　bright　lights。　Who're　you？〃
　　　That's　what　I　like　about　American　travellers。　Very　direct。　No　beating　around　the　bush。
　　　〃I'm　supposed　to　be　Joy　Krackle；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃How　do　you　do？〃
　　　〃Well；　I'm　doing　quite　all　right；　thank　you；　after　a　star　tour　of　the　hot　spots　of　the　Middle　East。　I'm　a　famous　singer。　The　Arabs　loaded　me　with　loot　and　I'm　on　my　way　back　to　God's　Country　to　spend　it。　Jesus　Christ；　I　don't　think　I'll　get　in　another　bed　for　a　year！　But；　honey；　you　look　like　you　got　caught　in　a　camel　crash。〃
　　　〃Really？〃
　　　〃Yeah；　them　clothes；〃　said　Mamie　Boomp　with　a　contemptuous　wave　at　Krak's　cloak。　〃Where'd　you　get　such　rags？〃
　　　〃I　was　held　captive　for　three　years　in　a　fortress；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃They　stole　all　my　clothes。〃
　　　〃No　（bleep）？〃　said　Mamie。　〃Jesus　Christ；　them　（bleeped）　Arabs　will　do　anything。　Much　as　a　girl's　life　is　worth　to　leave　the　U。　S。　of　A。　these　days。　I　can　see　you　need　some　coaching　if　you　let　them　get　away　with　that！　You　got　to　keep　your　wits　about　you。　Same　thing　almost　happened　to　me　in　Morocco。　But　I　told　the　king；　I　said；　'Listen；　Buster；　if　you　don't　e　across　with　a　few　diamonds；　I'll　not　just　amputate　your　（bleeps）；　I'll　cut　off　your　American　aid。'　He　can't　exist　without　American　aid　so　he　just　filled　my　pockets　up　with　the　old　glitter　and　let　me　go。　Look；　here's　one　of　them　yet！〃
　　　She　showed　Krak　a　huge　diamond　ring；　nestling　amongst　many　others　on　her　puffy　hand。　〃Diamonds　are　a　girl's　best　friend；〃　she　added。
　　　〃Are　emeralds　and　rubies　also　very　valuable　on　this　planet？〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃You　said　it；　baby。　Mind　if　I　help　you　with　that　fashion　mag　and　show　you　what　really　puts　the　beasts　in　heat？〃
　　　Suddenly　a　chill　like　the　Arctic　wind　coursed　through　me。　I　abruptly　had　a　vivid　recollection！　The　Countess　Krak's　sudden　burst　of　affection！　The　pletely　out…of…character　kiss　on　my　cheek！
　　　Sleight　of　hand！　She　was　an　expert　at　it。　She　had　trained　magicians　by　the　score！　All　she　had　to　do　was　unhook　the　clasp　with　one　hand　and　catch　it　as　it　fell　into　the　other！
　　　Conviction！　The　Countess　Krak　had　the　emerald　locket！
　　　It　all　added　up。　She　had　made　sure　in　her　hypnotic　implant　that　I　would　let　her　take　away　anything　she　wanted！　She　had　been　so　concerned　about　her　appearance　when　she　first　met　Heller。
　　　I　knew　exactly　what　she　intended　to　do　now。　She　would　land　in　New　York。　She　would　buy　a　truckload　of　clothes。　And　she　would　pay　for　them　with　the　locket！　With　Utanc's　fifty…thousand…dollar　locket　that　I　could　not　hope　to　replace！
　　　Oh；　it　was　true　she　was　a　criminal！　I　immediately　believed　her　police　record　down　to　the　last　dot！　A　thief！

Chapter　5

　　　Torn　between　rage　and　despair；　I　was　an　unwilling　participant　in　that　flight。
　　　Fashions；　fashions；　fashions。　Clothes；　clothes；　clothes。　Up　the　snow…banked　Danube　far　below；　fashions；　fashions；　fashions　and　clothes；　clothes；　clothes。　Across　the　Alps　and　Germany　and　through　the　Brussels　change；　fashions；　fashions；　fashions　and　clothes；　clothes；　clothes。　Across　the　tip　of　England　and　above　Atlantic　storms；　fashions；　fashions；　fashions　and　clothes；　clothes；　clothes。　They　even　neglected　their　lunch…the　Countess　Krak　because　she　couldn't　figure　how　to　eat　it　and　Mamie　Boomp　because　she　was　getting　too　fat　and　could　no　longer　get　into　some　of　her　fashions；　fashions；　fashions　and　clothes；　clothes；　clothes。
　　　They　had　taken　time　out　now　and　then　to　exchange　theatrical　experiences。　They　had　both　been　on　the　stage。　And　I　also　had　to　suffer　through　some　items　from　Countess　Krak　that　would　have　been　flagrant　Code　breaks　if　Mamie　Boomp　had　not　gotten　the　idea　that　Atalanta　was　Atlantic　City　and　Voltar　was　a　place　just　outside　of　Peoria；　Illinois。
　　　At　length；　Mamie　said；　〃Now　that　we　have　got　it　all　laid　out　even　down　to　the　organdy　sea…green　negligees；　dearie；　I　still　get　the　sneaking　hunch　you're　not　entirely　happy　about　it。　You　got　some　problem　you　ain't　telling　Mamie？〃
　　　〃Well；　yes；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃I'm　going　to　meet　my　man；　you　see。　He's　been　on　this　planet　for　months　all　by　himself。　He's　the　handsomest；　most　gorgeous　man　you'd　ever　hope　to　see。　You　get　some　idea　when　I　tell　you　that　his　sister　is　considered　one　of　the　best…looking　women　in　the　whole　Confederacy。〃
　　　〃Ah；　yah；〃　said　Mamie　Boomp。　〃One　of　them　'you　all'　southern　belles。〃
　　　〃And　he's　considered　one　of　the　best…looking　officers　in　the　whole　Fleet。　For　months　he's　undoubtedly　been　waist　deep　in　the　most　beautiful　and　most　gorgeously　dressed　women　on　the　planet。〃
　　　〃Oho；　a　sailor；　eh？　Well；　I　don't　blame　you　for　worrying。　Them　Navy　officers　knock　'em　dead。　It's　the　uniform！〃
　　　〃And　that's　the　problem；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃If　I　show　up　looking　like　a　frump；　I'll　be　playing　way　at　the　back　of　the　orchestra　from　there　on　out。　He'll　ignore　me！〃
　　　〃I　get　it。　That　first　meeting　after　the　long　absence。　Jesus；　kid。　That　speeds　this　all　up。　I　thought　we　had　some　time。　You're　telling　me　you　got　to　do　it　all　in　a　couple　of　hours　before　you　meet　the　shore　boat。　Jesus；　that's　tough。　Even　a　perm　takes　longer　than　that！〃　She　thought　it　over；　shaking　her　head。　〃Jesus。　You　get　just　one　walk…on　and　you　have　to　knock　'em　from　the　orchestra　seats　right　out　into　the　lobby。　And　out　of　the　balcony　as　well！　Cripes；　that's　a　tough　spot！　No　soft　music　or　even　an　M。　C。　with　some　funny　jokes　to　give　it　a　buildup。〃　She　was　very　pensive；　rolling　her　diamonds　around　on　her　puffy　fingers。
　　　Suddenly　Mamie　dived　at　the　mound　of　fashion　magazines　on　the　floor。　She　got　out　one　called　Ultra　Ultra。　She　was　thumbing　through　the　ads。　She　came　to　the　double　centerspread　and　in　triumph　pushed　it　at　the　Countess　Krak。　〃There！　Bonbucks　Teller！　They're　too　rich　for　my　blood　but　they're　one　of　the　top　four　women's　stores　in　the　world。　And　they　got　branches；　see？〃　She　pointed　at　the　bottom　of　the　posh　display　ad。　〃There's　a　branch　right　at　JFK　Airport　where　we're　landing！　They　got　everything　and　they　are　fast。　There's　just　one　problem：　boy；　do　they　cost　the　do…re…mi…an　arm；　a　leg　and　your　head！　Have　you　got　the　loot；　Joy？　I　mean；　the　MONey。〃　She　made　the　money　motion　with　her　thumb　and　two　fingers。
　　　〃Money？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃I've　got　that　all　figured　out。〃
　　　A　new　chill　took　me。　I　had　been　wondering　how