lrh.fortuneoffear-第7章

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　　　〃How　do　I　sign　this？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　taking　the　pen。
　　　〃Why；　just　like　this；　of　course。　Don't　change　it　in　any　way。　It　always　causes　a　terrible　row　when　they　do。〃
　　　He　put　down　the　item　I　had　written　Heller's　Earth　name　and　address　on。　Then　he　turned　it　over。
　　　The　Countess's　eyes　focused　on　Sultan　Bey　and/or　Concubine。　Roman　Villa。　Afyon；　Turkey。
　　　IT　WAS　MY　OWN　SQUEEZA　CREDIT　CARD！
　　　I　reeled。　There　must　be　some　awful　error！　I　yanked　the　pack　out　of　my　pocket　and　shuffled　rapidly　through　them。　The　Squeeza　card　was　GONE！
　　　Oh；　Gods；　in　my　haste　to　find　something　to　write　Heller's　address　on；　I　had　lucklessly　chosen　the　only　credit　card　in　the　deck　that　had　a　totally　blank　back　and　was　not　in　laminated　plastic！　And　it　was　a　credit　pany　whose　monthly　interest　charge；　in　one　month　of　unpaid　balance；　would　equal　the　original　bill！　The　worst　credit　hounder　of　the　mob！
　　　There　was　still　a　chance。　She　might　bungle　the　signing！　They　still　might　detect　she　was　not　Utanc；　not　the　〃concubine；〃　and　sling　her　in　jail　for　forgery。　I　held　my　breath。
　　　But　the　Countess　Krak　was　obeying　orders。　Penmanship　was　a　fitting　part　of　her　criminal　talents。　She　signed　it　just　like　she　had　been　told：　〃Sultan　Bey　and/or　Concubine。　Roman　Villa。　Afyon；　Turkey。〃
　　　With　a　sickening　surge；　I　suddenly　realized　that　she　had　thought　I　had　given　her　a　credit　card！　She　was　so　（bleeped）　stupid　she　didn't　even　realize　she　was　forging　anything！　She　would　have　that　as　a　defense　if　they　detected　it！
　　　But　the　manager　took　the　finished　product；　pared　it　expertly　to　the　card　and　nodded。　All　hope　died　within　me。
　　　〃Miss；〃　he　said　to　the　Countess　Krak；　〃according　to　the　accounts　and　credit　report　I　just　got　from　the　Central
　　　Credit　Card　Bureau；　your　master　is　always　easy　to　locate。　We　can　find　him　right　down　to　the　hour　and　minute　at　any　time。　But　you；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　having　a　WATS　phone　line　you　use　all　over　the　world；　can　never　be　spotted。　Please　tell　us　where　you　are　from　time　to　time。　You　see；　it　is　giving　our　downtown　store　problems。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　undoubtedly　mystified　but　taking　this　strange　planet　in　stride。
　　　〃Yes。　We　always　send　our　best　customers　flowers　every　Saturday。　Your　favorite　black　orchids　have　been　ing　back　from　the　Bentley　Bucks　Deluxe　Arms　penthouse。　So　is　it　now　all　right　for　us　to　send　them　to　this　office　at　the　Empire　State　Building？〃
　　　〃Quite　all　right；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak　with　charm。　〃But　please　include　the　store　card　prominently　so　my　man　won't　think　they're　from　some　stupid　Apparatus　executive　and　kill　him。〃
　　　〃I　quite　understand；〃　said　the　accounts　executive　and　dutifully　made　a　note　of　it：　〃Must　not　plicate　extra…concubine　affairs。〃　Aloud；　he　said；　〃Discretion　must　always　be　our　watchword。　After　all；　we　have　no　interest　where　the　lady　spends　her　nights　off　or　even　in　her　travels。　It　is　the　man　we　are　interested　in。　His　whereabouts　down　to　the　last　square　inch　is　always　of　great　concern；　for；　after　all；　he　foots　the　bills。〃
　　　He　had　his　paperwork　done。　The　digital　counters　he　used　for　eyes　were　rolling。　The　crocodile　smile　stretched　his　lips。　He　was　changing　his　role　to　salesman。　〃The　Central　Credit　Card　Bureau　also　added　a　personal　note　about　you；　Miss。　According　to　Squeeza　reports　you　always　use　only　limousine　service。　So　when　you　are　through　with　your　coiffure　appointment　and　you　have　been　dressed　and　the　rest　is　ready　to　go；　we　insist　you　take　our　president's　limousine　into　town。　The　limousine　stewardess　needs　to　be　told　what　brand　of　drink　you　would　care　for　on　the　tedious　ride。〃
　　　〃Hot　jolt；〃　said　the　Countess　promptly。
　　　The　accounts　manager　wrote　down；　〃Bavarian　Mocha　Mint；　dash　of　champagne。〃　Inventive　fellow；　used　to　catering　to　the　bizarre　denizens　of　the　upper　crust。
　　　〃Now　I　must　inform　you；〃　he　said；　〃of　a　new　service　this　branch　of　Bonbucks　Teller　has　instituted。　It　is　called　'Central　Credit　Card　Spree　Buying　Titillating　Rare　and　mon　modity　Procurement　Service　for　the　Rich　Lady　Who　Is　Too　Busy　to　Go　Rooting　Crassly　About　in　Stores。'〃　He　gave　her　a　golden　card　with　a　phone　number　embossed　on　it。　〃Now　that　we　have　met　you　and　established　your　identity　and　acquired　your　gracious　patronage；　this　service　is　yours　to　mand。〃
　　　She　hadn't　put　the　golden　card　in　her　pocket　so　he　delicately　reached　across　and　made　sure　that　it　got　there。　〃We　are　trying　to　cure　the　public　impression　that　this　branch　of　Bonbucks　Teller　is　out　in　the　woods。　For　we；　here　next　to　the　mighty　jets　of　JFK；　are　an　open　door　to　all　the　stores　of　the　world。　Our　motto　is　'Serve　the　Ladies　at　Any　Cost　No　Matter　How　Great。'　We　can　spare　you　the　tedium　of　browsing　through　Tiffany's。　We　can　get　you　furs　from　Siberia　or　a　special　Rolls　Royce　off　the　British　assembly　line　in　the　flicker　of　an　eye　and　send　it　straight　to　you。　You　don't　need　to　undergo　these　boorish　formalities　again　with　us。　Just　call　the　number　on　the　golden　card　and　the　charge　will　at　once　be　picked　up　by　Squeeza　and　added　to　their　monthly　bill。　All　so　simple。　Just　a　call　and　state　your　heart's　desire。〃
　　　He　stood　up。　Her　hairdresser　was　twisting　curlers　at　the　door；　waiting　to　escort　her　to　his　salon　on　the　roof。
　　　The　credit　manager　took　both　her　hands　in　his。　He　squeezed　her　fingers　fervently。　〃It　is　SUCH　a　pleasure　to　do　business　with　a　customer　who；　by　every　report；　has　credit　that　is　absolutely　UNLIMITED！〃
　　　During　his　speeches　I　had　been　wildly　thinking　of　some　way　to　invalidate　the　signature；　invalidate　the　card；　point　out　that　a　HORRIBLE　mistake　had　been　made。　It　had　begun　to　be　borne　in　upon　me　that　I　could　not　without　exposing　my　true　hostility　to　the　Countess　Krak　and　my　actual　intentions　for　her　and　Heller。　They　would　kill　me　out　of　hand！
　　　But　at　those　horrible　words；　〃credit　that　is　absolutely　UNLIMITED；〃　I　lost　all　grip　on　hopes　and　senses。
　　　My　supply　of　adrenalin　was　all　used　up。
　　　I　fainted　dead　away！
　　　And　as　I　sank　into　the　swirling　mists；　a　voice　seemed　to　be　echoing　hollowly　as　in　a　tomb。　It　was　my　own；　telling　her　to　〃Buy！　Buy！　Buy！〃　that　very　morning。　I　had　unwittingly　sealed　my　own　doom。
　　　I　still　owed　them　hundreds　of　thousands。　I　didn't　have　a　penny　to　my　name。　And　I　had　no　slightest　channel　here　on　Earth　to　get　any。
　　　The　house　would　be　seized。　The　staff　would　be　sold。　But　not　only　that；　even　I　would　find　myself　on　the　auction　block；　being　bought　most　likely　by　an　Arab　who　thought　more　of　camels　than　his　slaves。　And　thus　a　nightmare　shattered　any　peace　the　unconsciousness　could　bring：　I　was　an　auctioneer　shouting　〃Buy！　Buy！　Buy！〃　as　I　sold　myself　time　and　again　to　masters　far　more　cruel　than　the　Manco　Devils：　the　credit　panies！

Chapter　7

　　　It　was　evening　in　New　York。
　　　Assured　by　the　elevator　operator　that　Mr。　Jet；　as　Heller　was　popularly　known；　was　still　in　his　office；　Krak　tipped　magnificently　the　chauffeur；　stewardess　and　building　porters　via　just　mentioning　the　number　of　the　credit　card…which　they　probably　already　knew　from　Utanc。　The　amount　made　them　blink　and　me　go　faint　again。　Finally；　they　all　withdrew　and　left　Krak　with　a　mountainously　piled；　four…wheel　handcart　before　the　door。
　　　She　had　arrived！
　　　She　looked　at　her　reflection　in　the　gloss　of　the　hall　wall。　She　took　off　a　fur　cap；　threw　it　on　the　cart　and　fluffed　her　hair。　She　straightened　up　her　Blackgama　mink　cape。　She　looked　closely　at　her　reflection　where　the　cup　had　now　been　removed。　She　was　satisfied。
　　　She　took　a　long　deep　breath。　I　could　hear　her　heart　thudding　heavily。　She　swallowed。　She　lifted　her　chin。　She　opened　the　door　and　let　it　swing　wide。　She　stood　there。
　　　Heller　was　at　his　desk；　open　books　between　his　two　hands。
　　　He　looked　up。
　　　He　stared。
　　　He　couldn't　believe　it！　His　mouth　opened。
　　　He　muttered；　〃Am　I　dreaming？〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　had　a　little　trouble　speaking。　She　said；　〃You're　not　dreaming；　Jettero。　It's　me。〃
　　　Heller　leaped　from　his　chair。　He　came　around　the　desk　and　began　to　run　toward　her。
　　　She　ran　forward　to　meet　him。
　　　They　came　together　in　a　crush　of　embraces　in　the　center　of　the　room。
　　　After　a　savage　clench；　they　both　began　to　cry。
　　　They　just　stood　there；　holding　each　other；　crying！
　　　Minutes　went　by。　They　did　not　do　anything　or　say　anything。　They　just　stood　there　holding　on　to　each　other；　sobbing！
　　　Finally；　her　voice　muffled　by　his　shoulder；　she　said；　〃Then　you　didn't　fall　in　love　with　a　thousand　beautiful　women！〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃I　put　you　on　my　pillow　every　night。　I　have　only　dreamed　of　you。〃
　　　They　kissed。
　　　My　screen　went　into　a　wild　blur；　wiped　out！　Even　the　sound　went。　Carbon…oxygen　power　surge　and　two　sets　of　bugs　too　close　together。
　　　At　last　they　moved　reluctantly　apart。　Heller　put　her　gently　in　a　chair。　He　went　out　in　the　hall　and　pushed　the　hugely　piled　cart　into　the　office。　He　closed　the　door。
　　　Heller　came　back　and　knelt　beside　her。　She　was　drying　her　eyes　with　a　lace　handkerchief。　Then　she　swabbed　at　his。　She　laughed　shakily。
　　　He　laughed。　Then　he　said；　his　voice　heavy　with　emotion；　〃I　don't　dare　talk　about　how　glad　I　am　to　see　you。　It's　like　the　skies　suddenly　opened　and　you　just　materialized。　How　did　the　Gods　bring　you　here？〃
　　　〃Soltan　sent　for　me。〃
　　　〃But　how　did　you　know　where　I　was？〃
　　　She　said；　〃He　told　me。〃
　　　〃But　how　did　you　get　away　from　Spiteos？〃
　　　〃Lombar　sent　me。　There　are　no　trained　acts；　now。
　　　There　aren't　even　any　freaks。　Lombar　is　engrossed　in　other　things　and　has　no　time　for　them。　So　he　sent　me　to　help　you　out。　He　said　you　were　overworking。　And　you　asked　for　a　cellologist　so　he　sent　Crobe。〃
　　　〃That　crazy　Doctor　Crobe？　Where　is　he？〃
　　　She　said；　〃I　think　Soltan　is　holding　him　for　a　while。　On　the　ship　he　wasn't　studying　English　much。　I　tried　to　help　him　but　he　said　why　talk　to　somebody　when　you　were　just　going　to　cut　out　their　tongues　anyway。　My　guess　is　that　Soltan　is　holding　on　to　him　until　he　learns　English。〃
　　　〃Soltan　knew　the　address　of　this　office？〃
　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　〃Well；〃　said　Heller；　〃you　got　here　safely　and　you　are　beautiful　and　I　love　you。　And　with　that　we've　covered　everything　important。〃
　　　They　suddenly　were　hugging　again。　Finally　they　separated　and　looked　at　each　other's　faces。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Oh；　darling；　I　missed　you；　missed　you　so！　It　seemed　like　years　and　years　and　years。　A　whole　lifetime。　Two　lifetimes。　Please　don't　let's　separate　again。　I　can't　stand　it！〃　She　started　to　cry　again　and　was　swabbing　at　her　nose　with　her　lace　handkerchief。
　　　Heller　said；　miserably；　〃I　am　sorry。　I　really　am。　I　wanted　to　finish　this　mission　fast　and　e　home　to　you。　But　I've　not　been　very　lucky　and　there　have　been　delays。　It's　kind　of　a　tough　planet。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　suddenly　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。　〃Listen。　I　have　a　wonderful　surprise　for　you。　I　promised　not　to　tell　you　what　it　is　and　I　won't。　But　just　realize　it　is　terribly　good　for　both　of　us。〃
　　　I　flinched。　She　was　talking　about　the　〃Royal〃　forgeries。　Her　〃pardon〃　and　his　〃future〃　of　no　dangerous　missions。　It　was　typical　of　her　（bleeped）　perfidy　that　she　would　keep　her　word　to　me　and　not　tell