lrh.fortuneoffear-第8章

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ssions。　It　was　typical　of　her　（bleeped）　perfidy　that　she　would　keep　her　word　to　me　and　not　tell　him。　If　she　only　would；　I　could　get　them　traced　and　destroy　them。　But　in　any　event；　if　those　〃documents〃　were　ever　presented；　not　only　Krak　but　also　probably　Heller　would　be　executed。　I　did　not　want　to　be　a　third　member　of　that　electric…jolt　party！　These　two　had　to　be　stopped！
　　　Heller　said；　〃Sounds　interesting。　I　accept　your　word　that　it　is　good　for　us。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Not　just　good　but　marvelous　beyond　our　wildest　dreams！　So　let's　get　busy　and　wind　up　this　mission　to　a　rocket　success　and　get　home。〃
　　　Oh；　Gods。　My　sending　her　was　having　exactly　the　opposite　effect　to　what　was　intended。　Even　Lombar　had　told　her　Heller　was　working　too　hard　and　she　was　paying　no　attention　to　that！　Oh；　Gods；　with　all　my　other　troubles；　they　really　had　to　be　slowed　to　nothing。　If　I　could　delay　them　long　enough；　then　word　would　e　and　with　a　few　shots　I　could　kill　them　both。　I　prayed。　Please；　please；　Gods　of　evil；　intervene　for　once　on　my　side。　How　could　I　slow　them？　If　I　only　had　money。　If　I　could　only　get　rid　of　other　crises；　maybe　I　could　do　it。　Not　maybe。　I　had　to；　for　it　meant　my　life。
　　　Heller　was　showing　her　the　office　now。　〃At　least　we　have　a　working　base；〃　he　was　saying。　〃Until　the　next　rent　day。　Here　is　the　secretary's　boudoir　and　some　closets。　Over　here　is　a　〃thinking　room〃　with　a　couch　where　I　sleep。　Over　there　is　the　bath。　This　is　the　bar　and　the　only　'kitchen。'　It's　all　the　home　I've　got　right　now。　It　will　have　to　do；　I　guess。〃
　　　〃Have　to　do！〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　until　recently　a　prisoner　in　stone　cubicles　in　Spiteos。　〃It's　a　palace！〃　Her　eyes　lighted　on　the　cat　which　was　sitting　on　the　desk　eyeing　them。　She　said；　〃Who　is　this？〃　Heller　said；　〃Oh；　that's　the　cat。〃
　　　The　cat　dropped　down　off　the　desk　and　came　over　and　sat　down　in　front　of　her；　looking　at　her　interestedly。
　　　She　said；　〃Doesn't　he　have　a　name？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃He's　kind　of　a　shady　character。　He　won't　tell　us。〃
　　　The　Countess　took　off　her　cape　and　threw　it　on　a　chair。　She　knelt　down　and　looked　at　the　cat。　She　said　to　it；　〃The　thing　to　do　is　to　take　an　alias　that　isn't　in　the　Domestic　Police　puters。　Would　you　like　to　do　that？〃
　　　The　cat　began　to　purr　loudly　as　it　sat　there；　looking　at　her。　The　silly　wench。　She　was　talking　to　it　in　Voltarian　and　it　was　an　Earth　cat。
　　　Heller　said；　〃He's　very　particular　about　his　associates。　He　usually　just　spits　at　or　ignores　anybody　but　me　and　Bang…Bang；　our　driver。　He's　taken　to　you；　but；　of　course；　who　wouldn't？〃
　　　〃What　kind　of　a　cat　are　you？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　Heller　said；　〃He's　an　African　cat。　You　can　tell　because　he's　white　with　black　and　orange　patches。　They're　supposed　to　be　great　fighters。　They're　awfully　smart　and　they　bring　good　luck…don't　you；　cat？　Oh；　also；　they're　called　calicos。〃
　　　So　he　does　have　a　name；〃　said　the　Countess。　〃Mister　Calico。　You　like　that　name？〃
　　　The　cat　purred。
　　　〃All　right；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　kneeling　there　in　front　of　the　silly　cat；　〃let's　see　how　smart　you　are。　How　much　is　two　and　two？〃
　　　The　cat　was　watching　her　finger。　Krak　had　extended　it　at　a　point　between　the　cat's　eyes。　Krak　now　took　her　finger　and　tapped　it　four　times　on　the　floor　in　front　of　the　cat。
　　　The　cat　lifted　its　paw　and　tapped　the　floor　four　times！
　　　I　watched　this　with　considerable　dismay。　I　did　not　want　to　believe　her　reputation　that　she　could　train　anything　to　do　anything。　She　was　dangerous　enough　without　that　ability。　But　then；　it　was　just　coincidence。
　　　〃Very　good；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃Mister　Calico；　how　much　is　two　and　two？〃
　　　The　cat　solemnly　tapped　his　paw　four　times　on　the　floor！
　　　Krak　laughed　with　delight。　She　picked　up　the　cat　and　petted　it。
　　　Heller　said；　〃Hey；　we've　got　an　adding　machine。　Why　don't　you　teach　him　something　useful？〃
　　　The　Countess　said；　〃That　I　will！〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃Well；　he　doesn't　know　how　to　unpack　for　you　yet；　so　let's　get　you　moved　in。〃
　　　She　put　the　cat　down　with　a　stroke　of　its　fur　and　went　over　to　help　Heller　unload　the　cart。　They　started　to　handle　some　boxes　and　then　they　dropped　them　and　came　together　and　just　stood　there　in　each　other's　arms。
　　　Heller　said；　〃I　can't　believe　you're　here。〃
　　　And　then　they　both　started　crying　again。
　　　After　a　long　time；　she　said；　〃We've　got　to　get　busy　and　go　home　and　get　married　and　have　kids　and　live　happily　ever　after；　Jettero。　I　really　just　came　down　here　to　bring　you　home。　We're　getting　older。　We　will　be　fully　grown…up　in　another　few　years。　We　can't　risk　it　on　a　dangerous　planet　like　this。〃
　　　〃I　agree；〃　said　Heller。　〃It's　no　planet　for　a　delicate　lady。　We'll　get　busy　at　once。〃
　　　What　little　remained　of　my　faint　hopes　went　glimmering。　This　time　she　wouldn't　slow　him　down。　She'd　work　like　mad　to　speed　him　up。
　　　Gods　help　all　of　us。　But　namely　me。　The　Countess　Krak　was　loosed　upon　Earth！
　　　Between　them；　if　I　didn't　stop　it；　this　pair　would　salvage　the　planet；　bankrupt　Rockecenter　and　ruin　Lombar　forevermore。
　　　Only　the　thin；　frail　reed　of　me　could　prevent　it。　And　I　was　a　penniless；　shattered　wreck；　afraid　even　to　go　home。

Chapter　8

　　　Weary　nigh　unto　death；　shocked　and　drained　to　the　dregs　of　human　depression；　I　stood　in　the　interview　room　of　the　hospital；　dully　pondering　where　I　could　go。
　　　I　needed　a　hole　to　crawl　into。　One　that　I　could　pull　in　after　me。　Even　that　was　a　short…term　solution。　I　knew　that　Fate　would　get　to　me　in　the　end。
　　　But　I　could　not　stay　here。　The　very　environment　was　traumatic。
　　　A　hole。　Some　of　the　spacecrew　quarters　in　the　subterranean　Afyon　mountain　base　were　more　like　a　hole　than　a　room。　Utanc　would　be　unable　to　find　me　there。　At　least　I　would　have　refuge　from　the　ferocity　she　would　exhibit　when　she　found　her　favorite　locket　gone。
　　　Having　no　money；　now　that　my　wallet　was　missing；　I　very　much　doubted　if　I　could　stretch　my　credit　further　with　the　taxi　driver。
　　　The　hospital　was　a　tomb　of　silence。　It　must　be　getting　on　to　three　o'clock　in　the　morning。　This　is　the　hour　of　lowest　human　vitality：　most　people　die　at　such　a　time　of　day。　I　wondered　if　it　might　not　be　the　best　thing　to　do　after　all。
　　　I　packed　up　the　viewer　in　a　haphazard　way。　I　somehow　got　into　my　bearskin　coat　and　found　it　strangely　clumsy。　I　crept　outside　into　the　night　and　stumbled　down　the　long；　dark　road。
　　　It　was　cold；　bitter　cold。　The　wind；　with　a　mournful　dirge；　played　the　funeral　song　of　my　passage。
　　　It　was　quite　impossible　to　stand　up　against　those　two。　I　had　no　money。　I　would　soon　be　swept　away　by　the　credit　panies。　Lombar's　unknown　assailant　would　not　be　long　in　finding　out　the　true　state　of　affairs　and　his　dagger　would　not　lag。
　　　Chilled　and　numb；　I　came　at　last　to　the　workman's　barracks。　I　passed　into　the　secret　tunnel。　I　finally　came　to　the　tunnel　end　just　outside　the　office　of　the　guard　captain。　I　was　surprised　to　see　him　at　his　desk。
　　　I　had；　of　course；　activated　the　panel　lights　just　by　entering　the　tunnel。
　　　〃There　you　are！〃　said　the　guard　captain；　somewhat　in　the　tones　of　a　German　police　dog　surprised　by　a　suspicious　stranger。　〃Where　the　Hells　have　you　been？　e　in　here！〃
　　　I　was　standing　in　the　pool　of　green　light　that　they　use　to　target　intruders　just　before　they　shoot　them　down。　An　unfortable　place。　Too　much　in　public　view。　I　found　the　energy　to　shuffle　forward　into　his　office　and　get　my　back　defensively　against　a　wall。
　　　〃The　order；〃　he　said。　〃Where　the　Devils　is　the　order？　I　can't　detain　that　crazy　doctor　that　came　in　on　the　Blixo　without　a　detention　order。　You've　been　missing　two　nights　and　a　day！　I　was　going　to　turn　him　loose　at　dawn　if　I　didn't　get　authority　to　hold　him。〃　He　was　banging　his　fist　down　on　an　unstamped　sheet。
　　　Oh；　Gods。　Miserable　as　I　was；　the　thought　of　Doctor　Crobe　getting　loose　upon　Afyon　made　me　reel。　That　would　be　all　it　would　take　to　escalate　my　condition　to　terminal　heart　failure。
　　　I　grabbed　spastically　at　my　pockets　for　my　identoplate。　I　couldn't　get　into　my　pockets。
　　　The　guard　captain　snorted。　〃You've　got　your　fur　coat　on　backwards；　Gris。〃
　　　I　looked　down。　It　was　true。　In　my　dull　condition；　I　had　donned　it　back　to　front。　No　wonder　the　walk　had　been　cold。
　　　I　somehow　got　the　coat　off。　It　fell　to　the　floor。　I　fumbled　around　and　found　my　identoplate。　I　stamped　the　order　two　or　three　times　just　to　make　sure　it　was　making　an　impression。　I　was　pretty　shaky。
　　　The　chill　of　the　hangar　was　biting　into　me。　I　put　the　identoplate　back　in　my　pocket　somehow。　I　reached　over　and　tried　to　pick　up　the　coat。
　　　After　a　couple　of　ineffectual　plucks；　I　got　hold　of　a　corner　of　the　coat　and　lifted　it。　I　couldn't　make　out　what　part　of　it　I　had　hold　of。　I　rotated　the　whole　thing　and　found　I　now　had　it　upside　down。
　　　PLOP。　PUNK。
　　　The　guard　captain　said；　〃My　Gods；　Officer　Gris；　are　you　drunk　or　something？〃
　　　I　looked　at　him。　He　was　pointing　at　the　floor。
　　　THE　LOCKET！
　　　THE　WALLET！
　　　In　my　dazed　condition　I　stared　at　them　stupidly　on　the　floor。　I　was　still　holding　the　bearskin　coat　upside　down。　I　looked　at　the　coat。
　　　It　had　an　inside　breast　pocket　I　never　knew　had　existed！　The　locket　and　wallet　had　fallen　out　of　it！
　　　Dazedly　I　tried　to　account　for　it。　And　then　I　remembered　that　when　I　had　paid　the　excess　baggage　check；　I　had　put　my　wallet　back　into　what　I　thought　had　been　my　tunic　breast　pocket。　But　by　the　evidence　before　me；　I　must　have　stuffed　it　into　the　bearskin　coat　instead。　The　stuffing　process　must　have　caught　the　locket　chain　and　snapped　it　and　the　locket　had　been　stuffed　into　the　pocket　along　with　the　wallet！
　　　I　was　stunned。　I　hadn't　known　of　this　pocket。　And　furthermore；　I　thought　only　kangaroos　had　pockets；　not　bears！
　　　I　picked　up　the　wallet。　All　the　remaining　880　I　had　taken　of　their　travel　money　was　there。
　　　I　picked　up　the　locket。　The　chain　wasn't　even　broken：　I　had　just　neglected　to　push　the　safety　catch　closed　when　I　had　put　it　on　and　the　clasp　had　simply　slid　out。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　had　not　taken　them！
　　　The　kiss　on　the　cheek　had　been　in　honest　appreciation　when　she　thought；　mistakenly；　that　I　had　made　her　a　present　of　a　credit　card。
　　　She　didn't　even　know　you　had　to　PAY　for　credit　card　purchases　later；　for　that　had　been　withheld　in　the　effort　to　get　her　to　wreck　Heller　with　crazy　spending。
　　　I　suddenly　recalled　that　earlier　she　had　even　asked　who　was　the　boss　of　the　hospital　and；　finding　it　was　I；　then　supposed　that　everything　in　the　area　was　Apparatus　gear　and　thus　open　to　mission　requisition。　She　hadn't　even　stolen　that。
　　　And　then　came　the　lowest　blow　of　all。　She　wasn't　a　crook！　Maybe　Heller　was　correct　that　her　police　record　was　false　and　she　had　been　framed　by　the　Assistant　Lord　of　Education　for　Manco！　Maybe　his　deathbed　confession　was　wholly　valid　and　she　was　blameless！
　　　Gradually；　I　began　to　seethe。　My　ire　against　her　began　to　rise　like　a　red　and　suffocating　tide！
　　　She　was　taking　advantage　of　her　innocence！
　　　She　was　even　denying　me　the　relief　of　believing　she　was　a　criminal！
　　　I　knew　right　then　that　there　was　no　limit　whatever　to　the　skuldugg