lrh.fortuneoffear-第17节

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　short…sighted…his　glasses　had　fallen　off…and　seeing　the　bearskin　coat　thrown　over　the　shoulders；　mistook　me　for　a　bear。
　　　〃Allah！〃　he　said。
　　　I　advanced。　I　unsnapped　the　case　and　opened　it。　I　riffled　515　engraved　certificates　under　his　nose。
　　　〃O　Allah；　I　was　going　to　say。　Sit　down！〃
　　　He　found　his　pince…nez　glasses；　polished　them　and
　　　put　them　on。　He　evidently　didn't　need　glasses　to　see　money。　He　only　needed　them　to　see　people。　He　peered　at　me。　〃Aha；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　be　Sultan　Bey。　You　do　business；　I　believe；　with　our　Afyon　branch。　The　Zorich　Banking　Corporation　said　you　were　ing　but　we　did　not　expect　you　so　soon。　Now；　what　can　we　do　for　you？〃
　　　〃A　safe…deposit　box；〃　I　said；　〃that　nobody　can　get　into　but　me。　Nobody。〃
　　　Buzzers　buzzed　and　guards　paraded。　We　were　shortly　in　the　safe…deposit　department。
　　　〃Two　binations；〃　said　Mudur　Zengin。　〃The　latest　thing。　One　is　yours　and　one　is　ours。　Only　you　can　appear。　No　one　else　can　sign　the　card。　Your　photograph　appears　on　it　and　the　guards　will　look　at　you　for　sight　recognition。〃
　　　I　was　shortly　in　a　private　cubicle　with　the　box。　I　laid　the　precious　certificates　in　it。　I　laid　the　gold…sale　original　receipt　on　top。　I　then　took　out　five　certificates；　each　a　half　a　million　dollars。　It　hurt　to　do　so　but　I　did　it。　There　were　still　510　of　them　left　in　the　box。
　　　I　rejoined　Mudur　Zengin。　He　was　polishing　his　hands。　I　ended　that　by　pushing　a　certificate　into　them。　〃I　want　this　in　cash；〃　I　said。
　　　He　stared　at　it。　〃Cash？〃
　　　He　suddenly　pushed　me　into　his　office。　He　sat　me　down　in　the　most　fortable　chair。　He　would　not　hear　a　word　until　a　clerk　brought　in　kahve　on　a　silver　tray。　It　was　like　Switzerland　all　over　again　except　that　there　it　had　been　chocolate。
　　　Having　ascertained　if　my　kahve　was　sweet　enough；　if　it　was　just　the　right　temperature；　if　I　was　warm　enough　and　if　the　cushions　were　soft；　he　got　down　to　business。　〃You　had　better　tell　me　your　banking　problems；　Sultan　Bey。　I　was　a　friend　of　your　father's；　the　great　revolutionary　hero。〃　That　was　the　traditional　lie　because　I　doubt　if　he　had　ever　met　the　original　Voltar　surveyor。　〃I　consider　your　problems　as　though　they　were　my　own。　So　speak。〃
　　　I　told　him　I　owed　the　credit　panies　and　had　to　go　see　them　and　pay　them　off　and　try　to　cancel　their　cards。
　　　He　was　snapping　his　fingers　toward　the　door。　A　clerk　appeared　with　a　tweed　overcoat　and　a　homburg　hat。
　　　〃You　need；〃　said　Mudur　Zengin；　〃professional　guidance。　Credit　panies　are　a　bit　tricky。　I　would　never　forgive　myself　if　you　went　wrong。〃
　　　We　went　out　and　got　into　the　taxi　and　then　we　began　our　rounds。　First　was　American　Oppress。
　　　〃Cancel　your　card？〃　screamed　the　manager。　〃Never！　Suppose　you　cancelled　ours　and　left　just　one　other　in　force！　It　would　be　discriminatory。　We　would　sue　you　for　an　attempt　to　ruin　our　reputation！　Sultan　Bey；　as　a　leading　citizen　with　unlimited　credit；　you　have　a　socio…economic　responsibility　to　support　the　institutions　of　the　world！〃
　　　The　American　Oppress　manager　was　raving　so　that　his　staff　was　peeking　in；　keeping　clubs　handy　in　case　we　upset　him　further。
　　　〃Leave　this　to　me；〃　whispered　Mudur　Zengin。
　　　He　went　over　and　soothingly　stroked　the　shoulder　of　the　manager。　He　whispered　to　him　and　then　the　man　nodded　and　smiled。
　　　〃e；〃　said　Mudur　Zengin　and　hurried　me　out。
　　　We　went　to　Dunner's　Club。　It　was　the　same。　We　went　to　Masker…Charge。　It　was　the　same。　We　went　to　the　Istanbul　lair　of　Start　Blanching　and　the　act　repeated。　We　kept　on；　credit…card　pany　by　credit…card　pany。　All　the　same。　We　finally　only　had　one　left。
　　　〃What　are　you　telling　them？〃　I　asked　him。
　　　〃Very　simple；〃　said　Mudur　Zengin。　〃I　am　telling　them　that　I　will　start　for　you　a　bills…paying　account　at　the　bank。　You　should　not　bother　yourself　with　these　trifles。　All　you　have　to　do　is　put　half　a　million　in　the　account　and　they　will　send　their　bills　to　it　and　the　bank　will　pay。　They　need　never　e　near　you　again。〃
　　　Wonderful！　Just　what　I　wanted。　Never　to　see　those　dogs　again。　And　I　was　laughing　to　myself。　I　had　a　plan　that　never；　never；　never　in　the　future　would　any　credit　card　ever　be　used！
　　　We　went　to　the　final　one；　Squeeza。　This　was　the　touchy　one。　Krak　held　their　card。　If　I　cancelled　it；　she　would　find　out　the　moment　she　tried　to　make　another　purchase　on　it：　they　would　fly　into　her　face　and　throw　things。　And　the　Countess　Krak　would　then　get　suspicious　and　she　might　take　it　into　her　head　to　look　me　up。　Later；　I　could　have　her　done　away　with；　when　Lombar　sent　the　word　it　was　now　okay　to　kill　Heller。　But　to　prematurely　face　the　Countess　Krak　was　above　my　stamina　utterly。　I　could　not　close　off　the　use　of　that　one　card。
　　　Sure　enough；　the　Squeeza　manager　met　us　with　a　triumphant　smile。　〃Aha！　Sultan　Bey！　Your　concubine　is　keeping　up　the　tradition　expected　of　a　citizen　like　you。　She　is　buying；　buying；　buying　in　New　York…by　WATS　line；　no　doubt。　Splendid；　Sultan　Bey。　Splendid！〃
　　　I　looked　at　Mudur　Zengin。　He　looked　taken　aback。　Obviously；　this　was　a　new　factor　entering　the　scene　that　he　hadn't　taken　into　banker　planning。
　　　I　said；　〃There's　a　special　account　being　set　up　at　the　bank　for　all　the　credit　panies；　I　am　sure　there　will　be　no　problem。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　said　the　Squeeza　manager。　〃Our　pany　is　different。　It　prides　itself　on　individualism。　That　is　why　we　charge　such　high　penalties　a　month。　In　fact；　I　was　just　looking　at　your　account　when　the　secretary　saw　you　get　out　of　your　cab…we　knew　of　course　that　you　just　landed　here　from　Zurich　in　the　private　jet　and　took　twenty…one　and　a　half　minutes　getting　in　from　the　airport　to　the　bank…and　in　just　twenty…two　hours　from　now；　your　bills　go　under　the　usual　100…percent…per…month　delinquent　penalty　as　allowed　by　the　new　underprivileged…creditors　law。　So　are　you　going　to　pay　this　bill　or　do　we　foreclose　on　the　villa？〃
　　　I　felt　faint。
　　　Mudur　Zengin　supported　me　to　keep　me　from　falling。　He　said；　〃I　will　give　you　a　bank　draft　right　now　for　the　bill；　manager。〃
　　　〃Aha！〃　said　Squeeza's　man　on　the　job。　〃We　will　accept　that　this　time　as　a　favor　to　you。　But　we　cannot　keep　accepting　it。〃
　　　〃There　must　be　some　way；〃　said　Mudur　Zengin。
　　　〃Well；　yes；　there　is；〃　said　the　Squeeza　manager。　〃If　you　give　us　just　one　of　those　Zorich　Banking　Corporation　certificates　to　hold…assigned　to　us　merely　as　collateral　and　still　yours…we　will　promise　faithfully　not　to　charge　you　any　penalties　and　not　to　foreclose　on　your　villa　unless　delinquency　exceeds　it　in　any　given　quarter。〃
　　　〃That's　a　good　deal；〃　Mudur　Zengin　whispered　to　me。
　　　I　sighed。　What　else　could　I　do？　I　hauled　out　one　precious　certificate　and　passed　it　over。
　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；〃　said　the　Squeeza　manager；　〃I　had　the　contract　and　receipt　for　it　all　made　out。　Right　here。　Please　sign。〃
　　　It　appeared　in　the　small　print　that　the　certificate　was　theirs　if　a　delinquency　occurred　at　the　end　of　any　quarter。　But　I　would　keep　that　from　happening。　I　signed。　Mudur　Zengin　made　out　a　draft　on　the　bank　and　paid　the　current　bill。
　　　〃Now；　remember　that　at　Squeeza；〃　said　the　manager；　taking　the　bank　draft　and　putting　it　with　the　papers　in　a　safe　with　teeth；　〃you　must　hereafter　personally　pay　the　bill　in　person。　It　is　one　of　the　rules　of　our　owner；　Grabbe…Manhattan　Bank　of　New　York。〃
　　　Oho！　A　Rockecenter　pany！　No　wonder　it　was　run　so　efficiently！
　　　〃Only　if　our　customers　e　in　and　fawn　at　the　door　monthly　can　we　guarantee　we　are　doing　a　proper　job　of　world　reform；　teaching　the　lessons　of　slavery　and　thrift；〃　the　manager　said。　〃And　remember　our　motto；　'Buy；　buy！'〃
　　　I　chose　to　take　it　as　a　cue。　I　left　hurriedly。
　　　Thank　Gods；　including　Allah；　I　had　the　credit　panies　off　my　neck！
　　　And　there　were　changes　still　to　e。　Gods　help　those　who　had　been　badgering　me　and　tormenting　me。　Money　is　POWER　and　revenge　is　sweet！　They　would　suffer　far　more　than　they　had　made　me　suffer。　Including　Krak　and　Heller！

PART　THIRTY…EIGHT
Chapter　1

　　　Mudur　Zengin；　back　in　his　office；　was　a　very　persuasive　man。　He　no　more　than　got　his　hat　and　coat　off；　with　me　ensconced　in　his　most　fortable　chair；　than　he　began　to　pace　back　and　forth　on　his　priceless　Persian　rug；　now　and　then　tossing　his　fat　hands　into　the　air　and　gazing　up　toward　Allah　with　his　jowls　shaking。
　　　〃Whatever　is　wrong　now？〃　I　said　at　last　in　some　alarm。
　　　He　stopped。　〃The　crime　rate！　Have　you　seen　that　it　has　trebled　in　the　last　three　months　pounded　quarterly？　The　very　thought　of　you；　the　son　of　my　oldest　friend；　lying　prostrate　beside　the　road　with　your　skull　caved　in　by　robbers。。。〃　And　once　more　he　began　pacing　and　throwing　his　hands　up　into　the　air。
　　　I　readjusted　the　FIE　shotgun　across　my　knees。　〃I'm　well　armed。〃
　　　〃O　Allah；〃　he　said；　looking　up；　〃listen　to　the　folly　and　recklessness　of　youth；　youth　that　does　not　realize　there　are　evil　men　all　about；　sneaking　up；　with　intentions　and　designs　that　no　mere　bullet　can　stop。〃
　　　He　halted。　He　held　his　chin　in　hand。　〃Bank　guards。　If　I　gave　him　all　my　bank　guards。。。　No。　That　would　not　solve　it。〃
　　　〃Maybe　you　better　tell　me　about　your　problem；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Cash；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　about　to　ask　for　cash。　N