lrh.fortuneoffear-第20节

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　　　〃Whips；〃　I　said。　〃And　fists　when　called　for。　You　relieve　each　other　and　one　is　always　on　duty　outside　my　door。　You　go　armed　at　all　times　and　if　anybody　tries　to　get　in　that　I　don't　want　to　see；　you　shoot　him。〃
　　　The　way　they　hated　Heller；　he　would　sure　never　get　in！
　　　〃You　feed　us？〃　said　Musef。
　　　〃All　you　want　to　eat；〃　I　said。　After　all；　that　was　a　base　expense　and　not　out　of　my　pocket。　〃I　will　even　pay　you　something　from　time　to　time。〃
　　　〃Allah　be　praised！〃　they　both　said　in　chorus。
　　　〃One　more　thing；〃　I　said。　〃If　anything　happens　to　me　or　my　money；　my　friend；　the　most　powerful　banker　in　Turkey；　has　orders　to　spare　no　expense　to　run　you　down　and　have　you　shot。〃
　　　〃Allah　forbid！〃　they　both　chorused。
　　　〃So　long　as　the　villa　staff　pleases　me　and　so　long　as　both　me　and　my　money　are　safe；〃　I　said；　〃you　have　a　cushy　job。〃　I　threw　the　handful　of　lira　down　on　the　floor。　〃Get　yourselves　some　clothes　and　report　for　work　at　my　villa；　forthwith。〃
　　　Oh；　did　they　dive　for　that　lira！　And　once　they　had　it；　they　stayed　on　their　knees　and　bowed。
　　　I　made　a　benign　sign　over　their　heads　and　left。
　　　Oh；　but　there　were　going　to　be　some　changes　made！
　　　〃Drive　on；　drive　on！〃　I　told　the　driver　and　we　went　rocketing　through　the　town；　down　the　road　past　the　Afyonkarahisar　spire；　toward　the　mountains　and　to　the　villa。
　　　We　pulled　into　the　yard。　The　gatekeeper　wasn't　even　there。　Ha；　little　did　they　know　what　was　about　to　hit　them。　But　my　target　was　not　staff。
　　　The　BMW　was　present　so　I　knew　Utanc　would　be　home。　I　pounded　on　her　door。　〃It's　me！〃　I　yelled。　〃I　have　news　for　you。〃　I　knew　that　would　make　her　open　up。
　　　It　did。
　　　The　two　little　boys　were　sitting　on　the　floor　doing　a　coloring　book。　I　said；　〃I　have　just　had　a　conference　with　my　banker。　He　advises　me　that　if　credit　cards　continue　to　be　used；　my　financial　picture　will　be　ruined。　So　if　you　place　just　one　more　order　on　credit　cards；　even　for　a　pack　of　cigarettes；〃　I　gestured　with　the　shotgun　at　the　two　little　boys；　〃I　will　shoot　them。〃
　　　She　stared　at　me。　She　saw　the　conquering　resolution　in　my　glare。　She　said；　〃You　would；　too；　you　（bleepard）。〃
　　　〃You　can　bet　I　would；〃　I　said。　〃If　you　want　money　you　can　e　to　me　for　it　and　you　can　e　crawling　on　your　knees。　You　understand　that？〃
　　　She　slammed　the　door。　But　I　knew　she　understood　it。　She'd　e　around　and　she'd　be　crawling　on　her　knees　for　it；　too。
　　　That　was　handled。
　　　I　paid　Ahmed　two　hundred　hundred…lira　notes　for　his　day's　work。　Twenty　thousand　lira　was　more　money　then　he　had　seen　in　a　month。　He　saluted　with　the　two　fistfuls　of　money；　very　surprised　and　pleased。　But　actually；　he　was　the　only　friend　I　had　on　this　planet　who　had　been　true…blue　all　along。　I　mustn't　stint　where　he　was　concerned；　even　if　this　bale　was　getting　lighter。
　　　I　had　one　more　stop　today。　I　put　my　money　securely　in　a　safe…I　barely　could　get　it　in…and；　putting　on　my　control　star　and　picking　up　the　final　sack；　I　went　down　the　tunnel。
　　　Gods；　but　were　the　Antimancos　surprised　to　see　me！　When　I　walked　into　their　crew　quarters；　they　all　jumped　up。
　　　〃When　we　got　back；〃　said　Stabb　with　frowning　brow；　shoving　his　pointed　head　at　me；　〃we　found　the　hangar　crew　had　made　that　platform　hollow　and　the　Blixo　crew　put　something　in　it！　I　knew　it　wasn't　the　right　weight。〃
　　　〃And　what　did　they　tell　you　they　put　in　it？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃They　didn't　know；〃　said　Captain　Stabb；　〃but　you　do。〃
　　　〃pressed　Scotch；〃　I　said。　〃They　filled　it　full　of　pressed　Scotch。　I　was　going　to　use　it　for　bribes。　But　I　have　bad　news。〃
　　　〃I　bet　you　do；〃　said　Stabb。　〃We　been　betting　that　you　did　the　job　and　grabbed　the　loot　for　yourself。〃
　　　〃Actually；〃　I　said；　〃the　gold　vaults　are　two　miles　deep　in　the　earth；　way　beyond　the　range　of　the　line…jumper。　I　almost　got　caught。　I　had　to　use　a　blastick　and　a　police　slash　gun　and　I　fired　both　barrels　of　my　shotgun。　You　can　see　how　dirty　it　is。　But　I　fought　my　way　clear　and　got　back。〃
　　　〃Hey；　that　took　a　lot　of　cold　nerve；〃　said　an　engineer。
　　　〃It　certainly　did；〃　I　said。　〃And　before　you　falsely　accuse　me　of　welshing　on　my　own　gang；　look　at　this。　Once　I　found　the　gold　vaults　were　beyond　us；　I　grabbed　what　I　could　and　ran。〃
　　　I　handed　them　the　heavy　sack　of　junk　stones。
　　　They　spilled　some　of　it　on　the　table　and　stared　at　it。　And　I　will　say　this；　it　sure　glittered　in　the　glowlights。
　　　〃Look　at　this！〃　said　a　pilot；　holding　up　a　big　paste　emerald。
　　　〃Look　at　these！〃　said　an　engineer；　pouring　a　handful　of　synthetic　diamonds　and　flawed　glass　rubies　from　palm　to　palm。
　　　〃They're　all　yours；〃　I　said；　grandly。　〃Divide　them　up　amongst　you　any　way　you　wish。　In　appreciation　of　your　loyal　support　and　to　pensate　for　no　gold；　you　can　keep　every　one。〃
　　　With　moist　eyes；　Captain　Stabb　said；　〃You're　a　great　man；　Gris；　even　if　you　are　an　officer！〃
　　　There　was　no　higher　tribute　from　these　pirate　scum。
　　　I　went　back　to　my　room　and　grinned　and　grinned。
　　　〃Gris；〃　I　said　to　my　image　in　the　mirror　as　I　undressed　to　take　a　well…earned　sleep；　〃there　is　nothing　that　can　stop　you　now。　All　problems　are　just　buzzing　flies　and　with　cunning　and　money；　you　can　swat　them。　Even　Heller　and　Krak。〃
　　　I　lay　down　for　my　well…earned　rest　and　dreamed　dreams　that　were　bloody　and　very　sweet。

Chapter　4

　　　I　slept　until　all　hours；　making　up　for　the　high　excitement　of　recent　days。　I　dressed　in　a　new；　red　sports　suit。　Musef　was　on　duty。　Karagoz　had　a　black　eye　and　even　though　it　was　midafternoon；　I　got　a　breakfast　in　which　the　coffee　was　hot；　the　melon　cold　and　the　eggs　were　quite　all　right。
　　　A　marked　change　had　occurred　all　around　me。　It　was　wonderful。
　　　Lacking；　now；　immediate　plans；　I　thought　I　had　better　gather　data。　It's　a　good　excuse　one　can　give　oneself　when　he　feels　too　smug　and　self…satisfied　to　do　any　real　work　for　the　moment。　Also；　one　likes　to　savor　the　suffering　of　those　who　are　about　to　writhe　in　agony。
　　　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　had　both　viewers　together。　But　working　two　screens；　I　could　get　a　much　more　precise　idea　of　reactions　and　actions；　for　Krak　would　be　looking　at　Heller　from　time　to　time　and　vice　versa。
　　　I　got　Krak's　going　first。　I　didn't　need　the　second　viewer　to　see　what　she　looked　like　today。　She　was　washing　a　window！　Her　reflection　in　the　glass　was　quite　clear　against　the　dingy　morning　of　a　smoggy　New　York　day。　She　had　on　space　coveralls　and　her　hair　was　tucked　under　one　of　Heller's　baseball　caps！
　　　Something　was　moving　to　her　right　in　the　reflection。　The　cat。　It　was　sitting　on　the　desk　washing　its　face。
　　　Well；　if　getting　busy　to　go　home　to　Voltar　meant　washing　office　windows；　I　certainly　was　safe。　If　I　could　just　keep　them　slowed　down　long　enough；　keep　them　from　doing　anything　effective；　word　would　e　one　of　these　days　that　the　Heller　reports　made　no　difference　now　and　they　could　both　be　safely　killed。　So　wash　away；　Krak。　You're　doing　just　fine。
　　　There　was　something　else　behind　her；　somebody　standing　there　motionlessly　and　staring　at　her　back。
　　　It　was　Izzy！
　　　Krak；　too；　became　aware　of　it。　She　gave　the　window　one　last　wipe　and　turned　around。　Izzy　backed　up。　He　sank　down　on　the　edge　of　a　couch　and　started　crying！
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Why；　Izzy。　What　on　Earth　is　wrong？〃
　　　Izzy　sobbed　a　while。　Then　he　said　in　a　muffled　voice；　〃You're　too　beautiful　to　have　to　live　in　an　office。〃
　　　Beautiful？　In　space　coveralls　too　big　and　a　baseball　cap　too　big？　What　was　Izzy　up　to　now？　Some　con；　I　wagered。　I　waited　with　interest　to　see　what　it　was。
　　　Krak　said；　〃But　this　is　a　beautiful　office；　Izzy。〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　he　said；　〃not　beautiful　enough　for　you。　You　deserve　a　gorgeous　apartment。〃
　　　She　seemed　to　think　about　it。　Then　she　said；　〃Well；　I　have　a　credit　card。　Maybe　I　could　rent　one　with　that。〃
　　　My　hair　went　straight　up！
　　　Then　Izzy　said　something　that　really　warmed　my　heart。　I　really　realized　what　a　sterling　true…blue　character　he　was　after　all。　〃No；　no；　no！　I　am　responsible　for　Mr。　Jet。　If　any　apartments　are　to　be　gotten；　I　will　get　them。　Please　promise　me　you　won't　do　that。　You　wouldn't　find　anything　beautiful　enough　for　you。〃
　　　I　couldn't　quite　figure　it　out。　Was　he　angling　for　a　mission　or　what？
　　　On　Heller's　viewer；　I　had　just　been　seeing　elevators　and　halls。　But　here　was　a　view　of　the　office。　He　had　just　walked　in。　He　took　a　look　at　Izzy。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　　　Izzy　was　crying　again　on　both　viewers。　He　was　pointing　helplessly　at　Krak。
　　　Heller　said　to　her；　〃Dear；　would　you　please　step　into　the　'thinking　room'　and　clean　it　up。　Close　the　door　so　I　can　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　before　he　jumps　off　something　again　and　beats　me　to　it。〃
　　　When　Krak　had　closed　the　door；　Heller　said；　〃What's　wrong；　Izzy？〃
　　　Izzy　was　mopping　at　his　eyes　with　the　heel　of　his　palm。　〃The　bartender　thinks　she　must　be　a　movie　star　or　is　about　to　be。　The　model　agency　down　the　hall　has　been　pestering　me　to　get　her　to　run　for　Miss　America　so　they　can　have　a　contract　to　use　her　in　the　Coca…Cola　ads。　Bang…Bang　says　she　is　the　most　beautiful　woman　on　the　planet。　And　because　I　am　a　failure；　I　am　forcing　her　to　live　here　without　any　home　at　all。〃