lrh.fortuneoffear-第15部分

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dollars；　in　banks；　usually　ride　as　figures　in　ledgers；　not　bills　in　a　cash　box。　Had　I　demanded　that　many　actual　bank　notes；　I　would　have　almost　scraped　Zurich　clean　and　I　would　have　needed　a　truck　instead　of　this　small　attache　case　which　was　now　fastened　firmly　to　my　wrist。
　　　There　had　been　two　more　stops　after　the　bank。
　　　The　first　had　been　at　the　Zurich　agency　for　an　Amsterdam　precious…and…semiprecious…stone　firm。　It　was　run　by　the　cousin　of　the　head　of　the　Zorich　Banking　Corporation　Gold　Department。
　　　〃I　want；〃　I　had　said；　〃a　big　sackful　of　junk　stones。〃
　　　He　had　not　minded　at　all　being　dragged　out　of　bed　at　three　in　the　morning　for　a　sale　of　just　junk　stones。　He　even　called　the　janitor　and　asked　him　where　he　kept　the　trash　bins。
　　　For　a　thousand　U。　S。　dollars　I　got　the　prettiest　bag　of　discarded　baubles　you　ever　saw。　It　was　the　first　time　I　learned　that　emeralds　can　be　so　worthless　they　are　sold　by　the　pound；　that　diamonds　can　be　so　synthetic　they　can't　even　be　used　in　costume　jewelry　and　that　paste　rubies　can　be　so　bad　you　can't　even　put　them　in　stage　regalia。　But　they　glittered。
　　　They　were　vital　to　my　plans。
　　　He　poured　them　into　a　fancy　sack　with　a　rival　pany's　name　on　it；　I　paid　him　and　he　went　happily　back　to　bed　and　I　went　to　my　last　stop；　the　airport。
　　　The　charter　jet　people　didn't　the　least　mind　getting　a　pilot　and　co…pilot　up　out　of　bed　and　the　hangar　crew　didn't　the　least　mind　getting　a　hopped…up　Grumman　Gulfstream　on　the　line　for　immediate　launch。
　　　And　here　I　was；　streaking　for　Istanbul　with　the　vital　certificates　chained　to　my　wrist　and　the　bag　of　junk　stones　under　my　feet；　looking　down　at　the　Alps；　where　I　had　not　been　dumped；　so　rosy　in　the　glow　of　dawn。
　　　A　telephone　was　at　my　elbow　in　the　jet。　I　picked　it　up。　I　got　the　taxi　driver　in　Afyon　right　away。　My　Gods；　but　things　were　going　smooth。　Not　even　a　foul…up　in　Turkish　phone　connections。
　　　〃Meet　me　at　the　airport　in　Istanbul；〃　I　said。
　　　〃What　flight？〃　he　said。
　　　〃My　flight；〃　I　said。　〃You　think　I'd　stoop　to　travel　by　mercial　jet？　My　own　flight；　Ahmed。　I　own　the　whole　（bleeped）　world！〃

Chapter　9

　　　It　was　an　eager　and　walking…on…air…type　Gris　who　stepped　out　of　the　jet　at　Yesilkoy　Airport；　Istanbul。
　　　Immigration　stamped　me　into　Turkey　without　noticing　Sultan　Bey　had　not　left。
　　　Customs　took　one　look　at　the　wrist　cuff　and　chain；　ignored　the　guns；　and　sped　me　on　through　into　the　country。　They　knew　me；　anyway。
　　　And　there　amidst　the　colorful　airport　throng　was　Deplor　from　the　planet　Modon；　alias　Ahmed；　the　taxi　driver。
　　　〃Jeez！〃　he　said　in　gangster　English；　〃you　look　like　you　et　fifty　canaries；　boss。〃
　　　〃At　one　gulp；〃　I　said。　〃Lead　on；　lead　on；　for　we　have　lots　to　do。　There　are　going　to　be　some　changes　made！〃
　　　A　lot　of　people　didn't　know　it　yet；　but　this　was　just　the　start　of　fatal　days　for　them。　I　had　plans！
　　　We　battered　our　way　out　of　the　crowded　airport　and　then　battered　our　way　along　the　seventeen　miles　which　led　to　the　city。　The　minarets　which　made　a　masonry　forest　all　along　the　Golden　Horn　had　never　looked　so　good。　Roaring　along；　we　soon　sped　through　the　breach　made　in　the　city　wall　to　acmodate　the　car　traffic　and　began　our　tortuous　course　through　narrow；　noisy　streets。　Ignoring　the　protests　of　how　close　we　came　to　pointed…toed　slippers；　giving　vendors'　carts　the　necessary　bumps　and　sounding　our　horn　continuously　to　clear　the　way；　at　length　we　drew　up　before　our　first　destination：　the　Piastre　Bankasi。
　　　I　trod　like　a　conqueror　across　the　tile　floor。　I　pushed　the　lowly　clerk　aside　who　would　have　inquired　my　business。　I　stalked　into　the　office　of　Mudur　Zengin；　czar　of　the　biggest　bank　chain　in　Turkey。
　　　Fat　and　immaculate　and　manicured；　dressed　in　a　pinstripe　Western　suit　of　charcoal　gray；　he　looked　up　from　his　mother…of…pearl　inlaid　desk　to　see　who　it　was　tracking　up　his　priceless　Persian　carpet。
　　　He　wasn't　used　to　having　people　with　crossed　bandoliers　and　a　shotgun　ing　in　for　business　conferences。　Maybe　it　was　that　he　was　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