lrh.fortuneoffear-第20部分

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　　　Atlantic　City　thought　it　would　bee　very　prosperous　when；　way　back　in　1976　Earth　time；　New　Jersey　got　the　right　to　have　gambling　casinos。　And；　although　some　new　hotels　were　built　in　this　decrepit　old　carnival　town；　its　great　expectations　did　not　quite　match　up　to　the　public　relations　ballyhoo。　A　drug　runner　had　told　me　all　about　it　when　I　was　on　Earth　before。　The　Mafia　mob　had　gradually　taken　over　the　key　casinos　and；　due　to　their　objections　to　winners；　hopes　of　rivalling　Las　Vegas　had　grown　dim。
　　　They　must　be　pretty　desperate　to　be　running　an　extravaganza　in　the　middle　of　a　New　Jersey　winter。　Those　icy　winds　off　the　Atlantic　Ocean　practically　blew　people　off　the　Boardwalk。　There's　nothing　sadder…looking　than　a　carnival　town　off　season。
　　　Heller　and　Krak　were　no　sooner　out　of　the　bus　than　Krak　spotted　the　name　〃Mamie　Boomp。〃　It　was　in　very　small　letters　at　the　bottom　of　the　biggest　marquee　on　the　biggest　building　which　held　the　biggest　casino。
　　　They　fought　the　wind　and　got　inside。　They　checked　their　hats　and　coats　in　a　cloakroom　and　walked　up　to　a　mezzanine　that　overlooked　the　casino　floor。　There　were　some　tables　and　chairs　along　the　rail。　Heller　chose　one　and　was　about　to　seat　the　Countess　when　she　said；　〃No；　no。　You　go　on　and　do　whatever　you　are　going　to　do。　I'm　going　to　try　for　backstage　and　see　if　I　can　find　Mamie。〃
　　　Heller　sat　down　and　looked　at　the　crowd　below。
　　　I　was　quite　surprised。　There　were　quite　a　lot　of　people　in　the　place；　especially　for　early　afternoon。
　　　It　was　a　pretty　vast　casino。　Just　below　him　were　three　roulette　tables。　They　were　running　and；　while　not　jammed；　were　not　deserted　either。
　　　Heller　turned　and　looked　at　the　mezzanine　around　him。　To　his　right　and　left　were　big　square　pillars；　making　the　place　he　sat　a　sort　of　alcove　at　the　rail。　Behind　him　was　a　very　wide；　carpeted　space。　To　his　right；　a　corridor　went　from　it　deeper　into　the　hotel。　Directly　behind　him；　another　corridor　stretched　away；　seemingly　to　bedrooms。
　　　He　had　been　carrying　a　case。　He　put　it　on　the　table　and　opened　it。　The　first　thing　he　took　out　seemed　to　be　an　adding　machine。　At　least；　it　looked　like　one。　He　took　off　the　bottom　and　there　inside　it　lay　his　very　ornate；　silver…chased　and　engraved　Llama。45　automatic！　I　blinked。　Then　I　realized　that；　encased　in　the　bottom　of　what　was　apparently　an　adding　machine；　the　gun　had　not　registered　as　a　gun　on　the　detectors　at　the　New　York　heliport。　He　checked　it　and　then　put　it　in　what　appeared　to　be　a　back　belt　holster。　He　removed　several　clips　from　the　adding　machine　and　put　them　in　his　pocket。
　　　That　done；　he　pulled　a　package　of　black　plastic　garbage　bags　from　his　grip　and　put　it　on　the　table。　Again　I　blinked。　Did　he　think　he　was　going　to　win　so　much　money　that　he　needed　that　many　huge　sacks　that　size　to　carry　it？　If　he　did；　he'd　have　the　whole　Atlantic　City　Mafia　to　fight　off　en　masse！
　　　He　set　out　a　pad　one　could　write　on　that　made　multiple　copies。　It　had　clamps　on　the　bottom　and　he　fixed　it　on　his　knee。
　　　He　opened　then　another　case。　A　sign：　Nikon。　Where　had　I　seen　that　before？　Ah；　Lynchburg。　He　had　bought　two　scrap　cameras　and　transferred　the　labels　and　this　was　one　of　them。
　　　THE　TIME…SIGHT！
　　　He　was　unstrapping　it　and　checking　its　battery。　With　its　Nikon　label；　the　Voltarian　time…sight　looked　for　all　the　world　like　an　ancient　8mm　motion…picture　camera。
　　　He　turned　to　the　rail；　pointed　it　down　at　the　first　roulette　wheel　below　and　got　to　work。
　　　There　was　a　huge　clock　on　the　far　wall　of　the　casino；　very　futuristic；　but　it　had　a　second　hand。　Heller　would　look　into　the　eyepiece　of　the　time…sight　and　then　twiddle　a　knob；　then　glance　at　the　clock　and　write　something　on　the　kneepad。
　　　It　required　a　trained　eye　to　read　that　image　in　the　time…sight　and　it　took　me　several　minutes　before　I　could　make　out　more　than　flashing　dots。　Then　I　could　see　numbers。
　　　Heller　was　reading　the　winning　numbers　of　that　wheel　for　the　rest　of　the　afternoon　and　evening！　And　he　was　recording　them　to　the　exact　second　on　the　pad！
　　　He　couldn't　lose！
　　　Oh；　the　Atlantic　City　Mafia　would　kill　him　if　he　won　the　quantities　he　inevitably　would！
　　　Heller　started　on　the　second　table's　wheel。　He　was　advancing　the　time…sight　knob　a　minute　or　two　at　a　time。　He　was　writing　without　looking　at　the　pad　and　he　was　doing　it　so　fast　I　was　missing　most　of　the　numbers。
　　　Heller　had　finished　the　second　wheel　and　was　working　on　the　third　when　voices　sounded　behind　him。
　　　He　did　not　look　around。　He　was　almost　finished。
　　　I　recognized　Mamie　Boomp's　hoarse　tones　and　very　American　accent。　〃The　mayor？　Oh；　I　had　the　date　all　right；　dear。　But　his　wife　was　raising　so　much　hell　with　him；　he　couldn't　do　a　thing。　That's　why　you　find　me　singing　here　in　this　dump。　And　if　they　don't　e　across　with　our　pay　tonight；　there　won't　be　any　floor　show。　Bunch　of　hoods。〃
　　　Heller　had　pleted。　He　turned　around。　Before　Krak　could　even　introduce　him；　Mamie　said；　〃So　this　is　the　sailor。　Oh；　man；　you　can　pick　'em；　Joy。〃　To　Heller　she　said；　〃How's　the　fleet？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃I　hope　okay。〃　He　courteously　seated　the　girls　at　the　table。
　　　Mamie　said；　〃So　Bonbucks　Teller　worked　out。　Well；　I'm　really　glad。　I　can't　afford　them　myself。　Maybe　I　ought　to　find　me　a　sailor　and　settle　down。　Do　they　pay　you　well；　these　days；　young　feller？〃
　　　〃I　haven't　seen　any　Fleet　pay　for　quite　a　while；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Hey；　that's　no　good；〃　said　Mamie。　〃That's　two　of　us。　If　these　hoods　don't　cough　up。。。　Oh；　oh。　We've　got　pany。〃
　　　Two　very　tough…looking　men　had　e　up　to　the　table。　One　said；　〃What　you　doin'　with　that　camera；　sonny？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃It　has　no　film　in　it。〃
　　　The　second　tough　mug　said；　〃Can　we　see　it？〃
　　　Heller　opened　it　in　front　of　them。　〃See？　No　film。〃
　　　The　mug　said；　〃Well；　put　it　away；　kid。　We　don't　allow　no　pictures　in　here。　What's　this？　An　adding　machine？〃
　　　〃I　got　a　system；〃　said　Heller。　〃The　numbers　e　in　on　the　celestial　spheres　and　I　add　them　up。〃
　　　The　first　tough　mug　let　out　a　barking　laugh　and　looked　at　the　other　one　as　though　to　say；　here's　another　one。　The　second　one　said；　〃Well；　figure　out　anything　you　like；　kid。　But　put　the　machinery　away。　Have　fun。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　will；〃　said　Heller。
　　　They　walked　off。
　　　〃Well；　kids；　I　got　to　go　on　shortly。　We　only　do　two　shows　this　afternoon　and　if　we　don't　get　paid；　there　won't　be　any　tonight。　Sailor；　would　you　like　to　buy　us　some　dinner　around　six？〃
　　　〃I'd　be　charmed　to；〃　said　the　perfectly　mannered　Royal　officer；　getting　up　as　she　rose。
　　　〃I'll　be　on　that　stage　way　over　there　to　the　end　of　the　hall；〃　said　Mamie。　〃So　listen　good。〃
　　　She　was　gone　and　Heller　sat　back　down。
　　　〃She's　nice；〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃You're　nicer；〃　said　Heller。　〃Now；　pay　attention；　dizzy　dame。　Here　is　your　list。　The　times　are　by　that　big　clock　up　there　on　the　wall…the　one　with　the　gold　cupids。　Here　is　1；000。　Go　down　to　that　window　and　buy　1；000　worth　of　chips。　Go　to　a　table　and　put　down　your　bet。　Bet　on　whole　numbers　only。　Never　bet　more　than　285　at　a　time。〃
　　　〃Why？〃
　　　〃The　win　on　a　whole　number　is　thirty…five　to　one。　Your　winnings　must　not　exceed　more　than　10；000　at　a　time。　IRS　takes　note　of　who　wins　more　than　10；000　and　they　record　it；　but　up　to　that　they　don't。　So　every　time　you　win；　cash　in　your　chips。　Then　go　back　to　a　different　table　and　bet　on　a　whole　number。〃
　　　〃It　is　chicanery；〃　said　the　Countess。　〃What　is　this　list？〃
　　　〃The　winning　numbers　with　their　times　for　each　of　those　three　roulette　wheels。　For　some　reason；　all　play　stops　at　10：21　P。　M。　tonight　on　all　wheels。　But　until　then；　those　are　the　numbers　that　win。　Now；　here　is　a　plastic　bag。　If　your　purse　overflows；　start　using　the　bag。　Ready？〃
　　　〃And　if　we　win　enough　money；　we'll　be　that　much　closer　to　going　home？〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃Right。〃
　　　〃Let's　go；〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　She　went　directly　to　buy　her　chips　but　Heller…　stuffing　the　rest　of　the　garbage　bags　under　his　belt　out　of　sight…checked　his　case　at　the　cloakroom；　bought　some　chips　and　then　went　to　another　table　than　the　one　the　Countess　was　standing　by。
　　　She　watched　a　couple　of　spins　to　see　what　the　game　was　all　about。　She　looked　at　her　list　for　that　table　number；　verified　that　it　really　had　just　e　up　with　the　numbers　on　her　list；　glanced　at　the　time　and　then　put　285　worth　of　chips　on　the　next　list　number；　0。
　　　〃Round　and　round　the　little　ball　goes；〃　said　the　man　at　the　wheel。　〃Where　she　stops；　nobody　knows。　All　bets　down。〃
　　　The　metallic　sizzling　of　the　ball　slowed。　It　went　into　number　5；　then　with　a　clink；　dropped　into　0。
　　　The　croupier　raked　in　all　other　bets　than　0；　tabbed　it　and　shoved　a　stack　of　chips　at　the　Countess。
　　　She　promptly　picked　them　up；　went　over　to　the　window　and　cashed　them　in。　She　dropped　9；975　into　the　sack。　She　was　going　to　bypass　her　purse　from　the　start。
　　　Heller；　at　another　table；　had　placed　a　bet　on　13　and　13　came　up。　He　took　his　chips　and　went　over　and　cashed　them　in　and　dropped　the　money　in　his　sack。　He；　too；　was　going　to　bypass　inadequate　things　like　pockets。
　　　The　Countess　looked　at　the　clock；　went　to　a　different　table；　looked　at　her　list　and　bet　on　5。　It　came　up。　She　took　her　chips　to　the　window　and　cashed　them　in。　She　dropped　her　second　9；975　into　her　sack。
　　　Back　and　forth　they　went；　always　a　different　table　from　the　one　they　had　just　played。
　　　I　was　certain　somebody　would　catch　on。　The　crowd　was　fairly　thick　and　it　was　not　too　badly　dressed。　But　Heller　in　his　gray　lounge　suit；　blue　silk　shirt　and　blue　polka…dot　ascot　really　stood　out。　He　was　taller　and　blonder　than　any　of　the　men　around。
　　　The　tunic　the　Countess　had　been　wearing　under　the　chinchilla　was　bright　metallic　blue　to　match　the　wide…bottomed　pants；　and　even　though　it　seemed　very　un…frilled；　she　stood　out　like　a　spotlighted　model　amongst　the　furs　and　dowdy　dresses　of　the　rest。
　　　How　long　could　they　keep　this　up　without　the　house　getting　wise？
　　　After　about　an　hour；　two　men　were　suddenly　confronting　Heller。　One　of　them　looked　him　up　and　down。　〃How　old　are　you；　kid？〃
　　　〃Old　enough；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Kids　under　eighteen　aren't　allowed　in　he