lrh.fortuneoffear-第22部分

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　　　Suddenly；　the　young　man　turned　and　came　bounding　up　the　mezzanine　stairs。　He　was　carrying　a　huge；　black　bag。
　　　He　paused　near　the　rail；　looked　down　and　across　the　hall　at　Mamie　and　pointed　to　Heller。　Mamie　nodded。
　　　The　young　man　came　closer。　〃So　you're　the　sailor　with　the　crystal　ball；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　Tom…Tom；　the　drummer　of　the　Dingle…Poop　Rock　Band。　They　won't　let　me　work　the　tables　because　I　can't　count　above　four。　So　I　got　the　job　of　collecting　the　money　and　bringing　it　up　here。　Where　do　I　put　it；　man？〃
　　　Heller　pointed　at　Krak；　sitting　just　inside　the　corridor　at　the　back。　She　took　it。　Tom…Tom　stood　staring　at　her。
　　　〃Well？〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃Nothin〃；　beggin'　your　pardon；　but　I　was　just　surprised；　kind　of。　I　didn'　know　no　Miss　America　was　in　on　this　deal。　Excuse　me。　I'll　be　right　back　with　more　bread。　Lots　more。〃
　　　She　touched　her　collar。　She　said；　〃Jettero；　why　do　so　many　girls　have　the　same　name　here　on　this　planet？〃
　　　The　signal　came　through　to　Heller　thirty　feet　in　front　of　her　at　the　mezzanine　rail。　He　touched　his　collar　and　said；　〃It's　probably　some　family　they　named　the　country　after。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　was　looking　at　some　pictures　of　them　down　in　the　dining　room　foyer　and　two　or　three　look　a　lot　like　some　of　the　girls　in　Atalanta　Province。　Some　of　Prince　Caucalsia's　court　must　have　brought　their　wives。　Is　this　where　he　landed；　Jettero？〃
　　　〃He　apparently　landed　on　a　continent　out　in　that　ocean　and　it　got　drowned　when　the　poles　melted　or　something。　The　survivors　got　to　a　place　called　Caucasus　above　Turkey　and　you　can't　go　there　because　the　Russians　are　holding　them　prisoner　and　won't　let　them　defect。〃
　　　〃Well；　some　of　them　must　have　swum　west　and　landed　here；　then；〃　said　Krak。　〃Thanks　for　clearing　that　up。〃
　　　Heller　had　his　eye　on　a　side　door　of　the　casino。　Some　armed　guards　with　cash　boxes　had　just　entered。　They　carried　their　burdens　to　the　cashiers'　cages。　Money　was　evidently　being　brought　in　from　the　other　casinos。
　　　He　returned　to　watching　the　floor…show　people　circulating　past　Mamie；　to　the　roulette　tables　and　to　the　cages　and　around　again。　Tom…Tom　was　collecting　everything　but　their　retained　ten…percents。　And　here　he　came　again　with　another　huge　sack　of　money。　He　went　straight　to　Krak；　gave　it　to　her；　gazed　at　her　in　awe　and　said　〃Jeez！〃　and　rushed　off　again。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said　into　her　radio；　〃The　people　seem　nice。　I　wonder　why　Prince　Caucalsia's　survivors　couldn't　bring　more　civilization　with　them　when　they　swam　here。〃
　　　〃Actually；〃　said　Heller；　〃it's　a　very　tough　coast　to　land　on。　Stands　your　hair　on　end　to　read　about　it。　Which　reminds　me　that　you're　sitting　on　four　bags　of　money　now　and　there　will　be　more。　My　experience　with　these　inhabitants　tells　me　that　somebody　may　try　to　rip　us　off。　Look　around　and　see　if　there's　anyplace　there　to　hide　the　money。　Just　a　tactical　precaution。〃
　　　It　was　more　than　that。　Heller's　eye　had　singled　out　a　couple　of　tough　mugs；　the　same　ones　who　had　asked　him　for　his　I。D。　The　〃waiter；〃　now　without　his　red　coat；　had　e　up　to　them　and　talked　briefly；　and　the　two　mugs　had　looked　up　at　the　mezzanine　at　Heller。
　　　Another　bustle　occurred　at　the　side　door。　Armed　guards　were　bringing　more　money　to　the　cashiers'　cages。　Since　the　banks　were　closed；　it　must　be　ing　only　from　the　other　casinos。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　went　wandering　down　the　short　corridor；　poking　at　the　walls；　trying　to　open　doors。
　　　Tom…Tom　came　racing　up　with　another　sack　and　she　went　to　the　mezzanine　end　and　took　it。　He　stared　at　her　again　and　once　more　said　〃Jeez；〃　and　rushed　off。
　　　The　Countess　returned　to　her　inspection。　She　found　a　large；　square　panel。　It　swung　to　the　touch。　She　backed　up。　A　small　sign　said　Laundry　Chute。
　　　She　touched　the　section。　It　was　actually　a　flap　door；　hinged　at　the　top。　She　poked　her　head　in。
　　　Straight　down！　At　least　sixty　feet。　It　was　a　vertical　duct；　square；　about　four　feet　wide　and　as　many　deep。　At　the　bottom　was　hard　concrete；　possibly　a　laundry　room。
　　　She　came　back　and　sat　on　the　bags。
　　　Heller　was　watching　more　armed　guards　at　the　door　with　money　boxes。　They　were　refilling　the　cashiers'　cages。
　　　The　floor…show　people　were　getting　more　efficient。　Tom…Tom　came　racing　up　to　the　mezzanine；　gave　the　Countess　a　sack；　said　his　customary　〃Jeez；〃　and　raced　away。
　　　Heller　had　his　eye　on　the　clock。　Gradually；　it　crept　forward。　More　guards；　bringing　in　money；　more　circulation　of　the　floor…show…people　lines。　Round　and　round　the　little　balls　went　on　three　tables；　stopping　exactly　where　predicted。　Up　came　Tom…Tom　time　and　again　with　more　sacks　and　more　exclamations　of　〃Jeez。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak；　as　the　clock　crept　on；　was　sitting　on　a　higher　and　higher　stack　of　bulging　black　bags。
　　　Heller　was　watching　more　mugs　on　the　floor　being　joined　by　more　mugs。
　　　An　explosive　situation　was　obviously　building　up。
　　　At　length；　some　armed　guards　came　in　at　the　side　door　and　talked　to　a　man　in　a　tuxedo。　The　guards　were　empty…handed　and　shaking　their　heads。　Another　group　of　guards　came　in　and　did　the　same　thing　and　left。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　went　over　to　one　of　the　cashiers'　cages　and　spoke　to　the　cashier。　They　took　some　scraps　of　money；　locked　the　cage　and　shifted　the　waiting　line　over　to　the　next　cage　and　bined　the　money　left。
　　　The　little　balls　rolled　with　their　unmistakable　ringing　sort　of　whir。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　closed　another　cashier's　cage；　shunted　the　line。　They　were　consolidating　any　remaining　cash。
　　　It　was　10：18。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　went　rapidly　to　the　three　croupiers。　Each　said　something　to　his　roulette　players。　Each　table　did　just　one　more　spin。　Chips　were　paid　just　one　more　time。　Then　green　covers　were　tossed　over　the　tables　and　the　wheel。
　　　It　was　10：20！
　　　The　last　keno　number　was　called　over　the　P。　A。　Then　another　voice　came　on。
　　　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　the　casino　is　closed！〃

Chapter　8

　　　The　sounds　of　all　games　and　devices　faded　out。　The　crowd；　quiet　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　began　to　talk　and　move　toward　the　remaining　open　cashier's　cage。
　　　The　line　was　very　long。　People　were　standing　there　in　it；　holding　their　chips。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　and　two　additional　cashiers　were　working　hard　to　shovel　in　chips；　hand　out　cash。　The　cage　puter　was　a　stuttering　blur　of　flashing　lights。
　　　One　more　floor…show　player　was　at　the　window。　A　cashier　handed　him　all　the　bills　he　had　left。　Then　he　turned　to　the　man　in　the　tuxedo　and　said　something。　He　turned　back　and　began　to　write　on　a　pad。　He　handed　the　floor…show　player　a　slip　of　paper。
　　　The　P。　A。　suddenly　opened　up：　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　we　regret　we　have　to　announce　that　your　chips　will　be　taken　in；　in　return　for　IOUs。　Please　be　orderly。〃
　　　There　was　a　hubbub。　But　all　three　cashiers　there　began　to　accept　chips　and　issue　IOUs。　Tough　mugs　patrolled　up　and　down　the　customer　line；　looking　grim。
　　　A　man　came　in　from　the　street；　some　gambler　in　a　violet…hued　suit。　He　yelled；　〃The　other　casinos　on　the　Boardwalk　are　shut！　Somebody　has　broke　the　banks！〃　The　guards　rushed　him　out。
　　　The　P。　A。　said；　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　be　calm。　Keep　the　line　moving；　please。〃
　　　Tom…Tom　raced　up　with　his　last　bag　of　money；　handed　it　to　the　Countess　Krak；　said　〃Jeez〃　one　last　time；　and　vanished。
　　　The　line；　impressed　by　the　tough　mugs；　moved　rapidly；　taking　IOUs　for　their　chips。
　　　Heller　was　looking　around　a　pillar　and　down　the　stairs。　Two　tough　mugs　were　standing　there。　He　looked　up　the　long　corridor　that　ran　at　right　angles　to　the　one　the　Countess　Krak　was　sitting　in。　Two　tough　mugs　were　standing　there。　Heller　looked　along　the　mezzanine　itself。　At　the　far　end；　blocking　any　exit；　were　two　more　tough　mugs。　He　had　obviously　waited　too　long。　He　was　boxed！
　　　The　line　below　dwindled　at　the　cashier's　cage。　Aside　from　tough　mugs；　the　casino　was　more　and　more　deserted。　But　the　tough　mugs　were　being　added　to；　probably　from　other；　now…closed　casinos。
　　　There　were　a　lot　of　eyes　on　Heller　on　the　mezzanine。　Several　tough　mugs　moved　toward　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。
　　　〃Dear；〃　said　Heller　as　he　touched　his　collar；　〃did　you　find　a　place　to　hide　the　money？〃
　　　〃Yes；　dear。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　think　you　had　better　start　working　on　it。　I　have　a　hunch　certain　people　are　not　pleased。〃
　　　There　were　just　a　few　left　at　the　cashier's　window。　It　was　pretty　obvious　the　management　wanted　all　the　public　witnesses　safely　out　of　the　building　and　away。
　　　I　hugged　myself。　This　was　going　to　be　juicy。　I　even　began　what　kind　of　a　surprised　message　I　would　have　delivered　to　Heller　and　Krak　in　the　hospital。　And　condolences。　〃Dear　Jettero。　I　was　amazed　to　discover　that　you　were　in　the　Atlantic　City　morgue。。。。〃
　　　My　attention　was　drawn　to　the　Countess　Krak。　She　was　pitching　bag　after　bag　of　money　down　the　laundry　chute！　Oh；　how　obvious。　That　was　the　first　place　they　would　look！　All　the　management　had　to　do　was　go　down　to　the　laundry　room　and　wheel　it　out！
　　　Heller　was　watching　the　final　gambler　getting　his　IOU。　It　was　an　elderly　man　and　he　was　insisting　it　be　stamped。　His　voice　was　very　clear　now　in　that　silent　casino　even　if　it　was　huge　and　he　was　quite　distant。　He　got　his　stamp。　Two　tough　mugs　escorted　him　to　the　door。　Two　more　tough　mugs　closed　and　locked　the　entrance。
　　　The　pair　on　the　mezzanine　began　to　walk　forward　toward　the　place　Heller　was　sitting。
　　　〃Dear；〃　said　Heller　into　his　lapel；　〃keep　your　head　down　and　take　care　of　the　money。　I　think　the　natives　have　ceased　to　be　friendly。〃
　　　〃Yes；　dear；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　She　boosted　the　last　sack　into　the　laundry　chute。
　　　I　thought　she　would　duck　into　a　nearby　room。　But　she　did　something　absolutely　astonishing。　She　reached　up；　took　hold　of　a　molding　and　pushed　her　feet　into　the　laundry　chute！
　　　With　a　sort　of　angling　twist；　she　let　herself　drop！
　　　With　one　foot　out　to　the　right　and　the　other　to　the　left　and　both　of　them　against　the　duct　sides；　she　began　to　drop。　Her　fall　was　being　braked　by　her　feet！
　　　Down　she　went。　Sixty　feet！
　　　The　slither　of　leather　against　the　duct　sides　rose　to　a　screech！
　　　The　duct　sections　sped　upward　past　her　in　a　blur！
　　　She　plummeted　down　o