lrh.fortuneoffear-第26部分

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e　seats　to　tear　me　to　pieces。〃
　　　Heller　threw　his　black　leather　trench　coat　over　his　shoulders；　locked　and　hid　his　grip　and　then　followed　Izzy　out　into　the　dark　passageway。
　　　They　had　to　walk　down　many　flights　of　steps；　as　the　elevators　were　not　running。　They　came　at　last　into　the　back　of　a　vast　auditorium。　It　was　lit　only　with　kerosene　camping　lights。
　　　It　was　jammed　with　people；　thousands　of　them。　Waiters；　cooks；　maids；　croupiers；　doormen；　marina　sailors；　clerks；　janitors；　drivers；　pilots；　carnival　barkers；　topless　dancers　and　every　other　kind　of　riffraff　it　takes　to　run　casino…hotels；　amusement　piers；　clubs；　marinas　and　honky…tonks。　Even　security　guards　were　there　but　they　sure　weren't　on　duty　to　keep　things　orderly。　What　a　tough　collection！　They　weren't　the　Mafia：　they　were　the　employees　of　all　the　enterprises　the　Mafia　had　taken　over　and　now　dumped。
　　　A　low　growl　began　to　rise。　Fingers　began　to　point。　Teeth　began　to　show。　And　they　were　all　directed　at　Heller　as　he　walked　down　the　aisle　toward　the　auditorium　stage。　From　those　expressions；　he　was　about　as　popular　as　a　skunk　with　rabies。　What　an　enjoyable　moment　for　me！
　　　Izzy　cringed　close　to　Heller。　He　whispered；　〃Don't　fire　them　all　at　once。　They'll　riot　and　we'll　have　hospital　bills。　We　have　made　no　arrangements　with　them。〃
　　　Heller　whispered　back；　a　little　savagely；　〃Haven't　you　done　anything？〃
　　　Izzy　whispered；　〃It's　an　almost　impossible　business　situation。　I　did　file　a　name　change　for　the　corporation。　Scalpello　is　too　notorious。　But　that　won't　alter　its　debts。〃
　　　They　were　walking　up　the　steps　to　the　stage。　It　was　totally　empty　except　for　a　set　of　trap　drums。　Izzy　whispered；　〃I　couldn't　get　any　of　my　relatives　to　take　over　any　director　or　officer　posts。　You　own　the　shares；　but　I　can't　let　you　get　involved　any　deeper。　So　I　had　to　do　the　best　I　could。〃
　　　Heller　was　about　to　turn　and　face　the　sullen　audience　but　Izzy　steered　him　further；　pushing　him　off　to　the　side　of　stage　right。　There　was　a　little　room　there；　probably　a　dressing　room　for　performers。　Izzy　stopped　Heller　before　they　could　enter。　Heller　peeked　in。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　sitting　there　with　Mamie　Boomp　and　Tom…Tom。　The　room　was　feebly　lit　by　a　single　burning　candle。
　　　Heller　whispered　to　Izzy；　〃What's　that　drummer　doing　there？　He　helped　with　the　sacks　last　night　but　he　can't　count　above　four。〃
　　　Izzy　whispered；　〃I　know。　That's　why　I　appointed；　him　treasurer　and　secretary。　He　won't　die　of　fright　looking　at　the　horrible　corporation　balance　sheets。〃
　　　I　turned　on　Krak's　viewer。　By　it；　I　could　see　Heller　peering　in；　clothes　looking　ragged　under　his　loose　trench　coat。　My；　his　depressed　expression　was　wonderful　to　see！　It　really　exhilarated　me。　Oh；　how　the　mighty　had　fallen！
　　　Mamie　Boomp　said；　〃Hello；　sailor。　Would　you　mind　loaning　me　that　raggedy　workman's　jacket　you've　got　on　under　your　trench　coat？　It's　freezing。〃
　　　Heller　looked　at　her。　She　was　wearing　a　sequined　blouse　and　a　wide　skirt。　Gentleman　that　he　was；　he　shrugged　off　the　trench　coat　that　lay　loosely　on　his　shoulders；　took　off　the　raggedy　workman's　jacket　and　held　it　for　her　to　put　on。　She　got　into　it　and　buttoned　it　up　to　her　throat。　My；　but　she　looked　weird。　Like　a　plumber　or　something！　Fat　lot　she　really　knew　about　clothes。
　　　Izzy　said；　〃Now；　Mr。　Jet；　as　you　are　the　principal　and　only　stockholder；　we　can　waive　the　formalities　of　a　shareholder　meeting。　Please　sign　these　papers。〃　He　laid　them　on　a　small　side　table。
　　　Heller　bent　over　the　papers　poising　a　pen。　He　read　the　top　lines。　Mamie　Boomp　had　been　appointed　president　and　general　manager！
　　　He　looked　up　wide…eyed。　Krak　was　looking　at　him　very　sternly。　She　made　a　small　signing　motion　with　her　hand。
　　　Heller　signed。
　　　At　once；　Mamie　Boomp；　Tom…Tom　and　the　Countess　Krak　rose　and　started　out　onto　the　stage。
　　　Heller　also　started　to　go　with　them。　Mamie　Boomp；　with　the　flat　of　her　hand；　pushed　him　solidly　backwards；　making　him　sit　down　in　a　chair。　She　said；　〃You　stay　here；　sailor；　and　act　as　marines　if　they　land　on　us。　But　don't　e　out　otherwise　until　I　give　you　your　cue。〃
　　　They　walked　out　on　the　stage　and　Tom…Tom　absent…mindedly　closed　the　dressing…room　door　behind　them。
　　　Heller　turned　to　Izzy；　〃Why　are　we　doing　anything　at　all？　The　Grabbe…Manhattan　Bank　will　padlock　the　doors。〃
　　　Izzy　said；　〃Oh；　the　bank。　Well；　when　I　called　the　Gambling　mission　of　New　Jersey　to　tell　them　their　order　to　Piegare　to　sell　the　corporation　had　been　executed；　they　dropped　the　case　and　extended　the　corporation's　license。〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃I'm　talking　about　the　Grabbe…Manhattan　Bank！〃
　　　〃Well；　so　am　I；〃　said　Izzy。　〃You　see；　I　could　tell　Grabbe…Manhattan　that　the　corporation　would　continue　to　hold　its　gambling　license。　They　thought　they　were　at　risk　because　the　license　was　going　to　be　revoked。〃
　　　〃Is　that　all？〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Not　quite；〃　said　Izzy。　〃As　the　criminal　charges　they　could　have　brought　against　Piegare　no　longer　applied　to　the　corporation…since　it　had　been　sold…I　told　them　that　if　they　didn't　extend　the　loans；　I　would　file　bankruptcy　and　they'd　lose　everything。　That's　why　I　couldn't　get　here　sooner。　They　have　to　have　a　bank　directors'　meeting　on　all　matters　that　involve　a　billion　dollars'　worth　of　loans　or　more；　and　it　took　them　until　10：00　A。　M。　trying　to　locate　Rockecenter。　But　he　and　Bury　are　in　China　arranging　peace　and　new　oil　monopolies　and　they　had　to　go　on　without　him。　I'm　sure　he'll　raise　the　roof　when　he　gets　back　and　finds　out；　but　we　got　an　extension　on　all　corporation　mortgages。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　opened　the　door　and　beckoned。
　　　Izzy　pushed　Heller　forward　and　cowered　back。　〃You　go；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　too　scared　to　face　that　howling　mob！〃
　　　Heller　walked　out　on　the　stage。　Mamie　Boomp　was　standing　very　tall　and　manding。　I　suddenly　understood　her　wearing　a　tattered　workman's　jacket。　Sly　psychology：　it　made　her　one　of　them。　She　had　the　audience　dead　silent。　（Bleep）　her　performer's　control　of　the　house：　not　a　single　jeer　greeted　Heller；　only　silent；　grim　faces。　It　spoiled　the　moment　for　me。　No　tomatoes！
　　　Mamie　Boomp；　in　a　resonant　voice；　shouted；　〃May　I　introduce　to　you　the　principal　stockholder　of　this　corporation：　This　sterling；　this　remarkable　naval　officer；　brought　to　you　at　great　expense；　who　has　e　sailing　up　in　his　shore　boat　just　to　talk　to　you　today。　I　give　you；　now；　the　star　of　stars；　the　friend　of　presidents；　the　one；　the　only；　the　real　JEROME　TERRANCE　WISTER！〃
　　　Tom…Tom；　sitting　at　the　traps；　had　begun　a　drum　roll。　It　was　crescendoing　up。
　　　Mamie；　voice　covered　by　the　roll；　said　in　Heller's　ear；　〃Just　say　'Yes。　I　approve。'　And　bow。　That's　all。　Nothing　else！〃
　　　With　a　mighty　cymbal　crash；　the　drum　roll　ended。
　　　Heller；　probably　shattered　by　the　cymbal　crash　and　stunned　unthinking　by　the　vast　and　silent　crowd；　in　a　loud　voice　said；　〃Yes！　I　approve！〃
　　　He　bowed。
　　　The　hall　exploded！
　　　PANDEMONIUM！
　　　Hats　and　caps　went　sailing　into　the　air。
　　　Yells　burst　from　the　thousands　of　throats！
　　　Then；　like　a　pack　of　hurtling　animals；　they　came　over　the　backs　of　chairs　and　up　and　onto　the　stage　in　a　screaming　mob。
　　　They　seized　Heller。　They　lifted　him　high　on　their　shoulders。　They　walked　him　all　around　the　stage　and　then　down　the　steps　and　all　around　the　convention　hall。
　　　And　all　the　time　they　were　screaming；　〃Hail　the　Chief！〃
　　　Abruptly　the　auditorium　lights　came　on！
　　　What　must　have　been　a　stage　electrician　sprang　up　to　a　balcony　platform　and　got　a　spotlight　going。　He　threw　it　onto　Heller　and　turned　it　blue　and　red　and　yellow　and　white。　Then　he　must　have　heard　a　signal　from　Mamie　for　he　swivelled　it　over　onto　her　on　the　stage。　She　was　holding　her　hands　up　to　mand　attention。　They　lifted　Heller　up　over　the　footlights　and　turned　their　faces　to　Mamie。
　　　In　a　voice　that　would　have　made　a　Greek　orator　roll　in　his　grave　with　envy；　Mamie　roared　out；　〃Now；　ladeeees　and　gentlemen；　you　proud　employees　of　the　newly　named　Lucky　Bonanza　Casino　Corporation！　Get　the　paddles　chunking；　the　yachts　flying！　Get　the　Boardwalk　swept　and　the　dice　and　wheels　rolling　in　the　dough。　Tote　that　barge　and　lift　that　roll！　In　short；　as　your　president　and　general　manager；　I　advise　you　to　get　back　to　work！　What　do　you　say？〃
　　　The　crowd　cheered！　It　rushed　out　of　the　auditorium；　on　its　way。
　　　Heller　looked　around　at　the　deserted　hall。　He　looked　at　Mamie　and　Tom…Tom　and　the　Countess。　He　asked　them；　wonderingly；　〃What　did　I　approve？〃
　　　The　others　had　their　minds　on　different　things。　Nobody　answered。
　　　Heller　asked；　〃How　did　the　lights　e　on？〃
　　　Tom…Tom　stopped　tightening　a　drumhead　and　looked　at　Heller　timidly。　He　said；　〃I　couldn't　go　to　the　utility　pany　offices　myself。　I　know　as　treasurer　I　should　handle　them；　but　I　wouldn't　know　if　I　was　paying　the　right　bank　notes　out；　so　I　sent　the　band　leader。　The　lights；　phone；　water　and　furnaces　should　all　be　on　shortly；　as　he　keeps　good　time。〃
　　　Heller　looked　around。　〃But　they　can't　start　gambling　in　the　casinos　or　even　make　change　in　the　stores。　There　isn't　any　cash。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　at　his　elbow。　〃I　didn't　tell　you；　dear；　as　you　seemed　so　busy。　But　I　put　three　sacks　of　that　money　in　a　ventilator　shaft。　It's　about　a　million　and　a　half；　they　guess。　I　gave　it　to　Mamie　so　she　could　get　your　corporation　going。〃
　　　Mamie　said；　〃And　it　is　really　appreciated；　honey。　It's　enough　to　pay　utilities；　get　money　in　the　cashier's　cages　and　fill　up　the　slot　machines　so　we　can　start　pulling　in　some　dough。〃
　　　Heller　asked　them；　〃What　did　I　approve？〃
　　　But　he　was　being　pushed　out　of　the　auditorium　by　Mamie。　They　got　to　the　lobby。
　　　It　was　jammed　with　newly　arriving　people！　MOBS！　There　were　four　long　lines　at　the　desk　where　clerks　were　swiftly　checking　them　in。
　　　Heller　looked　out　a　side　window。　The　parking　lot　was　jammed　with　newly　arrived　cars。　And　more　were　strung　out　down　the　road；　honking　their　way　forward　inch　by　inch。　He　said　to　Mamie；　〃Why　are　all　those　people　ing　in？〃
　　　She　said；　as　she　pushed　him　up　some　steps；　〃I　guess　it's　to　see　the　scene　of　the　battle。　It's　all　over　national　TV。　Burning　tanks；　exploding　landing　craft；　shot…