lrh.fortuneoffear-第55部分

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e　anything　to　do　with　always　get　wrecked；　Officer　Gris？〃
　　　I　kept　my　voice　down。　The　man　at　the　counter　had　his　eye　on　me。　〃Did　you　or　did　you　not　deliver　the　message？〃
　　　〃I　didn't　want　to　leave　it　with　the　cleaners；〃　he　said　nervously。　〃They　didn't　seem　reliable。　You　learn　not　to　trust　people　in　our　line　of　business。　And　with　a　threat　of　buckets　of　blood。。。〃
　　　〃Gallons；〃　I　corrected　him　sharply。
　　　〃。。。　I　wouldn't　hand　it　over　to　the　glass　pany。　So　I　waited　for　her　to　get　up。　And　she　did　about　half　an　hour　later。〃
　　　〃Wait　a　minute。　That　was　over　four　and　a　half　hours　ago！　What　in　the　name　of　Hells　detained　you？〃
　　　〃Gently；　gently；〃　he　said　anxiously。　He　leaned　forward。　〃Those　two　little　girls　over　there　and　the　proprietor　are　watching。　You're　talking　Voltarian。〃
　　　〃Raht；　I　have　a　gun　in　my　pocket。　It　is　pointed　straight　at　your　stomach　under　this　table；　Raht。　If　you　don't　tell　me　what　happened；　Raht；　I　am　going　to　pull　the　trigger；　Raht。〃
　　　That　got　to　him。　〃I　bet　you　would；〃　he　said。　〃And　cops　would　instantly　be　all　over　the　place。〃　He　gave　me　a　glaring　look。　But　he　got　down　to　business。　〃So　she　got　up。　She　was　wearing　a　housecoat　that　was　pretty　wrinkled　and　she　didn't　seem　to　be　bothering　to　keep　it　closed。　She　sure　is　built。　Breasts　nice　and　firm。　Brown　pubic　hair。　Nice　legs。。。〃
　　　I　made　a　threatening　gesture　with　my　hand　in　my　pocket。
　　　He　got　on　very　hurriedly。　〃She　looked　at　the　cleaning…service　people　and　said；　'It　must　be　Saturday。'　Then　she　looked　at　the　glaziers　that　were　fixing　the　window　and　said；　'That's　nice　of　the　owner。　It's　been　drafty。。。。'〃
　　　〃The　letter；　Raht；〃　I　snarled。
　　　〃。。。　and　then　she　saw　me　standing　there　and　she　said；　'Oh；　an　early　morning　caller。　How　nice。'　And　I　said；　'No；　ma'am。　I　am　acting　as　a　courier；　even　though　that　isn't　my　proper　job　designation。　But　I've　been　improperly　sent　so　here　I　am。'　I　gave　her　the　glasses。　She　put　them　down　on　a　walnut　sideboard　about　three　inches　from　the　edge。　I　gave　her　the　letter。　She　opened　it　with　a　hairpin。　She　read　it。〃
　　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　I　said。　〃She　can't　see　anything　at　all　without　her　glasses。　You　may　have　given　it　to　the　wrong　woman。　Describe　her。〃
　　　He　did。　Brown　hair；　hazel　eyes；　wart　on　the　back　of　her　left　hand。　It　was　Miss　Simmons。　〃And　then？〃　I　said。
　　　〃And　then　all　Hells　broke　loose；〃　said　Raht。　〃And　that's　why　I've　been　delaying　telling　you　because　you're　liable　to　get　excited　and　shoot　somebody。　Promise　me　you　won't　shoot。　You　might　hit　those　two　little　girls　over　there。〃
　　　Excitedly；　I　said；　〃Go　on！　Go　on！　I　won't　shoot　you！　This　is　good　news；　you　idiot！〃
　　　〃Well；　she　read　the　letter　and　she　stood　there；　going　white　and　red。　And　then　she　read　it　again。　And　she　kind　of　began　to　yelp。　Officer　Gris；　why　would　you　write　a　letter　that　would　upset　the　poor　woman　so？　I　don't　like　acting　as　a　courier。　And　especially　NOT　of　your　letters！　I　thought　she　was　going　to　have　a　stroke。　Why　would　you　want　to　upset　her　so？　She　seems　a　nice　girl。　But　upset　people　seem　to　be　good　news　to　you。〃
　　　I　was　glowing　with　eagerness。　〃Go　on！　Go　on！　Exactly　what　did　she　do　or　say？〃
　　　〃She　screamed；　'I　knew　it！　I　knew　it！　The　moment　I　woke　up；　I　knew　it　but　I　wouldn't　admit　it　to　myself！'　And　she　rushed　into　the　bedroom　and　I　heard　her　getting　dressed　and　she　came　back　into　the　living　room。　I　hoped　she　would　write　something　really　nasty　back　so　I　said；　'Is　there　any　answer？'　And　she　said；　'Wait　right　there　until　I　return　and　I'll　give　you　one。　This　is　a　matter　for　the　police！'　And　she　went　tearing　out　of　the　apartment。〃
　　　I　was　ecstatic。　She　knew　what　Krak　looked　like。　She　could　put　it　together　on　an　identokit。　Better；　Grafferty；　the　three　policemen　and　Kutzbrain　could　identify　the　woman。　They　even　had　her　fingerprints　on　their　guns。　They　knew　it　connected　to　Wister　and　when　they　questioned　him　they　would　probably　run　right　into　the　Countess　Krak。　Perfect！
　　　Raht　was　still　talking。　〃Finally；　I　tailed　her　but　lost　her　in　a　downtown　express；　so　I　came　back　to　Bogg　Street。　I　found　a　place　where　I　could　keep　the　apartment　under　surveillance　without　being　noticed　and　I　waited。　On　the　one　hand；　I　thought　maybe　if　she　came　back　with　the　police；　I　could　give　them　your　address；　but　on　the　other　hand；　if　this　got　rough；　it　could　promise　Voltarian　presence　on　the　planet。　I　decided　I　should　find　out　more。　If　she　came　back　with　police；　I　could　disappear。　But　if　there　were　no　police　with　her；　maybe　I　could　find　out　more　information…which　is；　after　all；　my　proper　job；　no　matter　how　many　times　certain　people　seek　to　drive　me　off　it；　doing　incorrect　functions。〃
　　　〃Get　on　with　it；〃　I　ordered　him。
　　　〃She　was　gone　for　hours　and　when　she　came　back　she　was　alone　so　I　walked　with　her。　She　was　smug　beyond　belief。　She　seemed　all　happy　and　cheerful；　but　smug。　These　Earth　women　are　that　way。　They're　happiest　when　they've　got　something　on　somebody；　and　that's　the　way　she　looked。〃
　　　〃Beautiful；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Yes；　I　would　say　she　did　look　more　beautiful。　But　smug。　We　got　clear　up　to　her　apartment　and　went　in　and　then　she　did　the　weirdest　thing。　She　kissed　me　on　the　cheek　and　she　said；　'Tell　your　friend；　thank　you；　thank　you；　thank　you！　It　is　totally　true。　His　or　her　letter　has　practically　saved　my　life。'　So　I　got　out　of　there　real　fast。　Women　don't　kiss　you　without　some　covert　reason　and　I　think　she　was　just　trying　to　keep　you　from　taking　flight　until　the　police　could　e。　So　I　remend；　knowing　you；　that　you　sort　of　lie　low。〃
　　　〃No；　no；　you　idiot。　She　wasn't　covering　anything　up。　She　was　being　absolutely　honest。　I　did　save　her　life。〃
　　　I　was　so　enthralled；　I　didn't　even　notice　when　he　left。
　　　I　could　hardly　wait　for　Sunday。　Wow；　was　this　going　to　go　in　the　most　unexpected　direction　Krak　could　ever　imagine！　（Bleep）　her！　Her　and　all　her　fancy；　stupid　tricks！

Chapter　9

　　　It　was　late　morning　of　the　day　that　would　long　live　in　my　memory　as　Simmons'　Sunday。
　　　Crouched　in　the　closet　again；　this　time　with　the　door　plainly　marked　〃Occupied；〃　I　eagerly　watched　events　begin　to　unfold。
　　　Heller；　at　his　office　desk；　had　been　working　on　some　calculations　for　quantities　and　volumes　of　spores。　He　now　stood　up　and　went　to　the　window。　Lower　Manhattan　spread　out　before　his　gaze　under　the　mantle　of　sun…illuminated　smog。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　lying　in　the　middle　of　the　room　on　the　rug　going　over　museum　programs；　the　cat　dragging　them　off　a　pile　for　her。
　　　〃What's　the　matter；　dear？〃　she　said　to　Heller。　〃You　seem　rather　agitated。〃
　　　〃Me？　Agitated？　Well；　yes；　but　that's　a　pretty　strong　word。　Bang…Bang　phoned　about　an　hour　ago　and　said　the　Nature　Appreciation　class　location　had　been　changed　to
　　　Van　Cortlandt　Park　today。　It　was　to　have　been　the　Bronx　Zoo。　I　was　wondering　why。〃
　　　〃That's　that　Miss　Simmons；　isn't　it；　dear？〃
　　　〃I　wish　you'd　forget　about　this　Miss　Simmons　thing。　She　hates　me　like　poison。　My　only　interest　in　her　is　that　she　could　cost　me　my　diploma　and　nobody　will　listen　to　me　when　I　make　my　proposals。〃
　　　〃I　shouldn't　be　counting　on　proposing　to　Miss　Simmons；　dear。〃
　　　〃Please；　can't　we　call　a　truce　on。。。〃
　　　〃Dear；　what　is　the　weather　like？〃
　　　〃A　warm；　spring　day；〃　said　Heller。　〃If　it　weren't　for　the　smog；　it　would　be　beautiful。　In　a　lot　of　ways；　you　know；　this　is　a　very　nice　planet。〃
　　　〃Well；　that's　probably　why　they　changed　the　class　location；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃Who'd　want　to　be　penned　up　in　some　stuffy　zoo？　Are　you　driving；　dear？〃
　　　〃Well；　yes。　That's　a　good　idea；〃　said　Heller。　〃I　put　the　new　carburetor　on　the　Porsche　and　I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　give　it　a　good　spin。〃
　　　〃You　do　that；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃I　have　some　exhibits　I　want　to　see；　so　if　you　don't　mind；　dear；　I'll　just　run　along。〃
　　　She　was　up　like　a　shot。　She　had　her　blue　suede　topcoat；　purse；　shopping　bag　and　hat　right　by　the　door。　She　gathered　them　up　in　one　scoop　and　was　gone。
　　　Heller　glanced　out　of　the　window　again。　Then　he　got　into　a　white　silk　trench　coat；　found　some　papers　and　a　notebook　and　put　them　in　his　pocket。　He　glanced　down　at　his　feet。　He　was　wearing　ankle…high　walking　boots　and　not　his　spikes。　It　gave　me　a　nice　feeling：　if　the　police　were　waiting　for　him　up　there；　he　had　no　cleats　to　battle　with。　He　was　getting　satisfactorily　careless。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　had　plummeted　down　in　an　elevator。　She　came　out　of　the　building　on　34th　Street；　walked　swiftly　up　the　block　and　sped　into　a　new；　multistory；　spiral…roadway　garage。　The　attendant　waved　at　her；　she　got　into　an　elevator　and　shot　upwards。
　　　She　was　fishing　in　her　purse。　She　stepped　out　into　the　ranks　of　cars。　She　spotted　the　blue　Porsche。　She　opened　the　door；　entered；　closed　and　relocked　it　from　within；　and　then；　as　only　a　trained　magician's　assistant　can　do；　curled　herself　up　in　the　big　luggage　partment　behind　the　front　seat　and　dropped　the　luggage　canvas　over　her。
　　　It　made　me　nervous。　I　had　forgotten　to　fill　the　strip　well　in　her　viewer　and　had　no　way　to　check　back　on　what　she　had　packed　in　that　shopping　bag。　I　had　not　counted　on　her　presence　at　the　next　class。　Maybe　Bang…Bang；　（bleep）　him；　had　gotten　her　a　demountable　sniper　rifle。　These　stupid　men　around　her　didn't　seem　to　realize　what　they　were　dealing　with…a　killer！　The　Countess　Krak　would　have　made　top　Mafia　hit　men　look　like　kids　shooting　marbles。　I　knew　her　for　what　she　was…a　dangerous　fiend　with　a　thirst　for　blood　unequalled　by　even　Dracula　of　Earth　fame。
　　　Heller　came　trotting　along　shortly。　He　must　have　noted　that　the　springs　seemed　a　bit　lower；　for　he　gave　the　car　a　cursory　exterior　and　motor　check；　probably　for　bombs。　Then　he　gave　an　〃Oh　well；〃　and　started　the　car　up；　possibly　believing　all　the　monkeying　he　was　doing　with　it　had　changed　its　balance　or　weight。
　　　He　sent　it　spinning　down　the　ramp　and　shot　it　out　onto　the　street。　It　was　Sunday　and　New　York；　doubtlessly　recovering　from　a　Saturday　night　hangover；　had　about　as　much　traffic　on　the　streets　as　a　cemetery。
　　　He　was　shifting　up　and　down　through　the　gears　like　a　rally　driver。　The　purring　Porsche　was　shortly　onto　the　West　Side　Elevated　Highway　and　in　no　time　at　all　was　on　the　Henry　Hudson　Parkway。　The　river　was　blue