lrh.fortuneoffear-第7部分

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d　snarling　frisking　went　on。
　　　The　Countess　and　Mamie　walked　on　through；　bags　all　chalked　with　okay　to　go；　talking　about　fashions；　fashions；　fashions　and　clothes；　clothes；　clothes…babes　in　the　lion's　den　without　a　glimmer　of　finding　out　any　lions　were　around。
　　　Gods！　At　those　moments　I　was　cursing　the　corrupt　inefficiency　of　the　bureaucracy；　let　me　tell　you！　They　not　only　didn't　find　the　locket；　they　didn't　even　search　her。
　　　They　stood　at　last　Admitted　and　Inside　The　Country。　Mamie　Boomp　had　a　baggage　mound　that　almost　pared　to　Krak's。　But　she　was　an　efficient　and　seasoned　traveller。　She　bopped　two　otherwise　busy　porters　over　the　head　with　her　Parisienne　parasol　and　the　baggage　was　promptly　loaded　on　two　separate　handcarts。
　　　〃That's　Bonbucks　Teller's　JFK　branch　right　over　there；　dearie。　The　one　with　the　gold　and　diamond　front。　See　the　sable　flag　flying　in　the　wind？　And　so　I'll　leave　you　now。　I　have　a　date　with　the　mayor　tonight　and　all　he　does　is　talk　about　his　awful　wife　so　I　got　to　get　home　and　rest　up　first。　Here's　my　business　card；　dearie。　Look　me　up　and　don't　let　them　paint　your　head　blue。〃
　　　They　kissed　and　the　Countess　was　on　her　own。
　　　Like　a　regiment　with　nothing　but　ruin　in　mind；　the　Countess　descended　upon　Bonbucks　Teller's。
　　　She　had　the　list。　She　sped；　prebriefed；　from　department　to　department；　pointing　at　a　thousand…dollar　item　here　and　a　ten…thousand…dollar　item　there。
　　　Her　only　pause　was　in　footwear。　They　had　an　elegant　display　of　〃disposable　shoes〃　at　one　hundred　dollars　a　pair；　Not　guaranteed　if　worn　more　than　one　day；　boxed　in　thirty…day　handy　supply　packages。　She　went　conservative　suddenly　and　only　bought　one　box。　Her　splurge　here　was　on　soft　Moroccan　leather　boots；　blue；　red　and　white；　that　went　with　The　Pirate　Look。　She　thought　she　had　better　have　two　of　each　as　they　were　on　sale　at　only　five　hundred　dollars　the　pair。
　　　How　apt；　I　thought。　Pirate　boots　for　a　real　bloodthirsty　pirate　with　a　record　as　long　as　the　Spanish　Main！
　　　The　〃marionette　shoes〃　that　gave　one　The　True　Puppet　Look　were　just　flap…flaps　of　colored　plastic　that　looked　like　they　were　riveted　to　the　sides　of　the　legs　and　toes。　She　didn't　favor　them　and　I　pletely　understood　why：　she　was　not　a　true…blue　marionette：　others　danced　to　the　Countess　Krak's　puppet　strings；　she　didn't　dance　to　their　tunes　worth　a　（bleep）！　She　only　bought　twenty　pairs。
　　　Clerks　were　following　her　about　like　jackals　hanging　around　a　lioness　to　pick　up　bits　of　the　kill。　They　were　tallying　up　a　list　so　long　it　took　a　second　clerk　to　carry　it。
　　　Oh；　Heller；　you　are　not　just　into　it；　you　are　done。　I　was　a　man　of　experience。　I　knew。
　　　There　was　quite　a　row　in　the　hair　salon。　Not　with　the　Countess　but　between　two　coiffateurs。　One　said　that　it　would　wrench　his　soul　if　he　could　not　shave　her　head　and　paint　it　blue　and　the　other；　fending　off　the　flashing　scissors　with　two　deadly　curling　irons；　said；　〃Touch　not　one　hair　of　that　golden　head　but　wreck　your　country's　flag　instead；〃　and　won！　A　dreadful　battle！　They　made　her　an　emergency　appointment　for　a　half　hour　hence；　to　give　her　a　〃golden　aura　windswept　with　ruby　dust；〃　and　rushed　her　to　the　accounts　office　to　tally　up　the　wounded　and　slain。
　　　The　accounts　manager　was　dressed　in　a　cutaway　morning　coat　with　tails。　But　he　didn't　fool　me。　He　had　digitals　running　at　a　greedy　pace　for　eyes。
　　　Seated　at　a　plush；　upholstered　desk；　the　Countess　Krak；　in　her　dingy　veil　and　hooded；　dirty　robe　with　holes　in　it；　must　have　looked　like　a　poor　risk。　She　had　yet　to　remove　the　healing　cup　above　one　eye　and　this　certainly　must　not　have　added　to　her　appearance　of　being　an　accounts　receivable。
　　　The　yards　of　bills　added　up　to　178；985。65　plus　New　York　sales　tax　of　11　percent。　Oh；　marvelous！　That　locket　would　not　even　cover　a　third　of　it！　Heller；　I　gloated；　you　have　had　it！
　　　〃Address？〃　said　the　accounts　manager。　It　is　too　forward　to　ask　for　names　in　such　a　place。　Such　wealthy　patrons　must　feel　known。
　　　The　Countess　was　looking　over　Mamie　Boomp's　list　to　see　if　she　had　missed　anything　important　like　the　right　color　necklace　to　go　with　the　breakfast；　sea…green　organdy；　casual　house　wrap。　Absently；　she　reached　into　a　pocket　of　her　cloak　and　handed　him　something。
　　　At　first；　I　thought　it　was　the　necklace。　I　couldn't　see　as　she　was　looking　at　the　list；　not　him。
　　　The　accounts　manager　said；　〃Jerome　Terrance　Wister；　Empire　State　Building？　That's　an　office。〃　She　must　have　given　him　the　scrap　on　which　I　had　written　Heller's　address。
　　　〃Yes；〃　said　the　Countess　absently。　〃I　suppose　it　is。　My　man　is　very　important。　He　is　here　to　make　the　planet　run　right　so　I　suppose　he　has　to　have　an　office。　Could
　　　I　add　an　aquamarine　necklace　to　that　list　here？　I　overlooked　it。〃
　　　The　accounts　manager　walked　away。　He　had　gone　into　another　office　to　phone。　They　always　do。　It　would　be　impolite；　even　nasty；　to　discuss　money　in　front　of　a　customer。
　　　I　tried　to　turn　my　sound　up　and　overhear。　All　I　got　was　a　jet　plane　taking　off　over　at　the　airport。
　　　Oh；　Heller；　you　might　have　been　in　trouble　before；　but　you're　really　over　your　head　now！　178；985。65　plus　New　York　tax　and　an　aquamarine　necklace！　You'll　drown！
　　　After　a　bit　the　accounts　manager　came　back。　〃Where　did　you　just　e　from；　Miss？〃
　　　Oho；　I　bet　that　had　been　a　surprise　to　Heller！　He　might　even　be　feeling　amazed。　But　he　sure　would　shortly　be　sick　if　the　accounts　manager　hadn't　yet　given　him　the　total！
　　　The　Countess　Krak　fished　around　in　her　pocket　and　came　up　with　the　messy　ticket　folder；　now　all　ripped　out。　〃Afyon；　Turkey；〃　she　said。　And　she　held　out　the　folder　with　that　on　it。
　　　〃The　identity　verifies；　then；〃　said　the　accounts　manager。　〃I　will　add　the　necklace　to　this　bill。　They　just　called　up　the　price。　So；　with　your　permission；　I　will　total　it。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　still　reverifying　her　list。
　　　The　accounts　manager　wrote　a　final　figure　on　an　invoice。　He　pushed　it　toward　the　Countess　Krak　and　tendered　her　a　pen。　〃If　you　please；〃　he　said；　〃your　signature。〃
　　　〃How　do　I　sign　this？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　taking　the　pen。
　　　〃Why；　just　like　this；　of　course。　Don't　change　it　in　any　way。　It　always　causes　a　terrible　row　when　they　do。〃
　　　He　put　down　the　item　I　had　written　Heller's　Earth　name　and　address　on。　Then　he　turned　it　over。
　　　The　Countess's　eyes　focused　on　Sultan　Bey　and/or　Concubine。　Roman　Villa。　Afyon；　Turkey。
　　　IT　WAS　MY　OWN　SQUEEZA　CREDIT　CARD！
　　　I　reeled。　There　must　be　some　awful　error！　I　yanked　the　pack　out　of　my　pocket　and　shuffled　rapidly　through　them。　The　Squeeza　card　was　GONE！
　　　Oh；　Gods；　in　my　haste　to　find　something　to　write　Heller's　address　on；　I　had　lucklessly　chosen　the　only　credit　card　in　the　deck　that　had　a　totally　blank　back　and　was　not　in　laminated　plastic！　And　it　was　a　credit　pany　whose　monthly　interest　charge；　in　one　month　of　unpaid　balance；　would　equal　the　original　bill！　The　worst　credit　hounder　of　the　mob！
　　　There　was　still　a　chance。　She　might　bungle　the　signing！　They　still　might　detect　she　was　not　Utanc；　not　the　〃concubine；〃　and　sling　her　in　jail　for　forgery。　I　held　my　breath。
　　　But　the　Countess　Krak　was　obeying　orders。　Penmanship　was　a　fitting　part　of　her　criminal　talents。　She　signed　it　just　like　she　had　been　told：　〃Sultan　Bey　and/or　Concubine。　Roman　Villa。　Afyon；　Turkey。〃
　　　With　a　sickening　surge；　I　suddenly　realized　that　she　had　thought　I　had　given　her　a　credit　card！　She　was　so　（bleeped）　stupid　she　didn't　even　realize　she　was　forging　anything！　She　would　have　that　as　a　defense　if　they　detected　it！
　　　But　the　manager　took　the　finished　product；　pared　it　expertly　to　the　card　and　nodded。　All　hope　died　within　me。
　　　〃Miss；〃　he　said　to　the　Countess　Krak；　〃according　to　the　accounts　and　credit　report　I　just　got　from　the　Central
　　　Credit　Card　Bureau；　your　master　is　always　easy　to　locate。　We　can　find　him　right　down　to　the　hour　and　minute　at　any　time。　But　you；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　having　a　WATS　phone　line　you　use　all　over　the　world；　can　never　be　spotted。　Please　tell　us　where　you　are　from　time　to　time。　You　see；　it　is　giving　our　downtown　store　problems。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　undoubtedly　mystified　but　taking　this　strange　planet　in　stride。
　　　〃Yes。　We　always　send　our　best　customers　flowers　every　Saturday。　Your　favorite　black　orchids　have　been　ing　back　from　the　Bentley　Bucks　Deluxe　Arms　penthouse。　So　is　it　now　all　right　for　us　to　send　them　to　this　office　at　the　Empire　State　Building？〃
　　　〃Quite　all　right；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak　with　charm。　〃But　please　include　the　store　card　prominently　so　my　man　won't　think　they're　from　some　stupid　Apparatus　executive　and　kill　him。〃
　　　〃I　quite　understand；〃　said　the　accounts　executive　and　dutifully　made　a　note　of　it：　〃Must　not　plicate　extra…concubine　affairs。〃　Aloud；　he　said；　〃Discretion　must　always　be　our　watchword。　After　all；　we　have　no　interest　where　the　lady　spends　her　nights　off　or　even　in　her　travels。　It　is　the　man　we　are　interested　in。　His　whereabouts　down　to　the　last　square　inch　is　always　of　great　concern；　for；　after　all；　he　foots　the　bills。〃
　　　He　had　his　paperwork　done。　The　digital　counters　he　used　for　eyes　were　rolling。　The　crocodile　smile　stretched　his　lips。　He　was　changing　his　role　to　salesman。　〃The　Central　Credit　Card　Bureau　also　added　a　personal　note　about　you；　Miss。　According　to　Squeeza　reports　you　always　use　only　limousine　service。　So　when　you　are　through　with　your　coiffure　appointment　and　you　have　been　dressed　and　the　rest　is　ready　to　go；　we　insist　you　take　our　president's　limousine　into　town。　The　limousine　stewardess　needs　to　be　told　what　brand　of　drink　you　would　care　for　on　the　tedious　ride。〃
　　　〃Hot　jolt；〃　said　the　Countess　promptly。
　　　The　accounts　manager　wrote　down；　〃Bavarian　Mocha　Mint；　dash　of　champagne。〃　Inventive　fellow；　used　to　catering　to　the　bizarre　denizens　of　the　upper　crust。
　　　〃Now　I　must　inform　you；〃　he　said；　〃of　a　new　service　this　branch　of　Bonbucks　Teller　has　instituted。　It　is　called　'Central　Credit　Card　Spree　Buying　Titillating　Rare　and　mon　modity　Procurement　Service　for　the　Rich　Lady　Who　Is　Too　Busy　to　Go　Rooting　Crassly　About　in　Stores。'〃　He　gave　her　a　golden　card　with　a　phone　nu