lrh.fortuneoffear-第8部分

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y　Who　Is　Too　Busy　to　Go　Rooting　Crassly　About　in　Stores。'〃　He　gave　her　a　golden　card　with　a　phone　number　embossed　on　it。　〃Now　that　we　have　met　you　and　established　your　identity　and　acquired　your　gracious　patronage；　this　service　is　yours　to　mand。〃
　　　She　hadn't　put　the　golden　card　in　her　pocket　so　he　delicately　reached　across　and　made　sure　that　it　got　there。　〃We　are　trying　to　cure　the　public　impression　that　this　branch　of　Bonbucks　Teller　is　out　in　the　woods。　For　we；　here　next　to　the　mighty　jets　of　JFK；　are　an　open　door　to　all　the　stores　of　the　world。　Our　motto　is　'Serve　the　Ladies　at　Any　Cost　No　Matter　How　Great。'　We　can　spare　you　the　tedium　of　browsing　through　Tiffany's。　We　can　get　you　furs　from　Siberia　or　a　special　Rolls　Royce　off　the　British　assembly　line　in　the　flicker　of　an　eye　and　send　it　straight　to　you。　You　don't　need　to　undergo　these　boorish　formalities　again　with　us。　Just　call　the　number　on　the　golden　card　and　the　charge　will　at　once　be　picked　up　by　Squeeza　and　added　to　their　monthly　bill。　All　so　simple。　Just　a　call　and　state　your　heart's　desire。〃
　　　He　stood　up。　Her　hairdresser　was　twisting　curlers　at　the　door；　waiting　to　escort　her　to　his　salon　on　the　roof。
　　　The　credit　manager　took　both　her　hands　in　his。　He　squeezed　her　fingers　fervently。　〃It　is　SUCH　a　pleasure　to　do　business　with　a　customer　who；　by　every　report；　has　credit　that　is　absolutely　UNLIMITED！〃
　　　During　his　speeches　I　had　been　wildly　thinking　of　some　way　to　invalidate　the　signature；　invalidate　the　card；　point　out　that　a　HORRIBLE　mistake　had　been　made。　It　had　begun　to　be　borne　in　upon　me　that　I　could　not　without　exposing　my　true　hostility　to　the　Countess　Krak　and　my　actual　intentions　for　her　and　Heller。　They　would　kill　me　out　of　hand！
　　　But　at　those　horrible　words；　〃credit　that　is　absolutely　UNLIMITED；〃　I　lost　all　grip　on　hopes　and　senses。
　　　My　supply　of　adrenalin　was　all　used　up。
　　　I　fainted　dead　away！
　　　And　as　I　sank　into　the　swirling　mists；　a　voice　seemed　to　be　echoing　hollowly　as　in　a　tomb。　It　was　my　own；　telling　her　to　〃Buy！　Buy！　Buy！〃　that　very　morning。　I　had　unwittingly　sealed　my　own　doom。
　　　I　still　owed　them　hundreds　of　thousands。　I　didn't　have　a　penny　to　my　name。　And　I　had　no　slightest　channel　here　on　Earth　to　get　any。
　　　The　house　would　be　seized。　The　staff　would　be　sold。　But　not　only　that；　even　I　would　find　myself　on　the　auction　block；　being　bought　most　likely　by　an　Arab　who　thought　more　of　camels　than　his　slaves。　And　thus　a　nightmare　shattered　any　peace　the　unconsciousness　could　bring：　I　was　an　auctioneer　shouting　〃Buy！　Buy！　Buy！〃　as　I　sold　myself　time　and　again　to　masters　far　more　cruel　than　the　Manco　Devils：　the　credit　panies！

Chapter　7

　　　It　was　evening　in　New　York。
　　　Assured　by　the　elevator　operator　that　Mr。　Jet；　as　Heller　was　popularly　known；　was　still　in　his　office；　Krak　tipped　magnificently　the　chauffeur；　stewardess　and　building　porters　via　just　mentioning　the　number　of　the　credit　card…which　they　probably　already　knew　from　Utanc。　The　amount　made　them　blink　and　me　go　faint　again。　Finally；　they　all　withdrew　and　left　Krak　with　a　mountainously　piled；　four…wheel　handcart　before　the　door。
　　　She　had　arrived！
　　　She　looked　at　her　reflection　in　the　gloss　of　the　hall　wall。　She　took　off　a　fur　cap；　threw　it　on　the　cart　and　fluffed　her　hair。　She　straightened　up　her　Blackgama　mink　cape。　She　looked　closely　at　her　reflection　where　the　cup　had　now　been　removed。　She　was　satisfied。
　　　She　took　a　long　deep　breath。　I　could　hear　her　heart　thudding　heavily。　She　swallowed。　She　lifted　her　chin。　She　opened　the　door　and　let　it　swing　wide。　She　stood　there。
　　　Heller　was　at　his　desk；　open　books　between　his　two　hands。
　　　He　looked　up。
　　　He　stared。
　　　He　couldn't　believe　it！　His　mouth　opened。
　　　He　muttered；　〃Am　I　dreaming？〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　had　a　little　trouble　speaking。　She　said；　〃You're　not　dreaming；　Jettero。　It's　me。〃
　　　Heller　leaped　from　his　chair。　He　came　around　the　desk　and　began　to　run　toward　her。
　　　She　ran　forward　to　meet　him。
　　　They　came　together　in　a　crush　of　embraces　in　the　center　of　the　room。
　　　After　a　savage　clench；　they　both　began　to　cry。
　　　They　just　stood　there；　holding　each　other；　crying！
　　　Minutes　went　by。　They　did　not　do　anything　or　say　anything。　They　just　stood　there　holding　on　to　each　other；　sobbing！
　　　Finally；　her　voice　muffled　by　his　shoulder；　she　said；　〃Then　you　didn't　fall　in　love　with　a　thousand　beautiful　women！〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃I　put　you　on　my　pillow　every　night。　I　have　only　dreamed　of　you。〃
　　　They　kissed。
　　　My　screen　went　into　a　wild　blur；　wiped　out！　Even　the　sound　went。　Carbon…oxygen　power　surge　and　two　sets　of　bugs　too　close　together。
　　　At　last　they　moved　reluctantly　apart。　Heller　put　her　gently　in　a　chair。　He　went　out　in　the　hall　and　pushed　the　hugely　piled　cart　into　the　office。　He　closed　the　door。
　　　Heller　came　back　and　knelt　beside　her。　She　was　drying　her　eyes　with　a　lace　handkerchief。　Then　she　swabbed　at　his。　She　laughed　shakily。
　　　He　laughed。　Then　he　said；　his　voice　heavy　with　emotion；　〃I　don't　dare　talk　about　how　glad　I　am　to　see　you。　It's　like　the　skies　suddenly　opened　and　you　just　materialized。　How　did　the　Gods　bring　you　here？〃
　　　〃Soltan　sent　for　me。〃
　　　〃But　how　did　you　know　where　I　was？〃
　　　She　said；　〃He　told　me。〃
　　　〃But　how　did　you　get　away　from　Spiteos？〃
　　　〃Lombar　sent　me。　There　are　no　trained　acts；　now。
　　　There　aren't　even　any　freaks。　Lombar　is　engrossed　in　other　things　and　has　no　time　for　them。　So　he　sent　me　to　help　you　out。　He　said　you　were　overworking。　And　you　asked　for　a　cellologist　so　he　sent　Crobe。〃
　　　〃That　crazy　Doctor　Crobe？　Where　is　he？〃
　　　She　said；　〃I　think　Soltan　is　holding　him　for　a　while。　On　the　ship　he　wasn't　studying　English　much。　I　tried　to　help　him　but　he　said　why　talk　to　somebody　when　you　were　just　going　to　cut　out　their　tongues　anyway。　My　guess　is　that　Soltan　is　holding　on　to　him　until　he　learns　English。〃
　　　〃Soltan　knew　the　address　of　this　office？〃
　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　〃Well；〃　said　Heller；　〃you　got　here　safely　and　you　are　beautiful　and　I　love　you。　And　with　that　we've　covered　everything　important。〃
　　　They　suddenly　were　hugging　again。　Finally　they　separated　and　looked　at　each　other's　faces。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Oh；　darling；　I　missed　you；　missed　you　so！　It　seemed　like　years　and　years　and　years。　A　whole　lifetime。　Two　lifetimes。　Please　don't　let's　separate　again。　I　can't　stand　it！〃　She　started　to　cry　again　and　was　swabbing　at　her　nose　with　her　lace　handkerchief。
　　　Heller　said；　miserably；　〃I　am　sorry。　I　really　am。　I　wanted　to　finish　this　mission　fast　and　e　home　to　you。　But　I've　not　been　very　lucky　and　there　have　been　delays。　It's　kind　of　a　tough　planet。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　suddenly　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。　〃Listen。　I　have　a　wonderful　surprise　for　you。　I　promised　not　to　tell　you　what　it　is　and　I　won't。　But　just　realize　it　is　terribly　good　for　both　of　us。〃
　　　I　flinched。　She　was　talking　about　the　〃Royal〃　forgeries。　Her　〃pardon〃　and　his　〃future〃　of　no　dangerous　missions。　It　was　typical　of　her　（bleeped）　perfidy　that　she　would　keep　her　word　to　me　and　not　tell　him。　If　she　only　would；　I　could　get　them　traced　and　destroy　them。　But　in　any　event；　if　those　〃documents〃　were　ever　presented；　not　only　Krak　but　also　probably　Heller　would　be　executed。　I　did　not　want　to　be　a　third　member　of　that　electric…jolt　party！　These　two　had　to　be　stopped！
　　　Heller　said；　〃Sounds　interesting。　I　accept　your　word　that　it　is　good　for　us。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said；　〃Not　just　good　but　marvelous　beyond　our　wildest　dreams！　So　let's　get　busy　and　wind　up　this　mission　to　a　rocket　success　and　get　home。〃
　　　Oh；　Gods。　My　sending　her　was　having　exactly　the　opposite　effect　to　what　was　intended。　Even　Lombar　had　told　her　Heller　was　working　too　hard　and　she　was　paying　no　attention　to　that！　Oh；　Gods；　with　all　my　other　troubles；　they　really　had　to　be　slowed　to　nothing。　If　I　could　delay　them　long　enough；　then　word　would　e　and　with　a　few　shots　I　could　kill　them　both。　I　prayed。　Please；　please；　Gods　of　evil；　intervene　for　once　on　my　side。　How　could　I　slow　them？　If　I　only　had　money。　If　I　could　only　get　rid　of　other　crises；　maybe　I　could　do　it。　Not　maybe。　I　had　to；　for　it　meant　my　life。
　　　Heller　was　showing　her　the　office　now。　〃At　least　we　have　a　working　base；〃　he　was　saying。　〃Until　the　next　rent　day。　Here　is　the　secretary's　boudoir　and　some　closets。　Over　here　is　a　〃thinking　room〃　with　a　couch　where　I　sleep。　Over　there　is　the　bath。　This　is　the　bar　and　the　only　'kitchen。'　It's　all　the　home　I've　got　right　now。　It　will　have　to　do；　I　guess。〃
　　　〃Have　to　do！〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　until　recently　a　prisoner　in　stone　cubicles　in　Spiteos。　〃It's　a　palace！〃　Her　eyes　lighted　on　the　cat　which　was　sitting　on　the　desk　eyeing　them。　She　said；　〃Who　is　this？〃　Heller　said；　〃Oh；　that's　the　cat。〃
　　　The　cat　dropped　down　off　the　desk　and　came　over　and　sat　down　in　front　of　her；　looking　at　her　interestedly。
　　　She　said；　〃Doesn't　he　have　a　name？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃He's　kind　of　a　shady　character。　He　won't　tell　us。〃
　　　The　Countess　took　off　her　cape　and　threw　it　on　a　chair。　She　knelt　down　and　looked　at　the　cat。　She　said　to　it；　〃The　thing　to　do　is　to　take　an　alias　that　isn't　in　the　Domestic　Police　puters。　Would　you　like　to　do　that？〃
　　　The　cat　began　to　purr　loudly　as　it　sat　there；　looking　at　her。　The　silly　wench。　She　was　talking　to　it　in　Voltarian　and　it　was　an　Earth　cat。
　　　Heller　said；　〃He's　very　particular　about　his　associates。　He　usually　just　spits　at　or　ignores　anybody　but　me　and　Bang…Bang；　our　driver。　He's　taken　to　you；　but；　of　course；　who　wouldn't？〃
　　　〃What　kind　of　a　cat　are　you？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　Heller　said；　〃He's　an　African　cat。　You　can　tell　because　he's　white　with　black　and　orange　patches。　They're　supposed　to　be　great　fighters。　They're　awfully　smart　and　they　bring　good　luck…don't　you；　cat？　Oh；　also；　they're　called　calicos。〃
　　　So　he　does　have　a　name；〃　said　the　Countess。　〃Mister　Calico。　You　like　that　name？〃
　　　The　cat　purred。
　　　〃All　right；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　kneeling　there　in　front　of　the　silly　cat；　〃let's　see　how　smart　you　are。　How　much　is　two　and　two？〃