lrh.villainyvictorious-第18部分

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zed　what　I　was。〃
〃When　you　got　to　him；〃　said　Prahd；　〃he　must　have　been　on　the　tag　end　of　an　amphetamine　dose。　It　was　keeping　him　conscious。　Some　time　before　that；　the　quantities　of　speed　he　was　being　given　must　have　set　him　up　for　a　cerebral　hemorrhage；　because　that's　what　he's　got。　Speed　wrecks　the　central　nervous　system　and　he　has　had　it。〃
〃You　mean　he　won't　recover　consciousness？〃　said　Heller。
〃Look；　I'm　doing　all　I　can　to　hold　on　to　this　sudden　elevation　to　King's　Own　Physician。　I'm　doing　all　I　can　to　rebuild　the　nerves　and　vessels；　but　you　don't　seem　to　understand。　It's　the　central　nervous　system！　It's　going　to　take　months。〃
〃So　long？〃　said　Heller。
〃I'm　being　optimistic。　Did　you　know　it　takes　a　day　of　therapy　for　every　day　of　use　anyone　has　been　on　speed？　I　don't　know　how　long　they　had　him　on　it。　Could　have　been　years！〃
〃What　you're　telling　me　is　that　he　won't　e　around　soon。〃
〃I　think　I　finally　got　my　point　across；　sir。　Of　course；　I　could　bring　him　around　so　he'd　be　alert　a　bit　with　some　amphetamine；　but　that　would　then　kill　him。〃
〃We　don't　want　THAT！〃　said　Heller。　〃pletely　aside　from　our　duty　to　protect　him；　it　would　be　a　rotten　thing　to　do　just　to　get　our　own　heads　off　the　block　with　a　signed　order。　Skip　any　idea　of　it。　We'll　take　our　chances。〃
〃I　didn't　mean　it　as　an　out；〃　said　Prahd。
〃Well；　don't　think　of　it　at　all；〃　said　Heller。　〃You　and　I　are　quite　expendable。　He　isn't。　So　you　just　go　on　doing　what　you're　doing。　Can　you　switch　me　over　to　my　lady？〃
The　face　of　the　Countess　Krak　appeared　on　Heller's　screen。　She　threw　him　a　kiss　and　then　said；　〃Hello；　dear。　It's　just　like　Prahd　said。　He's　just　lying　there　in　fluid；　rebuilding。　There's　absolutely　nothing　going　on。〃
〃I　know；〃　said　Heller。
〃I　told　them　to　build　up　defenses　here。〃
Heller　shrugged。　〃All　right。　But　I　don't　think　anybody　will　e。　Ghoul…face　doesn't　know　we　came　here。　I've　been　giving　this　some　thought　and　it's　almost　funny　that　he'd　issue　a　general　warrant　for　me：　they're　questionable　on　a　Royal　officer…courts　usually　just　throw　them　out。　It　would　take　a　Royal　warrant　and　he　just　plain　can't　get　one　issued。　It　would　have　to　be　signed　by　the　person　who's　lying　there　unconscious。　Actually；　Ghoul…face　must　be　having　fits。　There　was　no　mention　of　His　Majesty　on　that　broadcast　and　I　don't　think　Hisst　will　admit　he's　gone。　If　he　were　to　do　so；　the　whole　Confederacy　would　go　into　chaos。　There　is　no　heir：　the　other　Royal　princes　are　dead　and　Mortiiy　is　forbidden　succession　for　starting　a　revolt。　The　Grand　Council　would　have　to　have　a　body　before　they　would　proclaim　Cling　dead。　So　all　Lombar　can　do　is　blunder　around　trying　to　locate　me。　He's　only　got　the　Apparatus；　a　small　force。　The　Fleet　and　Army　won't　cooperate　on　the　basis　of　just　a　general　warrant　on　me。　The　Fleet　would　laugh　at　him。　The　'drunk'　is　on　the　spot。　If　he　doesn't　dare　admit　I　have　the　Emperor；　then　I　can't　think　of　anything　he　could　say　or　do　to　get　people　incensed　against　me。　He's　only　got　the　Apparatus　and　I'm　not　afraid　of　'drunks。'　So　I　quit　worrying。〃
〃Dear；　could　you　be　being　too　calm？〃　said　the　Countess。
〃That's　my　profession；〃　said　Heller。　〃Keeping　calm。〃
〃I've　seen　you　overdo　it。〃
〃What's　being　overdone　right　now；〃　said　Heller；　〃is　our　separation。　It's　silly　you　sitting　there　alongside　a　fluid　tub　while　I'm　having　all　the　fun。　I've　got　an　AWFUL　lot　of　things　to　neaten　up　and　I　can't　possibly　get　away　from　here。　So　I　had　Bury　contact　the　air　force　and　they'll　be　sending　a　new　Boeing　Mach　3　Raider　for　you。　They　take　off　and　land　vertically　and　can　put　down　in　Afyon。〃
〃WHO？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
〃A　Boeing；〃　said　Heller。　〃All　the　airlines　are　messed　up　trying　to　get　back　into　operation　and　their　backlogs　are　awful。　You'll　be　only　three　hours　in　flight。　I'll　have　you　met　at　La　Guardia。〃
〃I　mean　BURY！〃　said　the　Countess；　still　in　shock。
〃Oh；　he　works　for　us　now。　I　forgot　to　mention　it。　But　it's　someone　else　I　want　you　to　meet。　You'll　like　her。〃
〃HER？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Heller。　〃We　need　her　permission　to　get　engaged。〃
〃WHAT？〃
〃Look；　your　clothes　are　still　in　the　condo；　so　don't　bring　much。　Now　that　I　have　verified　there　is　no　sense　in　your　staying　there；　I'll　tell　the　Boeing　to　take　off。　It'll　be　there　about　2：00　P。　M。；　your　time。　The　Silver　Spirit　will　bring　you　to　the　condo　and　you'll　be　in　time　to　powder　your　nose　and　have　a　lovely　lunch。〃
〃Wait　a　minute；　Jettero。　You've　got　me　all　in　a　spin。〃
〃They　better　not　spin　or　we'll　court…martial　the　whole　air　force。　Wear　your　best　smile。　Tell　you　all　about　it　when　I　see　you。　Love　you。　Bye…bye。〃
〃Jettero；〃　wailed　the　Countess　Krak；　〃do　you　think　your　estimate　of　this　situation　is　safe？〃
But　he　had　clicked　off　and　the　screen　was　dead。

Chapter　4

An　amazed　Countess　Krak　had　been　saluted　on　both　sides　of　the　world；　had　been　set　down　to　〃all　runways　cleared〃　at　La　Guardia；　had　not　even　gone　through　immigration　or　customs；　and　had　been　rushed；　sirens　screaming；　with　an　escort　of　six　New　York　motorcycle　police；　straight　to　the　condo。
She　had　managed　to　slip　by　the　beaming　Balmor　and；　despite　the　tears　and　sobbings　of　an　overjoyed　lady's　maid；　was　able　to　change　her　clothes　and　get　neatened　up。
Now　as　she　entered　the　luncheon　salon；　she　was　promptly　all　messed　up　again　by　the　hugs　and　kisses　of　a　smartly　uniformed　Jettero。
The　place　was　crammed　with　flowers；　the　tables　groaned　with　food　and　strains　of　triumphal　music　shook　the　chandeliers。
Izzy；　Bang…Bang　and　Twoey　were　clutching　at　her　hands；　bowing　and　beaming　in　adoring　wele。
There　was　a　one…foot　stack　of　something　on　the　table　before　her　chair；　and　when　she　tried　to　sit　down；　the　stack　tipped　over　and　cascaded　into　her　lap　and　all　over　the　floor。　Credit　cards！　Of　every　possible　pany　and　they　all　said　〃Heavenly　Joy　Krackle；〃　and　the　Bonbucks　Teller　one　was　in　a　blue　orchid　corsage。　She　was　trying　to　put　the　corsage　on　when　Balmor　and　two　footmen　came　in　with　an　enormous　gold　frame。
It　wasn't　for　her。
They　put　it　on　an　easel。　It　was　some　kind　of　parchment　apparently　printed　by　special　run。　It　was　a　banner　headline　of　the　New　York　Grimes　and　just　one　story。　It　said：

NO　DECLARATION！
LEADERSHIP　OF
PRESIDENT
BRINGS　U。　S。　FROM
BRINK　OF　WAR！

The　four　men　went　into　bellows　of　laughter！
For　the　life　of　her　she　could　see　nothing　funny　in　it。
Somewhat　petulantly；　when　she　could　be　heard；　the　Countess　Krak　said；　〃You　might　at　least　tell　me　what　you're　laughing　at！〃
〃It's　for　the　wall　of　Jet's　study；〃　said　Bang…Bang。　〃We　had　it　specially　reprinted　and　framed。〃
That　told　her　nothing。　She　turned　to　Jettero。　〃And　it　was　mean　of　you　to　leave　me　hanging　in　midair　about　Bury　and　some　woman。〃
Jettero　laughed。　〃Well；　it　got　you　aboard　that　plane；　didn't　it？　And　without　a　word　of　argument　about　how　you　should　stay　in　Turkey。〃
That　made　her　laugh。　〃Oh；　Jettero！〃　she　said。　〃Living　with　you　has　its　moments！　Life　is　certainly　never　dull。　Now　please　tell　me　what　has　been　going　on。〃
They　were　all　sitting　down　eating　prawns　now　and　Jettero　began　to　tell　her　what　had　happened　in　New　York　and　Pokantickle　but　he　evidently　kept　leaving　out　pieces　of　it　that　had　to　do　with　how　he　had　acplished　certain　things　and　the　others　kept　stopping　him　and　correcting　him　and　well　before　he　was　finished；　she　was　scared　half　to　death　at　the　risks　he　had　taken。　She　managed　to　keep　herself　from　going　white　and　finally　said；　〃So　Rockecenter　is　dead。〃
〃No；　he's　not　dead；〃　said　Jettero。　〃He's　sitting　right　there；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Twoey。　〃Between　him　and　Izzy；　they　own　the　planet。〃　He　turned　to　him。　〃So　what　are　you　going　to　do　with　it；　boys？〃
〃Raise　pigs；〃　said　Twoey。
〃Now　there；〃　said　Jettero　to　the　Countess　Krak；　〃no　problems　at　all。　They've　got　it　all　worked　out。〃
〃Oh；　Jettero；　be　serious；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　sure　there's　some　kind　of　plan　or　program。〃
〃Yes；　ma'am！〃　said　Jettero。　〃You've　put　your　lovely　finger　right　on　it。　There　certainly　is。　At　four　o'clock　this　afternoon　we're　due　over　at　Bayonne。　And　it's　very　important　that　you　dress　well　and　look　very　proper　and　prim；　for　if　you　are　acceptable；　we　can　then　schedule　the　engagement　party。〃
〃Acceptable　to　WHOM？〃　she　wailed。
〃Well；　I　can't　call　her　by　her　title　yet　because　she　won't　be　invested　until　Saturday。　And　that's　the　other　thing　I've　got　to　take　up　with　her；　the　coronation　party。　And　we　have　to　decide　upon　the　date　of　the　engagement　party；　but　I　should　say　it　should　be　the　following　week。〃
〃Jettero；　I　feel　like　I　am　going　faintly　insane。〃
〃Blame　the　summer　weather；　not　me；〃　said　Jettero。
Balmor　came　to　the　door　just　then　and　said　to　Izzy；　〃Mr。　Bury　is　on　the　phone；　sir。　He　merely　wants　to　know　if　Mr。　Twoey　will　be　available　tomorrow　to　address　the　Swillerberger　Conference　that　will　now　be　held　at　the　White　House　in　the　afternoon。　He　says　he's　sorry　to　trouble　you　and　he　has　written　the　speech。　He　is　just　verifying。〃
〃There　better　be　some　item　on　the　agenda　about　pig　production；〃　said　Twoey。
〃Tell　Bury　he'll　be　there；〃　said　Izzy；　〃and　while　he's　on　the　phone　tell　him　to　hold　up　clearing　out　the　Rockecenter　offices　until　I　can　see　to　it　personally。〃
The　cat　had　been　trying　to　get　her　attention　and　the　Countess　was　very　glad　of　the　distraction。
The　rest　of　the　luncheon　went　off　in　a　blur　and　then；　dressed　somehow　and　feeling　she　looked　a　fright；　she　was　in　the　Silver　Spirit　with　Jettero；　escorted　by　two　army　tanks。
There　were　things　she　wanted　to　say　to　Jettero；　urgent　things；　but　he　had　the　window　down　and　the　roar　of　the　huge　monsters　made　it　hard　to　talk。　〃What　are　the　tanks　for？〃　she　said　in　desperation。
〃I　haven't　had　time　to　separate　from　service；〃　said　Jettero。
〃Do　they　always　escort　junior　officers　with　tanks？〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
〃Well；　no；〃　said　Jettero。　〃They're　probably　afraid　that　I　will　forget　to　turn　in　my　sidearms。　One　signs　for　them；　you　know。〃
〃Jettero；　for　Heavens'　sakes；　be　serious！　I'm　worried　sick　about　this　Voltar　situation。〃
〃If　you　go　worrying　about　everything　all　the　time；　all　you　get　done　is　worrying；〃　said　Jettero。
〃Some　worry　is　necessary；〃　said　the　Countess。
〃You'll　never　be　a　bat　engineer；〃　said　Jettero。
〃I'm　not　trying　to　be　a　bat　engineer；〃　she　wailed。　〃I'm　trying　to　bee　the　wife　of　one。〃
〃Ah；　well；〃　said　Jettero；　〃it's　a　good　thing　you　decided　to　put　your　mind　on　that。　Here's　your　crucial　test。　We've　arri