lrh.fortuneoffear-第21部分

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ve　here　without　any　home　at　all。〃
　　　〃Well；〃　said　Heller；　〃buy　a　condo　or　something。〃
　　　Izzy　went　into　a　fresh　spasm　of　wailing。　Then　he　said；　〃That's　the　trouble。　We're　barely　making　expenses　on　arbitrage。　IRS　is　boring　in　and　we　can't　pay　them。　And　when　I　came　in　a　little　while　ago　and　saw　her　again；　I　realized　I　was　condemning　her　to　squalor　and　poverty。　It　drove　the　ruin　home　so　hard　I　couldn't　stand　it！〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃Well；　all　right。　I'll　go　out　and　make　some　money。〃
　　　Izzy　amazed　me。　Here　he　had　led　it　all　up　to　some　perfect　con。　But　he　leaped　up　in　alarm；　waving　his　arms。　〃No；　no；　no！　Don't　try　to　persuade　somebody　to　shoot　at　you　again　so　you　can　collect　the　fee。　That's　too　dangerous！〃
　　　Heller　laughed。　He　said；　〃I'll　think　of　something　else。〃
　　　〃You're　taking　over　my　job　and　I　deserve　it。　But　please；　please　promise　me　you　won't　do　anything　foolish！〃
　　　〃I　can　only　promise　to　try　not　to；〃　said　Heller。
　　　Krak　came　out　of　the　other　room；　putting　a　pillow　in　its　case。　Izzy　instantly　leaped　for　the　door　and　fled。
　　　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃　said　Krak。
　　　〃He　thinks　you're　too　beautiful；〃　said　Heller。　〃But　so　do　I。　Especially　with　the　very　best　brand　of　New　York　soot　on　the　end　of　your　nose。〃
　　　She　threw　the　pillow　at　him。　He　caught　it　and；　on　the　pretext　of　giving　it　back；　kissed　her。　Both　my　viewers　went　FLASH！
　　　But　Heller　did　not　hold　her　long。　He　let　go　of　her　and　wandered　over　to　the　bar。　She　stood　staring　after　him。　He　picked　up　a　newspaper　somebody　must　have　been　reading　and　started　going　through　it。
　　　〃Money；〃　he　was　muttering　to　himself。　〃Money；　money；　money。　This　planet　doesn't　run　on　an　axis。　It　runs　on　money！〃　He　passed　the　ic　page　too　fast　to　let　me　see　what　was　happening　to　Bugs　Bunny　these　days。
　　　He　stopped　suddenly　at　an　ad。　It　said：

ATLANTIC　CITY　
WINTER　CASINO　PECTACULAR
5　Casino　5　
EXTRAVAGANZA！
New　Year's　Bills　Getting　You　Down？　
RECOVER　WITH　ROULETTE


　　　He　looked　up。　He　said　to　Krak；　〃You're　working　too　hard。　We're　going　to　Atlantic　City。〃
　　　She　stopped　putting　cleaning　things　away　and　looked　at　him　with　a　shocked　expression　on　her　face。　〃WHAT？　And　leave　your　own　work　undone　on　this　planet？〃
　　　〃No；　no；〃　he　said。　〃Not　Atalanta；　Manco。　Atlantic　City；　New　Jersey。　And　wash　your　face。　This　has　got　to　be　a　clean　hit。〃
　　　〃Where　is　this　place？〃　said　Krak；　ing　over　to　him。
　　　He　showed　her　the　ad。　He　hadn't　read　it　all。　Toward　the　bottom　it　said：

FREE　FLOOR　SHOW
The　Clowns
The　Apes
Dingle…Poop　Rock　Band　
Mamie　Boomp；　Continental　Singer

　　　〃Oh；〃　said　Krak；　〃I　know　her。　And　I　want　to　see　her；　top；　to　get　her　opinion　on　spring　styles。〃
　　　A　voice　sounded　behind　them。　〃Anybody　home？〃　It　was　Bang…Bang。　He　was　carrying　a　sack。　〃I'm　sorry；　Joy；　but　those　birds　in　that　fancy　shop　never　heard　of　nothing　called　'hot　jolt。'　So　I　got　the　Bavarian　Mocha　Mint　and　the　champagne。　But　I　think　that　Scotch　would　go　better　in　it。　Not　even　the　cat　will　touch　champagne：　it　gets　in　his　nose。〃
　　　〃Where'd　you　park　the　cab？〃　said　Heller。　〃We're　going　to　Atlantic　City。〃　He　held　up　the　ad。
　　　Bang…Bang　looked　at　it。　His　finger　came　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　page。　He　was　pointing　out　the　final　line　to　Heller。　It　said：

Scalpello　Casino　Corp。　of　New　Jersey

　　　Bang…Bang　said；　〃That's　the　Atlantic　City　Mafia。　Small　time；　maybe；　but　vicious。　If　you're　going　to　knock　the　place　over；　I　ought　to　go　with　you　as　a　back…up　gun。　But　that　（bleeped）　parole　officer　is　narrow…minded：　He　won't　let　me　set　foot　out　of　New　York。　So　you　be　awful　careful；　Jet…you　hear　me　speaking？〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃The　lady　and　I　will　be　all　right。〃
　　　Bang…Bang's　eyes　shot　wide。　〃The　lady！　You　takin'　Joy　down　there？　Jesus…beggin'　your　pardon；　miss…but　she's　too　beautiful　to　let　them　punks　even　glance　at　her！　They　don't　deserve　it！〃
　　　〃She'll　be　all　right；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Oh；　Jet；〃　said　Bang…Bang；　〃that's　a　（bleeped）　…　begging　your　pardon；　miss…dangerous　place。　Those　（bleepards）　…　begging　your　pardon；　miss…don't　care　who　the　hell　they　shoot。〃　He　apparently　saw　Jet　wasn't　impressed。　He　gave　up。　Then　he　rallied。　〃Well；　at　least　I　won't　let　her　be　driven　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　in　that　（bleeped）　…　begging　your　pardon；　miss…cab。　It　doesn't　ride　near　good　enough。　I'll　phone　the　34th　Street　East　Heliport　for　reservations　and　run　you　across　town。　They　got　a　new　fast　chopper　run　to　Atlantic　City　that's　safe　and　fortable。　And　I'll　sweep　out　the　cab。〃
　　　He　grabbed　a　phone。
　　　Heller　was　rummaging　around；　picking　up　this　and　that。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　raced　into　the　secretary's　boudoir　and　shut　the　door；　going　to　get　dressed；　I　guessed；　and　pack　a　bag。
　　　I　was　really　smiling。　The　Atlantic　City　Mafia。　I　had　heard　all　about　them。　They　specialized　in　hijacking　and　beating　up　high　winners。
　　　My　euphoria　increased。　There　wasn't　any　way　I　could　lose。　If　Heller　lost　money；　it　would　be　just　that　much　less　that　they　would　have　to　meet　their　bills。　If　he　won；　the　Atlantic　City　Mafia　would　attack　him　and　maybe　he　and　Krak　would　both　wind　up　in　the　hospital。
　　　What　a　beautiful　day！　It　might　be　cold　winter　for　a　lot　of　people。　It　seemed　like　the　balmiest　possible　weather　to　me。　It　was　a　downright　rosy　world！

Chapter　5

　　　Despite　the　wintry　day；　I　went　out　and　took　a　turn　around　the　yard。　I　felt　too　full　of　springs　to　sit　too　long。
　　　Torgut　was　on　duty。　He　was　wearing　a　new　sheepskin　coat　and　boots　and　cap。　He　was　carrying　a　club。　He　looked　much　better　fed。　He　bowed　ceremoniously。　That　was　good。
　　　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　some　of　the　staff。　Their　faces　were　white　with　fright。　How　very　satisfactory！
　　　The　BMW　was　gone　and　there　was　no　trace　of　the　little　boys。　How　nice　and　quiet！
　　　I　went　back　in　and　cleaned　and　oiled　some　of　my　guns　to　while　away　the　time。　And；　as　I　worked；　a　message　came　through　the　slot。　It　said：

Be　advised　I　am　shifting　the　transmitters　to　Atlantic　City　area。
Raht

　　　That　made　me　blink。　I　myself　had　forgotten　that　Heller　and　Krak　were　going　to　go　beyond　the　two…hundred…mile　activator…receiver　range。　How　had　he　found　out？
　　　Raht；　to　make　up　for　the　lack　of　his　partner　Terb；　must　have　that　office　bugged。　He　might　even　have　bugs　of　his　own　on　Heller　and　Krak。　I　felt　very　heartened。　I　had　even　scared　Raht　into　doing　his　job　for　a　change。　My；　things　certainly　were　looking　up！
　　　Heller　and　Krak　didn't　stand　a　chance！　I　could　order　them　shot　at　any　time。　All　I　needed　was　the　word　from　Lombar　that　Heller's　munication　terminal　on　Voltar　had　been　nullified。　Now　all　I　had　to　do　was　make　sure　they　were　enough　slowed　down　so　that　they　acplished　nothing　that　would　upset　Lombar's　plans！　And　I　certainly　had　the　money　to　do　that！
　　　Tolerantly；　as　one　looks　at　cripples　who　are　sure　to　lose　any　race；　I　turned　my　attention　back　to　the　screens。
　　　〃But　why　do　they　have　those　silly　blades　on　top？〃　Krak　wanted　to　know。
　　　They　were　riding　in　a　multipassenger　helicopter。
　　　〃To　keep　the　pilot's　head　cool；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Oh；　Jettero；　you're　fooling　me。〃
　　　〃Why；　I　wouldn't　do　that。　They　have　very　hotheaded　pilots。〃
　　　〃Well；　they　certainly　don't　have　proper　antigravity　airbuses。　The　least　you　could　do　to　straighten　them　out　is　teach　them　how　to　make　hot　jolt。〃
　　　〃I'll　put　it　right　at　the　top　of　my　list；〃　said　Heller。　〃Look；　there's　Atlantic　City。〃
　　　They　both　looked　out　the　window　at　a　cold　and　dismal　winter　scene。　The　gray　Atlantic　was　pushing　sullen　swells　up　against　the　beach。　The　five　amusement　piers　suffered　occasional　windblown　spumes　of　chilly　spray。　The　high…rise　buildings　and　hotels　stood　battered　along　the　mostly　shuttered　Boardwalk。
　　　Heller　said；　〃Now；　listen。　Don't　call　me　by　the　name　Wister。　Call　me　Johnny。　We'll　pretend　you're　just　some　dizzy　dame　that　I　picked　up。〃
　　　The　Countess　bristled。　〃Well；　I　like　that！　Why　shouldn't　I　call　you　'Wister'？〃
　　　〃It's　sort　of　too　well　known。〃
　　　〃Aha。　I　knew　you'd　gotten　famous　here。〃
　　　〃Too　condemned　famous；〃　said　Heller。　〃But　we　won't　go　into　that　now。　You　just　be　a　dizzy　dame。〃
　　　〃I　smell　chicanery；〃　said　Krak。
　　　〃You　do。　We're　broke。〃
　　　Krak　shook　her　head。　〃I　can　buy　whatever　we　need。　I　have　a　credit　card。〃
　　　〃You　can't　buy　what　we　have　to　have　for　IRS　taxes。　So　please　just　be　a　dizzy　dame。〃
　　　She　said；　〃Am　I　in　such　a　spin　I　don't　even　know　who　the　enemy　is？〃
　　　〃The　Atlantic　City　Mafia　runs　the　gambling　here。　They　wouldn't　share　your　enthusiasm　for　me。　They　specialize　in　rip…offs　and　we　are　going　to　rip　them　off。〃
　　　〃Not　something　criminal；〃　said　Krak。
　　　〃No。　All　legal。　We　just　happen　to　have　what　we　will　call　a　'technical　advantage。'　Now；　I　may　call　on　you　to　place　some　bets　and　I　may　call　on　you　to　take　care　of　the　money　won　in　case　something　happens。　So；　is　your　collar　radio　working？〃
　　　She　touched　something　inside　her　coat　and　said；　〃Testing。〃
　　　The　sound　seemed　to　e　out　of　his　collar。
　　　He　touched　his　own　collar　and　said；　〃Testing。〃
　　　The　sound　seemed　to　e　out　of　her　collar。
　　　They　were　using　Spurk　button　radios！　Well；　it　wouldn't　do　them　any　good。
　　　They　were　standing