lrh.fortuneoffear-第24部分

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　It　was　obvious　that　only　the　way　Heller　was　supporting　the　wrist　was　keeping　the　man's　knees　from　buckling。
　　　〃I　didn't　call　for　anything；〃　said　Heller　smoothly。　He　slipped　his　gun　back　into　its　holster　under　his　coat。　Then　he　proceeded　to　pat　the　man's　side　and　chest。　He　reached　into　the　jacket　and　drew　a　handgun　from　a　shoulder　holster。　He　looked　at　it。　It　was　a　Taurus。38　Special　double…action　revolver；　nickel　plated。　He　gave　the　cylinder　catch　a　flick　with　his　thumb；　let　the　cylinder　swing　out；　checked　the　bullets　and　then；　with　a　snap；　all　only　with　one　hand；　flipped　the　cylinder　back　into　place。
　　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Heller；　〃for　calling　attention　to　the　fact　I'd　dropped　my　gun。〃　He　put　the　Taurus　in　his　own　pocket。
　　　〃Your　change；　sir；〃　said　the　cashier。
　　　Heller　was　still　holding　the　〃waiter's〃　wrist。　The　man　seemed　paralyzed。　Heller　turned　and　picked　a　dollar　bill　out　of　the　change。　He　put　it　in　the　paralyzed　hand　and　then　closed　the　man's　fingers　on　it。　Heller　let　go。　The　〃waiter〃　went　almost　to　his　knees；　recovered　and　in　a　zigzag　course　made　his　way　back　toward　the　kitchen。
　　　Krak　had　gotten　too　far　ahead　to　notice　the　action。
　　　Heller　joined　her　and　they　went　up　a　wide；　carpeted　stairway　to　the　mezzanine。　They　came　to　the　place　Heller　had　first　chosen。　There　was　no　one　else　on　this　level　but　the　casino　floor　below　was　swarming。　An　evening　crowd；　better　dressed　than　that　of　the　afternoon　and　far　more　numerous；　made　a　jostling　kaleidoscope　of　color　below。
　　　〃Look　at　that！〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　Over　against　the　wall；　on　a　high　stool　behind　the　backs　of　the　croupiers　at　tables　one；　two　and　three；　Mamie　Boomp　was　sitting。
　　　She　had　money　in　one　hand　and　the　lists　for　the　tables　in　the　other。　And　in　a　loose　congregation　around　her　were　the　show　people。　She　was　giving　each　one　a　series　of　numbers　and　the　money　to　bet　and　to　some　she　gave　a　black　plastic　bag。
　　　SHE　HAD　THE　FLOOR…SHOW　PEOPLE　WORKING！
　　　Heller　laughed。　〃That's　quite　a　friend　you've　got　there。〃　He　turned　to　Krak。　〃You　see　that　corridor　directly　behind　us？　You　put　your　money　sacks　down　just　inside　it　and　you　sit　on　them　and　rest　your　pretty　feet。　And　I'm　going　to　sit　right　here　and　watch　the　shearing　of　the　wolves。〃

Chapter　7

　　　The　dice　tables　were　crowded。　The　chuck…a…luck　cages　flipped。　The　endless　rows　of　slot　machines　whirred。　The　keno　numbers　kept　pouring　through　the　speakers。　But　Heller's　attention　was　mainly　on　the　roulette　tables　below。
　　　Round　and　round　the　little　ball　went　and　where　it　would　stop；　he　and　the　floor…show　people　knew　exactly。　And　there　were　always　bets　on　the　winning　numbers。
　　　Because　there　were　so　many　floor…show　people　and　because　they　kept　changing；　other　players　at　the　table　did　not　get　much　chance　to　ride　anyone's　coattails。
　　　The　stream　of　actors　to　the　cashiers'　cages　was　a　continuing　circle。　There　seemed　to　be　a　young　man　who　had　more　hair　than　face　circulating　along　this　line　and　Heller　watched　him。
　　　Suddenly；　the　young　man　turned　and　came　bounding　up　the　mezzanine　stairs。　He　was　carrying　a　huge；　black　bag。
　　　He　paused　near　the　rail；　looked　down　and　across　the　hall　at　Mamie　and　pointed　to　Heller。　Mamie　nodded。
　　　The　young　man　came　closer。　〃So　you're　the　sailor　with　the　crystal　ball；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　Tom…Tom；　the　drummer　of　the　Dingle…Poop　Rock　Band。　They　won't　let　me　work　the　tables　because　I　can't　count　above　four。　So　I　got　the　job　of　collecting　the　money　and　bringing　it　up　here。　Where　do　I　put　it；　man？〃
　　　Heller　pointed　at　Krak；　sitting　just　inside　the　corridor　at　the　back。　She　took　it。　Tom…Tom　stood　staring　at　her。
　　　〃Well？〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃Nothin〃；　beggin'　your　pardon；　but　I　was　just　surprised；　kind　of。　I　didn'　know　no　Miss　America　was　in　on　this　deal。　Excuse　me。　I'll　be　right　back　with　more　bread。　Lots　more。〃
　　　She　touched　her　collar。　She　said；　〃Jettero；　why　do　so　many　girls　have　the　same　name　here　on　this　planet？〃
　　　The　signal　came　through　to　Heller　thirty　feet　in　front　of　her　at　the　mezzanine　rail。　He　touched　his　collar　and　said；　〃It's　probably　some　family　they　named　the　country　after。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　was　looking　at　some　pictures　of　them　down　in　the　dining　room　foyer　and　two　or　three　look　a　lot　like　some　of　the　girls　in　Atalanta　Province。　Some　of　Prince　Caucalsia's　court　must　have　brought　their　wives。　Is　this　where　he　landed；　Jettero？〃
　　　〃He　apparently　landed　on　a　continent　out　in　that　ocean　and　it　got　drowned　when　the　poles　melted　or　something。　The　survivors　got　to　a　place　called　Caucasus　above　Turkey　and　you　can't　go　there　because　the　Russians　are　holding　them　prisoner　and　won't　let　them　defect。〃
　　　〃Well；　some　of　them　must　have　swum　west　and　landed　here；　then；〃　said　Krak。　〃Thanks　for　clearing　that　up。〃
　　　Heller　had　his　eye　on　a　side　door　of　the　casino。　Some　armed　guards　with　cash　boxes　had　just　entered。　They　carried　their　burdens　to　the　cashiers'　cages。　Money　was　evidently　being　brought　in　from　the　other　casinos。
　　　He　returned　to　watching　the　floor…show　people　circulating　past　Mamie；　to　the　roulette　tables　and　to　the　cages　and　around　again。　Tom…Tom　was　collecting　everything　but　their　retained　ten…percents。　And　here　he　came　again　with　another　huge　sack　of　money。　He　went　straight　to　Krak；　gave　it　to　her；　gazed　at　her　in　awe　and　said　〃Jeez！〃　and　rushed　off　again。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　said　into　her　radio；　〃The　people　seem　nice。　I　wonder　why　Prince　Caucalsia's　survivors　couldn't　bring　more　civilization　with　them　when　they　swam　here。〃
　　　〃Actually；〃　said　Heller；　〃it's　a　very　tough　coast　to　land　on。　Stands　your　hair　on　end　to　read　about　it。　Which　reminds　me　that　you're　sitting　on　four　bags　of　money　now　and　there　will　be　more。　My　experience　with　these　inhabitants　tells　me　that　somebody　may　try　to　rip　us　off。　Look　around　and　see　if　there's　anyplace　there　to　hide　the　money。　Just　a　tactical　precaution。〃
　　　It　was　more　than　that。　Heller's　eye　had　singled　out　a　couple　of　tough　mugs；　the　same　ones　who　had　asked　him　for　his　I。D。　The　〃waiter；〃　now　without　his　red　coat；　had　e　up　to　them　and　talked　briefly；　and　the　two　mugs　had　looked　up　at　the　mezzanine　at　Heller。
　　　Another　bustle　occurred　at　the　side　door。　Armed　guards　were　bringing　more　money　to　the　cashiers'　cages。　Since　the　banks　were　closed；　it　must　be　ing　only　from　the　other　casinos。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　went　wandering　down　the　short　corridor；　poking　at　the　walls；　trying　to　open　doors。
　　　Tom…Tom　came　racing　up　with　another　sack　and　she　went　to　the　mezzanine　end　and　took　it。　He　stared　at　her　again　and　once　more　said　〃Jeez；〃　and　rushed　off。
　　　The　Countess　returned　to　her　inspection。　She　found　a　large；　square　panel。　It　swung　to　the　touch。　She　backed　up。　A　small　sign　said　Laundry　Chute。
　　　She　touched　the　section。　It　was　actually　a　flap　door；　hinged　at　the　top。　She　poked　her　head　in。
　　　Straight　down！　At　least　sixty　feet。　It　was　a　vertical　duct；　square；　about　four　feet　wide　and　as　many　deep。　At　the　bottom　was　hard　concrete；　possibly　a　laundry　room。
　　　She　came　back　and　sat　on　the　bags。
　　　Heller　was　watching　more　armed　guards　at　the　door　with　money　boxes。　They　were　refilling　the　cashiers'　cages。
　　　The　floor…show　people　were　getting　more　efficient。　Tom…Tom　came　racing　up　to　the　mezzanine；　gave　the　Countess　a　sack；　said　his　customary　〃Jeez；〃　and　raced　away。
　　　Heller　had　his　eye　on　the　clock。　Gradually；　it　crept　forward。　More　guards；　bringing　in　money；　more　circulation　of　the　floor…show…people　lines。　Round　and　round　the　little　balls　went　on　three　tables；　stopping　exactly　where　predicted。　Up　came　Tom…Tom　time　and　again　with　more　sacks　and　more　exclamations　of　〃Jeez。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak；　as　the　clock　crept　on；　was　sitting　on　a　higher　and　higher　stack　of　bulging　black　bags。
　　　Heller　was　watching　more　mugs　on　the　floor　being　joined　by　more　mugs。
　　　An　explosive　situation　was　obviously　building　up。
　　　At　length；　some　armed　guards　came　in　at　the　side　door　and　talked　to　a　man　in　a　tuxedo。　The　guards　were　empty…handed　and　shaking　their　heads。　Another　group　of　guards　came　in　and　did　the　same　thing　and　left。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　went　over　to　one　of　the　cashiers'　cages　and　spoke　to　the　cashier。　They　took　some　scraps　of　money；　locked　the　cage　and　shifted　the　waiting　line　over　to　the　next　cage　and　bined　the　money　left。
　　　The　little　balls　rolled　with　their　unmistakable　ringing　sort　of　whir。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　closed　another　cashier's　cage；　shunted　the　line。　They　were　consolidating　any　remaining　cash。
　　　It　was　10：18。　The　man　in　the　tuxedo　went　rapidly　to　the　three　croupiers。　Each　said　something　to　his　roulette　players。　Each　table　did　just　one　more　spin。　Chips　were　paid　just　one　more　time。　Then　green　covers　were　tossed　over　the　tables　and　the　wheel。
　　　It　was　10：20！
　　　The　last　keno　number　was　called　over　the　P。　A。　Then　another　voice　came　on。
　　　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　the　casino　is　closed！〃

Chapter　8

　　　The　sounds　of　all　games　and　devices　faded　out。　The　crowd；　quiet　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　began　to　talk　and　move　toward　the　remaining　open　cashier's　cage。
　　　The　line　was　very　long。　People　were　standing　there　in　it；　holding　their　chips。　The　man　in　the　tu