lrh.fortuneoffear-第4部分

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　　　I　only　had　a　stungun；　a　couple　of　800…kilovolt　blasticks　and　a　Knife　Section　knife　on　me。　Suicide　to　go　up　against　the　Countess　Krak　with　only　those。　Maybe　if　I　rushed　down　to　the　base　I　could　persuade　an　assassin　pilot　to　bring　his　Space　Battle　Mobile　Flying　Cannon　up　here　and　blow　the　hospital　to　bits。　And　then　I　shook　my　head：　that　might　take　care　of　a　space　battleship　but　would　it　faze　the　Countess　Krak？
　　　There　was　only　one　thing　I　could　do　and　I　did　it。　I　sat　there　and　suffered。　She　had　tricked　me。

Chapter　2

　　　My　watch　got　into　my　view　as　I　wrung　my　hands。
　　　It　was　only　two　hours　to　plane　time！
　　　If　I　worked　fast　and　accurately；　I　could　at　least　get　her　out　of　Turkey。　To　Hells　with　what　happened　to　New　York！
　　　I　got　out　her　tickets　and　expense　money。　Then　I　paused。　They　usually　issued　five　hundred　dollars　to　the　traveller　here　at　the　base　in　case　there　were　emergencies　and　he　had　to　e　back。　I　opened　the　envelope　intended　for　her。　A　taxicab　could　cost　up　to　fifty　dollars　from　John　F。　Kennedy　Airport　to　New　York。　I　would　leave　her　fifty。　I　put　the　other　four　hundred　and　fifty　in　my　own　wallet。　I　was　broke；　oh　so　very　broke。　It　was　quite　wele。　And　she　deserved　to　get　a　trick　for　a　trick。
　　　Raht。　I　had　to　get　him　off　on　the　same　plane。　I　took　the　activator…receiver　and　the　831　Relayer　and　put　them　in　their　cases。　I　picked　up　his　ticket　and　money。　As　an　afterthought；　I　took　four　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　of　his　money　and　put　it　in　my　own　pocket。
　　　I　raced　down　to　his　room。　He　was　just　getting　up　but　he　flinched　back　into　bed　when　he　saw　me。
　　　〃Vacation　is　over；　you　loafing　bum；〃　I　told　him。　〃You're　outward　bound　for　New　York　on　this　morning's　plane。　There　will　be　a　woman　on　it；　in　a　hood；　cape　and　veil；　passport；　U。　S。；　name；　Heavenly　Joy　Krackle；　height；　five　feet　nine　and　a　half　inches；　blond　hair；　blue　or　gray　eyes　depending　on　whether　she　is　trying　to　get　something　out　of　you　or　about　to　kill　you。　Keep　this　unit　within　two　hundred　miles　of　her　at　all　times　and　after　you　leave　Istanbul；　turn　on　the　switch　on　this　one。　Mark　this　unit　K　so　you　don't　get　them　mixed　up　if　the　two　people　separate。〃
　　　〃This　is　not　very　much　money；〃　he　said；　holding　up　the　fifty…dollar　bill。　〃Have　they　cut　down　on　travel　funds？　I　think　I've　got　time　to　get　over　to　the　base　and　contact　Faht　Bey　before　plane　time。　I'll　need　money　to　live　in　New　York。〃
　　　（Bleep）　him。　Sly。　I　was　up　to　it；　however。　I　snatched　up　a　tablet　of　prescription　blanks；　whipped　out　my　identoplate　and　rapidly　stamped　the　whole　pad　on　the　lines　where　it　said　Doktor__。　〃Fill　these　out　and　hand　them　in　to　the　New　York　office。　They'll　give　you　money。〃
　　　〃I　hope　I　can　buy　food　with　phenobarbital；〃　he　said。
　　　I　looked　at　him。　Actually；　he　appeared　years　younger　after　his　treatment　and　repair。　Healthy　for　a　change。　〃You're　too　fat；〃　I　said。　〃Fat　from　lying　around　doing　nothing。　And　you've　let　your　mustache　grow。　She　is　not　to　recognize　you！　Shave　it　off！〃　I　knew　that　would　get　him。　It　was　his　pride　and　joy；　sticking　out　straight　on　either　side。
　　　He　flinched。
　　　I　whipped　out　my　Knife　Section　knife　from　the　back　of　my　neck；　so　quick　he　didn't　even　see　how　it　had　appeared　in　my　hand。　I　made　a　gesture　at　the　mustache。
　　　He　wailed　and　ducked。　〃I'll　shave　it！　I'll　shave　it！〃
　　　That　was　better。　I　had　him　under　control。
　　　I　rushed　back　to　Prahd's　office。　I　looked　at　the　viewer。　She　was　leaving　the　warehouse；　three　big　cases　in　her　hands。　I　didn't　have　much　time。
　　　With　fast　motions；　I　grabbed　the　odds　and　ends　of　the　bug　set　that　was　left。　I　raced　out　into　the　hall。　By　opening　a　couple　of　doors　on　patients　just　awakening；　I　found　a　third：　it　was　an　unused　interview　room。　I　dumped　the　viewer　and　box　in　a　cabinet　and　locked　it。　I　closed　the　room　up。　I　went　back　to　Prahd's　office　and　got　her　grip。　I　raced　down　to　the　private　room　she　had　occupied。　Slowing；　I　sauntered　in。
　　　Prahd　was　there　all　shaved　and　bed　and　in　a　fresh　doctor's　coat。
　　　Krak　entered　the　door　with　her　cases。　En　route　she　had　picked　up　the　two　hypnohelmets。　She　looked　like　a　walking　baggage　rack。　Prahd　hastened　to　take　things　from　her　and　put　them　on　the　bed。
　　　Her　eyes　were　bright。　She　did　not　look　like　a　person　is　supposed　to　look　after　an　operation。　She　stretched　out　her　arm　to　free　it　from　the　cloak。　She　said　to　Prahd；　〃I　peeked　under　the　bandage；〃　and　she　indicated　her　wrist。　〃You　seem　to　have　gotten　rid　of　my　scars。　And　I　seem　to　have　my　tan　back。　I　think　you　did　a　wonderful　job。　And　look　at　my　teeth　gleam。〃　She　showed　him。
　　　I　flinched。
　　　But　Prahd　beamed　and　dug　his　toe　into　the　floor　like　a　wriggling　little　boy。　Idiot。　She　had　taken　him　in　entirely！〃I'm　so　happy　you're　pleased；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　an　honor　indeed　to　serve　such　a　lovely　patient。　You　can　take　all　the　cups　and　bandages　off　by　midafternoon。　They're　just　there　to　take　the　redness　out。〃
　　　He　was　looking　at　the　cases。　They　were　white　cases　and　they　had　Zanco　on　the　side　of　them；　in　Voltarian。　A　real　potential　Code　break。　I　couldn't　stop　her　from　taking　them！
　　　〃Wait　right　there；〃　Prahd　said。　He　rushed　out　at　speed　and　was　back　in　a　flash。　He　had　a　whole　box　of　assorted　decals　in　his　hands。　He　sorted　through　them。　He　chose　half　a　dozen。
　　　Using　water　from　the　washbasin　he　fixed　them　on　the　cases　and　the　hypnohelmet　boxes；　covering　the　Zanco　labels。　He　put　the　sixth　one　on　her　grip。　They　said：

WORLD　HEALTH　OPERATION
LABORATORY　SPECIMENS
HANDLE　WITH　CARE
DO　NOT　X…RAY
INTERNATIONAL　DISEASE　CONTROL　
TURKEY

　　　They　had　red　crosses　and　red　crescents　on　them　and　the　United　Nations　symbol。
　　　He　got　a　seal　out　of　the　box　and　fastened　the　three　cases　shut　with　wire　and　lead　and　the　W。H。Op。　symbol。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃if　anybody　stops　you；　tell　them　you're　on　your　way　to　the　International　Disease　Control　Laboratory　in　New　York。　That's　where　we　send　specimens。　Tell　them　the　cases　contain　hermetically　sealed　bottles　of　spinal　meningitis。〃
　　　〃Spinal　meningitis；〃　she　repeated。　〃I　can't　thank　you　enough；　Doctor；　for　all　your　treatment　and　assistance。〃
　　　〃It　has　been　a　pleasure　to　serve　your　ladyship。〃　He　bowed。　Gods；　you'd　think　he　was　in　a　Royal　court！〃A　pleasant　journey　and　happy　return。〃　I　sure　didn't　share　the　latter　sentiment。　Once　the　Countess　Krak　left　here　she　would　be　gone　for　good！　He　actually　backed　out　of　the　door！
　　　She　was　packing　the　greatcoat　and　spacer　coveralls　in　her　grip。　I　had　to　get　her　out　of　here。　Just　being　near　her　made　my　hands　shake。　I　got　out　her　ticket　and　passport。
　　　〃That's　your　name　for　this　planet；〃　I　said。
　　　She　looked　at　the　passport。　〃Heavenly　Joy　Krackle！〃　she　said。　〃I'd　guess　you　thought　of　that；　Soltan。　How　sweet　of　you！〃
　　　〃And　here's　your　money。　You'll　need　it　for　cab　fare　at　the　other　end。〃　I　gave　her　the　fifty　dollars。
　　　She　looked　at　it　curiously。　And　I　will　say　that　modern　U。　S。　money；　a　dingy　blackish　green　on　gray…green　paper；　does　not　pare　very　well　in　appearance　to　the　gold　gleam　of　Voltar　currency。　She　was　looking　at　the　picture。　〃Grant？　In　English；　that　means　'give　away。'　This　bill　can't　be　very　valuable　if　they　just　give　them　away。　How　much　is　this　worth　in　credits？〃
　　　〃They　don't　know　of　us　yet；〃　I　said；　〃so　the　U。　S。　dollar　doesn't　exchange　against　credits。　But；　at　a　guess；　one　dollar　is　about　one…fifth　of　a　credit。〃
　　　〃Oh；　dear；〃　she　said。　〃This　is　only　ten　credits；　then。　I　don't　have　any　clothes；　Soltan。　I　mustn't　let　Jettero　see　me　like　this！　Can't　you　at　least　loan　me　some　money？〃
　　　In　no　manner　whatever；　I　thought。　This　was　the　cream　of　the　jest。　In　my　recent　trip　to　the　U。　S。　I　had　found　to　my　agony　what　women　would　spend　on　clothes。　But；　thanks　to　my　exploits；　Heller　was　pretty　flat。　A　few　pretty　dresses　and　fur　coats　would　break　him。　I　was　exporting　financial　ruin　to　him。　And　he　deserved　it　for　all　the　trouble　he　made。
　　　I　must　have　spent　too　much　time　gloating。　She　was　speaking　again。　〃Soltan；　I　know　you　are　the　handler　for　Mission　Earth。　You　made　that　very　plain　back　at　Spiteos　when　you　brought　Jettero　to　me　to　language…train。　A　mission　handler　also　handles　mission　expenses。　I　know　that　your　boss；　Lombar　Hisst；　thinks　this　is　a　pretty　important　mission。　He　told　me　so　when　I　left。　He　said　I　was　being　sent　to　make　sure　the　person　on　the　mission　was　happy　and　not　too　overworked。　And　I　know　from　the　secret　documents　you　showed　me；　His　Majesty　thinks　it　is　very　important；　too。　So　I　can't　imagine　their　skimping　on　finance　for　it！〃
　　　His　Majesty　indeed！　If　she　only　knew：　Those　〃Royal　Proclamations〃　that　guaranteed　her　and　Heller　a　happy　life　back　on　Voltar　were　mere　forgeries　I　had　created　to　trick　her。　I　had　to　get　her　off　the　subject。
　　　Inspiration　struck。　〃Actually；　Countess；　they　don't　use　money　on　this　planet　very　much。　They　have　a　thing　called　credit　cards。〃　Oh；　man；　was　I　going　to　mess　Heller　up！〃The　thing　for　you　to　do　is　get　yourself　a　whole　stack　of　credit　cards　and　use　them　all　you　want。　Just　buy；　buy；　buy！　That's　the　way　it's　done。　So　when　you　get　to　New　York；　use　credit　cards　and　buy　anything　you　please。　Load　yourself　up！〃
　　　〃Credit　cards？〃　she　said。　〃That　means　'money'　cards。　Oh；　is　THAT　what　the