lrh.fortuneoffear-第27章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　〃Elegance　is　the　watchword；　Mister　Calico；〃　she　was　saying。　〃Now　let's　do　it　again。　Saunter　along…one；　two；　three；　four…without　a　care　in　the　world。　Then　FLIP！　Takes　the　audience　by　surprise。　Now　here　we　go　again：　one；　two；　three；　four。。。〃
　　　What　a　silly　woman！　She　was　still　talking　to　it　in　Standard　Voltarian　and　it　was　still　an　Earth　cat！　Couldn't　possibly　understand　her。
　　　And　if　this　was　all　she　was　doing；　it　was　certainly　no　threat　to　me。
　　　The　cat　must　have　done　a　perfect　flip。　She　petted　it　and　Mister　Calico　purred。
　　　〃All　right；〃　said　the　Countess。　〃That's　enough　acrobatics　for　today。　Now　let's　review　yesterday's　lesson。　Go　get　a　newspaper。〃
　　　She　opened　the　door　a　crack。　That　cat　wasn't　so　smart　after　all。　Had　to　have　doors　opened　for　it。
　　　The　cat　went　out　into　the　office。　It　sprang　up　on　a　bar　stool。　A　stack　of　newspapers　was　there。　The　cat　caught　the　edge　of　one　in　its　teeth　and　worried　it　off　the　bar。　The　paper　hit　the　floor　with　a　plop。　The　cat　jumped　down　and　again　bit　into　the　corner　of　it　and；　walking　sideways；　got　it　through　the　boudoir　door。
　　　The　Countess　closed　the　door。　〃That's　fine。〃　She　knelt　on　the　floor。　〃Now　turn　it　over　so　I　can　read　it。〃
　　　The　cat；　with　teeth　and　paws；　turned　the　newspaper　over。
　　　It　wasn't　really　a　newspaper。　It　was　the　weekly　news　magazine；　the　National　Expirer。　I　guess　the　cat　liked　spicy　reading。
　　　It　didn't　go　smoothly。　The　Countess　flinched　back。　She　gave　the　cat　an　absent　pat。　She　leaned　forward；　reading　the　front　page　story。　It　said：

IS　MISS　AMERICA　SAFE　
FROM　WHIZ　KID　RAPE？

　　　This　probing　question　is　being　passionately　asked　today　by　rape　experts。
　　　After　his　theft　of　Atlantic　City；　the　thing　has　raised　its　ugly　head：　Is　the　reigning　Miss　America；　only　just　crowned　this　autumn　at　Atlantic　City；　now　safe　from　threatened　Whiz　Kid　ravishment？
　　　Many　experts　predict　that　the　Whiz　Kid　will　not　be　able　to　curtail　his　ardor　now　that　Miss　America　is　so　easily　in　his　clutches。
　　　Others；　reviewing　the　measurements　of　Miss　America；　agree　that　no　oversexed　normal　male　would　be　able　to　resist　her　charms。
　　　No　less　an　authority　than　the　press　agent　of　Miss　America　himself　stated；　〃We　have　tried　to　hide　her　photographs　from　his　view　and　we　have　her　in　a　narrow　bed　that　won't　take　two；　but　predictions　of　an　early　roll　in　the　hay　are　rife。〃

　　　The　story　was　acpanied　by　a　full…length；　half…page　picture　of　a　gorgeous；　half…naked　blonde　showing　a　yard　of　leg　enticingly。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　sat　back　on　her　haunches。　She　was　staring　at　the　photograph。　〃Oh；　dear；〃　she　muttered。　〃She　is　beautiful。　Oh；　dear；　and　we're　not　even　married　yet！〃
　　　She　suddenly　folded　the　paper　and　shoved　it　under　the　edge　of　the　rug。　She　said；　〃Cat！　Call　Mamie！〃
　　　There　was　a　phone　on　the　side　table　of　the　couch。　The　cat　jumped　up　beside　it。　I　was　amazed。　A　cat　using　a　telephone？　But　then　I　saw　it　wasn't　remarkable　at　all。　The　phone　was　a　speaker　phone　and　all　you　had　to　do　was　punch　a　button　and　it　came　on　with　a　dial　tone。　Then　it　had　a　row　of　call　buttons　on　a　panel　beside　it　and　all　you　had　to　do　was　touch　one　button　and　it　automatically　dialled　a　whole　number。　Anybody　can　do　that。　Just　two　buttons。
　　　〃President　and　General　Manager　Boomp　here；〃　came　out　of　the　phone　speaker。
　　　〃Meow；〃　said　the　cat。　Well；　at　least　it　didn't　say　〃Hello〃　in　Voltarian。　That　would　have　been　a　Code　break　for　sure！
　　　The　Countess　gave　the　cat　a　stroke　and　sat　down　on　the　couch。　〃Hello；　dear。　This　is　Joy。　You　know　that　dinner　you　were　inviting　us　to　attend　this　week？　Well；　I　just　called　to　say　Jettero　is　very；　very　busy　and　can't　possibly　e　down　to　Atlantic　City。〃
　　　〃Oh；　that's　too　bad。〃
　　　Krak　said；　〃How　are　things；　dear？〃
　　　〃Oh；　just　fine；〃　said　Mamie。　〃That　（bleeped）　Mafia　had　all　the　gambling　devices　rigged　and　they　were　paying　off　only　to　their　own　henchmen　and　shills；　but　we　reversed　the　policy　and　only　let　popular　people　win…pretty　girls　we　can　get　good　pictures　of　and　such。　You　should　see　them　flocking　in。〃
　　　〃Well；　well；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃That　confirms　it。　We　won't　be　down；　dear。　e　up　to　New　York　any　time。　Bye…bye。〃　To　the　cat　she　made　a　gesture　and　it　punched　the　disconnect　button。
　　　〃Hmm；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃This　requires　some　heavy　thinking；　Mister　Calico。　That's　the　end　of　your　training　for　today。〃
　　　She　sat　there　for　a　while；　staring　at　nothing。　Then　she　primped　her　hair；　smoothed　out　her　eyebrows；　straightened　up　the　expensive　lounge　suit　she　was　wearing　and　went　out　into　the　office。　She　sat　down　in　the　chair　across　from　Heller。
　　　He　became　aware　of　her；　looked　up　and　smiled。
　　　〃Dear；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　〃exactly　what　are　your　plans　for　getting　us　home？〃
　　　I　flinched。　I　knew　what　she　had　her　mind　on。　Those　〃Royal〃　forgeries。　Until　they　were　presented　and　hers　was　signed；　she　thought　she　could　not　get　married。　The　last　thing　I　wanted　was　a　push　toward　concluding　Mission　Earth！　They　could　get　me　shot！　I　wished　she　realized　that　any　effort　to　present　those　forgeries　would　also　get　her　shot；　but　I　dared　not　tell　her。
　　　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；　darling；〃　said　Heller。　〃I　guess　I　haven't　been　very　exact　in　telling　you　about　my　planning。　You　see；　I'm　supposed　to　put　this　planet　in　a　condition　that　will　continue　to　support　life。
　　　〃The　first　thing　they　need　is　a　fuel　that　doesn't　pollute。　The　oil　panies　are　insisting　that　everyone　burn　chemical…fire　fuels　that　smoke　and　get　soot　and　poison　gases　into　the　atmosphere。　Until　they　have　and　are　using　a　better　energy　source；　it's　useless　to　do　anything　else　to　salvage　the　planet。
　　　〃Also；　to　do　any　real　building　or　feed　the　populations；　they　need　more　fuel　than　is　being　made　available。　The　inflation　you　run　into　is　also　because　of　the　high　cost　of　fuel；　which　monthly　bees　more　expensive。
　　　〃So　（a）　they　are　getting　dirty　and　making　fresh　air　scarce　by　using　dirty　fuel；　（b）　they　are　short　on　real　fuel　and　can't　build　cheap　sewage　plants；　and　（c）　they　are　unable　to　control　their　economy　because　they　have　such　expensive　fuel。
　　　〃So；　whatever　else　needs　fixing；　they　are　going　up　in　smoke　unless　they　have　and　use　proper　technology。〃
　　　〃Very　good；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak；　〃then　what　are　your　plans　for　getting　us　home？〃
　　　〃Oh；　you　mean　my　immediate　program？　Well；　it　goes　like　this：　（1）　They　won't　listen　to　anybody　who　doesn't　have　a　diploma。　And　in　a　very　few　months　now；　I　should　have　that。　（2）　I　am　working　on　carburetors　and　fuels　within　this　culture's　own　scientific…use…capability　framework　and　should　be　able　to　produce　these。　（3）　I　need　spores　to　clean　up　the　particles　and　poison　gases　in　the　planet's　atmosphere。　I　asked　Gris　for　a　cellologist　and　you　say　Crobe　is　learning　English　and　will　be　here　soon；　so　that's　in　train。　（4）　I　have　some　other　things　to　do　to　prevent　continent　immersion　by　floods。　And　（5）　to　set　up　anything　as　massive　as　planetary　fuel　conversion　requires　billions　of　dollars。〃
　　　〃Yes；　dear；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃I　find　that　all　very　interesting。　But　could　you　tell　me　what　you　are　doing；　right　now；　to　get　us　home？〃
　　　Heller　looked　at　her　a　bit　defensively。　〃Just　now；　I　was　listing　the　contemporary　content　of　atmospheric　pollutants：　carbon　dioxide；　carbon　monoxide；　sulfur　dioxide；　hydrocarbons；　nitrogen　oxides　and　particles　from　various　burning　and　industrial　sources。　You　see；　aside　from　making　it　increasingly　difficult　to　breathe；　these　block　the　sun　out。　They　also　hold　reradiated　solar　reflection　in。　One　gets　a　heating　and　a　cooling　factor　at　the　same　time。　But　the　planet　has　been　warming　up　gradually　over　the　last　century　and　this　is　connected　to　increased　industrialization。　The　main　danger；　however；　is　that　these　particles　do　not　permit　adequately　large　water　drops　to　form　and　so　there　is　an　increasing　scarcity　of　rain。　Aridity　is　a　factor　in　reducing　life…support　capability。。。。〃
　　　〃That　is　very　fascinating；　Jettero。　And　I　am　very　glad　to　know　it。　However；　looking　at　this　head　on；　so　to　speak；　what　could　you　DO；　RIGHT　NOW；　to　speed　up　your　program？　Some　VITAL　point　you　could　PUSH　on。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　suppose　I　ought　to　be　working　on　how　to　make　some　money。　If　Izzy　doesn't　e　through；　we'll　even　lose　these　offices。〃
　　　〃Oh；　Jettero。　I　could　buy　what　we　need　with　my　credit　card。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I'm　afraid　the　finance　required　is　way　out　of　the　range　of　a　credit　card。　We　need　billions。　We　have　to　set　up　a　spore…release　plant。　We　have　to　get　Chryster　Motor　Corporation　out　of　the　hands　of　IRS　and　get　it　producing　carburetors。　Such　things　really　require　billions　and　billions。〃
　　　Krak　looked　very　determined。　She　said；　〃No　more　Atlantic　City！〃
　　　Heller　looked　shocked。　〃Oh；　dear；　no！〃
　　　She　tapped　the　edge　of　the　desk　with　her　finger。　〃Plans　get　executed　when　they　are；　at　least；　worked　on。　Even　a　little　bit　at　a　time。　You　don't　have　to　wait　until　you　graduate　to　make　billions。〃　She　wagged　her　finger　emphatically　at　him。　〃I　think　you　had　better　get　very　busy；　Jettero；　and　make　these　billions　right　away。　And　do　it　in　a　manner　that　does　NOT　include　ANY　Miss　Americas！　Not　a　single　one！〃
　　　I　really　had　to　laugh。　She　was　pushing　on　him；　yes。
　　　But　after　the　fiasco　he　had　just　made　I　had　no　fears　at　all　that　he　would　suddenly　e　up　with　pots　of　money。　All　the　money　he　had　gotten　so　far　was　hit　money　put　up　to　waste　him　that　he；　by　luck；　had　gotten　into　his　own　hands。　High　finance　is　an　entirely　different　variety　of　slaughter。　The　hit　men　there　wear　top　hats　and　are　very　suave　and　clever　and　they　do　their　shooting　cunningly　across　desks。　It　was　wholly　out　of　his　field。　He　didn't　have；　in　my　opinion；　the　ghost　of　a　chance。
　　　Billions；　indeed！
　　　What　amateurs　they　were　pared　to　me　and　the　huge　coup　I　had　just　pulled　off。
　　　I　loaded　the　recorders　with　strips。　I　dropped　the　blanket　on　them。　Let　them　stew。　I　had　my　own　high　expectations。　Madison　was　on　the　job。　And　I　had　Crobe　in　reserve。
　　　And　one　day；　when　they　had　loafed　around；　Heller　and　Krak　would　be　caught　up　with　the　order　from　Lombar　that　it　was　time　to　slay。
　　　It　was　high　time　I　took　some　air　and　saw　what　daylight　looked　like　once　more！

Chapter　6

　　　It　was　bitter　cold　but；　for　all　that；　a　bright　and　sunshiny　day。　The　shrubs　in　the　villa　yard　were　all　bound　up　for　winter　like　corpses　in　shrouds　and　not　a　single　songbird　was　in　sight。　Beautiful。
　　　I　stretched　my　arms　and　inhaled　deeply。
　　　I　stopped　right　there。
　　　I　gaped。
　　　Was　that　a　lootive　in　the　yard？
　　　The　CAR！
　　　I　let　out　my　breath　in　a　swoosh。　My　Gods；　but　it　was　big！
　　　There　it　stood；　blocking　the　whole　gate。　Seen　head　on；　the　vertical　chrome　slats　of　the　custom　radiator　grill　looked　like　the　cowcatcher　on　a　train。
　　　I　sped　forward；　travelling　to　one　side　so　that　I　could　see　it　in　profile。
　　　Half　a　block　long！
　　　The　black　paint　was　a　little　dull　but；　oh；　did　that　limousine　have　lines！　Classic！
　　　Blazoned　on　the　door　was　the　scarlet　eagle；　wings　outstretched；　wearing　horns；　wild…eyed　and　savage。
　　　My；　was　I　impressed！
　　　I　rushed　around　to　the　other　side。　Another　eagle。
　　　I　opened　the　rear　door。　What　space！　All　along　the　other　side　was　a　kind　of　bunk。　The　back　of