lrh.fortuneoffear-第24章

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r　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　up　to　get　out　of　the　plane　and　I　could　see　what　they　were　wearing；　a　necessary　datum　for　me　if　they　separated。
　　　I　blinked。　She　was　garbed　in　a　white　fur　hat；　white　boots；　purse　and　gloves。　Her　trousers；　probably　part　of　a　suit；　were　wide…bottomed　and　metallic　blue。　But　it　was　the　fur　jacket　she　had　on　that　set　it　off。　Gray　chinchilla！　Even　though　it　was　only　waist　length；　it　must　have　cost　a　fortune！　Others　might　think　it　a　spectacular　outfit。　I　found　it　only　striking：　at　my　pocketbook！
　　　He　had　on　a　gray　flannel　lounge　suit　and　wore　a　gray　hat　with　a　wide　brim。　He　was　getting　into　a　trench　coat　of　black　leather。
　　　Amongst　the　rest　of　that　crowd；　that　pair　stood　out　like　beacons！　All　the　better！　The　Atlantic　City　Mafia　would　have　no　trouble　at　all　tailing　them　to　recover　any　loot。
　　　They　were　landing　now　and　the　festive　crowd　of　high…rollers　climbed　into　a　ready　bus。
　　　Atlantic　City　thought　it　would　bee　very　prosperous　when；　way　back　in　1976　Earth　time；　New　Jersey　got　the　right　to　have　gambling　casinos。　And；　although　some　new　hotels　were　built　in　this　decrepit　old　carnival　town；　its　great　expectations　did　not　quite　match　up　to　the　public　relations　ballyhoo。　A　drug　runner　had　told　me　all　about　it　when　I　was　on　Earth　before。　The　Mafia　mob　had　gradually　taken　over　the　key　casinos　and；　due　to　their　objections　to　winners；　hopes　of　rivalling　Las　Vegas　had　grown　dim。
　　　They　must　be　pretty　desperate　to　be　running　an　extravaganza　in　the　middle　of　a　New　Jersey　winter。　Those　icy　winds　off　the　Atlantic　Ocean　practically　blew　people　off　the　Boardwalk。　There's　nothing　sadder…looking　than　a　carnival　town　off　season。
　　　Heller　and　Krak　were　no　sooner　out　of　the　bus　than　Krak　spotted　the　name　〃Mamie　Boomp。〃　It　was　in　very　small　letters　at　the　bottom　of　the　biggest　marquee　on　the　biggest　building　which　held　the　biggest　casino。
　　　They　fought　the　wind　and　got　inside。　They　checked　their　hats　and　coats　in　a　cloakroom　and　walked　up　to　a　mezzanine　that　overlooked　the　casino　floor。　There　were　some　tables　and　chairs　along　the　rail。　Heller　chose　one　and　was　about　to　seat　the　Countess　when　she　said；　〃No；　no。　You　go　on　and　do　whatever　you　are　going　to　do。　I'm　going　to　try　for　backstage　and　see　if　I　can　find　Mamie。〃
　　　Heller　sat　down　and　looked　at　the　crowd　below。
　　　I　was　quite　surprised。　There　were　quite　a　lot　of　people　in　the　place；　especially　for　early　afternoon。
　　　It　was　a　pretty　vast　casino。　Just　below　him　were　three　roulette　tables。　They　were　running　and；　while　not　jammed；　were　not　deserted　either。
　　　Heller　turned　and　looked　at　the　mezzanine　around　him。　To　his　right　and　left　were　big　square　pillars；　making　the　place　he　sat　a　sort　of　alcove　at　the　rail。　Behind　him　was　a　very　wide；　carpeted　space。　To　his　right；　a　corridor　went　from　it　deeper　into　the　hotel。　Directly　behind　him；　another　corridor　stretched　away；　seemingly　to　bedrooms。
　　　He　had　been　carrying　a　case。　He　put　it　on　the　table　and　opened　it。　The　first　thing　he　took　out　seemed　to　be　an　adding　machine。　At　least；　it　looke