lrh.fortuneoffear-第26章

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　　　〃Old　enough；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Kids　under　eighteen　aren't　allowed　in　here；〃　said　one。　〃You　got　any　I。D。？〃
　　　〃Right　here；〃　said　Heller。　He　pulled　out　a　driver's　license　and　passport。　He　handed　them　over。
　　　〃Johnny　Cattivo；〃　read　one　of　the　floor　men。　〃Twenty…two。〃
　　　〃Hey；〃　said　the　other　one；　〃there's　a　Cattivo　in　the　Faustino　mob。　Any　relation？〃
　　　〃We　had　a　breakup；〃　said　Heller。　〃We　were　wrenched　apart。〃
　　　The　two　men　looked　at　Heller　rather　oddly。　They　gave　him　back　the　I。D。　and　walked　off。　I　suddenly　remembered　Cattivo　was　one　of　the　mob　that　had　tried　to　kidnap　Heller　at　the　garage　in　Spreeport。
　　　Meanwhile；　a　dopey　croupier　at　table　two　suddenly　realized　he　had　paid　Krak　several　times。　He　gave　a　signal　to　the　man　at　the　wheel。　That　one　suddenly　threw　the　ball　in　the　opposite　direction　around　the　rim　and　quite　obviously　reached　down　to　tamper　with　the　result；　probably　a　magnetic　device　under　the　table。
　　　The　number　came　up　exactly　where　Krak　had　her　money…on　5。　Heller's　system　was　even　beating　a　crooked　wheel！
　　　Three　men　and　a　woman　had　caught　on　that　Heller　always　won。　They　started　placing　bets　alongside　of　his；　riding　his　coattails。
　　　Heller　let　it　go　that　time　and　they　all　won。　But　the　next　time　at　the　next　table；　still　followed　by　the　four；　he　put　a　thousand…dollar　chip　on　the　wrong　number　and　with　a　great　demonstration。　It　lost。　They　stopped　following　him。
　　　Back　and　forth；　back　and　forth。　The　big　sacks　were　getting　fuller　and　fuller。
　　　There　was　a　wait　at　one　of　the　several　cashier　windows　for　Krak。　Suddenly　two　armed　guards　rushed　into　the　cage　and　handed　the　man　there　a　flat　case　full　of　money。　The　cashier　signed　for　it　and　then　paid　Krak。
　　　Back　and　forth；　back　and　forth。　Win；　win；　win；　win；　win！
　　　By　half　past　five；　each　had　a　bulging　sack。　They　met。
　　　〃This　is　hard　work；〃　the　Countess　said。　〃Can　we　go　to　dinner　now？　I　got　so　involved；　I　didn't　even　hear　Mamie　sing。　I've　got　these　new　boots　on　and　my　feet　are　killing　me！　I　never　knew　before　that　winning　all　the　time　required　that　you　walk　fifty　miles；　too！〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃All　right。　We'll　refuel　and　get　back　at　it　again。　I　don't　think　there's　more　than　half　a　million　in　each　of　these　two　bags。　If　we　can　push　it　to　two　million　tonight；　we'll　have　Izzy　out　of　the　woods。〃
　　　〃Won't　they　run　out　of　money　here？〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃I've　seen　them　bringing　some　in　from　the　bank　or　their　other　casinos；〃　said　Heller。　〃That's　their　problem。　Let's　eat。〃

Chapter　6

　　　Mamie　Boomp　had　already　nailed　down　a　big　booth　in　the　far　corner　of　the　large；　posh　dining　room。　She　waved　them　over。　They　threw　their　sacks　down　on　the　semicircular　red　leather　seat　and　sat　down；　one　on　either　side　of　her。
　　　〃I　didn't　hear　you　sing；〃　said　the　Countess。
　　　〃I　didn't　sing；〃　said　Mamie。　〃We're　going　on　strike　until　we　get　paid。　There's　only　thirty　of　us　in　the　stage　show　but；　Mafia　or　no　Mafia；　we　can　take　them　on。　Four　other　casinos　belong　to　the　same　crowd　and　they'll　be　walking　out　too；　tomorrow。　Let's　eat。　It　may　be　a　long　time　between　pheasants　under　glass。〃
　　　As　they　were　a　bit　early；　they　had　no　trouble　getting　served。　They　had　steamed　clams　and　broiled　lobster　and　Heller　showed　Krak　how　you　used　a　fork　and　how　you　used　a　claw…cracker　and　a　lobster　meat　pick。　Mamie　was　so　busy　piling　up　the　clamshells　she　didn't　even　notice　that　it　might　seem　strange　that　Heavenly　Joy　Krackle　from　Sleepy　Hollow；　New　York；　thought　it　was　pretty　primitive　not　to　have　electric　knives　and　suction…plunger　tongs　and　proper　spray　cans　to　season　the　food　correctly。
　　　Krak　was　being　a　good　sport　about　it。　〃If　you　kind　of　pretend　you're　camping　out；〃　she　said；　gesturing　with　a　fork　at　the　posh　and　ornate　dining　hall；　〃it's　kind　of　fun。　And　this　is　delicious　seafood。　Do　they　cook　it　on　the　beach？　I　can　taste　the　sea　salts。〃
　　　〃It　es　from　the　sea；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Really？〃　said　Krak。　〃Not　from　proper　tanks？　Hey；　now；　they　must　have　boat　people　that　fish　in　the　sea！　Say；　Jettero；　I　just　remembered　that　there　were　some　boat　people　that　came　with　Prince　Caucalsia。　They　must　have　settled　here。　That's　why　it's　called　Atlantic　City。　Mamie；　you　know　all　the　answers。　Is　that　a　fact？〃
　　　〃You　bet　I　do　know　the　answers；〃　said　Mamie。　〃That's　why　I'm　advising　you　to　order　cherry　tarts。　I'm　on　a　diet　and　have　to　watch　my　sweets。　Call　the　waiter　over；　sailor。　I'll　have　to　content　myself　with　half　a　coconut　custard　pie　to　wash　down　my　coffee。〃
　　　Finally；　having　attended　fully　to　her　diet；　Mamie　at　last　sank　back　with　a　sigh。　〃Well；　the　condemned　enjoyed　her　last　dinner；　thanks　to　you；　sailor。　Now；　tell　me　what　you　kids　have　been　up　to。〃
　　　〃I've　worn　myself　out　with　walking；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。　〃Never　wear　new　boots　when　you're　gambling；　Mamie。　Use　some　old　gymnasium　shoes。〃
　　　Heller　said；　〃Miss　Boomp；　how　would　you　like　to　make　some　money？〃
　　　〃Do　bees　prefer　honey？　What　a　silly　question。　What　are　you　up　to？〃　said　Mamie。
　　　〃Ripping　off　the　Atlantic　City　Mafia；〃　said　Heller。
　　　〃Goody；〃　said　Mamie。　〃Turnabout　is　fair　play。　Not　only　they　haven't　paid　us；　I　could　have　had　a　job　in　pictures　but　I　passed　it　up　for　this；　and　the　winter　season　is　a　long　time　between　jobs。〃
　　　〃All　right；〃　said　Heller。　〃I　have　a　list　of　the　winning　numbers　for　the　rest　of　the　night　on　roulette　tables　one；　two　and　three　in　the　casino　upstairs。　You　bet　them　like　I　tell　you　and　you　can　have　ten　percent　of　your　winnings。〃
　　　〃Really？　You　some　kind　of　a　seer？　You　got　a　system？〃
　　　〃I　got　a　system；〃　said　Heller　and　told　her　how　it　worked　and　how　to　cash　in　every　winning　bet。　He　took　out　the　pack　of　black　garbage　bags　and　tried　to　give　her　a　thousand　dollars　for　starting　money。
　　　But　Mamie　looked　at　the　bulging　sacks　they　had　thrown　on　the　seat　beside　them；　opened　one；　peeked　in　and　then　extracted　a　fat　fistful　of　bills。　She　shoved　them　into　her　bosom。　Then　she　reached　over　and　picked　up　the　whole　carton　of　garbage　bags。
　　　〃Ten　percent；　eh？〃　said　Mamie。　〃You　got　yourself　a　deal；　sailor。〃
　　　She　got　up　and　sped　out　of　the　dining　room；　not　impeded　in　the　least　by　her　vast　dinner。
　　　The　Countess　got　up。　She　picked　up　the　two　fat　garbage　sacks。　Heller；　who　had　already　risen　to　let　Mamie　out；　followed　along　behind　her。　She　went　ahead　and　got　interested　in　some　display　photographs　of　Miss　Americas　who　had　won　the　Atlantic　City　beauty　contest　in　former　years。
　　　Heller　stepped　up　to　the　cashier　counter　with　the　check　and　was　paying　the　bill。　His　change　had　just　been　laid　out　when　his　hands　flashed　suddenly。
　　　He　turned。
　　　His　left　hand　held　the　wrist　of　a　waiter　in　a　red　jacket　and　that　waiter　held　Heller's。45　automatic！
　　　The　waiter　had　lifted　the　weapon　out　of　Heller's　back　belt　holster！
　　　But　the。45　was　being　gripped　by　nerveless　fingers。
　　　Heller's　left　hand　closed　tighter。　The。45　dropped　into　Heller's　right　hand。
　　　The　waiter…who　probably　was　no　waiter　at　all；　judging　by　the　silk　shirt　he　wore…was　staring　at　Heller　with　very　agonized　eyes。　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。