lrh.fortuneoffear-第4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！


furnish　a　person　with　answers；　remended　for　lawyers　whose　clients　are　undergoing　torture：　two…way　radio　connections；　accessory　extra；　a　dart　that　causes　people　to　grow　warm　and　itchy　so　they　will　disrobe　and　you　can　get　divorce　evidence；　a　device　that　puts　picture；　sound　and　emotion　delusions　in　the　brain　so　that　the　person　believes　he　is　crazy；　a　perfume　that　makes　a　person　say　yes　to　anything：　preantidote　capsule　for　user；　accessory　extra；　a　dart　that　can　be　fired　into　walls　up　to　one　mile　away；　thus　planting　an　audio…visio　bug：　purse…size　gun；　accessory　extra；　a　search　device　which　up　to　one　mile　reads　through　clothes　and　makes　the　person　appear　naked：　photographic　attachment　for　lewd　photographs；　accessory　extra；　a　headlight　fitting　which　installed　in　one's　own　headlights　causes　other　drivers　to　act　like　they　are　drunk　and　can　then　be　arrested　for　drunken　driving；　a　field　coil　that　stimulates　the　desire　to　pick　up　money　and　the　person　can　be　arrested　for　stealing。
　　　On　and　on！　Dozens　of　different　types　of　items！
　　　My　hair　stood　on　end！　The　Countess　Krak　had　another　collapsible　Zanco　case　out　and　was　interestedly　putting　one　and　two　of　each　in　it！
　　　She　came　to　a　case　of　miniature　electronic　illusion　projectors：　moving　dancing　girls；　accessory　extra…useful　for　divorce　photographs。　She　took　a　dozen。　She　found　a　case　of　emotional　perfume　bombs　that　cause　people　to　react　with　emotions　that　make　them　say　the　required　things：　packs　of　eight　assorted　emotions…Caution：　point　away　from　self　when　breaking　tip。　She　took　half　a　dozen　packs！
　　　I　was　losing　my　mind！　These　things　in　the　hands　of　the　Countess　Krak！　Earth　might　not　be　a　battlefield　yet　but　it　sure　would　be　when　she　got　through　with　it！
　　　With　savage　intention；　I　rose　up；　ready　to　rush　out　and　halt　this　certainty　of　future　massacres　of　whole　populations。
　　　Then；　with　horror；　I　remembered　the　〃hypnotic　implant〃　she　thought　she　had　given　me。　It　was　〃You　will　let　me　go　wherever　I　want　around　this　hospital　and　nearby　buildings　or　base。　You　will　let　me　pick　up　anything　I　want。〃　And　to　it　she　had　added　〃You'll　let　me　have　whatever　I　take；　no　matter　what　it　is。　You　will　let　me　leave　with　it。〃
　　　If　I　stopped　her　she　would　know　the　hypnohelmet　she　had　used　hadn't　worked　on　me　because　of　the　breaker　switch　I　secretly　carried。　It　could　bring　about　my　death！　For　if　she　ever　suspected　what　I　was　actually　doing；　that　yellow…man　she　destroyed　in　Spiteos　would　have　had　an　easy　demise　pared　to　the　one　she　would　give　me。
　　　I　couldn't　lift　a　finger！
　　　How　had　she　known　of　this　warehouse？　And　then　I　recalled　stating　the　hypnohelmets　were　in　it。　She　had　jumped　to　the　correct　conclusion　that　it　held　all　sorts　of　things。
　　　（Bleep）　Spurk！　I　should　have　killed　him　years　before！
　　　And　the　hypnohelmets！　I　realized　with　horror　that　she　was　going　to　take　those；　too！　And　they　were　perfectly　functional　as　long　as　I　wasn't　within　two　miles　of　them！
　　　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。　H