lrh.fortuneoffear-第70章

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　very　dark　glasses；　for　all　the　world　as　though　they　would　disguise　her；　and　set　off　after　Heller；　shopping　bag　on　her　arm。
　　　I　was　puzzled。　I　was　getting　two　sets　of　footsteps　in　the　Countess　Krak's　audio。　I　couldn't　make　it　out。　I　turned　Heller's　off　for　a　moment。　Yes；　two　sets　of　footsteps　from　the　Countess　Krak's　speaker。
　　　Very　difficult　to　understand　how　this　was　happening。
　　　She　was　going　along　the　path　at　least　two　hundred　yards　behind　Heller；　pletely　out　of　his　view。
　　　He　was　walking　along　briskly。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　did　not　seem　to　be　the　least　bit　concerned　about　losing　him。
　　　Heller　came　to　a　high　point　in　the　trail。　I　recognized　it。　It　was　the　same　place　he　had　stood　months　before　when　he　had　been　stopped　by　the　gang。　This　time　he　looked　behind　the　trees　to　right　and　left。　Nobody　hiding　there。　But　a　bullet　scar　was　visible。
　　　He　looked　down　into　the　vale。　New　grass　was　just　beginning　to　spring　up。　The　trees　round　about　were　in　bud。
　　　Several　students　were　down　there；　sitting　around　on　broken　trunks　and　stones。
　　　Miss　Simmons　was　standing　behind　a　large；　flat　stump。　It　made　a　sort　of　an　altar　facing　the　class。　A　sacrificial　altar；　I　trusted。
　　　Heller；　unarmed　and　unsuspecting；　walked　down　the　path　to　the　group。　Miss　Simmons　had　spotted　him　from　some　distance　away。　When　he　came　up；　he　would　have　taken　a　place　back　of　the　other　students；　a　bit　off　to　himself。
　　　Miss　Simmons　fixed　him　with　a　cold　eye。　She　pointed　to　a　white　stone　near　the　altar　to　her　right。　She　said；　firmly；　〃Wister；　sit　there。〃
　　　It　was　like　putting　somebody　in　the　dock　reserved　for　the　accused。　Or；　I　hoped；　the　spot　where　they　put　the　condemned　to　hear　sentence。
　　　Miss　Simmons　looked　to　be　in　the　grip　of　considerable　tension。　She　had　on　a　black　topcoat　and　black　slouch　hat。　She　was　not　wearing　her　glasses　and　her　hazel　eyes　were　narrow　and　unreadable　as　she　scanned　the　approach　trail。
　　　Several　more　students　drifted　in。　A　boy　said；　〃Jesus；　this　ain't　easy　to　find；　Miss　Simmons。　I　almost　got　lost。〃
　　　〃Sit　down　right　over　there；　Roger；〃　said　Miss　Simmons　in　a　firm；　unpromising　teacher's　voice。　She　was　pointing　toward　the　others。
　　　A　bit　more　time　passed。　Three　more　students　straggled　in。　A　bit　of　wind　stirred　the　upper　branches　of　the　large　trees。
　　　Miss　Simmons　was　counting　students　aloud。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　was　just　to　the　side　of　the　path　as　it　started　down　into　the　vale。　She　stepped　behind　a　large　tree；　looking　down　at　the　people　in　the　hollow。
　　　The　counting　was　also　sounding　in　the　Countess　Krak's　audio　speaker。　I　wondered　how　this　possibly　could　be。　She　was　too　far　away　for　Miss　Simmons'　voice　to　reach　her。
　　　Then　the　Countess　Krak　reached　up　and　touched　something　and　the　sound　came　in　louder。
　　　THE　GLASSES！
　　　She　was　wearing　an　Eyes　and　Ears　of　Voltar　device；　disguised　as　sunglasses；　that　amplified　distant　sound。　No　wonder　she　could　follow　Heller。　She　had　had　these　focused　on　his　footsteps。
　　　She　reached　up　her　hand　again　to　the　side　of　the　tinted　spectacles　and　suddenly　the　image　of　Miss　Simmons　leaped　into　close…up。　Those　things　were　also　tele…photo！　And　they　looked　like　any　other　pair　of　sunglasses。
　　　〃The　hussy；〃　said　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　〃Twenty…nine；〃　said　Miss　Simmons；　in　a　cold　voice。　〃And　thirty　if　you　count　Wister。　There　are　some　surprises　in　store　for　all　of　you。　We　can　begin。〃
　　　How　ominous！
　　　I　expected　Grafferty　or　at　least　police　to　be　waiting　around　that　wood。　I　hugged　myself。　If　they　were；　they　would　catch　the　Countess　Krak！　Maybe　even　arrest　Heller　for　the　original　eight　murders！

Chapter　10

　　　Miss　Simmons　lifted　up　a　sack　and　placed　it　on　the　tree…stump　altar。　She　wrapped　her　hand　around　a　broken　stick　and　pointed　it　at　Heller。
　　　〃You　sit　right　there；　Wister；　and　don't　you　move　an　inch。　For　you　are　in　for　the　biggest　surprise　of　all。〃
　　　She　rapped　upon　the　tree　stump　with　the　stick。　She　fixed　them　with　a　baleful　eye。　She　said；　〃Gather　round　here；　students…closer；　for　I　have　just　made　a　terrible　discovery。〃
　　　They　shifted　forward　and　sat　in　a　tighter　semicircle　before　her。
　　　The　Countess　Krak　muttered；　〃What　on　Earth　is　this　slut　up　to　now？　She　wasn't　told　to　do　that。〃
　　　I　laughed　aloud　in　glee。　The　Countess　had　not　allowed　for　my　contribution　to　this　day。
　　　Miss　Simmons　spoke；　〃As　all　you　students　know；　my　life　has　been　a　sort　of　hell。〃　She　looked　at　Wister。　Then　back　at　the　small　crowd。　〃I　have　been　burdened　by　a　demon；　a　fiend　so　merciless　as　to　defy　all　the　annals　of　Hell。〃　The　students　clucked　in　sympathy。　She　turned　to　Heller；　〃Sit　right　there；　Wister。〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　sighed　and　looked　back　at　her　class。　〃Now；　students；　a　vile；　foul　trick　has　been　played　on　me。　You　have　all　had　basic　psychology　from　kindergarten　up；　so　you　know　about　HYPNOTISM！〃
　　　A　shudder　went　through　the　Countess　Krak　that　made　her　glasses　wobble。
　　　Miss　Simmons　was　going　on。　〃In　unscrupulous　and　vicious　hands　it　is　a　despicable　and　awful　weapon　against　an　innocent　and　unsuspecting　pawn。
　　　〃Students；〃　she　continued；　〃I　have　been　told；　under　hypnosis；　the　most　disgusting　lies　you　ever　could　imagine！
　　　〃Undiscovered；　they　could　have　ruined　the　remainder　of　my　poor　life。
　　　〃But；　just　yesterday；　a　hidden　and　unknown　friend　opened　my　eyes　suddenly　to　the　TRUTH！〃
　　　〃My　Gods；〃　whispered　the　Countess　Krak。
　　　Miss　Simmons　went　on　in　ringing　tones。　〃Now　listen　to　this；　Wister。　Listen　to　this；　students。　Listen　carefully。　I　received　this　letter。　It　told　me　I　had　been　hypnotized！　Instantly　there　occurred　to　me　the　only　possible　reason…to　undermine　my　sex　life；　to　leave　me　open　to　an　awful　fate。〃
　　　The　Countess　Krak　whispered；　〃That　orgy　was　your　own　craven　appetite；　you　false　tart！〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　brought　the　stick　down　on　the　stump　with　a　thud。　〃I　went　to　the　police。　They　told　me　I　could　only　act　if　I　had　the　evidence。〃　She　leaned　forward　confidentially；　〃I　obtained　it　with　another's　help。　And　I　am　sitting　on　it；　ready　to　take　an　awful　vengeance。　It　is　in　a　secret　place；　ready　to　be　mailed　if　there　is　any　effort　to　do　away　with　me。〃
　　　She　stepped　back　proudly。　〃Oh；　I　have　friends！　You　should　understand　that；　Wister。　You　should　know　that；　students。　And　they　will　support　me　in　this　amongst　the　highest　university　faculties。〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　leaned　forward　impressively　again。　〃You　may　or　may　not　know　that　my　father　holds　the　chair　of　psychology　at　Brooklyn　University。　Ever　since　I　was　a　child　he　has　warned　me　of　designing　males。〃　She　looked　at　Heller　sitting　separately　upon　his　rock。　Then　she　looked　back　at　the　class。　〃My　father　taught　me　every　night　at　bedtime　that　men　were　no　good　and　only　wanted　vile　gratification　of　their　base　desires。〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　looked　at　Heller。　Then　back　at　the　twenty…nine　other　young　men　and　women　of　her　class。　They　were　gazing　at　her　intently；　utterly　absorbed。
　　　Miss　Simmons　plunged　on。　〃So　when　I　got　that　invaluable　letter；　I　realized　at　once　that　when　it　said　I　had　been　subjected　to　hypnotism；　it　was　TRUE！〃
　　　She　rapped　again　with　her　club。　〃When　I　had　been　told　by　the　police　I　needed　evidence；　I　went　directly　home。　I　told　my　mother　and　she　looked　very　sad。　We　went　to　see　my　father。　He　was　downcast；　for　it　is　an　awful　thing！〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　stood　up　straight。　〃My　mother；　God　bless　her；　forced　him　to　tell　me！〃
　　　She　leaned　forward　and　spoke　in　a　hissing　voice。　〃My　father；　that　vile　fiend；　had　hypnotized　me　as　a　child。　Not　just　once　but　repeatedly！〃
　　　Her　face　contorted　in　disgust。　〃He　confessed　that　he　had　told　me　again　and　again　under　trance　that　I　was　FRIGID！　He　told　me　that　if　I　had　a　man　or　experienced　an　orgasm　I　would　go　BLIND！〃
　　　She　banged　the　stick　upon　the　stump。　〃He　is　a　craven　traitor　to　psychology！　It　is　supposed　to　（bleep）　everybody；　not　make　them　frigid！　And　I　am　the　living　proof　that　he　was　mistaken。　Look　at　my　eyes！　No　glasses！　Standing　here；　I　can　see　every　pimple　on　your　dear　faces！〃
　　　Miss　Simmons　stood　back　triumphantly。　And　then　she　stood　in　a　humbled　pose。　〃But　who　do　I　have　to　thank　for　this？〃　She　turned　to　Wister　and　went　over　to　him　and　knelt　be