cc.goldenbuddha-第24节

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east　a　few　decades　before　what　I　had　estimated。　The　voids　date　from　the　twelfth　century　and　later。　You　may　have　something　here　that　defies　accurate　pricing。〃　
　Ho　smiled　his　feral　smile。　He　loved　it　when　he　bested　someone　in　a　deal；　and　he　was　beginning　to　think　he'd　outsmarted　some　of　the　wisest　art　collectors　in　the　world。　At　first；　the　200　million　he'd　paid　had　seemed　like　a　king's　ransomnow　it　was　looking　like　he'd　bought　cheap。　
　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　he　asked。　
　〃I　could　easily　insure　it　for　twice　what　you　are　seeking；〃　Truitt　said；　〃but　of　course　the　premiums　would　reflect　the　increased　value。〃　
　This　was　going　better　than　Truitt　could　have　hopedgreed　had　removed　Ho's　doubt　in　his　identity。　He　had　e　a　stranger；　but　now　he　was　a　friend　bearing　gifts。　Cons　only　work　when　the　mark　wants　to　believe。　Ho　wanted　to　believe。　
　〃But。　。　。　；〃　Ho　said　slowly；　〃if　I　insured　it　for　more；　banks　would　loan　on　the　increased　value。〃　
　〃Yes；〃　Truitt　said；　〃banks　tend　to　follow　our　lead。〃　
　Ho　nodded　slowly。　〃Why　don't　you　figure　the　premiums　on　four　hundred　million。〃　
　〃I　would；　of　course；　need　to　contact　our　main　office　for　the　quotes；〃　Truitt　said；　〃but　I　can　easily　attest　to　the　value。〃　
　Ho　sat　back　in　his　chair。　The　realization　that　he　owned　a　truly　priceless　work　of　art　was　sinking　into　his　soul。　Now　his　ego　needed　stroking。　A　stroking　that　only　other　rich　people　could　give　him。　
　〃I'm　having　a　party　today；〃　he　said。　
　〃I　saw　the　preparations；〃　Truitt　said；　smiling。　
　〃You；　of　course；　are　invited；〃　Ho　said；　〃but　I　was　thinking　of　displaying　the　artifact　to　my　guests。　I　would　feel　more　fortable　if　I　had　a　rider　covering　the　piece　until　I　receive　the　actual　quote。　Just　something　to　cover　today。〃　
　〃You　are；　of　course；　thinking　of　displaying　it　downstairs；〃　Truitt　said。　
　Ho　wasn't；　but　he　was　now。　
　〃Yes；〃　Ho　said。　〃Perhaps　out　on　the　grounds？〃　
　Truitt　nodded。　〃Let　me　make　a　quick　call。〃　
　Ho　pointed　to　his　telephone；　but　Truitt　whipped　out　a　cell　phone　and　hit　the　speed　dial。　〃Samuelson　here。〃　
　〃Richard；　you're　a　magnificent　bastard；〃　the　voice　said。　〃We　have　been　listening　for　the　last　few　minutes　over　the　bug。　Nice　work。〃　
　〃I　need　a　quote　on　a　one…day　rider　to　Mr。　Ho's　policy　to　cover　a　piece　of　art　valued　at　four　hundred　million　until　we　can　e　up　with　an　accurate　figure　for　long…term　coverage。〃　
　〃La　de　dah；　de　dah。　All　right　then；〃　the　operator　on　the　Oregon　said；　〃let　me　make　up　a　number　for　you。　How　about　twenty　thousand　dollars？　Or　whatever　you　decide。　But　I'd　take　the　fee　in　cash　if　I　was　you。　Then　we　can　have　a　party　after　this　is　over。〃　
　〃I　see；〃　Truitt　said；　nodding；　〃so　we　will　require　increased　security。　Hold　on　a　minute。〃　
　Truitt　placed　his　hand　over　the　telephone。　
　Back　on　the　Oregon；　the　operator　turned　to　Hanley。　
　〃Truitt's　red…hot　today；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　not　even　thought　of　that　angle。〃　
　Ho　was　waiting　for　the　adjuster　to　speak。　
　〃The　fee　for　the　rider　for　the　day　will　be　eighteen　thousand　five　hundred　U。S。　But　my　pany　is　insisting　on　increased　security。　Luckily；　we　have　a　local　firm　we　usemy　office　will　contact　them　and　have　some　men　out　here　within　the　hour；　if　that's　okay　with　you。〃　
　〃Does　the　fee　include　the　security　detail？〃　Ho　asked。　
　Truitt　thought　for　a　second；　but　decided　not　to　push。　
　〃The　fee　includes　three　security　guards；　but　we　will　want　the　fee　in　cash；〃　Truitt　said　seriously。　
　Ho　stood　up　and　walked　over　to　his　safe。　〃Sounds　reasonable；〃　he　said。　
　Truitt　smiledthe　offer　was　anything　but　reasonable；　but　Ho　had　no　way　to　know　that。　
　〃I'll　tell　them；〃　Truitt　said。　
　Ho　began　spinning　the　dial　to　his　safe。　
　〃We　have　an　agreement；〃　he　said　to　the　operator　on　the　Oregon；　〃but　we'll　need　the　security　people　here　as　soon　as　possible。〃　
　〃Damn；　you're　good；〃　the　operator　said。　
　〃Yes；　I　am；〃　Truitt　said　quietly；　then　disconnected。　
　Ho　returned　with　two　wrapped　stacks　of　dollars。　Each　strip　read　10；000。　Removing　fifteen　of　the　hundred…dollar　bills　from　one　of　the　stacks；　he　handed　Truitt　the　rest。　Sliding　the　stacks　of　money　into　his　leather　clutch；　he　smiled　at　Ho。　
　〃Do　you　have　a　sheet　of　paper？〃　
　〃What　for？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃I　need　to　write　you　a　receipt；〃　Truitt　said。　
　
　HANLEY　REACHED　FOR　the　telephone　and　dialed　Cabrillo。　〃Dick　Truitt　just　got　us　three　more　men　inside　the　pound；　acting　as　security　guards。〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃and　there　was　no　problem　with　the　appraisal？〃　
　〃He　handled　it　like　the　pro　he　is；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Have　we　got　security　guard　uniforms　in　the　Magic　Shop？〃
　〃Absolutely；〃　Hanley　said。　〃I'll　just　call　Nixon　and　have　him　blast　off　a　jazzy　patch　on　the　embroidery　machine。〃　
　〃Get　on　it；〃　Cabrillo　said　quickly；　〃so　we　can　extract　Truitt。〃
　〃Truitt's　been　invited　to　the　party；〃　Hanley　said；　〃unless　you　want　Oie　to　order　him　out。〃　
　〃Have　him　wait　until　the　fake　security　team　arrives；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃That　way　he　can　verify　their　identity　to　Ho。　Then　have　him　stick　aroundI　have　another　job　for　him。〃
　〃Done；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Cabrillo　disconnected　and　Hanley　dialed　the　Magic　Shop。　〃Kevin；〃　he　said；　〃I　need　three　security　guard　uniforms　with　the　appropriate　badges。〃　
　〃Name？〃　
　Hanley　thought　for　a　moment　before　answering。　〃Make　them　Redman　Security　Services。〃
　〃As　in　Redford　and　Newman？〃
　〃You　got　it；〃　Hanley　said；　〃The　Sting。〃　
　〃It　will　take　me　twenty　minutes　or　so　to　make　the　badges；〃　Nixon　said；　〃but　send　the　three　operatives　down　right　away。　I　can　fit　the　uniforms　while　the　patches　are　forming。〃　
　〃They　will　be　there　shortly；〃　Hanley　said　in　closing。　Hanley　glanced　at　a　clipboard　in　the　control　room。　Most　of　the　Corporation　stockholders　were　already　assigned　to　functions　of　operations；　extraction　or　backup。　His　remaining　choices　were　an　assistant　chef；　Rick　Barrett；　a　propulsion　engineer　named　Sam　Pryor；　and　a　middle…aged　man　who　worked　in　the　armory；　Gunther　Reinholt。　None　had　ever　worked　on　the　operations　end。　But　beggars　can't　be　choosers　〃Get　me　Reinholt；　Pryor　and　Barrett；〃　Hanley　said　to　one　of　the　munications　operators；　〃and　have　them　meet　me　in　the　Magic　Shop。〃　
　The　operator　began　paging　the　men。　
　
　DON'T　WORRY；〃　MURPHY　said　to　Halpert；　〃it　just　smells　like　marijuana。〃　
　Murphy　was　waving　what　looked　like　an　incense　stick　near　the　members　of　the　band　when　Cabrillo　walked　into　the　conference　room…〃Smells　like　a　Grateful　Dead　concert　in　here；〃　he　said。　
　Murphy　walked　closer　and　let　the　smoke　waft　over　the　chairman。　
　〃It's　the　little　things；〃　he　said　with　a　grin；　〃that　makes　the　Corporation　successful。〃　
　〃The　real　band　was　sober；〃　Cabrillo　noted。　
　〃But　Ho　doesn't　know　that。〃　
　Cabrillo　nodded。　〃Listen　up。　Dick　Truitt　has　managed　to　get　three　more　operatives　inside。　The　men　will　be　dressed　as　security　guards。　I'll　have　the　pany　name　shortly。　Be　careful；　because　there　might　be　other　guards　Ho　already　hired。　Don't　slip　up　and　mistake　ours　for　them。〃　
　Just　then；　Cabrillo's　telephone　rang。　He　listened　then　disconnected。　
　〃Redman　Security　is　the　name　on　our　guys'　uniforms；〃　he　said　to　the　group。　
　A　moment　later　Julia　Huxley　walked　into　the　room。　
　〃Wow；〃　Kasim　said。　

　Huxley　was　dressed　in　a　pair　of　form…fitting　leather　pants　that　laced　up　the　side　and　showed　two　panels　of　leg　from　foot　to　hip。　Her　top　was　a　metal…studded　vest　that　barely　covered　her　ample　bosom。　Around　her　neck　was　a　strap　of　leather　with　a　D…shaped　hook；　and　one　of　her　arms　was　decorated　with　a　flowing　tattoo　of　barbed　wire　and　flower　vines。　Her　hair　was　teased　and　coated　with　hair　spray　in　a　wild　fashion　and　her　makeup　was　bold　and　thickly　applied。　Five…inch　pumps　and　a　dusting　of　glitter　on　her　exposed　skin　pleted　the　picture。　　〃Slutty　enough　for　you　boys？〃　she　asked。　
　〃I　didn't　know　the　Magic　Shop　had　such　costumes　in　stock；〃　Hal…pert　said。　
　Huxley　walked　over　to　Halpert　and　rubbed　herself　along　his　side。　
　As　the　lead　singer；　he；　of　course；　was　the　one　who　got　the　girl。　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked。　〃This　is　from　my　own　collection。〃　Huxley　was　lying；　of　coursebut　then　this　entire　operation　was　a　facade。　
　〃Now；　who　would　argue；〃　Kasim　said；　〃that　America's　not　the　greatest　country　in　the　world？〃　
　
　ROSS　WAS　CHECKING　the　smoke　machines　when　Ho　walked　out　onto　the　lawn。　
　〃Miss　Iselda；〃　he　said　as　he　walked　over；　〃I　have　a　new　piece　of　artwork　I've　decided　I　want　to　display　out　here　on　the　lawn。〃　
　Ross　watched　Ho　carefully。　The　man　was　gesturing　toward　one　side　of　the　tent。　He　looked　back　at　her　expectantly。　There　was　no　hint　he　found　anything　amiss。　
　〃Is　it　a　painting？〃　Ross　asked。　
　〃No；　it's　a　statue；〃　Ho　said。　
　Two　workers　were　waiting　alongside　the　colored　lights　near　the　smoke　machine。　
　〃Take　a　break　for　a　few　moments；〃　Ross　said。　The　men　walked　into　the　shade　of　the　tent。　
　〃Describe　it　to　me；〃　Ross　asked。　
　〃Six　foot　tall　and　made　of　gold；〃　Ho　said。　
　Ross　quickly　thought。　〃Perhaps　we　could　place　the　object　there〃　she　pointed　a　few　feet　away〃at　the　end　of　the　red　carpet　leading　into　the　tent。　As　sort　of　a　sentinel。〃　
　Ho　and　Ross　walked　over　to　the　spot。　
　〃I　could　light　it　with　blue　and　red　spotlights；〃　she　said。　
　〃What　else？〃　Ho　asked。　
　Ross　racked　her　brain。　What　could　help　the　Corporation　w