The cold six thousand

BLUE RABBIT,

I have been digesting my July phone call to CRUSADER RABBIT for some time. I could not read his response to my mention of WHITE RABBIT's alleged confession, and perceived his mental state to be problematic.

WHITE RABBIT was, of course, your brother. I have given your repeated assertions that his confession was fabricated considerable thought. You have stated that CRUSADER RABBIT is the only one in our purview capable of such a fabrication, and I cannot in any way dispute that assessment.

CRUSADER RABBIT troubles me. As you have noted, his paramour, Arden Breen/Jane Fentress, disappeared last October and has presumably been killed by members of organized crime. I suspect that her absence and assuredly grisly fate have contributed to CRUSADER RABBIT's funk. You have often characterized CRUSADER RABBIT as a "wimp," but I would add that his propensity for kamikaze action marks him as the world's most dangerous wimp.

All told, I think we should reinstate our spot-surveillance of CRUSADER RABBIT and reinstate our Trash and Mail Covers. These actions will supplant our decision to exclude him from all aspects of OPERATION BLACK RABBIT.

Per the "Shakedown" adjunct:

I veto your recommendation that we target RED RABBIT. RED RABBIT will simply be too wary of entrapment.

The target will be PINK RABBIT. His heedless pursuit of homosexual encounters marks him as more suitable and vulnerable.

BIG RABBIT seems to have recovered from his heart attack. Contact him by 12/1/66.

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/2/66. Miami _Herald_ headline:

KING DECRIES "IMPERIALISTIC" WAR IN VIETNAM

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/4/66. Denver _Post-Dispatch_ headline and subhead:

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11 / 12/66. Atlanta _Constitution_ subhead:

WAR A "MORAL OUTRAGE," KING DECLARES IN SPEECH

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/16/66. Los Angeles _Examiner_ subhead:

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/17/66. San Francisco _Chronicle_ subhead:

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/18/66. Chicago _Sun-Times_ headline and subhead:

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/23/66. Washington _Post_ subhead:

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/24/66. Boston _Globe_ subhead:

HOWARD HUGHES' BIZARRE CROSS-COUNTRY TRAIN RIDE

_DOCUMENT INSERT_: 11/26/66. Las Vegas _Sun_ headline and subhead:

WHAT DOES BILLIONAIRE RECLUSE BODE FOR LAS VEGAS?

Part V

(November 27, 1966-March 18, 1968)

93 (Las Vegas, 11/27/66)

_He's coming_.

He's Mr. Big. He's Howard Hughes. He's the Count of Las Vegas.

Littell watched.

He joined newsmen. He joined camera crews. He joined Joe Vegas. Word leaked. The Count's coming. The train station-1 1:00 p.m.

He's coming. Check track 14. Behold the Drac Express.

The platform rocked. Newsmen cliqued up. Grips wheeled arc lights. Camera guys lugged film.

Littell watched.

He'd braced Drac's Mormons. They talked renovation. They said they'd hit the DI. They said they'd Draculized. They germ-proofed the penthouse. They lugged freezers in. They stocked snacks and treats.

Snow cones/pizza/candy bars. Demerol/codeine/Dilaudid.

They said we launch soon. We negotiate and bargain. We _buy_ the DI. The Boys said _we_ launch soon. _We_ bargain and set the price.

It's large. Drac will balk. Drac will pout. Drac will pay. Drac will stump for a Mormon hegemony. Drac will shout: Mormons must run my casino!

The Boys will renavigate. The Boys will plot. The Boys will decree: Littell must brace Wayne Tedrow Senior.

_They'll_ talk. _They'll_ bargain. Small talk will run cruel. Wayne Senior will tweak him on Janice.

The platform shook. The rails shook. A train whistle blew.

_He's coming_.

A cop van pulled up. Cops got out. Cops hauled equipment. A cop pushed a gurney. A cop wheeled a tent. A cop slung oxygen cans.

Cops shoved newsmen. Cops shoved citizens. Cops pulled cameras back. Newsmen pushed. Newsmen jockeyed. Newsmen shoved back.

Train lights coming-that whistle full blast.

Littell stood tiptoed. A kid jostled him. Littell stepped back. Littell got perspective.

Sparks flew. The train braked. The train stopped and sat. The crowd shoved. Flashbulbs popped. The crowd scattered.

They hit the train. They cupped their eyes. They peeped window slats. Doors cranked open-up and back-the crowd tailed the cop with the gurney.

Littell laughed. Littell knew Drac strategy. Littell knew diversions.

Look:

There's gurney 2. There's tent 2. They're _all_ the way back.

Mormons stepped out. Mormons signaled. Mormons dropped a ramp. Mormons formed a cordon. Mormons pushed a wheelchair. Mormons wheeled Drac.

He's tall. He's thin. He's wearing a Kleenex-box hat.