3

The Major was leaning over the pool table when Kelp was shown in by the ebony man with the light-reflecting glasses, and Prosker was sitting at his ease in a leather chair to one side. Prosker was no longer dressed in pajamas and bathrobe, but was now wearing a neat business suit and nursing a tall drink that tinkled.

The Major said, "Ah, Kelp! Come watch this, I saw it on television."

Kelp walked over to the pool table. "Do you think it's all right to have him walking around?"

The Major glanced at Prosker, then said, "There's nothing to worry about. Mr. Prosker and I have an understanding. He has given me his word not to try to escape."

"His word and a dime will get you a cup of coffee," Kelp said, "but it tastes better with just the dime."

"Additionally," the Major said casually, "the doors are guarded. Now, really, you must watch this. You see, I have the cue ball here, and those three balls against that cushion over there, and that ball down at the far end. Now, I will hit the ball on the right end of those three, and all four will go into four different pockets. Do you think that's impossible?"

Kelp, who had seen the same thing on television several times, with a gradually mounting sense of apathy, was sure it was possible, but why spoil the Major's fun? "You'll have to prove it to me, Major," he said.

The Major gave the broad smile of a man who's been practicing and leaned with careful attention over the table. He sighted along the cue, took a few tentative pokes at the cue ball, then struck. Clack-clack-clackety-clack, balls rolled hither and yon. One plopped into a pocket, two more did, and the fourth hit the shoulder, nearly fell in, but decided at the last second to roll the other way.

"Drat!" said the Major.

"That was almost," Kelp said, to make him feel better. "And I can see now the way it would work. That one pretty near fell in."

"I did it before you came," said the Major. "Didn't I, Prosker?"

"Absolutely," said Prosker.

"I believe you," said Kelp.

"I have to show you," the Major said. "Just a moment now, just a moment."

The Major hurriedly set up the trick again. Kelp, glancing at Prosker, saw him giving a small sympathetic smile. Choosing not to accept the comradeship the smile implied, Kelp looked away again.

The Major was ready once more. He urged Kelp to watch, and Kelp said he would. And he did, praying the Major would make it this time, because he was apparently prepared to keep trying all night long if he had to, in order to do it in front of Kelp.

Clack. Clackety-clackety-clack. Ball number one dropped into a pocket, two and three followed, and number four hit the shoulder, teetered on the edge, spun slowly, reluctantly, and fell into the pocket.

The Major and Kelp heaved simultaneous sighs of relief, and the Major put down his cue stick with obvious pleasure to have it done and over with. "Now," he said, rubbing his hands together, "Dortmunder called last night and said he thought there was a way to do it. That was fast work, very fast. You have a list for me?"

"No list this time," Kelp said. "All we need is cash. Five thousand dollars."

The Major stared. "Five thou-" He swallowed and said, "For God's sake, why?"

"We have to hire a specialist," Kelp said. "We can't do this one like the other ones, we need a specialist. He gets a flat fee of five grand. Dortmunder says you can take it off our payments when we give you the emerald because he's an extra man you didn't count on."

The Major glanced at Prosker, then looked at Kelp again. "I wouldn't have that much cash right now," he said. "How soon do you need it?"

"The sooner we get the money," Kelp said, "the sooner the specialist goes to work."

"Who is this specialist?"

"He calls himself Miasmo the Great."

The Major was taken aback. "What on earth does he do?"

Kelp told him.

The Major and Prosker exchanged a quick startled glance, and the Major said, "You mean on Prosker here?"

"No," Kelp said, not noticing how the word made them both relax. "We don't trust Prosker, he might be able to fake it."

"That's good," Prosker said amiably. "Never be too trusting, that's what I say."

The Major gave him a dirty look.

"We'll go for one of the guards of the bank," Kelp said.

"You have a plan, then," the Major said.

"Dortmunder's worked out another dilly."

"I will have the money by two o'clock tomorrow afternoon," the Major said. "Will someone come by for it?"

"Probably me," Kelp said.

"Fine. And you need no other equipment?"

"No, just the five grand."

"Then," said the Major, moving toward the pool table, "let me show you something else I saw-"

"I'd love to see it, Major, I really would," Kelp said quickly, "but the fact of the matter is, I promised Dortmunder I'd come right back. We've got preparations to make, you know, things to get ready for."

The Major paused beside the table, clearly disappointed. "Perhaps when you come for the money tomorrow," he said.

"That's a good idea," Kelp said, making a mental note to send Murch for the money the next day. "Well, I'll be seeing you, Major. I know my way to the door."

"Until tomorrow," the Major said.

"My best to Greenwood and all the boys," Prosker said cheerfully, and Kelp left the room, closing the door behind him.

The Major turned angrily to Prosker, saying, "You are not amusing."

"They don't suspect a thing," Prosker said easily. "None of them."

"They will if you keep being playful."

"No, they won't. I know where to draw the line."

"Do you?" The Major lit a cigarette with nervous angry movements. "I don't like toying with those people," he said. "It could be dangerous. They could all be very very dangerous."

"That's why you like having me around," Prosker said. "You know I know how to deal with them."

The Major studied him cynically. "Is that why? I wondered why I wasn't keeping you stuffed away in the basement."

"I'm useful, Major," Prosker said.

"We'll see," the Major said. "We'll see."

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