Now You See It... Part 52

Ca.s.sandra, crying, was removing Harry's gag by then.

"You're alive," she said, incredulous. "Alive."

"Yes, isn't that a nice surprise?" said Max. "A lot more bedding to be savored now."

She didn't even look at him.

The Sheriff took me pistol and me handcuffs from him.

"Never, in me fifty-four years of my life," he said, "have I ever met anyone as sick as you."

"Probably not," my son agreed; and so, unhappily, did I.

Max was not amused, though. It was simply a statement of fact as he (and I) saw it.

"I'd like to shoot you dead where you stand," said Plum in a most unSheriffly way.

"Oh, now you're talking," said Max, nodding with som- ber approval. "That would be a lovely, charitable thing to do. Relieve me of my rapidly dwindling reason d'Stre. Please do. I encourage it."

He pressed me tip of his right index finger to the heart area of his chest.

"Right here," he said.

"Don't tempt me," said the Sheriff, surprising me again.

Harry's gag was off now. Raging, he exploded. "If you won't do it, I will! Just give me the f.u.c.king gun'

"Ah," said Max, "our sweet-tongued Harry is among us once again."

"You son of a b.i.t.c.h!" shrilled Harry. "You lousy, stink- ing, heartless son of-"

"Enough!" Max roared, shutting Harry up, causing him to twitch in startlement. "Be grateful mat I didn't fire a real pistol ball into your heart! That the Scotch was merely drugged! It would have been a simple matter to dispose of you, and I have every reason in the world to wish you dead!

So, shut up. Just don't push your luck! I'm not-"

He broke off with a groan of angry despair.

Now You See h... 175

"Oh, whafs the use?" he said. "Why bother? What's the point in going on?"

He looked around in restless torment, as though search- ing for some quick and simple exit from this life-

Abruptly then, with a sudden, crazed look on his face, he lurched toward the guillotine and, kneeling quickly, thrust his head through the lunette, under the glinting blade. No, I thought

"All right. Harry. Pal," he said, his tone born hating and anguished at once. "Here's your opportunity. Your big chance. To get revenge, get even. Get Ca.s.sandra. Get every- thing."

Harry's bindings had been untied by Ca.s.sandra now. He started toward Max, trembling with fury.

"You think I couldn't do it, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d?" he snarled ferociously. "You mink, if the d.a.m.n thing was real, I wouldn't do it in a second?"

"But it is real. Harry," said my son. A chill around my heart again.

"Sure it is, you p.r.i.c.k," snapped Harry.

"Harry, get away from there," Ca.s.sandra said. My G.o.d, it isn't real, is it? I thought in sudden dread.

"Do it. Harry," Max urged him. "Go ahead-to coin a phrase."

"YOU miserable son of a b.i.t.c.h," said Harry.

He reached for me lever.

"Harry, no!" Ca.s.sandra cried. No/ my mind cried with her.

Too late. Harry was jerking down the wooden lever, the wide blade was hurtling downward, and Ca.s.sandra was screaming.

As Max's head dropped heavily into the basket.

chapter B.

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h, my good G.o.d," muttered Plum.

Harry resembled a man who had just been kicked in the testes by a mule.

He turned to Ca.s.sandra, barely able to speak.

"It's not a trick?" he murmured shakily -

"I told you to get away from there!" she cried.

Harry was staggered; petrified.

"I thought everything in this room was a trick," he whim- pered.

"Well, you were wrong!" she responded.

Jabber away, I thought in agony. Meantime, my son has been decapitated.

Harry turned and stumbled toward the bar, avoiding the sight-as they all did but me-of Max's motionless body lying on the trestle of the guillotine.

Reaching the bar, he picked up the bottle of Scotch and unscrewed its cap.

He started to pour himself a gla.s.sful, then abruptly be- came conscious of what he was doing and lost his grip on

Now You See H. 177