and can lift a considerable load of bombs. She is
the first in a series of aircraft I intend to build."
9 The plane came around, landed on the roadway, and the crowd rushed
forward. A man from The Fox Aircraft Works looked at the plane and
shook his head.
10 "She's pretty," he remarked, "and looks good, but she's only got two
wings. She'll never stand up. They'll be crashing within the first
week. The Church would be wasting its money buying such an unproven
design. It's a wonder it didn't crash right here while we watched it! I
don't even know how it flies!"
11 The head of the procuring committee nodded. "I have to agree! We
can't risk the lives of our pilots and the resources of The Church on such a radical idea. We'll take all
the tanks you can make, but these planes, no! We can't take the risk."
12 "I thought," answered Gray Boar, "we might meet resistance like
this, so I have already built a hundred of these planes, and fully
trained the Pilots to fly them. And I am ready to GIVE them to The
Church on the condition that they allow me to take them into the field
under my command, and fly them against the enemy!
13 I intend to prove that their design IS good, that these planes are
practical and safe. What do you say, ladies and gentlemen? Will The
Church provide me with the fuel and ammunition? What can you lose?"
14 "One-hundred good pilots," argued the Fox representative. The head
of the procuring committee shook his head. "If the pilots have such
faith in this aircraft that they will risk their lives, perhaps we
would give it a chance. But the great expense, sir, that you are
bearing ...how do you expect to get your money back?"
15 "Because," continued Gray Boar, "these aircraft will prove
themselves, and I will build thousands. My ten-per-cent profit will pay
me back for the hundred I