quick boyish grin of his and left.
In many ways Larry was like a small boy, Catherine thought. He could be petulant
and quick-tempered and surly, but he was also loving and generous.
“My luck,” sighed Catherine. “I have to be the only perfect person in the whole
universe.”
She had a busy schedule ahead of her, but she was unable to think of anything but
Larry and his meeting. It was more than just a job. She had a feeling that her whole
marriage hinged on what was going to happen.
It was going to be the longest day of her life.
Pan American headquarters was in a modern building at Fifth Avenue and Fifty-third
Street. Carl Eastman’s office was large and comfortably furnished, and he obviously held
a position of importance.
“Come in and sit down,” he greeted Larry as Larry entered the office.
Eastman was about thirty-five, a trim, lantern-jawed man with piercing hazel eyes
that missed nothing. He motioned Larry to a couch, then sat on a chair across from him.
“Coffee?”
“No thanks,” Larry said.
“I understand you’d like to work for us.”
“If there’s an opening.”
“There’s an opening,” Eastman said, “only a thousand stick jockeys have applied for
it.” He shook his head ruefully. “It’s incredible. The Air Corps trains thousands of bright
young men to fly the most complicated pieces of machinery ever made. Then when they
do their job and do it damn well, the Air Corps tells ‘em to get lost. They have nothing for
them.” He sighed. “You wouldn’t believe the people who come in here all day long. Top
pilots, aces like yourself. There’s only one job open for every thousand applicants—and
all the other airlines are in exactly the same position.”
A feeling of disappointment swept over Larry. “Why did you see me?” he asked
stiffly.
“Two reasons. Number One, because the man upstairs told me to.”
Larry felt an anger rising in him.
“I don’t need—”
Eastman leaned forward. “Number Two, you have a damn good flying record.”
“Thanks,” Larry said, tightly.
Eastman studied him. “You’d have to go through a training program here, you know.
It would be like going back to school.”
Larry hesitated, not certain where the conversation was leading.