stations from hundreds of miles away. Into the Ford went firstaid kits, fire extinguishers, an electric galley, water tanks, additional booster magnetos and spark plugs and other spares for the engines, fuel funnels, mooring ropes and stakes, tool kits, an emergency starting crank if the electrical system failed. They installed parachute flare holders and firing tubes, able to be activated from either the cockpit or the cabin.
Cromwell, who'd flown to remote locations about the world, insisted on an earthinduction compass that had deadon accuracy even if all their electrical systems failed. 'That's what got that Lindbergh fellow through the worst of his flight,' he explained in reference to Lindbergh's nonstop solo Atlantic crossing three years before.
'I'll say one thing,' remarked Colonel Henshaw when they completed the list.
'You can live out of this machine anywhere in the world.'
'Almost,' Indy corrected him, to the surprise of the group. 'We've got thirteen seats in the cabin. Remove nine of them. Put in a couple of folding cots against the inside fuselage walls. They'll weigh less than the seats and give us extra room inside the cabin. Also, we can use the additional space for a small gasoline generator and other equipment.'
Korwalski scanned the list with Cromwell and Foulois. 'I guess that does it,'
he said, nodding to Henshaw that he was anxious to return to the Ford to resume his work.
'One last thing,' Indy said unexpectedly. They waited for him to continue as he spread the cutaway schematics of the wing structure. 'Here,' he tapped the schematics, 'we've got the baggage compartments. They're right between the second and third spars on each side of the cabin. We're not carrying passengers or their baggage, and those swingdown compartments are designed to hold at least four hundred pounds on each side.' He glanced up at Cromwell and Foulois. 'Everybody still with me?' They nodded.
'That's wasted space, and I need both the space and the weight capacity,' Indy went on.
Cromwell looked at Foulois. 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking?'
'I am beginning to understand,' Foulois said slowly.
'I do not understand!' Tarkiz Belem glared at them.
'He bloody well wants to install a machine gun in each wing compartment!' Cromwell burst out.
'Machine guns?' Gale Parker echoed.
'He is correct?' Tarkiz asked Indy.
'One in each wing,' Indy confirmed. 'And a mount back in the cabin with a sliding top fuselage panel so we can raise or lower the mount for a single weapon.
'Sergeant?' Indy turned to Korwalski. 'Think you can mount a fiftycaliber in each of those locations?'
Korwalski nodded. 'I can, sir. But I don't recommend it.'
'Tell me why.'
'Well, it's not just the weight, sir. It's setting up the absorption system for vibration and that means being absolutely certain we don't weaken the wing. You have a heavy piece up in there, and you fire it when you're in a steep bank, you are really putting the hammer down on the wing structure. Enough to do some damage.
And there's the weight, of course. And if I'm guessing right, sir, you're going to be in some pretty oddball places where getting caliber fifty ammo is going to be a real headache.'
'I gather you have an alternate solution?' Indy pressed.
'Yes, sir, I do.'
'Let's hear it.'
Korwalski turned to Henshaw. 'Sir, I need your authorization. About the new weapons, sir. They're still under security.'
Henshaw chewed his lower lip and exchanged a look with Indy. Finally he nodded. 'Their authorization comes right from the top of the War Department, Sergeant. Spell it out.'
'Yes, sir.' Korwalski turned back to Indy. 'We've developed a new caliber thirty piece, sir. It has a hypervelocity round, about twice the muzzle velocity of anything that's ever been put in an airplane. That about triples its effective range.
It's lightweight, and it'll take any kind of round. Incendiary, steeljacketed for armor piercing. There's also a special round we've developed with an explosive charge within the round. It'll take care of any, ah, well, any problems you may have in mind.'
He drew himself up straight. 'Sir,' he finished.
Indy was a bit out of water here. But he had three men, two of them pilots, who were experts with machine guns.
'Gentlemen?'
Tarkiz turned to Korwalski. 'The rate of fire. You tell me, please?'
'Fourteen hundred rounds a minute. And you can carry a real load with that system.'
Tarkiz beamed. 'Take it,' he told Indy. 'It is a dream.'
'Will?'
'Wish I'd had something like that when I was mixing it up with Jerry,' was Cromwell's answer.
'Rene?'
'With that kind of weapon,' the Frenchman said quietly, 'I could have doubled, maybe tripled, the Boche I shot down.'
Indy looked to Gale. 'What do you think?'
'About what?' she exclaimed. 'I'm strictly bow and arrow, remember? Or a crossbow. The professionals say go with it. No arguments from me.'
