You see, those people came to us as friends. Our people were desperate for food, water, the necessities of life. A team of strangers came in, both on horseback and with trucks. They had all the right paperwork. They were archeologists and they were surveyors. They were digging out rumored caves which Coronado's invaders had filled with precious artifacts of more ancient times. In return for our cooperation, they promised—and they kept their promises—food, water, electricity for all of Acoma, medical facilities—everything our people needed. I said they had the right paperwork. Licenses, permits, company names. They came in with increasing numbers. There is a huge cavern not visible to the passerby. It is big enough to hold their airship.
'I fear I am wasting time talking, so I will get to the point. The white people who came in cut away a section of cliff.
They did so with our permission. This gave them enough room to settle their airship by descending vertically. It sounds like all the devils of hell when it comes down. Its fumes are choking, but the winds blow them away. As the airship descends, they tether it to cables and engines which reel it in carefully. When it is down, it is secured to the ground and it is safe. Then they bring in provisions and their helium.
In the hill caves atop the mesas they built holding tanks. For helium and their fuel, they told us. What they did not tell us is that they filled many concealed tanks with kerosene and gasoline. They have packed high explosives all through Acoma.'
He moved his head slowly to meet the eyes of everyone listening to him. 'Do you understand now?' Indy spoke up.
'You're boobytrapped.' 'Yes. Attack that airship where it is held to the ground, and you will destroy Acoma and kill thousands of our people. Most of them will burn to death in rivers of fire from the fuel tanks which are so set up they will pour their contents into the caverns and caves.'
Indy turned to Henshaw. 'So we can't go after them where they would otherwise be helpless.'
'I have talked with these strangers,' Chino said. 'I know something of their plans, as I overheard several discussing what they would do. I know little of flying, but I heard clearly that they plan to lift upward from Acoma at night, when they will not be seen and all the law people are occupied with the Zunis and in the Gallup area.
They said they will rise to more than six miles into the sky and then they would go.'
He shrugged. 'Where, I do not know. All that mattered to me was that they were leaving. Then Colonel Henshaw, here, asked to see me.'
Indy looked carefully at Chino. 'Could you tell when they planned to leave?'
'Two nights from now. My new friend, you do not have much time to do whatever it is you plan.'
'Joe, can we count on you to help us?'
'Yes.'
'It would be a great help if you flew with us.'
'You want me in the sky?'
'Yes. You know that area. We don't.'
'I will go. Until this moment I was always convinced it was the white man who was really crazy. Now, so am I.'
'Harry, will you check on Will and Rene and see if all the special equipment is loaded on our plane?'
Henshaw nodded to an aide standing nearby. No command was needed. 'Yes, sir,' the officer said. 'I'll take care of it immediately.'
Henshaw turned back to Indy. 'If they go above thirty thousand feet, we don't have any combat planes—in service, I mean, ready to go—that can handle them. Your Ford has those special superchargers and weapons. Indy, it's going to be up to you and your people to stop that zeppelin now. Or we're really in for it.'
18
They flew most of the night and well into daylight to reach Las Vegas, New Mexico, a sprawling collection of buildings out of an old western novel. The isolation was perfect for them. Several miles east of the town, near the Conchas River, was a huge open desert area the army used for field trials and training exercises. One large hangar stood at the end of the field, surrounded by tents and basic living facilities for the infantry and ground personnel who serviced the fighters and bombers that flew in for exercises. The isolation was better than they expected. An artillery and a bombing range nearby made it clear the area wasn't healthy for uninvited guests. As many bombs tumbled awry as struck their bull'seyes, marked in the desert with whitewashed stones.
'Everybody get some food,' Indy told his group. 'Find out where the latrines are because I suggest we all use them just before we take off later tonight. You've got one hour to take this break. Meet by the plane then and we'll go over all our equipment and weapons, and see if anything new has come up.'
'What time do you plan for takeoff?' Cromwell asked.
'How long will it take us to climb to thirtytwo thousand feet?'
'Good God, Indy, I've never been anywhere near that high!' Cromwell exclaimed.
'Will, how long?'
Cromwell worked some figures in his head. 'We'll be lighter than usual,' he said finally, 'and—'
'Just the numbers, Will,' Indy pressed.
'No, Indy. It's going to be very tricky up there, and I think it's best if you understand what we're up against. Since we've never climbed that high, I can't tell you what our rate of climb will be. We've got a highlift wing, and those superchargers, well, I've got great faith in them. But the higher we go, the slower will be our rate of ascent. Do you see?'
Indy waited patiently. No use arguing with Cromwell; in this case he was right. At the altitude they were going for, what you didn't know could hurt you.
'Judging we may have some problems, and all that,' Cromwell went on, 'I'd say we ought to give ourselves at least two to three hours just to get to the altitude you want. We'll be on oxygen above twelve thousand and we want to be sure that doesn't freeze up on us. I've checked the charts. Figure on a hundred and fifty miles to this Acoma place.
