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〃What kind of problem？〃
〃The U。S。 Army just ordered five CA…200's。 They want the first delivery by June and we're in a bind。 We can't make them B…17's on the same production line。 You're going to have to decide which es first。〃
I stared at him。 〃You make the decision。 You're president of the pany。〃
〃You own the goddamn pany；〃 he shouted back。 〃Which contract do you want to honor？〃
〃Both of them。 We're not in the business of turning away money。〃
〃Then we'll have to get the Canadian plant in operation right away。 We could handle prefabrication if the B…17's were put together up there。〃
〃Then do it；〃 I said。
〃O。K。 Get me Amos Winthrop to run it。〃
〃I told you before … no Winthrop。〃
〃No Winthrop； no Canadian plant。 I'm not going to send a lot of men to their death in planes put together by amateurs just because you're too damn stubborn to listen to reason。〃
〃Still the fly…boy hero？〃 I sneered。 〃What's it to you who puts the planes together？ You're not flying them。〃
He crossed the room and stood over my chair； looking down at me。 I could see his fists clench。 〃While you were out whoring around London； trying to screw everything in sight； I was out at the airfields watching those poor bastards e in weary and beat from trying to keep the Jerry bombs off your fucking back。 Right then and there； I made up my mind that if we were lucky enough to get that contract； I'd personally see to it that every plane we shipped over was the kind of plane I wouldn't be afraid to take up myself。〃
〃Hear； hear！〃 I said sarcastically。
〃When did you decide you'd be satisfied to put your name on a plane that was second best？ When the money got big enough？〃
I stared at him for a moment。 He was right。 My father said the same thing in another way once。 We'd been walking through the plant back in Nevada and Jake Platt； the plant supervisor； came up to him with a report on a poor batch of powder。 He suggested blending it in with a large order so the loss would be absorbed。
My father towered over him in rage。 〃And who would absorb the loss of my reputation？〃 he shouted。 〃It's my name that's on every can of that powder。 Burn it！〃
〃All right； Roger；〃 I said slowly。 〃You get Winthrop。〃
He looked into my eyes for a moment。 When he spoke； his voice was quieter。 〃You'll have to find him for us。 I'm sending Morrissey up to Canada to get the new plant started。 I'll go out to the Coast and start production。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered。 〃Last I heard； he was in New York； but when I checked around this morning； nobody seemed to know where he is。 He seems to have dropped out of sight。〃
4
I SLUMPED BACK INTO A CORNER OF THE BIG LIMOUSINE AS WE CAME OFF THE QUEENSBORO BRIDGE。 Already； I regretted my decision to e out here。 There was something about Queens that depressed me。 I looked out the window while Robair expertly threaded the big car through the traffic。 Suddenly； I was annoyed with Monica for living out here。
I recognized the group of houses as the car rolled to a stop。 They hadn't changed； except that the lawn was dull and brown with winter now； where it had been bright summer…green the last time。
〃Wait here；〃 I said to Robair。 I went up the three steps and pressed the doorbell。 A chill wind whistled between the buildings and I pulled my light topcoat around me。 I shifted the package unfortably under my arm。
The door opened and a small girl stood there； looking up at me。 Her eyes were dark violet and serious。 〃Jo…Ann？〃 I asked tentatively。
She nodded silently。
I stared at her for a moment。 Leave it to children to remind you of the passing of time。 They have a way of growing that ticks off your years more accurately than a clock。 The last time I had seen her； she was little more than a baby。 〃I'm Jonas Cord；〃 I said。 〃Is your mother home？〃
〃e in；〃 she said in a small； clear voice。 I followed her into the living room。 She turned to face me。 〃Sit down。 Mummy's dressing。 She said she wouldn't be long。〃
I sat down and she sat in a chair opposite me。 She stared at me with wide； serious eyes but didn't speak。 I began to feel unfortable under her candid scrutiny and lit a cigarette。 Her eyes followed my hand as I searched for an ash tray for my match。 〃It's over there；〃 she said； pointing to a table on my right。
〃Thanks。〃
〃You're wele；〃 she said politely。 Then she was silent again； her eyes watching my face。 I dragged on the cigarette and after a moment's silence； spoke to her。 〃Do you remember me； Jo…Ann？〃
Her eyes dropped and she was suddenly shy； her hands smoothing the hem of her dress across her knees in a typically feminine gesture。 〃Yes。〃
I smiled。 〃The last time I saw you； you were just so big；〃 I said； holding my hand out just about level with my knee。
〃I know；〃 she whispered； not looking at me。 〃You were standing on the steps waiting for us to e home。〃
I took the package out from under my arm。 〃I brought you a present；〃 I said。 〃A doll。〃
She took the package from me and sat down on the floor to open it。 Her eyes were smiling now。 She lifted out the doll and looked at me。 〃It's very pretty。〃
〃I hoped you'd like it；〃 I said。
〃I do。 Very much。〃 Her eyes grew solemn again。 〃Thank you；〃 she said。
A moment later； Monica came into the room。 Jo…Ann leaped to her feet and ran to her。 〃Mummy！ Look what Mr。 Cord brought me！〃
〃It was very thoughtful of you； Jonas；〃 Monica said。
I struggled to my feet。 We stood looking at each other。 There was an almost regal quality of self…possession about her。 Her dark hair fell almost to her bare shoulders over a black cocktail dress。
Then the doorbell rang。 It was the baby sitter and Jo…Ann was so busy showing her the new doll； she didn't even have time to say good…by when we left。
Robair was standing at the car door when we came out。 〃Robair！〃 Monica put out her hand。 〃It's nice to see you again。〃
〃It's nice to see you again； Miss Monica；〃 he said as he bowed over her hand。
I looked out at the cruddy Queens scenery as the car rolled back to Manhattan。 〃What do you want to live out here for？〃 I asked。
She reached for a cigarette and waited while I held the match for her。 〃Jo…Ann can play outside when the weather is good and I don't have to worry about her being hurt in the city streets。 And I can afford it。 It's much more reasonable than the city。〃
〃From what I hear； you're doing all right。 If you want to live in the suburbs； why don't you move up to Westchester？ It's nicer up there。〃
〃It's still too expensive；〃 she said。 〃I don't make that kind of money。 I'm only the office manager at the magazine。 I'm not an editor yet。〃
〃You look like an editor。〃
She smiled。 〃I don't know whether you mean that as a pliment or not。 But at Style； we try to look the way our readers think we should。〃
I stared at her for a moment。 Style was one of the most successful new fashion magazines aimed at the young matron。 〃How e you're not an editor yet？〃
She laughed。 〃I'm one step away。 Mr。 Hardin's an old…fashioned businessman。 He believes that every editor should put in some time on the practical side。 That way； they learn something about the business problems involved in getting out a magaz