Airship City

Chapter 5

There was a knock on the door. Joseph turned to see a slim man with slicked-back black hair and a neat moustache enter the room. He strode rapidly across the floor, radiating energy, and extended a hand.

“Mr Churchill. How are you doing?” He spoke with a strong American twang, his voice somewhat nasal. Churchill smiled broadly as his hand was seized and vigorously shaken. 

“My dear Mr Hughes! How lovely to see you again.”

Hughes paced around the room, glancing back at his entourage, who were only then catching up with him. He strode rapidly to the window, looked out at the view, and then turned back to face the room. “So are we meeting the investors here?”

Churchill looked taken aback. “Why, no! I had thought it best if we spoke a little about why you need funding first. I need to have an idea of the nature of the offering, so that I can choose the best investors to make my presentation to—“

“Ah, hell, Winston! That’s gonna take ages!” Hughes grimaced impatiently. “Look, it’s quite simple.” He strode forward, his hands cutting through the air in decisive gestures. “The gusher of money I get from Tool Co is running dry. Aeropolis is costing me an arm and a leg. The helium alone…” He shook his head. “I need money in Hughes Aircraft for a new project. A lot of money. And I’m prepared to sell shares in Aeropolis Holdings to get it.”

Churchill nodded. “How many shares?”

“Not more than 20%. For 15 million.”

Churchill nodded. “US dollars?”

Hughes looked at him scornfully. “Of course US dollars!” He suddenly stared directly at Joseph. “You boy!”

Joseph stiffened, feeling his cheeks redden. “Me, sir?”

“Yes you! Your collar is all skewiff. Straighten it please!” He continued to stare at Joseph, who felt his collar with nervous fingers, conscious that everyone in the room had their eyes on him. He straightened it as best he could, feeling embarrassed and angry.

“Much better.” Hughes turned his attention back to Churchill. “So that’s it. You better get on the horn to your investors.”

Churchill blinked. “Well, I do need to know a bit more about the investment…”

Hughes sighed in a frustrated fashion. “It’s Aeropolis, Winston! Everyone knows about her. We can go outside and look at her right now. But you’ve been on her before, right?”

Churchill shook his head. “No, I’m afraid I’ve not had the pleasure.”

“What?” Hughes looked aghast. “Really? Well, let’s go there now! I’ll take you in my airship.” 

Churchill looked completely non-plussed. But Hughes was already heading for the door, herding his people out ahead of him. The Chairman made as if to follow, then turned to Joseph. 

"Would you be so good as to find my briefcase and overcoat, and bring them down to the lobby for me?" And with that he was off after the departing Hughes.

Joseph grabbed the briefcase and coat, and made his way down the marble staircase. So that was the great Howard Hughes? What an unpleasant man. I’m glad he’s leaving so soon.

He met the party in the lobby, putting on their coats and getting ready to leave. As he made to hand the briefcase to Churchill, the Chairman turned to him, and smiled gently.

“Why don’t you carry that for me, Joseph? And get your coat.”

Joseph was taken aback. His first thought was that his mother would go ballistic if she knew he had travelled to Aeropolis. He opened his mouth to protest, but Churchill had already turned back to face Hughes. Joseph stood still for a moment, willing himself to tap Churchill on the shoulder and refuse the assignment. But something held him back. He was thinking about his conversation with Monmouth. If I go along, maybe I can find out more about Hughes, satisfy myself as to whether there is anything to it. And if I do find anything suspicious, I can go straight to Monmouth. He ran to find his coat, trying not to think about his mother. He buried the nagging feeling of guilt under a growing sense of excitement. I’m going to Aeropolis!