Geoffrey Hawkins needed no justification。 One had to live。 And anyway； it would not be murder。 Murder was when you deprived an Englishman of life。 Survival was when you took life from an American。 And public health was when one removed Irishmen。
It was a bit of a shame however that this Pelham was not Australian。 Then one would know that one was removing a criminal。 Or the seed of a criminal； which was the same thing anyway。
Even in Britain； the gentry had lost sight of what they were。 The world had gone mad and Britain had gone mad with it。 This pathetic affection and respect for America； a nation which had once had an Irish President。 Scots walking around like human beings。 Welshmen knighted every day。 And all of them calling themselves British。 When only Englishmen were English！
The sun had set on the soul of the British empire。
〃Hey； buddy。 How do you fix this thing？〃
It was the American。 He was going to jump from 13；000 feet； free fall for one minute； then open his chute and land。 He had never been in a parachute before。
Five thousand dollars for this？
Geoffrey Hawkins could earn his money by allowing this colonial bumpkin just to attempt free fall。 But that would not be thorough。 Thorough was cutting the leg straps under the leather joints so that when the chute opened； if it opened； it would rise from the shoulder harness and Remo Pelham would keep going down； out of his chute； to the ground。； 〃Hey； buddy。 How do you get this thing on？〃
Geoffrey Hawkins turned to the financial pages。 If one could properly invest one's 5；000； one could transform it into a rather considerable amount。
〃Hey。 You with the mustache and the paper。 How does this thing buckle？〃
Imperial Chemical Industries was up。 Good。 If one invested in Imperial Chemical Industries； one could not only help civilized industry but oneself。 It was a good investment for oneself。
Finally； the Jewess helped him。 No character； thought Hawkins。 She had refused to talk to the American； had turned away from him； had ignored his blandishments and his insipid pleading； but now she turned to help him with the chute。 Leg straps； shoulder straps； the rip cord ring； proper harness position。
When done； she turned away again。 〃Thirteen thousand feet；〃 she said to Hawkins。
〃Umm；〃 he replied； because as jump instructor； he had to。
〃We're ready；〃 she said。 The soon…to…be…dead American sat beside her。
The Germans had a point。 But they were so crude about it。 If one were to strip a German to his soul； one would achieve the essence of gauche。 Even the way that Hun had slipped the envelope to Geoffrey Hawkins。 As if he were reaching surreptitiously into Hawkin's privates。
〃Yes sir； this is going to be fun；〃 said the American。 His brown eyes were shining。 His face was shaved of hair。 He would clunk like a pinball machine on the Virginia countryside。 He would tilt in all directions。
The engines revved； groaning for power； and the light plane shook。
Her Majesty's forces； according to the Times； were still in Aden by the Persian Gulf。 Lucky Aden。 But this was America which had so stubbornly insisted upon going it alone and was paying for it daily。
The Jewess had finally relented。 She was explaining something to the American。 Hawkins listened from behind the Times。
〃The plane is going to 13；000 feet。 It's a one…minute free fall。 You pull your cord immediately。 Just follow me。 I'll make sure your cord is pulled。 You're very stupid trying this the first time。〃
〃Listen； sweetheart； don't worry about me。〃
〃You are incredibly stupid。〃
〃This was the only way I could get to talk to you。〃
〃As I said； you are incredibly stupid。〃
The two were yelling now； to overe the motors。
〃I want to talk to you；〃 the American said。
〃Your leg straps are too loose。〃
〃When can we get together？〃：
〃I'm busy this year。 Try me next year at the same time。〃
Suddenly her voice called out； 〃Mr。 Hawkins！ Who gave him this chute？〃
She was doing it again。 Talking to Geoffrey Hawkins without being addressed first。 He ignored her。
〃Will you put down that paper？ You can't let this man jump in this chute。〃
Put down the paper？ What gall。
Suddenly the dark columns of small type disappeared。 The paper went flying。 It had been ripped out of； his hands by the American。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 Geoffrey said in his most disdainful manner； calculated to set the American cringing in apologies。
〃Perfectly all right；〃 the American responded。 〃She's talking to you。〃
〃I am perfectly capable of discerning such auditory phenomena as women speaking。 I do not need your assistance。〃
〃Then why didn't you answer her？〃
〃That is hardly a topic I wish to discuss with you；〃 said Geoffrey Hawkins to the American policeman。 〃Now return my Times if you would。〃
〃Who gave him this parachute？；〃 the girl asked。 〃Did you？〃
〃I am not a supply sergeant。 I do not dispense parachutes。〃
〃Well； he can't jump out of the plane in that chute。〃
〃He certainly can't jump without one；〃 said Hawkins； who thought that incredibly funny； worth repeating to an Englishman。
〃It's no wonder the British army dispensed with your services；〃 the girl said。
That was enough。 Geoffrey would have to thrash her。 He gave her the back of his hand across her face。 At least； he attempted to。 But it seemed as though some fast air current spun his hand harmlessly in the air。
〃Keep your tongue； Jewess；〃 he said； watching his hand flail to the side of the plane。
〃Don't give me that ？shit； Hawkins。 Did you unload the faulty chute on him？〃
〃Answer her；〃 said the American。
The pilot interrupted。 〃We're approaching target and 13；000 feet；〃 he called out。 Good； that would settle everything。 To jump from 13；000 feet one had to be in an aircraft that climbed almost straight up； and one jumped at its zenith。 It was the only practical way； since if the plane levelled off at 13；000 feet； everyone would need oxygen。 This way； the plane was at that altitude so briefly that oxygen was unnecessary。
〃Jump； Dr。 Hirshbloom； if you're going to；〃 Hawkins said。 The door near his feet opened； and the girl half stood up。 As she struggled over Hawkins' outstretched legs； she said： 〃Don't let him jump in that chute。〃 She turned to the American： 〃Don't you jump。〃
She thrust a boot out on to the strut； waited a moment； and was gone。
〃Are you jumping； Yank？ Or are you going to be typical and wait for a puter to do it for you？〃
〃I don't think I'll jump；〃 said the American。 The ripping wind from the open door whipped through his brown hair。
〃Well； it's your choice；〃 Hawkins said。 〃Here； why don't you have a look？ You'll know what it's like next time。 Or are you afraid to look。〃
〃I know what the ground looks like； sweetheart；〃 the American said。
〃The Jewess makes an interesting jump；〃 Hawkins said； peering out the door。 〃She does a very special free fall。〃
The American cop shrugged； stepped over Geoffrey's legs； and peered out。 Geoffrey Hawkins put his shoulder to the American's back； braced his feet against his seat； and pushed hard； devastatingly hard。 And nothing happened。
〃You want to jump with me？；〃 said the American； turning。
Geoffrey Hawkins pushed again and this time he was successful。 Too successful。 He found his own energy； with an assist from the American； had hurtled him head first toward the wing struts outside； and then he was outside the plane； dropping through the chill cold wind； with the American firmly latched to his throat。
They accelerated quickly； then hit top speed and they were free falling。 The American was smiling and humming Yankee Doodle。
Geoffrey attempted to kick him away。 The 5；000 was as good as his。 But the kick went nowhere。 As a matter of fact； the right leg went out； and then became numb。 The American's hands seemed to float； then dart； then plunge forward and back。 And for all Geoffrey Hawkins' effort； he could not unlatch the colonial who just smiled and hummed and moved his hands in those extraordinary ways。 Geoffrey attempted to use a karate chop against the bridge of the American's nose。
But as his hand started to move； it became numb； and then。。。。 Ye gads。 The left rider to the chute was slipping off the usel