"If you don't want to work you have to earn enough money so that you won't have to work"-Ogden Nash
Cape Suzette, October 14th, 1933-
"Ah, this is the life Louie!" said Baloo Bruinwald in between bites of a triple-decker cheeseburger that he was enjoying. He and his friend/co-pilot Louie Lamour were enjoying their lunch break at Paul's Burgers and Fries, which had arguably the best burgers and fries in all of the city.
Louie looked at his friend's open mouth and winced, "Urgh, I can see you getting fatter!"
Baloo swallowed and laughed, "I'm not fat, I'm just big boned!"
"Keep telling yourself that ol' buddy and you just might start to believe it."
The bear pilot's eyes locked with the orangutan's for a few seconds and then they both burst out laughing.
"Admit it Baloo," said Louie with a sly smile, "You are getting heavier."
"So, I get a good work out loading up cargo…it balances out," Baloo said in his defense, "Besides, at least I don't eat with my feet!"
Louie had just been about to grab a fry with a foot (his hands were holding his burger) when he stopped and frowned, "I thought we went over this: I got full use of my appendages so why not use them? It's not my fault you can't use your feet."
"True," replied Baloo as he wolfed down another bite, "You're lucky you could use your appendix."
"Its appendage…not appendix."
"Appendage appendix same difference."
"Tell that to my doctor," Louie said as he grabbed the newspaper that he had bought earlier and looked through it.
Baloo saw the headline on the cover of the Cape Suzette Times. It read Reichland withdraws from League of Nations.
"Looks like that Hentrich character and his buddies are up to no good," Baloo said referring to the Chancellor of Reichland, Adolphus Hentrich, who along with his Hauser Party had taken control of Reichland earlier in the year.
"Sure does Baloo," answered Louie as he thumbed his way to the sports page, "The guy is popular though… and militant looking. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts something."
"A war?" asked Baloo incredulously. Louie shrugged his shoulders and Baloo added, "Not gonna happen buddy. Those Reichlanders learned their lesson the first time around so there's no way they'd try something stupid again."
"Hope you're right," said Louie who glanced at his wrist watch, "Lunch break is almost done cuz, time to head back to the old grind."
Baloo took one last bite of his burger and finished it off then stood up. He looked down at his fries and grabbed a handful.
Louie shot Baloo an annoyed look to which the bear responded, "What? They're for the road."
Pacific Air Freight Service-
Baloo and Louie walked onto the premises of their job and toward the silver Conwing L-16 cargo plane. The aircraft, built by Consolidated Wings Corporation, was one of 10 that were owned and operated by Pacific Air Freight Service and its founder A.R. Branigan. The bear and the orangutan had been a part of Aloysius Ryan Branigan's company since its inception in 1931 and more or less enjoyed their job although sometimes the long hauls did get to them.
"You know what I was thinking Baloo?" asked Louie as he hopped into the cockpit and pressed a button that opened up the cargo ramp, "What we need, not just us but all pilots, is somewhere along the way to stop for a bite to eat and something to drink."
"Well didn't your grandma leave you an island?"
"Yup, its small about 2 square miles and it has an old shipwreck on it."
"That could be made into a hangout."
"Yeah, but I need money to make my vision come true."
Louie was right Baloo thought. Louie had inherited the island from his grandma a year before but there was really nothing on it except the wreck.
"Well maybe you can find someone to invest in it," suggested Baloo.
"No way cuz," said Louie dismissively, "I want to be sole owner, I don't want anyone else trying to take charge of it."
"Well if you don't want a co-owner where are you going to get the money?"
"From the same place that you're going to get the money to buy the plane," replied Louie.
Ah, the plane, Baloo thought. He had been wanting to buy the plane ever since he had started working at Pacific Air Freight but he had nowhere near enough money to buy it. Besides, if he did buy it then he would have to have enough to start up a business and right now with a depression on there was next to no chance that he'd get enough money to make his dream come true.
"You know something Louie?" asked Baloo, "We can't be wage-slaves forever, someday we gotta do something and make money…be our own bosses."
"Amen cuz, amen."
"Hey wage-slaves!" came the bellowing voice of their boss, "I got a job for you."
The Office-
A.R Branigan sat at his desk with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The stocky badger came off as gruff and tough but in all actuality he was a nice person.
"OK wage-slaves, seeing as you keep pissing and moaning about not having enough money it has come to my attention that you need to take a long flight soon."
"We weren't complaining about anything boss," Baloo said with a smile.
Branigan looked at Baloo and smiled, "I got ears you know? You two talk loud enough for everyone to hear."
"Well we uh," Baloo started but was stopped by his boss.
"So you want to be your own bosses huh?" smiled the badger, "You have to work your way up…just like I did."
"Will you sell me the plane?" Baloo surprised himself with what he had said. He hadn't meant to be so straightforward but the words just came out. "I uh, I mean you know cause I would like to eventually be my own boss."
Louie grimaced at Baloo's audacity but kept quiet.
Branigan smiled and leaned back in his chair. He puffed on his cigarette and then leaned forward. "So you want to buy the plane…Tell you what Baloo, in case you haven't noticed it, things are tough economically nowadays and you two aren't the only ones who need cash. I got 10 planes to take care of, 10 pairs of pilots and copilots, one of which is a trainee, two secretaries, and six mechanics…one of which is pretty banged up from that side project I had you guys do," Branigan felt guilty for the injury to his mechanic.
Baloo winced at that last part. He, Louie, and their childhood friend Francis "Frank" Wildcat had did a side job assisting an aircraft inventor by the name of Ravenwood and his daughter. Ravenwood was an old friend of Branigan and had needed some help with a new plane he was working on. Unfortunately Wildcat had gotten hit in the head by a propeller that had started up by accident due to a power surge. The blade hadn't been going very fast but it had gone fast enough to knock Wildcat unconscious and gash his skull. Afterward the injured mechanic had been a little slower, almost like he was a kid, but for some reason he had not lost his mechanical skills. Still it had been a huge scare and Branigan had stepped in to pay for the medical bills and was nice enough to give Wildcat a month off with pay.
"When is Wildcat due back boss?" asked Louie.
"He should be back in town at the end of the week." Wildcat was currently staying with his parents in their small town two hours away.
"Hope he'll be alright," said Louie.
"That boy's tough Louie," said Branigan who occasionally referred to anyone under the age of 30 as a boy.
"Yeah he is, "said Baloo, "He works harder than most anyone I ever seen and he doesn't seem to tire."
They chatted a few moments longer and then Branigan got down to business. "OK fellas here's the deal: You two got a long haul. There's this professor guy who needs a round trip for him and his assistant to the Amazonia jungle. It might take a couple of weeks but his university is covering it."
"A couple of weeks!" Louie and Baloo exclaimed simultaneously.
"I thought you boys wanted more money," Branigan said with a hearty laugh, "All of your fellow pilots are busy, thank God we have gotten a decent amount of business as of late, so now you two are the only free pilot/co-pilot team…well you and the trainee."
Urgh, the trainee, Baloo thought to himself. The young hippo got on his nerves. She, he couldn't believe a woman was trying to be a pilot, had shown up determined to fly. She had a basic understanding of airplanes and had been hired because her mother was a friend of Mrs. Branigan. Baloo had made a smart remark about the hippo being a woman and had been told by his boss that he should be more open minded and that he knew just the way to help him achieve more open-mindedness. He had tasked Baloo with showing the trainee the ropes.
"Do we have to take her?" Baloo asked sheepishly.
"Why? Afraid she'll show you up?" Branigan laughed, "That girl's a quick learner."
"She gets on my nerves!"
Louie jumped in, "Baloo means that she teases him a bit. She says that she can be at least as good a pilot as Baloo."
"Well for your information Baloo, she won't be going with you. I have her scheduled to help Vic and Myron replace the burned out engine in the Cormorant."
Vic and Myron had burned out the engine as they had to push their plane to the limit to avoid being shot up by Don Karnage and his air pirates. The dreaded raider had appeared on the scene a few years earlier and had proven himself to be the bane of trans-Pacific shipping and as of yet no one had stopped him.
"I still haven't come across that Karnage guy," said Baloo.
"Trust me Baloo, you don't want to," said Branigan who finished his coffee, "Now your professor and his assistant will be here shortly so get your plane prepped."
As soon as Baloo and Louie walked out of the office three men entered the premises and headed straight for Branigan's office.
"Guess what day it is Branigan," said the small alligator with a threatening smile.
Branigan looked at the small, suit wearing gator and his two hulking sidekicks: a huge gorilla and an equally huge rhino both of whom were, like their boss, attired in suits.
"Well it's the 14th which means that I still have to the first to pay my dues," said Branigan coldly.
"True," said the gator, "But the big boss wants everyone of his clients to know that starting on the first the dues go up 15%."
"Fifteen percent!" said Branigan angrily, "What the hell for? Doesn't he know that things are tough right now?"
"That's precisely why the big boss wants to raise the rates," said the gator with a toothy smile, "He has to keep up with the competition."
The little alligator's name was Maurizo Alligatore but he was better known as Trader Moe. He was a collector and foot-soldier for Big Joe Pelicano. Pelicano's crime syndicate had control of the docks and by virtue of the docks, all shipping. At this time Pelicano headed one of two crime syndicates in the city, the other being headed by his arch-rival Owl Capone.
"Boss, uh should we…you know…uh, pulverize him?" asked the Gorilla goon.
"Yeah boss, we should pound him," added the rhino.
"Will you two shut up!" said Trader Moe to his underlings, "I do all the talking not you!"
"Enjoying your time with your guys Moe?" asked Branigan.
Trader Moe rolled his eyes, Why oh why did I have to get saddled with these two? They're morons! "Don't you worry about them Branigan, you just worry about having the money come the first."
"He worries about us boss?" asked the rhino.
"No you stupid idiot!" yelled Moe, "Go outside and start the car."
"Then what boss?"
"Wait for me!"
The goon did as told.
"You need some new goons Moe," said Branigan who lit a cigarette. He wasn't at all scared of these three. He was more annoyed that they showed up over two weeks early. To him they were just a trio of peons who probably couldn't hack it on their own. However these three had one ace in their sleeves: Jimmy Leopardi AKA Jimmy "the Gent". The leopard was a rapidly rising mobster who was the youngest underboss in the Pelicano Mafia family. He had attained this position due to his loyalty to his boss and through sheer ruthlessness. Rumor had it that several problematic people had met their ends at the hands of Jimmy the Gent and Branigan knew he couldn't afford to press his luck too much because Trader Moe and his goons answered directly to the Gent.
"Tell me about it," said Trader Moe, "Now when I come back here on the first I expect that you'll have that little extra."
"I'll have it for Mr. Pelicano and Mr. Leopardi," Branigan replied with a thinly veiled insult to Trader Moe. The only reason I'll have it is because of your bosses. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't give you the time of day little lone any money.
The insult wasn't lost on Trader Moe, "Just have the money Aloysius," said the gator in a threatening voice.
"Sure thing…Maurizio."
"Its Trader Moe!" snapped the gangster who turned to the gorilla, "Let's go."
"Go where boss," asked the gorilla, "Can we go eat? I'm starving."
"Yeah, you can have a nice big knuckle sandwich," replied Moe who walked out followed by his hungry goon.
As soon as they left A.R. Branigan leaned back and asked himself, "Where am I going to get the extra cash? We're barely making ends meet even with the business were getting."
Pacific Air Freight-
"Well that should be about everything Baloo," said Louie as he finished fueling up the plane.
"Good, everything checks out," said Baloo who had just completed his pre-flight checks, "Now all we need is that professor guy to show."
"So fellas, going on a long haul?" came a feminine voice that made Baloo cringe.
"Yeah…and you're not going," he responded in an annoyed tone.
"Oh Baloo, I love it when you talk angry," laughed the hippo.
Baloo looked at the trainee and smiled, "Just messing with you Jane."
"Oh so I am going with you two?" asked Jane 'Plane Jane' Hibbard.
"What? Oh no," replied Baloo, "I was just messing around by sounding annoyed at you."
"I know you don't hold women workers in high esteem Baloo…especially women pilots."
"I think I have to check the fuel gauge," interjected Louie who disappeared inside the plane.
"It's a tough job Jane," said Baloo.
"You just feel threatened because I'm learning quick but you should appreciate that I'm learning from you."
"I still don't know why you want to be a pilot. Wouldn't you feel more at home at a desk?"
"Typical man Baloo, you think that no woman can do a man's job."
"But this is flying not baking a cake."
"One of these days Baloo this girl," Jane said pointing to herself, "Is going to be just as good a pilot as you."
"That'll be the day," Baloo whispered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Just saying to myself that the Cormorant needs some attention."
Jane smiled at him and then said, "Yeah I guess I have to get to that but I'm pretty sure that I can do a better job on it then you could."
Baloo watched his understudy walk off and smiled to himself. Even though he didn't care for the idea of women pilots he couldn't help but like Jane. She got on his nerves with her brash attitude but she was a quick learner and had a lot of drive. He only gave her lip because she was a woman, it was nothing really personal.
A moment later the professor arrived.
"Excuse me gentlemen, but are you Baloo Bruinwald and Louie Lamor?" asked the professor.
"That's us," said Louie who took in the professor's appearance. He was a short monkey with glasses and a tan shirt. On his head sat a tan pith helmet.
"Pleased to meet you," the professor said sticking his hand out, "Professor Linus O'Bowens of the Archaeology Department of the University of Cape Suzette."
Both pilots shook his hand.
Baloo said, "Where's your assistant? Our boss said you'd have an assistant."
"Oh Thom will be coming around soon with our gear."
"Is there a lot?" asked Louie.
"Not too much, just a four-man tent, and a couple of small boxes of supplies."
"Well once the stuff gets here we'll load it up."
"Good, is there a phone I can use? I forgot to look when I got here," asked O'Bowens, "I need to call the university and let them know that everything is on schedule."
"Inside the main building; talk to Marcie the secretary," said Baloo helpfully.
The professor thanked him and then went off to the phone.
"So I guess all we do now is wait for Thom," said Louie.
"Yup," Baloo answered and then glanced at his watch, "Its after two, at this rate we won't get to Amazonia until tomorrow afternoon unless we fly straight through."
"Maybe we can persuade the professor to let us stop in Freeport," said Louie.
The two looked at each other and smiled, "Stingray's?" Then they both laughed.
Presently a young woman arrived pulling a dolly with some crates on it. "Are you guys Baloo and Louie?" she asked.
Baloo grinned at the slim, young cat. I'll be whoever you want me to be!
Louie smiled at the young lady. Oh honey I am definitely who you're looking for!
The cat cocked her head sideways and asked again, "Are you guys Baloo and Louie?"
"That's us," Baloo said a little too quickly.
"And who might you be ma'am," asked Louie in a gracious tone.
"I'm Thom Whiskerson, Professor O'Bowens's assistant."
Baloo's jaw dropped, "You're Thom?"
Thom Whiskerson rolled her eyes, "Yes I'm Thom."
"But Thom is a boy's name!"
O Brother! "It's short for Thomasina."
"You're an archaeologist?" asked Louie.
"Yes...well I am a graduate student working for the archaeology department.
"But that means you go out and dig stuff up and get dirty!" said Baloo.
"Sometimes."
"But that's man's-" Baloo stopped himself short of saying that it was man's work.
Thomasina Whiskerson glowered at Baloo, "Man's work you mean?"
"Well uh."
"You know what else is man's work?" she asked with a sly smile, "Helping ladies with their things."
"Better load up the nice lady's things guys!" laughed Plane Jane who had been observing the scene from the maintenance bay.
Thom sat back and watched as Baloo and Louie loaded up the gear and smiled in satisfaction.
A few minutes later the professor arrived, "Ah I see you've met Thom!"
"Oh boy did we ever," said Louie.
Bay Street, outside of Pacific Air Freight-
Twenty minutes later the Conwing L-16 thundered down the pier and rose into the light blue sky on its way to Amazonia. Its takeoff was witnessed by a boar and a jackal who watched from a parked car. The boar got out of the passenger's side and walked to a nearby phone booth. He dropped in some coins and dialed a number.
"Bonjour," came the voice on the other end of the line.
"Sir, O'Bowens has just left."
"Bonne!" said the person on the other end, "I trust you placed the device with them?"
"Oui, I had walked by O'Bowen's assistant at the university and dropped it in their things before they left," said the boar referring to the experimental tracking beacon that had been developed by a scientist named Martin Torque and given to them by the businessman who was backing their expedition.
"Excellente! They may be a few hours ahead of us but that does not matter. I and the others will arrive at the aircraft once we get the rest of our equipment gathered. Wait for us at the plane."
"Oui sir."
The call ended and the jackal climbed back into the car.
"To the plane?" asked the jackal at the wheel.
"Oui, we will meet up with the professor and the others there."