Wheels

Chapter 27

No aid was to be given Hank Kreisel in the manufacture or promotion of his thresher.

The decision, by the board of directors' executive policy committee, reached Adam Trenton in a memo routed through the Product Development chief, Elroy Braithwaite.

Braithwaite brought in the memo personally and tossed it on Adam's desk.

"Sorry," the Silver Fox said, "I know you were interested. You turned me on, too, and you might like to know we were in good company because the chairman felt the same way."

The last news was not surprising. The chairman of the board was noted for his wide-ranging interests and liberal views, but only on rare occasions did he make autocratic rulings and obviously this had not been one.

The real pressure for the negative decision, Adam learned later, came from the executive vice-president, Hub Hewitson, who swayed the triumvirate - the chairman, president, and Hewitson himself - which comprised the executive policy committee.

Reportedly, Hub Hewitson argued on the lines: The company's principal business was building cars and trucks. If the thresher didn't look like a money-making item to farm products division, it should not be foisted on any segment of the corporation merely on public-spirited grounds. As to extramural activities generally, there were already enormous problems in coping with public and legislative pressures for increased safety, less air pollution, employment of the disadvantaged, and kindred matters.

The argument concluded: We are not a philanthropic body but a private enterprise whose objective is to make profits for shareholders.

After brief discussion, the president supported Hub Hewitson's view, so that the chairman was outnumbered, and conceded.

"It's been left to us to inform your friend, Kreisel," the Silver Fox told Adam, "so you'd better do it."

On the telephone Hank Kreisel was philosophic when Adam gave him the news. "Figured the odds weren't the greatest. Thanks, anyway."

Adam asked, "Where do you go from here?"

"Can raise dough in more than one oven," the parts manufacturer said cheerfully. But Adam doubted if he would - at least, for the thresher, in Detroit.

He told Erica about the decision over dinner that evening. She said,

"I'm disappointed because it was a dream with Hank - a good one - and I like him. But at least you tried."

Erica seemed in good spirits; she was making a conscious effort, Adam realized, even though, almost two weeks after her arrest for shoplifting, and release, their relationship was still unclear, their future undecided.

The day following the painful experience at the suburban police station, Erica had declared, "If you insist on asking a lot more questions, though I hope you won't, I'll try to answer them. Before you do, though, I'll tell you I'm sorry, most of all, for getting you involved. And if you're worrying about my doing the same thing again don't. I swear there'll never be anything like it as long as I live."

He had known she meant it, and that the subject could be closed. But it had seemed a right time to tell Erica about the job offer from Perce Stuyvesant and the fact that Adam was considering it seriously. He added, "If I do accept, it will mean a move, of course - to San Francisco."

Erica had been incredulous. "You're considering leaving the auto industry?"

Adam had laughed, feeling curiously lightheaded. "If I didn't, there'd be problems about dividing my time."

"You'd do that for me?"

He answered quietly, "Perhaps it would be for both of us."

Erica had seemed dazed, shaking her head in disbelief, and that subject had been dropped too. However, Adam had telephoned Perce Stuyvesant next day to say he was still interested, but would not be able to fly West until after the Orion's debut in September, now barely a month away. Sir Perceval had agreed to wait.

Another thing that had happened was that Erica moved back into their bedroom from the guest room, at Adam's suggestion. They had even essayed some sex, but there was no escaping that it was not as successful as in the old days, and both knew it. An ingredient was missing. Neither was sure exactly what it was; the only thing they knew with certainty was that in terms of their marriage they were marking time.

Adam hoped there would be a chance for them both to talk things over - away from Detroit - during two days of stock car racing they would be attending soon in Talladega, Alabama.