SHORTLY AFTER DAWN, Vicki arrived by crew car at the airport. She found the great buildings deserted, except for a few passengers in the echoing lobby and mechanics working about the distant hangars. Out on the field, planes stood like silver birds in the fresh morning. It was quiet and dreamlike. But this was better than any dream, Vicki thought. This was the real thing. This was the beginning of adventure.
She reported to the station manager, in uniform, overnight kit in hand, trying to appear calm. Then she walked the long distance across the field, and entered Hangar 8. For this hour before flight Vicki had much to do.
There was only a mechanic in Hangar 8, but it was not lonely in that big place. The great, gleaming planes, the bright electric lights, the smell of gasoline and oil s
