XI – WHAT REALLY MATTERS

“JAPANESE APOLOGIZE FOR PANAY BOMBING,
offer compensation. Secretary of state Cordelia Hull said, this tragic incident shouldnt harm the good relations between the USA and the Japanese Empire, and...”
International Heraldress Tribune, May 6th, 1937


Press conference, Shakira Hotel, Miami, Florida, June 4th, 1937

“Lady Hughes! Why dont you undertake this flight yourself?”
“Look, Gina, have done that often enough, been there, got the t-shirt, y know. No, this is Bills show. He will be the first male to round the earth in a plane.”
“Lady Hughes, some say a male can never pull that off. Its a far too dangerous venture. What do you say?”
“Why dont we ask Bill himself, Winona? Bill, you are willing to take the risk, arent you?”
“Armm.. sure, I have no fear. I am an experienced pilot and the plane Lady Hughes provided me with is well suited for the mission. I...”
“Lady Hughes, we take it this is a special plane constructed especially for this flight.”
Bill was getting smaller in his seat by the minute. These reportresses were all determined to ignore him. Lady Hughes beside him smiled like a cheesecake and matrionized him constantly. The reportresses carried on with their questions. Hughes leaned over to him out of a sudden:
“Boy, thats the way it goes. Trust me, if you pull it off and return successfully, YOU will be the hero.”
Bill looked at her, not much hope in his eyes.
“Come on, Bill, youre an aviator, you are cool. You could even be a woman, and I never said that to a guy before. Show it to them, Bill!”
Bill Eaton sighed and sipped some water.


“Here we go again, dear listeneresses. In the upcoming quarterfinals, the Miami Pantheresses will have to do without brasilian defendress Malasha, who laborates on a bad knee. Lets go over to europe and some tennis. French tennis star Josefine Lenglen won the French Open in Paris against italian Yasmin Furedini with 6 – 3, 8 – 6, 5 – 7 and 6 – 2. Tomorrow our show will feature an interview of our Wilma Viper with the french beauty. Lenglen defeated our young gal Wainright in the semifinal and...”
Queens of Sports, CBS, June 5th, 1937



Center Court, Wimbledon, United Queendom, June 25th 1937, 18.26 hours

“Mum, mum, may I have some more strawberries? Mum!”
“Shsh, dear, ask Dad, he will fetch you some. James, would you be so kind?”
Lady Knight Eve Lois Mountbatten patted her 8 year old son on the head and looked down on the court again. What a pity no empire chick made it to the final. Embarassing, a German and a French gal duelling each other in the final on holy center court.
You had to be fair, they were both really good. This german bitch, Beate Oberfeld, had a very mighty forehand, but the Lenglen gal was the best runneress on the court Mountbatten had ever seen. Bringing back nearly everything and never giving up a ball.
It was the fifth set already, 9 – 9, it could last forever. Both ladies were still determined to crush the other.
Her husband left the lounge to fetch strawberries for their son. Mountbattens older child, 16 year old Moira, was watching the game, following every ball intently. Moira wanted the german bitch to loose. Lady Mountbatten didnt bother which foreign chick put shame on this tournament by daring to win here.
She should side with the Lenglen, werent the French Britains allies? The Germans were getting more dangerous by the day, back in the club yesterday Mountbatten had discussed latest developments with Montgomery-Massingberd and Deverell. The old dragons were more than just a bit concerned. The WEHRMACHT was growing at a worrysome pace, already outnumbering the french army.
And the UQs government didnt do anything about it. The news from Asia werent exactly good either. The Japs were making their way deeper into China, seemingly unstoppable. The Empire would have to stand up and fight the fascists, Lady Knight Mountbatten saw that very clearly. The Queendom should better be prepared. But good old England seldom prepared for her wars. Only reassuring fact was, it won in the end nevertheless.
Moira and others cheered loudly. Mountbatten looked up.
“Game Miss Lenglen. New balls please.”
Looks like Oberfeld is on the ropes. Will the Lenglen go in for the kill? Lady Knight Mountbatten decided, she would prefer the french lady to triumph in the end. The Germans had to be stopped. On Center Court was at least a start...



“BILL EATON TRIUMPHANT!
A cheering crowd, numbering thousands of ladies and males welcomed the hero back at Miami airport. Eaton is the first male to circle the earth in a plane. His journey took him from Miami to Rio de Janeiro, Dakar, Nairobi, Bombay, Djakarta, Port Moresby, Janeston Island, Hawai and LA back to Miami. Vice Presidentress Garner welcomed him in person. She said: Such is the grandness and freedom of this nation, that even a male can become a hero. Long live William Eaton, long live America!”
Time Magazine (with Eaton on the cover), June 27th 1937


Suite of Lady Lenglen, Empire Hotel, London, June 28th 1937, 16.20 hours

As Madeline White entered the suite, the Lenglen had positioned herself on a couch, in a silvern silk gown, her long dark hair towering above her pretty face, her make up first class. The french beauty sipped french wine and read a Paris Match with Bill Eaton on the front page. She didnt bother rising.
“Hello, Mademoiselle White, please, take a seat. Some wine?”
“I dont say no to that, Mademoiselle Lenglen. I have to thank you. USA TODAY has to thank you for this opportunity.
The Lenglen wavered dismissively with a beautiful hand, slightly bored it seemed.
Putting a smile on her first class lips, the French asked:
“What do you say of this Eaton guy of yours? I am fascinated. Wouldnt mind meeting this boy. What a daring flight! And hes quite handsome too...”
“Well, it was about time a male showed the ladies what he is worth.”
“Oh, you are into maleinism, Mademoiselle White? How astonishing. Well, I guess thats America, the country where everything is possible, even orange boots.”
Madeline laughed. If this wasnt a hint on Wilma Viper of CBS...
“I heard you dont like reportresses much, especially Americans.”
“You have heard correctly. But I will give you a chance. So, start your questions please, I am eager to get over with it.”
Really nice, this one. Well, she played good tennis, AND she beat the Oberfeld bitch. Beating the Germans secured anyone a high standing in Madelines world system.
“There were rumors you wouldnt play the final because of your adversary. Any problems between you and Lady Oberfeld?”
“Well, nothing personal, but she is a German, as even you undoubtedly took notice of.”
“Ah, it has something to do with your boycott of the Hamburg tournament this spring?”
“Did you reportresses ever get it right? Didnt I TELL everyone on a press conference back in March I wouldnt play a tournament in Germany anymore, as long as this scum rules the country?”
“Excuse me?”
“The Nazis, dear, the fascists, the black uniforms, Gestapo, superfrauleins, do you get it?”
“So you boycott german tournaments for political reasons?”
“You seem surprised. Well, what to expect of an American. I take it, you work mostly in Germany? Hows Sex with the Superfrauen? I would rather die before touching one of those ice blocks, but...”
“Lady Lenglen, excuse me, thats very unusual for a sports lady to be so political.”
“So what? Do you think me not unusual? You should think twice before you answer...”
“Arrhh... you are certainly most unusual, Mademoiselle.”
“I hate this nazi dirt. The free world has to stop them. The same in Asia. You Americans should save the world from these danger, but what do you do? Getting agitated about a silly male with a ridicilous hair style and too short trousers who played aviatrix. You should concentrate more on what really matters today.”
Madeline looked as if slightly angered, but she started to like this french bitch. A lady with principles...



Party at a Hughes Villa, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 8th 1937, 21.18 hours

“Hey, Bill, I would like you to meet Agatha. Agatha, Bill Eaton. Bill, this is Major General Agatha Arnold of US Army Air Corps.”
“Hello, Squire Eaton. I am a real fan of you. Would even trust you with one of our bombers.”
“Thank you, mam. Do you have the B-17?”
“The Flying Fortress? Hell, no, no budget for that. We only have two prototypes. Would you like to try them out?”
“You would let me fly a B- 17?”
“Why not, son, why not. I am sure I can arrange something like that. Comes the time, we will need thousands of the birds.”
Hughes said to Bill:
“Agatha thinks we will have to fight the Germans and the Japs in the future.”
“Yeah, will bomb the sh*t out of the superfrauen with our B 17s.”
“So, you are an advocatress of strategic bombing?”
“You are into this, Bill? I am surprised.”
“Well, mam, I read some books, Dohet, Tenchard...”
“Super. What do you think of the theory?”
“Would be good to avoid a trench war with millions of dead and wounded this way. But there is a long way to go before a strategic air war is possible. The bomb sights for example. Excuse me, mam, but you wont hit New York Harbor with them, flying in a straight line at 3000 feet with no AA fire.”
“You are the most unusual male I ever had the pleasure to meet, Bill.”
“Uh...”
“You will get your flight with a B 17. Care to work in my staff?”
“Mam?”
“Just a joke, boy, just a joke. Can I fetch you a new drink? Whats that?”
“Uh, water, Mam.”
“Come on boy, serious!”