Wheels (46 page)

.I'm not involved with it, and don't expect to be
.”

"Your people at the top are. And you're involved with them. They listen
to you
.”

"Tell me something," Adam said. "Did you put this up to our farm products
people? Did they turn you down
.”

The parts manufacturer nodded affirmatively. "Them and others. Need
someone now to get me in a board room. So I can raise interest there.
Hoped you'd see it
.”

At last it was clear precisely what Hank Kreisel wanted: Adam's help in
gaining access to the corporate summit of his company, and presumably the
ear of the president or chairman of the board.
Erica said, "Can't you do it for him
.”

Adam shook his head, but it was Hank Kreisel who told her, "He'd have to
believe in the idea first
.”

They stood looking at the contraption with its handle, so alien to
everything in Adam's own experience.
And yet, Adam knew, auto companies often did become involved in projects
having little or nothing to do with their principal activity of producing
cars. General Motors had pioneered a mechanical heart for use in surgery,
and other medical devices. Ford was working on space satellite
communication, Chrysler dabbling in planned communities. There were other
examples, and the reason for such programs-as Hank Kreisel shrewdly
knew-was that someone high in each company had taken a personal interest
to begin with.
"Been down to Washington about this thresher," Kreisel said. "Sounded out
a lot of guys in State. They go for this. Talk of ordering two hundred
thousand machines a year for foreign aid. It'd mean a start. But State
Department can't do manufacturing
.”

"Hank," Adam said, "why work through another company at all? If you're
convinced, why not build and market this yourself
.”

"Two reasons. One's prestige. I don't have the name. Big company like
yours does. Has the marketing setup, too. I don't
.”

Adam nodded. That much made sense.
"Other reason is finance. I couldn't raise the dough. Not for big
production
.”

"Surely, with your track record, the banks . .
.”

Hank Kreisel chuckled. "I'm into the banks already. So deep, some days
they think I held 'em up. Never had much cash of my own. Surprising what
you can do without it
.”

Adam understood that, too. Plenty of individuals and companies operated
that way, and almost certainly Hank Kreisel's plants, their equipment,
inventories, this house, his place at Higgins Lake, were mortgaged
heavily. If Kreisel ever sold his business, or a part of it, he could reap
millions in cash. Until he did, like others he would continue month by
month with cash flow problems.
Again the parts manufacturer turned the thresher handle. Inside, the
mechanism moved, though accomplishing nothing now; what it needed was
grain to bite on, fed into a quart-size hopper at the top.
"Sure this is offbeat. Could say it's been a dream with me. Had it a long
time
.”

Hank Kreisel hesitated, seeming embarrassed by the admission, but
went on, "Got the idea in Korea. Watched guys 'n dames in villages,
pounding grain with rocks. Primitive: lots of muscle, small results. Saw
a need, so started figuring this gizmo. Worked on it, on and off, ever
since
.”

Erica was watching Hank Kreisel's f ace intently. She, too, knew something
of his background, having learned it partly from Adam,
partly elsewhere. Suddenly a picture took shape in her mind: of a tough,
hard-fighting United States Marine in an alien, hostile land, yet observing native villagers with such understanding and compassion that, years
afterward, an idea born at that time could stay with him like a flame.
"Tell you something, Adam," Kreisel said. "You too, Erica. This
country's not selling farm machinery overseas. Leastways, not much. Ours
is too fancy, too sophisticated. It's like a religion with us-the way
I said: everything has to be powered. Must be electric, or use an
engine, or whatever. What's forgotten is, Eastern countries have un
ending labor. You call for a guy to turn a handle, fifty come hurrying
like flies-or ants. But we don't like that idea. Don't like to see dams
built by coolies carrying stones. Idea offends us. We figure it's
inefficient, not American; we say it's the way the pyramids were built.
So what? Fact is: situation's there. Won't change for a long time, if
ever. Another thing: out there, not many places to repair fancy
machinery. So machines need to be simple
.”

He took his hand away from
the thresher whose handle he had continued turning. "This is
.”

Adam thought: Strangely, while Hank Kreisel had been speaking-eloquently
for him-and demonstrating what he had built and believed in, he had a
Lincolnesque quality which his tall, lean figure emphasized.
Would the idea work, Adam wondered? Was there a need, the way Hank
Kreisel claimed? Was it a worthwhile project to which one of the Big
Three auto companies might lend its world prestige?
Adam began firing questions based on his product planner's training in
critical analysis. The questions embraced marketing, expected sales,
distribution, local assembly, costs, parts, techniques for shipping, servicing, repair. Each point Adam raised, Kreisel
seemed to have thought of and been prepared for, with the needed figures in
his brain, and the responses showed why the parts manufacturer's own
business had become the success it was.
Later, Hank Kreisel personally drove Adam and Erica to their car downtown. Heading home, northward, on the John Lodge Freeway, Erica asked Adam,
"Will you do what Hank wants? Will you get him in to see the chairman and
the others
.”

"I don't know
.”

His voice betrayed doubts. "I'm just not sure
.”

"I think you should
.”

He glanced sideways, half-amused. "Just like that
.”

Erica said firmly, "Yes, just like that
.”

"Aren't you the one who's always telling me I'm involved with too much
already
.”

Adam was remembering the Orion, its introduction nearing week
by week, with demands on his own time increasing, as they would for months
ahead. Yet Farstar, now in early phases, was also requiring his
concentration and working hours, at the office and at home.
Another thing on his mind was Smokey Stephensen. Adam knew he must resolve
soon the question of his sister Teresa's investment in the auto dealership
where he was overdue for another visit and a showdown with Smokey over
several issues. Somehow, next week, he must try to fit that in.
He asked himself: Did he really want to take on something more?
Erica said, "It wouldn't take time. All Hank's asking is for an
introduction so he can demonstrate his machine
.”

Adam laughed. "Sorry
!
It doesn't work that way
.”

He explained: Any idea
passed on for consideration at the summit of the company must have
exhaustive analysis and views appended because nothing was ever dumped
casually on the president's or chairman's desk. Even working through Elroy
Braithwaite and Hub Hewitson, the executive vice-president-as Adam would
have to-the ground rules still applied. Neither would authorize approach
to the next higher echelon until an entire proposal had been sifted, costs
worked out, market potential mapped, specific recommendations made.
And rightly so. Otherwise hundreds of crackpot schemes would clog the
policymaking process.
In this instance-though other people might be involved later-Adam,
initially, would have to do the work.
Something else: If farm products division had turned down Hank Kreisel's
thresher scheme, as he admitted, Adam could make enemies by reviving it,
whether success or failure followed. The farm products arm, though small
by comparison with automotive operations, was still a part of the company,
and making enemies anywhere was never a good idea.
In the end, tonight, Adam had been impressed by his host's demonstration
and ideas. But would Adam gain by involvement? Would it be wise or foolish
to become Hank Kreisel's sponsor?
Erica's voice cut through his thoughts. "Even if there were some work, I
should think it might be a lot more useful than those other things you
do
.”

He answered sarcastically, "I suppose you'd like me to drop the Orion,
Farstar . .
.”

"Why not? Those won't feed anybody. Hank's machine will
.”

"The Orion will feed you and me
.”

Even as he said it, Adam knew his last remark was smug and foolish, that
they were drifting into a needless argument, but Erica flashed back, "I
suppose that's all you care about
.”

"No, it isn't. But there's a whole lot more to think of
.”

"For instance, what
.”

"For instance, Hank Kreisel's an opportunist
.”

"I liked him
.”

"So I noticed
.”

Erica's voice was ice. "Just what do you mean by that
.”

"Oh, hell!
-nothing
.”

"I said: What do you mean
.”

"All right," Adam answered, "while we were by the pool, he was mentally
undressing you. You knew it, too. You didn't seem to mind
.”

Erica's cheeks were flushed. "Yes, I did know I And no, I didn't mind
!
If
you want the truth, I liked it
.”

He said sourly, "Well, I didn't
.”

"I can't think why
.”

"What's that supposed to mean
.”

"It means Hank Kreisel's a man, and acts like one. That way, he makes a
woman feel a woman
.”

"I suppose I don't
.”

"No, you bloody well don't
!
" Her anger filled the car. It shook him. He
had the sense to know this had gone far enough.
Adam made his tone conciliatory. "Look, maybe lately if I haven't been .
.
.”

"You objected because Hank made me feel good. A woman. Wanted
.”

"Then I'm sorry. I suppose I said the wrong thing, didn't think enough
about it
.”

He added, "Besides, I want you
.”

"Do you? Do you
.”

"Of course I do
.”

'Then why don't you take me anymore?
Don't you know it's two months since you did? Before that, weeks and
weeks. And you make me feel so cheap telling you
.”

They had left the freeway. Consciencestricken, Adam stopped the car.
Erica was sobbing, her face against the window on the other side. He
reached gently for her hand.
She snatched it back. "Don't touch me
.”

"Look," Adam said, "I guess I'm a first-class dope . .
.”

"No
!
Don't say it
!
Don't say anything
.”

Erica choked back tears. "Do you
think I want you to take me now? After asking? How do you think a woman
feels who has to ask
.”

He waited a while, feeling helpless, not knowing what to do or say. Then
he started the car and they drove the rest of the way to Quarton Lake
in silence.
As usual, Adam let Erica out before heading into the garage. Leaving,
she told him quietly, "I've thought a lot, and it isn't just tonight.
I want a divorce
.”