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June 4th, 1960, Salisbury, Rhodesia
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Two Rolls Royce Phantom III's rolling onto the Salibsury Airfield was nothing new to the men who worked the tarmac. The vehicle was commonly used by Government Officials and wealthy business men to come and go as they pleased. What caught their attention was the young women hanging out of the windows laughing and waving from the second car. Four of them, two white women and two black women, all of them heart stoppingly beautiful. Work by those within easy visual range ground to a halt as the vehicles swept by and headed toward the big hanger on the south side of the field where private aircraft sat gleaming in the hot African sun. The two Phantoms were followed by Henry Cornell in his Melsetter, the big engine roaring as he accelerated and tore past the Phantoms to reach the hanger first.

A Canadair North Star had been drawn out of the line of aircraft, the great silver flanks marked only by a green band that ran from nose to tail, which was also green and sported, in great white letters, CORNELL. When he had first bought the plane Henry had been worried it had been a frivolous expense but as his business interests expanded overseas he had found the plane invaluable. The aircraft Captain, co-pilot and four hostesses waited at the bottom of the ramp as he drove up and the Captain stepped forward to open the car door for Henry as it ground to a halt, rocking back and forth slightly on its heavy suspension.

"Fuelled and ready to fly sir. Flight plan filed for immediate departure. Salisbury to Cairo, Cairo to Bombay, Bombay to Singapore, Singapore to Manila." As he spoke the ground crew hurried forward to take the suitcases from Henry's car and stow them in the aircraft. Henry greeted the aircraft crew, complimented them on the state of the aircraft, and then turned his attention to the two Phantoms as they drew up to the aircraft.

The first disgorged four serious looking white men in business suits. One was undoubtedly a body guard but the other three looked like they might be lawyers. The second car was the real surprise for all as it stopped and the four women piled out giggling. They were dressed in identical green and white dresses with white gloves and their hair held back by Rhodesian flag styled hair accessories. This was a new tack for Henry, one that he had hit on in the last month during planning sessions for this trip around the world. He knew from his newspaper friends that violence, puppies, and sex were the stories that sold papers. There was no shortage of literature with beautiful women consuming products in the print ads, and air hostesses dressed fashionably. This trip would include these four young women who had been brought onto the staff as sales staff. They would assist in presentations, either pitching the ideas, or handling props. They were the real salespeople here. The four men who accompanied them were there to draw up the paperwork. It would be an interesting departure from the belief that only men could sell. 

The giggle squad, as he was affectionately calling them, made their way into the aircraft followed by the legal team. The hostesses, long used to transporting men who were horrendous flirts, chatted happily with their female passengers and had to be reminded that they still had a job to do. The lawyers settled in as the aircraft engines roared to life. 

Henry settled in his own private "office" at the rear of the aircraft. It was really just a larger cabin with a desk, and a double bed that was separated from the main cabin by a curtain. The trip would take roughly 36 hours of flying time and they would overnight in Singapore so that he arrived in Manila rested and ready to do business. He felt a jolt as the plane began to taxi forward and another gale of giggles came from the forward cabin. He smiled involuntarily. This trip had a promising start.

[b]***Forty three Hours and one overnight in Singapore later***[/b]

The wheels of the North Star slammed into the tarmac, jarring the remainder of the party awake. Henry hadn't slept since the take off in Singapore that morning. He was pouring over documents to acquaint himself with the Philippines even further. What he was really interested in was the Tobacco industry and, most importantly the political situation. 

Upcoming elections in a nation like the Philippines were a golden opportunity to back one side against the other and win some trade concessions in the mix. He took a moment to look up from his reading as they began to taxi down the long runway and back toward the main terminal. The Jungle had grown up tight against the edges of the airfield and he could already feel the humid temperatures beating on the sides of the aircraft. He was not looking forward to the amount of sweating that was in his future.

The forward cabin giggling had died away but he could still hear the girls commenting on the same things he had noticed. It did look somewhat like home but the jungle seemed much thicker and different birds could be seen exploding from the forest. 

Henry had called ahead when they landed in Singapore and made arrangements for three cars to meet them at the terminal. His contact had already secured a meeting with Presidential hopeful Aurelia and that would be his second stop after they checked into the Manila Hotel. He wanted to shower and shave again before he met with anyone. He had invited Aurelia to join him for a buisness lunch at the hotel, it would attract far less attention than driving to her office. ([@Letter Bee])

As the plane came to a stop against a pair of chalks, the door was lowered to allow a blast of hot humid air. Henry, as befitted his owning the plane, was the first one off and into the somewhat cooler interior of the rented town car. The rest of his entourage followed and they drew away from the aircraft within five minutes of landing. The Cornell brand had arrived.