They walked over to the fighter. She had been patched up and looked airworthy enough.
“Mind if I go up?” Stan asked.
A dozen men working in the shop stood watching. “No, go ahead,” Domber said.
Stan climbed up and into the cockpit. A glance showed him that there had been considerable instrument damage which the German mechanics had not been able to repair. He noticed at once that the engine was hooked up to a small portable gasoline tank. That meant she had no fuel in her except just enough to make test runs of the engine. It probably was a fire hazard measure, but it also was one reason why Domber was so willing to let Stan get into the cockpit.
The other reason Stan soon discovered. Looking out, he saw on each side of the opening to the runway, batteries of aircraft cannon. Those guns could lay a concentrated cross fire over the runway so deadly that any plane would be blown to bits in a minute.
Stan climbed down out of the cockpit. He faced Herr Domber. “Just what was it you wanted me to do?” He had to stall for time, more time.
“You will assemble and repair the supercharger on that plane. Every tool you need will be at hand, and if you need an assistant I will furnish you one who speaks English.” Herr Domber was smiling as he spoke.
“That’s a big order,” Stan said.
“My experts could do this, but it might take several weeks and we do not have that much time. We have such a ship as this one. All we need is a supercharger to make it the best ship in the world. Naturally I am anxious and do not wish to lose any time.”
“I’ll need an English-speaking helper. I may have to have parts made and I do not run a lathe,” Stan said.