A FINE FIX
BY R. C. NOLL
Generally speaking, human beings are fine buck-passers—but there's one circumstance under which they refuse to pass on responsibility. If the other fellow says "Your method won't solve the problem!"—then they get mad!
Illustrated by van Dongen
The leader climbed sharply in a bank to the left, and the two others followed close behind. Their jet streams cut off at very near the same time. Before their speed slowed to stalling, the rotors unfolded from the canopy hump and beat the air viciously, the steam wisping back in brief fingers.
Under power again, they dipped playfully in tightening circles toward the plot-mottled earth. The fields expanded beneath them, and the leader brought up and hovered over a farm road whose dust already stirred in the disturbed air.
They settled as one in the rolling dust clouds from which emerged a coveralled figure who had driven the battered pickup truck to meet them.
"Y'sure got back in a rush," he addressed the major, who was just jumping from the plastiglas cabin.
The major nodded and put his attention on seeing that the general descended safely. He then indicated the farmer.