Penny Lambert and the Black Obelisk

A 1930's Aviation Girls Adventure

© 2011by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter One

Henry Comes to Visit

It was a wonderful warm Summers day, with but a light breeze from the South. Penny Allison Lambert was deep into her book when the powerful roar of an engine came to her ears. Its deep roar warning the young girl that her boyfriend, Henry Marken, was arriving. Setting her novel down she ran to her front door, to watch in glee as the athletic, blond haired young man brought his new Indian Chief motorcycle to a stop at her front walk. Stepping back from her screen door, lest she be seen watching like some young child, the teenager waited as Henry carefully parked his machine, removed his small black leather helmet and laid it on the seat. Only then did he look up to the larger three story house before him. Penny felt a thrill run through her as those soft blue eyes seemed to pierce her heart. In only one week her Summer vacation would be over. She would be attending Reinhardt Aviation School, while Henry was to be working at the airport only a few dozen miles away. Already engaged, the two planned to marry as soon as he finished his Naval commitment and Penny graduated. Her heart beating she watched her Henry started walking up the stone paved walk. Realizing that she would soon be discovered she stepped back again, bumping into someone much larger than herself.

“Now Miss Penny. Isn’t right, you being so forward, and him without a full time job yer” their maid Carlia scolded. “Now you just go sit yourself in that parlor. I will greet your young man.”

“Yes Carla” Penny agreed. She slid around the larger black woman, making her way to the Parlor and her waiting novel. Carla was a stickler for social decorum, believing it not right for a young girl to appear so excited by the visit of a young man. Especially one who had stepped aside from higher education in order to take a simple mechanics job at an airport. Of all the crazy things to do. Penny knew this, but Carla was Carla. She had been around since before Penny had been born. Like a natural force Penny simply accepted what she was and moved along her own path.

A knock on the door announced that Henry had made it that far. Then came Carla’s voice, Henry’s, Carla’s again until finally the door opened. Penny listened as Henry walked in, his motorcycle boots making a heavy sound as he walked.

“Miss Penny. Your young man Henry has come to visit” Carla announced from the doorway. “Are you takin visitors today?”

“Why yes Carla” Penny answered. “I would be delighted to see Mr. Marken today. Please send him in and by all means bring tea if you would be so kind.” Her eyes glittered with amusement as she talked as pulling Carla’s leg was always fun. As long as she was careful not to pull it too hard. A moment later the black woman was gone and Henry walked in, hat in hand.

“Good afternoon Penny” he said as he sat in his favorite place, the small sofa directly across from Penny. “Its such a wonderful day I had wondered if you might like to take a ride on my motorbike. Sadly my schedule has changed, thus I may only visit for a short time.”

Penny raised a hand to her lips, stifling a tiny giggle at the boys forwardness. “Why Henry. A motorcycle ride without a chaperon? In my dress? Why I just couldn’t Everyone would talk and well, mother would be greatly upset.” She brushed her blouse as if dusting off a crumb. “It does sound awfully fun though and I do wish that I could.”

Henry was old enough to know when to accept Penny’s answer but young enough not to be happy about it. He had originally planned an afternoon alone with Penny, most likely out at the riverbank. Still his father required him home shortly and it was much too late to return home for his fathers roadster. “I understand Penny. I do not desire to upset either of your parents.” He looked over to the doorway as Clara arrived with a silver tray. On it was a small ornate tea pot and two silver tea cups. Sugar and milk were there as well, along with a small plate of sugar cookies baked just that morning. She sat them on the table between Penny and Henry, closer to Penny than Henry as it was the hostess’s duty to serve. Not the guest. She then made her exit silently as any good servant would.

“She is a very kind woman” Henry noted. He declined to reach for a cookie, it would be bad manners after all to take what had not yet been offered. Penny quickly took care of that problem by pouring them both tea, then offering the cookie plate to her beau. Henry politely took only one cookie, for the moment.

“Yes. Clara has been with my family since before I was born” Penny answered, though this was old information to both of them. “She bakes such wonderful cookies do you agree?”

“Oh yes” Henry agreed, stopping his teacup only an inch from his lips in order to speak. “Quite the excellent cook.” He sipped his tea before continuing, sitting his cup down on its matching saucer. “Penny, I am leaving on tonight’s train. I have joined the Army in order to learn flying. As my time is short and you are unable to join me on my motorbike, perhaps we could walk in your garden? It is a very fine day after all.”

“Perhaps” Penny answered, a touch of coyness in her voice. “It truly is a fine day though. I will ask Clara first, yet I see no problem. She has a full view of the gardens from her kitchen windows.” Penny blushed abruptly. “With of course the exception of... the grotto” she finished in a much softer voice She stood, calling Clara’s name as she walked towards the kitchen.

Henry watched her leave with longing. They had been neighbors all their lives, their families were friends and he had been in love with the young girl since she was six years old. He himself had been eight then. At eleven he had sworn that he would marry Penny Lambert. Marry her, love her and protect her for all the days of their lives and that she would grant him many children in exchange for his love and protection. That had changed somewhat as both grew up, but his love for the younger girl had never ebbed one inch. Just, other things hard started getting in the way. Penny’s love of aircraft, her desire to become a pilot. Those were not the things a wife should do his father had raised him to believe. Still he was willing to accept it, as long as it remained a hobby only and ended immediately when they started a family.

Penny returned from speaking to Clara. There was, Henry noted, a touch of a flush to her face. “Clara has given her permission” Penny announced. “As long as we do not leave the garden.” She giggled softly. “I fear that Carla is fearful that you may spirit me away in some nefarious scheme. Never to be seen again.”

“But Penny my dear” Henry responded quickly, falling into an old game from their childhood. “The nearest working sawmill is over ninety miles away. However could I ever hope to avoid capture by your hero before reaching it?”

“Perhaps we can make do my evil villainess foe, within our imaginations.” She held out her hand. “If you will be so good as to accompany me sir. I feel a need to walk in my garden.”

Henry smiled, standing to take the young girls hand in his. “Then I will be most delighted to escort you my lady. It is such a fine day to view the garden I believe.”

Clara watched the two walk out, shaking her head in disbelief. Would those two never grow up she wondered. They had been play acting since she could remember, and the black housekeep could remember quite a long ways back. Assured that she would be able to keep a watchful eye upon the two, for Henry had had his eye upon Penny since a very young age, Clara returned to her work in the kitchen. Perhaps a cool lemonade would be welcome when they returned she thought.

“Tell me about your plans dear Henry” Penny asked after they were in the garden, and away from listening ears. “And truly why you are entering the Army.”

“You remember that father has a rule” Henry explained. “Well, one of hundreds actually. This particular one is that he will not leave any of his sons any part of his money unless we prove ourselves capable of earning our own way first. As did his father. You remember that Eunice is taking business at Harvard, while Thomas is striving to become an educator. We must, as father puts his words, be able to support ourselves and a family before we may hope to ‘Feed from his trough.’” Henry stopped to smell a rose, his favorite flower Penny knew.

“I plan to earn my wings then obtain employment as an airline pilot. Perhaps even with Pan-American. As such I will have the income to support a wife and family by myself. Still to be honest with you Penny, I care not for fathers money. He may keep it.”

“I see. It does seem a rather an interesting way to teach your sons the value of a dollar.” Penny glanced at her house, noting Clara looking out the window. In a fit of mischievousness she stood on her tippy-toes and waved at the older woman. Clara instantly vanished, the windows lace curtain fluttering behind her.

“You should not aggrieve the woman” Henry warned. “She has devoted her life to caring for you and your siblings. To the point of having not even a husband or children of her own.”

“I know” Penny agreed. “She gave up so much for us and I do love Clara greatly. I would do almost anything for her but I am seventeen, an adult now. I do not need a nanny watching over my every movement anymore.” She pressed her dress back into respectable shape, returning her attention to her visitor. “And your sisters. How do they prove themselves worthy?”

“By marrying well of course, and having children quickly.”

“I see.” Penny decided that she was not much happy with that part of Henry’s father, though the man was honest and had many times proven his love for his family. All of his family. “So after you are employed by Pan-American. Which young lady will you then ask to be your wife dear Henry.”

That question caught the young man completely off guard. “Why” he sputtered, abruptly unsure of what to say. “You of course Penny. There is no other in my life. We are engaged, are we not?”

“But of course” Penny laughed, holding up her hand so that the ring he had given her not four months before, with its tiny emerald sparkled in the light. “I only wondered if you had someone else in mind. But remember, I plan to become a pilot as well dear Henry. My own classes start on Monday, I must board my train no later than Saturday morning. Remember also that we planned to start our own company. Two qualified pilots bring in more money than one. Your own words.”

“I well remember my words” Henry agreed. “A family though. It will stabilize our lives. We will be more easily accepted into the community, which is important you understand. There are many who feel that a young woman has no business in the sky.”

“Even as a passenger” Penny asked gently.

“When with her husband yes. But alone? There are so many things that could occur when a woman travels alone.”

“I see” and Penny did see. Henry’s fathers words again. Almost exactly as he had spoken them to her own father just last Sunday after services. “Perhaps we should set aside this discussion dearest Henry. Until you have completed your Army service and I my own schooling at least.” She smiled up to her love, gently placing one hand boldly upon his arm. “Many things may change between now and then. Now tell me, what aircraft will you be training on.”

Henry’s demeanor changed almost instantly as he entered a subject both were excited by. “The new T-28 of certainty. After I pass the Link simulator course. I hope to have experience on amphibians, so I may even stumble across your brother Richard. My recruiter said that the Boeing NB-1 is being used. It will mean transferring to a Navy for two months, but well worth the experience. I hope to meet your brother then, it has been years since we last talked. Of course I cannot expect the Army to waste brand new aircraft training pilots. Those will go to active duty squads first of course. And though I would much like to fly in a dirigible, that simply isn’t possible I am afraid.”

Penny nodded slightly in agreement. American lighter than air craft used helium, not the explosive hydrogen for lift. Thus they were safer than the German ships. To look down upon the ground while floating without a sound would be quite exciting she thought. But given a choice the young woman would always prefer wings holding her in the air, and not some great bag of gas that a rogue storm might send crashing to the ground.

“Oh my goodness, the time” Henry abruptly announced. “I completely forgot. Father expects me at his club for supper. I simply must hurry home to prepare myself. Please forgive me.” He stood, lifting Penny from her position by the simple manner of retaining his hold upon her hands. “Penny. I beg you to be careful. It is dangerous around aircraft. Oh dear the time, my dearest apologies but I simply must run.” And run he did, leaving Penny alone in her fathers garden.

“Why I never” she gasped, stamping her foot. “To not even walk me to my door. What has gotten into that boy.” Quickly walking up the path to her home she heard Henry’s motorbike start up, then roar down her drive. Why the idea, to not even give her a peck on the cheek before leaving. “I simply must get him away from his father” she was saying as she entered her home. “The man is a bad influence.”

“Lemonade Miss Penny” Clara asked when the girl entered the kitchen.

“Yes please Clara. I will be spending the rest of today in my room. Please do not call me for dinner.” She accepted the drink, knowing it had to have been made ready when Henry abruptly left. For the glass was already sweating under its ice filled liquids effects and she could smell the scent of lemons about her servant. Clara was very quick to change plans, though that lemonade would not go to waste when her parents returned home. “Thank you Clara. You always seem to know exactly what I need.” She left, with Clara’s eyes following her.

Servants talked, and Marken’s servants were no different than any other. Several times at market Marken’s Sara had complained to Clara about Mr. Marken’s sudden mood changes. “He be angry all dah time” the older black woman had reported. “And has the headaches. But he wont see no doctor. Says it is his humors. Humors. Them don’t make a man strike his wife. Don’t make a man turn his own sons against der sisters. Tis a bad demon Mr. Marken has in his head. A bad demon.”

Demon. Clara was as God fearing a woman as any who walked the earth, but she had a brother who had studied medicine. It sounded more to her that Mr. Marken’s problem was something called a tumor. And if it were not cut out, it would kill the man. There was though, nothing a servant could do. They served, stayed in the shadows and lived their lives apart from those who paid them. Returning to her preparations Clara decided to make a tray for young Penny. She was upset at the moment by her boys abrupt departure, but even so would be hungry by suppertime. Though Clara knew from long experience that the girl would not come down from her room until at least tomorrow morning. She had held little Penny from the day she had come home, was more a mother to her than Penny’s real mother. It saddened her that the girl was going to marry into the Marken family. Marken’s never treated their women better than servants, though that was servant knowledge not public knowledge of course.

In her room Penny sat on her window seat, looking out the way her beloved Henry had departed. Why had he bothered to visit if his time had been so short. Why had he asked her to ride, if he had but half an hour. Or even to walk in the garden? Sometimes Henry seemed as flittery as his own father. Could he have simply forgotten such an important meeting in his desire to see her? Yes the young girl decided, that simply must be it. She sipped her lemonade, relishing having made her Henry forget an important date simply to see her. It meant that she was important to her, very important. Such feelings were important to her, and her future.