Dividend (Trilogy Book 3)

1947. Demobbed, Michael Kelly bids at auction for ex-military aeroplanes for Empress Airways. With government contracts they begin regular flights to remaining parts of the Empire. Empress takes part in the Berlin Airlift: the Soviets create difficulties for the streams of aircraft flying to the besieged city. For Ceci Penrose, piloting a laden freighter, it proves a challenging experience. Russian fighters attack. Her crew is seriously injured, the aircraft critically damaged. In the gathering dark they manage to escape. Force landing in a remote area, they take stock. Their wireless operator may not survive. Exploring, Ceci meets an ex-Luftwaffe engineer offering help. The price of collaboration is high if caught by the Soviet run Volkspolizei. They hatch an innovative escape plan. Time is critical, some have doubts. Empress Airways strives but on a financial knife-edge. New aircraft to compete with state subsidised airlines are key to survival. American machines are the answer. But, post-war government restrictions on foreign currency transactions stymie ambitions. Then, a new source of apparently legitimate finance is found, forged in the African diamond trade. The outcome is violent and unexpected for those involved.