Price of Utility

Twenty-four trucks.

That was the number Arthur Pendelton had written in bold chalk across the top of the slate blackboard in the main engineering conference room.

Beneath it, underscored with a sharp, impatient line, was a second figure:

63

Ernest Teucher leaned back in his wooden armchair, staring at the numbers through the light haze of early morning workshop dust.

"What is sixty-three, Arthur?" Ernest asked.

"Sixty-three commercial inquiries with formal, written expressions of commercial intent," Arthur answered smoothly, setting his chalk down on the wooden ledge.

"An expression of intent is not a purchase order."

"It represents prospective customer demand."

"Then why is it on the executive board?"