Chapter 9 - "Valhalla - the Tortuous Route Thereto" Summary and Analysis

Goose Bay is a new base and consists of little more than a landing strip cut into the pristine northern wilderness. Gann feels ashamed at the mechanization taking place in such a remote, beautiful location. However, he also realizes that with the war, logistics will be complicated and the northeastern locations offer excellent staging areas. Goose Bay initially features no navigational assists and the local weather is cranky and unpredictable.

After Gann lands, he discovers that his load of steel masts is in fact destined for Greenland. With time only to gulp a few cups of coffee, receive basic destination instructions, and catch a few hours of sleep, Gann and his crew enplane and continue. The next morning they begin a 1,300-mile trip without navigational...