Milo Buys Egyptian Cotton

In Cairo, Milo sees a stock ticker and, on impulse, buys the entire Egyptian cotton crop. The purchase is a disaster, as there is no market for the cotton. The glut threatens to bankrupt the syndicate and leads Milo to bomb his own squadron to raise cash. The cotton fiasco is a central plot point, illustrating the dangers of unchecked greed and the absurdity of applying market logic to war.