thickening　snow　before　it。　It

was　8：30　A。M。

》

STAPLETON　AIRPORT；

DENVER

At　8：31　A。M。；　MST；　a　woman　on　TWA's　Flight　196　burst　into　tears　and　began　to

bugle　her　own　opinion；　which　was　perhaps　not　unshared　among　some　of　the　other

passengers　（or　even　the　crew；　for　that　matter）；　that　the　plane　was　going　to

crash。

The　sharp…faced　woman　next　to　Hallorann　looked　up　from　her　book　and　offered　a

brief　character　analysis：　〃Ninny；〃　and　went　back　to　her　book。　She　had　downed　two

screwdrivers　during　the　flight；　but　they　seemed　not　to　have　thawed　her　at　all。

〃It's　going　to　crash！〃　the　woman　was　crying　out　shrilly。　〃Oh；　I　just　know　it

is！〃

A　stewardess　hurried　to　her　seat　and　squatted　beside　her。　Hallorann　thought　to

himself　that　only　stewardesses　and　very　young　housewives　seemed　able　to　squat

with　any　degree　of　grace；　it　was　a　rare　and　wonderful　talent。　He　thought　about

this　while　the　stewardess　talked　softly　and　soothingly　to　the　woman；　quieting

her　bit　by　bit。

Hallorann　didn't　know　about　anyone　else　on　196；　but　he　personally　was　almost

scared　enough　to　shit　peachpits。　Outside　the　window　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen

but　a　buffeting　curtain　of　white。　The　plane　rocked　sickeningly　from　side　to　side

with　gusts　that　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere。　The　engines　were　cranked　up　to

provide　partial　pensation　and　as　a　result　the　floor　was　vibrating　under　their

feet。　There　were　several　people　moaning　in　Tourist　behind　them；　one　stew　had

gone　back　with　a　handful　of　fresh　airsick　bags；　and　a　man　three　rows　in　front　of

Hallorann　had　whoopsed　into　his　National　Observer　and　had　grinned　apologetically

at　the　stewardess　w