ho　came　to　help　him　clean　up。　〃That's　all　right；〃　she

forted　him；　〃that's　how　I　feel　about　the　Reader's　Digest。〃

Hallorann　had　flown　enough　to　be　able　to　surmise　what　had　happened。　They　had

been　flying　against　bad　headwinds　most　of　the　way；　the　weather　over　Denver　had

worsened　suddenly　and　unexpectedly；　and　now　it　was　just　a　little　late　to　divert

for　someplace　where　the　weather　was　better。　Feets　don't　fail　me　now。

（Buddy…boy；　this　is　some　fucked…up　cavalry　charge。）

The　stewardess　seemed　to　have　succeeded　in　curbing　the　worst　of　the　woman's

hysterics。　She　was　snuffling　and　honking　into　a　lace　handkerchief；　but　had

ceased　broadcasting　her　opinions　about　the　flight's　possible　conclusion　to　the

cabin　at　large。　The　stew　gave　her　a　final　pat　on　the　shoulder　and　stood　up　just

as　the　747　gave　its　worst　lurch　yet。　The　stewardess　stumbled　backward　and　landed

in　the　lap　of　the　man　who　had　whoopsed　into　his　paper；　exposing　a　lovely　length

of　nyloned　thigh。　The　man　blinked　and　then　patted　her　kindly　on　the　shoulder。

She　smiled　back；　but　Hallorann　thought　the　strain　was　showing。　It　had　been　one

hell　of　a　hard　flight　this　morning。

There　was　a　little　ping　as　the　No　SMOKING　light　reappeared。

〃This　is　the　captain　speaking；〃　a　soft；　slightly　southern　voice　informed　them。

〃We're　ready　to　begin　our　descent　to　Stapleton　International　Airport。　It's　been

a　rough　flight；　for　which　I　apologize。　The　landing　may　be　a　bit　rough　also；　but

we　anticipate　no　real　difficulty。　Please　observe　the　FASTEN　SEAT　BELTS　and　NO

SMOKING　signs；　and　we　hope　you　enjoy　your　stay　in　the　Denver　metro　area。　And　we

also　hope　—　〃

Another　hard　bump　rocked　the　plane