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