banner – the majority of which has become invisible behind stains of smoke. As the sun hits its transcendent peak in the sky, I hear the monotonous loudspeaker announce that I have reached halfway; in this vast, swallowing expanse, how can I already be halfway into my journey? I turn to Jess. She is smiling benignly out of the window. I turn behind me: a couple with dancing, swimming eyes are laughing hysterically – pausing only to gasp on this dense, claustrophobic air. I shoot a longing glance towards the cream chairs and voluptuous drinks in the ‘First Class’ cabin. Swivelling, I see a painful grimace in my face, offering me overpriced cocktails, but I’d prefer wine; it always does to appear sophisticated. Expecting to see approval on Jess’s face, I turn only to see her deep, swimming, bewildered eyes. That is when the screaming starts. The screams are like erupting daggers. Each cabin is pierced with a pervading terror, and I feel my body lurch for protection. Another human, another mind; the rasping loudspeaker, incomprehensible; Jess’ eyes still swimming – instinctively I stand up; now at least I can see over the seats. I’m falling faster now, and painted grimaces disappear. Suddenly all my eyes can take in is the malevolent, dancing light consuming the left wing. Death seems inexorable. I walk jerkily forward, a final lurch towards my goal. As I come closer, the more clearly I can see the naked, fractured neon sign - and all of a sudden the glazed icing with which I have surrounded this cabin recedes, as ominous flames melt through the assumptive lust which has caked my eyes shut. I see how pathetic these bloated, gasping gentlemen are; their lives’ ambitions to become sources of admiration leaves them like glutinous buzzards – proud, unhealthy, disliked. I picture their partners lounging in an overly-elaborate living room, awaiting the inevitable freedom of divorce. Turning around, I search out Jess’ face through the choking haze which envelops the plane’s interior; all the eyes I can make out are swimming, drowning.
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