Disastrophe

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

 With time ticking slower than ever, the plane continued its crawl through the sky, the cockpit door still remaining shut. I glanced around at some of the other passengers. Most were chatting away like nothing had even happened. Although there was an unshaven man in a black suit that had clearly never seen a de-fluffer in its life, was hanging around near the rear toilet. I recognised him and ended up spending a good ten minutes racking my brain to remember where from, without looking like a total stalker that’s staring at him. That’s when it hit me; he was the man outside the airport smoking in a no-smoking zone, the man who had taken an extra twenty minutes or so in emigration with the passport officials lingering over the decision.

 I was almost certain that it was illegal to smoke aboard an aircraft, yet, when someone emerged from the toilet, he went in with a lit cigarette draped by his side. Wondering if I dared warn a stewardess about his strange actions, I turned to Robbie.

“Isn’t it illegal to smoke on an aircraft?” I questioned, almost certain I was correct.

“Yes, of course, why,” He paused, bracing himself. “Crystal, tell me now, what did you see?”

 I told him every single detail about what I had seen since my arrival at the airport and how that man had been acting incredibly suspicious for most of the day.

“Hmm…” Robbie took a moment’s thought. “It isn’t the brightest of things for him to do, and if he gets caught he’ll surely be punished. If we steer clear of him for the rest of the flight, I’m sure we’ll be fine. Though he does seem rather dodgy…” His opinion wavered slightly as the man came out of the toilet, empty handed.

“Why isn’t he holding the cigarette anymore, Robbie?” I panicked.

“Maybe he thought better of it and decided to put it out.”

“OK…” I tried to believe him, but I couldn’t.

                                                                     ***

 Twenty minutes since the cigarette incident and there was a rather musty scent seeping through the cabin. It had made me wonder if my nerves were causing my nose to hallucinate.

“Robbie, can you smell that too?” I asked. He sniffed the air and thought for a moment, his eyes darting along the rows of people.

“Yes, and it looks like we’re not the only ones who can.” He gestured to people all around us, pulling faces in disgust and looking puzzled. A woman near the very back was conversing with a stewardess. I managed to eavesdrop on some of the stewardess’ words.

“Ma’am, I can assure you there’s nothing to worry about! I’m sure it’s just an overflow causing the smell, or maybe the motor’s jammed. Nothing that we can’t fix! I’ll go and have a look now.” She opened the toilet door with no caution whatsoever, and slammed it shut again in horror. Then she called up to the steward, who was dealing with an elderly couple two rows behind us. “Thomas! Alert the captain!”