Page 11 (1/2)
"This way, Miss Chen," George says to o around to the back of the car to grabon this trip," he adds with a srabs my stuff and leads me in the direction of the jet
I ht attendants dressed in i smiles and a bow of their heads "Mr Tanaka welcomes you on board," one of them says tokept up-to-date on where I a his plane at this very ht attendant’s words--until I turn to look at the inside of the jet
Now I understand why the outside panels of the plane looked so translucent The interior appears lined with glass panels, through which I can see the airport, runway, and sky On second glance, the panels have the Henka Gaht rim the panels I’ve only ever seen the inside of planes crath leather couch at the far end, an actual bed eainst each side, a full bathrooe chairs near the front A glass of cha the lounge chairs I’m frozen for a ance
George sets ives me a tip of his hat and a sht" Before I can ask him what he means, he turns away and heads down the stairs to his car
As the attendants seal the door, one of them invites e chairs, sink cautiously onto the soft leather, and inspect the are, like the s in the car I just rode in? I’ lasses I recognize it instantly as the current generation of Warcross glasses that are being sold in stores-- up until now
"For your enjoyht experience"
"Thanks" I turn the glasses in ers stop above an elegant logo that says: Alexander McQueen for Henka Galasses Dad would have held his breath in delight
I’m about to put theo to the glass panels on the sides and top of the aircraft I can see straight through theear If I stare hard enough, it seeround, with nothing separating us froround rushes by faster and faster Aboveto be launched to our certain death
Then the plane leaves the runway, and lass panels, the world below us falls away, and just like that--we’re airborne
I don’t realize how hard I’ht attendant taps me I look up to see his relaxed smile "No need to worry, ines "This is one of the most advanced planes in the world It’s supersonic From here, we’ll travel to Tokyo in less than ten hours" He nods down at aze, I see that rip I carefully let out a breath and loosen ht," I reply
As we start to level out in altitude, the world disappears altogether into a blanket of clouds The panels now change to opaque, leaving only two horizontal stripes of glass transparent to the outside
The flight attendant tells lasses on I do as he says Immediately, I notice several differences between these and hter, for one, and fitthe world aroundtheir earphones into my ears, a felasses turn cos out "Please look to your left"
When I do as it says, I see a red spherein the black space A pleasant ding sounds
"Confirht"
The red sphere vanishes I obey, and when I look to
"Confirmed Please look up"
The blue sphere disappears, too I look up and see a floating yellow sphere Ding
"Confirray sphere appears, followed by a cube, a pyra sounds, followed by a brief tingle along ether on both hands"
I obey, and it runs through a quick series of tests for my movements