Page 261 - harryDEC12_clean.iba

We flew off straight into a thunderstorm front. This time the pilot could not go around it, the clouds were too high, so we flew right into it. The small machine was shaken as though by gigantic fists, the safety belts cut into our bodies, and we began to feel nausea as a result of physical discomfort and fear. At least in my case my fear of flying, suppressed for years, broke through the structures of my self-control. The echo of the thunder drowned out the droning of the engines. Finally the machine was struck by lightning; with a powerful discharge the electrical current spread over the eliminator on the wing. At last there was an expression of feeling from John:
“Fuck! When is this over?
When the aircraft went into its downward trajectory the thunderstorm was far behind us. In Melbourne there was the very best weather. Bathed in sweat we got out of the plane and thanked the pilot - he had done his job well. 11 Hours of flight for a 3 hours stay - only a crazy man like Jefferson could come up with an idea like that. Our visit to Australia was over, and the next day we flew in more comfort by a Qantas 747 back to London via Dubai.
oOo
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