The Raft

When Robie wakes up the next morning, on the day of the flight, she takes a call from AJ, who is checking in. Not wanting to worry her, and feeling secure in the fact that she will be home soon anyway, Robie lies to AJ, telling her that everything is fine and omitting any mention of the sidewalk attack and her plan to fly home on the cargo plane.

Robie spends the day packing, trying in vain to relax by the pool, and finding a bit of food to eat. In the late afternoon, she goes to the airport.

When she arrives at the airport she describes the loading of the cargo plane bound for Midway: “the loading of the G-1 at Oahu Air Services was pure chaos, people hauling boxes and cartons and barrels out to the plane” (17). She looks for Suzanne, the woman who organizes the loading, hoping to find out if she can board the flight, but the woman is out sick. Instead, Robie asks the pilot, Larry, who recognizes her from previous flights, if she can catch a lift, and he says she can. He also comments on the absence of Suzanne, but then assures Robie that his new copilot,