582
PARTISAN REVIEW
pit door opened and the Captain emerged. He was exceptionally
handsome in a stereotyped way, tanned with silvered temples and
golden eyes. The Captain touched the bill of his cap over a half–
supine Corinne, but did not look down.
"We have an announcement. There will be increasing turbu–
lence the rest of the way. Please keep your belts on. Also, we're
stacked up in an indefinite holding pattern. But if you look out the
window," he finished, "you can see the lights of Akron."
Then as the plane suddenly broke its plane, the Captain smiled
self-consciously and braced himself against Corinne's seatback. His
manicured nails were an inch from her mouth. The child's feet were
relentless at her hams . The gentleman
to
her left had begun
to
snore.
The Captain's hand was ringless, whorled with golden hair and large
veins. Large light-blue veins. Also, a raised scar, like Akron from the
air, another ganglia of strangulated energy. Like what lay in her lap.
Like what kicked her back. Like what drove the plane. Like what lit
the clouds. Though not enough alike.
The Captain thought the lady was about
to
scream or vomit.
But it was only Corinne's suppressed laughter again. Pretty lips
drawn up from pretty teeth, offense she was taught not
to
commit,
defense against the tears she would not permit.
"Too many," she was thinking, "just too many damn people
to love."
