Passage I

Parachuting

You do what you are told. You have had plenty of training. You strap on the equipment and squeeze on the helmet. You follow your instructor and the other two first-time jumpers into the big twin-propeller plane and take your assigned place in front of them all. You will be the first one to go.

The plane has been stripped of all its seats, so everyone is kneeling on the bare metal floor on their knees. The gigantic engines, which on either side catch and roar into action. You now can entertain any second thoughts, the plane has taxied and taken off and is circling upward into the huge cobalt sky. Its headed to an altitude of three thousand feet.

It is impossible to talk—or protest—over the engines' roar; and the noise of the wind that blasts through the open doorways on either side of the narrow fuselage. (8) But your instructor smiles confidently. She gives you the thumbs-up sign.

[1] Despite your instincts, you fly chest first out the door of the plane. [2] When the proper altitude is reached and the signal is given, you crawl to the door. [3] As taught, you climb into the open doorway and stand so that your body is half in and half out of the plane, the wind slamming against you, the sweat soaking the rented jumpsuit you're wearing. [4] The instructor signals. [5] Despite your instincts, you nod. (9)

You panic. You scream, though no one can hear you. You think, you might become ill. Furthermore, only seconds pass before the static line, which is a rope attached to you and to the floor of the plane, becomes tight and opens your chute automatically. You feel like you are soaring upward, though actually you have only slowed down.

You are sitting in a snug little harness. All is quiet as you begin to drift gently in the great blue sky and to appreciate your accomplishment. Thus you are dangling half a mile above the earth! (15)