5- Orbiting

I reached it just as it was announced that boarding for our flight was starting. I walked straight through the Duty-Free and was first onto the Shuttle. I found my seat and sat down to look at the other passengers as they boarded.
I saw Jazz as she came into the cabin before she saw me. So I quickly bent my head and fumbled with my seat harness. After fumbling for a few seconds I felt some one looking at me. Slowly turning my head I coyly looked up at Jazz. I smiled sweetly, and said, in as soft and friendly a voice as I could manage, “Hi Jazz, I bet you did not expect to see me here.”
She continued to stand speachless in the aisle.
“Is this your seat?” I sat up straight and pulled my harness tight abound myself.
“Err, Yes,” she glanced from her ticket to the seat number and back to me. “It is.” She cocked her head to one side and asked, “Celia, why?”
I shrugged and spread my hands, “It just seems like a good idea, Jazz.”
Jazz started to speak, but was interupted by a loud voice.
“Excuse me please.” It was Mr. Cheapside with his over large briefcase.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jazz sat down in her seat.
“Thankyou.” He started to pass, then noticed me. “Hello again, Celia.”
I nodded back to him, “Hello again.”
“Is the seat comfortable.” He smiled at me.
I smiled back, “Yes, thank you.”
Then he noticed Jazz. He did a quick doubletake between her and I. And his smile widened. He said to me, “Oh, I see now.” He nodded at Jazz, “Good luck, Celia.” And turned and walked away smiling very broadly.
Jazz half turned in her seat to watch him go. Then turned back to me, “Who was he, and why is he smiling so much.”
“His name is John Cheapside.” I faced forward and switched on my viewscreen. “As to why he is smiling,” I looked at her again and tossed my head. “I suppose that you must just bring out his good side.”
Jazz cocked her eyebrow, smiled and shook her head in disbelieve.
“No?” I switched off the screen, which was only showing an advert for the “Pleasures” that awaited us in orbit at E.S.1.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well if you must know I met him at the checkin.” I looked away from her, “I…” I looked back at her, “Well I, actually, paid him to let me have this seat.”
“What?” Jazz almost exploded. She lowered her voice, “You paid him to get the seat beside me.” She relaxed back into her seat, “Why, Celia?” As if she already knew the answer.
“Well,” I smiled as sweetly as I could. “I could not let you make this trip all alone.” I faced forward and lent back in my seat. “And I have always wanted to go to Luna.”
“Hey, now just wait a minute,” Jazz looked at me and put her hand up to top me from speaking. “Who says that I’m going to let you come with me to Luna?”
I put on my best indignant face, “Well, I had not realised that I had to have your permission to go to Luna.” I turned in my seat to face her. “You are going to Luna and I am going to Luna, I just thought that it would be nice for us to share the journey together.” I put my hand on her arm. “And I thought once we reached Luna that you could show me some of the sights.”
“I told you before that I can’t take you with me…”
“Your not taking me with you,” I interupted. “We are simply going in the same direction.”
Jazz snorted.
There was a change in the tone of the background rumbling and the Shuttle started to move. The Captain made the usual pre-flight announcement. And the cabin crew gave a demonstration of the various safety devices for the passengers on board.
I sat looking expectantly at Jazz.
She looked at the demonstration, but from time to time glanced around at me.
The cabin crew finished their demonstration and began to check the passenger’s seat harnesses.
Jazz sighed, “O.K. But I’m not making any promises.” She looked at me, “I’m making no commitment of any kind.”
“I understand completely, Jazz,” I smiled at her.
She shook her head and settled into her seat.
A steward came along, smiled at us and checked our safety harnesses.
I switched on my screen again and selected the picture taken from the camera mounted at the nose of the Shuttle. All I could see were lights. The ground lights of the runway, the navigation lights of other aircraft, taxiing in front of us and the lights of the various ground vehicles, moving around the large bulks of stationary Shuttles. All covered by a fine mist of falling rain.
We taxied to the end of the runway and the Captain announced that we were just about to take off.
I looked across at Jazz. She was sitting very stiffly in her seat. Staring intently at the back of the seat in front, even though the screen was off. I looked down at her hands. They were holding onto the armrests, as if they were the only solid thing to bear her weight.
“What is the matter,” I asked. “Are you afraid of flying?”
She turned her head to look at me and forced a smile, “No. I’m afraid of falling.”
“There is no need for you to worry,” I reached over and held her hand. “I am here to protect you.” I smiled mischievously at her.
“Thanks,” she turned to face forward again. “I really needed that.”
I smiled and put my hand in hers.
The engines whined higher and we started to move forward. Slowly at first, then faster. Smoothly accelerating up the runway. Then that steep angle and the thrust as we really went up. My heart beat faster, not only with the physical forces at work on me, but also with the emotional pressures of escaping from my past.
I gallantly ignored the fact that my hand felt as if it were caught in a vice grip.

Chapter 6 – Paydirt