A Landing at Night
Ali brought the plane in just inches above the water and cut the engines to below takeoff speed. The plane continued to glide for several seconds before it made contact with the water, which immediately began to slow the plane. The three of them heard a loud SWOOSH and the sudden deceleration briefly threw them forward against their seatbelts. The plane rose up from the water for a few seconds and then contacted the water again, and the three passengers slammed against their restraints again as the sound of spraying water rang against the fuselage. Kelly grunted, groaned, and complained as the plane repeatedly slammed into the dark waters three more times. Finally, the plane settled into the water and Ali throttled the engines back, and then brought the plane to a stop close to the shore.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” asked Mohammed teasingly of Kelly. Her reactions and paranoia was making them laugh.
Kelly winced in pain and looking at Mohammed said, “Tell that to my ass! It feels ten times worse than any whipping I got from my father. I will not be able to sit all day. I have never experienced a worse landing than this one”
Mohammed intervened. “Now Kelly, don’t be so mean. He did not do that bad a job. You should thank him—at least we have landed safely.”
Ali laughed at what she said. “It’s all right. I don’t think we’ll be sitting much in the coming days. But I hope you are not throwing me out of your employment ma’am.” The three of them shared laughter laugh.