The ritual answers
Oct. 30th, 2003 08:42 amGatwick Airport, elevenish, Saturday morning. The flight from Dublin has gone without hitch; NIALLM and RADZER have picked up their bags and are now checking in for their flight to Geneva. They approach a CHECK-IN PERSON who can most charitably be described as "perky".
[Beginning of check-in sequence cut.]
CHECK-IN PERSON
Did you pack these bags yourself?
RADZER
Yes.
CHECK-IN PERSON
Could anyone have interfered with the bags at all?
RADZER
Well, we've just picked them up off a flight from Dublin, so I suppose...
CHECK-IN PERSON stares blankly at RADZER, the mask of shiny cheer twitching slightly at this deviation from the script. Her eyes become glassy as some logic-override circuit snicks into place.
CHECK-IN PERSON
Oh, yeah, well, I mean apart from that.
RADZER (sighing)
No.
CHECK-IN PERSON (back on firm ground now)
Did anyone ask you to carry anything for them?
RADZER (faintly sullen)
No.
CHECK-IN PERSON (triumphant)
Lovely here are your boarding cards boarding at eleven thirty five through gates B watch the screens for the gate number have a nice flight.
RADZER and NIALLM slope off, secure in the knowledge that the airline is sparing no effort to make sure that evil doers of evil are prevented from carrying out their dastardly plans in respect of the Gatwick to Geneva route. Or that the travel gods have been duly propitiated by the observance of the proper ritual. One or the other.
[Beginning of check-in sequence cut.]
Did you pack these bags yourself?
Yes.
Could anyone have interfered with the bags at all?
Well, we've just picked them up off a flight from Dublin, so I suppose...
CHECK-IN PERSON stares blankly at RADZER, the mask of shiny cheer twitching slightly at this deviation from the script. Her eyes become glassy as some logic-override circuit snicks into place.
Oh, yeah, well, I mean apart from that.
No.
Did anyone ask you to carry anything for them?
No.
Lovely here are your boarding cards boarding at eleven thirty five through gates B watch the screens for the gate number have a nice flight.
RADZER and NIALLM slope off, secure in the knowledge that the airline is sparing no effort to make sure that evil doers of evil are prevented from carrying out their dastardly plans in respect of the Gatwick to Geneva route. Or that the travel gods have been duly propitiated by the observance of the proper ritual. One or the other.