h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Chapter 9

"This wasn't in the plan!" Amy grumbled to the others as she fumbled in the dark for a flashlight. After a quick call to the airline's tech support crew, she gathered us together with some very sobering news: "The electric generator has apparently shut down, leaving the plane without the means of operating the remaining two engines."

We're all going to die, I thought, but Amy soon showed herself to be made of much sterner stuff than I had ever guessed. She and the personal trainer quickly set up ten stationary bikes and connected them to the plane's electrical system. Eight of the ten people on board -- minus the pilot and co-pilot, of course, who were too ill to do much of anything -were told to sit at the bikes and crank the pedals as hard as they could. By doing this, we *might* generate enough power to keep the plane's engines going.

Then Amy went around handing out sweaters and flashlights. "Every bit of power we can generate has to go to the engines," she told us. "Everything else, including light and heat, will have to be sacrificed." Seeing the glum look on my face, she came over and gently put her hand on my shoulder. "Look around you, Owen," she said. "The doctor is 78, and can't crank the pedals very hard. The two chefs haven't exercised in years -- see how their bellies wobble as they crank? The personal trainer and the masseur are strong, but they can't carry the whole burden themselves. That leaves two female flight attendants and you to keep this plane going. get in there and pedal for your life!"

"You left yourself out," I muttered between gasps as I pedalled.

"Someone's got to fly the plane," she said.

"Amy," the pilot said softly, "I think I'm feeling well enough to do that now. Why don't you join the others in pedalling?"

As soon as Amy started pedalling, we could hear the engines starting up again, and we knew that we had a good chance of coming through this with our lives. True, before the flight was over my fingers and toes were numb with the cold, but once we landed in Hawaii the paramedics brought us all in for observation, and no one had any lasting ill effects.

Sounds like the budget airline I use. Normally I pay for a special 'upgrade' which means I don't have to pedal, just towel people down. Not necessarily a big plus.

Did they charge extra for the sweaters? Love the idea of pedal powered landings!

Paul I love the way the story is going, with all the peddling, they will get very fit.

[Amy P]

Yes, the idea is for everyone to get fit.