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1. What is happening as the novel opens?

At the beginning of the novel, the main character, Tender Branson, is beginning to narrate his life story into the flight recorder of a plane. Tender has hijacked the plane and made all the passengers deplane. He then has the pilot give him instructions on how to fly the plane and forces the pilot to parachute out. Tender wants his life story recorded in the flight recorder so that it will be recovered once he has crashed the plane.

2. What is the exchange between the pilot and Tender Branson before the pilot leaves the hijacked plane?

The pilot instructs Tender how to fly the plane before he parachutes out. He gives him specific information about the plane and what will happen as he runs out of fuel. Tender, although very thankful for the information, is surprised that the pilot is willing to be so helpful after Tender has held a gun to his head and told him to jump out of the plane.

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