Summary

As the book opens with the Prologue, Beryl is boarding a plane called The Messenger in an attempt to fly solo across the Atlantic from England to America. Two years earlier, JC Carberry had challenged her to attempt the feat, something no one else had yet achieved. Some friends and journalist are there to see her off. The weather is far from ideal, but it's the best she can expect for a long time. She starts the plane and overcomes the first hurdle, taking off.

Four hours after her take off, one tank runs out of gas. As the engine sputters, she follows the instructions those who had helped her prepare for the flight had given her and she switches tanks. They had told her that the engine would start again, but it doesn't. She switches the toggle again, but nothing happens...