Chapter 1 is preceded by two epigraphs. The first is by physicist Stephen Hawking, author of A Brief History of Time. He points out that people who believe fate is predetermined still look before crossing the road. The second, by 18th-century writer Samuel Johnson, says that when a man “knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight” it concentrates his mind “wonderfully” (vii).

As Chapter 1 begins, passengers are boarding a flight from Hobart Airport in Australia’s island state of Tasmania to Sydney. Later none of the passengers will be able to recall the woman, who is later revealed to be Cherry Lockwood, as she was boarding. She is middle-aged, petite, with gray hair and a silver brooch. She will later be known as “the Death Lady” and will cause passengers great agitation.

The flight takes off after a delay of over 90 minutes. Forty-five minutes later, Cherry Lockwood stands up in the aisle and touches her brooch. Only Leopold Vodnik, known as Leo, notices.

The point of view shifts from omniscient narration to enter Leo’s thoughts. Leo, age 42, is a civil engineer with wild hair and elegant clothes.