The Airplane Pilot

"'Don't know, kid...' The pilot's words were
a hiss, barely audible. 'Bad aches here. Bad
aches. Thought it was something I ate but...'
He stopped as a fresh spasm of pain hit him.
Even Brian could see how bad it was-the pain drove the pilot back into the seat, back and
down. 'I've never had anything like this...'"