Somehow, Nora had missed the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic01.nyt.com%2Fimages%2F2019%2F02%2F24%2Fbusiness%2F24Nelson1%2F24Nelson1-superJumbo.jpg&amp;hash=4a6c90f3ea79293d203a4808cd3604aa" href="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/02/24/business/24Nelson1/24Nelson1-superJumbo.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">flight attendant</a>with a name tag reading Martha, when she had taken a head count. There was also an<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Frender.fineartamerica.com%2Fimages%2Fimages-profile-flow%2F400%2Fimages%2Fartworkimages%2Fmediumlarge%2F2%2Fan-older-couple-stands-in-rocky-mountain-national-park-colorado-cavan-images.jpg&amp;hash=897508c7d76ce5794caefe7eb80fd2d0" href="https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/images-profile-flow/400/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/an-older-couple-stands-in-rocky-mountain-national-park-colorado-cavan-images.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">older couple</a>who looked like they traveled frequently. The tall black man who had been helping the injured took a break to walk over to the front of the plane, where Nora and Mark were talking about a possible second radio. She knew that the likelihood of that was low, but just had to ask anyway, clinging onto a sliver of hope, despite their dire circumstances.<br/><br/>The man said things weren’t looking so good, which made Nora release a heavy sigh. He said it was necessary to build a fire, get out of the cold, find somewhere safe. Nora hadn’t even looked outside beyond the snow and wasn’t sure how realistic it was to expect a total of eight survivors to trek down the mountain and find lodging. He also mentioned that some injured were too far gone to rescue, unless they knew it was coming soon. “Well, unless you or someone else knows something that we don’t…” Nora gave the man a bleak look. She didn’t think there was a need to finish her sentence.<br/><br/>Mark backed her up by stating simply that they didn’t know of anyone coming to rescue them anytime soon. He then mentioned the other concern that Nora had on her mind - the plane. It was too risky to stay, especially when they didn’t know what position the plane was in, on the mountainside. Were they about to tip over? Was the nose, or what was left of it, about to catch fire? The men corralled around her seemed to agree, until the Asian businessman said that they should put the wounded out of their misery and leave while they had the chance. Nora perked a brow, then glanced at Mark to gauge how he was reacting to that tidbit.<br/><br/>“These are people, not injured dogs. What do you suggest we do? Shoot them in the back of the heads?” She hoped that by asking her question blatantly that she was making the point that it was not the humane option. “We can’t put people down. There’s a chance that we can find someone on the mountain to help us and get them out of the plane.” She knew that her notion sounded a little too hopeful to be taken all that seriously. “I know it’s a slim chance, but shouldn’t we take every chance we’re afforded?” She was mostly looking at Mark now, hoping he would be on her side.