It was the usual transatlantic flight: nine hours of fidgeting to get the pillow right, first-run movies flickering mutely on small screens, an indigestible flow of starchy food and drinks.

• 那是一次寻常的飞跃大西洋的航班：整整9个小时头不停地在靠垫上移来移去，想枕得舒服些，小屏幕上首轮影片的无声镜头抖动着，多得无法消化的淀粉食物和饮料。