Howard hughes was the kind of shy, self absorbed type who would think nothing of ducking out early on a ticketepe parade in his honor. Hughes pursued very young, buxom starlets in vast quantities and to ill effect. In irving's book, hughes has a real adult relationship, a true love,. A sophisticated woman named helga, trapped in an unhappy marriage. Helga is neither young, nor buxom nor a starlet. Hughes happens to sit next to her on a flight from san francisco to new york then falls asleep.