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A strange, nasal, disembodied voice floated around me as I awoke.
“ . . . dark, dark times. In all of human history, never, never before have such sacrifices been made, in the face of such utter evil . . . ”
Another voice spoke.
“Turn off that radio! He’s waking up!”
“Time and place, please,” I said, my throat dry.
“Uh, it’s August 5th, 1942. New York. My name is George Dummer.”
“Pleased to meet you, Monsieur. And your friend?”
“I’m George’s wife, Linda. Hi, Mr. Nostradamus,” she said, extending her hand.
I took it limply and shook. “Tell me, please, that you have revived me to see the end of man.”
“Well,” said George, “I’m thinkin’ this may be it – well, pretty soon, anyways. See, they’re winning. Everything’s a mess. The Allies are taking serious casualties. I think it’ll all be over soon. It’s gotta be – this war’s been going on for three years, now.”
“Another armed conflict between your southern and northern states?” I asked, becoming tired of these false alarms.
“Oh no, no,” said Linda. “This is a world war. It’s the Germans, the Italians, the Japanese – everybody’s fightin’.”
“Hmmm,” I said. This sounded more interesting – and, strangely enough, resembled one of my prophecies. Perhaps the end really was nigh. “How many dead?”
“Oh, I dunno,” said George, “millions. All over the world. I really think this could be it for mankind.”
“Oh, George,” said Linda, “I think you’ve been listening to the radio a little too much. I just don’t think it’s all over. We’ll survive, one way or another.” She laced her arm through his and hugged him.
“That is not what I want to hear!” I croaked. “Give me a definitive answer – is mankind doomed, or not?”
George looked at his wife’s big brown eyes, then back at me. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, I suppose. We may make it through this. But these are very dark times, Mr. Nostradamus. Just like what you used to write. I’ve got all your books, you know.”
I sighed.
“Put me back, please! Put me back to sleep!”
Time and Again: A Collection of Crazy Chronology Page 6
