The Warning: Part III

Photo credit: University of Wollongong Archives via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

This is the third part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I and Part II before continuing.

“And we’re live in three, two…” The stage manager mouthed “one” silently and the show’s host turned to Joseph.

“With me tonight is Joseph Candid with what he claims is a dire warning we should all heed. Thank you for being with us tonight, Mr. Candid.”

“My pleasure. Thank you for having me.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you said this disaster you want to warn us of was something you saw in a dream?”

“That’s right. I’ve had a history of dreams coming true and, unfortunately, this is another such dream. I can feel it.”

“When you say you can ‘feel it,’ what, exactly, does that mean? What does it feel like?”

“I can’t explain it. I just know what I saw is going to happen and happen soon. It wasn’t just a random nightmare.”

“And you said you’ve had dreams come to life before? What kind of dreams have turned into reality for you in the past?”

Joseph’s first thought was of the time he had dreamed of getting fired and, a few weeks later, had in fact been fired. But he didn’t think talking about losing his job would give him any more credibility with an already cynical audience.

“We had a cat when I was growing up. We would let her out to roam around, but one time she didn’t come back. She was gone for almost a week and we had given up thinking we would ever see her again when I dreamt she was locked in a neighbor’s basement. So we knocked on their door and, sure enough, she had snuck in when their back door was open and they hadn’t even known she was down there. It was because of that dream that we were able to bring her home safe and sound.”

“I see.” The host nodded politely, but Joseph could see he wasn’t convinced. “And this dream you came to warn us about, tonight, what happened in it?”

“Bombs. Bombs everywhere. Total destruction.”

“Where?”

“Here. Everywhere. Well, not everywhere, but all over the country. I advise getting as far away from here as possible.”

“And where would you have us go?”

“South would be best. From what I saw, the entire Northern hemisphere is going to be a wasteland. My family and I are heading to Argentina and I’m still not sure that will be far enough away.”

“Really? Argentina? Not exactly my first choice for a vacation destination.” The host flashed a charming smile at the camera and Joseph understood how he had gotten his job. They liked looking at his teeth. They didn’t care what, if anything, he had to say.

“It’s not a vacation. It’s survival. We have to make a new life down there.”

“And what about those of us who can’t afford to hop on a plane at a moment’s notice to travel halfway across the globe?”

“Like I said, it’s not a matter of luxury. It’s a matter of survival. Empty your savings accounts, max out your credit cards, do whatever you have to do to get out of here. It is literally a matter of life and death.”

To be continued…

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