Hans was in an extremely foul mood, sitting at the kitchen table, as he looked over a variety of newspapers. His mood was further darkened by the fact that he was attempting to forgo coffee in a show of solidarity with Ali, but the newspapers from his own world, along with various correspondences from various sources in the know, were not making
(
Read more... )
When their snack was ready, and after a spot for it had been cleared on the table, Ali sat down beside him. She poured the tea, fixed it up for both of them, and then waited. Resting her hand on his knee, she waited for him to be ready to talk.
Reply
He puts down his paper, folding it with the great care and precision of a man putting off talking about what is on his mind for as long as possible. When he has delayed things as much as he can, he finally begins to speak.
"They are... what is the American phrase... making a mess of things."
Reply
"I'm sorry."
Reply
"It is just as you said it would be," he goes on. "This will only end in bloodshed and misery."
He shakes his head. "There must be something that can be done. I had advocated to let history pass as it would... but now, as it draws closer... I do not know."
Reply
"If changing things is what you truly wish," she offers, "we can. But there are only two ways I can see of doing that. One is to murder a great many people, most of them before they've done anything wrong, on account of what they might do someday. The other would require years of negotiation and work. Years away from home."
Reply
"Neither of which appeals to me. I've had enough killing to last me a lifetime, and I've no desire to spend any time away from you and the children that I do not. What happens... will have to be what happens."
It is a terrible thought, but one which he realizes must be. And there was always the threat that the Russians and the United States would, in the absence of a unifying threat, simply teat each other and everything else in-between to pieces.
"Perhaps... perhaps there are smaller things which can be done, smaller differences which can be made."
Reply
"Yes, but I cannot promise how effective they'll be. We could spend the next twenty years doing every small thing we can think of, and have it all be for nothing. And if you're not prepared for that, we'll have to find a way to split our time and resources between two crises."
Reply
"It is better than nothing," he says, firmly. "Though I am uncertain over how much I will be able to accomplish. Much of what I have done, what you helped me to do, comes from rank and the privileges that granted me. Soon, that will all be done away with."
Reply
Reply
He ponders. "We will need to make certain to create wealth of tangible or lasting value, not tied to any particular currency's value."
Reply
"Yes, that would be very wise. And I'm sure we can find plenty of places to invest what liquid assets you have now, before it's too late. Investments that will offer more tangible returns."
Reply
"It is strange, though. I have lived all my life the life of the noble, of those groomed to lead and command. And yet when circumstances act to take that away from me... I find it does not concern me the way that it should."
"There are far more important things to worry about losing these days."
Reply
"But I am glad to hear that you don't care so much about the adulation of being a hero, so much as doing the work of being one."
Reply
What a fool he had been. All those lives he had taken... and for what?
"But you are correct. There is much work to be done. And precious little time to begin it in."
Reply
"Indeed. We should make a list, of the sorts of things to buy. Lots of farms, I'm thinking; people will need food, and someplace safe to work. We could set them up as a cooperative, perhaps, and let people pay for things with labor or barter instead of money."
Ali leans over to the fridge, pulling off the pad and pencil she uses for grocery lists.
Reply
He nods, though, as she begins to speak and write. "An excellent idea. Which does remind me... I will need to make arrangement to move my Fokker to this world."
Even if he must install seatbelts.
"But farms, yes. That is a strong avenue of food and other goods for many people."
Reply
Leave a comment