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In my short-story collection THE FACE IN THE DOOR, one of the shorts is titled "Nightmare Number Six." This might be called a sequel. (There is also a short story by Robert Bloch, "Nightmare Number Four.") -A.R.Y.
NIGHTMARE NUMBER SEVEN
By A.R.Yngve

"Hello?"

"Son, it's me. Just thought I, I, I'd have a chat with you."

"Dad, I don't need your help. I don't need my brother's help. I've got it under control."

"Son... I know you want to prove yourself. You've got no reason to... I want to help you. It's bigger than us. It's the nation's future at stake."

"Look, Dad... some terrorist just nuked one of our cities. I don't have time for family talks now. I'm expected to lead. That's what I do! I'm going on TV in ten minutes to announce the retaliatory strike."

"I, I, I don't think you've got the big picture, son. Did you get that NASA report? I've read it. It probably wasn't a nuke, it was an object from space. A thing called a dark meteor, that doesn't show up on radar."

"'Dark meteor?' What kinda horseshit is that?"

"Well, them astrophysicists are telling me that 'dark matter' is generated from forces in the fourth dimension, and this one impact could be the tip of a swarm of dark-matter objects entering our solar system."

"Fourth what...? What's got into you, Dad? You gonna tell me there ain't no nucular weapons in the world, no evildoers? What about Nine-Eleven? What about Six-Eleven? Them astrofission... astroscissor... types are just mad cos' we cut their science grants. It's all part of their agenda!"

"Please listen, son. You've got what, one year left of your final term? Don't rush things. If not for the nation, then for my sake. For your mom's sake. For our grandkids. I, I, I'm on my hands and knees here, son. You want me to beg? I'll beg, if it saves our country."

"Dad. Don't do this. You can't... I know what I'm doing! I'll show you I can lead! Now let... me... lead! Bye!"

"Tough call, Mr. President?"

"Mmm."

"You want to postpone the speech?"

"No, no. Just gimme a minute."

"Pat called and he says God is on your side whatever you choose to do. Our actions are all part of higher plan."

"That's mighty nice of him. Pat, I mean."

"We're... you're doing the right thing, Mr. President. We can't show weakness now."

"I'm not hogging all the credit, Dick. We're in this together. Right?"

"Yeah. Right."

"How are you holding up?"

"Better than ever. Those stem-cells did wonders... it's like I'm having a whole new heart."

"God, I wish my wife could be with me now. I wish..."

"What?"

"This is the world's loneliest job, Dick."

"I know. You've just got to be strong now."

"Right. Strong."

"Here they come."

"Two minutes, Mr. President!"

"Right. Where's that script... thanks..."

***

"We interrupt this broadcast for a message from the President of the United States."

"My fellow Americans... today one of our major cities was destroyed in a nucular terrorist attack. It is time to take a firm stand and show America's enemies that we are prepared to defend our nation, whatever the cost. As Commander-In-Chief, I have ordered an immediate retaliatory strike against the capital of..."



"Nightmare Number Seven" (c)A.R.Yngve 2006. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission.

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