Arnesto Modesto: The World's Most Ineffectual Time Traveler

Shaking Masses

Lower Ninth Baptist Church

New Orleans, Louisiana

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

6:30 p.m.

"They say the death toll is over three hundred already," Isabel said. She was a little out of breath from rushing over to the church.

"They just upped it to five hundred... and climbing." Father Martin was transfixed on the television. The two of them sat in silence watching the broadcast.

"What does it mean?" Isabel asked during a commercial break.

"It means," he said, turning off the television, "that we must continue God's work. Let's make that next video before the phone starts ringing."

"I don't know if I can do this, Father. It really happened. I want to help — I do — but maybe this is too much. They are going to ask us so many questions. And you, you're going to be scrutinized by everyone. It's going to be worse for you. Should we bail?"

"My child! We can't run from this. I don't want to run. Can't you see all the good we're about to do?"

"But our source said that if we can't handle this, to get out. You can find someone else to record you."

"My child, breathe," he said, taking her forearms in his hands. "Do you believe in God?"

"Of course, Father."

"God gave this mystery man a gift and led him to us. We were chosen by God to do His work. If anybody comes after you, you tell them to talk to me. As He watches over us, I will watch over you. Together, we will save so many lives. Can I get an 'amen'?"

"Amen."

"Good. Do you have the script? Great. Tell me when you're ready to record." He took the script from her and read it as he walked behind the lectern. "Lord have mercy," he said to himself.

"Recording, Father," she said from the front of the aisle.

"Hello, I'm Father Martin. First of all, as predicted in my previous video, Algeria was hit by an earthquake earlier today. Please join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters in North Africa searching for their loved ones beneath the rubble.

"Now I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the worst is far from over. There are going to be several more large earthquakes over the next few years. I will detail them in a bit. The good news is that we know about them now. If people start making preparations today, then we can make some attempt to evacuate the people and minimize the damage to buildings.

"Now here is the list of upcoming earthquakes, along with projected casualties. August 14 of this year, Lefkada, Greece, magnitude 6.3. This is not one of the bad ones. It's on the list mainly to warn them, but also to give credence to the rest of what I'm about to tell you.

"December 26 of this year, Bam, Iran. Magnitude: 6.6. Sadly, even though it's about the same size as the one that will happen in Greece, the devastation will be far greater. Estimated casualties — again, only if we do nothing — in the tens of thousands.

"And then there is December 26 of next year, 2004, off the northwestern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia. Magnitude: 9.3, again, that's 9.3. This earthquake will cause a massive tsunami that will hit many countries before it's done, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka being hit the hardest. Estimated casualties: in the hundreds of thousands.

"October 8, 2005, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, 7.7 magnitude, casualties in the tens of thousands.

"May 12, 2008, Wenchuan County, Sichuan, 8.0 magnitude, casualties in the tens of thousands.

"January 12, 2010, west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 7.0 magnitude. Another horrible one, casualties in the hundreds of thousands.

"March 11, 2011, Tohoku, Japan, 9.0 magnitude, tens of thousands of casualties.

"These are all the earthquakes for which I currently have information. Please, please share this information with as many people as you can. Let's get the word out to the people and governments of these cities so that their lives may be spared. Thank you and God bless."

Isabel closed the camera. "That was perfect, Father. No need to do another take."

"Thank you, child. When you're making your CDs for all the news stations, could you make me a copy?"

"Of course. I'll get started right now," Isabel said, putting away her camera and hustling toward the front door.

"Thank you. And Isabel?"

"Yes, Father?"

"We were chosen to save these people."