12th September
Angela, Robin, Paul and the president stood looking at the huge statue of Abraham Lincoln within the Lincoln Memorial.
Upon the statue were five men, located to undertake the movements described in Eisenhower’s film.
The president was on the point of signalling for that process to begin, when Elliot joined them.
‘I dreamed that the statue didn’t turn, and we couldn’t get to the tunnel entrance,’ said Elliot.
‘So did we!’ Angela replied.
The president waved his hand, and the feet, thumbs and nose of Lincoln were rotated clockwise. The relevant sections of the statue moved with surprising ease, but the statue itself remained stationary.
‘Damn,’ said the president.
‘Perhaps this is not surprising after seventy years without maintenance,’ Elliot noted. ‘We’re going to have to demolish it to get to the tunnel entrance.’
‘In my dream, it took all of today to get the equipment and to dig through to the tunnel,’ Paul added.
‘The statue’s solid marble and weighs one hundred and fifty nine tons,’ said Elliot.
A man approached the president. ‘Excuse me, Mr. President,’ he said, ‘the press are outside and want more details as to why the memorial has been closed and cordoned off. The original explanation – that it was due to a security threat – was rather vague.’
‘How the hell are we going to explain lifting and digging equipment being brought in?’ the president said. ‘We can’t let the public know what’s really happening. What possible excuse could we have for demolishing Lincoln?’
‘Say the roof of the building has developed a dangerous crack and needs urgent work,’ said Elliot. ‘That would also explain any equipment we brought in – and also any noise.’
President Redman looked at the man who had brought the message. ‘Do it,’ he said.
‘Did anyone dream what would happen next?’ Paul asked.
Robin and Elliot shook their heads.
‘My dream went as far as when we entered the tunnel,’ Angela replied.
‘Do you know what time that was?’ asked Paul.
‘I remember looking at my watch,’ said Angela. ‘It said eleven-thirty in the morning.’
Robin looked at his watch. ‘It’s twelve-thirty now,’ he said.
‘That must have been eleven-thirty tomorrow in that case,’ said Angela.
‘It can’t possibly take that long,’ said the president.