Twenty Five

One morning in 1954, Sven James Thoresen found himself walking along a street in his home town. He could not explain what he was doing there, or remember how he got there, or where he had been earlier. He didn't even know what time it was. He saw a woman walking towards him and stopped her.

"I've forgotten my watch," he said.

"Can you tell me the time?"

When she saw him, she screamed and ran away. Other people seemed afraid of him too. When they saw him, they looked aghast, flattened themselves against buildings, or ran across the street!

"There must be something wrong with me," Sven thought. "I'd better go home."

He flagged down a taxi, but the driver took one look at him and sped off. "This is crazy!" he thought to himself. He was confused and frightened. He found a public telephone and called home, expecting his wife's voice. Instead, a strange voice answered.

"Is Mrs Thoresen there?