大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Denis Downes. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I鈥檝e never been superstitious, but an experience I had while serving in the RAF during World War Two gave me pause for thought. I was stationed at an Air Headquarters about 30 miles from Calcutta in India, and we spent our rare breaks from duty exploring the overcrowded city, its shopping precincts and its markets. It was while a group of us were looking for bargains in the Hogg Market that we encountered the Hindu fortune teller. At this point I must explain that Hindus place a great reliance on those who can foretell the future. Many of the wealthier individuals would not start a New Year without a horoscope, produced by a reputable fortune teller, to guide them, someone in our group decided to find out what the future held for him, so, after prolonged bargaining, the Hindu soothsayer drew patterns in the large patch of sand laid out before him, and then asked to look at my friend鈥檚 hand. After palm reading the airman was assured of a long and prosperous life (he would have secretly settled for a promise he would get home undamaged) and that he would have a loving wife and family. It was as could be expected, and so it went on, with variations, until a corporal from the Motor Transport section presented his hand. The Indian said nothing for a minute or two and then: 鈥淣o, sahib, I cannot see clearly, and it is rather muddled鈥�. The corporal was not pleased. He cajoled, bullied, and even offered double fee to no avail when the corporal, completely out of character, became abusive, we dragged him away. I thought no more about it, and, six weeks later, we moved to Burma, landing at Rangoon. I was on signals watch one morning when one of my friends came in looking distraught. 鈥淗ave you heard about Corporal Bloggs?鈥� he asked, 鈥淗e鈥檚 dead鈥�. The corporal was supervising the unloading of lorries from a cargo carrier at the quayside and the chains holding one of the vehicles had snapped as it was lowered. He was unable to jump clear. It was then that I recalled the reluctant fortune-teller, and I have often pondered鈥�.

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