by Z. M. Wilmot
***
Upon her return to the studio at 10:30 PM, Katherine was treated with a strange mix of respect and fear. Max avoided her until he had to sit next to her for the show, much to her delight. She enjoyed unnerving the annoying man. Morgan, on the other hand, had been all over her, asking if he could have hints as to her next premonition. Her stomach was full of butterflies and she remained tight-lipped, saying that it would be a surprise.
The show started almost without a hitch, save that Max’s normal dazzling smile was not quite as brilliant as it normally was. The show went on flawlessly for the first fifteen minutes, and then Katherine decided it was time. Instead of reporting on a bountiful harvest in Estonia, she suddenly sat up straight and pretended to look off into the distance. She smiled, nodded, and then spoke. “And in Estonia today, an ancient, forgotten landmine exploded, killing a farmer and his son. The explosion also set the field it was found in on fire, which then spread to engulf the nearby village of Stonlat. We are currently unsure as to the extent of the casualties.”
Max had been briefed earlier and had been told to just go with it. “Yes. A most tragic and terrible occurrence. In other news, in nearby Lithuania, the pre-Olympic scything contest has a clear winner in the form of Lars Johansson…”
As Katherine drove home that night, having rushed out of the studio the instant the show ended, something in the back of her head purred.