Nostradamus The First Prophecy: Adventures of Ben and Bob

By Bob Haider

In this novelette, Ben and Bob travel back in time when a young Nostradamus and several celebrated personalities of the Renaissance converge on an October day in 1517.  History's most noted seer at a young age is unaware of his psychic powers and the ravages of a severe fever results in his first prophecy.  Ben is an entrepreneur whose knowledge, success and insight are sought worldwide.  Bob, published in many scientific journals, is a renowned inventor with numerous patents and winner of The Noble Prize in Physics.  Together, Ben and Bob form SWAMP---Strategies With A Meaningful Purpose---and team their skills to combat a menacing threat or solve an age-old mystery.  Follow the exploits of these two modern day knights as they crisscross the globe confronting intrigue and danger while exhibiting extraordinary physical ability.  After reading one, you will want to read another and another…until you have read them all.  Join the duo in their adventure as they travel back in time to Florence, Italy…their next exciting experience---and yours---is only a CLICK away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bob Haider
• Release date: Jan 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223752455

Bob Haider

The Game Begins is Bob's third novel having also written Pictures on the Wall, his initial novel on political courage, and Whispers in the Night about retribution on a criminal empire.  Additionally, he is the author of numerous short stories including The Adventures of Ben & Bob series…the exploits of two modern day knights as they crisscross the globe confronting intrigue and danger in their fight against crime. Raised in Downers Grove, Illinois, Bob is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and lives in Glenview, Illinois with his long-time companion, Mary Ellen.

Book preview

My grateful acknowledgement is extended to my dear friend Ben Cusomato for his contributions to this piece.

Prologue

Since men first communicated with one another, psychic tales and predictions of future events have captured the imagination of mankind.

Joseph interpreting the dreams of an Egyptian pharaoh;

or a soothsayer uttering his prophetic warning to Julius Caesar;

or Abraham Lincoln’s dream of lying in state in the White House;

or Jeanne Dixon’s vision of President Kennedy’s assassination;

the human condition has been fascinated with the possibility of knowing—-What Will Happen Next?

This then is the tale of four major personalities of the Renaissance as they converge in October, 1517 and a written prediction of what one of them foretold.

Chapter 1

Bob had just returned to his apartment in Rome and as he dropped his keys into a bowl by the front door the phone rang.  A ringing phone never denoted an urgent response on Bob’s part to race to answer it.  It made no difference to him if he didn’t get to the phone before it stopped ringing.  He was of the belief if it was an important call, those who intruded into his tranquil Roman lifestyle would either leave a message or try again.  His non-answering style also filtered out the modern-day menace that plagued households worldwide...robo calls.

Bob moved slowly across his living room toward the ringing intrusion but rather than reaching for the phone his hand grabbed a cord and raised the Roman shade at the window which overlooks the Piazza Navona...a large oval where 2,000 years ago Romans wagered on chariot races.

Below a man apparently going through the gyrations of a prize fighter punched the air but only with one fist.  He saw standing near the Bernini masterpiece...the fountain of four rivers...looking up toward Bob’s apartment.  It was Ben!

Where the hell have you been? he screamed.

Well...,

I’ve been knocking at your door every fifteen minutes!

Well...,

And I’ve been calling you every ten minutes!

What are you doing here? Bob finally shouted out the window.

What do you think I’m doing here?!

I’ve been out and about, Bob replied.  There’s nothing better than a sidewalk cafe in Rome and I pretty much come and go all day long.  I’m retired you know.

Not today, you’re not!  It’s time for our next assignment, Ben stated emphatically.

Well, come on up, Bob yelled through the open window.

After Ben entered the living room, he approached the latest device he’d designed and asked Bob to construct.  He carefully examined it in every detail from stem to stern.

After building this, I certainly know what this machine is capable of doing but what I don’t know is how and why we are going to use it, Bob commented, as Ben continued to scrutinize the device closely without comment.

When Ben requested Bob to build it, as usual Bob did so without any explanation provided by Ben as to how it would be used.  That was nearly always Ben’s modus operandi.  Bob accepted that through the years as it didn’t matter to him until they began the assignment in which a particular device would be utilized.

As Ben continued his examination, he asked, It’s exactly per my specifications?

Of course, Bob replied matter-of-factly.  Everything I build for you is exactly per your specifications, Bob shook his head...incredulous that Ben would ask such a thing.

Good, good, Ben nodded repeatedly as he circled the machine.

But I haven’t tested it yet.

Don’t worry.  Since you built it per my specifications, it’ll work, Ben stated confidently.

The device appeared similar to a bicycle built for two, but instead of one seat in front of the other, the seats were side by side.  There were pedals at the feet and an odd-looking control panel below the handle bars in front.

I built it in every detail exactly as you designed it but like I said...,

You’ll see its purpose shortly, Ben commented, as he continued his meticulous examination.

Though Bob fully understood from building the machine that it was capable of transporting a person, or rather two persons, he nevertheless said, "As usual, I’m in the dark.

Ben was scrutinizing the many gauges on the control panel, the calendar and the clock.  Is the clock set to Greenwich time as I requested?

Yes, as per your request your hind ass, Bob replied