But Winona and Wilbur knew better.

Now anything could happen--and would.

Of all Newbern's wise folk these two alone foresaw the malign dimensions of the inevitably approaching cataclysm.

They would fall grimly silent in the presence of conventional optimists.

They knew the war was to be unparalleled for blood and tears, but they allowed themselves no more than sinister, vague prophecies, for they could not tell how they knew.
And they saw themselves active in war.