When will I see Pompeii again?

[rosebaby3892]

“  And you, what would you do if you had a time machine?”

My neighbor shifts in his chair, making throaty noises, his eyes raised toward the chandelier illuminating our evening. Twice he opens his mouth, ready to give his answer, but it's not until the third time that he finally begins:

"  I would go and neutralize Hitler to prevent the Second World War! " 

Everyone around the table nods slowly—at least, until someone sighs loudly c level executive list enough for everyone to understand that the answer hasn't convinced them. The hostess gently swirls the wine in her glass as she turns to the impolite person who dared to criticize her apt answer.

“Odious, Odious… don’t you agree?
– Not exactly. Could I have some more wine too?
– Ah, answer first, we’re interested in your opinion!”
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My neighbor, annoyed, lifts his chin towards me, punctuating his gesture with a "  Because you have a better idea perhaps? " Faced with his most inappropriate tone, I look pointedly at my fork and then at his exposed throat, forcing him to instinctively lower his head, understanding my intention. I clear my throat:

"  Indeed. First of all, because going to neutralize the Führer is a bit classic, and then Red Alert has already done it. If you're going to neutralize someone who has gone down in history with a series of massacres, why not neutralize Pinochet, Mao, Franco, M. Pokora, or Kim-Il Sung? And then why necessarily be interested in the 20th century when History is open to you? If you want to play the good Samaritan, I don't know: go slap Hernan Cortès, buy Attila a pony to keep him busy, or hide passages from Okapi or Pochep's comics in the first Bible printed by Gutenberg . 

An awkward silence falls as I sense another question floating in the air: fortunately, the lady of the house decides to intervene once again:

“Certainly, but you, Mr. Asshole… what would you do?”
– Me? Oh, it's quite simple: I'd go and beat up Pliny the Younger.