{The below is a time-travel story. This means, that while it has humor and a plot, its main purpose is to make your head hurt and get you thinking. A Rubikıs Cube for the mind.}
{To help with that, itıs somewhat non-linear. It has footnotes at the end of most chapters (below the _____ line) that can be read before, during, or after you read each chapter. It has three endings (pick only one to read, or my word count is too high). Some chapters are optional, or can be read out of order. In fact, if you really want your head to hurt, you can read the entire story backwards, it was written so it works that way also.}
{The footnotes are identified with numbers in brackets like this {0}. The beginning of optional chapters will have notes like this so you know if/when you want to read it.}
{Much thanks to Celiose for all his help and Omninet write-up. And to my wife who helped me a lot to trim this back to 13,000 words and still keep the story whole.}
The World is Full of Fools
{Alternate title} A Scorpionıs Crossing {1}
An epic journey across 2,500 years with the entire Web at stake.
{Alternate description} A silly story of a studentıs attempt to cross a dance floor.
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{0} This wasnıt a footnote, it was an example. Sorry.
{1} This title refers to a famous Indian fable:
The Frog and the Scorpion
One day a scorpion found himself on the opposite side of a river from his nest with no way to get back across. He pleaded to the kind-hearted frog to take him across.
³But you are known to sting creatures when frightened, what guarantee do I have that you wonıt kill me?² asked the frog.
³But if I was to kill you, you would sink and we both would drown. Only a fool would do such a thing.² The scorpion answered.
So the frog was persuaded and let the scorpion get on his back. As they crossed the river, a wave splashed the scorpion and scared it. The scorpion immediately stung the frog.
As the frog and the scorpion sank into the water to drown, the frog asked ³Why?²
The dying scorpion replied, ³Itıs my nature.²
For the moral of the fable see {20}, {21}, and {22} in the footnotes of each ending.
* * *
Chapter 1.
{This chapter introduces the main character and tells you what makes him tick. If you donıt care, just skip it, or wait until later to read it.}
Alystare Westmorlane sat in a University classroom waiting for his final exam to begin. The seats were uncomfortable and the room was to hot, as always. Normally, he would be fuming at having to wait for the fool of the professor to start the exam.
The reason for him being unusually tolerant of the conditions was that this final exam would make him a full-fledged Time Mage. It was what he devoted every moment to for the last 4 years. (Not counting trysts with the fairer sex, he was human after all). Time magic was the most elite, respected branch of magic here in the web, since time magic was the most difficult and dangerous magic. This graduate program in Time Magic was hardest branch to get into, out of thousands or applicants, only 80 were chosen. Now only three students were left to take the final exam. Only the best of the best of the best, thought Alystare, and he was by far the best of the three.
³I hear you are going back 1,500 years to meet Belgememnon for your final exam!² This was said by Clem, the student on Alystareıs right. ³You are sooooo lucky. I would give anything to meet Belgememnon, the father of the Tasnica Republic. Itıs so hard knowing how to time-travel and being forbidden because of that rule that only certified Time Mages may travel in the time-stream. When Iım certified, the first thing Iım going to do is go back in time and see Belgememnonıs famous Together weıre Mightyı speech. {2}²
Alystare nodded with a cold little smile. He thought Clem was a total fool, but he had spent enough time in diplomatic functions to hide his opinion. Clem was a very competent wizard, but he was of peasant stock Alystare thought, and it clearly showed. ³Peasants have no ambition,² Alystare thought. Clem was becoming a Time Mage so he could do field research as a historian. Alystare felt that this was akin to harnessing the power of a volcano to brew a really hot cup of tea. Alystare could care less about meeting Belgememnon, even though he often bragged about being a direct descendent of Belgememnon.
Alystare had big plans just as soon as he passed this simple test. He already had a position lined up in the sub-council of Time Mages. It wouldnıt take long, he knew, to be promoted to the High-Council of Wizards. It was his destiny, he was certain. Thanks to his shapeshifting magic, he was currently a handsome giant of a man. Being the son of Tasnica Senator Westmorlane, Alystare knew more about politics then any wizard. He was also the first student in the history of the web to master the nearly impossible ³Time Stop² spell, so he already had a reputation. How could they not give him a high post almost immediately?
³Really? Belgememnon? Thatıs magnificent!² said Lydia. She was the student on Alystareıs left. ³For my test Iım just getting pictures of the building of the first wurst factory in ancient Tasnica. Of historical importance, yes. But Booorrrrrringggggg. Weıll have to get together after the test and you can tell me all about your adventures with Belgememnon.² She said the last sentence seductively and squeezed his massive arm for emphasis.
Again, Alystare gave a cold little smile. He would probably take her up on her implied offer. With his current body, he had no trouble finding women to share his bed with him. But all of them, including Lydia, were shallow fools, just attracted by his appearance.
He hadnıt learned how to shapeshift until he was a junior in college {3}. Up until then, he had an ugly troll-like face and a dwarf sized stature. Then no girl would even speak kindly to him, let alone date him. When he learned to shapeshift, he swore never to shift back for any reason. Now the women were lined up to date him. Pleasant, yes, but it was the body not him that they were dating. So Lydia was no better than the rest, an expert wizard and a breathtaking intellect, but a shallow fool all the same.
So Alystare sat and smiled, as Clem and Lydia chatted about what they would do once they were allowed to time-travel unrestricted by the council. He didnıt feel like talking. He wanted to take this simple little test, and get on with his life. A life as a member of the Wizardıs Council. A life of enormous power and prestige. A position with even more power than his father, who had never forgiven him for being born ugly and short. A life where he could look down on all the fools that had looked down on him when he was young.
³A life that would start just as soon as this fool of a professor got here and starts this test.² He growled to himself.
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{2} Famous historical events are popular with time-traveling tourists. For example: Belgememnonıs Together weıre Mightyı speech was so packed with time-travelers that almost none of the locals it was aimed at got to hear it.
{3} Originally, shapeshift classes were given to freshmen. But parents complained when freshmen got drunk and changed into frogs and forgot how to change back. So they made a rule that you couldnıt learn to shapeshift until you were a junior. Just as many students got drunk and stuck as frogs, but by the 3rd year of school, most parents stopped complaining when their children did stupid things when drunk.
{This chapter introduces the main character and tells you what makes him tick. If you donıt care, just skip it, or wait until later to read it.}
Alystare Westmorlane sat in a University classroom waiting for his final exam to begin. The seats were uncomfortable and the room was to hot, as always. Normally, he would be fuming at having to wait for the fool of the professor to start the exam.
The reason for him being unusually tolerant of the conditions was that this final exam would make him a full-fledged Time Mage. It was what he devoted every moment to for the last 4 years. (Not counting trysts with the fairer sex, he was human after all). Time magic was the most elite, respected branch of magic here in the web, since time magic was the most difficult and dangerous magic. This graduate program in Time Magic was hardest branch to get into, out of thousands or applicants, only 80 were chosen. Now only three students were left to take the final exam. Only the best of the best of the best, thought Alystare, and he was by far the best of the three.
³I hear you are going back 1,500 years to meet Belgememnon for your final exam!² This was said by Clem, the student on Alystareıs right. ³You are sooooo lucky. I would give anything to meet Belgememnon, the father of the Tasnica Republic. Itıs so hard knowing how to time-travel and being forbidden because of that rule that only certified Time Mages may travel in the time-stream. When Iım certified, the first thing Iım going to do is go back in time and see Belgememnonıs famous Together weıre Mightyı speech. {2}²
Alystare nodded with a cold little smile. He thought Clem was a total fool, but he had spent enough time in diplomatic functions to hide his opinion. Clem was a very competent wizard, but he was of peasant stock Alystare thought, and it clearly showed. ³Peasants have no ambition,² Alystare thought. Clem was becoming a Time Mage so he could do field research as a historian. Alystare felt that this was akin to harnessing the power of a volcano to brew a really hot cup of tea. Alystare could care less about meeting Belgememnon, even though he often bragged about being a direct descendent of Belgememnon.
Alystare had big plans just as soon as he passed this simple test. He already had a position lined up in the sub-council of Time Mages. It wouldnıt take long, he knew, to be promoted to the High-Council of Wizards. It was his destiny, he was certain. Thanks to his shapeshifting magic, he was currently a handsome giant of a man. Being the son of Tasnica Senator Westmorlane, Alystare knew more about politics then any wizard. He was also the first student in the history of the web to master the nearly impossible ³Time Stop² spell, so he already had a reputation. How could they not give him a high post almost immediately?
³Really? Belgememnon? Thatıs magnificent!² said Lydia. She was the student on Alystareıs left. ³For my test Iım just getting pictures of the building of the first wurst factory in ancient Tasnica. Of historical importance, yes. But Booorrrrrringggggg. Weıll have to get together after the test and you can tell me all about your adventures with Belgememnon.² She said the last sentence seductively and squeezed his massive arm for emphasis.
Again, Alystare gave a cold little smile. He would probably take her up on her implied offer. With his current body, he had no trouble finding women to share his bed with him. But all of them, including Lydia, were shallow fools, just attracted by his appearance.
He hadnıt learned how to shapeshift until he was a junior in college {3}. Up until then, he had an ugly troll-like face and a dwarf sized stature. Then no girl would even speak kindly to him, let alone date him. When he learned to shapeshift, he swore never to shift back for any reason. Now the women were lined up to date him. Pleasant, yes, but it was the body not him that they were dating. So Lydia was no better than the rest, an expert wizard and a breathtaking intellect, but a shallow fool all the same.
So Alystare sat and smiled, as Clem and Lydia chatted about what they would do once they were allowed to time-travel unrestricted by the council. He didnıt feel like talking. He wanted to take this simple little test, and get on with his life. A life as a member of the Wizardıs Council. A life of enormous power and prestige. A position with even more power than his father, who had never forgiven him for being born ugly and short. A life where he could look down on all the fools that had looked down on him when he was young.
³A life that would start just as soon as this fool of a professor got here and starts this test.² He growled to himself.
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{2} Famous historical events are popular with time-traveling tourists. For example: Belgememnonıs Together weıre Mightyı speech was so packed with time-travelers that almost none of the locals it was aimed at got to hear it.
{3} Originally, shapeshift classes were given to freshmen. But parents complained when freshmen got drunk and changed into frogs and forgot how to change back. So they made a rule that you couldnıt learn to shapeshift until you were a junior. Just as many students got drunk and stuck as frogs, but by the 3rd year of school, most parents stopped complaining when their children did stupid things when drunk.
* * *
Chapter 2
{4}
The Professor entered the room, finally. He was all smiles and bubbling with excitement. So was Alystare (though with him ³bubbling² was a quite internal thing), the final exam that would make him a certified Time Mage was about to begin.
³Iım just beside myself. For the first time in 30 years we have three promising students taking the certification final to become Time Mages.² He almost clapped in excitement. ³If all three of you survive this test and pass, and I have no doubt you will, then we will have set an all time record for the Time Mage graduate program.²
³We know this.² Alystare muttered to himself, while maintaining his cold polite smile. ³Youıve been telling us this for 9 months now! Letıs get on with it.²
³And I know you are all anxious to begin.² All three students held their breath. ³But let me review some of the basics just to set the proper tone for this test.² All three students let out their breath simultaneously, and settled back to hear a long lecture of information they already knew {5} as well as they knew how to dress themselves.
After what seemed like hours, they heard a voice behind them. ³Professor. I hate to interrupt. But you were late getting here and weıre on a schedule.² This was said by Gail who had just entered the room. Gail was a monitor for the sub council of Time Mages, and often inspected the university to make sure its teaching was up to code.
Alystare thought Gail was a fool. A very young and beautiful fool, being only 5 years older then he was, but a fool. He had asked her out on a date, twice. And both times she had given a polite refusal. He was a stunningly handsome blond giant. He already was slotted for a membership on the sub-council of Time Mages (as soon as he passed this simple test), so he would soon be her superior. And he was charming and without faults. Clearly, if she refused a date with him, she was a fool.
³Nonsense. Weıre Time Mages. We have all the time we need, thatıs the chief perk of the job.² The professor said flustered. Gail gave him a stern ³donıt mess with me² look. ³Maybe you are right. Weıre Time Mages, but these three are not. Yet. We should keep to the schedule for their sake.²
Alystare smiled. A heart-felt smile this time. Gail was clearly a fool, but he was grateful she was here all the same. Maybe he would ask her out again out of gratitude after all this was over.
The professor sent them each to another uncomfortable room where they would meet their monitor and begin their first real journey through time. A journey he had been researching and preparing for over the last 9 months. A simple task, just find out what Belgememnonıs last words to his father was. Then he would be a fully certified Time Mage.
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{4} Originally this chapter was optional, a lot longer, and contained information that helped explain how time-traveling worked. It was a victim of the 13,000-word limit.
{5} Most professors spend so much time in the classroom that they start to lose the ability to talk to people normally. So when a professor starts up a long boring lecture at an inappropriate time, forgive him. Itıs his way of trying to have social interaction.
{4}
The Professor entered the room, finally. He was all smiles and bubbling with excitement. So was Alystare (though with him ³bubbling² was a quite internal thing), the final exam that would make him a certified Time Mage was about to begin.
³Iım just beside myself. For the first time in 30 years we have three promising students taking the certification final to become Time Mages.² He almost clapped in excitement. ³If all three of you survive this test and pass, and I have no doubt you will, then we will have set an all time record for the Time Mage graduate program.²
³We know this.² Alystare muttered to himself, while maintaining his cold polite smile. ³Youıve been telling us this for 9 months now! Letıs get on with it.²
³And I know you are all anxious to begin.² All three students held their breath. ³But let me review some of the basics just to set the proper tone for this test.² All three students let out their breath simultaneously, and settled back to hear a long lecture of information they already knew {5} as well as they knew how to dress themselves.
After what seemed like hours, they heard a voice behind them. ³Professor. I hate to interrupt. But you were late getting here and weıre on a schedule.² This was said by Gail who had just entered the room. Gail was a monitor for the sub council of Time Mages, and often inspected the university to make sure its teaching was up to code.
Alystare thought Gail was a fool. A very young and beautiful fool, being only 5 years older then he was, but a fool. He had asked her out on a date, twice. And both times she had given a polite refusal. He was a stunningly handsome blond giant. He already was slotted for a membership on the sub-council of Time Mages (as soon as he passed this simple test), so he would soon be her superior. And he was charming and without faults. Clearly, if she refused a date with him, she was a fool.
³Nonsense. Weıre Time Mages. We have all the time we need, thatıs the chief perk of the job.² The professor said flustered. Gail gave him a stern ³donıt mess with me² look. ³Maybe you are right. Weıre Time Mages, but these three are not. Yet. We should keep to the schedule for their sake.²
Alystare smiled. A heart-felt smile this time. Gail was clearly a fool, but he was grateful she was here all the same. Maybe he would ask her out again out of gratitude after all this was over.
The professor sent them each to another uncomfortable room where they would meet their monitor and begin their first real journey through time. A journey he had been researching and preparing for over the last 9 months. A simple task, just find out what Belgememnonıs last words to his father was. Then he would be a fully certified Time Mage.
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{4} Originally this chapter was optional, a lot longer, and contained information that helped explain how time-traveling worked. It was a victim of the 13,000-word limit.
{5} Most professors spend so much time in the classroom that they start to lose the ability to talk to people normally. So when a professor starts up a long boring lecture at an inappropriate time, forgive him. Itıs his way of trying to have social interaction.
* * *
Chapter 3:
{This chapter is where we introduce the comic relief character. You might find it humorous, but if you are anxious to get on with the story, you can skip it}
He walked into the room at the Magical University in Tasnicaport, the largest magical university in the web, and met the monitor that would go with him as he time-traveled 1,500 years to take his final exam and become a full-fledged Time Mage.
³Alystare, honey, my God I forget how drop dead gorgeous you were!² This came from a very old woman he had never seen before. She seemed to be the only person in the room.
This canıt be his monitor. She was OLD. It was a miracle she could even move. And she was dressed in an ancient Tasnikanze peasant dress that was much too big on her.
³Come on Alystare. Donıt look so confused. Donıt you recognize me?² She said grabbing his arm and staring deep into his eyes. Even he had a hard time keeping his charming cold smile when faced with a horrible sight like that close up.
³If you are going to be on the sub-council of Time Mages, you are going to have to be better about recognizing people. {7} Itıs me! Abigail! If I remember correctly, you just left me 2 minutes ago where I saved you from that blow hard professor. Only I think I was still using the name Gail then. You are gorgeous my boy. It takes the breath away. Donıt know why I never said yes when you asked me for a date.² She tried to say this seductively, only with her, the effect was more like something you did to scare away angry tigers.
³Gail. Of course Gail. Foolish of me for not recognizing you earlier.² All those years going to diplomatic parties with his father taught him how to recover from a social blunder. ³Abigail is it now? I just never have seen you without your Wizardıs robes on.²
³Oh my. Gorgeous and charming too.² She said with a smile. ³I know you are feeding me diplomatic manure. Iım an old hag now, and well aware of it. But Iım the old hag whoıs going to monitor you in your certification test. So keep shoveling that manure and weıre going to get on just fine.²
³If I may ask why² Alystare started. Even his quick mind was having trouble finding a diplomatic way of asking this question.
³You want to know why you are getting the old hag Abigail instead of the young and beauteous Gail. Am I right honey? Of course I am.² She elbowed him in the ribs, almost hard enough to crack a rib.
³I think I became a Time Mage because I was such a procrastinator. The best thing about time-travel is you can procrastinate up down and sideways. If you donıt feel like doing something today, you can always wait until tomorrow, and time-travel back to today to do it. So I keep a long to-doı list and get to it when Iım totally bored. See here is my to-doı list, only three items left and my lifeıs work will be over. And I still have 2 years to spare.² She handed Alystare a crumpled and very worn piece of paper.
The paper was written in a very small hand, almost too small to be read with the naked eye. All except the title ³Things to do before I turn 82.² which was in a hard to read handwriting but large enough to see clearly. On the page was hundreds of items listed, each carefully crossed out with a spider web thin line. He searched the paper and eventually found a line that wasnıt crossed out saying ³Monitor Alystare Westmorlaneıs final exam.²
³You said you had two years to spare. That means you are 80, 2 years before your age limit of 82. You donıt look a year over 57.² Yes, it was more manure. But she did tell him to keep shoveling it.
³Gorgeous you are, but your eyes arenıt that good honey. Iım 85. And that paper says ³Things to do before I turn 87.² I know that for certain. At age 30, I carefully researched my life by time-traveling into the future. I discovered that I was eventually going to go senile and got loopy in the process. So I wrote down the age I was going to go senile on that piece of paper way back then. My eyes arenıt that good anymore. But if that paper said 82 not 87, then I would have been senile for 3 years now. Iıd think Iıd know if I was senile!²
Alystare looked at the paper again. The paper clearly said 82. Which means, on the most important day of his life he was being monitored by a senile crazy lady who wasnıt that bright when she was young.
But then he shrugged. He thought to himself ³So what? She just has to watch. And I can do this test with my eyes closed.²
³I still say you donıt look over 57. Maybe 52. And you are clearly as sharp as a 42 year old² Alystare gave what he hoped was a sincere smile.
³Nice. Such a nice young man. Just like my grandson the funeral director.² She said, ³I sure hope you survive this test. It would be a shame to waste all those elephant droppings.²
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{6} There is no sixth footnote: It was lost in the timeless void.
{7} Actually this isnıt true. Many important people have no idea who most of the people around them are. They just pretend to know who they are and rely on aides to keep them from messing up to badly.
{This chapter is where we introduce the comic relief character. You might find it humorous, but if you are anxious to get on with the story, you can skip it}
He walked into the room at the Magical University in Tasnicaport, the largest magical university in the web, and met the monitor that would go with him as he time-traveled 1,500 years to take his final exam and become a full-fledged Time Mage.
³Alystare, honey, my God I forget how drop dead gorgeous you were!² This came from a very old woman he had never seen before. She seemed to be the only person in the room.
This canıt be his monitor. She was OLD. It was a miracle she could even move. And she was dressed in an ancient Tasnikanze peasant dress that was much too big on her.
³Come on Alystare. Donıt look so confused. Donıt you recognize me?² She said grabbing his arm and staring deep into his eyes. Even he had a hard time keeping his charming cold smile when faced with a horrible sight like that close up.
³If you are going to be on the sub-council of Time Mages, you are going to have to be better about recognizing people. {7} Itıs me! Abigail! If I remember correctly, you just left me 2 minutes ago where I saved you from that blow hard professor. Only I think I was still using the name Gail then. You are gorgeous my boy. It takes the breath away. Donıt know why I never said yes when you asked me for a date.² She tried to say this seductively, only with her, the effect was more like something you did to scare away angry tigers.
³Gail. Of course Gail. Foolish of me for not recognizing you earlier.² All those years going to diplomatic parties with his father taught him how to recover from a social blunder. ³Abigail is it now? I just never have seen you without your Wizardıs robes on.²
³Oh my. Gorgeous and charming too.² She said with a smile. ³I know you are feeding me diplomatic manure. Iım an old hag now, and well aware of it. But Iım the old hag whoıs going to monitor you in your certification test. So keep shoveling that manure and weıre going to get on just fine.²
³If I may ask why² Alystare started. Even his quick mind was having trouble finding a diplomatic way of asking this question.
³You want to know why you are getting the old hag Abigail instead of the young and beauteous Gail. Am I right honey? Of course I am.² She elbowed him in the ribs, almost hard enough to crack a rib.
³I think I became a Time Mage because I was such a procrastinator. The best thing about time-travel is you can procrastinate up down and sideways. If you donıt feel like doing something today, you can always wait until tomorrow, and time-travel back to today to do it. So I keep a long to-doı list and get to it when Iım totally bored. See here is my to-doı list, only three items left and my lifeıs work will be over. And I still have 2 years to spare.² She handed Alystare a crumpled and very worn piece of paper.
The paper was written in a very small hand, almost too small to be read with the naked eye. All except the title ³Things to do before I turn 82.² which was in a hard to read handwriting but large enough to see clearly. On the page was hundreds of items listed, each carefully crossed out with a spider web thin line. He searched the paper and eventually found a line that wasnıt crossed out saying ³Monitor Alystare Westmorlaneıs final exam.²
³You said you had two years to spare. That means you are 80, 2 years before your age limit of 82. You donıt look a year over 57.² Yes, it was more manure. But she did tell him to keep shoveling it.
³Gorgeous you are, but your eyes arenıt that good honey. Iım 85. And that paper says ³Things to do before I turn 87.² I know that for certain. At age 30, I carefully researched my life by time-traveling into the future. I discovered that I was eventually going to go senile and got loopy in the process. So I wrote down the age I was going to go senile on that piece of paper way back then. My eyes arenıt that good anymore. But if that paper said 82 not 87, then I would have been senile for 3 years now. Iıd think Iıd know if I was senile!²
Alystare looked at the paper again. The paper clearly said 82. Which means, on the most important day of his life he was being monitored by a senile crazy lady who wasnıt that bright when she was young.
But then he shrugged. He thought to himself ³So what? She just has to watch. And I can do this test with my eyes closed.²
³I still say you donıt look over 57. Maybe 52. And you are clearly as sharp as a 42 year old² Alystare gave what he hoped was a sincere smile.
³Nice. Such a nice young man. Just like my grandson the funeral director.² She said, ³I sure hope you survive this test. It would be a shame to waste all those elephant droppings.²
___________________________________________________
{6} There is no sixth footnote: It was lost in the timeless void.
{7} Actually this isnıt true. Many important people have no idea who most of the people around them are. They just pretend to know who they are and rely on aides to keep them from messing up to badly.
* * *
Chapter 4
{This chapter explains more about what the mission to the past is and why. And it establishes firmly the ³3 generations². But if you donıt care, skip it or come back later.}
Alystare groaned internally. He was anxious to start his final exam to be a certified Time Mage, but instead had to do small talk with his test monitor.
As if she sensed his frustration, she got serious looking.
³Come on. Time for your final exam, sweet stuff.² She said, sounding professional all of sudden. ³The year is 1477WB. Before Belgememnon started the first republic and united all the tribes of sea raiders of his time, he was a sea merchant (a traveling salesman). Belgememnon and his father were both invited separately to a Triumph, sort of a big party celebrating a successful voyage of pillaging and looting. Previous time-travelers have reported that right after a rousing dance lead by a troop of traveling bards, Belgememnon and his father talked briefly for the last time. Soon after that, Belgememnonıs father disowned his son. Your test is simple. You are to get close to where Belgememnon is to talk to his father and find out what was said in this historical meeting.²
³Simple, huh, sweet cakes.² Abigail said, poking Alystare in the ribs again with her elbow. ³Only, you have to travel back in time almost 1500 years, get to the exact right spot and time, and not do anything that changes history or destabilizes the time-stream.²
Then she laughed. A loud boisterous noise like a sick parrot. ³But that shouldnıt be too hard. The party will be over-crowded with strangers; no one will notice one more. And you donıt have to do anything, just walk to the right spot and eavesdrop a little.²
³Ready to see how your ancestors lived, sugar feet?² Abigail asked.
³I see youıre memory is sharp as every,² said Alystare, genuinely pleased. ³You remember that Iım a direct descendent of Belgememnon himself.²
³My memory is sharp, alright.² She said with a laugh ³But it doesnıt take any great memory to know you are a descendent of Belgememnon. So am I, and so are 99% of the humans in Mana. You are also the direct descendent of most of the nose-picking, half-wit, part-animal, sea raiders we will meet tonight. Just simple math; 1500 years is 75 generations. Two to the 75th power is a huge number. Even with all the intermarriage after 4 generations, the numbers means everyone now is related to everyone back then. {8}
³Iıve already been there and rented a longhouse near the party for us to regroup.² She said with spirit, ³So letıs time-travel, sugar thighs.²
___________________________________________________
{8} This means that everyone reading this is a direct descendent of ancient kings. And as you go back even farther, the effect is more pronounced. So thereıs no such thing as ³pure races² or nationalities. Everyone is mostly a mix of every ethnic group in different proportions, and more ³ethnically mixed² than belonging to any one group. Just something to think about.
{This chapter explains more about what the mission to the past is and why. And it establishes firmly the ³3 generations². But if you donıt care, skip it or come back later.}
Alystare groaned internally. He was anxious to start his final exam to be a certified Time Mage, but instead had to do small talk with his test monitor.
As if she sensed his frustration, she got serious looking.
³Come on. Time for your final exam, sweet stuff.² She said, sounding professional all of sudden. ³The year is 1477WB. Before Belgememnon started the first republic and united all the tribes of sea raiders of his time, he was a sea merchant (a traveling salesman). Belgememnon and his father were both invited separately to a Triumph, sort of a big party celebrating a successful voyage of pillaging and looting. Previous time-travelers have reported that right after a rousing dance lead by a troop of traveling bards, Belgememnon and his father talked briefly for the last time. Soon after that, Belgememnonıs father disowned his son. Your test is simple. You are to get close to where Belgememnon is to talk to his father and find out what was said in this historical meeting.²
³Simple, huh, sweet cakes.² Abigail said, poking Alystare in the ribs again with her elbow. ³Only, you have to travel back in time almost 1500 years, get to the exact right spot and time, and not do anything that changes history or destabilizes the time-stream.²
Then she laughed. A loud boisterous noise like a sick parrot. ³But that shouldnıt be too hard. The party will be over-crowded with strangers; no one will notice one more. And you donıt have to do anything, just walk to the right spot and eavesdrop a little.²
³Ready to see how your ancestors lived, sugar feet?² Abigail asked.
³I see youıre memory is sharp as every,² said Alystare, genuinely pleased. ³You remember that Iım a direct descendent of Belgememnon himself.²
³My memory is sharp, alright.² She said with a laugh ³But it doesnıt take any great memory to know you are a descendent of Belgememnon. So am I, and so are 99% of the humans in Mana. You are also the direct descendent of most of the nose-picking, half-wit, part-animal, sea raiders we will meet tonight. Just simple math; 1500 years is 75 generations. Two to the 75th power is a huge number. Even with all the intermarriage after 4 generations, the numbers means everyone now is related to everyone back then. {8}
³Iıve already been there and rented a longhouse near the party for us to regroup.² She said with spirit, ³So letıs time-travel, sugar thighs.²
___________________________________________________
{8} This means that everyone reading this is a direct descendent of ancient kings. And as you go back even farther, the effect is more pronounced. So thereıs no such thing as ³pure races² or nationalities. Everyone is mostly a mix of every ethnic group in different proportions, and more ³ethnically mixed² than belonging to any one group. Just something to think about.
* * *
Chapter 5
The longhouse that Abigail had rented was nothing more than a simple long thin room with crude wooden walls and a slanted straw roof. No windows, no furniture, and just a single door at the end. Abigail was already dressed as a peasant of the time. But Alystare wasnıt going to walk around campus dressed like a peasant or ancient sea raider. So he came in his modern clothing cloaked with an invisibility spell so he wouldnıt attract attention.
As he removed the invisibility spell, he magically changed his clothing to an expensive and well-tailored suit that was tight enough to show off his perfectly sculptured physique. He looked like a very rich sea captain, veteran of hundreds of successful raids.
He approached Abigail, expecting her to practically swoon at the sight of his manly figure.
³Are you totally insane, honey hips? You canıt walk out in public looking like that!² Abigail laughed. Alystareıs face started getting very red in anger.
³Look, sweets. Wearing that, every young maiden will fall madly in love with you. Along with all the young widows, and old widows, and unhappy housewives, and quite a number of the burly sea raiders. I know thereıs something kinky about those 11 month pillaging voyages with just a lot of men in a very small ship.² Abigail poked him in the ribs again. ³The maidens will refuse every suitor for a year or more in hopes you will return. Iıve got to believe that big of an obstacle to normal courtship and procreation is going to have a lasting effect on history.²
Alystareıs face went from red to purple. He would lose his temper, but he couldnıt argue with her logic. Ever since he shapeshifted his form, he had met every social engagement as if he was on parade. That was just his way. And even though he had 9 months to prepare for this night, it hadnıt occurred to him that he should do things any differently.
But he took a deep breath, and then another. He could adapt, the best thing about being a Time Mage is that you never had to admit your mistakes. He started his personal time-stream flowing in reverse. He watched Abigail give her little speech and laugh at his outfit in reverse time. She was scary when she laughed, but even scarier when she laughed in reverse. And he stopped when he was still invisible and in his normal clothing.
He removed the invisibility spell and he was standing there in a long cloak. It was functional rather than fashionable, with a very broad hood, and it covered him from head to toe. It wasnıt party-wear, but it was a fashion of the time, and it would look like he just came in out of the cold or was just about to go back out. As long as he wasnıt at the party too long, it wouldnıt attract attention.
Abigail looked him up and down and frowned. ³At least sheıs not laughing,² thought Alystare. Since he had reversed his personal time-stream, only he would remember the other outfit and Abigailıs reaction. To her view of the world, this long cloak was the only thing he had worn here. This wasnıt like non-linear time-travel, since it only affected him and there was never any time instability. You didnıt need certification for these little "time in reverse" spells. Up to now, he was continually replaying events until he played them to his satisfaction (and he was a perfectionist). He would have to remember he couldnıt replay his life past a non-linear time-travel point (like coming here from the future) or past a paradox or time-stream split or past a point of time instability {9}. He would have to do at least some things right the first time.
³Well, I must say, youıve hidden that gorgeous body of yours very well, sweet buns.² Abigail finally said. ³But why hide anything? You have to know how to shapeshift, no one is born as drop dead as you are. So shapeshift into something small and unnoticeable. A child or just a plain-Jane bloodthirsty sea marauder. Then you donıt have to worry about stepping on anyone with those huge but perfect feet of yours.²
Alystare was getting red in the face again, but he checked himself and with mental effort tried to see this unemotionally. Abigail didnıt know he swore never to remove the shapeshift spell; she was just giving good advice.
But advice he wasnıt going to follow. ³I know what Iım doing. Iıve had 9 months to plan this. It will all work out. As you said yourself. All I have to do is walk in and eavesdrop a little. What difference does my size make?²
She gave her sick parrot laugh again. ³This is your test. And Iıll trust your judgment.²
³Now deary.² She said in her professional tone. ³I canıt let you walk in there unless I have a reasonable belief you can succeed without messing up the time-stream. Youıre refusing to shapeshift smaller worries me. Donıt look at me like that. Itıs my job. So tell me how you are planning to do this?²
Again, Alystare suppressed his gut reaction to get angry. ³Fair enough. In a few minutes, I will walk into the feasting hall where the Triumph is held. By all reports itıs in a very large open room the size of a circus tent.²
³I will wait for the bards/Skalds to start their song and then cross the room to the other side where Belgememnon will be standing and watching the dance. Itıs a long song; Iıll have plenty of time. I canıt go earlier, because he will be surrounded by friends and Iıll never get close enough. But most of his friends will be dancing and so there will be room at that point. And right after the dance ends is when his father wanders over and they talk. Simple. Then I leave before the next song starts.²
It would be simpler if he could teleport to the correct spot or move through the room with an invisibility spell, but that would mean he would suddenly appear next to Belgememnon, and that would have to be noticed.
³Sounds good. Though it would sound better if you werenıt so huge sweet lumps.² Said Abigail smiling. ³But nothing is certain in any case. Just one last piece of advice.²
³As you know, the time-stream seeks stability like water seeks equilibrium.² She said very seriously, ³So itıs working with you; minor changes here wonıt be a problem, stability and so history wonıt change. A major change here, however, will cause the time-stream to split, it will stabilize in an alternate time-stream and you will be trapped in a different history and reality. A true paradox or just too much instability will cause a rift in time that will open a vortex to the timeless void {10}. Those are the dangers that sub-council of Time Mages guards against, and the reason only certified Time Mages may time-travel.²
³When I was here before, I tested for time-stream instability. There is some sort of danger involved with stepping on feet. Donıt ask me why. But if you step on the wrong personıs foot, you can cause a split in the time-stream or something worse. So watch your feet!²
With that, she pulled on a cloak similar to his, only not so concealing, and Alystare walked with her the short block to the feasting hall. The sounds of loud partying nearly making them deaf long before they got there.
___________________________________________________
{9} I thought this was a really good time for a footnote. Please fill in your own.
{10} Small rifts in the time-stream actually happen all the time. Even too much static electricity in an automatic dryer can cause one. These rifts are very small and only small objects, like keys or important papers are caught in them. Heavy objects like keys or remote controls will eventually re-stabilize back into normal time, causing enormous frustration as the object re-appears in the exact spot the owner looked for it a hundred times. Small light objects like socks will be gone forever into the timeless void, or on rare occasion will re-appear in someone elseıs laundry.
The longhouse that Abigail had rented was nothing more than a simple long thin room with crude wooden walls and a slanted straw roof. No windows, no furniture, and just a single door at the end. Abigail was already dressed as a peasant of the time. But Alystare wasnıt going to walk around campus dressed like a peasant or ancient sea raider. So he came in his modern clothing cloaked with an invisibility spell so he wouldnıt attract attention.
As he removed the invisibility spell, he magically changed his clothing to an expensive and well-tailored suit that was tight enough to show off his perfectly sculptured physique. He looked like a very rich sea captain, veteran of hundreds of successful raids.
He approached Abigail, expecting her to practically swoon at the sight of his manly figure.
³Are you totally insane, honey hips? You canıt walk out in public looking like that!² Abigail laughed. Alystareıs face started getting very red in anger.
³Look, sweets. Wearing that, every young maiden will fall madly in love with you. Along with all the young widows, and old widows, and unhappy housewives, and quite a number of the burly sea raiders. I know thereıs something kinky about those 11 month pillaging voyages with just a lot of men in a very small ship.² Abigail poked him in the ribs again. ³The maidens will refuse every suitor for a year or more in hopes you will return. Iıve got to believe that big of an obstacle to normal courtship and procreation is going to have a lasting effect on history.²
Alystareıs face went from red to purple. He would lose his temper, but he couldnıt argue with her logic. Ever since he shapeshifted his form, he had met every social engagement as if he was on parade. That was just his way. And even though he had 9 months to prepare for this night, it hadnıt occurred to him that he should do things any differently.
But he took a deep breath, and then another. He could adapt, the best thing about being a Time Mage is that you never had to admit your mistakes. He started his personal time-stream flowing in reverse. He watched Abigail give her little speech and laugh at his outfit in reverse time. She was scary when she laughed, but even scarier when she laughed in reverse. And he stopped when he was still invisible and in his normal clothing.
He removed the invisibility spell and he was standing there in a long cloak. It was functional rather than fashionable, with a very broad hood, and it covered him from head to toe. It wasnıt party-wear, but it was a fashion of the time, and it would look like he just came in out of the cold or was just about to go back out. As long as he wasnıt at the party too long, it wouldnıt attract attention.
Abigail looked him up and down and frowned. ³At least sheıs not laughing,² thought Alystare. Since he had reversed his personal time-stream, only he would remember the other outfit and Abigailıs reaction. To her view of the world, this long cloak was the only thing he had worn here. This wasnıt like non-linear time-travel, since it only affected him and there was never any time instability. You didnıt need certification for these little "time in reverse" spells. Up to now, he was continually replaying events until he played them to his satisfaction (and he was a perfectionist). He would have to remember he couldnıt replay his life past a non-linear time-travel point (like coming here from the future) or past a paradox or time-stream split or past a point of time instability {9}. He would have to do at least some things right the first time.
³Well, I must say, youıve hidden that gorgeous body of yours very well, sweet buns.² Abigail finally said. ³But why hide anything? You have to know how to shapeshift, no one is born as drop dead as you are. So shapeshift into something small and unnoticeable. A child or just a plain-Jane bloodthirsty sea marauder. Then you donıt have to worry about stepping on anyone with those huge but perfect feet of yours.²
Alystare was getting red in the face again, but he checked himself and with mental effort tried to see this unemotionally. Abigail didnıt know he swore never to remove the shapeshift spell; she was just giving good advice.
But advice he wasnıt going to follow. ³I know what Iım doing. Iıve had 9 months to plan this. It will all work out. As you said yourself. All I have to do is walk in and eavesdrop a little. What difference does my size make?²
She gave her sick parrot laugh again. ³This is your test. And Iıll trust your judgment.²
³Now deary.² She said in her professional tone. ³I canıt let you walk in there unless I have a reasonable belief you can succeed without messing up the time-stream. Youıre refusing to shapeshift smaller worries me. Donıt look at me like that. Itıs my job. So tell me how you are planning to do this?²
Again, Alystare suppressed his gut reaction to get angry. ³Fair enough. In a few minutes, I will walk into the feasting hall where the Triumph is held. By all reports itıs in a very large open room the size of a circus tent.²
³I will wait for the bards/Skalds to start their song and then cross the room to the other side where Belgememnon will be standing and watching the dance. Itıs a long song; Iıll have plenty of time. I canıt go earlier, because he will be surrounded by friends and Iıll never get close enough. But most of his friends will be dancing and so there will be room at that point. And right after the dance ends is when his father wanders over and they talk. Simple. Then I leave before the next song starts.²
It would be simpler if he could teleport to the correct spot or move through the room with an invisibility spell, but that would mean he would suddenly appear next to Belgememnon, and that would have to be noticed.
³Sounds good. Though it would sound better if you werenıt so huge sweet lumps.² Said Abigail smiling. ³But nothing is certain in any case. Just one last piece of advice.²
³As you know, the time-stream seeks stability like water seeks equilibrium.² She said very seriously, ³So itıs working with you; minor changes here wonıt be a problem, stability and so history wonıt change. A major change here, however, will cause the time-stream to split, it will stabilize in an alternate time-stream and you will be trapped in a different history and reality. A true paradox or just too much instability will cause a rift in time that will open a vortex to the timeless void {10}. Those are the dangers that sub-council of Time Mages guards against, and the reason only certified Time Mages may time-travel.²
³When I was here before, I tested for time-stream instability. There is some sort of danger involved with stepping on feet. Donıt ask me why. But if you step on the wrong personıs foot, you can cause a split in the time-stream or something worse. So watch your feet!²
With that, she pulled on a cloak similar to his, only not so concealing, and Alystare walked with her the short block to the feasting hall. The sounds of loud partying nearly making them deaf long before they got there.
___________________________________________________
{9} I thought this was a really good time for a footnote. Please fill in your own.
{10} Small rifts in the time-stream actually happen all the time. Even too much static electricity in an automatic dryer can cause one. These rifts are very small and only small objects, like keys or important papers are caught in them. Heavy objects like keys or remote controls will eventually re-stabilize back into normal time, causing enormous frustration as the object re-appears in the exact spot the owner looked for it a hundred times. Small light objects like socks will be gone forever into the timeless void, or on rare occasion will re-appear in someone elseıs laundry.
* * *
Chapter 6
He left Abigail at the door where she would just watch and entered the room the instant the troop of Skalds/bards started the tune ³The Sea Raiderıs Life². Most of the room started a rowdy whirling folk dance lead by the Skalds who were singing, playing, and dancing all at the same time.
³A sea raiderıs life is the life for me.
With a bloody axe, you will sail the sea,
With horns on your hat and a bearskin suit,
You rape and pillage, you burn, bash and loot
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs life is for me²
The party had plenty of sea raiders, many wearing animal skins and helmets with horns. But there were also peasants in simple homespun tunics, rich merchants in tailored clothing, noblemen from neighboring cities, craftsmen, scholars, and women in dresses both in style and out of style. The one thing they all had in common is that they all clashed.
He had slowed down time on a personal basis and just stood for a long time (a long time for him, a few seconds for everyone else). He carefully planned his route across the floor. The dance just started, but he could see it was a very energetic folk dance that was mostly people whirling around the dance floor. Even walking at the edges of the dance would take a lot of concentration. He started his time-stream back up to normal time.
As he moved through the room, he repeatedly had to reverse time to avoid bumping into people. But with minor course corrections he seemed to be doing it.
³You sing as you row, you drink as you sing,
And the ale you drink is a horrible thing²
Then a large fat woman who smelled like fish oil cornered him purposely and grabbed his arms. ³Dance with me giant. I love tall men.² She said.
Before Alystare could protest, she dragged him out to the dance floor and was whirling him around. As the rest of the dancers start to part and give the large couple room, he realized there was danger of changing history. So he stopped time instantly hoping he wasnıt too late. Then he moved his personal time frame in reverse and got even dizzier whirling backwards in time to the point the fish oil lady grabbed him.
He continued to move backwards in time, watching as the fish oil lady moved towards him through the crowd (in reverse). He decided she had seen him a long way off, so he couldnıt prevent her from chasing him. But he could avoid having her catch him. He started up time again, dodging dancers as before but also watching her. At just the right moment he moved into the floor just behind her. She continued to move the edge of the dance where he used to be; unaware he had escaped.
But now he was no longer at the edge of the dance, he was in it. And he couldnıt take the shortest route back to the edge in fear of being caught by fish oil lady. So he moved through the dancers themselves, working even harder to avoid collisions.
He did this by slowing his own time down to half speed, and planning every step carefully. And it seemed to be working. To everyone else, he just appeared to be moving normally through the dancers. But to him, he was walking at half speed through dancers moving in slow motion.
³Most raiders have less brains than half-wit mules²
Just as he approached the edge of the crowd again, he saw a dilemma. There were two dancers moving directly at him. Two very beautiful large young women. Two women who looked like they carried cows in from the fields on a regular basis {11}. And these two beautiful giants were whirling with the dance and were totally unaware they were about to crash together. Maybe in history they did crash. Maybe his movement through the crowd altered the dance pattern enough to cause this dilemma. In either case, they now wouldnıt only crash into each other; they might crash into him as well.
He thought fast, he might dash a little faster and be past them before any collision, but it was risky. Better yet, he slowed down time for both of them for two seconds. Both of them felt disoriented for these seconds, but they thought it was the ale or they were just dizzy from whirling, so they ignored it. No one else noticed them moving in slow motion for those two seconds. And he was through with a second to spare and no signs of instability.
A raiderıs wife is as fair as a pig
Sheıs as strong as an ox, and just as big
And there he was, Belgememnon was right in front of him and a perfect spot directly behind him had opened up. Alystare made for the spot but just before he reached it, a young peasant boy, almost dwarf sized and too young to have a beard yet made for the same spot. ³Iım not going to be defeated by the likes of this insignificant fool,² {12} he thought.
He lifted his hood ever so slightly, and stared at he boy with what he hoped was a commanding stare. This stare had worked for him many times in the past. To the boy, all he saw was a tall cloaked giant with murder in his eyes. The sight terrified the boy, and the boy pushed backwards in the crowd trying to get away from the giant and his eyes.
The frightened boy wasnıt watching where he was going and stomped hard on the toes of a rich merchant. Alystare didnıt notice; he was concentrating on slipping into the spot behind Belgememnon. But he heard the merchant scream in pain and felt a wave of instability that only a Time Mage would feel. It hit him in the stomach like the blow of a mace. He knew he couldnıt move backwards in time through a point of instability or the splitting of the time-stream so he couldnıt correct this.
He had failed. He was so close. But at the very last minute, he had failed. And all because a fool of a peasant boy had over-reacted to a nasty stare. History had somehow changed. The time-stream had split or was about to. A vortex to the timeless void might even open up and swallow them all. All because a dwarfish peasant stepped on someoneıs foot.
He could wait and listen to Belgememnonıs conversation with his father. But he could never be sure the conversation itself hadn`t been changed by whatever damage he had done. So when the dance finally ended, he moved out into the dance floor, and easily moved across the room with the other partiers returning to the edge of the crowd.
As he left the feasting hall, a wet drizzle had started. A wet drizzle that shouldnıt be there since the sky was completely clear when he arrived. The drizzle was clearly a sign of time instability. He looked to find Abigail and ask her advice. He finally saw her just to the side hidden in her cloak. ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started,² she said and disappeared into the night. ³Strange behavior² he thought as he ducked behind a house and time-traveled back to the longhouse.
___________________________________________________
{11} The two women were sisters, and while they didnıt own any cows, they did often carry goats around in the fields, two or three at a time.
{12} The boy grew up to be Senator Olf Longstrom, the first minority head of the new republic senate.
He left Abigail at the door where she would just watch and entered the room the instant the troop of Skalds/bards started the tune ³The Sea Raiderıs Life². Most of the room started a rowdy whirling folk dance lead by the Skalds who were singing, playing, and dancing all at the same time.
³A sea raiderıs life is the life for me.
With a bloody axe, you will sail the sea,
With horns on your hat and a bearskin suit,
You rape and pillage, you burn, bash and loot
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs life is for me²
The party had plenty of sea raiders, many wearing animal skins and helmets with horns. But there were also peasants in simple homespun tunics, rich merchants in tailored clothing, noblemen from neighboring cities, craftsmen, scholars, and women in dresses both in style and out of style. The one thing they all had in common is that they all clashed.
He had slowed down time on a personal basis and just stood for a long time (a long time for him, a few seconds for everyone else). He carefully planned his route across the floor. The dance just started, but he could see it was a very energetic folk dance that was mostly people whirling around the dance floor. Even walking at the edges of the dance would take a lot of concentration. He started his time-stream back up to normal time.
As he moved through the room, he repeatedly had to reverse time to avoid bumping into people. But with minor course corrections he seemed to be doing it.
³You sing as you row, you drink as you sing,
And the ale you drink is a horrible thing²
Then a large fat woman who smelled like fish oil cornered him purposely and grabbed his arms. ³Dance with me giant. I love tall men.² She said.
Before Alystare could protest, she dragged him out to the dance floor and was whirling him around. As the rest of the dancers start to part and give the large couple room, he realized there was danger of changing history. So he stopped time instantly hoping he wasnıt too late. Then he moved his personal time frame in reverse and got even dizzier whirling backwards in time to the point the fish oil lady grabbed him.
He continued to move backwards in time, watching as the fish oil lady moved towards him through the crowd (in reverse). He decided she had seen him a long way off, so he couldnıt prevent her from chasing him. But he could avoid having her catch him. He started up time again, dodging dancers as before but also watching her. At just the right moment he moved into the floor just behind her. She continued to move the edge of the dance where he used to be; unaware he had escaped.
But now he was no longer at the edge of the dance, he was in it. And he couldnıt take the shortest route back to the edge in fear of being caught by fish oil lady. So he moved through the dancers themselves, working even harder to avoid collisions.
He did this by slowing his own time down to half speed, and planning every step carefully. And it seemed to be working. To everyone else, he just appeared to be moving normally through the dancers. But to him, he was walking at half speed through dancers moving in slow motion.
³Most raiders have less brains than half-wit mules²
Just as he approached the edge of the crowd again, he saw a dilemma. There were two dancers moving directly at him. Two very beautiful large young women. Two women who looked like they carried cows in from the fields on a regular basis {11}. And these two beautiful giants were whirling with the dance and were totally unaware they were about to crash together. Maybe in history they did crash. Maybe his movement through the crowd altered the dance pattern enough to cause this dilemma. In either case, they now wouldnıt only crash into each other; they might crash into him as well.
He thought fast, he might dash a little faster and be past them before any collision, but it was risky. Better yet, he slowed down time for both of them for two seconds. Both of them felt disoriented for these seconds, but they thought it was the ale or they were just dizzy from whirling, so they ignored it. No one else noticed them moving in slow motion for those two seconds. And he was through with a second to spare and no signs of instability.
A raiderıs wife is as fair as a pig
Sheıs as strong as an ox, and just as big
And there he was, Belgememnon was right in front of him and a perfect spot directly behind him had opened up. Alystare made for the spot but just before he reached it, a young peasant boy, almost dwarf sized and too young to have a beard yet made for the same spot. ³Iım not going to be defeated by the likes of this insignificant fool,² {12} he thought.
He lifted his hood ever so slightly, and stared at he boy with what he hoped was a commanding stare. This stare had worked for him many times in the past. To the boy, all he saw was a tall cloaked giant with murder in his eyes. The sight terrified the boy, and the boy pushed backwards in the crowd trying to get away from the giant and his eyes.
The frightened boy wasnıt watching where he was going and stomped hard on the toes of a rich merchant. Alystare didnıt notice; he was concentrating on slipping into the spot behind Belgememnon. But he heard the merchant scream in pain and felt a wave of instability that only a Time Mage would feel. It hit him in the stomach like the blow of a mace. He knew he couldnıt move backwards in time through a point of instability or the splitting of the time-stream so he couldnıt correct this.
He had failed. He was so close. But at the very last minute, he had failed. And all because a fool of a peasant boy had over-reacted to a nasty stare. History had somehow changed. The time-stream had split or was about to. A vortex to the timeless void might even open up and swallow them all. All because a dwarfish peasant stepped on someoneıs foot.
He could wait and listen to Belgememnonıs conversation with his father. But he could never be sure the conversation itself hadn`t been changed by whatever damage he had done. So when the dance finally ended, he moved out into the dance floor, and easily moved across the room with the other partiers returning to the edge of the crowd.
As he left the feasting hall, a wet drizzle had started. A wet drizzle that shouldnıt be there since the sky was completely clear when he arrived. The drizzle was clearly a sign of time instability. He looked to find Abigail and ask her advice. He finally saw her just to the side hidden in her cloak. ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started,² she said and disappeared into the night. ³Strange behavior² he thought as he ducked behind a house and time-traveled back to the longhouse.
___________________________________________________
{11} The two women were sisters, and while they didnıt own any cows, they did often carry goats around in the fields, two or three at a time.
{12} The boy grew up to be Senator Olf Longstrom, the first minority head of the new republic senate.
* * *
Chapter 7.
As he arrived invisible at the longhouse, at the exact point in time he had arrived previously. But this time a light drizzle was going. Time instability doesnıt start at a point, it radiates out. He canıt get in front of it; he had to fix it. All he saw in the longhouse were two versions of Abigail. Twins? But then he put the pieces together. One was the one that came with him originally, and the other was the one that came back with him just now.
He decided to become visible at the same moment as his earlier self also became visible. And they both were dressed in the same all-covering cloak.
³But shouldnıt I be wearing the rich raider outfit I was planning to wear?² he thought. But then he realized, his earlier self had appeared in that outfit first, and had been persuaded to change. But since his earlier self did this by slipping back in time (just as I did, heıs me after all), to the latter Alystare it appeared he started with this cloak. The earlier Alystare gave the later Alystare a dirty look. ³Clearly I wasnıt very nice about my suggestion to change outfits.² The later Alystare thought.
³Hi. So nice of you to help me with this assignment.² The two Abigails said almost simultaneously to each other. ³Of course, anytime dear.² They again talked in almost unison. {13}
³What did you do? How could you mess up something so easy?² said the earlier Alystare, a bit of anger still in his voice.
³It was a fluke. A one in a thousand chance. It wonıt happen again.² Said the later Alystare, angry about his earlier selfıs superior attitude.
³Now calm down, sweetums.² Said one of the Abigails. ³This sort of thing happens all the time to students taking their final test. And I must say, you two are quite the knockouts. It takes my breath away.²
³All you have to do is calm down and work out between yourselves what you did wrong and go back and do it right.² One of the Abigails said in her professional voice. ³That is how these things work. The instability is already stabilizing into a new time-stream. This branch wasnıt so much created by your mistake, but found by your mistake. You pushed one time-stream to join another similar one. The main problem is you. As long as you are here well let us just say things wonıt completely stabilize properly. If you do exactly what you planned to do, but avoid any destabilizing actions, the path of least resistance for the time-stream is to take you back to the events that would have happened if you never made any error in the first place. Youıll be back where you belong and both branches of the time-stream will stabilize.²
It took both Alystares some time to absorb all this. But it all fit with what they (he) had learned at the University.
³So sweetems. Which ever one of you has information for the other one, just spill it.² One of the Abigails said to break the silence.
So the later Alystare told the earlier one in brief the details of his pervious trip. He didnıt mention every problem, but he mentioned the fish oil lady and the boy who stomped on the merchantıs foot.
³Got it.² Said the earlier Alystare. ³So I avoid those little problems and I can go on with my life. I better be off then.²
³What do you mean you?² Said the later Alystare. ³We know from experience that you are about to mess things up. Iım the one who did this before, Iım the best suited to do it again and get it right. I just told you all that so you would know what to expect.²
³On the contrary,² said the earlier Alystare. ³You are the one who just messed it up once. Iım fresher and I never destabilized a time-stream just crossing a dance floor. You are here to give me information. But this is my job to do.²
³If I can make a suggestion sweetems.² Said one of the Abigails ³It really doesnıt matter which of you does it, because if you havenıt noticed, both of you are you.²
³But itıs real clear that half your problems were due to your size.² Said the other Abigail. ³If you donıt know how to shapeshift, I can shrink you two hunks down to a smaller size. It looks like it would help a lot and it would only be temporary.²
Both of the Alystares looked at the Abigails in anger. They both politely shook their heads no, but inside they were battling to stay calm. No way were they going back to being an ugly dwarf.
The later Alystare thought about what they said. He was emotionally drained from all this, and so it was easier for him to calm down and think rationally. ³If it doesnıt mater which one of us goes, then you can go if you want. But let me slow down time and retell you everything in detail so youıll be prepared.²
³Not necessary.² Said the earlier Alystare angrily ³You made it through, so Iım sure I can just as easily. I just have to avoid scaring that young boy, and weıre both back together and back to our life.²
The later Alystare wanted to argue this point, but the earlier Alystare and the two Abigails both were pulling their coats tight against the drizzle and moving out of the long house.
___________________________________________________
{13} Time Mages are quite use to talking to themselves. They are in fact old friends. Usually, every Sunday night a Time Mage will visit themselves from the previous Sunday, and tell themselves how their week went. {14} The youngest version of themselves has pizza delivered. If the two decide to change any of their plans for the week, then usually a third version of themselves shows up to tell them how those changes went. In some cases, it gets to be a very big pizza party.
{14} If no-one shows up to a Time Mageıs Sunday night Pizza party, they leave a message for a Time Mage friend to investigate, and then rush to the beginning of time to hide till itıs safe. This happens so often, that one paranoid Time Mage has set up a very nice ³Beginning of Time Inn² and does good business.
As he arrived invisible at the longhouse, at the exact point in time he had arrived previously. But this time a light drizzle was going. Time instability doesnıt start at a point, it radiates out. He canıt get in front of it; he had to fix it. All he saw in the longhouse were two versions of Abigail. Twins? But then he put the pieces together. One was the one that came with him originally, and the other was the one that came back with him just now.
He decided to become visible at the same moment as his earlier self also became visible. And they both were dressed in the same all-covering cloak.
³But shouldnıt I be wearing the rich raider outfit I was planning to wear?² he thought. But then he realized, his earlier self had appeared in that outfit first, and had been persuaded to change. But since his earlier self did this by slipping back in time (just as I did, heıs me after all), to the latter Alystare it appeared he started with this cloak. The earlier Alystare gave the later Alystare a dirty look. ³Clearly I wasnıt very nice about my suggestion to change outfits.² The later Alystare thought.
³Hi. So nice of you to help me with this assignment.² The two Abigails said almost simultaneously to each other. ³Of course, anytime dear.² They again talked in almost unison. {13}
³What did you do? How could you mess up something so easy?² said the earlier Alystare, a bit of anger still in his voice.
³It was a fluke. A one in a thousand chance. It wonıt happen again.² Said the later Alystare, angry about his earlier selfıs superior attitude.
³Now calm down, sweetums.² Said one of the Abigails. ³This sort of thing happens all the time to students taking their final test. And I must say, you two are quite the knockouts. It takes my breath away.²
³All you have to do is calm down and work out between yourselves what you did wrong and go back and do it right.² One of the Abigails said in her professional voice. ³That is how these things work. The instability is already stabilizing into a new time-stream. This branch wasnıt so much created by your mistake, but found by your mistake. You pushed one time-stream to join another similar one. The main problem is you. As long as you are here well let us just say things wonıt completely stabilize properly. If you do exactly what you planned to do, but avoid any destabilizing actions, the path of least resistance for the time-stream is to take you back to the events that would have happened if you never made any error in the first place. Youıll be back where you belong and both branches of the time-stream will stabilize.²
It took both Alystares some time to absorb all this. But it all fit with what they (he) had learned at the University.
³So sweetems. Which ever one of you has information for the other one, just spill it.² One of the Abigails said to break the silence.
So the later Alystare told the earlier one in brief the details of his pervious trip. He didnıt mention every problem, but he mentioned the fish oil lady and the boy who stomped on the merchantıs foot.
³Got it.² Said the earlier Alystare. ³So I avoid those little problems and I can go on with my life. I better be off then.²
³What do you mean you?² Said the later Alystare. ³We know from experience that you are about to mess things up. Iım the one who did this before, Iım the best suited to do it again and get it right. I just told you all that so you would know what to expect.²
³On the contrary,² said the earlier Alystare. ³You are the one who just messed it up once. Iım fresher and I never destabilized a time-stream just crossing a dance floor. You are here to give me information. But this is my job to do.²
³If I can make a suggestion sweetems.² Said one of the Abigails ³It really doesnıt matter which of you does it, because if you havenıt noticed, both of you are you.²
³But itıs real clear that half your problems were due to your size.² Said the other Abigail. ³If you donıt know how to shapeshift, I can shrink you two hunks down to a smaller size. It looks like it would help a lot and it would only be temporary.²
Both of the Alystares looked at the Abigails in anger. They both politely shook their heads no, but inside they were battling to stay calm. No way were they going back to being an ugly dwarf.
The later Alystare thought about what they said. He was emotionally drained from all this, and so it was easier for him to calm down and think rationally. ³If it doesnıt mater which one of us goes, then you can go if you want. But let me slow down time and retell you everything in detail so youıll be prepared.²
³Not necessary.² Said the earlier Alystare angrily ³You made it through, so Iım sure I can just as easily. I just have to avoid scaring that young boy, and weıre both back together and back to our life.²
The later Alystare wanted to argue this point, but the earlier Alystare and the two Abigails both were pulling their coats tight against the drizzle and moving out of the long house.
___________________________________________________
{13} Time Mages are quite use to talking to themselves. They are in fact old friends. Usually, every Sunday night a Time Mage will visit themselves from the previous Sunday, and tell themselves how their week went. {14} The youngest version of themselves has pizza delivered. If the two decide to change any of their plans for the week, then usually a third version of themselves shows up to tell them how those changes went. In some cases, it gets to be a very big pizza party.
{14} If no-one shows up to a Time Mageıs Sunday night Pizza party, they leave a message for a Time Mage friend to investigate, and then rush to the beginning of time to hide till itıs safe. This happens so often, that one paranoid Time Mage has set up a very nice ³Beginning of Time Inn² and does good business.
* * *
Chapter 8.
{This is very similar to chapter 6. So if you are starting to get bored you can skip it}
Alystare (the earlier one), walked into the feasting hall just as the music started. He thought of entering before the music started, just to get a head start on getting across the room, but decided against it. His long cloak was wet from the drizzle, and he would look strange just standing bundled in a wet cloak for too long.
He was angry. He came here to do this simple test. A test he was very well prepared for. And this self-important fool of a future self showed up telling him he was going to fail. He didnıt fail at things. Never.
He started crossing the room. He took it slow, and watched everything around him as if his life depended on it (which it did). He dodged whirling dancers like every few seconds, and he shifted back in time and redid every step that didnıt seem perfect.
He saw the fat lady as she crossed the room towards him. And he kept one eye on her so he could move out into the dance floor and escape her at just the right time.
³You sing as you row, you drink as you sing,
And the ale you drink is a horrible thing
More horrible yet is the stench youıll note
In the crewıs hold of a sea raiderıs boat.
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs what I want to be²
This was a lot more difficult than he thought. But he was doing it without a single misstep. What was that fool of a future-self talking about? He must have barreled through here without watching and then made it seem hard to justify his blunder.
Then Alystare saw the two beautiful giants whirling towards him. It looked like all three of them would collide. But his future self never mentioned Valkyrie running into him. His old self must have pushed by them without any trouble. ³If he could do it, so can I² he thought. So he headed straight between them to get past before colliding.
Of course, he didnıt make it. Just as he thought he was past, both women whirled together, just missing each other by a hair, but one of them tripped on Alystareıs feet and fell directly into the other one. She became unbalanced, but instead of falling, she whirled around the room like a childıs top out of control. She spread out her arms to catch herself and keep her balance, and collided with a dozen dancers who were flung across the room.
Alystare was off balance dizzily trying to stay upright. He tried re-stabilizing himself so he could reverse time and correct this blunder. Then he heard the scream. He saw the dwarfish boy step very hard on the foot of the same rich merchant. The boy was also crossing the room, and all the dancers bumbling into each other had bumped him and flung him at the merchant.
Alystare quickly tried to reverse time to stop it, but it was too late. The wave of instability hit him and almost knocked him on the floor. A loud thunderclap sounded as the rain picked up.
About a dozen dancers were moving off the floor even though the dance wasnıt over, victims of the whirling Valkyries. So he tagged along behind two of them and made it to the door without incident.
The other Alystare didnıt say a word as they both looked for the two Abigails. The night had gotten darker all of a sudden, and the rain was coming down hard now. They found Abigail where she was before, just to the side hidden in her cloak. ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started.² She said and disappeared into the night. It was dark enough that they could travel back in time and not be noticed.
{This is very similar to chapter 6. So if you are starting to get bored you can skip it}
Alystare (the earlier one), walked into the feasting hall just as the music started. He thought of entering before the music started, just to get a head start on getting across the room, but decided against it. His long cloak was wet from the drizzle, and he would look strange just standing bundled in a wet cloak for too long.
He was angry. He came here to do this simple test. A test he was very well prepared for. And this self-important fool of a future self showed up telling him he was going to fail. He didnıt fail at things. Never.
He started crossing the room. He took it slow, and watched everything around him as if his life depended on it (which it did). He dodged whirling dancers like every few seconds, and he shifted back in time and redid every step that didnıt seem perfect.
He saw the fat lady as she crossed the room towards him. And he kept one eye on her so he could move out into the dance floor and escape her at just the right time.
³You sing as you row, you drink as you sing,
And the ale you drink is a horrible thing
More horrible yet is the stench youıll note
In the crewıs hold of a sea raiderıs boat.
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs what I want to be²
This was a lot more difficult than he thought. But he was doing it without a single misstep. What was that fool of a future-self talking about? He must have barreled through here without watching and then made it seem hard to justify his blunder.
Then Alystare saw the two beautiful giants whirling towards him. It looked like all three of them would collide. But his future self never mentioned Valkyrie running into him. His old self must have pushed by them without any trouble. ³If he could do it, so can I² he thought. So he headed straight between them to get past before colliding.
Of course, he didnıt make it. Just as he thought he was past, both women whirled together, just missing each other by a hair, but one of them tripped on Alystareıs feet and fell directly into the other one. She became unbalanced, but instead of falling, she whirled around the room like a childıs top out of control. She spread out her arms to catch herself and keep her balance, and collided with a dozen dancers who were flung across the room.
Alystare was off balance dizzily trying to stay upright. He tried re-stabilizing himself so he could reverse time and correct this blunder. Then he heard the scream. He saw the dwarfish boy step very hard on the foot of the same rich merchant. The boy was also crossing the room, and all the dancers bumbling into each other had bumped him and flung him at the merchant.
Alystare quickly tried to reverse time to stop it, but it was too late. The wave of instability hit him and almost knocked him on the floor. A loud thunderclap sounded as the rain picked up.
About a dozen dancers were moving off the floor even though the dance wasnıt over, victims of the whirling Valkyries. So he tagged along behind two of them and made it to the door without incident.
The other Alystare didnıt say a word as they both looked for the two Abigails. The night had gotten darker all of a sudden, and the rain was coming down hard now. They found Abigail where she was before, just to the side hidden in her cloak. ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started.² She said and disappeared into the night. It was dark enough that they could travel back in time and not be noticed.
* * *
Chapter 9
{Similar to chapter 7, but with some added humor and head hurting}
When both Alystares returned to the longhouse they were soaked from the rain, and there were now 4 Abigails greeting each other like old friends and making small talk.
He became visible just as three more Alystares became visible also, and each used magic to dry their cloths without even thinking. ³Why 4 Alystares² the later two Alystareıs thought. ³Why not three?² Then they were distracted by one of the Alystare, the one wearing the rich tailored outfit, asking who the hell they all were.
Another Alystares tried to explain, with a pointed plea ³Please donıt reverse time and change outfits, it just confuses things, and everyone knows you did it anyway.²
The ³oldest² Alystare then gave a summary of the events to that point so everyone was on the same page to start.
³Whatıs the big deal?² Said the earliest Alystare, who had quietly changed to the cloak like the rest of them. ³You tell me what went wrong, in detail this time, and Iıll breeze through this test.²
³Not you!² Said the other 3 Alystares in unison. ³We tried that twice already. One of us who knows what to expect will do it next time² said one of them and the other two nodded.
³What I donıt understand, is why that same boy stepped on the foot of that same merchant.² Said an Alystare. ³Isnıt that an awfully big coincidence?²
³Not at all, honey bunny,² said one of the Abigails with the other three behind her. ³Thatıs how it works.²
³In this time-stream, that boy does stomp on the foot of that merchant. The time-stream, seeking a point of equilibrium, will move him in that direction given half a chance,² said another.
³The first time through, honey bunny,² said a third ³You had the time-stream working with you, it was resisting any change that would de-stabilize it. But this last time, and forward, it will work against you, trying to make things happen that you donıt want in order to stabilize this new path.²
³Great. Why didnıt you tell me that!² one of the Alystares said in frustration.
³Because putting more pressure on those big hunky shoulders wouldnıt have helped anything, honey bunny,² said one of the Abigails ³We want you to stay focused and not let little mistakes panic you.²
³OK. So the only way to make this thing work to keep the merchant and the boy apart completely.² Said an Alystare. ³That shouldnıt be that hard.²
³And avoid anything else that might destabilize things even more or set the time-stream in a new direction,² said an Abigail.
³Listen to that storm,² said another. ³The time-stream is very destabilized now. So even simple time magic will add to the problem.²
³In this destabilized state, it will be very easy for almost anything to set the time line spinning in a new direction or open up a vortex to oblivion,² Said a third.
³Look honey bunny,² said the last one in her professional voice. ³I know you have this thing that you have to do this as a blond giant. And you are cute. But you are going to have to let me shrink or shift you.²
All four Alystares said ³No² in unison. They were scared and reacted to fear with cold defiance.
³These four are awful hunky,² said one Abigails to the others. ³But just cotton between the ears it seems²
The Alystares were red in the face at this insult, but with great effort kept control ³Now Abigail.² Said one Alystare ³You are just teasing me. You know Iım the first student in history to have mastered the difficult Time Stop spell.²
³Oh, and you must be so proud!² said one Abigail without a hint of sarcasm.
³And your mother must be so proud, {15}² said another ³My friend Gladysı grandson Herbert was the first student ever in the history of his preschool to learn the alphabet.²
³I know. Wasnıt that just wonderful.² Said another getting into the conversation. ³He was even on the evening news reciting the alphabet backwards.²
³That is wonderful Abigail. Iım very happy for your friend. But that hardly compares!² Said an Alystare.
³Of course not, honey bunny,² said two Abigails in unison.
³But donıt let that discourage you,² said a third. ³We canıt all be geniuses like Herbert {16}. But Iım sure your mother is very proud of you for your time stop thingy anyway.²
All three Alystares were preparing a retort, when the four Abigails said, ³By Rainere!² in unison and disappeared.
³Where did they go? And why?² Said an Alystare to the other two. Then it hit all three of them. One of them had gone missing, and had been missing through the end part of that argument.
All three had a head full of questions, but all three decided in unison to forget about questions and slide back in time first and catch him before he disappeared.
As all three of them started the process of playing time in reverse, a wave of instability hit them in the gut. No time reverse now.
³Did we do that?² Said one of the three Alystares. ³It couldnıt be our missing self; the dance wonıt start for 20 minutes yet?²
³Not necessarily.² Said another. ³If that was me, which it is, I wouldnıt give the rest of us time to discover I was gone and stop me. Iıd speed up time within the longhouse as I left so we wouldnıt even know I was gone till it was all over.²
³But why!² Said the first.
³Because it was clearly the youngest one of us thatıs gone!² Said the third Alystare. ³We made it clear he had no chance of doing this test himself, and I have never allowed someone else to tell me what I can and canıt do².
³What do you think he did wrong?² Said another one.
³We might as well get to the feasting hall and ask him.² Said another.
They all three left together. But the gale force winds and blinding rain made walking even the short block impossible. So they teleported to the door of the feasting hall.
The very angry, guilty-looking Alystare walked out of the feasting hall as the dance music stopped. They couldnıt talk here; they could barely stand against the gale. So they looked around and there in the same place as always was a single Abigail, just to the side hidden in her cloak. ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started,² she said and disappeared into the night. They disappeared also.
___________________________________________________
{15} His mother was proud, but never told him so. It is sad.
{16} Herbert grew up and had a C+ average in High School. He became the janitor at a chain tattoo parlor. But on weekends, he was the leader of the third largest motorcycle gang in Mana. His best friend in pre-school was named Rhodes Palmerston, and he had trouble at that point counting past 10. Rhodes had an A average in High School and went into politics when he grew up.
{Similar to chapter 7, but with some added humor and head hurting}
When both Alystares returned to the longhouse they were soaked from the rain, and there were now 4 Abigails greeting each other like old friends and making small talk.
He became visible just as three more Alystares became visible also, and each used magic to dry their cloths without even thinking. ³Why 4 Alystares² the later two Alystareıs thought. ³Why not three?² Then they were distracted by one of the Alystare, the one wearing the rich tailored outfit, asking who the hell they all were.
Another Alystares tried to explain, with a pointed plea ³Please donıt reverse time and change outfits, it just confuses things, and everyone knows you did it anyway.²
The ³oldest² Alystare then gave a summary of the events to that point so everyone was on the same page to start.
³Whatıs the big deal?² Said the earliest Alystare, who had quietly changed to the cloak like the rest of them. ³You tell me what went wrong, in detail this time, and Iıll breeze through this test.²
³Not you!² Said the other 3 Alystares in unison. ³We tried that twice already. One of us who knows what to expect will do it next time² said one of them and the other two nodded.
³What I donıt understand, is why that same boy stepped on the foot of that same merchant.² Said an Alystare. ³Isnıt that an awfully big coincidence?²
³Not at all, honey bunny,² said one of the Abigails with the other three behind her. ³Thatıs how it works.²
³In this time-stream, that boy does stomp on the foot of that merchant. The time-stream, seeking a point of equilibrium, will move him in that direction given half a chance,² said another.
³The first time through, honey bunny,² said a third ³You had the time-stream working with you, it was resisting any change that would de-stabilize it. But this last time, and forward, it will work against you, trying to make things happen that you donıt want in order to stabilize this new path.²
³Great. Why didnıt you tell me that!² one of the Alystares said in frustration.
³Because putting more pressure on those big hunky shoulders wouldnıt have helped anything, honey bunny,² said one of the Abigails ³We want you to stay focused and not let little mistakes panic you.²
³OK. So the only way to make this thing work to keep the merchant and the boy apart completely.² Said an Alystare. ³That shouldnıt be that hard.²
³And avoid anything else that might destabilize things even more or set the time-stream in a new direction,² said an Abigail.
³Listen to that storm,² said another. ³The time-stream is very destabilized now. So even simple time magic will add to the problem.²
³In this destabilized state, it will be very easy for almost anything to set the time line spinning in a new direction or open up a vortex to oblivion,² Said a third.
³Look honey bunny,² said the last one in her professional voice. ³I know you have this thing that you have to do this as a blond giant. And you are cute. But you are going to have to let me shrink or shift you.²
All four Alystares said ³No² in unison. They were scared and reacted to fear with cold defiance.
³These four are awful hunky,² said one Abigails to the others. ³But just cotton between the ears it seems²
The Alystares were red in the face at this insult, but with great effort kept control ³Now Abigail.² Said one Alystare ³You are just teasing me. You know Iım the first student in history to have mastered the difficult Time Stop spell.²
³Oh, and you must be so proud!² said one Abigail without a hint of sarcasm.
³And your mother must be so proud, {15}² said another ³My friend Gladysı grandson Herbert was the first student ever in the history of his preschool to learn the alphabet.²
³I know. Wasnıt that just wonderful.² Said another getting into the conversation. ³He was even on the evening news reciting the alphabet backwards.²
³That is wonderful Abigail. Iım very happy for your friend. But that hardly compares!² Said an Alystare.
³Of course not, honey bunny,² said two Abigails in unison.
³But donıt let that discourage you,² said a third. ³We canıt all be geniuses like Herbert {16}. But Iım sure your mother is very proud of you for your time stop thingy anyway.²
All three Alystares were preparing a retort, when the four Abigails said, ³By Rainere!² in unison and disappeared.
³Where did they go? And why?² Said an Alystare to the other two. Then it hit all three of them. One of them had gone missing, and had been missing through the end part of that argument.
All three had a head full of questions, but all three decided in unison to forget about questions and slide back in time first and catch him before he disappeared.
As all three of them started the process of playing time in reverse, a wave of instability hit them in the gut. No time reverse now.
³Did we do that?² Said one of the three Alystares. ³It couldnıt be our missing self; the dance wonıt start for 20 minutes yet?²
³Not necessarily.² Said another. ³If that was me, which it is, I wouldnıt give the rest of us time to discover I was gone and stop me. Iıd speed up time within the longhouse as I left so we wouldnıt even know I was gone till it was all over.²
³But why!² Said the first.
³Because it was clearly the youngest one of us thatıs gone!² Said the third Alystare. ³We made it clear he had no chance of doing this test himself, and I have never allowed someone else to tell me what I can and canıt do².
³What do you think he did wrong?² Said another one.
³We might as well get to the feasting hall and ask him.² Said another.
They all three left together. But the gale force winds and blinding rain made walking even the short block impossible. So they teleported to the door of the feasting hall.
The very angry, guilty-looking Alystare walked out of the feasting hall as the dance music stopped. They couldnıt talk here; they could barely stand against the gale. So they looked around and there in the same place as always was a single Abigail, just to the side hidden in her cloak. ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started,² she said and disappeared into the night. They disappeared also.
___________________________________________________
{15} His mother was proud, but never told him so. It is sad.
{16} Herbert grew up and had a C+ average in High School. He became the janitor at a chain tattoo parlor. But on weekends, he was the leader of the third largest motorcycle gang in Mana. His best friend in pre-school was named Rhodes Palmerston, and he had trouble at that point counting past 10. Rhodes had an A average in High School and went into politics when he grew up.
* * *
Chapter 10
{This chapterıs similar to chapter 9, but itıs short. Might as well read it - you be the judge}
The eight of them all arrived at the longhouse very wet and battered from the gale. The eight Abigails were already there, as before. But this time they each had a chair and were sitting in a circle working on a quilt.
As the eight Alystares became visible simultaneously, an Abigail called over her shoulder, ³You sweet boys have an awful lot to talk about. So we slowed time down to a snails pace in here. You have a good many hours to plan how you are going to do what you came here to do.²
³Donıt mind us.² Said another Abigail ³Itıs so rare we have this many of us together. This is a wedding quilt for my great-great-granddaughter. Sheıs only 10 in my current time, so she wonıt be married for another 15 years. But I plan to go to the wedding just as soon as this quilt is done {17}. Iım not getting any younger you know.²
³Or saner.² All eight Alystares thought in unison.
The room looked ugly. A few of the Alystares looked like they planned to beat a specific Alystare up to a pulp, if they could figure out which one it was. And the ³youngest² Alystare looked like he would kill when a later Alystare told him he looked ridiculous in the tailored rich outfit.
The oldest Alystare, however, was more than a little scared by the warnings the Abigails gave the last time, and clearly in-fighting was suicidal in this case. So he called everyoneıs attention, and without preamble started to tell the story of his first trip across the room.
He provided every little detail he could recall. He even included, word for word, every conversation with the Abigails. He invited questions, and minor corrections. When he finished with his description, he turned it over to the next oldest Alystare to continue the debrief.
Two hours later they had all three trips described in detail, and had debated every point in detail. The Abigails never added anything to the discussion of recent events, but did add scholarly information when appropriate. ³She seems to have short term memory problems,² the eldest Alystare thought.
After that, they started to argue how theyıd make the trip across the room again. There were two points of contention. First, the earliest Alystare insisted that he had to be the one to make the trip. But after a lot of arguing, he agreed to drawing straws. The second was the Abigails, who insisted (between their quilting and gossiping about friends) that Alystare had to shrink size before they allowed him to make the attempt. Eventually the Alystares won that argument, pointing out they had a large amount of experience crossing the room in their current form. They knew nothing about the dangers of crossing the room as a child.
Four hours after they started (only 30 minutes in real time), they were ready to teleport to the feasting hall (in this gale, no one would notice an army teleporting around outside). All eight determined to cross that room safely or die trying.
___________________________________________________
{17} The wedding was quite an affair, since her family had a tradition of being Time Mages. Not only did 5 of her dead ancestors show up, but so did her 3 children and 27 descendents who had not been born yet.
{This chapterıs similar to chapter 9, but itıs short. Might as well read it - you be the judge}
The eight of them all arrived at the longhouse very wet and battered from the gale. The eight Abigails were already there, as before. But this time they each had a chair and were sitting in a circle working on a quilt.
As the eight Alystares became visible simultaneously, an Abigail called over her shoulder, ³You sweet boys have an awful lot to talk about. So we slowed time down to a snails pace in here. You have a good many hours to plan how you are going to do what you came here to do.²
³Donıt mind us.² Said another Abigail ³Itıs so rare we have this many of us together. This is a wedding quilt for my great-great-granddaughter. Sheıs only 10 in my current time, so she wonıt be married for another 15 years. But I plan to go to the wedding just as soon as this quilt is done {17}. Iım not getting any younger you know.²
³Or saner.² All eight Alystares thought in unison.
The room looked ugly. A few of the Alystares looked like they planned to beat a specific Alystare up to a pulp, if they could figure out which one it was. And the ³youngest² Alystare looked like he would kill when a later Alystare told him he looked ridiculous in the tailored rich outfit.
The oldest Alystare, however, was more than a little scared by the warnings the Abigails gave the last time, and clearly in-fighting was suicidal in this case. So he called everyoneıs attention, and without preamble started to tell the story of his first trip across the room.
He provided every little detail he could recall. He even included, word for word, every conversation with the Abigails. He invited questions, and minor corrections. When he finished with his description, he turned it over to the next oldest Alystare to continue the debrief.
Two hours later they had all three trips described in detail, and had debated every point in detail. The Abigails never added anything to the discussion of recent events, but did add scholarly information when appropriate. ³She seems to have short term memory problems,² the eldest Alystare thought.
After that, they started to argue how theyıd make the trip across the room again. There were two points of contention. First, the earliest Alystare insisted that he had to be the one to make the trip. But after a lot of arguing, he agreed to drawing straws. The second was the Abigails, who insisted (between their quilting and gossiping about friends) that Alystare had to shrink size before they allowed him to make the attempt. Eventually the Alystares won that argument, pointing out they had a large amount of experience crossing the room in their current form. They knew nothing about the dangers of crossing the room as a child.
Four hours after they started (only 30 minutes in real time), they were ready to teleport to the feasting hall (in this gale, no one would notice an army teleporting around outside). All eight determined to cross that room safely or die trying.
___________________________________________________
{17} The wedding was quite an affair, since her family had a tradition of being Time Mages. Not only did 5 of her dead ancestors show up, but so did her 3 children and 27 descendents who had not been born yet.
* * *
Chapter 11
{This is similar to chapters 6 and 8, so if you are getting bored, you can skip it}
One of the ³middle² Alystares (not the youngest or oldest) won the draw, so he entered the feasting hall just as the music started and moved across the room as they had 3 times before.
With the thunder cracks a constant reminder, he remembered everything they discussed and made it past every obstacle without incident. The fish oil lady and the two whirling Valkryies presented no trouble.
³Most raiders have less brains than half-wit mules
So they only have to learn these seven rules
Women-rape, solders-bash, food-eat, ale-drink,
Belongings-steal, buildings-burn, and ships-sink.
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs life is for me²
The young boy wasnıt going to be so easy, however. Alystare and the boy both rushed to secure the same spot behind Belgememnon. But this time Alystare just sped up and got there right before the boy. Then he squeezed in a little and used his hand to invite the boy to join him. He didnıt want that boy anywhere near the merchantıs feet, and keeping the boy next to him was the best way, to be sure.
So he waited there, confident that he had gotten it all right. Finally, all this insanity was over and he could put it behind him. The music was just ending. He almost didnıt breathe in anticipation.
Then he noticed the boy was moving. There wasnıt much room, with both of them squeezed together, and the boy clearly decided to move to another spot. But that meant he was moving directly towards the rich merchant who just started walking towards them. There was no reason the boy should step on the merchantıs foot. However, Alystare remembered what Abigail said; that the time-stream would try to stabilize by pushing the boy to step on the merchantıs foot.
What to do? Any action that might help might make things worse. He decided to wait and try to do the minimum to avoid problems just before they occurred.
He was focused on the boy, ready to reverse time the instant the boyıs foot got near the merchant. He forgot about the rest of the room. Then someone jostled him from the left. It was probably nothing, but he wouldnıt spare a moment of concentration in case the boy tripped. So he moved gently to his right, just a step.
But as he stepped, he felt something beneath his foot. As he suddenly realized what was happening, a lightning bolt nearly hit the feasting hall. His gut felt like it would explode with the force of the wave of instability. He could only look up briefly to see what had happened.
He had stepped on Belgememnonıs toe!
{This is similar to chapters 6 and 8, so if you are getting bored, you can skip it}
One of the ³middle² Alystares (not the youngest or oldest) won the draw, so he entered the feasting hall just as the music started and moved across the room as they had 3 times before.
With the thunder cracks a constant reminder, he remembered everything they discussed and made it past every obstacle without incident. The fish oil lady and the two whirling Valkryies presented no trouble.
³Most raiders have less brains than half-wit mules
So they only have to learn these seven rules
Women-rape, solders-bash, food-eat, ale-drink,
Belongings-steal, buildings-burn, and ships-sink.
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs life is for me²
The young boy wasnıt going to be so easy, however. Alystare and the boy both rushed to secure the same spot behind Belgememnon. But this time Alystare just sped up and got there right before the boy. Then he squeezed in a little and used his hand to invite the boy to join him. He didnıt want that boy anywhere near the merchantıs feet, and keeping the boy next to him was the best way, to be sure.
So he waited there, confident that he had gotten it all right. Finally, all this insanity was over and he could put it behind him. The music was just ending. He almost didnıt breathe in anticipation.
Then he noticed the boy was moving. There wasnıt much room, with both of them squeezed together, and the boy clearly decided to move to another spot. But that meant he was moving directly towards the rich merchant who just started walking towards them. There was no reason the boy should step on the merchantıs foot. However, Alystare remembered what Abigail said; that the time-stream would try to stabilize by pushing the boy to step on the merchantıs foot.
What to do? Any action that might help might make things worse. He decided to wait and try to do the minimum to avoid problems just before they occurred.
He was focused on the boy, ready to reverse time the instant the boyıs foot got near the merchant. He forgot about the rest of the room. Then someone jostled him from the left. It was probably nothing, but he wouldnıt spare a moment of concentration in case the boy tripped. So he moved gently to his right, just a step.
But as he stepped, he felt something beneath his foot. As he suddenly realized what was happening, a lightning bolt nearly hit the feasting hall. His gut felt like it would explode with the force of the wave of instability. He could only look up briefly to see what had happened.
He had stepped on Belgememnonıs toe!
* * *
Chapter 12
Belgememnon was looking none too pleased, but he mouthed a polite ³Iım OK² as Alystare acted concerned. The gale had turned into a full hurricane outside and Alystare knew he was in very bad trouble.
He rushed to the door. The other seven Alystares were there waiting barely able to stand against the wind and rain. They all time-traveled back the instant the Alystare who stepped on Belgememnonıs toe returned. They didnıt even bother to look for the Abigails in this storm.
All but one. The oldest Alystare, the one who had been here in the past the longest was starting to suspect something. He stayed in the street looking around. Sure enough, almost blown over by the wind and hanging on for dear life was someone in Abigailıs robe near to where she had stood all the other times.
She could barely talk because of the wind, but when Alystare approached, he heard her try to shout ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started.² This sentence was in Common, as it had been all the other times. He paid no attention, he grabbed the women, pulled her into a doorway that offered some little protection from the violent storm, and pulled back the hood.
It wasnıt Abigail. It looked to be some local peasant. He gave her the same stare that so scared the boy. She burst into tears.
³Please donıt hurt me!² she said in ancient Tasnikanzees, ³The lady gave me the cloak and paid me to give you the message. I donıt know what I said. I just repeated exactly what she told me. If it offended you, I didnıt do it. I donıt know what I said!² The woman was hysterical.
Alystare wordlessly passed her some coins. Then he was gone. The hurricane looked like it might destroy the whole village, but the partiers seemed unconcerned.
The oldest Alystare time-traveled back to the longhouse, but he purposely got there 2 minutes later than everyone else. He walked in. There were 15 Alystares all arguing loudly in small groups.
His worst fear was realized. Without a word, he time-traveled into the future. As he left, another lightning bolt hit the street outside.
Belgememnon was looking none too pleased, but he mouthed a polite ³Iım OK² as Alystare acted concerned. The gale had turned into a full hurricane outside and Alystare knew he was in very bad trouble.
He rushed to the door. The other seven Alystares were there waiting barely able to stand against the wind and rain. They all time-traveled back the instant the Alystare who stepped on Belgememnonıs toe returned. They didnıt even bother to look for the Abigails in this storm.
All but one. The oldest Alystare, the one who had been here in the past the longest was starting to suspect something. He stayed in the street looking around. Sure enough, almost blown over by the wind and hanging on for dear life was someone in Abigailıs robe near to where she had stood all the other times.
She could barely talk because of the wind, but when Alystare approached, he heard her try to shout ³Meet me back at the house at the point in time where we started.² This sentence was in Common, as it had been all the other times. He paid no attention, he grabbed the women, pulled her into a doorway that offered some little protection from the violent storm, and pulled back the hood.
It wasnıt Abigail. It looked to be some local peasant. He gave her the same stare that so scared the boy. She burst into tears.
³Please donıt hurt me!² she said in ancient Tasnikanzees, ³The lady gave me the cloak and paid me to give you the message. I donıt know what I said. I just repeated exactly what she told me. If it offended you, I didnıt do it. I donıt know what I said!² The woman was hysterical.
Alystare wordlessly passed her some coins. Then he was gone. The hurricane looked like it might destroy the whole village, but the partiers seemed unconcerned.
The oldest Alystare time-traveled back to the longhouse, but he purposely got there 2 minutes later than everyone else. He walked in. There were 15 Alystares all arguing loudly in small groups.
His worst fear was realized. Without a word, he time-traveled into the future. As he left, another lightning bolt hit the street outside.
* * *
Chapter 13
A minute later, the 15 Alystares in the longhouse were again joined by the 16th. Not that any of them noticed. None had counted their numbers or knew that one was missing.
³OK. Letıs stop arguing,² the oldest Alystare commanded the group ³It wonıt make any difference anyway. You might not have noticed yet. But weıre in real bad trouble.²
The 15 Alystares looked around the room confused.
³The Abigails! There are no Abigails here. And thatıs because weıre in a time-stream where no Abigails exist,² the oldest Alystare said impatiently
One of the Alystare started to catch on. ³They followed us every other time. If they arenıt here, that must mean they have already given up on us. They are sure weıre going to the void.²
³That is true. We probably are going to the void. But itıs worse than that.² Said the oldest Alystare ³They never followed us any of the other times either.²
³Think about it. Did any of you remember seeing any of the Abigails when one of us was crossing the dance floor? All of us were watching from the doorway, but was she ever watching at the doorway with us?² He looked around the room as everyone shook their head "no". ³When it was all over, we saw one in the street, but that was some local she paid to impersonate her so we would think she had been there with us.²
³But that makes sense.² Said one of the Alystares catching on. ³They are always saying how dangerous time-travel is and how many students donıt make it. If they lost as many monitors as students, theyıd have a hard time getting anyone to take the monitorıs job. Therefore, the Abigails disappear when things are dangerous, and only rejoined us when itıs safe to do so. That is a surprise, but why is that serious? And why isnıt she here now?²
³Because not only did the Abigails run back to a safe time period whenever we were on the dance floor, they never followed us anywhere even when it was safe.² The oldest Alystare tried to explain, ³After our first attempt, we were lost in an alternate time-stream branch. Abigail or whoever she was told us that. So how could the first Abigail have followed us there without being there during the split?²
³Think about it. Has Abigail ever called us by our real name? Has she ever referred to herself as Abigailı after our first meeting? After time destabilized, did she say anything that indicated she even knew what we were supposed to do for our test? The only thing she knew is we were a student. If a council monitor could tell the difference between a certified time mage and an uncertified one, then they probably have a way of telling if you are student. All her advice was generic; it would have worked for any student lost in the wrong time-stream. {18}²
³Look at it this way,² the oldest Alystare said. ³You know what the rules say. Any instability in the time-stream or any time-travel by an uncertified Time Mage, and the council sends a monitor to investigate. So suddenly we show up, a student, unescorted, someone who didnıt exist in this time-stream and is clearly not certified for time-travel. And suddenly thereıs time instability around a major historical figure. Of course they will send a monitor to take care of us/me.²
³And the person they sent tells us that the best way for the time-stream to stabilize, for both time-streams to stabilize, is if we pass our test and get back to our own time-stream. So she did everything she could to make sure that happened.² Alystare looked around to see if they were getting it.
³That makes sense.² Said one of the other Alystares ³But why did she look exactly like the same Abigail who was assigned as our monitor?²
³We never met the old Abigailı before we were alone in that classroom. We only have her word that she was an 85-year-old senile version of the Gail we knew. And we never saw the monitors they assigned to Lydia or Clem. Maybe all student monitors are senile old Abigails. It would be real easy to do with a shapeshift spell.²
³But why?² Several of the Alystares said in unison.
³Iım guessing, but I can think of two reasons,² the oldest Alystare said. ³First, she didnıt want to panic us. She said as much herself. She wanted us to focus on passing the test and stabilizing the time-stream. Maybe in the past, students have panicked when their official monitor disappeared and a total stranger shows up to take their place. And second, that old lady act is perfect for the deception. She never called us by name; she clearly forgot things she knew just an hour before. Did I get suspicious and think we were in a totally different reality talking to a stranger? No. I assumed she was just senile and a little batty.²
³OK.² ³Makes sense² ³That fits.² The Alystares said as they slowly thought it all out.
³But what happened to the Abigail I came with?² Said the youngest Alystare (still wearing his tailored clothing) ³And why am I here at all? I wasnıt here when the time-streams split. I just got here. What am I doing it this time-stream at all?²
³Since I never crossed that dance floor successfully, in the time-stream we came from, no student ever walked across the dance floor. Therefore, no student ever showed up at the longhouse. In this time-stream, itıs currently part of their history that Belgememnon had his foot stepped on by a fool of a time mage who was in the wrong time-stream. Which means that fool of a student time-traveled to the longhouse first. When you went back in time, you ended up here rather than in your own time-streamıs history,² said the oldest Alystare.
³The Abigails never traveled through time with us; they were always here waiting for us. So the one who was in the classroom with you before you came, is currently in longhouse in our original time-stream waiting for you. And if we donıt solve this, she will eventually go back and tell everyone we were lost forever in the time-stream.²
³But wait,² said one of the Alystares. ³Why isnıt some Abigail here now? Why havenıt they sent us a fake Abigail to help us this time?²
³That is what worried me when I saw the Abigails were gone.² Said the oldest Alystare ³So I time-traveled forward to 41WR to find out why.²
The oldest Alystare took a deep breath and continued, ³There are no Abigails in this time-stream. No time monitors at all. No sub-council of time mages to send one. In fact, no time mages at all. And thereıs also no council of wizards. This time-stream is a very scary place.²
³Iıve been gone for 3 weeks researching this new time-stream and trying to find ways out of this nightmare,² said the oldest Alystare. ³Some of the rules of Belgememnon are different in this time-stream than in ours. In our time-stream, there are a number of rules that emphasis the need for publicly funded schools and universities. In this time-stream, he mentions education, but not with the same emphasis.²
³All that from stepping on his foot?² one of the Alystares blurted out.
³Donıt ask me why. I canıt figure it either.² Said the oldest Alystare ³Maybe in our time-stream, after the Triumph he spent hours talking education with a very persuasive teacher, but in this time-stream he went straight home and soaked his foot. But the end result was huge. In this time-stream, the republic only has the fraction of funding for universities that it did in our time-stream. In this time-stream, most of the great wizards either never were born or were never given a scholarship to study magic. In this time-stream, there was no golden age of magic. No society of magical professionals that eventually became the High-Council of Wizards.²
³And the worst part, when the web gates were opened, there was no High-Council of wizards to make sure the different dimensions joined together peacefully. This time-stream has wars every few years, including a huge one they called the ³Great War² that nearly destroyed half the web. They have political corruption, some nasty villains running loose, and more problems than I can name. And you wouldnıt believe what happens to the republic in 142WR. Without the High-Council, this time-stream is very violent and evil, {19}² the oldest Alystare said in horror.
³So thatıs the problem; we (meaning me) are on our own in this strange and dangerous time-stream. If that hurricane is any indication, weıre very close to being swallowed by a vortex to the void as the time-stream tries to stabilize. And the worst thing is I am a total fools who canıt even walk across a room without stepping on someoneıs foot.²
³But this good news is, Iıve been researching this problem and I believe I have the solution.² The oldest Alystare said as he reached into his pocket.
___________________________________________________
{18} There is no footnote here: Iım just messing with your mind.
{19} Kupopolis regulars should catch on right-away, but for new-comers: he is describing the web as it is described in the primer. He is describing the Kupopolis weıre all writing in.
A minute later, the 15 Alystares in the longhouse were again joined by the 16th. Not that any of them noticed. None had counted their numbers or knew that one was missing.
³OK. Letıs stop arguing,² the oldest Alystare commanded the group ³It wonıt make any difference anyway. You might not have noticed yet. But weıre in real bad trouble.²
The 15 Alystares looked around the room confused.
³The Abigails! There are no Abigails here. And thatıs because weıre in a time-stream where no Abigails exist,² the oldest Alystare said impatiently
One of the Alystare started to catch on. ³They followed us every other time. If they arenıt here, that must mean they have already given up on us. They are sure weıre going to the void.²
³That is true. We probably are going to the void. But itıs worse than that.² Said the oldest Alystare ³They never followed us any of the other times either.²
³Think about it. Did any of you remember seeing any of the Abigails when one of us was crossing the dance floor? All of us were watching from the doorway, but was she ever watching at the doorway with us?² He looked around the room as everyone shook their head "no". ³When it was all over, we saw one in the street, but that was some local she paid to impersonate her so we would think she had been there with us.²
³But that makes sense.² Said one of the Alystares catching on. ³They are always saying how dangerous time-travel is and how many students donıt make it. If they lost as many monitors as students, theyıd have a hard time getting anyone to take the monitorıs job. Therefore, the Abigails disappear when things are dangerous, and only rejoined us when itıs safe to do so. That is a surprise, but why is that serious? And why isnıt she here now?²
³Because not only did the Abigails run back to a safe time period whenever we were on the dance floor, they never followed us anywhere even when it was safe.² The oldest Alystare tried to explain, ³After our first attempt, we were lost in an alternate time-stream branch. Abigail or whoever she was told us that. So how could the first Abigail have followed us there without being there during the split?²
³Think about it. Has Abigail ever called us by our real name? Has she ever referred to herself as Abigailı after our first meeting? After time destabilized, did she say anything that indicated she even knew what we were supposed to do for our test? The only thing she knew is we were a student. If a council monitor could tell the difference between a certified time mage and an uncertified one, then they probably have a way of telling if you are student. All her advice was generic; it would have worked for any student lost in the wrong time-stream. {18}²
³Look at it this way,² the oldest Alystare said. ³You know what the rules say. Any instability in the time-stream or any time-travel by an uncertified Time Mage, and the council sends a monitor to investigate. So suddenly we show up, a student, unescorted, someone who didnıt exist in this time-stream and is clearly not certified for time-travel. And suddenly thereıs time instability around a major historical figure. Of course they will send a monitor to take care of us/me.²
³And the person they sent tells us that the best way for the time-stream to stabilize, for both time-streams to stabilize, is if we pass our test and get back to our own time-stream. So she did everything she could to make sure that happened.² Alystare looked around to see if they were getting it.
³That makes sense.² Said one of the other Alystares ³But why did she look exactly like the same Abigail who was assigned as our monitor?²
³We never met the old Abigailı before we were alone in that classroom. We only have her word that she was an 85-year-old senile version of the Gail we knew. And we never saw the monitors they assigned to Lydia or Clem. Maybe all student monitors are senile old Abigails. It would be real easy to do with a shapeshift spell.²
³But why?² Several of the Alystares said in unison.
³Iım guessing, but I can think of two reasons,² the oldest Alystare said. ³First, she didnıt want to panic us. She said as much herself. She wanted us to focus on passing the test and stabilizing the time-stream. Maybe in the past, students have panicked when their official monitor disappeared and a total stranger shows up to take their place. And second, that old lady act is perfect for the deception. She never called us by name; she clearly forgot things she knew just an hour before. Did I get suspicious and think we were in a totally different reality talking to a stranger? No. I assumed she was just senile and a little batty.²
³OK.² ³Makes sense² ³That fits.² The Alystares said as they slowly thought it all out.
³But what happened to the Abigail I came with?² Said the youngest Alystare (still wearing his tailored clothing) ³And why am I here at all? I wasnıt here when the time-streams split. I just got here. What am I doing it this time-stream at all?²
³Since I never crossed that dance floor successfully, in the time-stream we came from, no student ever walked across the dance floor. Therefore, no student ever showed up at the longhouse. In this time-stream, itıs currently part of their history that Belgememnon had his foot stepped on by a fool of a time mage who was in the wrong time-stream. Which means that fool of a student time-traveled to the longhouse first. When you went back in time, you ended up here rather than in your own time-streamıs history,² said the oldest Alystare.
³The Abigails never traveled through time with us; they were always here waiting for us. So the one who was in the classroom with you before you came, is currently in longhouse in our original time-stream waiting for you. And if we donıt solve this, she will eventually go back and tell everyone we were lost forever in the time-stream.²
³But wait,² said one of the Alystares. ³Why isnıt some Abigail here now? Why havenıt they sent us a fake Abigail to help us this time?²
³That is what worried me when I saw the Abigails were gone.² Said the oldest Alystare ³So I time-traveled forward to 41WR to find out why.²
The oldest Alystare took a deep breath and continued, ³There are no Abigails in this time-stream. No time monitors at all. No sub-council of time mages to send one. In fact, no time mages at all. And thereıs also no council of wizards. This time-stream is a very scary place.²
³Iıve been gone for 3 weeks researching this new time-stream and trying to find ways out of this nightmare,² said the oldest Alystare. ³Some of the rules of Belgememnon are different in this time-stream than in ours. In our time-stream, there are a number of rules that emphasis the need for publicly funded schools and universities. In this time-stream, he mentions education, but not with the same emphasis.²
³All that from stepping on his foot?² one of the Alystares blurted out.
³Donıt ask me why. I canıt figure it either.² Said the oldest Alystare ³Maybe in our time-stream, after the Triumph he spent hours talking education with a very persuasive teacher, but in this time-stream he went straight home and soaked his foot. But the end result was huge. In this time-stream, the republic only has the fraction of funding for universities that it did in our time-stream. In this time-stream, most of the great wizards either never were born or were never given a scholarship to study magic. In this time-stream, there was no golden age of magic. No society of magical professionals that eventually became the High-Council of Wizards.²
³And the worst part, when the web gates were opened, there was no High-Council of wizards to make sure the different dimensions joined together peacefully. This time-stream has wars every few years, including a huge one they called the ³Great War² that nearly destroyed half the web. They have political corruption, some nasty villains running loose, and more problems than I can name. And you wouldnıt believe what happens to the republic in 142WR. Without the High-Council, this time-stream is very violent and evil, {19}² the oldest Alystare said in horror.
³So thatıs the problem; we (meaning me) are on our own in this strange and dangerous time-stream. If that hurricane is any indication, weıre very close to being swallowed by a vortex to the void as the time-stream tries to stabilize. And the worst thing is I am a total fools who canıt even walk across a room without stepping on someoneıs foot.²
³But this good news is, Iıve been researching this problem and I believe I have the solution.² The oldest Alystare said as he reached into his pocket.
___________________________________________________
{18} There is no footnote here: Iım just messing with your mind.
{19} Kupopolis regulars should catch on right-away, but for new-comers: he is describing the web as it is described in the primer. He is describing the Kupopolis weıre all writing in.
* * *
Chapter 14. The Uplifting Ending
{Remember, pick only one ending}
As the oldest Alystare reached into his pocket, he pulled out a small ring carved with an unsettling design and runes.
³This is the Ring of Aritas. In our time-stream itıs a well known and so a well protected artifact. In this time-stream, however, no one will ever discover its power. So I found it for sale in an antique store in 83WB.² He held it up and quickly moved it towards his index finger to put it on.
³No!² fifteen Alystareıs screamed in unison and started to prepare time spells to stop him. They all knew the power of such a famous ring.
It was too late. The ring slid on his finger, and all at once, there werenıt 16 blonde giants in all covering cloaks. There were 16 short troll-faced men with stringy black hair and seriously receding hairlines. 15 of these men were nude, but one was now wearing the Ring of Aritas and a simple clean peasant`s tunic and breeches.
³How could you! We swore an oath never to return to this body!² said three of the small men. Most were almost in tears.
³It was a foolıs oath, and not an oath Iım willing to die for,² said the short Alystare wearing the ring. ³Not that I plan to spend more time looking like this than I have to. But this is what I look like. This is me. No matter what other people see, in my mind, heart, and memory, this how Iıll see myself. Iım not happy about it, but I refuse to die just so I can pretend it isnıt true.²
³But the main purpose of wearing the ring is to prevent any of you from stopping me. The ringıs power cancels all magic in a 30-foot radius from the wearer. That includes our magically created clothing, and our shapeshifted body. So none of you can use time magic to prevent me from walking into that feasting hall and passing my final exam.²
All 15 looked at him as if he had betrayed them all. But he just continued. ³But I did more than just that. In the last 3 weeks, I visited folk dance events and practiced crossing a room full of dancers without causing problems.²
³You know what I learned? Iım really bad at that. I discovered my natural way of crossing a room is to just barrel across and expect everyone else to move out of my way. And when Iım the center of attention, which I usually am, and bigger than anyone else, that works. But clearly, it doesnıt work here. So once I figured that out, and I tried to cross the room like an ordinary person, suddenly it was a snap,² the little man said laughing.
³So Iım going to go into that feasting hall, like this, and Iıll not use any time magic. It looks like just one more time spell will open up that vortex.² He said, pulling a heavy cloak over himself to protect him from the rain.
He made it to the feasting hall with a lot of effort. He was very small and didnıt weigh much now, and the wind was very strong.
But once inside, he just walked across the floor. Sometimes he dodged dancers; mostly he just stood and waited for them to pass.
³Life at sea is fine, but not near as grand
As the long nights of love you have on land,
A raiderıs wife is as fair as a pig
Sheıs as strong as an ox, and just as big
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs wife is for me²
He got across just as the dance ended, and moved easily next to the young boy who was already standing behind Belgememnon. Since they both were small, neither of them crowded each other. He looked a lot like the boy, he thought, like an older brother. He smiled at the thought.
As he watched, the rich merchant, the one whose foot the boy previously stepped on, walked towards them. ³You coming over to dinner this week, son?² He said to Belgememnon.
³You know how busy Iım Dad.² Said Belgememnon, obvious discomfort in his voice.
³Try to come soon, son. It will make your mother happy.² Said his father.
³Iıll try Dad.² Said Belgememnon.
The merchant moved off to talk to some people, while Belgememnon moved over to a group wearing scholarıs robes. Alystare walked back across the floor and out the feasting hall into the warm clear night and a dry ground under his feet. He was finally going home.
The End {20}
___________________________________________________
{20} For those who want a moral: Reread the scorpion fable {1} but add this ending:
As they crossed the river, a wave splashed the scorpion and scared it. The scorpion started to sting the frog, but by force of will he stopped himself.
As he thanked the kind frog, he said, ³See, itıs possible even for a creature like me to fight against basic nature.²
The moral is: Manıs greatest virtue is that he can use logic over instinct and habit.
{Remember, pick only one ending}
As the oldest Alystare reached into his pocket, he pulled out a small ring carved with an unsettling design and runes.
³This is the Ring of Aritas. In our time-stream itıs a well known and so a well protected artifact. In this time-stream, however, no one will ever discover its power. So I found it for sale in an antique store in 83WB.² He held it up and quickly moved it towards his index finger to put it on.
³No!² fifteen Alystareıs screamed in unison and started to prepare time spells to stop him. They all knew the power of such a famous ring.
It was too late. The ring slid on his finger, and all at once, there werenıt 16 blonde giants in all covering cloaks. There were 16 short troll-faced men with stringy black hair and seriously receding hairlines. 15 of these men were nude, but one was now wearing the Ring of Aritas and a simple clean peasant`s tunic and breeches.
³How could you! We swore an oath never to return to this body!² said three of the small men. Most were almost in tears.
³It was a foolıs oath, and not an oath Iım willing to die for,² said the short Alystare wearing the ring. ³Not that I plan to spend more time looking like this than I have to. But this is what I look like. This is me. No matter what other people see, in my mind, heart, and memory, this how Iıll see myself. Iım not happy about it, but I refuse to die just so I can pretend it isnıt true.²
³But the main purpose of wearing the ring is to prevent any of you from stopping me. The ringıs power cancels all magic in a 30-foot radius from the wearer. That includes our magically created clothing, and our shapeshifted body. So none of you can use time magic to prevent me from walking into that feasting hall and passing my final exam.²
All 15 looked at him as if he had betrayed them all. But he just continued. ³But I did more than just that. In the last 3 weeks, I visited folk dance events and practiced crossing a room full of dancers without causing problems.²
³You know what I learned? Iım really bad at that. I discovered my natural way of crossing a room is to just barrel across and expect everyone else to move out of my way. And when Iım the center of attention, which I usually am, and bigger than anyone else, that works. But clearly, it doesnıt work here. So once I figured that out, and I tried to cross the room like an ordinary person, suddenly it was a snap,² the little man said laughing.
³So Iım going to go into that feasting hall, like this, and Iıll not use any time magic. It looks like just one more time spell will open up that vortex.² He said, pulling a heavy cloak over himself to protect him from the rain.
He made it to the feasting hall with a lot of effort. He was very small and didnıt weigh much now, and the wind was very strong.
But once inside, he just walked across the floor. Sometimes he dodged dancers; mostly he just stood and waited for them to pass.
³Life at sea is fine, but not near as grand
As the long nights of love you have on land,
A raiderıs wife is as fair as a pig
Sheıs as strong as an ox, and just as big
For a sea raiderıs life is free
A sea raiderıs wife is for me²
He got across just as the dance ended, and moved easily next to the young boy who was already standing behind Belgememnon. Since they both were small, neither of them crowded each other. He looked a lot like the boy, he thought, like an older brother. He smiled at the thought.
As he watched, the rich merchant, the one whose foot the boy previously stepped on, walked towards them. ³You coming over to dinner this week, son?² He said to Belgememnon.
³You know how busy Iım Dad.² Said Belgememnon, obvious discomfort in his voice.
³Try to come soon, son. It will make your mother happy.² Said his father.
³Iıll try Dad.² Said Belgememnon.
The merchant moved off to talk to some people, while Belgememnon moved over to a group wearing scholarıs robes. Alystare walked back across the floor and out the feasting hall into the warm clear night and a dry ground under his feet. He was finally going home.
The End {20}
___________________________________________________
{20} For those who want a moral: Reread the scorpion fable {1} but add this ending:
As they crossed the river, a wave splashed the scorpion and scared it. The scorpion started to sting the frog, but by force of will he stopped himself.
As he thanked the kind frog, he said, ³See, itıs possible even for a creature like me to fight against basic nature.²
The moral is: Manıs greatest virtue is that he can use logic over instinct and habit.
* * *
Chapter 14. The Depressing Ending
{Remember, pick only one ending}
As the oldest Alystare reached into his pocket, he pulled out a shining egg of light.
³This is a ³temporal disruptor², technology invented in 683WR.² He said holding the object up in front of him. ³They donıt have Time Mages in this time-stream, but they eventually figure out time-travel all the same. This device, among other uses, makes all forms of time manipulation impossible, including time magic. This prevents you from stopping me.²
³Weıre about to be sucked into the void. The chances of us re-stabilizing the time-stream and making it back home are almost nil,² he said as the others looked on in horror. ³And we (meaning me) are fools for getting ourselves into this position. Thatıs right; Iım a total fool and always have been. I see that now. I have accomplished great things in my life, but itıs not because Iım better or smarter than anyone else. Itıs simply because Iım too stubborn to accept failure.²
³And thatıs our great strength. Our pig-headed stubbornness. Our refusal to give up no matter how impossible the task seems.²
³I say a man should go with his strength. Iım going to walk across that dance floor and Iım going to go home, or Iım going to die trying. And thatıs that!²
³If I was smart, clearly I should shapeshift to child size. But Iım not smart; Iım a fool. A stubborn fool who canıt change at this late date. If Iım going to die anyway, Iım going to die large and proud, the way I lived.² With that, he tossed the light bulb device in among the other 15 Alystares, and walked out.
As he left, the device turned from white to blue, and the 15 Alystares found they couldnıt do time magic or even move.
Alystare moved through the hurricane as if it was nothing, that violent wind did little against his massive body and giant-like strength. Even a lighting bolts striking around him didnıt slow him down.
He moved into the feasting hall just as the music started. He crossed the floor just as the last Alystare did; avoiding all the obstacles by slipping back in time when needed. And every time he manipulated time the storm seemed to become more violent.
He made it up to Belgememnon without problems. But he still had the young boy to deal with. He suddenly realized that young boy looked a lot like himself as a child, and that made him angry. ³Time is using that boy to stabilize, so to defeat it I need to neutralize that boy.² Alystare temporarily stopped the boy in time, making him into a frozen statue.
This seemed to work. The boy clearly couldnıt step on any toes in this condition. Alystare took his place behind Belgememnon, and watched as the dance ended.
As he watched, the rich merchant, whose foot the boy previously stepped on, walked towards them. ³You coming over to dinner this week, son?² He said to Belgememnon.
But as he was talking someone bumped into the frozen boy. The boy started to fall directly in the direction of Belgememnon and his father. Alystare quickly stopped time to prevent the boy from falling on either of their feet.
As the time stop spell started up, the fabric of time just had been pulled too thin. Directly above the boy, there appeared a large swirling vortex. Belgememnon, his father and most of the large burly sea raiders screamed.
The time stop spell on the boy was canceled and the boy found himself lying on the ground directly beneath a swirling vortex of death in a room full of screaming sea raiders. And the worst part was the blond clean-shaven giant in the large cloak being dragged through the air into the vortex. The giant gave him a look that was full of hatred, blame, and pain. Every other horror was mild compared to that look.
Then the boy stood up. He couldnıt remember falling or why he was so frightened. The room looked normal. The dance had just ended, a light drizzle was going on outside. And all the guest of the Triumph looked confused as if they had just forgot something very important and horrible. The sounds of the party slowly started up again as people decided it was all in their imagination.
Then the boy remembered something. The murder in the eyes of a blond giant. And that vague memory was so terrifying that the boy staggered across the room and ran directly into a young man talking to a rich merchant. Unable to stop himself he stepped on both their toes.
Suddenly the drizzle stopped and the boy forgot whatever it was that had terrified him just moments before as he apologized to the two men whose feet he had stepped on.
The End {21}
___________________________________________________
{21} For those who want a moral: Reread the scorpion fable {1}.
The moral is: Itıs habit that drives most human actions, not thought or logic.
{Remember, pick only one ending}
As the oldest Alystare reached into his pocket, he pulled out a shining egg of light.
³This is a ³temporal disruptor², technology invented in 683WR.² He said holding the object up in front of him. ³They donıt have Time Mages in this time-stream, but they eventually figure out time-travel all the same. This device, among other uses, makes all forms of time manipulation impossible, including time magic. This prevents you from stopping me.²
³Weıre about to be sucked into the void. The chances of us re-stabilizing the time-stream and making it back home are almost nil,² he said as the others looked on in horror. ³And we (meaning me) are fools for getting ourselves into this position. Thatıs right; Iım a total fool and always have been. I see that now. I have accomplished great things in my life, but itıs not because Iım better or smarter than anyone else. Itıs simply because Iım too stubborn to accept failure.²
³And thatıs our great strength. Our pig-headed stubbornness. Our refusal to give up no matter how impossible the task seems.²
³I say a man should go with his strength. Iım going to walk across that dance floor and Iım going to go home, or Iım going to die trying. And thatıs that!²
³If I was smart, clearly I should shapeshift to child size. But Iım not smart; Iım a fool. A stubborn fool who canıt change at this late date. If Iım going to die anyway, Iım going to die large and proud, the way I lived.² With that, he tossed the light bulb device in among the other 15 Alystares, and walked out.
As he left, the device turned from white to blue, and the 15 Alystares found they couldnıt do time magic or even move.
Alystare moved through the hurricane as if it was nothing, that violent wind did little against his massive body and giant-like strength. Even a lighting bolts striking around him didnıt slow him down.
He moved into the feasting hall just as the music started. He crossed the floor just as the last Alystare did; avoiding all the obstacles by slipping back in time when needed. And every time he manipulated time the storm seemed to become more violent.
He made it up to Belgememnon without problems. But he still had the young boy to deal with. He suddenly realized that young boy looked a lot like himself as a child, and that made him angry. ³Time is using that boy to stabilize, so to defeat it I need to neutralize that boy.² Alystare temporarily stopped the boy in time, making him into a frozen statue.
This seemed to work. The boy clearly couldnıt step on any toes in this condition. Alystare took his place behind Belgememnon, and watched as the dance ended.
As he watched, the rich merchant, whose foot the boy previously stepped on, walked towards them. ³You coming over to dinner this week, son?² He said to Belgememnon.
But as he was talking someone bumped into the frozen boy. The boy started to fall directly in the direction of Belgememnon and his father. Alystare quickly stopped time to prevent the boy from falling on either of their feet.
As the time stop spell started up, the fabric of time just had been pulled too thin. Directly above the boy, there appeared a large swirling vortex. Belgememnon, his father and most of the large burly sea raiders screamed.
The time stop spell on the boy was canceled and the boy found himself lying on the ground directly beneath a swirling vortex of death in a room full of screaming sea raiders. And the worst part was the blond clean-shaven giant in the large cloak being dragged through the air into the vortex. The giant gave him a look that was full of hatred, blame, and pain. Every other horror was mild compared to that look.
Then the boy stood up. He couldnıt remember falling or why he was so frightened. The room looked normal. The dance had just ended, a light drizzle was going on outside. And all the guest of the Triumph looked confused as if they had just forgot something very important and horrible. The sounds of the party slowly started up again as people decided it was all in their imagination.
Then the boy remembered something. The murder in the eyes of a blond giant. And that vague memory was so terrifying that the boy staggered across the room and ran directly into a young man talking to a rich merchant. Unable to stop himself he stepped on both their toes.
Suddenly the drizzle stopped and the boy forgot whatever it was that had terrified him just moments before as he apologized to the two men whose feet he had stepped on.
The End {21}
___________________________________________________
{21} For those who want a moral: Reread the scorpion fable {1}.
The moral is: Itıs habit that drives most human actions, not thought or logic.
* * *
* * *
Chapter 14. The Kupopolis Ending
{Remember, pick only one ending}
As the oldest Alystare reached into his pocket, he pulled small device the size a small book with a screen covering the front.
³This is what a book looks like in 954WR. In this case itıs a complete history of every dimension in the web.² He said showing the others how the pages could be brought up and read. ³41WR is a very scary place, but things get a lot better by 371WR. By then most social problems are solved, and most governments are forms of democracy. And the best part yet, this paradise comes to a crashing end as an alien race called the Tswn attacks. They are eventually defeated, but not until the web is blasted into a wasteland.²
³Itıs a perfect situation for us. I time-travel to 358WR, establish a false identity and enter politics. I will win without trouble. I have a good head for politics, a handsome charismatic body. But the best part is I can slip forward and back in time and can predict every move my opponent makes and replay every strategy until itıs perfect. I will become the elected ruler of one of the nations of the web.²
³Then when the Tswn attack, Iıll declare martial law and make myself temporary dictator. The Tswn will present no problem, I already know all their strategies and weaknesses from this book, and time magic is very powerful if you are the only one that knows it. But Iıll only spare my own country; Iıll let the Tswn wreak havoc everywhere else. And as they take over country after country, my forces will free those countries and drive the Tswn out. Of course, the newly-liberated countries will be ruled by me under martial law till we can set up new governments.²
³Eventually the entire web will be ruled by me and the Tswn will be history. There will be resistance to my rule, of course, and Iıll use this resistant as an excuse to extend martial law. Eventually, I wonıt need an excuse, and Iıll be Alystare the first, ruler of the known universe.²
The others listened to this, not sure if their older self was completely sane. But also not sure they completely cared.
³Look. If I learned one thing, itıs that Iım a fool. Only a fool would get himself in a predicament like this. And for what? I donıt know why I canıt cross a room like anyone else. But I know I canıt. And I know I donıt want to shrink to save myself after spending my life trying to grow to what I am. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the mark of insanity. Let`s just accept between ourselves that we can never cross that room without something going wrong and be done with it!² He told the others.
³For this to work, we all have to agree,² said the oldest Alystare. ³Isnıt ³ruler of the universe² a better job than a simple member of the High-Council? What have we to lose? A family we never got along with and a lot of bad memories.²
They all thought about it. And each one, one at a time, smiled and nodded. And as they agreed one at a time the rain outside got less and less. They were destabilizing the time-stream only because they were fighting against stabilization. If they took the path of least resistance, like the time-stream was, there wasnıt a problem any more. The storm was now a drizzle and the oldest Alystare walked to the feasting hall with 15 duplicate selves following behind.
He waited for the dance to stop. Then, standing at the doorway, he picked just the right moment and sped up time for a young boy standing next to Belgememnon. The boy became confused and dizzily and ended up colliding into Belgememnon and stomping on his toe. The sky was suddenly clear and the ground as if by magic was dry.
That done, the 16 Alystares time-traveled to 358WR, in the process joining into one Alystare who was very ready to start his new life.
The End {22}
___________________________________________________
{22} For those who want a moral: Reread the scorpion fable {1} but add this ending:
³But you are known to sting creatures when frightened, what guarantee do I have that you wonıt kill me?² asked the frog.
³You are right.² Said the scorpion. ³That is my nature. It would be foolish for both of us to attempt this.²
So the scorpion resigned himself to making a new nest on this side of the river.
The moral is: Itıs a wise man who knows his own limitations.