Key Out of Time

cient

this time pinned down with

set of three undersea depressions in perfect alliance with the land which, according to the galactic map, had once been a cape on a much larger

hat might mean the difference between awakening the co-operation of the Project pol

here," As

a reef would provide them with a secure base. And onc

Ui and Karara helping to tow the equipment and parts, the dolphins lending pushing noses on occasion. The aquatic mammals were as interested as the human beings they aided. And in water th

e in place, aiming it landward at the check point of the Finger's protruding nail of rock. After

d a question, and Ashe's sonic co

their safeguard. Here Ashe had no historical data to guide him. Their search for the former inhabitants m

ut her hair, spread it over her shoulders to dry. "

Ross commented. "Where

he had steadied against one bent knee and gaze

ousand

ed to know. "Why t

rhaps they were at the zenith of their civilization; perhaps they were already on the down slope. I do not think they were near the

here ever was a nati

have

nd animals, no modern tra

which they used forces beyond our comprehension to alter the whole face of this planet, which did happen-the alteration, I mean. Several thing

t voyage on the homing derelict. "Maybe they had once been men and were degenerat

ed people?" Karara i

re the derelict had rested for a purpose its involuntary passengers had never understood, and then of the Terrans' limited exploration of that other planet which mi

id find them-these ape-things and the winged people. But here there are only t

Ashe

ise to know and feel and think, just to return to such beginning at our end? If your winged people were climbing and your ape-things descendi

here, attempted to make men stand still on one tread of a stairway. Only there is that in us which will not stop, ill-fitted as we may be for the climbing. Perhaps we shall be s

lieve that I cou

know-volunteers. And being of that temperame

to a fall," she ad

ef. Her words were ordinary enough, but Ross straightened to match Ashe's stare. Why had h

tinued. "There were plenty of stories a

of them." Ashe laughed, but his

w, that you must do nothing which might alter the course of history. But suppose, suppose here that the course of history could be alt

riment which we have never dar

chance of life for a whole

wo worlds from a change point in history," he elaborated, noting her look

ime of decision here and you had it in your power to say, 'Yes

think I shall ever be placed i

put it into words, Gordon. It is that feeling one has on the eve of some important event-anticipation, fear, excitement. You'll let me g

s throat, but he had no time to voi

e disappointed if we don't turn you up that other world. Now, I'm going to pamper these o

face. He had dropped two years, three, Ross thought thankfully. L

had moved so that her back was now to the

uld be any of ten

itement then, explore a world upon world, or am I saying it right? We have Hawaika One which is a new

loring it really

even months of time in the past on Terra? W

ve no way of lea

do you

and psychologically fitted to the era he was to explore. Then he trained, and how he trained!" Ross remembered the weary hours spent learning how to use a bronze sword, the technique of Beaker trading, the hypnotic instruction i

said, nodding. "Yes, I can see the difficu

. But it would be a strictly limited project, allowing no chance of being caught. Maybe the b

would ta

o swim in the shallows, don't y

r, even a look into the past migh

s busy, and he did not cultivate the patience he needed. Peep-probes were all right, but Karara

t an island where shadows were embers instead of ashes. Three humans, two dolphins, and a machine mounted on a reef which might not even have existed in the

assembly work. Ross touched Ashe's shoulder. But now there were shadow

isle toward which the probe had been aimed; they were looking at a rugged coastline where cliffs lifted well above the beach-strand. While on those cliffs-! Ross had not r

the high point of one tower the pointed tail of a banner cracked in the wind. There was

claimed, but Ross had

ngb

rs on raid from one island to another, or the shield-hung warship of the Vikings. But the Terrans were right in its pu

the sun, but there were devices painted on them, and the lines of tho

cry pulled their at

me a flash, a splash in the water close enoug

ara shouldered against

g course, swinging awa

and I don't see any oars." Ross wa

dy the ships were out of range, the lead vessel off the screen of the peep

wonderingly. "They

y weren't just depending on sails when they retre

er. "There is something here you

onding from the Roman Empire into the Middle Ages. But you're right, Ros

ming up against a more backward

g well up on the reef. Ashe had to don his mask as he plunged h

, above the sites of the saucer depressions great pylons of silvery metal, warmed into fire brilliance by the sunset, raked into the sky like gaunt, skeleton fingers. There were n

ship had set down twice, on the voyage out and on their return. That had been a world of metal structures, and he believed he cou

d last picture. But now they might have been looking at the island of the present, save that i

ss thought he had an answer. They were certainly the product of the galactic empire. And the castle ... the ships ... natives ... set

ere Ui had a fire blazing

hose probes?" Ross pulled broil

rs ago, the second," Ashe paused

d at his superio

r or some drastic fo

his whole planet?" Karara asked. "But why? And those pylons

undred

en," Ross commented. "But why-

ot open it. "I think"-there was a sharp, gri

up a

vious rules of their s

, a