The Will Of Weard

Poul Anderson, Time Patrol (New York, 2006).

Here are some more statements that make perfect sense both as myth and as science fiction. Carl says:

"'...the will of Weard stands not to be altered...Know that against time the gods themselves are powerless. I did what I was doomed to do.'" (p. 457)

In the myths, both men and gods are ruled by Weard, Fate. The substitution of the word "...time..." is significant in a science fictional time travel context. Now the meaning is that a time traveler, even one who is mistaken for a god, is not allowed to change the past.

When Ermanaric challenged the Wanderer and the latter replied, "'Weard will not have that'" (p. 421), it was understood that he spoke from knowledge. As a Time Patrolman, it was Carl's job neither to kill Ermanaric, who was known to have died otherwise later, nor to be killed by him to no good purpose.

"'I did what I was doomed to do...'" has a rather odd status. By steeping himself in knowledge of the period and roving it from end to end, Everard became certain that the saga recorded Odin's betrayal of his followers because Carl appeared and betrayed them so that is what he must do. He does it because he did it. There is no other reason.

This causal loop is a complete, self-contained circle whereas the causal circle in "Star Of The Sea" is an effect not only of itself but also of a prevented timeline. As Guion says to Wanda:

"'...think of the countless world lines intermeshed throughout the continuum as a spiderweb...There are occasions when we know only that the web is troubled, not where or when the source of the disturbance lies; for that source perhaps does not exist in our yet, our reality. We can only try to trace it back up the threads -'"
- Anderson, The Shield Of Time (New York, 1991), p. 135.

He stops because he does not want to frighten her and she thinks, "This could do it, though." (ibid.)