Sunday 2 October 2016

Who Commands And For How Long?

"'...in a million years of recruitment the outfit has got to have found a lot of guys more able than me.'" (The Shield Of Time, p. 260)

"'But in a million years or more - there must be exceptions!'" (Time Patrol, p. 63)

"'The Danellians are part of the future - our future, more than a million years ahead of me.'" (Time Patrol, p. 11)

Such quotations could be multiplied from within the Time Patrol series. Therefore, it is a surprise when Everard thinks:

"With half a million years or more to guard, the Patrol's forever undermanned..." (Time Patrol, p. 485)

Has there been a reality change that we were not told about?

"'...Merau Varagan...raised fear in the Middle Command.'" (The Shield..., p. 8)

"'The Middle Command asked me if I'd investigate.'" (Time Patrol, p. 483)

This strange phrase, "the Middle Command," appears late in the series and I think that these are its only two occurrences. I take it to mean that the Middle Command are human whereas the High Command are Danellian. Thus, the Middle Command is usually the highest level that Everard has to deal with.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And I remember Everard thinking at one of his meetings with Guiion that the latter, coming from a much later time and civilization, might know far more about the Danellians than did Everard. Enough more to be FRIGHTENED by the Danellians?

What were the Danellians TRULY like? Were they deserving of being served so loyally by the Time Patrol? And what might come AFTER the Danellians?

Sean