If Marlow were to inform the Inquisition about other Patrol agents, then, although those agents would flee, that would end the Patrol's presence in France during the reign of Philip the Fair.
"'We did remain there, though. Didn't we?'
"'Yes. In our history. That doesn't mean we inevitably did. I have to make certain.'" (p. 752)
Wanda and Manse are conversing on 8 March in the 1990 of the history where the Patrol agents did not flee from France in 1307. No event in 1307 can change the world around Wanda and Manse in 1990. If Patrol agents flee from France on 13 October 1307, will Wanda and Manse agree on 8 March 1990 that the Patrol remained in Philip's France, then find on 9 March 1990 that the Patrol had not remained in Philip's France? Or, rather, will they find that they do not exist because, if history were that different, then they would not have been born? Or, rather, will they not find that they do not exist because you can't find anything if you don't exist?!
If Marlow does reveal too much to the Patrol, then he will initiate a divergent timeline. In that timeline, Wanda and Everard will either have a different conversation in 1990 or, more probably, not exist in that year. Everard needs to ensure that, if he travels further into the past than 1307 and then returns to 1990, then he will return to his preferred version of 1990, not to an alternative version. As far as I can see, that is the only reason why he should try to prevent the generation of a divergent timeline in 1307 or in any other earlier year.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
IIRC, Philip IV of France needed money for a war he was fighting with either England or the Flemings, which is why he moved against the Templars. He THOUGHT they had vast amounts of gold and other forms of wealth, which was not the case. Rather, somewhat accidentally, the Templars became bankers, of all things!
All that King Philip's men found when they seized Templar houses and commanderies were letters of credit and ledger books. Serves them right!
One of the things that interested me about "Death and the Knight" and Anderson's earlier treatment of the Templars in ROGUE SWORD was that in the former he had a far less negative view of the Templars than what we see in ROGUE SWORD.
Ad astra! Sean
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