hundreds of historical investigators, scientists, entrepreneurs, aesthetes and esoterics;
Patrol stations in Rome, Egyptian Alexandria, Syrian Antioch, Hecatompylos, Patalipushtra, Hien-yang and Cuicuilco;
regional Patrol posts.
Not only is that a large number. It contrasts completely with the situation in 542 BC:
"He could turn to no local branch office if he got into trouble, for this relatively poor and turbulent transition epoch attracted no Temporal commerce; the nearest Patrol unit was milieu HQ in Persepolis, a generation futureward."
-"Brave To Be A King," 3, p. 68.
Here, for the only time, the capitalized adjective, "Temporal," is used not just for the Patrol language but for time travel culture in general.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I was struck by that word "esoterics." Which kinds of time travelers would be called that, instead of, say, "exotics"? Was this a hint of some time travelers being NON-human (and not meaning the Danellians!)?
I don't think your "contrasts completely" is quite right. At a minimum the Patrol had to mount guard over half a million years of pre-history and history. I believe that had to include meaning some periods had only minimal oversight.
Ad astra! Sean
I think in this context 'esoterics' would be people interested in studying the 'esoteric' ideas and arts of earlier eras.
Kaor, Jim!
That is a more reasonable suggestion than mine.
Ad astra! Sean
I think "esoterics" meant "types not really comprehensible to people from my general time".
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
From the very remote future, perhaps. Possibly from that age of oneness Just before the Danellians emerged.
Ad astra! Sean
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