Kith are like time travelling historians although, of course, only futureward. Kenri's father says:
"'In view of the conditions we've found [on Earth], the captain and mates are seriously considering a change of plans. Next voyage not to Aurora, but a long excursion. Long, including into regions new to us. We may not be back for a thousand years. There'll be no more Dominancy. Your name will be forgotten.'" (p. 180)
- and:
"'Do you truly hope to join the highborn? What's great about them? I've seen fifteen hundred years of history, and this is one of the bad times. It will get worse.'" (ibid.)
Having seen fifteen hundred years, Wolden Shaun can authoritatively judge first that present conditions will get worse and secondly that the Dominancy will not last for a thousand years. He is prepared to leap ahead a thousand years, not knowing what the world will be like then. And that would be an amazing thing to be able to do. What is the longest period of history through which any Kithman survives?
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Altho not made part of STARFARERS, the journey of the Kith seen in "The Horn of Time the Hunter" shows us the longest trip made by any Kith ship, lasting for thousands of years.
Ad astra! Sean
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