Time And Wind

"Star of the Sea," 11.

Jens Ulstrup, Time Patrol ethnographer, says that, if the Germanic barbarians are not assimilated into the Roman Empire, then:

"'...it will be a different future. Our twentieth century will never exist.'

"'That's what we're trying to head off,' Everard said harshly.

"A silence fell. Wind lulled, leaves rustled, sunlight skipped on the ruffled stream. The peacefulness made the landscape feel unreal." (p. 569)

We have become very used to the wind filling in conversational silences. However, on this occasion, it does not go quite as usual. Although the Patrol agents have just sensed a threat to their reality, this particular wind does not shriek, blast, roar or otherwise threaten them. On the contrary, it lulls. But even by doing this it comments on the dialogue. The contrast between the perceived peacefulness and the existential threat is so pronounced that it generates a sense of unreality - and unreality is exactly what these agents fear.