"Men lived in their own times..." (p. 182)
- which we have previously quoted in full at least twice in:
In 3000 AD, it is known that time travel occurs at least futureward. There was even a Time War when an army defeated in the twenty-third century had attacked the twenty-fourth! Belgotai of Syrtis, an unemployed mercenary, has never time travelled but has developed a cavalier attitude to the concept. He asks "Mahtin Saundahs" to carry him forward to:
"'...some time when a free comrade can fight again.'" (p. 181)
Meanwhile, he will be a good companion:
"'...Ih'll help. Ih'm a good man wid a gun or vibrodagger. Yuh can't go batting alone into de future.'" (ibid.)
Does a time traveller need a companion? The Time Traveller finds Weena in 802,701 AD but she does not, and indeed would not have been able to, accompany him on the Time Machine. Saunders loses Sam but gains Belgotai but must brave the furthest future alone. The Doctor must have at least one companion, however implausible. They just have to entertain a TV audience. Let's leave it at that.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
You could have mentioned THE BOAT OF A MILLION YEARS, where in "The Comrade" chapter, we see Hanno gaining a companion in the Gallo-Roman Rufus. They wandered together for 1500 years.
Ad astra! Sean
Humans are social animals -- they feel better with someone they can trust.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
That's an obvious truism, and related as well to our innate tribalism. E.g., "Stranger on my/our turf! KILL, KILL, KILL!"
Unless bona fides were established.
Ad astra! Sean
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