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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f555f87 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65977 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65977) diff --git a/old/65977-0.txt b/old/65977-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 80ed111..0000000 --- a/old/65977-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1132 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Time Grabber, by Gordon R. Dickson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Time Grabber - -Author: Gordon R. Dickson - -Release Date: August 2, 2021 [eBook #65977] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIME GRABBER *** - - - - - - TIME GRABBER - - By Gordon R. Dickson - - It seemed to be logical research, switching - sixteen Romans from the 1st Century to the 27th--for - study.... But who was going to take their place? - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - December 1952 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -_Feb. 16, 2631_--Dear Diary: Do I dare do it? It's so frustrating to -have to be dependent upon the whims of a physicist like Croton Myers. -I'm sure the man is a sadist--to say nothing of being a pompous ass -with his scientific double-talk, and selfish to boot. Otherwise, -why won't he let me use the time-grapple? All that folderol about -disrupting the fabric of time. - -He actually patted me on the shoulder today when I swallowed my -righteous indignation to the extent of pleading once more with him. -"Don't take it so hard, Bugsy," he said--imagine--'Bugsy'--to me, -Philton J. Bugsomer, B.A., M.A., L.L.D., Ph.D., "in about twenty years -it'll be out of the experimental stage. Then we'll see if something -can't be done for you." - -It's intolerable. As if a little handful of people would be missed out -of the whole Roman Empire. Well, if I can't do it with his permission, -I will do it without. See if I don't. My reputation as a scholar of -sociomatics is at stake. - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 18, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF THE POLICE: The emperor has expressed -a wish for a battle between a handful of gladiators and an equal number -of Christians. Have gladiators but am fresh out of Christians. Can you -help me out? - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 19, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: I think I might be able to -lay my hands on a few Christians for you--possibly. And then again I -might not. By the way, that's a nice little villa you have out in the -Falernian Hills. - -(signed) Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 19, 65_: Papirius: - -All right, you robber. The villa's yours. But hurry! We've only got a -few days left. - -L. - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 21, 65_: Dear L: - -Thanks for the villa. The papers just arrived. By an odd coincidence -I had overlooked the fact that we already had sixteen fine, healthy -Christians on hand, here. I am sending them on to you. - -Love and kisses, - -P. - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 22, 2631_: Dear Diary: Congratulate me! I knew my chance would -come. Late last night I sneaked into the physics building. That fool of -a Myers hadn't even had the sense to lock the door of his laboratory. I -opened it and went in, pulled down the shade, turned on the light, and -was able to work in complete security. Luckily, I had already played -on his credulity to the extent of representing myself as overawed by -the mechanical mind, and so induced him to give me a rough idea of how -he operated the time-grapple (this over the lunch table in the Faculty -Club) so, with a little experimenting, and--I will admit it--some luck, -I was able to carry off my plans without a hitch. - -I bagged sixteen young males from the period of Nero's reign--along -somewhere in the last years. By great good luck they happened to -be Christians taken prisoner and destined for the Roman Games. -Consequently the guards had them all huddled together in a tiny cell. -That's why the time-grapple was able to pick up so many at one grab. -They came along quite docilely, and I have quartered them in the -basement of my house where they seem to be quite comfortable and I can -study them at my leisure. - -Wait until the Sociomatics department here at the University sees the -paper I'll write on this! - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 23, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: Where are my Christians? -Don't think you can gyp me out of my villa and then not deliver. - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF ARENA - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 23, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: You got your Christians. I -saw them delivered myself. Third cell on the right, beneath the stands. - -(signed) Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 24, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I tell you they're not there. - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 24, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF ARENA: And I tell you they are: - -(signed) Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - -P.S. Are you calling me a liar? - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 25, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I tell you THEY'RE NOT THERE. -Come on over and look for yourself if you don't believe me. - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 25, 65_: Listen, Lictus: - -I don't know what kind of a game you think you're playing, but I -haven't time to bother with it right now. Whether you know it or not, -the Games load a lot of extra work on the police. I'm up to my ears in -details connected with them, and I won't put up with having you on my -neck, too. I've got the receipt signed by your jailer, on delivery. Any -more noise from your direction and I'll turn it, together with your -recent memos, over to the Emperor himself and you can straighten it out -with him. - -Papirius - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 25, 2631_: Dear Diary: What shall I do? How like that sneaky, -underhanded physicist to be studying historical force lines in the -Roman era, without mentioning it to me. Myers came into lunch today -fairly frothing with what can only be described as childish excitement -and alarm. It seems he had discovered a hole in the time-fabric in the -year 65, although he hasn't so far been able to place its exact time -and location (this is, of course, my sixteen Christians) and he tried -to frighten us all with lurid talk about a possible time collapse or -distortion that might well end the human race--if the hole was not -found and plugged. This is, of course, the most utter nonsense. Time -collapse, indeed! But I can take no chances on his discovering what -actually happened, and so I realized right away that I had to plug the -hole. - -The idea of putting back my Romans is, of course, unthinkable. They -are beginning to respond in a most interesting manner to some spatial -relationship tests I have been giving them. Therefore I cleverly -sounded out Myers to find the necessary factors to plug the hole. -I gather that any sixteen men would do, provided they conformed to -the historically important characteristics of the Roman group. This -sounded simple when he first said it, but since then the problem has -been growing in my mind. For the important characteristics are clearly -that they be all Christians who are willing to die for their faith. I -might easily find such a group in Roman times but in order to hide the -gap my replacements will make I will have to take them from some other -era--one Myers is not studying. I have only a day or two at most. Oh, -dear diary, what shall I do? - - * * * * * - -PHYSICIST GIVEN KNOCKOUT DROPS - -(_University News_) - -(Feb. 27, 2631). When Croton Myers, outstanding physicist and professor -of Physical Sciences at the university here showed a marked tendency to -snore during his after-lunch classes, his students became alarmed and -carried him over to the University Hospital. There, doctors discovered -that the good professor had somehow been doped. There were no ill -effects, however, and Dr. Myers was awake and on his feet some eighteen -hours later. Authorities are investigating. - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 29, 2631_: Dear Diary: SUCCESS! Everything has been taken care -of. I am so relieved. - - * * * * * - -_Feb. 28, 1649_ (From the Journal of John Stowe)--Today, by the will of -the Lord, we are safely on our way from Appleby, fifteen men under the -valiant leadership of Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord Smith, having by our -very presence in Appleby served to strike fear into the hearts of the -papist plotters there, so that they dispersed--all of the troop in good -health and spirits save only for one small trouble, of which I will -relate. - -It hath come to pass, that, being on our way from Appleby to Carlisle, -there to join the forces of Captain Houghton, if God shall suffer such -to come to pass, we have found ourselves at nightfall in a desolate -section of the country, wasted by the late harrying and pillaging. We -decided to pitch camp where we found ourselves rather than adventure -farther in the dark. - -Therefore, we made ourselves comfortable with such simple fare as -contents a servant of the Lord, and our provisions supplied, and having -sung a goodly hymn and given ourselves over to an hour or so of prayer -for the pleasing of our souls, some among us fell to talking of the -nature of the surrounding waste, recalling that from heathen times -it hath had the name of being a place of most evil and supernatural -resort. But our good Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord, speaking up cheerily, -rebuked those who talked so, saying "Are we not all servants of the -Lord, and strong in his wrath? Therefore, gird ye up your courage and -take heart." - -But there were still some among us--and I do confess some sort of -the same weakness in myself--who found the blackness and desolation -press still heavily upon our souls, reminding us of manifold sins and -wickedness whereby we had placed ourselves in danger of the Pit and -the ever-present attacks of the Enemy. And our good Sergeant, seeing -this, and perceiving we needed the sweet comfort and assuagement of the -Word of the Lord, he bade us sit close by him, and opening his Book -which was the Word of the Lord, read to us from II Kings Chapter 9, -concerning the overthrow and just fate of Jezebel, whereat we were all -greatly cheered and entreated him that he read more to us. - -But it happened at this time that a small trouble was thrust upon us, -inasmuch as it appeared to all of us that the wide and empty fields -of night which surrounded us were whisked away and the appearance of -a cell, stone on three sides, and a thick iron grating on the fourth, -surrounded us. Whereat we were at first somewhat surprised. However, -our good Sergeant, looking up from his Book, bade us mind it not, for -that it was no more than a manifestation of whatever unholy spirits -plagued the spot and which they had called up in jealous defiance of -the sweet virtue of the Lord's word, as he had been reading it. - -On hearing this, all were reassured, and, the hour being late, lay down -to rest, inasmuch as we are to march at the first break of dawn. So, -now, as I write these words, by God's mercy, nearly all are disposed -to slumber, saving that the enchantment of the cell doth make somewhat -for cramped quarters and I do confess that I, myself am somewhat -ill-at-ease, being accustomed to the good pressure of my stout sword -against my side as I go to sleep. This, however, may not be helped, -for, since it is the custom of our troop to lay aside all sharp tools -on coming into the presence of the Lord our weapons are hidden from us -by the enchantment and it would be a mark of lack of faith to pretend -to search for them. - -And, so, thanks be to the Lord, I will close this entry in my journal -and dispose myself for a night of rest. - - * * * * * - -_March 1, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I notice you finally got cold -feet and got those Christians over here after all. But I warn you, -I'm not yet altogether satisfied. They look like pretty odd-appearing -Christians to me. More like barbarians. And if you've rung in something -like that on me, I warn you, the Emperor will hear of it. My gladiators -are too valuable to risk with a group of Goths or Vandals. - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_March 1, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF ARENA: Papirius has unfortunately -been called out of the city on police business, and it is uncertain -when he will be able to get back. I am sure, however, that if the -Captain said that these men were Christians, they are Christians. -However, if you're doubtful, there's nothing easier than to test -the matter. Give any of them a pinch of incense and see if they'll -sacrifice to the gods to gain their freedom. If they won't they're -Christians. You know how these things work. - -(Signed) Tivernius, - -Acting CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -(_From the Journal of John Stowe_) _March 2, 1649_: Lo! Satan is upon -us and his devils do surround us. Trusting in the Lord, however, we -have no fear of them. - -Early this morning we awoke to find the enchantment still strong about -us. Whereupon we took counsel together concerning our conduct in this -strait. After several hours of discussion, it was decided that we could -not necessarily be considered remiss in our military duties for not -pushing on to Carlisle when bound and held by devils. This settled, it -remained only to decide on our course of conduct towards these imps of -Satan, and Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord hath determined this by ordering -that all present be industrious in prayer and considering of the good -works of the Lord. - -So it fell out that about the third or fourth hour after sunrise when -we were engaged in singing that hymn of sweet comfort-- - - _Lo! We shall crush His enemies - And drown them in their blood--_ - -that a fat, balding devil of middle age, somewhat wrapped and entwined -in a sheet of bed linen approached the outer grating of our cell and -did speak with us. - -At first we were slow in understanding; but as it did happen that by -good chance I had had some teaching in my youth in papist ways, it was -not long before I realized that this devil was speaking a particularly -barbarous and unnatural form of latin; and, on my conveying this -information to Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord, it was decided that I should -speak with the devil for all of us. - -I began by abjuring him to turn from the ways of the devil and cast -himself upon the mercy of the Lord. But, so imperfect were the -creature's wits and so inadequate his grasp of the tongue in which we -conversed that he failed to grasp my meaning. Whereupon, I demanded of -him by what right he held us and he did name several devils with Romish -names and, producing several objects of strange manufacture, seemed to -call on us for some kind of action. - -At this point, Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord interrupted to order me that -I draw the devil out in conversation and learn whatsoever I could, that -the knowledge might be a means to breaking the enchantment. Therefore, -I did show interest and beseeched the devil to further explain himself. - -Whereupon he did so. And it was apparent immediately that our wise -Sergeant, praise the Lord, had correctly judged the state in which we -were held. For after a great deal of words which I had some trouble -interpreting, it became apparent that this spawn of the Devil, this -creature of Satan was endeavoring by means of foul enticements and -false promises of release from our enchantment, to cozen us into -bowing down to graven images. - -No sooner had I understood this, than I was filled with the wrath of -the Lord, and, feeling His hand upon me, spoke words of fire to the -lost being before me. I observed that he quailed, although odd as -it seems, some of our troop claim to have noticed a slight trace of -satisfaction upon his hellish visage. Whereupon he closed the interview -with a question. - -"Are you all Christians?" he demanded of me. - -I answered, "Yes," and, rubbing his hands together with an expression -of glee he hurried off. - -I related all this to my comrades and the Sergeant. The Sergeant then -advised us that we continue as we had before, saying that no doubt we -were not alone at the mercy of the Devil, but that were being somewhat -tested by the Lord, and as long as our faith in Him remained steadfast, -no harm could surely come from this. - -So hath the day past, very decently in praying and godly conversation. -From scraps of conversation I have overheard from neighboring cells it -becometh apparent that tomorrow we are to be thrown into the 'Arena,' -which I take to be a devilish word for the pit. So be it. We abide the -issue, all of us, with firm faith and quiet hearts. Amen. - - * * * * * - -_March 2, 2631_: Dear Diary: What a vexatious group! What on earth -shall I do? These Romans seem to be pining away and losing interest in -my tests, taking them lackadaisically, if at all. I'm sure I don't know -what's wrong. I've given them the most attractive apparatus I can find, -different colored little balls and pegs and objects, and brightly-lit -shadow cards to study. I've piped all sorts of cheerful music into the -basement and given them authentic Roman diets of the period and all -they wanted to eat. They just don't seem to have any interest. I can't -imagine what's wrong. - - * * * * * - -(_From the notebook of Croton Myers_) _March 2, 2631_: - -11:02 P.M.:--Dial settings A-26.24, B-5.1, C-2.73779 Calibration check, -Vernier check. (Run 73) - -Found it. Year 65, our calendar, Feb. 22, 10:15 P.M. (approx). -Sixteen individuals. Time scar to present date and year. Hole plugged -on or about Feb. 27. Structure therefore safe middle late Roman -era, disregarding minor time-thread damage which runs out anyway. -However--took general check on hunch, and hunch confirmed. There's -another hole even closer to our time. I can tell by the strains on the -major time-threads. No time to trace it down now. We've got about five -hours worth of elasticity in the present time-fabric before there'll -be (a) a time collapse, or (b) an attempt by the fabric to rearrange -itself to relieve the strain. Even the rearrangement could do for us. -This second hole's too close to our own period. - -I'm no Sherlock, but to me it adds up to only one answer--Bugsomer. I'm -going over and see if I can force the information out of him. - -_The damn fool!_ - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: Order your gladiators -to stretch out this battle with the Christians. I don't want a -sheep-slaughter. I want some sport. Some running around and excitement. -See to it. - -NERO, Imp. - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE EMPEROR: Hail Caesar! I will do whatever I can -when the time comes. But you know how uncooperative these Christians -are. They won't even pick up their swords and armor. They want to be -martyrs. However, I promise that the Emperor will not be disappointed. - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_Dear Diary_: I have no idea what the date is, so I just won't put any -down. If the world goes topsy-turvy, it's not _my_ fault. I'm all in a -flutter. I hardly know where to begin writing. - -I guess it all began when that pig-headed Myers came breaking into -my house in the middle of the night. Breaking in, literally! My front -door was locked, naturally, so he just kicked in a window and walked -through it. I was down in the basement with my poor Romans, who hadn't -been sleeping too well lately. I was trying to get them to take some -barbiturates, but they seemed afraid to do so for some reason. They -preferred to turn and toss on their cushions all night. - -Well, at any rate I heard a noise. And then the next thing I heard was -his bull voice calling, "Bugsy! Bugsy!" Before I could head him off -he was at the top of the steps and clumping down. My poor Romans just -stared at him. - -"So here you are," he said triumphantly. - -"Is that odd?" I replied. "After all, it's my house. And, while we're -on the matter, I'd like to know how you got in, and by what right--" - -"Oh, shut up," he said and pointed at my Romans. "Are these the sixteen -you stole first?" - -"I don't know what you're talking about," I answered coldly. "These are -some foreign students from one of my classes. We're holding a seminar -in Roman customs." - -He just snorted, and, ignoring me entirely, turned to the nearest Roman -and started jabbering at him in barbarous high-school Latin. I even had -trouble following him, but my Roman didn't. His face lit up and before -I could say a word he was telling Myers all about what had happened -to them, and the tests I'd been giving them. And right then and there, -I learned something about Roman ingratitude. Can you believe it? Those -sixteen young fellows weren't the least bit thankful for being saved -from death in the Arena. All that concerned them was the fact that they -were homesick. Homesick! For lions and gladiators! - - * * * * * - -I interrupted and asked my Roman whether he hadn't been well treated. -And he turned on me and said--almost in those very words--that he -had--he'd been too well treated. He'd been a hardworking artisan and -Christian all his life and it didn't come natural to him to loll around -on cushions and play with children's toys. He ended up by saying that -if I gave him another test he'd ram it down my throat. - -Well, after something like that, I was only too glad to get rid of -them. I told Myers so and we started up the stairs. Just at that moment -there was the most curious shiver--decidedly unpleasant--and we all -suddenly found ourselves back at the foot of the stairs again. Myers -turned white as a sheet. - -He gasped. "Good God, I didn't think it would start this quickly!"--And -I don't mind telling _you_, dear Diary, that for a second even I felt a -touch of fear. - -We hurried, all eighteen of us, across the darkened campus and up to -his laboratory. Twice more those curious shivers threw us back a step -or two in time, and we had to do things over. - -"It's cracking faster," said Myers, and herded my Romans into an area -marked off by chalk lines on the floor. Myers took me by the arm. - -"Listen," he said, "and listen good, because I don't have time to -say it twice. I've got the sixteen Romans waiting in a trigger -area. There's a trip mechanism that will throw them back to their -own time the minute there's an opening for them to fit into. I'm -going to stay here and operate the machine. I want you to ride the -time-grapple back to the Arena and see that the others--you said they -were Roundheads?--and nobody but they get into the time-grapple for -transference back to their own time." - -"Me?" I said. "Into the time-grapple. I certainly will not--" Before -I could finish he seized me by the shoulders and pushed me into the -time-grapple area. - -The moment I stumbled across the line the laboratory faded around me. -I felt a moment of nausea, and then I was swinging, unsupported and -apparently invisible above the royal box in the arena. When I leaned -down I was right on a level with Nero himself. I took one horrified -look at him, gasped, and turned away. - -I looked down in the arena, and saw immediately why Myers had sent me -back. The time-grapple would, of course, have to get the Roundheads -all on one grab and it would be impossible until they were all close -together. I knew that, back in the laboratory, Myers could see me -apparently standing on the floor in front of him and his devilish -machine. He could also, of course, see Nero and part of the Royal box. -I would have to direct him to the Roundheads when the time came. - -I looked out in the arena, and groaned. The door to the cells was -just opening and the Roundheads were filing out onto the field. The -gladiators were already out; the Roundheads were too far dispersed for -the time-grapple to grab them. - -"Get together, get together!" I cried--but of course they couldn't hear -me as long as I was in the time-grapple field. - -Just then Nero spoke up next to my ear, and I _could_ hear him, because -of the auditory equipment built into the field. - -"My dear," he was saying petulantly to a thickly powdered, fat-faced -woman beside him. "Look at those Christians! And Lictus promised me -that I shouldn't be disappointed. Look how sober and dull they are. -They usually come on with their faces lit up, almost exalted." - -"Perhaps," said the woman, "this group doesn't feel so much like being -martyred. Maybe they'll run around a bit more." - -I could stand no more of this, and signaled Myers to move the field -down toward the Roundheads. The idiots were still too far apart to be -picked up and were talking together in that odd, seventeenth century -English. - -"What think you, Sergeant," said one fresh-faced youngster, "are we to -be put to trial by those armored demons, yonder?" - -"It may be, John," replied the individual addressed as Sergeant. - -The young man sighed. "I feel the hand of the Lord strong upon me," he -said. "None the less, had I but my claymore--" - -"Fie, John Stowe," reproved the Sergeant. "Let not your mind dwell -upon earthly matters. Look rather upon yon armed demons, with a mind -to marking their true natures. See yon demon with the chased shield, -which is surely Pride. And the other beside him, whom, by his lean and -envious face I clearly read as Covetousness." - -And the Sergeant went on giving names to the various gladiators, so -that the other Roundheads became interested and drifted over. I was -beginning to have hopes of snatching them up immediately when the -Sergeant wound up his little discussion. - -"And besides, John Stowe," he said. "If the Lord wisheth us to have -weapons, He surely will provide them." - - * * * * * - -At this moment, an attendant of the Arena leaned over the stone parapet -that encircled the field and dropped a bundle of swords and armor. - -"What did I tell you?" said the Sergeant. - -So they dispersed in the process of putting on the armor, and the -chance was lost. - -"What's holding things up?" boomed the voice of Myers in my ear. - -"The battle," I snapped. "They're supposed to fight those gladiators." - -"What!" yelled Myers. "Stop them. Don't let them do it. They've all got -to get back alive." - -"What can I do?" I asked bitterly. "It's up to the Roundheads." - -And, indeed it was. There is no way of knowing how many lives were -depending upon those Roundheads at that moment. - -At any rate, there was a toot on a horn, or some kind of signal like -that, and off they went. - -"Do you take Pride, Stowe," said the Sergeant. "And so each of the rest -of you pick out a cardinal sin. I, myself will take Covetousness." He -lifted his Roman short sword over his head and shouted like a wild man. - -"Now, LET GOD ARISE!" he shouted, and the Roundheads charged toward the -enemy. - -"I'm moving you back to Nero," said Myers' voice in my ear. "Maybe we -can put pressure on him somehow." - -I was swooped back to the royal box. But by the time I got there the -situation was such that neither of us could think of anything to do. -Nero was bouncing around like a fat toad, squeaking at the top of his -lungs. - -"Why--what--what--" he was squealing. "What are they doing? You -Christians, stop it! Stop chasing my gladiators, do you hear me? Stop -it! Stop it!" - -Somebody blew that silly horn again, and the gladiators stopped, but -the Roundheads went right on. - -"Guard thyself, Pride!" the stentorian voice of John Stowe floated up -to us in the Royal box. Beside Stowe there was a clang and a thud as -the Sergeant decapitated Covetousness. - -Gladiators were getting cut to pieces right and left. But not for long. -Nero was ordering his own guard out of the stands, down into the Arena. - -"I've got an idea," I called to Myers. "Drop me on the field." - -"It better be good," he grunted. "Or you'll go the same way they're -going!" - -He dropped me. I came into sight of those Romans suddenly, and the -shock of my appearance temporarily halted the Praetorian Guard. They -looked from me to Nero and back again. - -"To me!" I yelled, running over the field, waving my arms. "To me, -Roundheads!" - -Well, they looked up at the sound of my English voice and, to make a -long story short, gathered around in short enough space for Myers to -pick them up. The field faded around us.... - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: I thought I ordered you to -produce Christians for slaughter! What devilish magic have you loosed -upon Rome under the guise of Christians? I order you to capture those -sixteen hell-spawned devils who murdered our gladiators. At once! - -NERO, Imp. - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE EMPEROR: My Caesar! I know not how the sixteen -Christians escaped from the arena--replacing themselves with sixteen -others. I have contacted Papirius, Captain of Police, and he informs -me it must be a plot on the part of the Christians for an uprising -throughout the City. I believe the missing sixteen are in hiding. My -Guard will be ordered out at once to apprehend them. - -(signed) Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I have at hand information from -Lictus, Captain of the Arena, concerning the plot of the Christians to -overthrow Roman rule with today's events in the Arena as a signal for -insurrection. Drastic action must be taken. Burn out every festhole in -Rome where the Christians are massed. At once! - -NERO, Imp. - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE EMPEROR: Hail, Caesar! Your command has been -obeyed. Even now the Christians burn in their catacombs! - -(signed) Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE CAPTAIN OF POLICE: Are you mad, you fool? -By whose authority have you put the torch to Rome? The flames are -spreading throughout the city--underground--and already are at the -arena dungeons! Send help to quench the fires! - -Lictus, - -CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: Don't call me a fool, you -idiot! How was I to know the fire would spread through the catacombs! I -can't send you any men. I'm appealing to the Emperor for help myself. -The fires are getting beyond control! - -Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE EMPEROR: Mighty Caesar! The Christians have -turned the fires against us and our city is in danger of being -consumed. What shall we do? - -(signed) Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE CAPTAIN OF POLICE: You imbecile! I order you to -burn out the Christians and you set fire to the entire city! Already my -palace is on fire! Consider yourself under arrest! Report to me after -you have the flames under control. Or perhaps you'd prefer throwing -yourself into the closest inferno and cheat me of the pleasure of -roasting you alive later! - -NERO, Imp. - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE EMPEROR: The city is engulfed, my Caesar! I shall -die fighting the flames. But what of you, my Emperor? I shall pray to -the Gods that you be spared my fate. - -(signed) Papirius, - -CAPTAIN OF POLICE - - * * * * * - -_March 3, 65_: TO THE EX-CAPTAIN OF POLICE: The Gods be damned--I'm -getting the hell out of Rome! - -NERO, Imp. - - * * * * * - -_April 1, 2631_: Dear Diary: Myers has seen to it for my transfer. -Oh, he's clever and all that to keep the fact hidden that I used the -time-grapple. But I can't see what all the fuss is about. We corrected -the time stress before anything critical could happen. The way he -carries on you'd think we did something (I, that is) that would go down -in history. A ridiculous thought, but then Myers is a physicist and you -know what suspicious natures they have.... I often wonder though how -the games did turn out that afternoon.... - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIME GRABBER *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. 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Dickson</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Time Grabber</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Gordon R. Dickson</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 2, 2021 [eBook #65977]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIME GRABBER ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>TIME GRABBER</h1> - -<h2>By Gordon R. Dickson</h2> - -<p>It seemed to be logical research, switching<br /> -sixteen Romans from the 1st Century to the 27th—for<br /> -study.... But who was going to take their place?</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -December 1952<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 16, 2631</i>—Dear Diary: Do I dare do it? It's so frustrating to -have to be dependent upon the whims of a physicist like Croton Myers. -I'm sure the man is a sadist—to say nothing of being a pompous ass -with his scientific double-talk, and selfish to boot. Otherwise, -why won't he let me use the time-grapple? All that folderol about -disrupting the fabric of time.</p> - -<p>He actually patted me on the shoulder today when I swallowed my -righteous indignation to the extent of pleading once more with him. -"Don't take it so hard, Bugsy," he said—imagine—'Bugsy'—to me, -Philton J. Bugsomer, B.A., M.A., L.L.D., Ph.D., "in about twenty years -it'll be out of the experimental stage. Then we'll see if something -can't be done for you."</p> - -<p>It's intolerable. As if a little handful of people would be missed out -of the whole Roman Empire. Well, if I can't do it with his permission, -I will do it without. See if I don't. My reputation as a scholar of -sociomatics is at stake.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 18, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF THE POLICE: The emperor has expressed -a wish for a battle between a handful of gladiators and an equal number -of Christians. Have gladiators but am fresh out of Christians. Can you -help me out?</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 19, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: I think I might be able to -lay my hands on a few Christians for you—possibly. And then again I -might not. By the way, that's a nice little villa you have out in the -Falernian Hills.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 19, 65</i>: Papirius:</p> - -<p>All right, you robber. The villa's yours. But hurry! We've only got a -few days left.</p> - -<p class="ph1">L.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 21, 65</i>: Dear L:</p> - -<p>Thanks for the villa. The papers just arrived. By an odd coincidence -I had overlooked the fact that we already had sixteen fine, healthy -Christians on hand, here. I am sending them on to you.</p> - -<p>Love and kisses,</p> - -<p class="ph1">P.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 22, 2631</i>: Dear Diary: Congratulate me! I knew my chance would -come. Late last night I sneaked into the physics building. That fool of -a Myers hadn't even had the sense to lock the door of his laboratory. I -opened it and went in, pulled down the shade, turned on the light, and -was able to work in complete security. Luckily, I had already played -on his credulity to the extent of representing myself as overawed by -the mechanical mind, and so induced him to give me a rough idea of how -he operated the time-grapple (this over the lunch table in the Faculty -Club) so, with a little experimenting, and—I will admit it—some luck, -I was able to carry off my plans without a hitch.</p> - -<p>I bagged sixteen young males from the period of Nero's reign—along -somewhere in the last years. By great good luck they happened to -be Christians taken prisoner and destined for the Roman Games. -Consequently the guards had them all huddled together in a tiny cell. -That's why the time-grapple was able to pick up so many at one grab. -They came along quite docilely, and I have quartered them in the -basement of my house where they seem to be quite comfortable and I can -study them at my leisure.</p> - -<p>Wait until the Sociomatics department here at the University sees the -paper I'll write on this!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 23, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: Where are my Christians? -Don't think you can gyp me out of my villa and then not deliver.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 23, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: You got your Christians. I -saw them delivered myself. Third cell on the right, beneath the stands.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 24, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I tell you they're not there.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 24, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF ARENA: And I tell you they are:</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<p>P.S. Are you calling me a liar?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 25, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I tell you THEY'RE NOT THERE. -Come on over and look for yourself if you don't believe me.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 25, 65</i>: Listen, Lictus:</p> - -<p>I don't know what kind of a game you think you're playing, but I -haven't time to bother with it right now. Whether you know it or not, -the Games load a lot of extra work on the police. I'm up to my ears in -details connected with them, and I won't put up with having you on my -neck, too. I've got the receipt signed by your jailer, on delivery. Any -more noise from your direction and I'll turn it, together with your -recent memos, over to the Emperor himself and you can straighten it out -with him.</p> - -<p class="ph1">Papirius</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 25, 2631</i>: Dear Diary: What shall I do? How like that sneaky, -underhanded physicist to be studying historical force lines in the -Roman era, without mentioning it to me. Myers came into lunch today -fairly frothing with what can only be described as childish excitement -and alarm. It seems he had discovered a hole in the time-fabric in the -year 65, although he hasn't so far been able to place its exact time -and location (this is, of course, my sixteen Christians) and he tried -to frighten us all with lurid talk about a possible time collapse or -distortion that might well end the human race—if the hole was not -found and plugged. This is, of course, the most utter nonsense. Time -collapse, indeed! But I can take no chances on his discovering what -actually happened, and so I realized right away that I had to plug the -hole.</p> - -<p>The idea of putting back my Romans is, of course, unthinkable. They -are beginning to respond in a most interesting manner to some spatial -relationship tests I have been giving them. Therefore I cleverly -sounded out Myers to find the necessary factors to plug the hole. -I gather that any sixteen men would do, provided they conformed to -the historically important characteristics of the Roman group. This -sounded simple when he first said it, but since then the problem has -been growing in my mind. For the important characteristics are clearly -that they be all Christians who are willing to die for their faith. I -might easily find such a group in Roman times but in order to hide the -gap my replacements will make I will have to take them from some other -era—one Myers is not studying. I have only a day or two at most. Oh, -dear diary, what shall I do?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="ph3">PHYSICIST GIVEN KNOCKOUT DROPS</p> - -<p class="ph3">(<i>University News</i>)</p> - -<p>(Feb. 27, 2631). When Croton Myers, outstanding physicist and professor -of Physical Sciences at the university here showed a marked tendency to -snore during his after-lunch classes, his students became alarmed and -carried him over to the University Hospital. There, doctors discovered -that the good professor had somehow been doped. There were no ill -effects, however, and Dr. Myers was awake and on his feet some eighteen -hours later. Authorities are investigating.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 29, 2631</i>: Dear Diary: SUCCESS! Everything has been taken care -of. I am so relieved.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Feb. 28, 1649</i> (From the Journal of John Stowe)—Today, by the will of -the Lord, we are safely on our way from Appleby, fifteen men under the -valiant leadership of Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord Smith, having by our -very presence in Appleby served to strike fear into the hearts of the -papist plotters there, so that they dispersed—all of the troop in good -health and spirits save only for one small trouble, of which I will -relate.</p> - -<p>It hath come to pass, that, being on our way from Appleby to Carlisle, -there to join the forces of Captain Houghton, if God shall suffer such -to come to pass, we have found ourselves at nightfall in a desolate -section of the country, wasted by the late harrying and pillaging. We -decided to pitch camp where we found ourselves rather than adventure -farther in the dark.</p> - -<p>Therefore, we made ourselves comfortable with such simple fare as -contents a servant of the Lord, and our provisions supplied, and having -sung a goodly hymn and given ourselves over to an hour or so of prayer -for the pleasing of our souls, some among us fell to talking of the -nature of the surrounding waste, recalling that from heathen times -it hath had the name of being a place of most evil and supernatural -resort. But our good Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord, speaking up cheerily, -rebuked those who talked so, saying "Are we not all servants of the -Lord, and strong in his wrath? Therefore, gird ye up your courage and -take heart."</p> - -<p>But there were still some among us—and I do confess some sort of -the same weakness in myself—who found the blackness and desolation -press still heavily upon our souls, reminding us of manifold sins and -wickedness whereby we had placed ourselves in danger of the Pit and -the ever-present attacks of the Enemy. And our good Sergeant, seeing -this, and perceiving we needed the sweet comfort and assuagement of the -Word of the Lord, he bade us sit close by him, and opening his Book -which was the Word of the Lord, read to us from II Kings Chapter 9, -concerning the overthrow and just fate of Jezebel, whereat we were all -greatly cheered and entreated him that he read more to us.</p> - -<p>But it happened at this time that a small trouble was thrust upon us, -inasmuch as it appeared to all of us that the wide and empty fields -of night which surrounded us were whisked away and the appearance of -a cell, stone on three sides, and a thick iron grating on the fourth, -surrounded us. Whereat we were at first somewhat surprised. However, -our good Sergeant, looking up from his Book, bade us mind it not, for -that it was no more than a manifestation of whatever unholy spirits -plagued the spot and which they had called up in jealous defiance of -the sweet virtue of the Lord's word, as he had been reading it.</p> - -<p>On hearing this, all were reassured, and, the hour being late, lay down -to rest, inasmuch as we are to march at the first break of dawn. So, -now, as I write these words, by God's mercy, nearly all are disposed -to slumber, saving that the enchantment of the cell doth make somewhat -for cramped quarters and I do confess that I, myself am somewhat -ill-at-ease, being accustomed to the good pressure of my stout sword -against my side as I go to sleep. This, however, may not be helped, -for, since it is the custom of our troop to lay aside all sharp tools -on coming into the presence of the Lord our weapons are hidden from us -by the enchantment and it would be a mark of lack of faith to pretend -to search for them.</p> - -<p>And, so, thanks be to the Lord, I will close this entry in my journal -and dispose myself for a night of rest.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 1, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I notice you finally got cold -feet and got those Christians over here after all. But I warn you, -I'm not yet altogether satisfied. They look like pretty odd-appearing -Christians to me. More like barbarians. And if you've rung in something -like that on me, I warn you, the Emperor will hear of it. My gladiators -are too valuable to risk with a group of Goths or Vandals.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 1, 65</i>: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF ARENA: Papirius has unfortunately -been called out of the city on police business, and it is uncertain -when he will be able to get back. I am sure, however, that if the -Captain said that these men were Christians, they are Christians. -However, if you're doubtful, there's nothing easier than to test -the matter. Give any of them a pinch of incense and see if they'll -sacrifice to the gods to gain their freedom. If they won't they're -Christians. You know how these things work.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(Signed) Tivernius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">Acting CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>(<i>From the Journal of John Stowe</i>) <i>March 2, 1649</i>: Lo! Satan is upon -us and his devils do surround us. Trusting in the Lord, however, we -have no fear of them.</p> - -<p>Early this morning we awoke to find the enchantment still strong about -us. Whereupon we took counsel together concerning our conduct in this -strait. After several hours of discussion, it was decided that we could -not necessarily be considered remiss in our military duties for not -pushing on to Carlisle when bound and held by devils. This settled, it -remained only to decide on our course of conduct towards these imps of -Satan, and Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord hath determined this by ordering -that all present be industrious in prayer and considering of the good -works of the Lord.</p> - -<p>So it fell out that about the third or fourth hour after sunrise when -we were engaged in singing that hymn of sweet comfort—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse"><i>Lo! We shall crush His enemies</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>And drown them in their blood—</i></div> -</div></div> - -<p>that a fat, balding devil of middle age, somewhat wrapped and entwined -in a sheet of bed linen approached the outer grating of our cell and -did speak with us.</p> - -<p>At first we were slow in understanding; but as it did happen that by -good chance I had had some teaching in my youth in papist ways, it was -not long before I realized that this devil was speaking a particularly -barbarous and unnatural form of latin; and, on my conveying this -information to Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord, it was decided that I should -speak with the devil for all of us.</p> - -<p>I began by abjuring him to turn from the ways of the devil and cast -himself upon the mercy of the Lord. But, so imperfect were the -creature's wits and so inadequate his grasp of the tongue in which we -conversed that he failed to grasp my meaning. Whereupon, I demanded of -him by what right he held us and he did name several devils with Romish -names and, producing several objects of strange manufacture, seemed to -call on us for some kind of action.</p> - -<p>At this point, Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord interrupted to order me that -I draw the devil out in conversation and learn whatsoever I could, that -the knowledge might be a means to breaking the enchantment. Therefore, -I did show interest and beseeched the devil to further explain himself.</p> - -<p>Whereupon he did so. And it was apparent immediately that our wise -Sergeant, praise the Lord, had correctly judged the state in which we -were held. For after a great deal of words which I had some trouble -interpreting, it became apparent that this spawn of the Devil, this -creature of Satan was endeavoring by means of foul enticements and -false promises of release from our enchantment, to cozen us into -bowing down to graven images.</p> - -<p>No sooner had I understood this, than I was filled with the wrath of -the Lord, and, feeling His hand upon me, spoke words of fire to the -lost being before me. I observed that he quailed, although odd as -it seems, some of our troop claim to have noticed a slight trace of -satisfaction upon his hellish visage. Whereupon he closed the interview -with a question.</p> - -<p>"Are you all Christians?" he demanded of me.</p> - -<p>I answered, "Yes," and, rubbing his hands together with an expression -of glee he hurried off.</p> - -<p>I related all this to my comrades and the Sergeant. The Sergeant then -advised us that we continue as we had before, saying that no doubt we -were not alone at the mercy of the Devil, but that were being somewhat -tested by the Lord, and as long as our faith in Him remained steadfast, -no harm could surely come from this.</p> - -<p>So hath the day past, very decently in praying and godly conversation. -From scraps of conversation I have overheard from neighboring cells it -becometh apparent that tomorrow we are to be thrown into the 'Arena,' -which I take to be a devilish word for the pit. So be it. We abide the -issue, all of us, with firm faith and quiet hearts. Amen.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 2, 2631</i>: Dear Diary: What a vexatious group! What on earth -shall I do? These Romans seem to be pining away and losing interest in -my tests, taking them lackadaisically, if at all. I'm sure I don't know -what's wrong. I've given them the most attractive apparatus I can find, -different colored little balls and pegs and objects, and brightly-lit -shadow cards to study. I've piped all sorts of cheerful music into the -basement and given them authentic Roman diets of the period and all -they wanted to eat. They just don't seem to have any interest. I can't -imagine what's wrong.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>(<i>From the notebook of Croton Myers</i>) <i>March 2, 2631</i>:</p> - -<p>11:02 P.M.:—Dial settings A-26.24, B-5.1, C-2.73779 Calibration check, -Vernier check. (Run 73)</p> - -<p>Found it. Year 65, our calendar, Feb. 22, 10:15 P.M. (approx). -Sixteen individuals. Time scar to present date and year. Hole plugged -on or about Feb. 27. Structure therefore safe middle late Roman -era, disregarding minor time-thread damage which runs out anyway. -However—took general check on hunch, and hunch confirmed. There's -another hole even closer to our time. I can tell by the strains on the -major time-threads. No time to trace it down now. We've got about five -hours worth of elasticity in the present time-fabric before there'll -be (a) a time collapse, or (b) an attempt by the fabric to rearrange -itself to relieve the strain. Even the rearrangement could do for us. -This second hole's too close to our own period.</p> - -<p>I'm no Sherlock, but to me it adds up to only one answer—Bugsomer. I'm -going over and see if I can force the information out of him.</p> - -<p><i>The damn fool!</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: Order your gladiators -to stretch out this battle with the Christians. I don't want a -sheep-slaughter. I want some sport. Some running around and excitement. -See to it.</p> - -<p class="ph1">NERO, Imp.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE EMPEROR: Hail Caesar! I will do whatever I can -when the time comes. But you know how uncooperative these Christians -are. They won't even pick up their swords and armor. They want to be -martyrs. However, I promise that the Emperor will not be disappointed.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Dear Diary</i>: I have no idea what the date is, so I just won't put any -down. If the world goes topsy-turvy, it's not <i>my</i> fault. I'm all in a -flutter. I hardly know where to begin writing.</p> - -<p>I guess it all began when that pig-headed Myers came breaking into -my house in the middle of the night. Breaking in, literally! My front -door was locked, naturally, so he just kicked in a window and walked -through it. I was down in the basement with my poor Romans, who hadn't -been sleeping too well lately. I was trying to get them to take some -barbiturates, but they seemed afraid to do so for some reason. They -preferred to turn and toss on their cushions all night.</p> - -<p>Well, at any rate I heard a noise. And then the next thing I heard was -his bull voice calling, "Bugsy! Bugsy!" Before I could head him off -he was at the top of the steps and clumping down. My poor Romans just -stared at him.</p> - -<p>"So here you are," he said triumphantly.</p> - -<p>"Is that odd?" I replied. "After all, it's my house. And, while we're -on the matter, I'd like to know how you got in, and by what right—"</p> - -<p>"Oh, shut up," he said and pointed at my Romans. "Are these the sixteen -you stole first?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know what you're talking about," I answered coldly. "These are -some foreign students from one of my classes. We're holding a seminar -in Roman customs."</p> - -<p>He just snorted, and, ignoring me entirely, turned to the nearest Roman -and started jabbering at him in barbarous high-school Latin. I even had -trouble following him, but my Roman didn't. His face lit up and before -I could say a word he was telling Myers all about what had happened -to them, and the tests I'd been giving them. And right then and there, -I learned something about Roman ingratitude. Can you believe it? Those -sixteen young fellows weren't the least bit thankful for being saved -from death in the Arena. All that concerned them was the fact that they -were homesick. Homesick! For lions and gladiators!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>I interrupted and asked my Roman whether he hadn't been well treated. -And he turned on me and said—almost in those very words—that he -had—he'd been too well treated. He'd been a hardworking artisan and -Christian all his life and it didn't come natural to him to loll around -on cushions and play with children's toys. He ended up by saying that -if I gave him another test he'd ram it down my throat.</p> - -<p>Well, after something like that, I was only too glad to get rid of -them. I told Myers so and we started up the stairs. Just at that moment -there was the most curious shiver—decidedly unpleasant—and we all -suddenly found ourselves back at the foot of the stairs again. Myers -turned white as a sheet.</p> - -<p>He gasped. "Good God, I didn't think it would start this quickly!"—And -I don't mind telling <i>you</i>, dear Diary, that for a second even I felt a -touch of fear.</p> - -<p>We hurried, all eighteen of us, across the darkened campus and up to -his laboratory. Twice more those curious shivers threw us back a step -or two in time, and we had to do things over.</p> - -<p>"It's cracking faster," said Myers, and herded my Romans into an area -marked off by chalk lines on the floor. Myers took me by the arm.</p> - -<p>"Listen," he said, "and listen good, because I don't have time to -say it twice. I've got the sixteen Romans waiting in a trigger -area. There's a trip mechanism that will throw them back to their -own time the minute there's an opening for them to fit into. I'm -going to stay here and operate the machine. I want you to ride the -time-grapple back to the Arena and see that the others—you said they -were Roundheads?—and nobody but they get into the time-grapple for -transference back to their own time."</p> - -<p>"Me?" I said. "Into the time-grapple. I certainly will not—" Before -I could finish he seized me by the shoulders and pushed me into the -time-grapple area.</p> - -<p>The moment I stumbled across the line the laboratory faded around me. -I felt a moment of nausea, and then I was swinging, unsupported and -apparently invisible above the royal box in the arena. When I leaned -down I was right on a level with Nero himself. I took one horrified -look at him, gasped, and turned away.</p> - -<p>I looked down in the arena, and saw immediately why Myers had sent me -back. The time-grapple would, of course, have to get the Roundheads -all on one grab and it would be impossible until they were all close -together. I knew that, back in the laboratory, Myers could see me -apparently standing on the floor in front of him and his devilish -machine. He could also, of course, see Nero and part of the Royal box. -I would have to direct him to the Roundheads when the time came.</p> - -<p>I looked out in the arena, and groaned. The door to the cells was -just opening and the Roundheads were filing out onto the field. The -gladiators were already out; the Roundheads were too far dispersed for -the time-grapple to grab them.</p> - -<p>"Get together, get together!" I cried—but of course they couldn't hear -me as long as I was in the time-grapple field.</p> - -<p>Just then Nero spoke up next to my ear, and I <i>could</i> hear him, because -of the auditory equipment built into the field.</p> - -<p>"My dear," he was saying petulantly to a thickly powdered, fat-faced -woman beside him. "Look at those Christians! And Lictus promised me -that I shouldn't be disappointed. Look how sober and dull they are. -They usually come on with their faces lit up, almost exalted."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," said the woman, "this group doesn't feel so much like being -martyred. Maybe they'll run around a bit more."</p> - -<p>I could stand no more of this, and signaled Myers to move the field -down toward the Roundheads. The idiots were still too far apart to be -picked up and were talking together in that odd, seventeenth century -English.</p> - -<p>"What think you, Sergeant," said one fresh-faced youngster, "are we to -be put to trial by those armored demons, yonder?"</p> - -<p>"It may be, John," replied the individual addressed as Sergeant.</p> - -<p>The young man sighed. "I feel the hand of the Lord strong upon me," he -said. "None the less, had I but my claymore—"</p> - -<p>"Fie, John Stowe," reproved the Sergeant. "Let not your mind dwell -upon earthly matters. Look rather upon yon armed demons, with a mind -to marking their true natures. See yon demon with the chased shield, -which is surely Pride. And the other beside him, whom, by his lean and -envious face I clearly read as Covetousness."</p> - -<p>And the Sergeant went on giving names to the various gladiators, so -that the other Roundheads became interested and drifted over. I was -beginning to have hopes of snatching them up immediately when the -Sergeant wound up his little discussion.</p> - -<p>"And besides, John Stowe," he said. "If the Lord wisheth us to have -weapons, He surely will provide them."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At this moment, an attendant of the Arena leaned over the stone parapet -that encircled the field and dropped a bundle of swords and armor.</p> - -<p>"What did I tell you?" said the Sergeant.</p> - -<p>So they dispersed in the process of putting on the armor, and the -chance was lost.</p> - -<p>"What's holding things up?" boomed the voice of Myers in my ear.</p> - -<p>"The battle," I snapped. "They're supposed to fight those gladiators."</p> - -<p>"What!" yelled Myers. "Stop them. Don't let them do it. They've all got -to get back alive."</p> - -<p>"What can I do?" I asked bitterly. "It's up to the Roundheads."</p> - -<p>And, indeed it was. There is no way of knowing how many lives were -depending upon those Roundheads at that moment.</p> - -<p>At any rate, there was a toot on a horn, or some kind of signal like -that, and off they went.</p> - -<p>"Do you take Pride, Stowe," said the Sergeant. "And so each of the rest -of you pick out a cardinal sin. I, myself will take Covetousness." He -lifted his Roman short sword over his head and shouted like a wild man.</p> - -<p>"Now, LET GOD ARISE!" he shouted, and the Roundheads charged toward the -enemy.</p> - -<p>"I'm moving you back to Nero," said Myers' voice in my ear. "Maybe we -can put pressure on him somehow."</p> - -<p>I was swooped back to the royal box. But by the time I got there the -situation was such that neither of us could think of anything to do. -Nero was bouncing around like a fat toad, squeaking at the top of his -lungs.</p> - -<p>"Why—what—what—" he was squealing. "What are they doing? You -Christians, stop it! Stop chasing my gladiators, do you hear me? Stop -it! Stop it!"</p> - -<p>Somebody blew that silly horn again, and the gladiators stopped, but -the Roundheads went right on.</p> - -<p>"Guard thyself, Pride!" the stentorian voice of John Stowe floated up -to us in the Royal box. Beside Stowe there was a clang and a thud as -the Sergeant decapitated Covetousness.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Gladiators were getting cut to pieces right and left. But not for long. -Nero was ordering his own guard out of the stands, down into the Arena.</p> - -<p>"I've got an idea," I called to Myers. "Drop me on the field."</p> - -<p>"It better be good," he grunted. "Or you'll go the same way they're -going!"</p> - -<p>He dropped me. I came into sight of those Romans suddenly, and the -shock of my appearance temporarily halted the Praetorian Guard. They -looked from me to Nero and back again.</p> - -<p>"To me!" I yelled, running over the field, waving my arms. "To me, -Roundheads!"</p> - -<p>Well, they looked up at the sound of my English voice and, to make a -long story short, gathered around in short enough space for Myers to -pick them up. The field faded around us....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: I thought I ordered you to -produce Christians for slaughter! What devilish magic have you loosed -upon Rome under the guise of Christians? I order you to capture those -sixteen hell-spawned devils who murdered our gladiators. At once!</p> - -<p class="ph1">NERO, Imp.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE EMPEROR: My Caesar! I know not how the sixteen -Christians escaped from the arena—replacing themselves with sixteen -others. I have contacted Papirius, Captain of Police, and he informs -me it must be a plot on the part of the Christians for an uprising -throughout the City. I believe the missing sixteen are in hiding. My -Guard will be ordered out at once to apprehend them.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I have at hand information from -Lictus, Captain of the Arena, concerning the plot of the Christians to -overthrow Roman rule with today's events in the Arena as a signal for -insurrection. Drastic action must be taken. Burn out every festhole in -Rome where the Christians are massed. At once!</p> - -<p class="ph1">NERO, Imp.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE EMPEROR: Hail, Caesar! Your command has been -obeyed. Even now the Christians burn in their catacombs!</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE CAPTAIN OF POLICE: Are you mad, you fool? -By whose authority have you put the torch to Rome? The flames are -spreading throughout the city—underground—and already are at the -arena dungeons! Send help to quench the fires!</p> - -<p class="ph1">Lictus,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE ARENA: Don't call me a fool, you -idiot! How was I to know the fire would spread through the catacombs! I -can't send you any men. I'm appealing to the Emperor for help myself. -The fires are getting beyond control!</p> - -<p class="ph1">Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE EMPEROR: Mighty Caesar! The Christians have -turned the fires against us and our city is in danger of being -consumed. What shall we do?</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE CAPTAIN OF POLICE: You imbecile! I order you to -burn out the Christians and you set fire to the entire city! Already my -palace is on fire! Consider yourself under arrest! Report to me after -you have the flames under control. Or perhaps you'd prefer throwing -yourself into the closest inferno and cheat me of the pleasure of -roasting you alive later!</p> - -<p class="ph1">NERO, Imp.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE EMPEROR: The city is engulfed, my Caesar! I shall -die fighting the flames. But what of you, my Emperor? I shall pray to -the Gods that you be spared my fate.</p> - -<p class="ph1">(signed) Papirius,</p> - -<p class="ph2">CAPTAIN OF POLICE</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>March 3, 65</i>: TO THE EX-CAPTAIN OF POLICE: The Gods be damned—I'm -getting the hell out of Rome!</p> - -<p class="ph1">NERO, Imp.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>April 1, 2631</i>: Dear Diary: Myers has seen to it for my transfer. -Oh, he's clever and all that to keep the fact hidden that I used the -time-grapple. But I can't see what all the fuss is about. We corrected -the time stress before anything critical could happen. The way he -carries on you'd think we did something (I, that is) that would go down -in history. A ridiculous thought, but then Myers is a physicist and you -know what suspicious natures they have.... I often wonder though how -the games did turn out that afternoon....</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIME GRABBER ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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