# III: The Ancient Mariners explained — Key Out of Time

> Chapter companion for Key Out of Time by Andre Norton.

## What happens

The Terrans set up a peep-probe on a reef to observe Hawaika's past, aiming at 10,000 years ago. After installation, they view a rugged coastline with a fortress and a war canoe, glimpsing the ancient inhabitants. Karara questions the ethics of altering history, while Ross and Ashe prepare for further exploration.

## Themes in this chapter

### Time and History

The chapter focuses on using the peep-probe to observe Hawaika's past, exploring the concept of time as a dimension to be navigated and the ethical implications of witnessing or altering history.

### Knowledge and Responsibility

Karara and Ashe debate the moral responsibility of potentially altering the past, highlighting the tension between the drive to know and the consequences of that knowledge.

### Cultural Clash and Conflict

The glimpse of a fortress and war canoe suggests a past civilization with its own conflicts, contrasting with the Terrans' present exploration and settlement.

## Character check-ins

### Gordon Ashe

Leads the installation of the peep-probe and decides to start the time search at 10,000 years ago.

### Ross Murdock

Assists with the probe setup and reflects on past adventures and the challenges of time agent training.

### Karara Trehern

Helps tow equipment, questions the ethics of altering history, and expresses a strong desire to see the past world.

### The Terran

Ui and the dolphins assist in towing the peep-probe equipment to the reef.

## Key lines

> “Ten thousand years⁠—” “Why?” Karara wanted to know. “Why that exact figure?” “We know that galactic ships crashed on Terra then. So their commerce and empire⁠—if it was an empire⁠—was far-flung at that time. Perhaps they were at the zenith of their civilization; perhaps they were already on the down slope. I do not think they were near the beginning. So that date is as good a starting place as any.”

Ashe explains to Karara that he chose 10,000 years ago as the starting point for the peep-probe because that is when galactic ships crashed on Earth, suggesting the alien civilization was at its peak or declining.

_This highlights the rationale behind the temporal search and the connection between Earth and Hawaika's history._

> “But suppose, suppose here that the course of history could be altered, that whatever catastrophe occurred might be averted? If that was done, what would happen to our settlement in the here and now?” “I don’t know. That is an experiment which we have never dared to try, which we won’t try⁠—”

Karara asks Ashe whether they could prevent the ancient catastrophe, and Ashe admits that altering history is an experiment they have never attempted and will not attempt.

_This exchange underscores the central ethical dilemma of the chapter regarding intervention in the past._

> “War canoe!” Karara exclaimed, but Ross

Karara spots a war canoe rounding a headland in the peep-probe's view, indicating the presence of a seafaring ancient civilization.

_This moment reveals the first direct evidence of the past inhabitants and sets up further exploration._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/key_out_of_time_se/chapters/iii-the-ancient-mariners
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/key_out_of_time_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/key_out_of_time_se/chapters