Key Out of Time · Chapter
XIV: The Foanna explained
Ross Murdock meets the three Foanna, who are revealed to be the last of an ancient, powerful race.
What happens
Ross Murdock meets the three Foanna, who are revealed to be the last of an ancient, powerful race. He reports the alliance with the Rovers and the threat from the Baldies. The Foanna consider their options, weighing the use of their powers against the potential for widespread destruction. Ross is teleported by the Foanna and reunites with Gordon Ashe, learning that the time gate is destroyed and there is no return to their own time.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Corruption
The Foanna possess immense power but hesitate to use it, fearing it may cause widespread destruction and harm the innocent.
Alien Encounter and Otherness
Ross experiences the profound alienness of the Foanna, their teleportation, illusion, and non-human appearance, highlighting the theme of encountering the truly other.
Alliance and Trust
Ross reports the Rovers' willingness to ally with the Foanna against the Baldies, and the Foanna consider whether to trust this new alliance.
Characters to notice
- Ross Murdock
Reports to the Foanna about the Rover alliance and the Baldie threat; experiences teleportation and the Foanna's alien environment.
- Gordon Ashe
Reunites with Ross; explains the Foanna's powers and his own standing with them; confirms the destruction of the time gate.
- Foanna
The three remaining Foanna (Lady Ynlan, Lady Yngram, Lady Ynvalda) are revealed as powerful, ancient beings; they deliberate on whether to use their powers against the Baldies.
- Karara Trehern
Mentioned as being with the Rover cruisers, not present in the citadel.
Key passages
“Now it would seem that time is no longer our servant but perhaps among our enemies.”
Time, which once aided us, now seems to work against us.
The Foanna reflect on the urgency of their situation.
“We are three only and also—do we have the right to evoke disaster which will strike not only the enemy but perhaps recoil upon the innocent?”
We are only three, and we question whether we should unleash a catastrophe that could harm both our enemies and innocent people.
The Foanna deliberate the moral implications of using their power.
“They are mistresses of illusion. Be prepared not to believe all that you see.”
The Foanna are masters of illusion; do not trust everything your eyes perceive.
Gordon Ashe warns Ross about the Foanna's deceptive abilities.