# II explained — The Time Traders

> Chapter companion for The Time Traders by Andre Norton.

## What happens

Ross Murdock observes a complex war game played by Hodaki, Jansen, and Ashe, then explores the base and meets diverse personnel including Feng, Van Wyke, and Kurt Vogel. After a sudden blackout, he discovers a bandaged man named Hardy crawling in the dark, and Major Kelgarries arrives to help.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cold War Espionage

The secretive base, Operation Retrograde, and the mention of Hardy being tortured evoke Cold War intrigue.

### Survival and Resilience

Ross's determination to survive and Hardy's crawling despite severe injuries highlight resilience.

## Character check-ins

### Ross Murdock

Observes the war game, explores the base, and discovers Hardy in the dark.

### Ashe

Participates in the war game, introduces Ross to others, and discusses Hardy's fate.

### Hodaki

Plays the war game and argues with Jansen over strategy.

### Jansen

Plays the war game and mentions a time travel mission the next day.

### Kurt Vogel

Speaks to Ross about meeting later and reports Hardy's condition to Ashe.

### Major Kelgarries

Arrives to assist the bandaged Hardy in the corridor.

## Key lines

> Any time you want a return engagement it'll be fine with me, said Ashe, getting up. Jansen grinned. Put that off for a month or so, Gordon. We push into time tomorrow.

Ashe offers a rematch, but Jansen declines, noting they are traveling through time the next day.

_Foreshadows the time travel mission._

> He'll end up with a million or two if he doesn't watch out. He takes to trade as if he were born with a beaker in his fist.

Ashe jokes that Sanford will become wealthy because he is a natural trader.

_Highlights the trading aspect of the operation._

> He's smashed up… kaput… Tortured…

Kurt reports that Hardy has been severely injured and tortured.

_Reveals the dangers of the missions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_time_traders_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_time_traders_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_time_traders_se/chapters