# VII explained — The Time Traders

> Chapter companion for The Time Traders by Andre Norton.

## What happens

Ross captures Lal, who had been sent to hunt the traders for Lurgha, and frees McNeil. They return to the cave where Ashe interrogates Lal, learning that Lal is a follower of the Great Mother and was motivated by a desire for treasure. Ashe sends Lal away with a white wolf skin as a gift for the Mother. Later, Ashe meets Cassca in a hidden valley and learns that Lurgha's bird came from the northeast, suggesting the Baltic. McNeil recounts how the Reds destroyed the hill post, likely by pinpointing its signal.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Resilience

Ross, Ashe, and McNeil must survive after the destruction of the hill post, evading capture and managing injuries.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Lal's initial betrayal in hunting the traders is contrasted with his later fear and Ashe's manipulation of his loyalty to the Mother.

### Alien Contact and Ancient Civilizations

Lurgha's manifestations (bird, voice from the air) suggest alien intervention, and the characters investigate the source of these events.

## Character check-ins

### Ross Murdock

Captures Lal and frees McNeil; helps McNeil back to the cave; participates in the interrogation of Lal and the meeting with Cassca.

### McNeil

Freed by Ross; recounts the destruction of the hill post by Reds; suffers from burns and exhaustion.

### Lal

Captured while hunting traders for Lurgha; reveals he is a follower of the Great Mother and was after treasure; sent away by Ashe with a white wolf skin.

### Ashe

Interrogates Lal; meets Cassca in the hidden valley; learns the direction of Lurgha's bird; sends Lal away with a gift.

### Cassca

Meets Ashe in the hidden valley; reveals that Lurgha's bird came from the northeast; serves the Mother.

## Key lines

> Lurgha has ordered⁠—out of thin air again⁠—that any traders who escaped are to be brought in and introduced to him personally at the sacrifice for the enrichment of the fields!

Lurgha commanded from nowhere that all escaped traders be captured and brought to him for a sacrificial ceremony to ensure good crops.

_McNeil explains Lurgha's decree to Ross, highlighting the ritualistic and alien nature of the command._

> From that way he came, Assha. Well did I watch, knowing that I was the Mother's and that even Lurgha's thunderbolts could not eat me up.

Cassca points northeast, saying she watched Lurgha's arrival because she trusted in the Mother's protection.

_Cassca reveals the direction of Lurgha's origin, providing a clue to the Reds' base._

> I am a man of loose and wagging tongue and oftentimes I speak what I do not really wish to say. So if I am asked questions, I answer. If I am not there to be asked such questions, I cannot answer.

Lal admits he cannot keep secrets, so he plans to hide in the marsh to avoid being questioned.

_Lal's self-awareness leads him to avoid the village to prevent betraying Ashe's plans._

## Links

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