The Time Traders · Chapter
XIV explained
Ross, McNeil, and the feverish Ashe build a raft to escape the approaching ax people.
What happens
Ross, McNeil, and the feverish Ashe build a raft to escape the approaching ax people. After a river accident, Ross is separated from the others and washed ashore alone. In a cave, Ashe reveals his theory that the globe-ship is an alien spacecraft, suggesting that ancient earthworks may have been SOS signals from space castaways. They witness tribes fleeing the ax people invasion and struggle to complete their raft before the invaders arrive.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Resilience
Ross, McNeil, and Ashe struggle to build a raft, forage for food, and evade hostile tribes despite injuries and exhaustion.
Alien Contact and Ancient Civilizations
Ashe theorizes that the globe-ship is an alien spacecraft and that ancient earthworks may have been built by space castaways as distress signals.
Time Travel and Historical Exploration
The characters witness Bronze Age tribal migrations and discuss the impact of prehistoric events on their mission.
Characters to notice
- Ross Murdock
Exhausted and injured, Ross works on the raft, falls into the river during a collision with a tree, and is separated from the group. He later listens to Ashe's alien theory.
- Ashe
Feverish and weak from a shoulder wound, Ashe directs raft construction, speculates about alien spaceships and ancient SOS signals, and insists he can make the trek to the river.
- McNeil
Scouts ahead, reports on tribal migrations, helps build the raft, and is separated from Ross after the river accident.
- Ulffa
Mentioned as a comparison to the fleeing tribes; not directly present in the chapter.
Key passages
“Flying saucers,” Ashe returned with an odd little laugh. “It was a wild possibility, but it was on the books from the start. This certainly will make Kelgarries turn red—””
Ashe suggests that the globe-ship is an alien spacecraft, a theory that was considered but dismissed, and jokes that it will embarrass Kelgarries.
Ashe reveals the alien origin of the ship to Ross.
“That globe-ship was never built on this world. Use your head, Murdock. Think about your furry-faced friend and the baldy with him. Did either look like normal Terrans to you?”
Ashe insists the spaceship is extraterrestrial, pointing out that the beings Ross encountered were not human.
Ashe argues for the alien nature of the ship and its crew.
“The sooner we head downstream, the better.” McNeil stirred restlessly, but they knew that they must keep to cover until the tribesmen below were gone.”
McNeil urges immediate departure, but they must wait for the tribes to move on before they can safely build their raft.
The group's urgency to escape the advancing ax people.