# XVIII explained — The Time Traders

> Chapter companion for The Time Traders by Andre Norton.

## What happens

Ross awakens from a strange encounter with an alien force, using pain and fire to resist its mental compulsion. He is later rescued and debriefed by Ashe, who reveals that the project has closed the time post, the Reds suffered a mysterious explosion, and the aliens are actively preventing humanity from accessing their derelict ships. Ashe explains that the tapes they recovered have located several intact alien ships, and the project plans to loot them to gain the secret of space flight. Ross, despite his ordeal, reaffirms his commitment to the project.

## Themes in this chapter

### Alien Contact and Ancient Civilizations

Ross directly confronts an alien mental attack, and the chapter discusses the aliens' ongoing efforts to prevent humanity from accessing their ancient derelict ships.

### Survival and Resilience

Ross uses pain and fire to resist the alien's compulsion, and later endures a long recovery, demonstrating his determination to survive.

### Cold War Espionage

The Reds are revealed to have discovered alien ships in Siberia and used time travel to hunt for more, and a mysterious explosion in the Baltic region is linked to their activities.

## Character check-ins

### Ross Murdock

Fights off an alien mental attack using pain and fire; later recovers at base and reaffirms his commitment to the project.

### Ashe

Debriefs Ross after his rescue, explains the aftermath of the mission, and reveals the project's next steps to claim alien space flight technology.

### McNeil

Mentioned as having been with Ashe during the raft voyage and subsequent signal fire wait.

### Major Kelgarries

Agreed to extend the waiting period for Ross's return before the rescue.

### Dr. Webb

Oversees Ross's medical recovery and permits him to get out of bed.

## Key lines

> Ross fought to break that hold, to turn his head, to face the peril which crept upon him now. Unlike anything he had ever met before in his short lifetime, it could only have come from some alien source.

Ross struggled to free himself from an unseen grip, realizing the threat was alien and unlike anything he had faced.

_Describes Ross's initial confrontation with the alien mental attack._

> Having discovered that for him pain was a defense weapon, he had that one resource. If they took him, it would be after besting him in a fight.

Ross realized that physical pain helped him resist the alien's mental control, and he resolved to fight back rather than be captured.

_Ross uses pain as a tool to counter the alien's compulsion._

> But I don't believe that they were moved by any private vengeance for the looting of their derelict. There is some more imperative reason why they don't want us to find or use anything from one of their cargoes

Ashe suggests the aliens are not acting out of revenge but are protecting something crucial from being discovered.

_Ashe speculates on the aliens' deeper motives for interfering._

> In these lost ships lies the secret which will make us free of all the stars! We must claim it.

Ashe reveals that the derelict alien ships hold the key to interstellar space travel, which humanity must obtain.

_Ashe explains the ultimate goal of the project: to gain space flight technology._

## Links

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