new
propulsion system from a future time seemed to solve that riddle. This Russian
Admiral even hinted that he looked upon the events of this war as history. In
fact, the only way that the presence of this ship in the Atlantic, the Med and
finally the Pacific made any sense at all was to consider it as having come
from another era, another future time, perhaps when the theoretical discussions
about the possibility of time travel had become a practical reality.
Why
was the ship here? Why had it come? Admiral Tovey had made a strong point when
he noted that it was indeed a warship that was sent back, not a polite
diplomatic mission. Was it on a mission where force of arms would be an
integral part of the outcome?
The
ship’s Admiral seemed to deny this, if he could be believed. He stated that he
wanted no part of this bloody world war, just a quiet island where he could
escape and consider how he could get his ship and crew home, wherever that was.
Turing believed that it was, indeed, Soviet Russia, and given his best
estimate, he thought it might be at least fifty years in the future, possibly
more.
With
these thoughts and questions in mind the Admiral had come to Bletchley Park
again that day to continue his discussion with the brilliant mathematician. There
was an odd edge to his voice on the line when he had called to arrange the
meeting. Turing could sense that he seemed harried, cautious, worried about
something. The whole scenario was indeed the most troubling event to come along
in the war, though relatively few really knew about it. He had the feeling that
Tovey was very concerned about something.
That
was it, thought Turing. He’s in the know now, just as I was a few weeks back
when I first set my mind on this conclusion about Geronimo . Now he knows…
And
he’s afraid.
The
two men were meeting again in Hut 4, and Admiral Tovey began by reiterating a
very chilling point he had suggested earlier. “Let us humor ourselves and take
your assumption as true for the time being, Professor. If this ship did come
from some other time, then when might it return again? Yes, it vanished as
before, but we waited a long year before we saw it in the Med. Might it
reappear in another year, or a month, or even any day now as it did before?”
“It
very well could, sir,” said Turing.
“And
for that matter, when might another come?” What is it doing, Turing? Have you
given that further thought? Is it deliberately involving itself in these naval
engagements, perhaps with the aim of changing future events? When it vanishes,
where does it go?”
“It’s
all very perplexing, sir, and we can only speculate. Perhaps it returns to its
home base to replenish. That would seem a natural conclusion. Might it return
to our time again? It’s already done that once, so it could certainly be
expected. Might other ships come? That, too is a chilling possibility. But as
to what its mission might be, that is difficult to know. It may indeed be
attempting to alter the course of events. This last incident with the Japanese
was fairly well decisive, wasn’t it? Lucky for us this ship can’t seem to
decide who’s side it on in our little war. In any wise, it doesn’t appear as if
it has an agenda favoring one outcome or another, at least at this point.”
“Quite
so,” said Tovey. “At first I had to believe this ship had it in for the British
Empire. It was driving for the Atlantic Charter conference, and that was a very
pointed thrust. Then this Admiral explained that he was not in control of his
ship at the time, and that there was a difference of opinions on how to
proceed.”
“Your
wolf in the fold, scenario,” said Turing.
“Precisely.
Well, that being the case, I’m of the mind that it simply wants to be left
alone. This Admiral was more than likely still looking for his damnable island,
if you want my opinion on it. The Japanese were just unlucky enough to get in
the way this time.”
“What
was wrong with St.
propulsion system from a future time seemed to solve that riddle. This Russian
Admiral even hinted that he looked upon the events of this war as history. In
fact, the only way that the presence of this ship in the Atlantic, the Med and
finally the Pacific made any sense at all was to consider it as having come
from another era, another future time, perhaps when the theoretical discussions
about the possibility of time travel had become a practical reality.
Why
was the ship here? Why had it come? Admiral Tovey had made a strong point when
he noted that it was indeed a warship that was sent back, not a polite
diplomatic mission. Was it on a mission where force of arms would be an
integral part of the outcome?
The
ship’s Admiral seemed to deny this, if he could be believed. He stated that he
wanted no part of this bloody world war, just a quiet island where he could
escape and consider how he could get his ship and crew home, wherever that was.
Turing believed that it was, indeed, Soviet Russia, and given his best
estimate, he thought it might be at least fifty years in the future, possibly
more.
With
these thoughts and questions in mind the Admiral had come to Bletchley Park
again that day to continue his discussion with the brilliant mathematician. There
was an odd edge to his voice on the line when he had called to arrange the
meeting. Turing could sense that he seemed harried, cautious, worried about
something. The whole scenario was indeed the most troubling event to come along
in the war, though relatively few really knew about it. He had the feeling that
Tovey was very concerned about something.
That
was it, thought Turing. He’s in the know now, just as I was a few weeks back
when I first set my mind on this conclusion about Geronimo . Now he knows…
And
he’s afraid.
The
two men were meeting again in Hut 4, and Admiral Tovey began by reiterating a
very chilling point he had suggested earlier. “Let us humor ourselves and take
your assumption as true for the time being, Professor. If this ship did come
from some other time, then when might it return again? Yes, it vanished as
before, but we waited a long year before we saw it in the Med. Might it
reappear in another year, or a month, or even any day now as it did before?”
“It
very well could, sir,” said Turing.
“And
for that matter, when might another come?” What is it doing, Turing? Have you
given that further thought? Is it deliberately involving itself in these naval
engagements, perhaps with the aim of changing future events? When it vanishes,
where does it go?”
“It’s
all very perplexing, sir, and we can only speculate. Perhaps it returns to its
home base to replenish. That would seem a natural conclusion. Might it return
to our time again? It’s already done that once, so it could certainly be
expected. Might other ships come? That, too is a chilling possibility. But as
to what its mission might be, that is difficult to know. It may indeed be
attempting to alter the course of events. This last incident with the Japanese
was fairly well decisive, wasn’t it? Lucky for us this ship can’t seem to
decide who’s side it on in our little war. In any wise, it doesn’t appear as if
it has an agenda favoring one outcome or another, at least at this point.”
“Quite
so,” said Tovey. “At first I had to believe this ship had it in for the British
Empire. It was driving for the Atlantic Charter conference, and that was a very
pointed thrust. Then this Admiral explained that he was not in control of his
ship at the time, and that there was a difference of opinions on how to
proceed.”
“Your
wolf in the fold, scenario,” said Turing.
“Precisely.
Well, that being the case, I’m of the mind that it simply wants to be left
alone. This Admiral was more than likely still looking for his damnable island,
if you want my opinion on it. The Japanese were just unlucky enough to get in
the way this time.”
“What
was wrong with St.
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