A Collision In Time

By following craftiness, one learns how to be crafty. By following wisdom, one learns how to be wise.

– unknown, Sumerian proverb

Winter, 3203 BC (October 15th, Gregorian), Uruk, Sumeria

Emerson awoke wrapped in a fog. Half conscious, he searched for the comfortable sounds of home. With no rooster crowing or the aroma of fresh-baked bread, his memory slowly returned. He turned over and noticed Cara and Dov still asleep. They slept peacefully. Next he noticed his full bladder. He rose and snuck outside, where he found Ariel and Uriel chatting with Kushim. Emerson had hoped to stay unseen.

“Good morning, Emerson. How did you sleep?” asked Uriel.

“Good morning. I think I drank too much wine.” He blushed and smiled at Kushim. “Can you please apologize to Kushim? Also, can you point me to a bathroom?”

Uriel spoke to Kushim, who laughed and replied. Uriel translated: “Everyone sipped too much wine. Also, you can use the toilet in the room there.” Uriel pointed. “Remember, Uruk is not blessed with modern technology.”

Emerson remembered the feeling of dread, the chill that flowed through him when he had looked at the ziggurat. Should he say something? He decided he must have imagined it. It was the wine.

When Emerson returned to the backyard hut, he overheard Cara and Dov chatting. He opened the cedar door, peeked in, then went inside. Dov and Cara still lay on their mats, a woven blanket on top of them. He remained quiet.

“Good morning, Em, how are you?” Dov smiled at him.

“A little foggy, to be honest. You?”

“The same, to be honest. We are slow to wake up.”

Emerson nodded. “Hey, any idea if we have something that works like toothpaste?”

“Look in the blue bag by the basin. Did you have fun last night?”

“Fun? I guess so.”

Dov snickered. “It became a blur for me too.”

A knock at the door interrupted them. Uriel and Ariel entered, crowding the small hut. Uriel spoke. “There is breakfast served at Kushim’s, and heated water you can use to wash up. After breakfast, we planned to gather our luggage and equipment. Kushim and his entire family have kindly offered to assist us.”

“Perfect,” said Dov. “That will speed up the effort. Breakfast sounds great. We will be there shortly.”

“Do we have headache medicine?” Emerson asked sheepishly.

“Yes we do, but at the camp. It’s fast-acting; should do the trick,” Uriel answered.

“Well, the sooner we go then, the better,” said Emerson.

“One more thing,” Uriel said. He tossed a pair of sandals to Emerson and to Cara. “I imagine these should help.”

After breakfast, Kushim’s family gathered along with the five time travelers in front of Kushim’s home, where a collection of colored woven baskets had been laid out, each with shoulder straps attached. Taking direction from Kushim’s son, Alad, they swung the baskets over their heads and headed out.

* * *

Dov jogged ahead and joined Kushim and Iamma as they passed through the gateway of the ancient city. “May we have a conversation?” Dov asked, unsure of her translation.

Kushim looked at Dov as they walked side by side.

“Good luck,” subvocalized Cara. She nodded encouragement to Dov.

Dov smiled back in gratitude. She subvocalized, “Should you have any ideas as you hear me, don’t be shy to help me.”

Dov looked to Kushim. “Again, we thank you for your food, your accommodation, and for allowing us to join you at the games. We enjoyed time with your family. You have been most welcoming.”

Iamma smiled. “We have relished meeting you, Dov.”

Kushim’s expression became serious. “Now please tell us who you are and how you understand the threats to me. Have the gods sent you?”

Dov laughed, then covered her mouth quickly. “I should not have laughed. We are very human.”

She looked at Uriel and Ariel, suddenly uncertain. She subvocalized to the group, “How will I explain our equipment and technology? Uriel, Ariel, what if you have to switch off your holographic skin?”

“Maybe invoking deity may not be a bad idea, Dov,” Cara subvocalized back.

“I expect Modi won’t hide his abilities,” added Emerson on the subvocalizer.

“Fuck it,” whispered Dov, not using her subvocalizer. She again faced Kushim and Iamma. “I am human, but we are guided by our gods. The gods have provided us with tools you have not seen before. These will seem magical and you won’t understand them, or some actions by Uriel and Ariel. Together our mystical instruments will help protect you from a cunning adversary who will soon arrive. He will also appear to use magic.”

“How can we know you tell the truth?” asked Kushim. “What are the tools used for?”

“When we arrive at our camp, you will see the truth of what I speak, then decide for yourself. The tools are used to provide us with the eyesight of a bird and the vision of an oracle who reads the patterns of the sun, the moons, and the clouds to predict events. This is why we know of a threat to you. Our tools have predicted it. We wish to protect you, as I have said.”

Kushim looked behind him and scanned his family. He then continued forward, his expression a blank. He took Iamma’s hand and together they eased forward to separate themselves from Dov.

“His vital signs show he is worried,” subvocalized Uriel.

“I can’t blame him for that,” responded Dov.

At camp, Emerson and Cara intentionally left with the children to explore the forests near the river. To avoid complicating the time-wave stability, only Kushim and Iamma would be offered a sneak peek into future technologies, and only to the extent necessary to ensure their cooperation.

Ariel called Iamma and Kushim together and displayed his hand. A nano-drone as small as a fly gently lifted from his palm. Beside him, Uriel triggered a three-dimensional holographic image. It displayed the video perspective from the nano-drone’s camera. As the drone hovered and lifted above them, the scene reflected in the holograph. Ariel guided the drone toward the forest where the children played and displayed the scene in front of Kushim and Iamma for them to see.

Dov stood between Kushim and Iamma, holding each of their hands. “We can see as a bird is able to.” She squeezed their hands. “We can also predict events that will happen many days from now.”

Iamma released Dov’s hand and backed away. Kushim walked to the hologram and reached forward. His hand passed through the image, distorting the picture. He immediately pulled back, watching Dov, then joined his wife. He stayed silent.

“Please bring back the drone, Uriel,” Dov instructed. She approached Kushim and Iamma. ’You are an important man,” Dov reiterated in Sumerian. “We only come to help. I promise this is the truth.”

Dov subvocalized, “Cara, please come back with the kids. Let’s pack up and go.”

They moved the contents of the camp efficiently and in excellent time. Before long Uriel and Ariel had started to reassemble the computer hardware within the private confines of Kushim’s courtyard.

Emerson stood beside Kushim, both transfixed by the dance of the robot engineers. Uriel and Ariel rapidly arranged solar generators, computing equipment, and projectors upon pottery, cedar tables, mud-formed benches, and anything else at hand that didn’t seem to have an immediate purpose. Kushim left to join his family as they were networking it all with wiring, but Dov and Cara joined them when they powered up the systems, waiting for the software algorithms to provide time-wave results. It didn’t take long for the data to be displayed on the screens.

“Nothing definitive,” said Uriel, sitting cross-legged on the ground to examine the data flows.

Cara stood behind Uriel, her hands resting on his shoulders. “What do you mean?”

Dov answered. “The time disturbance seems to have smoothed. There are more calculations to do, but the evidence suggests the disturbance won’t happen anytime soon.”

“Meaning?” pushed Emerson.

“Well, by comparison to Sandon, there the data indicated an anomaly was imminent, and it took only two days for events to unfold. Boston had the same relative pattern. But today there’s nothing unusual shown by the time-wave. Of course we must monitor continually, but in the immediate future, the time-wave is relatively smooth, still in flux.”

“Like how long in the immediate future?” Emerson asked.

Uriel replied. “A week at least, I’m afraid; perhaps more. Possibly a month.”

“A month? What the hell do y’all do for a month?”

“I’m estimating when I say a month.”

“What I suspect,” Dov interjected, “is this all relates to Modi. He was the trigger for events in Sarajevo, then Boston and Sandon. He must be changing tactics due to our successes—or his failures. I suspect his plans are not defined and in play, which is why the time-wave smoothed. There are nevertheless clear indications that Kushim is still the target.”

“So what shall we do until we know more?” asked Cara.” What about the passage of time? I assume we can’t reverse a month of ageing as we wait?”

“There is honestly mixed research on that,” said Dov. “But yes, you are fundamentally correct. We didn’t become six thousand years younger when we arrived. Relative time still matters.”

“So let’s try and not age too much, shall we?” said Cara, and laughed.

Kushim agreed to continue to host the travelers in exchange for their labor, and to ensure they kept him apprised of any threats. Over the next two weeks, routine set in. Ariel and Uriel continued to focus on refining their algorithms, searching for patterns and calibrating their instruments. The lack of precise reference clocks, ironically, made the exercise steadily more difficult. The calibration necessary meant the two of them worked during the night, using the placement of the stars and planets as observation points.

As part of the exchange, Dov and Cara learned pottery skills from Iamma and they crafted increasingly complex and ornate bowls, cups, water pitchers, and ornaments. They accompanied Iamma and her daughters to the market, though they worked not to draw attention to themselves.

As the weeks passed, Emerson also settled in. He worked with Kushim’s sons, helping them dig and reinforce water canals in the neighborhood, tend the gardens, and construct or repair items around the home. Emerson tanned under the desert sun and assimilated well, learning the Sumerian language and culture.

* * *

One night Emerson observed Cara and Dov preparing to leave Kushim’s home following the evening meal. “May I join you two?” he asked. “Y’all always take off after supper by yourselves.”

He saw them glance at each other.

“Of course, Em. You are always welcome,” Cara said quickly. “We do the same walk each night.”

“Your company would be appreciated,” added Dov. “We do get looks from some of the men that scare me. Grab your sandals. We can meet out front.”

He had second thoughts, feeling he’d interfered with their time together, but took Dov at her word. It would be nice to have their companionship. He met them out front and saw them holding hands as he arrived. Cara’s hand moved away from Dov’s when she saw him.

Emerson reddened. “Are you sure you don’t mind me being here? If you need alone time, I get it.”

Dov blushed in return. “Don’t be silly, Em. Let’s go.” She pointed out the direction.

They ambled away from Kushim’s home along streets lined with simple rectangular mud and cedar beam homes and villas resembling Kushim’s. Palm trees brought shade to the street, and water flowed along small irrigation canals along either side of the sand road.

“How far do you travel?” Emerson asked.

“Toward a walled garden. It’s just a few more minutes around the corner.”

Their path swept around a house and they neared the arched entranceway to the garden. Three men stood near the entrance, partially blocking their way. They were dressed in unusual black tunics.

“Please let us pass,” said Dov in Sumerian at the garden’s gate. She avoided eye contact and looked toward the ground, as Iamma had taught them.

The men didn’t move. They laughed.

“Let’s leave,” Cara subvocalized.

One of the men reached out and touched Dov on her breast, and snorted.

Emerson launched forward, forcing himself between Dov and the man. He pushed the Sumerian’s hand off Dov. “Fuck you,” he yelled. In English.

The man stopped, taken aback by the size and ferocity of Emerson.

Cara grabbed Emerson. “Let’s go, Em,” she said in English.

The men yelled at them in anger as they ran back the way they’d come.

* * *

The following day, Kushim called for silence before the evening meal. He addressed Dov in Sumerian. “You must ensure that your friends understand what I am about to say.”

“Yes, of course.”

Kushim spoke at some length without pausing. He nodded to indicate when he had finished.

Dov spoke. “First, I assume you all understood that?”

Emerson and Cara nodded.

“Mostly, but I missed some important bit, I think,” admitted Emerson.

“We have to be careful, I heard?” said Cara.

“Yes, it appears we are causing jealousy and rumor. Maybe the incident yesterday near the garden? The mood of the city is shifting. It’s likely best if we stay around here, if we can. Iamma has agreed to help us when we need supplies.”

* * *

One week later Dov woke in a sweat, her face spotted. She stayed in bed through the day and Cara visited her as evening approached. Cara touched her forehead. “Holy shit, Dov, you’re burning up.”

“I feel awful,” Dov said.

Cara wet a rag and placed it on her forehead. “Would you like anything to drink?”

“Water, please.” Dov lay back down on her mat. “I have no energy. I only want to sleep.”

“Are you hungry?”

“No, but I’m freezing. Can you put another blanket on me?”

“Of course.” Cara placed a woven blanket over Dov and left her resting.

Dov’s temperature spiked, and she continued to lack appetite and energy. They moved her into a hastily assembled infirmary in a small shed near the back wall, stocking it with clean woven blankets, monitoring equipment and, to the extent possible in Uruk, sterile conditions. Besides medication brought from Pachamama that helped cut the fever, Ariel and Uriel had little to offer. They didn’t understand the root cause of the illness—whether it was a virus or bacterial infection, or how contagious it may be.

Her illness shifted the dynamics of the group. Cara rarely left her, ignoring the advice of Uriel, skipping meals with Kushim and family, and distancing from Emerson and Ariel. After three days, Uriel walked into the hut while Cara sat quietly next to Dov, who slept. Uriel touched Dov’s head. “Her fever is holding, but the temperature is still too high.”

Cara only nodded.

“Cara, why don’t you let me take a shift? Kushim’s family is about to sit down for dinner, and Emerson keeps asking about you both. I cannot get sick, as you know.”

“I thought of that, but it was too late. What if I am contagious? I could pass it on to Kushim’s family.”

“I don’t think so. She’s the only one sick. We could not have contained it, given these conditions.”

Cara shook her head. “No, better safe than sorry, in case I am patient zero. Besides, what more can you do?”

“You’d be surprised, Cara. We hold a full digital scan of Dov. Ariel is coding algorithms to simulate Dov’s biological conditions to predict and isolate the contagion and thereafter process drug interactions. We will deduce the illness soon.”

“That sounds great, Uriel, but I’ve got this.”

“Fine, I’ll be back with food for you, and sterilized water. When Dov awakes, make sure she gets some water.”

“Of course, Uriel.”

Uriel didn’t return with food; Emerson delivered it. Cara saw him hesitate before he entered to see her and Dov.

“Hey Emerson, thanks for bringing that. Did Uriel send you?”

“No, I offered. How’s Dov doing?”

“Not great.” Cara calmed her voice. “Ariel is writing software to simulate the illness and predict the kind of drug needed.”

“Well, if there is anything I can do, just ask.”

“Thanks, Emerson.”

They sat together in silence for a few minutes. Emerson began twice to say something but stopped himself.

“Emerson, what’s wrong?”

“I am quite worried about Dov.”

“No, I think there is something else bothering you. Emerson, you can tell me.” She softened her voice and tried to hide her irritation.

“Well, I know Dov became sick, but even before she did, y’all seldom included me, or even asked me to join you two when you were doing things.”

Cara reacted. “Emerson, what the hell?” she snapped. “Your timing is impeccable. Where did this come from?”

Emerson backed away. “Well, it’s obvious I’m the third wheel.” He stood. “I hope Dov gets better soon, but…” He didn’t finish the sentence. “I gotta go.” He moved to the door.

Dov stirred and moaned as Emerson started to close the door. “Cara?”

Hearing Dov’s voice, Emerson paused as if considering coming back in to check on Dov. Instead, he closed the door.

Dov fell back asleep holding Cara’s hand.

Uriel and Ariel returned a few hours later. They emulated traditional doctors. Cara studied them, amused, interested in how their AI personalities shifted to the situation at hand. She rose and stepped away to give them space. “Guys, I am pretty tired, and I had an argument with Emerson. May I ask one of you to take my shift?”

Uriel rolled up his sleeves. “We are here to address two issues, Cara. First, of course, is Dov’s illness, and Ariel has made a lot of progress on that.”

“Indeed,” said Ariel. “I was able to identify the contagion. It is a virus, one for which this population has established immunity. We synthesized a vaccine and an antibody cocktail that will act swiftly.”

“Wonderful, that’s amazing,” Cara said. “And when will you give it to her?”

“Right now. And if you don’t mind, we will vaccinate you as well.”

“How do you know the vaccine is safe? Shouldn’t it go through testing? I understand that clinical trials would be ridiculous, but still.”

Ariel answered. “Centuries ago we developed digital simulations for drug efficacy and safety using synthetic human subjects ‘in silicon,’ so to speak. Digital human twins, per se. So we don’t need to run human or animal trials anymore. Our algorithms are quite accurate and we have good confidence with this vaccine.”

“Okay,” Cara said and digested the response. “Well then, please, let’s do it now.” Cara paused. “But you said two issues; what’s the other?”

“The second issue is more complicated than virology.” Uriel smirked as he prepared the vaccine dosage for Dov. “Though it relates to biochemistry.” He waited for Cara to react.

“And?’

“After we vaccinate everyone, you need to talk to Emerson. His demeanor is dark and creates a mood even more contagious than this virus.”

Cara rolled her eyes. “I promise I will talk with him tomorrow. I am so tired right now that I could easily make it worse. Anyway, he also needs to calm down.”

Uriel chuckled. “Tomorrow sounds like a better idea.”