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Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction

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"Probably."<br />

"But <strong>the</strong> chances of that happening are infinitesimal. Did <strong>the</strong>y<br />

chase <strong>the</strong>ir prey to <strong>the</strong> wrong worldline?"<br />

"Unlikely."<br />

"Unlikely? Have you forgotten how many mistakes we made<br />

when we were young?"<br />

"No. But our equipment--<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>irs must be equivalent--never<br />

set us in <strong>the</strong> wrong world."<br />

"True. Then what are <strong>the</strong>y doing here? Going after ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />

guy?"<br />

"No."<br />

"No? How can we be tracing <strong>the</strong> same guy? We're from ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />

worldline, fergarciasakes!"<br />

"Look, Watt. We have fingerprints, iris scan, DNA-sequence <strong>and</strong><br />

exact age of our quarry. If <strong>the</strong>irs has exactly <strong>the</strong> same characteristics,<br />

which is so unlikely as to be well-nigh impossible, for all purposes he<br />

is our quarry."<br />

"I get you. He's <strong>the</strong> same guy, but from <strong>the</strong>ir worldline."<br />

"Right. So probably also somewhat less devious, less<br />

experienced as our quarry."<br />

"Aha. Easier to trace."<br />

"And he might lead us to our quarry. I suspect our man--who<br />

after all managed to fabricate his own TTT, a feat unparalleled in <strong>the</strong><br />

Multiverse--picked up or contacted our juniors' quarry from his<br />

worldline."<br />

"Reinforcements from a parallel Universe. So we can cooperate<br />

with our juniors? We're <strong>the</strong> best mentors <strong>the</strong>y could wish for."<br />

"Unfortunately not. I checked <strong>the</strong> rules: In <strong>the</strong> extremely unlikely<br />

event of meeting fellow agents from a near-identical timeline, keep<br />

your mutual distance. In <strong>the</strong> General Multiverse Treaty it was<br />

decided that each worldline in possession of TTT-equipment must<br />

take care of its own renegades. O<strong>the</strong>rwise we'll never stop working, I<br />

guess."<br />

"A shame. Imagine <strong>the</strong> flamboyance of my youth combined with<br />

<strong>the</strong> experience of my superior years..."<br />

"I think no parallel world is quite ready for that."<br />

'Reconquista, Ferdin<strong>and</strong>!' said <strong>the</strong> Hailmaryman<br />

Ferdin<strong>and</strong> III, king of Castile <strong>and</strong> Leon, is talking with his best<br />

spy. He doesn't like what he's hearing but this is one of <strong>the</strong> qualities<br />

that make this man so valuable: he does not twist <strong>the</strong> truth in order to<br />

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