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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