QBLH
by
Determined to set sail for Crete, Jim told Genie to make appropriate course and then he went above decks to join the ladies. Mt. Thera, which had not yet made its cataclysmic eruption, loomed to the northwest.
Jim felt that it was wise best to forget the achievements and successes of yesterday and tomorrow so that he could face today with the same humility as always. Failure to do so would be a dangerous trap towards being ensnared in pride over past successes which eventually leads to laziness in the present. Jim could not afford to make mistakes while in the past. He knew that he would be tempted to make changes, but the mere knowledge of how things would be would force him to not interfere.
He would, however, be able to determine some of the deeper secrets of human history. The most dangerous element would be introduced if Artemis had any more involvement in human history. Having already had two confrontations with the Earth's apparent Guardian, Jim was all the more compelled to prevent his sister from dominating the Earth people. Jim's faith in his God renewed his strength and resolve. Idiot was just as optimistic as ever about mission fulfillment, and had an overabundance of potential space- time trajectories to follow. "I can get you there!" Idiot always promised. Jim programmed Idiot with another fail-safe routine which would create all sorts of bells and whistles if Jim was in danger of creating a causality rift. Idiot would do a constant scan enumerating potential avenues of a time jump escape. If the way out started to appear somewhat restrictive, Idiot would start creating warning flags which would increase in intensity as the danger increased.
As Jim joined the ladies, Antiope noticed a ship on the horizon. "It is just like the simulation, Jim! We shall outrun them Jim, and find our own land. I'm not in the mood for a fight just yet."
Recalling that Antiope and Helen had neither traveled to the past before, he was aware that they had somewhat limited free will to interact, since they had no true knowledge other than what Genie had shown them from its history files as to what had transpired. Jim had ordered Idiot to do a time-lock concerning the release of future records. He alone could gain access by overriding his own lock, which he would be somewhat reluctant to do. This allowed greater stability for Genie's navigational system. Human free will did not mix well with future knowledge. Future knowledge assumed the existence of such and such as a necessity occurrence, and if it happened it was a necessary occurrence. Free will could attempt to invalidate any arbitrary occurrence that the future considered as history. Genie would sound bells and whistles alerting Jim if such were about to happen.
Jim resolved to go along for the ride and give Antiope and Helen the support they needed to stay alive and return with him safely to the future if such was decided. "I'll have Genie give us a slight advantage so you can outrun them, Antiope. Steer the way your heart takes you."
"Who are they, Jim?" asked Helen.
"I would guess its the Cretan Coast Guard, and they are probably curious as to who we are. We'll head north towards that volcanic isle; we need to tell the people to flee."
Instinctively, Jim felt that his first obligation was to instruct the residents of that island to flee for their lives. It would erupt soon and destroy everyone on the island. He had Genie show Antiope and Helen the records concerning Mt. Thera.
"Why do they still live there? They are so silly for living in such great danger."
"Perhaps they feel that their gods will protect them. I have information which leads me to believe that the island administration conducts human sacrifices in order to appease their volcano god."
"How primitive."
"How atrocious."
"Well apparently someone must have made themselves known in the past to the human population as a goddess, and expected the human population to treat her accordingly; and they haven't forgotten the practice, even though she is no longer an Earth resident. We have all sorts of twisted permutations of past practices because of the forgotten knowledge and illusioned beliefs."
"Do you think any of our lost sisters are still alive?"
"If they are, I'm taking them home. You girls can stay here, but I must take any of your sisters back to Artemis."
"And if we choose not to stay?"
"We'll see. I'm not going to force my will upon you."
"Sure, Jim. You'll just trick us into doing what you want, making us think that it was our idea."
"Do I do that?"
"I think I see his point, Helen. I believe he is concerned about our babies. Where shall we raise them?"
"Where we choose, but under his dominion as well."
"But he wants only the best for our children."
Jim smiled, and they knew now that in this time they were both his wives. Isis did not exist here or now, and as long as he was there with them, they knew he was their husband. They did not mind sharing him. Each received all she needed, but then they remembered the incident concerning the royal children. Jim had made an extreme effort to return the children to their proper time. Would he permit his children to live in the past?
"Jim, are you really going to allow your children to grow up in the past?"
"What is the past? Human history, or our future? We know not where our sojourns take us. You are the mothers of your children and I shall honor your instincts."
"So you're not going to tell us?"
"How am I supposed to know what your future orders are? You're choosing the path."
"Don't think so. You're telling us to to that active volcano. It could blow at anytime."
"Genie can clear us out in time. So you don't want to warn the locals of impending disaster. What would you rather do instead?"
"OK, Jim you have us there. Shall we make way to Mt. Thera, then, Helen?"
"With all haste, Antiope. Jim can't you make this boat go any faster?"
The Cretan sailors were amazed at the swiftness of the craft they pursued. After a half hour chase, they discovered that they were losing ground, but the captain could see that they were headed for Keftiu. Minos, king of Crete and Dagon, the Egyptian viceroy of Keftiu were allies, and permitted free travel between the two islands so that trade could flourish. The swiftness of the unknown ship captured the attention of the Cretan ship captain, and he wanted to know more. He continued following the Flying Dutchman to the island.
Keftiu controlled the copper trade, selling both to the Hittites and the Egyptians. The powerful Minoan navy kept the two islands safe from any who chose to attempt an invasion. The island of Keftiu was much smaller than Crete, but it had a tremendous mineral wealth, and the mountain furnaces were used to refine the mined copper into copper ingots which its merchant marine would sell throughout the lands. Dagon kept his navy distributed throughout other islands that he protected. Dagon considered himself king of the sea. Controlling the local beliefs had been a tradition of the Dagon dynasty. The local island god was called Baal-Dagon and in honor to the great legendary queen of heaven he permitted goddess worship as well. A few Amazons lived on the island and were honored as priestesses to the goddess.
Although there had been some rather nasty recent lava flows, the citizenry had been led to believe that every thing was under control. A few sacrifices were made to the fire-god of Dagon and Keftiu, and life continued on as normal. Each day scores of ships would enter laden with treasures in return for the copper exported. Keftiu was an extremely rich city and all of its free citizens lived in great wealth and luxury. The people of Keftiu were well educated with respect to the knowledge of the forge, and many of the men would take turns working in the forge. As pay they would receive an ingot which they would sell on the market.
Many would choose an excursion to Crete and shop there instead of paying inflated Keftiu prices for common goods. Hence many of the Minoan merchants would also ferry passengers between the two isles. Upon arrival in port, each ship however was required to pay a tribute to the lord of the island. The Cretan captain anticipated catching up to these "pirates" there.
Approaching Santorini, Jim slowed down the craft. Many ships were headed both directions, and Jim simply followed the wake of a ship which was in front of him.
"They're still following us, Jim."
"Don't worry Antiope. I know they're there. We might be seeing some action shortly. Change your clothes to the local custom. Put on your Artemis wardrobe signifying your rank as the queen's guard. I have a feeling you might be given immediate due respect. I'll be your 'boy'. Do you think you can act like Amazons? And I'm your slave?"
Helen laughed. "Why this is a dream come true. You really know how to treat a girl, Jim. Of course, I'll let you be my slave."
"Wait a second sister. He's my slave too. But I want him as my concubine."
"We're Amazons. We don't have concubines."
"What man can live with us?"
"It would give Dagon something to think about; seeing Amazons keeping a man."
"Yes, and to let him know that he sleeps with us."
"Why Jim, he would envy you. Do you intend on intimidating him?"