The Time Traders by Andre Norton (spiritual books to read txt) ๐
Description
The Time Traders is the first book in Andre Nortonโs Time Traders series. First published in 1958 by World Publishing Co., The Time Traders is told from the perspective of Ross Murdock, a young criminal faced with a choice: be turned over to the new Rehabilitation Service or volunteer for a secret government project.
Murdock chooses the secret government project, hoping for a chance to escape. At the Arctic base he learns what the project is, and instead of escaping he joins a team posing as Beaker Traders during Europeโs Bronze Age. His team makes several jumps through time searching for the source of technology the Reds are using to gain advantages in the present.
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- Author: Andre Norton
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By Andre Norton.
Table of Contents Titlepage Imprint I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII Colophon Uncopyright ImprintThis ebook is the product of many hours of hard work by volunteers for Standard Ebooks, and builds on the hard work of other literature lovers made possible by the public domain.
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ITo anyone who glanced casually inside the detention room the young man sitting there did not seem very formidable. In height he might have been a little above average, but not enough to make him noticeable. His brown hair was cropped conservatively; his unlined boyโs face was not one to be rememberedโ โunless one was observant enough to note those light-gray eyes and catch a chilling, measuring expression showing now and then for an instant in their depths.
Neatly and inconspicuously dressed, in this last quarter of the twentieth century his like was to be found on any street of the city ten floors belowโ โto all outward appearances. But that other person under the protective coloring so assiduously cultivated could touch heights of encased and controlled fury which Murdock himself did not understand and was only just learning to use as a weapon against a world he had always found hostile.
He was aware, though he gave no sign of it, that a guard was watching him. The cop on duty was an old handโ โhe probably expected some reaction other than passive acceptance from the prisoner. But he was not going to get it. The law had Ross sewed up tight this time. Why didnโt they get about the business of shipping him off? Why had he had that afternoon session with the skull thumper? Ross had been on the defensive then, and he had not liked it. He had given to the otherโs questions all the attention his shrewd mind could muster, but a faint, very faint, apprehension still clung to the memory of that meeting.
The door of the detention room opened. Ross did not turn his head, but the guard cleared his throat as if their hour of mutual silence had dried his vocal cords. โOn your feet, Murdock! The judge wants to see you.โ
Ross rose smoothly, with every muscle under fluid control. It never paid to talk back, to allow any sign of defiance to show. He would go through the motions as if he were a bad little boy who had realized his errors. It was a meek-and-mild act that had paid off more than once in Rossโs checkered past. So he faced the man seated behind the desk in the other room with an uncertain, diffident smile, standing with boyish awkwardness, respectfully waiting for the other to speak first.
Judge Ord Rawle. It was his rotten luck to pull old Eagle Beak on his case. Well, he would simply have to take it when the old boy dished it out. Not that he had to remain stuck with it laterโ โโ โฆ
โYou have a bad record, young man.โ
Ross allowed his smile to fade; his shoulders slumped. But under concealing lids his eyes showed an instant of cold defiance.
โYes, sir,โ he agreed in a voice carefully cultivated to shake convincingly about the edges. Then suddenly all Rossโs pleasure in the skill of his act was wiped away. Judge Rawle was not alone; that blasted skull thumper was sitting there, watching the prisoner with the same keenness he had shown the other day.
โA very bad record for the few years you have had to make it.โ Eagle Beak was staring at him, too, but without the same look of penetration, luckily for Ross. โBy rights, you should be turned over to the new Rehabilitation Serviceโ โโ โฆโ
Ross froze inside. That was the โtreatment,โ icy rumors of which had spread throughout his particular world. For the second time since he had entered the room his self-confidence was jarred. Then he clung with a degree of hope to the phrasing of that last sentence.
โInstead, I have been authorized to offer you a choice, Murdock. One which I shall stateโ โand on recordโ โI do not in the least approve.โ
Rossโs twinge of fear faded. If the judge didnโt like it, there must be something in it to the advantage of Ross Murdock. Heโd grab it for sure!
โThere is a government project in need of volunteers. It seems that you have tested out as possible material for this assignment. If you sign for it, the law will consider the time spent on it as part of your sentence. Thus you may aid the country which you have heretofore disgracedโ โโ
โAnd if I refuse, I go to this rehabilitation. Is that right, sir?โ
โI certainly consider you a fit candidate for rehabilitation. Your recordโ โโ He shuffled through the papers on his desk.
โI choose to volunteer for the project, sir.โ
The judge snorted and pushed all the papers into a folder. He spoke to a man waiting in the shadows. โHere then is your volunteer, Major.โ
Ross bottled in his relief. He was over the first hump. And since his luck had held so far, he might be about to win
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