The Depths of Time (78 page)

Thor
’
s Realm—A large Timeshaft Wormhole Farm, near the Tau Ceti star system.

Timeshaft wormhole—A wormhole linking past and future. A hundred-year timeshaft would allow one to travel back and forth exactly one hundred years—no more, no less. In the year 5000
a.d.,
the downtime end of a hundred-year timeshaft would link with the year 5100
a.d.
on the uptime side. A timeshaft experiences normal duration, such that both ends are moving normally through time, from past to future, at the normal rate. In 5001 A.D., the same time-shaft would link with 5101 A.D., and so on. A hypothetical twenty-four-hour timeshaft would link 4:15
p.m.
Tuesday with 4:15
p.m.
Wednesday. Two days later, 12:05
a.m.
Thursday would be linked with 12:05
a.m.
Friday. Move from the downtime to the uptime end of a timeshaft, spend five minutes on the uptime side, and then return to the downtime side, and it will be five minutes later there as well.

Upper—Slang term for members of the upper classes on Solace, used by the rural and lower classes.

Uptime—Referring to events in or travel toward the future as regards a timeshaft wormhole. For a hundred-year timeshaft connecting 5100
a.d.
and 5000
a.d.,
5100
a.d.
would be the uptime end.

C.P.S.
Upholder
—The Uptime Chronologic Patrol ship, commanded by Captain Anton Koffield, that survived the attack of the Intruders during the Circum Central incident.