Time After Time, Part One: Time After Time, #1

By Tim Davis

Time After Time, Part One tells two stories in parallel, one from most ancient Egypt (Kemet) told by Ishaq, an escaped servant of Tehuti—the revered demigod, the other story from modern times told through the eyes of Isaac, a grad school dropout entranced by alternative views of the ancient world—who gets an opportunity to explore it firsthand.

 

In the ancient story, Ishaq escapes from his demigod master, Tehuti. He flees up the Nile to the capital of the land of Kemet. There he becomes one of many builders of the great pyramid. Years later, Tehuti visits the great city and suspects him. Ishaq is smitten with the master's youngest wife, Zahra. A natural disaster twists their fates together, as the three of them, along with a male servant, take refuge in the nearly completed pyramid. There Ishaq's survival depends upon his value as a guide through the passges of the mighty structure. In secret, Zahra asks Ishaq for help to escape her abuser, before her demigod master kills him.

 

In the modern story, two old friends—Hannah and her ex from college, Isaac, get together at a coffee shop in Cornell, NY. to discuss astronomical physics. Hannah is a graduate student and researcher at the Carl Sagan Institute of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science. Isaac, her former classmate who majored in Classics at Cornell—a courseload covering everything from lost languages to archaeology believes that either the moon has begun to drift away from earth more rapidly than before, or time . . . never mind, that other explanation is impossible. Yet a more "primitive" test used by ancient astronomers seems to bear out this hypothesis. When Isaac verfies the change during a soloar eclipse, he catches the attention of a wealthy and beautiful Egyptian woman who seems overly interested in alternative theories about ancient Egypt. 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tim Davis
• Release date: Feb 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224852987

Tim Davis

Tim Davis has worked as a professional illustrator and published author for over three decades. The most prolific Hidden Pictures illustrator in Highlights magazine's history, Tim has taught workshops for the iconic children's magazine to train other illustrators in the art of Hidden Picture creation. Now he teaches some of those same techniques to elementary students. Tim has written and illustrated 13 children's chapter books: the Mice of the Herring Bone series (5 books) and the Tales of Dust River Gulch series (2 books). Most recent books are: the Island Rule series (3 books) The Island Rule, The Island Rules? & The Island Rules! and the Mort the Mushroom series (3 books) Mort and the Sour Scheme, Mort Finds his Roots & Mort's Circle. Tim regularly teaches writing and illustration in elementary schools through the Smart Arts program of the Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville, SC.

Book preview

Behind a Mask          

The sun had shown its face at last, breaking through the cloud barrier so long parked over central New York State. But it was only late March, so locals recognized this false face, surely to be eclipsed by another dark expression of winter before spring came to stay.

Yet the university campus bloomed. Students branched out like ivy to cover the parks and cafes throughout the historic, small but significant city of Ithaca, New York. Two students, one grad, one former, sat facing each other at a corner table in Gimme! a favorite at Cornell.

This is not happening, Isaac! Hannah declared. She covered her face by sipping her wide-rimmed latte.

But what if it is? he replied, leaning in until coffee fogged his glasses.

Too loud, their disagreement drew sideglances from the couple at a nearby table. It must have seemed like just another coffeeshop lover's quarrel, but this argument was more about relativity than their relationship. Yet the two obviously had a backstory. 

Hannah looked every bit the science grad assistant in a smart blazer over a white collared shirt, paired with black slacks. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, showcasing her sharp features and bright green eyes. Professional, confident, ready to take on any question thrown her way. Except maybe the ones Isaac was asking her right at this moment.

I'm just saying, what if we're missing something? he kept his voice low. Our understanding of time and space is limited. What if these changes in the moon are affecting the passage of time itself?

Hannah rolled her eyes. That's just crazy talk!

The guy at the next table dared to ask, Is everything OK?

Isaac dropped his chin onto his hands to cover his mouth and sighed, afraid of how he might respond. Dressed in well-worn jeans and a faded Pink Floyd tee featuring their album Dark Side of the Moon. He rubbed the day's worth of stubble on his chin. He couldn't help but wonder if his casual appearance was what worried their nosy neighbors, or if it was the color of his skin.

Hannah forced a smile and responded, Everything's fine.

The couple eyed Isaac, nodded to each other, then stood up to leave—thankfully.

Hannah offered Isaac an apology for them.

He shook it off and continued, Look, Hannah, I know you're in the system—grad assistant at the Carl Sagan Institute—you check all the right boxes. Get all the right research grants . . .

Come on, Isaac, she sighed, Are you really going there?

"I went there!"

You dropped out of the program, Isaac. I didn't.

Believe it or not, I can still read and analyze data. And I'm not the only one wondering what's going on with the moon's orbit—some who wonder are even at Cornell.

Hannah bit her lip—it had been a long time, but this was a familiar battleground for the two of them. She continued, Lunar ranging technology has been around a long time. We simply need to analyze new data sensibly so we can nudge the distance properly.

So everything will fit into the pre-established pattern? Isaac asked, with just the slightest smirk.

Hannah doubled down, We're using the most advanced technology to calculate accurate observations and measurements, Isaac.

"But what if that technology puts a mask on our faces? What if the ancients had a deeper, more direct understanding of the universe? Maybe we've lost that by forcing ourselves to see through those instruments and their algorithms?"

Back into the Wayback machine again, Isaac?

He sighed, then tried another approach, "Hannah—why are we here at Gimme! instead of sitting at Starbucks?"

Hannah pushed back from the table and rolled her eyes, And this somehow relates? Or are you waving the white flag here by changing the subject?

Stick with me in this, Okay?

I'll try.

"Starbucks has a system in place—everything is timed and mechanized. Baristas there don't really tap into a learned skillset like they do here. There it's all automated. . . But  here you know their product is better. Isaac leaned back and took a long satisfying sip, Coffee is a science, Hannah."

Like the orbit of the moon? Hannah sneered.

"Just considering the process, there are similarities. Third wave coffee shops like this one took a step back from certain technologies used by places like Starbucks to give more control to the observations and insights of their scientists—trained baristas."

Hannah couldn't help but smile, Isaac, only you could've come up with an analogy like that.

Makes you wonder how good ancient Egyptian coffee must have been, doesn't it?

Hannah laughed.

Isaac leaned forward, a glint in his eye. The Ancient Egyptians, Mayans, and other civilizations were able to track time through astronomy and develop complex calendar systems. Thus they established a reliable schedule for agriculture. Maybe coffee too?

This is still pretty good, Hannah took a long sip.

You know, it's all about timing.

Coffee?

Isaac smiled, Well, yes . . . and moon orbit, distance measurement, too.

All right, Isaac. Stretch out your analogy for me.

Well . . . think of that espresso machine over there like a lunar surface reflector.

What? Hannah scrunched up her face in disbelief.

Just kidding! he laughed. Actually I've got another analogy—clocks. Digital or analog?

I'm sure the correct answer for you is analog.

Well, of course. It's closer to the original. Like the Antikythera mechanism was.

Antikyth . . . Okay, I'll bite. What is it?

The Antikythera mechanism was an ancient timepiece which simulated the orbits of celestial bodies—all driven by a complex combination of gears.

So, a wind-up clock? How old?

More of a navigation device. It was found in a shipwreck dated 200 BC. Nothing that complex was devised again until the 18th century.

Those clever ancients at it again, Hannah sighed.

They probably got it from the Egyptians—further back. You know, their understanding of time was drawn from the consistent orbit of celestial bodies.

Isaac paused for dramatic effect, their eyes locked in unspoken debate.  Then he ventured, "But what if those orbits became inconsistent?"

Hannah shook her head. Time is a constant unchanging aspect of the universe.

Is it though? Isaac asked, his eyes shining with excitement. What if we're looking at it all wrong? Westerners think in timelines we read left to right—like our language. Did you know language based timelines all read like the dominant language used? Left-right. Right-left. Even Up-down.

Cool. But your point being . . .

Isaac pulled out a pen and pushed a napkin to the middle of the table between them."You