time-travel-research

In this chapter, Colin, Polly, and Mr. Dunworthy navigate wartime London on foot to reach St. Paul's Cathedral amidst ongoing bombings and blackouts. Colin reveals that Michael Davies, previously thought dead, had faked his death to send coded messages that ultimately helped locate Polly and Mr. Dunworthy, though Davies himself was later killed by a V-1 bomb. The group reflects on their losses and the sacrifices made, while Colin's extensive research into historical records underscores the persistence required to uncover the truth and bring them home.

This chapter introduces Benjamin Steward, a member of a guild of time-traveling researchers known as the Characters, who prepare for a mission to record Abraham Lincoln's 1856 speech against slavery. The dialogue reveals the Characters' unique skills, their approach to historical research, and the complexities of their assignments, including the political tensions of the Old Nation on the brink of rebellion. The chapter also explores the interpersonal dynamics among the Characters and their attitudes toward history and modern cultural trends.