timeline

Characters

Robert Doniger – brilliant scientist; owner of ITC; cruel, vindictive, anti-social, and predatory; little respect for fellow human beings; wants power and profit above all else

Diane Kramer – head attorney at ITC; aloof, intelligent, and professional; only one who can deal with Doniger; enables Doniger’s behavior; weak characters; wants money and prestige

Edward Johnston – professor of history and Yale; highly popular among students; around 60 years old; charming; has very detailed knowledge of history

Chris Hughes – graduate student; engrossed in his work; judgmental and picky; fears life; goes through a change during time in France

Andre Marek – assistant professor of history at Yale; believes in chivalry; trains as a knight; believes in honor, duty, and protecting damsels in distress; knows survival is the only priority

Kate Erickson – specializes in medieval architecture; athletic; confident; enjoys rock climbing; likes hands-on research

Lady Claire D’Eltham – lives in medieval times; strong; widow; relies on wits and wiles for survival; protecting her land holdings

Guy de Malegant – warrior knight; commands many soldiers; always in need of money; plans to marry Lady Claire; can be ruthless

Arnaut de Cervole – defrocked monk; commands a large army; greedy for power, lands, and wealth

Oliver de Vannes – English knight; disgusting and rude; paranoid; rules with cruelty; greedy for power and wealth

Elsie Kastner – graphologist for the Dordogne project; studies ancient documents; corporate spy for ITC

Places

International Technology Corporation (ITC) – multi-billion dollar company; low profile; located in Black Rock, New Mexico; owned by Robert Doniger

Castelgard – built in medieval times; on the English side of the Dordogne River; built to oppose the French castle of La Roque; held by Oliver de Vannes

La Roque – castle built in medieval times; on the French side of the Dordogne River; stronger fortress than Castelgard; held by Oliver de Vannes

Monastery of Sainte-Mire – built on the Dordogne River; information about the secret passage to La Roque is in the monastery

Water Mill at Sainte-Mire – built on the Dordogne River; holds Marcel’s key, which “opens” the secret passage into La Roque

Green Chapel – built next to a river and over an underground waterway; covered in mold; the secret entrance into La Roque is found here

Objects

Brother Marcel’s Key – helps “open” the secret passage into La Roque; not really an actual key

Shielding Panels – curved glass panels (10’ x 15’ x 2’); filled with water to prevent transcription errors in travelers

Quantum Computers – use all 32 potential quantum states of an electron; in theory, can compute in alternate universes simultaneously

Quantum Foam – minute imperfections in space-time at quantum level; allows for travel to other universes

Plot Summary

Timeline by Michael Crichton takes place in two separate centuries: a future world with unimaginable technology and 14th century France. The author creates a time-travel tale using the concept of quantum physics, which is plausible enough to draw the reader in to the fast-paced adventure.

Robert Doniger, an evil and highly-driven man, heads the International Technology Corporation. He develops a process using quantum technology, which allows humans to travel to different times. Doniger feels he can profit immensely from this technology, so he buys all the land surrounding some medieval ruins along the Dordogne River in France. He hires a highly respected team of historians from Yale to excavate the site hoping to reconstruct the area for profit. As the historians work on the site, Doniger is also sending some of his own people back to medieval times to record the actual details for the buildings.

Two of the historians, Professor Johnston and Andre Marek, become suspicious of ITC. Kate Erickson is sent by Doniger to find out why progress at the site is slow. She slips while talking to Johnston and reveals details she shouldn’t know. Professor Johnston believes Doniger hired a separate team to work on the site and is planning to withdraw his funding. He demands to see Doniger and leaves with Erickson for New Mexico.

While Johnston is gone, his team finds an ancient document in the Monastery of Saint-Mire. This leads to an astonishing discovery: Professor Johnston’s handwriting is found on the document. Marek tries to reach Johnston, but he can’t get in touch with him. Doniger approaches the team and tells them Professor Johnston is trapped in fourteenth century France. Marek, Kate, and Chris travel back to medieval France in order to rescue the professor.

The historians soon become entangled with the events at Castelgard and La Roque. Professor Johnston has been taken captive, and his students must try to rescue him. All are tested to their limits as they attempt to navigate the situation and return safely to their own time.

Meanwhile, in New Mexico, another member of the team, David Stern, fights to keep Doniger’s ruthless plans from taking place. When the shielding panels are damaged, David is the one to find the solution. This ensures his colleagues safe return.

Once home the historians find out Doniger’s true nature. With Stern’s help, Gordon is able to find a fitting end for Robert Doniger. The historians return to their lives, and Gordon takes control of ITC.

Chapter Breakdown

“Introduction” Crichton blends scientific facts with fiction in this book. The introduction allows the

reader to see the theme of scientific hubris (excessive pride). The author also uses this opportunity to introduce the key players in quantum physics to the reader. The fictional company, ITC, is presented as the leader. There is, however, an element of tragedy associated with this company.

“Excerpt” This section gives Crichton an opening to establish the historical aspect of the story.

It gives the reader a foretaste of events that can occur when technology and history meet.

“Corazon” Dan and Liz Baker find a strange man on a dirt road in the desert. He is wearing

jeans, a checked shirt, and sneakers covered by long, brown monk robes. He is alive but seems confused. Dan looks around but can’t find a car. He does find a small white disk stamped “ITC”.

The Bakers take the man to the nearest hospital. As they travel, the man keeps repeating, “quodam phone made me roam.” They also notice his fingertips are turning red. Once they arrive at the hospital, the man becomes frantic and needs to be strapped down.

Dr. Tsosie begins to treat the victim. Workers notice his shirt pattern doesn’t match, but it hasn’t been torn. An MRI is performed to assess any damage.

A piece of paper is found on the man, which has the abbreviation “mon.ste.mere”. Liz concludes it must be a monastery.

The victim shows signs of frostbite, but Dr. Tsosie can find no other signs of exposure.

A young boy explains that the phrase uttered by the victim is actually “quantum foam.”

Officer Wauneka informs everyone that the victim’s name is Joseph Traub, and he works for ITC.

Traub suddenly begins vomiting blood. Dr. Tsosie tries to save him but is unable. Officer Wauneka offers to call ITC and tell them of the death.

John Gordon takes the call from Wauneka. He notifies Doniger and Diane Kramer that Traub is dead. Doniger tells them to plant a car in the desert as an explanation for Traub being in the desert. He also assures them the hospital won’t be able to discover the death was caused by transcription errors from the time-travel.

Doniger realizes he needs another billion dollars to keep the company going. Investors are meeting to decide whether to give him the money. He tells Gordon and Kramer the investors need proof that their investment is producing.

Doniger sends Kramer to Dordogne to pressure Professor Johnston into getting results.

Back at the hospital, Dr. Tsosie is confused by Traub’s MRI. It shows a misalignment of blood vessels. She insists that the MRI is wrong and wants to check the body, but ITC has had it cremated.

Officer Wauneka calls ITC asking what they want done with Traub’s personal effects. He also asks why there was a diagram of a monastery in his belongings. Kramer suggests that Traub was a little crazy. Wauneka asks about the white disk and is told it was an id tag. He is convinced Kramer is lying.

Wauneka’s priest tells him that the abbreviation on the diagram stands for Monastery Saint-Mire, which existed in the fourteenth century in France.

“Dordogne” Andre Marek takes Kramer on a helicopter tour of the dig site. While showing her

the different areas, he gives her an overview of the project. Dordogne was the unsettled area between England and France. Opposing castles, one English and one French, would be built along the river.

Kramer is upset that everything is still in ruins since Doniger expects results. Chris Hughes shows Professor Johnston his computer model of the water mill. The French minister and a nosy reporter arrive to talk to Johnston. The reporter

questions the amount of money being spent by ITC on the dig site. Officer Wauneka contacts David Stern about the diagram he has of the monastery.

Chris tells David to have Wauneka send it to them. Professor Johnston asks Kramer about the reporter’s claim of ITC purchasing the

surrounding land. Kramer denies this, and she asks to speak to Johnston alone. Chris secretly gives the professor a radio so he can listen to the conversation.

Kramer pushes Johnston to begin reconstruction of the buildings right away. When the professor balks, she asks about building the town, the castle wall, or the tower. Stern and Chris are confused since no tower has been located.

Chris and Stern explore the woods looking for evidence of a tower. They find it when Stern falls on a curved section of wall. It is exactly where Kramer said it would be. Professor Johnston asks Stern to do a helicopter search in order to scan the area in case the team missed the tower.

Stern, Chris, and the professor discover the monastery diagram sent by Wauneka has more detail than their own. Johnston takes the printout to Kate Erickson, the site architect.

Kate finds the diagram to have more details and features which have not yet been discovered on site.

Professor Johnston, Marek, and Chris challenge Kramer with the information gathered. Johnston believes ITC has hired another team and plans on revoking his funding. Although Kramer denies it, he insists on meeting with Doniger personally. Kramer leaves with the professor for New Mexico.

Marek takes over the dig site. Rumors fly among the workers, so he gives them the afternoon off.

The next day a Marek and another student are working in the catacombs. They find human remains scarred by battle, which puzzle them since no battles were recorded in that area.

Professor Johnston calls Marek and tells him he is leaving for a couple of days. Stern radios Marek and informs him he couldn’t detect any features mentioned by

Kramer or shown on the diagram. A new discovery is made on site. A trench collapsed exposing a sealed room. Marek

and Kate explore the room; Kate finds a bundle containing documents. She also see a bifocal lens in the dirt. This upsets Marek as it could compromise the dig.

Elsie Kastner, the site graphologist, takes the documents for further study, and Chris takes the lens.

Stern discovers the lens in very old and isn’t the result of contamination. As some members of the team are eating that evening, Elsie calls and insists Marek return immediately.

Elsie explains she has found Professor Johnston’s handwriting on one of the documents. His message reads, “HELP ME, 4/7/1357.”

Marek goes to the professor’s room and compares the lens found to one in the room. Calls to the professor remain unanswered. Elsie has found notations next to the professor’s message on the document. ITC contacts Marek and tells him the professor needs help. Marek, Kate, Stern, and

Chris prepare to leave for New Mexico. Doniger is upset that the professor was lost. Elsie, ITC’s spy at the site, has informed

them of the document with the professor’s message. ITC Senior Vice President Gordon meets Marek and the others at the airport. He

explains to them how time-travel doesn’t really happen. What ITC can do is travel to other places in the multiverse, which means there are other universes existing in close proximity with our own. ITC’s quantum technology is going to send Marek and the others to the fourteenth century to get the professor.

“Black Rock” After landing in New Mexico, the group continues to Black Rock. Stern explains the

concept of quantum foam to his colleagues. It is used to describe ripples in space-time. Wormholes found in the foam allow travel to other universes. Only information can be transmitted, however, not bodies. Therefore, it works much like a fax over a telephone line.

At ITC Gordon advises Doniger not to mention the risks of the assignment to the historians. Doniger explains that once Professor Johnston found out about the ability to travel to another time, he insisted on going. During his trip, he was lost. The only way for him to return is for the students to go and bring him home.

Marek is excited by the possibility of traveling to the fourteenth century, but Chris, Kate, and Stern are not so sure. Stern questions Doniger about Traub, but he is told he died of a heart attack.

The group of historians is taken below ground to the technology facility. They watch as an ITC employee, Sue Gomez, prepares to travel in one of the cages. She has a small white marker, which is used to recall the machine in order to return.

As they watch the cage and Gomez disappear, Gordon explains it is a painless experience. Kate, however, is appalled when she finds out the traveler’s body is destroyed and reconstructed at the other end. Stern presses for more information, but Gordon tells him not to worry.

The nav markers given to the travelers are good for 37 hours. After that the batteries expire.

Marek, Chris, and Kate are taken to dressing rooms to change into clothing appropriate for the time period. They are also given small earpieces, which will translate the speech and allow them to communicate with each other.

Gordon also gives them some defensive weapons for protection. He explains that modern artifacts can’t be taken back in time.

Kramer is in another room arguing with Victor Baretto. He wants to take his gun with him, but Kramer tells him no. Baretto reminds her that ITC has already lost three people: Rob Deckard, Professor Johnston, and Traub. Kramer convinces him to leave the gun behind.

Stern remains upset because his concerns aren’t being taken seriously by ITC. Gomez tells Marek, Chris, and Kate they will be arriving at Castelgard during a

tournament, so they should be able to blend in with the crowd. She also warns them Arnaut de Cervole is on the march to attack Castelgard and La Roque. She expects the rescue mission to take only a few hours.

Stern chooses to remain at the facility. After his friends have been transported, he asks Gordon for more details. Gordon tells him that Marek, Chris, and Kate are not the same people who left. They are actually from another universe.

Chris opens his eyes and finds himself in a forest. As he looks around, he sees Castelgard, which is a real fortress and town.

“Castelgard”37:00:00

Marek and Kate go for a cross the path for a closer look; Chris stays close to the machine.

Gomez and Baretto argue about the gun Baretto brought. ITC: a technician states one machine is returning in 20 minutes; something is

wrong. Baretto leaves his gun in the cage. Kate walks down the path, and Marek tries to

calm Chris. A teenage boy runs by telling everyone to hide. Horses approach; Marek and Chris hide in some bushes. The armed men kill Gomes

and shoot arrows into Baretto. As Baretto dives for the cage, he unpins a grenade. His machine disappears.

Chris discovers Gomez’s nav marker is crushed.36:40:02

ITC: Gordon and Stern see Baretto’s dead body arrive. The grenade explodes in the transit room.

36:30:00 Chris has a panic attack and refuses to leave the machines. Marek searches for Kate.

The young boy calls Chris to follow. Marek finds Kate, and they return to tell Chris about the extra nav marker. Chris is

gone. The horsemen chase Chris and the young boy; they must jump off a cliff overlooking

the Dordogne River. Marek and Kate search Gomez for the other nav marker but can’t find it. They do

find a timer showing how much time they have left. ITC: Stern wants to know what will happen now that the transit room is wrecked.

Gordon tells his there isn’t enough room for the cages to return; the travelers are trapped in the past for now.

36:13:17 Chris and the young boy run as arrows fly past. Kate finds the extra nav marker in Gomez’s wig. The young boy asks Chris if he’s Irish and gentle. Chris doesn’t understand, so he

answers yes to both questions. The boy asks if he is a knight; Chris tells him no. The boy takes Chris to Castelgard.

Kate and Marek head for the monastery. Marek contacts Chris through the earpiece. Chris tells Marek to get the Professor and meet him at the castle.

When Marek hears that Chris told the boy he is gentle, he’s upset because this means Chris is nobility.

Marek wants Chris to turn around and meet them at the monastery, but the route is blocked by horsemen.

35:31:11 Kate and Marek see Professor Johnston at the monastery. The professor tells them Sir Oliver is in Castelgard but plans to move to La Roque.

Sir Oliver wants to find the secret passage into La Roque before Arnaut does. The Abbot asked the professor to search some documents for the location of the

passage, so the Abbot can tell Arnaut. Soldiers come and take Professor Johnston. Through his earpiece, Johnston tells

Kate and Marek to follow him.35:25:18

Chris follows the boy into Castelgard. They enter some rooms, and Chris discovers the “boy” is actually Lady Claire of Eltham. Sir Oliver is her guardian; he wants her to marry Sir Guy. Lady Claire introduces Chris as Squire Christopher of Hewes.

Lady Claire tells her uncle that the Magister (Professor Johnston) has been captured by Sir Oliver. Chris denies knowing the Magister. Lady Claire mentions that the Magister doesn’t know the secret.

34:25:54 The professor, Kate, and Marek enter Castelgard. Marek stops to watch the knights

practicing for the tournament. After a while Marek and Kate follow the professor. Chris tells Sir Daniel he is a scholar not a squire. Chris sees campfires and finds out Arnaut’s men will reach Castelgard within two

days.33:12:51

Kate and Marek enter the castle, and notice the people behave in a crude manner. Sir Oliver threatens the professor with death if he won’t help him. Sir Robert de Kere seems upset that Sir Oliver wants Professor Johnston as his

advisor. Sir Oliver asks the professor if he knows how to make Greek Fire; the professor tells

him he does. Oliver gets upset when Johnston says he doesn’t know the secret. Sir Guy challenges Chris to a fight; Chris unknowingly accepts. Marek is to fight one

of Sir Guy’s men.32:16:01

Marek tells Chris to fall from his horse with the first blow; it’s his only chance to survive the fight.

36:02:00 Doniger hears the casualty report caused by the grenade. Kramer tells him the

remaining machines have been damaged; no rescue team can be sent.31:40:44

Chris has trouble getting his horse to move, but he finally succeeds. Instead of falling off when Sir Guy hits him, he remains in the saddle. On the second pass, Sir Guy forces Chris from his horse. Chris is knocked out.

Marek fights Sir Charles; he hits Sir Charles, and Charles falls to the ground. Sir Guy goes after Chris, who is still on the ground. Marek smacks him on the head

as an insult. They begin to fight; Marek gains the upper hand, but he chooses not to kill Sir Guy.

31:15:58 Marek and Chris go to a stream to rest. They are arrested for disgracing Sir Guy and

breaking the tournament rules. Kate searches for Chris and Marek since she can’t hear them in the earpiece. She

sees them being arrested. Chris and Marek are taken to the dungeon and locked in a cell. They see that

Professor Johnston is in the next cell. Kate has followed them to the dungeon.

30:51:09 ITC: Stern wonders how long it will take to rebuild the cages for transport. Gordon

tells him they need 4 hours to clear the air, two hours to clear the wreckage, and then rebuild the water shields. Stern continues to work on a way to send a message to his friends.

30:40:39 Kate hides in an empty cell; the guards don’t see her. The guards, however, notice

her footprints and return to the cells. Kate runs by them and hides behind the huge fireplace.

Professor Johnston explains that he lost his nav marker. Woodcutters saw him arrive, and the professor convinced them to take him to the Abbot at the monastery. The professor offered to help find the secret passage into La Roque.

Professor Johnston tells Marek he found a clue in some documents. Apparently, there is a key needed to open the passage.

A guard comes, and Marek realizes they must take out the guard in order to escape. Chris sprays the guard with the canister from ITC. The key is hanging on the wall. Marek calls Kate; she grabs the key ring. The guard grabs her and begins choking her. Marek finds the key and helps Kate get free. They all leave the dungeon.

30:21:02 Kate feels brave since she has survived the worst. She remembers the location of

secret passages in the castle and leads the professor, Marek, and Chris to the second floor.

Hidden from view, they see Sir Guy and Lady Claire. Lady Claire explains she must continue seeing the Abbot in order to find out where the secret passage is.

Sir Guy must hide since someone is coming to Lady Claire’s room. He discovers the team hiding and calls for guards.

The professor tells the others to find Brother Marcel at the monastery.30:10:55

The group is taken to the great hall. Sir Oliver doesn’t trust the Magister’s assistants; he believes them to be spies. He decides they will be put in the tower.

Sir Oliver questions Johnston to find out more about the rest of his group. The professor turns on his earpiece so the others can tell the same story.

Johnston asks Sir Oliver why he hasn’t moved to La Roque. Sir Oliver tells him he is going, but the professor will go with him.

Chris, Marek, and Kate try to find a way out of the tower. Kate thinks she can climb from the window, but the guard must be taken out first. Marek hits the guard with a candlestick.

Kate climbs out the window and looks for something to break down the door. Sir Robert de Kere advises Sir Oliver not to trust the professor or his friends. When

de Kere goes to get the group for questioning, he sees Kate walking around the grounds. He calls for guards to catch her.

Kate hides, but she hears de Kere order soldiers to kill Chris and Marek. She warns them using the earpiece, and then notices the soldiers have found her. She goes into the chapel. She breaks through the ceiling and hangs on desperately.

Chris and Marek search for weapons to use when the soldiers come.29:10:24

ITC: Gordon takes Stern on a tour of the early test facilities. Stern wonders if the prototype could be used to rescue his friends. Gordon tells him there are too many risks in using it.

29:10:00 Kate continues to hold on to the ceiling. She succeeds to getting to safety on a shelf.

Soldiers shoot arrows at her but then quit. Chris hears a key in the lock. Marek kills the soldiers; Chris is shocked at the bloody

battle. Chris and Marek see a fire in the town. Arnaut and his forces are attacking

Castelgard. Kate arrives, and the group hurries to find Professor Johnston.

28:57:32 Sir Oliver’s banquet ends as everyone rushes to move to La Roque. He takes

Professor Johnston and tells Sir Guy to get Lady Claire and the assistants. Sir Robert informs Sir Oliver that the assistants have been killed.

Chris, Kate, and Marek blend in with the crowd. They jump over the drawbridge to safety.

While making their way through the town, the assistants must hide behind big vats. De Kere and his men continue to search for them. Chris talks into the earpiece when it seems safe, but then the soldiers return. Marek and Chris tip over a vat of lye, and they escape.

28:12:39 ITC: Kramer tells Doniger about Stern wanting to use the prototype machine to

rescue the others. She doesn’t want Doniger to let him in case he dies in the process. Doniger says if he dies, all their problems will be solved. Kramer threatens to quit; Doniger says he was just kidding.

27:27:22 Kate, Marek, and Chris travel through the forest. They stop on top of a hill to look at

La Roque. While they are looking, they spot Sir Oliver, Sir Guy, and the professor. Kate reminds them they need to find Brother Marcel at the monastery.

26:12:01 Marek leads them past the town of Castelgard at night. They avoid an ambush on

the path and make for the river. They notice a party of soldiers. Chris figures out that someone else has an earpiece.

He tells Marek they should return to Castelgard, and Marek agrees. When the soldiers leave, they believe someone from the 14th century found the earpiece on Gomez’s body.

Kate, Marek, and Chris head for the monastery. They must seek safety in a building until morning.

26:12:01 ITC: Gordon tells Stern he won’t be able to use the prototype to go on a rescue

mission. The machine is dangerous; transcription errors would make it impossible to return. This has already happened to someone else at ITC. Stern then mentions he has an idea to get a message to his friends.

16:12:23 Chris wakes up to the cold. Soldiers approach, but they don’t enter. Chris hears

them say the word plague. Their shelter was a plague house. Kate wakes up, but Chris motions her to remain quiet. Arnaut’s men are outside the

door. Marek approaches and acts lame. He passes the house until the soldiers leave.

Kate sees Chris’s extensive injuries. Marek returns once the soldiers leave; he has gathered something for them to eat.

In order to elude the guards, Kate decides to cut her hair to pass as a boy. Chris and Marek try to figure out who has the earpiece. They agree that it must be

someone from their time, and ITC chose not to tell them. Chris believes it is de Kere; Marek thinks it’s Sir Guy.

15:12:09 Chris, Kate, and Marek go to the monastery and ask to see Brother Marcel. A monk tells them Sir Oliver holds the mill for now, but Arnaut will soon take it. He

then shows them the body of Brother Marcel.14:52:07

Chris, Marek, and Kate are shocked to find Brother Marcel dead. They ask to see his belongings, but the monk tells them Brother Marcel lived in the

mill. Marek explains that Magister Edwardus (Professor Johnston) sent them. The monk

states the Abbot will want to see them. They wait to see the Abbot. Lady Claire emerges from his rooms. Chris warns Marek not to trust Lady Claire. Marek notices there are only 11 hours left on the timer.

11:01:59 A monk takes them to the Abbot. He asks if they have a message for him from

Magister Edwardus. They tell him no, but they want to find the key to the passage. Professor Johnston believes Marcellus had the key.

The Abbot is shot with an arrow. Everyone runs for cover. Before dying the Abbot tells Marek about the key to La Roque and a room.

Chris, Kate, and Marek find the documents and the professor’s lens in the wine cellar.

The notes refer to an underground river and giant feet. They discuss the chapel, and Kate remembers something marked on their charts.

They hear soldiers approaching and leave the monastery through a trapdoor.09:57:02

ITC: Stern has found a way to send a message to the group. An earpiece taped to two small tape recorders. One has a message recorded for the group telling them not to return before the 32-hour mark; the other is to record a message from them so he knows they are okay.

ITC: The transit room is cleared. The landing pads are being repaired. ITC: Stern’s bundle has returned, and they can hear Kate’s voice.

ITC: Kramer informs Doniger the team in France is alive. She wonders why they are keeping their earpieces off. Doniger figures it’s because of Rob Deckard, which mean trouble.

09:57:02 Kate, Marek, and Chris draw a map in the dirt. They travel toward the armed

checkpoint at the monastery. Marek tells them the peasants are hiding in the woods waiting for the opportunity to

attack soldiers. They arrive at the checkpoint and see de Kere. They are able to walk through

without attracting attention.09:27:33

Kate, Marek, and Chris enter the river. They plan to grab the water wheel in order to get into the mill.

Marek and Kate make it, but Chris misses and floats down the river.09:25:12

Kate gets inside the mill and remembers Chris told her the grain dust is explosive. She catches up with Marek who has just killed a guard. They put on monks’ robes in order to blend in.

Meanwhile Chris is floating down the river. He makes it to the bank and falls asleep. Kate and Marek search the mill for Brother Marcel’s room. Kate discovers a diagram

carved into the back of the door; Marek is able to decipher it.09:10:23

As Kate and Marek prepare to leave the mill, they see de Kere and several soldiers. Marek sends Kate ahead promising to cover her. He gives her the nav marker for safe-keeping.

Marek is overwhelmed by soldiers, and de Kere is chasing Kate. She takes one of the fire cubes and pulls the string. The mill explodes just as Kate and de Kere are pulled through the floor.

09:04:01 Chris wakes up and sees Marek jump from the mill. Kate comes to the surface of the

water, but soldiers have spotted her. Chris wades into the river and saves her. One of Arnaut’s knights saves Chris and Kate. They are taken to a church and meet

Arnaut de Cervole. He questions them about the Magister and the secret passage. When Chris and Kate pretend not to know about the passage, Arnaut threatens to

kill Kate. Lady Claire interrupts and convinces Arnaut to let them go. Kate and Chris head toward La Roque; Kate tells Chris about the key to the secret

passage. She also informs him she has the nav marker. Marek is at the church with Arnaut and Lady Claire. She tells Arnaut to use Marek

against Kate and Chris in order to find out the information he needs.

Arnaut plans to follow Kate and Chris to the secret passage. Marek is given a horse so he can lead Raimondo, Arnaut’s knight, to Kate and Chris. Before he leaves, Lady Claire gives Marek a small dagger.

07:34:49 ITC: Doniger speaks with the people in charge of media. They have created several

videos for him to watch to promote his project. Doniger hates all the videos. He doesn’t want what’s real; he wants exciting. Kramer suggests using still photographs.

France: Arnaut’s men guard Marek as they try to catch Kate and Chris. Marek succeeds in cutting through the ropes on his wrists. He sees Kate and Chris ahead of them.

Marek tries to escape but is caught. Sir Guy ambushes the party, and Marek rides quickly toward Kate and Chris. Chris loses control of his horse and rides into the forest. Marek heads to La Roque, and Kate knows she must find the chapel.

07:24:33 Kate finds the path leading to the chapel. Peasants try to pull her from her horse,

but she is saved by Chris’s arrival. They head to the chapel together but are separated when then slide down a cliff. Kate sees the chapel and is confronted by a crazed knight. He drags her to a block of

wood and prepares to chop her head off.06:40:27

ITC: Gordon calls Stern back to ITC headquarters. On his way to meet Gordon, Stern sees models of Castelgard, La Roque, and the monastery.

In the transit room, glass panels are lowered into the rings. There is a problem; the glass has been pitted and weakened. Gordon can’t guarantee the glass panels won’t crack.

06:40:20 Sir Guy takes Marek to Professor Johnston. Professor Johnston states his

demonstration for Sir Oliver is ready. He has made automatic fire. Sir Oliver is pleased with the results and orders Johnston to make more. Marek worries that the professor will be changing history, but the professor tells

him not to worry.05:19:55

Kate waits for the blow. Chris comes; they fight the knight and succeed in killing him.

They go into the chapel and find a hidden opening to the passage.03:10:12

ITC: The computer simulation used to test the glass shields shows three of the five damaged shields will break when filled with water.

Stern wonders if the shields can be reinforced.02:55:14

Marek and Professor Johnston see de Kere talking to Sir Oliver. He has been telling Sir Oliver that Johnston’s assistants have been helping Arnaut’s men.

Sir Oliver takes Marek and Johnston to a pool of poisoned water. He tells them he will put them into the water if they betray him.

02:22:13 Chris and Kate make their way through the secret passage. They find an

underground river and boat and begin to travel that way. Chris is knocked out of the boat.

01:33:00 Oliver and de Kere go into the hall to eat. Marek and the professor go to the arsenal.

They hope Kate succeeds before La Roque is destroyed.01:22:12

Chris makes his way back to the boat. They tie the boat up at a landing and start up the stone stairs, which lead to a trap door.

Kate gives Chris the nav marker and goes through the door.01:13:52

ITC: Doniger practices the speech he is going to give to the investors. Kramer interrupts to tell him the danger of the water shields. He tells her to cancel the plans to let the party return from France.

Kramer tells Gordon that Doniger won’t allow the party to return. Field bucks appear indicating 4 or 5 cages will return within the hour. Kramer says no.

01:01:52 Kate is inside La Roque and see Sir Oliver and his knights eating at the table. Sir Guy

spots her and gives chase. Kate tells Chris to find the professor.

00:59:20 ITC: Gordon shows Stern Wellsey the cat and tells him about Rob Deckard. Back in the control room, Stern has an idea about reinforcing the water shields.

00:54:00 Kate runs across the ceiling rafters trying to evade Sir Guy. She stabs her knife into

his hand, pinning it to a rafter. Kate kicks his feet out from under him while removing her knife. Sir Guy falls and dies.

When Kate calls to Chris through the earpiece, de Kere finds her and chases her. Chris follows Sir Oliver and tells Kate where he is going. He hears de Kere in the

earpiece. Arnaut grabs Chris and demands to be taken to Sir Oliver. Chris takes him and

follows Marek and the professor.

00:36:02 ITC: Stern tells everyone he knows how to make the water shields work. There is

just enough time.00:33:09

As Kate looks for Chris, she sees de Kere kill Raimondo. Chris and Arnaut find the professor hanging from a cage above the water pit. Arnaut attacks Sir Oliver. Chris rushes to the winch. He and Marek kill Sir Oliver’s soldiers and save Professor

Johnston, but they don’t have the key to open the cage.00:21:52

ITC: Stern and the ITC technicians dip water balloons in glue and inflate them inside the damaged glass shields. This should reinforce the glass.

00:15:02 Chris searches for the key to the cage. Professor Johnston thinks Sir Oliver has the

key. Arnaut beats Oliver, and Oliver begs for mercy. Marek asks for the key; Arnaut’s takes it from Sir Oliver and gives it to Marek.

Arnaut throws Sir Oliver into the pit. Marek, Chris, and the professor leave.

00:09:04 ITC: The field bucks indicating a return are fading.

00:05:30 Kate joins up with the others. Chris removes the nav marker, but they don’t have

enough clearance. They need to leave La Roque. De Kere grabs Chris and demands the nav marker. Chris throws automatic fire on

de Kere and sets him on fire. He joins the rest of his friends to find room for their return.

00:02:22 ITC: Everyone cheers as the field bucks return stronger than before. Three cages

are returning.00:01:44

The group is trapped inside La Roque since the outer gate is closed. Marek runs for the winch; he kills the soldiers who enter.

Marek informs the others he has decided to stay. ITC: Doniger delivers his speech to three potential investors. He tells them ITC will

soon have the ability to shape the past. ITC: Gordon tells Doniger that three of the travelers returned, and they are angry

that he kept information from them. Doniger insults them, but they hear him. They also heard his speech to the investors.

Gordon knocks Doniger out with gas after telling him someone else needs to take control of the company.

Doniger comes to and finds himself inside one of the cages. He “lands” in the forest outside Castelgard.

Doniger smugly reaches for the nav marker he keeps in his shoe. He can’t remove it so he goes in search of a tool.

Doniger realizes it is 1348, the year of the Black Death. He begins to cough.

“Epilogue” Professor Johnston, Chris, Kate, and Elsie Kastner drive through the English

countryside. They arrive at Eltham Castle and go to the chapel. There they find the burial stones of Andrew d’Eltham and his wife Lady Claire. The carvings are of Marek and Claire.