The Neanderthal Paradox

The deposed empress, Prua Landi has been exiled, along with her acolyte, Praeton to Mars 300 million years in the past, when deep oceans cover much of the planetary surface. Two Martian years into their exile, having toiled on his own to make their existence more comfortable, Praeton risks a violent death from a savage mind probe when he gives Prua Landi an ultimatum: she must work to earn her food and shelter... or starve. Faced with appalling loneliness and starvation, the exiled empress accedes to Praeton's ultimatum, because she does not have the ability to survive on her own. A volcano erupts many kilometres away, destroying their home. After they rebuild their house, Praeton persuades Prua Landi to accompany him on an expedition to seek out volcanic glass to use as tools and weapons. She reluctantly agrees, but one night, on their way to the site of the eruption, they encounter small, but savage predators. The predators are mindlessly ferocious and Prua Landi is forced to use the power of her mind to kill them, temporarilly damaging her companion's mind as a consequence of her defensive action. On their way back to the homestead, they notice wider burrows, indicating larger - and potentially more lethal - night crawlers. They are left with no alternative but to exterminate the creatures by any means at their disposal. After a ferocious struggle, they wipe out the nest of night crawlers and salvage the meat and hides. The two exiles now feel more alive than at any time in their lives. Joe Laing and Ciara have settled into a comfortable life between the 21st Century and the far distant future of The Faithful. They have a young son, Jo-na, whose best friend, Perlana is the daughter of Perdon and Prua Landi. Jo-na has inherited his father's nanomedics and is showing hints of telepathic ability, coupled with above-average intelligence. His schoolteacher wishes Jo-na to be placed in a school for the gifted and talented, but Joe and Ciara refuse. A report of this occurrence passes to Gray and Cawthor, who have believed for some time that Joe Laing may have extra-terrestrial origins. Gray and Cawthor kidnap Jo-na, intending to examine his DNA, but Joe cannot permit anyone to discover the nanomedics in his son's bloodstream. Joe calls for help from his friends in the future, and Gray and Cawthor have their memories modified by experts so they can never again recall the incident or pose a threat to the Laings. But the 'Faithful' in the distant future are restless. They feel that Joe Laing, their Futama, should spend more time with them, and Joe finally agrees to investiture as head of his people. During the ceremony, Joe is severely wounded in an assassination attempt, and his life is saved only by means of the astute manipulation of time. Joe's attackers are apprehended and it is discovered that the person behind the assassination attempt is no less than Prua Landi's cousin, Theda Lan, who, along with the would-be assassin Saetin, is exiled to Mars. Prua Landi is angry when she sees again the cousin whom she thought dead, because despite her vicious nature, the former empress had always held Theda Lan in the highest regard. Now she feels betrayed. The two powerful women agree to a truce, but on a hunt to exterminate more night crawlers, the new exiles are both killed. Years later, Perlana accidentally discovers that Prua Landi is her real mother, and persuades her best friend, Jo-na Laing to help her steal a timeship so that she can see her mother 'in the flesh', rather than in the 'Histories'. It is only when the two youngsters are captured by Prua Landi and Praeton that Perlana comes to realise that the 'Histories' have understated her mother's penchant for evil. And when the former empress forces them to embark upon a mission to Earth to raise an army, Jo-na and Perlana must do everything in their power to thwart her plans.