Justice
| Language | en |
|---|---|
| First published | 2025-11-24 |
| Rights | Public domain in the USA. |
| Gutenberg ID | #77317 |
Description
Ossianic controversy by Rev. John M'Pherson is a short science fiction story written in the mid-20th century. The book explores time travel, the ethics of interference with the past, and how a futuristic artifact can seed a powerful legend. A young Time Explorer named Urs is tried by an incorruptible Board for leaving an advanced-metal “sword” in primitive Britain after a chase with brigands drives it into a rock. Years later, a colleague, Renar, emerges underwater in the same era, has the sword placed into his raised hand, and brings it back; a historian explains that in the interval a great leader drew the sword from the stone, became King Arthur, ruled with justice, and finally ordered it returned to the “Lady of the Lake”—which was Renar’s hand. The Board rules Urs violated the letter but not the spirit of policy, since no techniques were learned and the artifact was removed, and because its presence inspired a just reign. Cleared, the explorers keep the recovered blade as a reminder—Excalibur. (This is an automatically generated summary.)