“Now can we agree that you are the greater fighter, but I have the advantage of technology?” Adell said as he reached his hand out to lift Alexander from the floor.

Alexander took his hand and allowed himself to be pulled up. As a man accustomed to pain he was astonished at the feeling of being tased.

“You said I would be returned to my tent at the exact moment I left no matter how long I stayed.”

“Up to 20 days.”

“And you will swear to this with your life as collateral?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, show me everything.”

“Let’s go for a walk, but first you will need to change your clothes and leave your sword behind.”

15 minutes later Adell was ushering Alexander into the elevator. When the doors of the elevator automatically opened and closed Alexander couldn’t help but marvel.

Looking at the panel of numbers on the elevator Alexander asked. “What is the purpose of this small compartment?”

Adell hit the circle with the L on it and replied. “This is called an elevator. It takes you from the ground level of the building to whichever floor you choose.”

Alexander backed into the corner and braced himself with his arms against the walls as he felt the compartment fall. He knew they were falling fast but seeing that Adell had no look of concern he tried to relax. Still the feeling of falling straight down at 22 miles per hour left a sinking feeling in Alexander’s stomach.

“We will be leaving the Central Park Tower and how far we go will be up to you.” Adell said as the elevator slowed to a stop.

The elevator chimed as the doors opened and Alexander took his first steps into New York City. Adell had chosen a business casual look for Alexander, who now looked like any young professional walking the streets of New York.

Instinctively Alexander looked up as they exited the building. The building looked even taller from the outside. Alexander knew he had been in a room that neared the heavens but seeing it from the outside only increased the awesomeness of the buildings in this city.

Adell led Alexander down West 57th Street fully expecting to be peppered with questions. Astonishingly Alexander remained quiet while they turned down 8th toward Central Park. Adell glanced over at Alexander and saw an emotionless face. Whatever his feelings were could not be read by looking at his face.

Alexander was determined to see everything but to react to nothing. He was not willing to accept that he was more than 2,000 years in the future. As they neared Columbus Circle Alexander decided to ask about the statue.

“Who is this man and what glory was his that they should erect a statue in his honor?” Alexander asked before they had entered the circle where he could read the inscriptions.

“That is a statue of Christopher Columbus. It wouldn’t have been built today.”

“So this man’s honor has faded?”

“I don’t know that he ever had any honor.”

“Then how did he gain such a statue?”

“He secured financial support from a king and queen and took a few boats into the ocean. He thought that by sailing west he could find a shorter path to India than the traditional eastern path. A few weeks later and days before his men mutinied they found a new land that had never been on any of their maps.”

“An explorer who conquered the ocean. Yes, such feats are worthy of accolade.” Alexander said with approval.

“If the story ended there then yes, he might still be viewed as a positive figure.” Adell said wistfully.

“What disqualifying actions did he take that overshadow conquering the ocean?”

“To stay diplomatic, he used harsh measures against the indigenous peoples he found.”

“You will need to use less diplomatic language because you haven’t said anything that makes a statue inappropriate.”

“He was a violent and cruel man. He enslaved the indigenous people, stole from them, and many died.”

“Is that not normal?”

“It is morally reprehensible.”

“It is the natural order.”

“He introduced colonialism to the Americas and should be viewed as a villain.”

“For all of your intelligence you are a fool.” As Alexander said these words another insight became abundantly clear. The same disdain that Adell had for Columbus would exist for himself. If Adell viewed Columbus as a villain then Alexander had to be a master villain.

“You are a primitive man from a backward time and you think to call me a fool?” Adell shot back.

“Was Columbus stronger or weaker than the indigenous people who he conquered?”

“The question answers itself. If he was weaker how would he have conquered?”

“Did the conquering force bring better technology and refinement to the land conquered?”

“They wiped out indigenous cultures.”

“Inferior cultures.”

“You know nothing about their cultures.”

“They lost. That means they were inferior.”

“It doesn’t excuse his actions.”

“Colonies exist because a superior civilization exerts its influence over a lesser civilization. Those who resist are rightfully killed or sold into slavery. Those who assimilate become rulers and lift the lesser culture to the heights of the conquering country.”

As Alexander spoke he thought about the city of Persepolis. It had been a jewel of the Persian empire. A mighty city built by kings of old meant to display the wealth and glory of Persia. Darius had commissioned the construction of the city and no expense had been spared. It was the location of the royal treasury and the wealth of its inhabitants was vast. Temples and palaces filled the city center and Alexander conquered it without a fight.

No doubt the citizens of the city expected leniency as other Persian cities had been granted. This however was the city of kings and there were past injustices that had to be avenged. Xerxes had burned Athens and now Alexander would burn his city. It didn’t matter if Xerxes actions were 150 years in the past. Of course he had allowed his soldiers to loot and pillage the city before he ordered the temple and palace complex to be burned. He also had several thousand talents of gold and silver removed from the city to further finance his war campaign.

“The violence of your time is no longer acceptable. Slavery has been outlawed and society follows the rule of law and not the rule of the sword.”

“Human nature doesn’t change.” Alexander replied.

“Human nature always evolves and we have progressed to a much higher standard than you followed.” Adell responded.

“So wars have been done away with? Passions have been quelled? People all now live in a blissful harmony? If such things were true I would have killed you 30 minutes ago because you would not have been able to unleash the power of a lightning bolt when I advanced towards you. Yes, violence and anger still exist because inherently humans all long for something and inevitably that will lead to conflict.”

“You are ill equipped to speak about a time that you know nothing about.”

“You have grown decadent and soft. Your prosperity has made you weak. Perhaps you live in a world that has forgotten that wolves exist.”

“Assuming you are speaking metaphorically I can assure you that the wolves of today are far more powerful than anything you could possibly imagine.”

“And yet I have no doubt that I could thrive here without any reservations. You, however would be incapable of lasting one year in my kingdom.”

“That only shows your primitive understanding of everything.”

“No, I have something that you lack.”

“What is that?”

“Discernment.”

“Explain.” Adell stated.

“Isn’t it clear to your superior intellect?”

“Assume that it isn’t.”

“I will not explain myself to a commoner like you. You hide behind false credentials and suppose you are wise. But you are not impressive. If I were fated to stay here forever I would take pleasure in killing you at some point.”

Adell wished that he had the skills necessary to defeat Alexander in battle. He was tired of the insults and lack of respect. This caveman needed to be taught his place. In 333 B.C. Alexander might have been great but in 2025 he was anything but great. He was an antiquated relic. Still for scientific reasons Adell needed to see what Alexander would do.

“I am not a common man.”

“You also cannot recognize greatness.”

“How could you pretend to know that?”

“Discernment.”

“It means nothing if you can’t explain it.”

“You refused to recognize the brilliance of Aristotle. You downplayed the importance of conquering the ocean. You belittle a man who was willing to risk everything to find a new world. You would be incapable of such greatness. And that is why you attack Christopher Columbus. He was braver than you. His actions advanced humanity. Men of action frighten you because you only know words.”

“If that was true. Why did I bring you here?”

“I am not convinced that you did. You may just be a sacrificial lamb. The true power may just be using you.”

“I am getting weary of your insults. Columbus was a tyrant and a villain and come to think of it so were you.”

“Finally some honesty. You were hoping that I a king would be in awe of you a common school teacher. I am not. You hoped that we could be confidants and would be best of friends but we will not because my status is greater than yours. We both see it and that is why you hate me. Meanwhile you mean nothing to me.”

“Look around you. Are you not in awe of everything you see?”

“You played no role in building any of this. You are no Darius or Xerxes building grand new cities fit only for kings.”

“You may as well be Ozymandias.”

“The name is unknown to me.”

“He built a great empire and then was lost to history until the ruins of a statue were found instructing all those who looked ahead to bow and marvel at his achievements. Looking forward there was nothing there but sand in the desert.”

“This in no way applies to me. Here we are millennia in the future and you still know my name and no doubt my actions. But enough of this talk we have much more to see rather than talking from irreconcilable positions.”