"No, you idiot, from the Ancient Kingdom," said Revel. "Your name is Doctorklapham, isn't it?"
"Roughly, yes." The sleeper worked his jaws and massaged his hands. "Wonderful stuff, that preservative ... what year is this, my friend?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"What's the date?"
"Date?"
"God, this I wasn't prepared for." He hoisted himself over and jumped down with boyish energy. "Tell me about the world," he said. "I guess I've been asleep a long time."
"Yes, if you were put here in the time of the Ancient Kingdom." Revel was trembling with excitement. "Why are you still alive?"
"Friend, judging from your clothes and those picks, and the primitive look of those lanterns, which must date from about 2015, I'd say it'd be pretty useless to tell you how come I'm alive. Just call it science."
"What's that?"
"Science? Electronics, atomic research, mechanics, what have you—mean anything?"