 Rather than protecting Martin from Conrad, over the years, the descendants
No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin—but by those who hadn't been born yet? Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. Martin was told to call him Uncle Raymond. From time to time, there were other visitors—Uncles Ives and Bartholomew and Olaf, Aunts Ottillie and Grania and Lalage, and many more—all cousins to one another, he was told, all descendants of his. When Martin was sixteen, Raymond took him aside for the talk Ninian had promised five years before. "And Conrad really got upset over the way Earth has been exploiting the not so intelligent life-forms on the other planets," Raymond continued. And, on those worlds, it's far cheaper to use native labor than to ship out all that expensive machinery. I don't mean in the now for me, but the now for you," Martin explained laboriously. "I'm trying to talk to you as if you were an adult," Raymond said, "but if you will persist in these childish interruptions—" "I'm sorry," Martin said. But he wasn't, for by now he had little respect left for any of his descendants. "Unfortunately, Professor Farkas has just perfected the time transmitter. Conrad's idea had been to go back in time and "eliminate!" In that way, there would be no space-drive, and, hence, the Terrestrials would never get to the other planets and oppress the local aborigines. But when it came to the point, Conrad couldn't bear the idea of eliminating our great-grandfather—because our great-grandfather was such a good man, you know." "So Conrad decided to go further back still and get rid of his great-grandfather's father—who'd been, by all accounts, a pretty worthless character." "I wormed the whole thing out of him and all of us—the other cousins and me—held a council of war, as it were, and we decided it was our moral duty to go back in time ourselves and protect you." Induced , Martin knew, could have meant anything from blackmail to the use of the iron maiden. "Then we were all ready to forestall Conrad.
 seem to dull Martin's initially-sharp ability to be perceptive and instinctual.
 force Martin to abandon his way of life in favor of theirs, as he realizes how "good" they do have it in the future.  seem to dull Martin's initially-sharp ability to be perceptive and instinctual.  solely ingratiate Martin to the ways of future life, ensuring he will embrace their ideals.  do nothing other than wave a flag for Conrad to know where to attack upon his entry.