  The relative-space-time-transformation (RSTT) paradigm and the interpretation
of the burst-structure (IBS) paradigm are applied to probe the origin of the
time variability of GRBs. Again GRB 991216 is used as a prototypical case,
thanks to the precise data from the CGRO, RXTE and Chandra satellites. It is
found that with the exception of the relatively inconspicuous but
scientifically very important signal originating from the initial ``proper
gamma ray burst'' (P-GRB), all the other spikes and time variabilities can be
explained by the interaction of the accelerated-baryonic-matter pulse with
inhomogeneities in the interstellar matter. This can be demonstrated by using
the RSTT paradigm as well as the IBS paradigm, to trace a typical spike
observed in arrival time back to the corresponding one in the laboratory time.
Using these paradigms, the identification of the physical nature of the time
variablity of the GRBs can be made most convincingly. It is made explicit the
dependence of a) the intensities of the afterglow, b) the spikes amplitude and
c) the actual time structure on the Lorentz gamma factor of the
accelerated-baryonic-matter pulse. In principle it is possible to read off from
the spike structure the detailed density contrast of the interstellar medium in
the host galaxy, even at very high redshift.
