Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
Fingehadthegracetosquirmabitunderthatwordlessstare.Hesaid,"Don’tyousee?No,youstilldon’t.Look,Harlan,you’reacoldfishproductofEternity.Youwon’tlookatawoman.Youconsiderwomenandallthatconcernst.hemunethical.No,there’sabetterword.Youconsiderthemsinful.Thatattitudeshowsalloveryou,andtoanywomanyou’dhaveallthesexappealofamonth-deadmackerel.Yetherewehaveawoman,abeautifulpamperedproductofahedonisticculture,whoardentlyseducesyouonyourfirsteveningtogether,virtuallybeggingforyourembrace.Don’tyouunderstandthatthatisridiculous,impossible,unless-well,unlessitistheconfirmationwewerelookingfor."
Harlanstruggledforwords."Yousayshesoldherself—"
"Whythatexpression?ThereisnoshameattachedtosexinthisCentury.Theonlystrangethingisthatshechoseyouaspartner,andthatshedidforthesakeofeternallife.It’splain."
AndHarlan,armsraised,handsclaw-bent,withnorationalthoughtinhismind,oranyirrationaloneotherthantochokeandthrottleFinge,sprangforward.
Fingesteppedbackhastily.Hebroughtoutablasterwithaquick,tremblinggesture."Don’ttouchme!Back!"
Harlanhadjustenoughsanitytohalthisrush.Hishairwasmatted.Hisshirtwasstainedwithperspiration.Hisbreathwhistledthroughpinchedwhitenostrils.
Fingesaidshakily,"Iknowyouverywell,yousee,andIthoughtyourreactionmightbeviolent.NowI’llshootifIhaveto."
Harlansaid,"Getout."
"Iwill.Butfirstyou’lllisten.
