Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
ForattackingaComputer,youcanbedeclassified,butwe’llletthatgo.Youwillunderstand,however,thatIdidnotlie.TheNoysLambentofthenewReality,whateverelsemaybeornotbe,willlackthissuperstition.ThewholepurposeoftheChangewillbetowipeoutthesuperstition.Andwithoutit,Harlan"-hisvoicewasalmostasnarl-"howcouldawomanlikeNoyswantamanlikeyou?"
ThepudgyComputerbackedtowardthedoorofHarlan’spersonalquarters,blasterstillleveled.
Hepausedtosay,withasortofgrimgaiety,"Ofcourse,ifyouhadhernow,Harlan,ifyouhadhernow,youcouldenjoyher.Youcouldkeepyourliaisonandmakeitformal.Thatis,ifyouhadhernow.ButtheChangewillcomesoon,Harlan,andafterthat,youwillnothaveher.Whatapity,thenowdoesnotlast,eveninEternity,eh,Harlan?"
Harlannolongerlookedathim.Fingehadwonafterallandwasleavinginclearandleeringpossessionofthefield.Harlanstaredunseeinglyathisowntoes,andwhenhelookedupFingewasgone-whetherfivesecondsearlierorfifteenminutesHarlancouldnothavesaid.
HourshadpassednightmarishlyandHarlanfelttrappedintheprisonofhismind.AllthatFingehadsaidwassotrue,sotransparentlytrue.Harlan’sObservermindcouldlookbackupontherelationshipofhimselfandNoys,thatshort,unusualrelationship,andittookonadifferenttexture.
Itwasn’tacaseofinstantinfatuation.Howcouldhehavebelieveditwas?Infatuationforamanlikehimself?
Ofcoursenot.Tearsstunghiseyesandhefeltashamed.
