Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
Howobviousitwasthattheaffairwasacaseofcoolcalculation.Thegirlhadcertainundeniablephysicalassetsandnoethicalprinciplestokeepherfromusingthem.SosheusedthemandthathadnothingtodowithAndrewHarlanasaperson.HesimplyrepresentedherdistortedviewofEternityandwhatitmeant.
AutomaticallyHarlan’slongfingerscaressedthevolumesinhissmallbookshelf.Hetookoneoutand,unseeingly,openedit.
Theprintblurred.Thefadedcolorsoftheillustrationswereugly,meaninglessblotches.
WhyhadFingetroubledtotellhimallthis?Inthestrictestsenseheoughtnottohave.AnObserver,oranyoneactingasObserver,oughtnevertoknowtheendsattainedbyhisObservation.Itremovedhimbysomuchfromtheidealpositionoftheobjectivenon-humantool.
Itwastocrushhim,ofcourse;totakeameanandjealousrevenge!
Harlanfingeredtheopenpageofthemagazine.Hefoundhimselfstaringataduplication,instartlingred,ofagroundvehicle,similartovehiclescharacteristicofthe45th,182nd,590th,and984thCenturies,aswellasoflatePrimitivetimes.Itwasaverycommonsortofaffairwithaninternal-combustionmotor.InthePrimitiveeranaturalpetroleumfractionswerethesourceofpowerandnaturalrubbercushionedthewheels.Thatwastrueofnoneofthelatercenturies,ofcourse.
HarlanhadpointedthatouttoCooper.Hehadmadequiteapointofit,andnowhismind,asthoughlongingtoturnawayfromtheunhappypresent,driftedbacktothatmoment.Sharp,irrelevantimagesfilledtheachewithinHarlan.
