Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
IfNoyshadcometohim,toHarlan,forimmortality,itcouldonlymeanthatshehadnotyetfulfilledtherequirementforthatgift.ShecouldhavemadelovetonoEternalpreviously.ThatmeantthatherrelationshiptoFingehadbeennothingmorethanthatofsecretaryandemployer.OtherwisewhatneedwouldshehavehadforHarlan?
YetFingesurelymusthavetried-musthaveattempted...(Harlancouldnotcompletethethoughteveninthesecrecyofhisownmind.)Fingecouldhaveprovedthesuperstition’sexistenceonhisownperson.SurelyhecouldnothavemissedthethoughtwithNoysaneverpresenttemptation.Thenshemusthaverefusedhim.
HehadhadtouseHarlanandHarlanhadsucceeded.ItwasforthatreasonthatFingehadbeendrivenintothejealousrevengeoftorturingHarlanwiththeknowledgethatNoys’smotivationhadbeenapracticalone,andthathecouldneverhaveher.
YetNoyshadrefusedFingeevenwitheternallifeatstakeandhadacceptedHarlan.ShehadthatmuchofachoiceandshehadmadeitinHarlan’sfavor.’Soitwasn’tcalculationentirely.Emotionplayedapart.
Harlan’sthoughtswerewildandjumbled,andgrewmoreheatedwitheverymoment.
Hemusthaveher,andnow.BeforeanyRealityChange.WhatwasitFingehadsaidtohim,jeering:_Thenowdoesnotlast,eveninEternity_.
Doesn’tit,though?Doesn’tit?
Harlanhadknownexactlywhathemustdo
