Crime

           Noonehadquestionedhim.Noonehadstoppedhim.Therewasthatadvantage,anyway,inthesocialisolationofaTechnician.HewentviathekettlechannelstoadoortoTimeandsetitscontrols.Therewasthechance,ofcourse,thatsomeonewouldhappenalongonalegitimateerrandandwonderwhythedoorwasinuse.Hehesitated,andthendecidedtostamphissealonthemarker.Asealeddoorwoulddrawlittleattention.Anunsealeddoorinactiveusewouldbeanine-daywonder.

           Ofcourse,itmightbeFingewhostumbleduponthedoor.Hewouldhavetochancethat.

           Noyswasstillstandingashehadlefther.Wretchedhours(physiohours)hadpassedsinceHarlanhadleftthe482ndforalonelyEternity,buthereturnednowtothesameTime,withinamatterofseconds,thathehadleft.NotahaironNoys’sheadhadstirred.

           Shelookedstartled."Didyouforgetsomething,Andrew?"

           Harlanstaredatherhungrily,butmadenomovetotouchher.HerememberedFinge’swords,andhedarednotriskarepulse.Hesaidstiffly,"You’vegottodoasIsay."

           Shesaid,"Butissomethingwrong,then?Youjustleft.Youjustthisminuteleft."

           "Don’tworry,"saidHarlan.Itwasallhecoulddotokeepfromtakingherhand,fromtryingtosootheher.Insteadhespokeharshly.Itwasasthoughsomedemonwereforcinghimtodoallthewrongthings.Whyhadhecomebackatthefirstavailablemoment?Hewasonlydisturbingherbyhisalmostinstantaneousreturnafterleaving.

           (Heknewtheanswertothat,really.Hehadatwo-daymarginofgraceallowedbythespatio-temporalchart.