Конец вечности
Crime
Theearlierportionsofthatperiodofgraceweresaferandyieldedleastchanceofdiscovery.Itwasanaturaltendencytocrowditasfardownwhenashecould.Afoolishrisk,too,though.HemighteasilyhavemiscalculatedandenteredTimebeforehehadleftitphysiohoursearlier.Whatthen?ItwasoneofthefirstruleshehadlearnedasanObserver:OnepersonoccupyingtwopointsinthesameTimeofthesameRealityrunsariskofmeetinghimself.
Somehowthatwassomethingtobeavoided.Why?Harlanknewhedidn’twanttomeethimself.Hedidn’twanttobestaringintotheeyesofanotherandearlier(orlater)Harlan.Beyondthatitwouldbeaparadox,andwhatwasitTwissellwasfondofsaying?"TherearenoparadoxesinTime,butonlybecauseTimedeliberatelyavoidsparadoxes.")
AllthetimeHarlanthoughtdizzilyofallthisNoysstaredathimwithlarge,luminouseyes.
Thenshecametohimandputcoolhandsoneitherburningcheekandsaidsoftly,"You’reintrouble."
ToHarlanherglanceseemedkindly,loving.Yethowcouldthatbe?Shehadwhatshewanted.Whatelsewasthere?Heseizedherwristsandsaidhuskily,"Willyoucomewithme?Now?Withoutaskinganyquestions?DoingexactlyasIsay?"
"MustI?"sheasked.
"Youmust,Noys.It’sveryimportant."
"ThenI’llcome."Shesaiditmatter-of-factly,asthoughsucharequestcametohereachdayandwasalwaysaccepted.
AtthelipofthekettleNoyshesitatedamoment,thensteppedin.
Harlansaid,"We’regoingupwhen,Noys."
