Конец вечности
Crime
"Thatmeansthefuture,doesn’tit?"
ThekettlewasalreadyfaintlyhummingassheentereditandshewasscarcelyseatedwhenHarlanunobtrusivelymovedthecontactathiselbow.
Sheshowednosignsofnauseaatthebeginningsofthatindescribablesensationof"motion"throughTime.Hewasafraidshemight.
Shesattherequietly,sobeautifulandsoateasethatheached,lookingather,andgavenottheparticleofadamnthat,bybringingaTimer,unauthorized,intoEternity,hehadcommittedafelony.
Shesaid,"Doesthatdialshowthenumbersoftheyears,Andrew?"
"TheCenturies."
"Youmeanwe’reathousandyearsinthefuture?Already?"
"That’sright."
"Itdoesn’tfeellikeit."
"Iknow."
Shelookedabout."Buthowarewemoving?"
"Idon’tknow,Noys."
"Youdon’t?"
"TherearemanythingsaboutEternitythatarehardtounderstand."
Thenumbersonthetemporometermarched.Fasterandfastertheymovedtilltheywereablur.WithhiselbowHarlanhadnudgedthespeedsticktohigh.Thepowerdrainmightcausesomesurpriseinthepowerplants,buthedoubtedit.NoonehadbeenwaitingforhiminEternitywhenhereturnedwithNoys,andthatwasninetenthsthebattle.Nowitwasonlynecessarytogethertoasafeplace.
AgainHarlanlookedather."Eternalsdon’tknoweverything."
"AndI’mnotanEternal,"shemurmured."Iknowsolittle."
Harlan’spulsequickened.StillnotanEternal?ButFingesaid...
Leaveitatthat,hepleadedwithhimself.Leaveitatthat.She’scomingwithyou.Shesmilesatyou.
