Конец вечности
Crime
Whatmoredoyouwant?
Buthespokeanyway.Hesaid,"YouthinkanEternallivesforever,don’tyou?"
"Well,theycallthemEtemals,youknow,andeveryonesaystheydo."Shesmiledathimbrightly."Buttheydon’t,dothey?"
"Youdon’tthinkso,then?"
"AfterIwasinEternityawhile,Ididn’t.Peopledidn’ttalkasthoughtheylivedforever,andtherewereoldmenthere."
"YetyoutoldmeIlivedforever-thatnight."
Shemovedclosertohimalongtheseat,stillsmiling."Ithought:whoknows?"
Hesaid,withoutbeingquiteabletokeepthestrainoutofhisvoice,"HowdoesaTimergoaboutbecominganEternal?"
Hersmilevanishedandwasithisimaginationorwasthereatraceofheightenedcolorinhercheek.Shesaid,"Whydoyouaskthat?"
"Tofindout."
"It’ssilly,"shesaid."I’drathernottalkaboutit."Shestareddownathergracefulfingers,edgedwithnailsthatglitteredcolorlesslyinthemutedlightofthekettleshaft.Harlanthoughtabstractedlyandquiteaproposofnothingthatataneveninggathering,withatouchofmildultravioletinthewallillumination,thosenailswouldglowasoftapple-greenorabroodingcrimson,dependingontheanglesheheldherhands.Aclevergirl,onelikeNoys,couldproducehalfadozenshadesoutofthem,andmakeitseemasthoughthecolorswerereflectinghermoods.Blueforinnocence,brightyellowforlaughter,violetforsorrow,andscarletforpassion.
Hesaid,"Whydidyoumakelovetome?"
Sheshookherhairbackandlookedathimoutofapale,graveface.
