Конец вечности
Crime
Shesaid,"Ifyoumustknow,partofthereasonwasthetheorythatagirlcanbecomeanEternalthatway.Iwouldn’tmindlivingforever."
"Ithoughtyousaidyoudidn’tbelievethat."
"Ididn’t,butitcouldn’thurtagirltotakethechance.Especially—"
Hewasstaringathersternly,findingrefugefromhurtanddisappointmentinafrozenlookofdisapprovalfromtheheightsofthemoralityofhishomewhen."Well?"
"EspeciallysinceIwantedto,anyway."
"Wantedtomakelovetome?"
"Yes."
"Whyme?"
"BecauseIlikedyou.BecauseIthoughtyouwerefunny."
"Funny!"
"Well,odd,ifyoulikethatbetter.Youalwaysworkedsohardnottolookatme,butyoualwayslookedatmeanyway.YoutriedtohatemeandIcouldseeyouwantedme.Iwassorryforyoualittle,Ithink."
"Whatwereyousorryabout?"Uefelthischeeksburning.
"Thatyoushouldhavesuchtroubleaboutwantingme.It’ssuchasimplething.Youjustaskagirl.It’ssoeasytobefriendly.Whysuffer?"
Harlannodded.Themoralityofthe482nd!"Justaskagirl,"hemuttered."Sosimple.Nothingmorenecessary."
"Thegirlhastobewilling,ofcourse.Mostlysheis,ifshe’snototherwiseengaged.Whynot?It’ssimpleenough."
ItwasHarlan’sturntodrophiseyes.Ofcourse,itwassimpleenough.Andnothingwrongwithit,either.Notinthe482nd.WhoinEternityshouldknowthisbetter?Hewouldbeafool,anutterandunspeakablefool,toaskhernowaboutearlieraffairs.
