Конец вечности
Crime
Tothefarupwhen,"hesaid,grimly."Goodandfar.Wheretheywon’tfindyou."
Andinsilencetheywatchedthenumbersmount.InsilenceHarlantoldhimselfoverandoverthatthegirlwasinnocentofFinge’scharge.Shehadownedupfranklytoitspartialtruthandshehadadmitted,justasfrankly,thepresenceofamorepersonalattraction.
Helookedup,then,asNoysshiftedposition.Shehadmovedtohissideofthekettleand,witharesolutegesture,broughtthekettletoahaltatamostuncomfortabletemporaldeceleration.
Harlangulpedandclosedhiseyestoletthenauseapass.Hesaid,"What’sthematter?"
Shelookedashenandforamomentmadenoreply.Thenshesaid,"Idon’twanttogoanyfurther.Thenumbersaresohigh."
Thetemporometerread:111,394.
Hesaid,"Farenough."
Thenheheldouthishandgravely,"Come,Noys.Thiswillbeyourhomeforawhile."
Theywanderedthroughthecorridorslikechildren,handinhand.Thelightsalongthemainwayswereon,andthedarkenedroomsblazedatthetouchofacontact.Theairwasfreshandhadalivelinessaboutitwhich,withoutsensibledraft,yetindicatedthepresenceofventilation.
Noyswhispered,"Istherenoonehere?"
"Noone,"saidHarlan.Hetriedtosayitfirmlyandloudly.Hewantedtobreakthespellofbeingina"HiddenCentury,"buthesaiditinonlyawhisperafterall.
Hedidnotevenknowhowtorefertoanythingsofarupwhen.Tocallittheone-one-one-three-ninety-fourthwasridiculous.Onewouldhavetosaysimplyandindefinitely,"Thehundredthousands."
