Конец вечности
Crime
TheconceptofavariableReality,aRealitythatwasnotfixedandeternalandimmutablewasnotonethatcouldbefacedcasuallybyanyone.
Inthedeadofthesleepperiod,sometimes,HarlanwouldremembertheearlydaysofhisCubhoodandrecallthewrenchingattemptstodivorcehimselffromhisCenturyandfromTime.
IttooksixmonthsfortheaverageCubtolearnallthetruth,todiscoverthathecouldnevergohomeagaininaveryliteralway.Itwasn’tEternity’slaw,alone,thatstoppedhim,butthefrigidfactthathomeasheknewitmightverywellnolongerexist,might,inasense,neverhaveexisted.
ItaffectedCubsdifferently.HarlanrememberedBonkyLatourette’sfaceturningwhiteandgauntthedayInstructorYarrowhadfinallymadeitunmistakablyclearaboutReality.
NoneoftheCubsatethatnight.Theyhuddledtogetherinsearchofakindofpsychicwarmth,allexceptLatourette,whohaddisappeared.Therewasalotoffalselaughterandmiserablypoorjoking.
Someonesaidwithavoicethatwastremulousanduncertain,"IsupposeIneverhadamother.IfIgobackintothe95th,they’dsay:’Whoareyou?Wedon’tknowyou.Wedon’thaveanyrecordsofyou.Youdon’texist.’"
Theysmiledweaklyandnoddedtheirheads,lonelyboyswithnothingleftbutEternity.
TheyfoundLatouretteatbedtime,sleepingdeeplyandbreathingshallowly.Therewastheslightreddeningofasprayinjectioninthehollowofhisleftelbowandfortunatelythatwasnotedtoo.
