Конец вечности

           Youandtheworldyoulivedinmighthavebeenonlyaprobabilityshadowayearago,butwhat’sthedifference?Youhaveallyourmemories,whetherthey’reofprobabilityshadowsornot,haven’tyou?Yourememberyourchildhoodandyourparents,don’tyou?"

           "Ofcourse."

           "Thenit’sjustasifyoulivedit,isn’tit?Isn’tit?Imean,whetheryoudidornot?"

           "Idon’tknow.I’llhavetothinkaboutit.Whatiftomorrowit’sadreamworldagain,orashadow,orwhateveryoucallit?"

           "ThentherewouldbeanewRealityandanewyouwithnewmemories.Itwouldbejustasthoughnothinghadhappened,exceptthatthesumofhumanhappinesswouldhavebeenincreasedagain."

           "Idon’tfindthatsatisfying,somehow."

           "Besides,"saidHarlanhastily,"nothingwillhappentoyounow.TherewillbeanewRealitybutyou’reinEternity.Youwon’tbechanged."

           "Butyousayitmakesnodifference,"saidNoysgloomily."Whygotoallthetrouble?"

           WithsuddenardorHarlansaid,"BecauseIwantyouasyouare.Exactlyasyouare.Idon’twantyouchanged.Notinanyway."

           Hecamewithinahairofblurtingoutthetruth,thatwithouttheadvantageofthesuperstitionaboutEternalsandeternallifeshewouldneverhaveinclinedtowardhim.

           Shesaid,lookingaboutwithaslightfrown,"WillIhavetostayhereforever,then?Itwouldbe-lonely."

           "No,no.Don’tthinkit,"hesaidwildly,grippingherhandssotightthatshewinced."I’llfindoutwhatyouwillbeinthenewRealityofthe482nd,andyou’llgobackindisguise,sotospeak