Конец вечности
Crime
I’lltakecareofyou.I’llapplyforpermissionforformalliaisonandseetoitthatyouremainsafelythroughfutureChanges.I’maTechnicianandagoodoneandIknowaboutChanges."Headdedgrimly,"AndIknowafewotherthingsaswell,"andstoppedthere.
Noyssaid,"Isallthisallowed?Imean,canyoutakepeopleintoEternityandkeepthemfromchanging?Itdoesn’tsoundright,somehow,fromthethingsyou’vetoldme."
ForamomentHarlanfeltshrunkenandcoldinthelargeemptinessofthethousandsofCenturiesthatsurroundedhimupwhenanddown.ForamomenthefeltcutoffevenfromtheEternitythatwashisonlyhomeandonlyfaith,doublycastoutfromTimeandEternity;andonlythewomanforwhomhehadforsakenitallleftathisside.
Hesaid,andhemeantitdeeply,"No,itisacrime.Itisaverygreatcrime,andIambitterlyashamed.ButIwoulddoitagain,ifIhadto,andanynumberoftimes,ifIhadto."
"Forme,Andrew?Forme?"
Hedidnotraisehiseyestohers."No,Noys,formyself.Icouldnotbeartoloseyou."
Shesaid,"Andifwearecaught..."
Harlanknewtheanswertothat.Heknewtheanswersincethatmomentofinsightinbedinthe482nd,withNoyssleepingathisside.But,evenyet,hedarednotthinkofthewildtruth.
Hesaid,"Iamnotafraidofanyone.Ihavewaysofprotectingmyself.Theydon’timaginehowmuchIknow."
