Конец вечности

           "Well,Cooper,whathavetheybeendoingwithyouwhileIwasaway?"

           Cooperlaughed,brushedhisdroopingmustacheself-consciouslywithonefingerandsaid,"Moremath.Alwaysmath."

           "Yes?Prettyadvancedstuffbynow,Iguess."

           "Prettyadvanced."

           "How’sitcoming?"

           "Sofarit’sbearable.Itcomesprettyeasy,youknow.Ilikeit.Butnowthey’rereallyloadingiton."

           Harlannoddedandfeltacertainsatisfaction.Hesaid,"TemporalFieldmatricesandallthat?"

           ButCooper,hiscoloralittlehigh,turnedtowardthestackedvolumesinthebookshelves,andsaid,"Let’sgetbacktothePrimitives.I’vegotsomequestions."

           "Aboutwhat?"

           "Citylifeinthe23rd.LosAngeles,especially."

           "WhyLosAngeles?"

           "It’saninterestingcity.Don’tyouthinkso?"

           "Itis,butlet’shititinthe21st,then.Itwasatitspeakinthe21st."

           "Oh,let’strythe23rd."

           Harlansaid,"Well,whynot?"

           Hisfacewasimpassive,butiftheimpassivenesscouldhavebeenpeeledoff,therewouldhavebeenagrimnessabouthim.Hisgrand,intuitionalguesswasmorethanaguess.Everythingwascheckingneatly.

           ItemFour:research.Twofoldresearch.

           Forhimself,first.Eachday,withferretingeyes,hewentthroughthereportsonTwissell’sdesk.