Конец вечности

           NotaphysioyearpassedbutthatsomewhereinTimenucleartechnologyveeredtooclosetothedangerousandhadtobesteeredaway.

           Hereturnedtothelibraryproperandtotheshelvesonmathematicsandmathematicalhistories.Hisfingersskimmedacrossindividualtitles,andaftersomethoughthetookhalfadozenfromtheshelvesandsignedthemout.

           ItemFive:Noys.

           Thatwasthereallyimportantpartoftheinterlude,andalltheidyllicpart.

           Inhisoff-hours,whenCooperwasgone,whenhemightordinarilyhavebeeneatinginsolitude,readinginsolitude,sleepinginsolitude,waitinginsolitudeforthenextday-hetooktothekettles.

           WithallhishearthewasgratefulfortheTechnician’spositioninsociety.Hewasthankful,ashehadneverdreamedhecouldbe,forthemannerinwhichhewasavoided.

           Noonequestionedhisrighttobeinakettle,norcaredwhetherheaimeditupwhenordown.Nocuriouseyesfollowedhim,nowillinghandsofferedtohelphim,nochatteringmouthsdiscusseditwithhim.

           Hecouldgowhereandwhenhepleased.

           Noyssaid,"You’vechanged,Andrew.Heavens,you’vechanged."

           Helookedatherandsmiled."Inwhatway,Noys?"

           "You’resmiling,aren’tyou?That’soneoftheways.Don’tyoueverlookinamirrorandseeyourselfsmiling?"

           "I’mafraidto.I’dsay:’Ican’tbethathappy.I’msick.I’mdelirious.