Конец вечности

           Idon’tthinkI’lleverunderstanditall."

           "There’snothingtoit."AndHarlanexplainedandexplainedwithgreatanimationandNoyslistenedwithsparklingeyesthatneverquiterevealedwhethershewasentirelyinterested,oramused,or,perhaps,alittleofboth.

           ItwasagreatadditiontoHarlan’slife.Therewassomeonetotalkto,someonewithwhomtodiscusshislife,hisdeeds,andthoughts.Itwasasthoughshewereaportionofhimself,butaportionsufficientlyseparatetorequirespeechincommunicationratherthanthought.Shewasaportionsufficientlyseparatetobeabletoanswerunpredictablyoutofindependentthoughtprocesses.Strange,Harlanthought,howonemightObserveasocialphenomenonsuchasmatrimonyandyetmisssovitalatruthaboutit.Couldhehavepredictedinadvance,forinstance,thatitwouldbethepassionateinterludesthathewouldlaterleastoftenassociatewiththeidyl?

           Shesnuggledintothecrookofhisarmandsaid,"Howisyourmathematicscomingalong?"

           Harlansaid,"Wanttolookatapieceofit?"

           "Don’ttellmeyoucarryitaroundwithyou?"

           "Whynot?Thekettletriptakestime.Nousewastingit,youknow."

           Hedisengagedhimself,tookasmallviewerfromhispocket,insertedthefilm,andsmiledfondlyassheputittohereyes.

           Shereturnedtheviewertohimwithashakeofherhead."Ineversawsomanysquiggles.