Конец вечности
Trapped!
Hecouldbreatheonlybystrugglingviolentlywiththeatmosphere,fightingairinandpushingitout,whilehisheartbeatmadlyasthoughinanefforttoescapehisbody.
Finge,Twissell,alltheCounciltogethercouldnothavedisconcertedhimsomuch.Itwasthefearofnothingphysicalthathadunmannedhim.Ratheritwasanalmostinstinctiveloathingforthenatureoftheaccidentthathadbefallenhim.
Hegatheredthestackofbook-filmstohimselfinaformlesslumpandmanaged,aftertwofutiletries,tore-establishthedoortoEternity.Hesteppedthrough,hislegsoperatingmechanically.Somehowhemadehiswaytothe575th,andthentopersonalquarters.HisTechnicianhood,newlyvalued,newlyappreciated,savedhimonceagain.ThefewEternalshemetturnedautomaticallytoonesideandlookedsteadfastlyoverhisheadastheydidso.
Thatwasfortunate,forhelackedanyabilitytosmoothhisfaceoutofthedeath’s-headgrimacehefelthewaswearing,oranypowertoputthebloodbackintoit.Buttheydidn’tlook,andhethankedTimeandEternityandwhateverblindthingwoveDestinyforthat.
HehadnottrulyrecognizedtheothermaninNoys’shousebyhisappearance,yetheknewhisidentitywithadreadfulcertainty.
ThefirsttimeHarlanhadheardanoiseinthehousehe,Harlan,hadbeenlaughingandthesoundthatinterruptedhislaughwasofsomethingweightydroppinginthenextroom.
