Конец вечности
Trapped!
Icould,forinstance,gototheSectionlibrary,Finge,andhelpmyselftoanycuriousthingwhilethelibrarianbusilyconcernshimselfwithhisrecordsandseesnothing.Icanwalkdowntheresidentialcorridorsofthe482ndandanyonepassingturnsoutofmywayandwillswearlateronhesawnoone.It’sthatautomatic.Soyousee,IcandowhatIwanttodo,gowhereIwanttogo.IcanwalkintotheprivateapartmentsoftheAssistantComputerofaSectionandforcehimtotellthetruthatweaponpointandthere’llbenoonetostopme."
Fingespokeforthefirsttime."Whatareyouholding?"
"Aweapon,"saidHarlan,andbroughtitout."Doyourecognizeit?"Itsmuzzleflaredslightlyandendedinasmoothmetallicbulge.
"Ifyoukillme…"beganFinge.
"Iwon’tkillyou,"saidHarlan."Atarecentmeetingyouhadablaster.Thisisnotablaster.ItisaninventionofoneofthepastRealitiesofthe575th.Perhapsyouarenotacquaintedwithit.ItwasbredoutofReality.Toonasty.Itcankill,butatlowpoweritactivatesthepaincentersofthenervesystemandparalyzesaswell.Itiscalled,orwascalled,aneuronicwhip.Itworks.Thisoneisfullycharged.Itesteditonafinger."Hehelduphislefthandwithitsstiffenedlittlefinger."Itwasveryunpleasant."
Fingestirredrestlessly."Whatisallthisabout,forTime’ssake?"
"Thereissomesortofablockacrossthekettleshaftsatthe100,000th.Iwantitremoved.
