Конец вечности
Technician
(AnothercharacteristicofthisSectionofEternity,thoughtHarlan-soundcodesinclicks.Clever,butaffected,likethemolecularfilms.)
"Hesaysitwon’ttakemorethanthreehours,"saidVoyatlength."Also,bytheway,headmiresthenameofthepersoninvolved.NoysLambent.Itisafemale,isn’tit?"
TherewasadrynessinHarlan’sthroat."Yes."
Voy’slipscurledintoaslowsmile."Soundsinteresting.I’dliketomeether,sightunseen.Haven’thadanywomeninthisSectionformonths."
Harlandidn’ttrusthimselftoanswer.HestaredamomentattheSociologistandturnedabruptly.
IftherewasaflawinEternity,itinvolvedwomen.HehadknowntheflawforwhatitwasfromalmosthisfirstentranceintoEternity,buthefeltitpersonallyonlythatdayhehadfirstmetNoys.Fromthatmomentithadbeenaneasypathtothisone,inwhichhestoodfalsetohisoathasanEternalandtoeverythinginwhichhehadbelieved.
Forwhat?
ForNoys.
Andhewasnotashamed.Itwasthatwhichreallyrockedhim.Hewasnotashamed.Hefeltnoguiltforthecrescendoofcrimeshehadcommitted,towhichthislatestadditionoftheunethicaluseofconfidentialLife-Plottingcouldrankonlyasapeccadillo.
Hewoulddoworsethanhisworstifhehadto.
Forthefirsttimethespecificandexpressthoughtcametohim.Andthoughhepusheditawayinhorror,heknewthat,havingoncecome,itwouldreturn.
Thethoughtwassimplythis:ThathewouldruinEternity,ifhehadto.
Theworstofitwasthatheknewhehadthepowertodoit.
