Конец вечности
Trapped!
"Doyouwantitsounded?"askedFinge,andwithoutwaitingthreadeditintothesounder.
Harlanlistened,frozen.Itwasclearenough.Fingehadreportedinfull.HehaddetailedeverymotionofHarlan’sinthekettleshafts.Hehadn’tmissedonethatHarlancouldrememberuptothepointofmakingthereport.
Fingeshoutedwhenthereportwasdone,"Now,then,gototheCouncil.I’veputnoblockinTime.Iwouldn’tknowhow.Anddon’tthinkthey’reunconcernedaboutthematter.YousaidIspoketoTwissellyesterday.You’reright.ButIdidn’tcallhim;hecalledme.Sogo;askTwissell.TellthemwhatanimportantTechnicianyouare.Andifyouwanttoshootmefirst;shootandtoTimewithyou."
HarlancouldnotmisstheactualexultationintheComputer’svoice.Atthatmomentheobviouslyfeltenoughthevictortobelievethatevenaneuronicwhippingwouldleavehimontheprofitsideoftheledger.
Why?WasthebreakingofHarlansodeartohisheart?WashisjealousyoverNoyssoall-consumingapassion?
Harlandidscarcelymorethanformulatethequestionsinhismind,andthenthewholematter,Fingeandall,seemedsuddenlymeaninglesstohim.
Hepocketedhisweapon,whirledoutthedoor,andtowardthenearestkettleshaft.
ItwastheCouncil,then,orTwissell,attheveryleast.Hewasafraidofnoneofthem,norofallputtogether
