Конец вечности
Full Circle
HerehewasnotmerelyaTechnician,hewasTwissell’sTechnician,andtheyoungerComputers,intheiranxietytoingratiatethemselveswiththegreatTwissell,wouldextendaminimumcivilitytohisTechnician.
TheComputersaid,"DoyouwishtoseeSeniorComputerTwissell?"
Harlanfidgetedandsaid,"Yes,sir."(Thefool!Whatdidhethinkanyonewouldbestandingsignalingataman’sdoorfor?Tocatchakettle?)
"I’mafraidyoucan’t,"saidtheComputer.
"Thisisimportantenoughtowakehim,"saidHarlan.
"Maybeso,"saidtheother,"buthe’soutwhen.He’snotinthe575th."
"Exactlywhenishe,then?"askedHarlanimpatiently.
TheComputer’sglancebecameasuperciliousstare."Iwouldn’tknow."
Harlansaid,"ButIhaveanimportantappointmentfirstthinginthemorning."
"Youhave,"saidtheComputer,andHarlanwasatalosstoaccountforhisobviousamusementatthethought.
TheComputerwenton,evensmilingnow,"You’realittleearly,aren’tyou?"
"ButImustseehim."
"I’msurehe’llbehereinthemorning."Thesmilebroadened.
"But--"
TheComputerpassedbyHarlan,carefullyavoidinganycontact,evenofgarments.
Harlan’sfistsclenchedandunclenched.
