Конец вечности
Full Circle
HestaredhelplesslyaftertheComputerandthen,simplybecausetherewasnothingelsetodo,hewalkedslowly,andwithoutfullconsciousnessofhissurroundings,backtohisownroom.
Harlansleptfitfully.Hetoldhimselfheneededsleep.Hetriedtorelaxbymainforce,and,ofcourse,failed.Hissleepperiodwasasuccessionoffutilethought.
Firstofall,therewasNoys.
Theywouldnotdareharmher,hethoughtfeverishly.TheycouldnotsendherbacktoTimewithoutfirstcalculatingtheeffectonRealityandthatwouldtakedays,probablyweeks.Asanalternative,theymightdotoherwhatFingehadthreatenedforhim;placeherinthepathofanuntraceableaccident.
Hedidnottakethatintoseriousconsideration.Therewasnonecessityfordrasticactionsuchasthat.TheywouldnotriskHarlan’sdispleasurebydoingit.(Inthequietofadarkenedsleepingroom,andinthatphaseofhalfsleepwherethingsoftengrewqueerlydisproportionateinthought,HarlanfoundnothinggrotesqueinhissureopinionthattheAllwhenCouncilwouldnotdareriskaTechnician’sdispleasure.)
Ofcourse,therewereusestowhichawomanincaptivitymightbeput.AbeautifulwOmanfromahedonisticReality.
ResolutelyHarlanputthethoughtawayasoftenasitreturned.Itwasatoncemorelikelyandmoreunthinkablethandeath,andhewouldhavenoneofit.
HethoughtofTwissell.
Theoldmanwasoutofthe575th.
