Конец вечности
Full Circle
He’smysuperior.There’snoexcitementinvolved."
AlookofsurprisepassedmomentarilyoverthestudiouslackofexpressiontheAdministratorhadsofarkeptonhisface."Youhaven’tbeeninformed?"
"Aboutwhat?"
"Why,thatasubcommitteeoftheAllwhenCouncilisholdingsessionhereatthe575th.Thisplace,Iamtold,hasbeenalivewiththenewsforhours."
"Andtheywanttoseeme?"Assoonasheaskedthat,Harlanthought:Ofcoursetheywanttoseeme.Whatelsecouldthesessionbeaboutbutme?
AndheunderstoodtheamusementoftheJuniorComputerlastnightoutsideTwissell’sroom.TheComputerknewoftheprojectedcommitteemeetinganditamusedhimtothinkthataTechniciancouldpossiblyexpecttoseeTwissellatatimelikethat.Veryamusing,thoughtHarlanbitterly.
TheAdministratorsaid,"Ihavemyorders.Iknownothingmore."Then,stillsurprised,"You’veheardnothingofthis?"
"Technicians,"saidHarlansarcastically,"leadshelteredlives."
FivebesidesTwissell!SeniorComputersall,nonelessthanthirtyfiveyearsanEternal.
SixweeksearlierHarlanwouldhavebeenoverwhelmedbythehonorofsittingatlunchwithsuchagroup,tongue-tiedbythecombinationofresponsibilityandpowertheyrepresented.Theywouldhaveseemedtwicelife-sizetohim.
Butnowtheywereantagonistsofhis,worsestill,judges.Hehadnotimetobeimpressed.
