Observer

           HarlanstoodatthegatewaytoTimeandthoughtofhimselfinnewways.Ithadbeenverysimpleonce.Thereweresuchthingsasideals,oratleastcatchwords,tolivebyandfor.EverystageofanEternal’slifehadareason.Howdid"BasicPrinciples"start?

           "ThelifeofanEternalmaybedividedintofourparts..."

           Itallworkedoutneatly,yetithadallchangedforhim,andwhatwasbrokencouldnotbemadewholeagain.

           YethehadgonefaithfullythrougheachofthefourpartsofanEternal’slife.First,therewastheperiodoffifteenyearsinwhichhewasnotanEternalatall,butonlyaninhabitantofTime.OnlyahumanbeingoutofTime,aTimer,couldbecomeanEternal;noonecouldbebornintotheposition.

           Attheageoffifteenhewaschosenbyacarefulprocessofeliminationandwinnowing,thenatureofwhichhehadnoconception.ofatthetime.HewastakenbeyondtheveilofEternityafteralastagonizedfarewelltohisfamily.(Eventhenitwasmadecleartohimthatwhateverelsehappenedhewouldneverreturn.Thetruereasonforthathewasnottolearntilllongafterward.)

           OncewithinEternity,hespenttenyearsinschoolasaCub,andthengraduatedtoenterhisthirdperiodasObserver.ItwasonlyafterthatthathebecameaSpecialistandatrueEternal.ThefourthandlastpartoftheEternal’slife:Timer,Cub,ObserverandSpecialist.

           He,Harlan,hadgonethroughitallsoneatly.Hemightsay,successfully.