Конец вечности
Full Circle
Then,sincenothinginaRealitymadeun-Realcanbedetected,AneverhasmetB.Similarly,ineveryapparentparadoxofTime-travel,RealityalwayschangestoavoidtheparadoxandwecometotheconclusionthattherearenoparadoxesinTime-travelandthattherecanbenone."
Sennorlookedwellpleasedwithhimselfandhisexposition,butTwissellrosetohisfeet.
Twissellsaid,"Ibelieve,gentlemen,thattimepresses."
FarmoresuddenlythanHarlanwouldhavethoughtthelunchwasover.Fiveofthesubcommitteemembersfiledout,noddingathim,withtheairofthosewhosecuriosity,mildatbest,hadbeenassuaged.OnlySennorheldoutahandandaddedagruff"Goodday,youngman"tothenod.
WithmixedfeelingsHarlanwatchedthemgo.Whathadbeenthepurposeoftheluncheon?Mostofall,whythereferencetomenmeetingthemselves?TheyhadmadenomentionofNoys.Weretheythere,then,onlytostudyhim?SurveyhimfromtoptobottomandleavehimtoTwissell’sjudging?
Twissellreturnedtothetable,emptynowoffoodandcutlery.HewasalonewithHarlannow,andalmostasthoughtosymbolizethathewieldedanewcigarettebetweenhisfingers.
Hesaid,"Andnowtowork,Harlan.Wehaveagreatdealtodo."
ButHarlanwouldnot,couldnot,waitlonger.Hesaidflatly,"Beforewedoanything,Ihavesomethingtosay."
Twisselllookedsurprised.
