Конец вечности
Full Circle
Theskinofhisfacepuckeredupabouthisfadedeyes,andhetampedattheashendofhiscigarettethoughtfully.
Hesaid,"Byallmeans,speakifyouwish,butfirst,sitdown,sitdown,boy."
TechnicianAndrewHarlandidnotsitdown.Hestrodeupandbackthelengthofthetable,bitingoffhissentenceshardtokeepthemfromboilingandbubblingintoincoherence.SeniorComputerLabanTwissell’sage-yellowedpippinofaheadturnedbackandforthashefollowedtheother’snervousstride.
Harlansaid,"ForweeksnowI’vebeengoingthroughfilmsonthehistoryofmathematics.BooksfromseveralRealitiesofthe575th.TheRealitiesdon’tmattermuch.Mathematicsdoesn’tchange.Theorderofitsdevelopmentdoesn’tchangeeither.NomatterhowelsetheRealitiesshifted,mathematicalhistorystayedaboutthesame.Themathematicianschanged;differentonesswitcheddiscoveries,buttheendresults--Anyway,Ipoundedalotofitintomyhead.Howdoesthatstrikeyou?"
Twissellfrownedandsaid,"AqueeroccupationforaTechnician?"
"ButI’mnotjustaTechnician,"saidHarlan."Youknowthat."
"Goon,"saidTwissellandhelookedatthetimepiecehewore.Thefingersthatheldhiscigaretteplayedwithitwithunwontednervousness.
Harlansaid,"TherewasamannamedVikkorMallansohnwholivedinthe24thCentury.ThatwaspartofthePrimitiveera,youknow.
