The Beginning of Eternity

           HarlanwouldnothavethoughtthatTwissellcouldhavesaidanythingatthatmomentthatcouldhavesurprisedhim.Hewaswrong.

           Hesaid,"Mallansohn.He-"

           Twissell,havingsmokedhiscigarettetoastub,producedanotherandsaid,"Yes,Mallansohn.DoyouwantaquicksummaryofMallansohn’slife?Hereitis.Hewasborninthe78th,spentsometimeinEternity,anddiedinthe24th."

           Twissell’ssmallhandplaceditselflightlyonHarlan’selbowandhisgnomishfacebrokeintoawrinkledextensionofhisusualsmile."Butcome,boy,physiotimepassesevenforusandwearenotcompletelymastersofourselvesthisday.Won’tyoucomewithmetomyoffice?"

           HeledthewayandHarlanfollowed,notentirelyawareoftheopeningdoorsandthemovingramps.

           Hewasrelatingthenewinformationtohisownproblemandplanofaction.Withthepassingofthefirstmomentofdisorientationhisresolutionreturned.Afterall,howdidthischangethingsexcepttomakehisownimportancetoEternitystillmorecrucial,hisvaluehigher,hisdemandsmoresuretobemet,Noysmorecertaintobebarteredbacktohim.

           Noys!

           FatherTime,theymustnotharmher!Sheseemedtheonlyrealpartofhislife.AllEternitybesidewasonlyafilmyfantasy,andnotaworth-whileone,either.