Конец вечности
The Beginning of Eternity
WhenhefoundhimselfinComputerTwissell’soffice,hecouldnotclearlyrecallhowithadcomeaboutthathehadpassedfromthediningareahere.Thoughhelookedaboutandtriedtomaketheofficegrowrealbysheerforceofthemassofitscontents,itstillseemedbutanotherpartofadreamthathadoutliveditsusefulness.
Twissell’sofficewasaclean,longroomofporcelainasepsis.Onewalloftheofficewascrowdedfromfloortoceilingandwalltodistantwallwiththecomputingmicro-unitswhich,together,madeupthelargestprivatelyoperatedComputaplexinEternityand,indeed,oneofthelargestaltogether.Theoppositewallwascrammedwithreferencefilms.Betweenthetwowhatwasleftoftheroomwasscarcelymorethanacorridor,brokenbyadesk,twochairs,recordingandprojectingequipment,andanunusualobjectthelikeofwhichHarlanwasnotfamiliarwithandwhichdidnotrevealitsuseuntilTwissellflickedtheremnantsofacigaretteintoit.
ItflashednoiselesslyandTwissell,inhisusualprestidigitationalfashion,heldanotherinhishands.
Harlanthought:Tothepoint,now.
Hebegan,atrifletooloudly,abittootruculently,"Thereisagirlinthe482nd--"
Twissellfrowned,wavedonehandquicklyasthoughbrushinganunpleasantmatterhastilytooneside."Iknow,Iknow.Shewillnotbedisturbed,noryou.Allwillbewell.Iwillseetoit.
