Конец вечности
The Beginning of Eternity
"
"Doyoumean--"
"ItellyouIknowthestory.Ifthematterhastroubledyou,itneedtroubleyounomore."
Harlanstaredattheoldman,stupefied.Wasthisall?Thoughhehadthoughtintentlyoftheimmensityofhispower,hehadnotexpectedsoclearademonstration.
ButTwissellwastalkingagain.
"Letmetellyouastory,"hebegan,withalmostthetonehewouldhaveusedinaddressinganewlyinductedCub."Ihadnotthoughtthiswouldbenecessary,andperhapsitstillisn’t,butyourownresearchesandinsightdeserveit."
HestaredatHarlanquizzicallyandsaid,"Youknow,Istillcan’tquitebelievethatyouworkedthisoutonyourown,"thenwenton:
"ThemanmostofEternityknowsasVikkorMallansohnlefttherecordofhislifebehindhimafterhedied.Itwasnotquiteadiary,notquiteabiography.Itwasmoreofaguide,bequeathedtotheEternalsheknewwouldsomedayexist.ItwasenclosedinavolumeofTime-stasiswhichcouldbeopenedonlybytheComputersofEternity,andwhichthereforeremaineduntouchedforthreeCenturiesafterhisdeath,untilEternitywasestablishedandSeniorComputerHenryWadsman,thefirstofthegreatEternals,openedit.Thedocumenthasbeenpassedalonginstrictestsecuritysince,alongalineofSeniorComputersendingwithmyself.ItisreferredtoastheMallansohnmemoir.
