Конец вечности
The Beginning of Eternity
"CooperusedthenameofVikkorMallansohninallthisbecauseitgavehimabackgroundandmadehimanauthenticproductofthe24th.ThebodyoftherealMallansohnwasneverrecovered.
"Intheremainderofhislife,hecherishedhisgeneratorandcooperatedwiththeInstitutescientistsinduplicatingit.Hedareddonomorethanthat.HecouldnotteachthemtheLefebvreequationswithoutoutliningthreeCenturiesofmathematicaldevelopmentthatwastocome.Hecouldnot,darednothintathistrueorigin.HedarednotdomorethantherealVikkorMallansohnhad,tohisknowledge,done.
"Themenwhoworkedwithhimwerefrustratedtofindamanwhocouldperformsobrilliantlyandyetwasunabletoexplainthewhysofhisperformance.Andhehimselfwasfrustratedtoo,becauseheforesaw,withoutinanywaybeingabletoquicken,theworkthatwouldlead,stepbystep,totheclassicexperimentsofJanVerdeer,andhowfromthatthegreatAntoineLefebvrewouldconstructthebasicequationsofReality.Andhow,afterthat,Eternitywouldbeconstructed.
"ItwasonlytowardtheendofhislonglifethatCooper,staringintoaPacificsunset(hedescribesthesceneinsomedetailinhismemoir)cametothegreatrealizationthathewasVikkorMallansohn;hewasnotasubstitutebutthemanhimself.Thenamemightnotbehis,butthemanhistorycalledMallansohnwasreallyBrinsleySheridanCooper.
