Конец вечности
The Beginning of Eternity
Fortunately,IamnotthecobwebspinnerSennoris.
"Iwaspleased,boy,tofindyousoexcellentanObserverandTechnician.ThememoirhadnotmentionedthatsinceCooperhadnoopportunitytoobserveyourworkorevaluateit.Thissuitedme.Icoulduseyouinamoreordinarytaskthatwouldmakeyouressentialonelessnoticeable.EvenyourrecentstaywithComputerFingefittedin.Coopermentionedaperiodofyourabsenceduringwhichhismathematicalstudiesweresosharpenedthathelongedforyourreturn.Once,though,youfrightenedme."
Harlansaid,atonce,"YoumeanthetimeItookCooperalongthekettleways."
"Howdoyoucometoguessthat?"demandedTwissell.
"Itwastheonetimeyouwerereallyangrywithme.IsupposenowitwentagainstsomethingintheMallansohnmemoir."
"Notquite.Itwasjustthatthememoirdidnotspeakofthekettles.ItseemedtomethattoavoidmentionofsuchanoutstandingaspectofEternitymeanthehadlittleexperiencewithit.Itwasmyintentionthereforetokeephimawayfromthekettlesasmuchaspossible.Thefactthatyouhadtakenhimupwheninonedisturbedmegreatly,butnothinghappenedafterward.Thingscontinuedastheyshould,soalliswell."
TheoldComputerrubbedonehandslowlyovertheother,staringattheyoungTechnicianwithalookcompoundedofsurpriseandcuriosity."Andallalongyou’vebeenguessingthis.Itsimplyastonishesme.
