Конец вечности
The Beginning of Eternity
"
"Yes,indeed?"
"Howfragileisthesituation?SupposesomethingunexpectedweretohappenandIweretomissadaywhenIoughttohavebeenteachingCoopersomethingvital."
"Idon’tunderstandyou."
(WasitHarlan’simagination,orhadasparkofalarmsprungtolifeinthoseold,tiredeyes?)
"Imean,canthecirclebreak?Letmeputitthisway.IfanunexpectedblowontheheadputsmeoutofactionatatimewhenthememoirdistinctlystatesIamwellandactive,isthewholeschemedisrupted?Orsuppose,forsomereason,Ideliberatelychoosenottofollowthememoir.Whatthen?"
"Butwhatputsallthisinyourmind?"
"Itseemsalogicalthought.Itseemstomethatbyacarelessorwillfulaction,Icouldbreakthecircle,andwell,what?DestroyEternity?Itseemsso.Ifitisso,"Harlanaddedcomposedly,"IoughttobetoldsothatImaybecarefultodonothingunfitting.ThoughIimagineitwouldtakearatherunusualcircumstancetodrivemetosuchathing."
Twisselllaughed,butthelaughterrangfalseandemptyinHarlan’sear."Thisisallpurelyacademic,myboy.Nothingofthiswillhappensinceithasn’thappened.Thefullcirclewillnotbreak."
"Itmight,"saidHarlan."Thegirlofthe482nd--"
"Issafe,"saidTwissell.Heroseimpatiently.
