Конец вечности
The Beginning of Eternity
Adoorwasopen,showingfoursmallstepsleadingtoawell-litplatformwithin.
VoicessoundedfrominsideandevenasHarlanwatched,legsappearedintheopeninganddescendedthesteps.Amanemergedandanotherpairoflegsappearedbehindhim.ItwasSennoroftheAllwhenCouncilandbehindhimwasanotherofthegroupatthebreakfasttable.
Twisselldidnotlookpleasedatthis.Hisvoice,however,wasrestrained."Isthesubcommitteestillhere?"
"Onlywetwo,"saidSennorcasually,"Riceandmyself.Abeautifulinstrumentwehavehere.Ithasthelevelofcomplexityofaspaceship."
Ricewasapaunchymanwiththeperplexedlookofonewhoisaccustomedtobeingrightyetfindshimselfunaccountablyonthelosingsideofanargument.Herubbedhisbulbousnoseandsaid,"Sennor’smindisrunningonspace-travellately."
Sennor’sbaldheadglistenedinthelight."It’saneatpoint,Twissell,"hesaid."Iputittoyou.Isspace-travelapositivefactororanegativefactorinthecalculusofReality?"
"Thequestionismeaningless,"saidTwissellimpatiently."Whattypeofspace-travelinwhatsocietyunderwhatcircumstances?"
"Oh,come.Surelythere’ssomethingtobesaidconcerningspacetravelintheabstract."
"Onlythatitisself-limiting,thatitexhaustsitselfanddiesout."
"Thenitisuseless,"saidSennorwithsatisfaction,"andthereforeitisanegativefactor.
