Конец вечности
Beyond the Downwhen Terminus
ButwehadenoughforourpurposesandwearecertainwecansendbackamantoanyhundredthofaCenturyofthePrimitivethatisdesired.
"Youfollowallthis,Cooper,don’tyou?"
Coopersaid,"Perfectly,ComputerTwissell.Ihaveseenthecalibrationcurvewithoutunderstandingthepurposeatthetime.Itisquiteclearnow."
ButHarlanwasexceedinglyinterestednow.Hestaredatthemeasuredarcmarkedoffincenturies.TheshiningarcwasporcelainonmetalandthefinelinesdivideditintoCenturies,DecicenturiesandCenticenturies.Silverymetalgleamedthinlythroughtheporcelainpenetratinglines,markingthemclearly.Thefigureswereasfinelydoneand,bendingclose,HarlancouldmakeouttheCenturiesfrom17to27.Thehairlinewasfixedatthe23.17thCenturymark.
Hehadseensimilartime-gaugesandalmostautomaticallyhereachedtothepressure-controllever.Itdidnotrespondtohisgrasp.Thehairlineremainedinplace.
HenearlyjumpedwhenTwissell’svoicesuddenlyaddressedhim.
"TechnicianHarlan!"
Hecried,"Yes,Computer,"thenrememberedthathecouldnotbeheard.Hesteppedtothewindowandnodded.
Twissellsaid,almostasthoughchiminginwithHarlan’sthoughts,"Thetime-gaugeissetforathrustbacktothe23.17th.Thatrequiresnoadjustment.Youronlytaskistopourenergythroughatthepropermomentinphysiotime.Thereisachronometertotherightofthegauge.
