Конец вечности
Beyond the Downwhen Terminus
Anearlierthoughtrecurred:aSamson-smashofthetemple!
Acornerofhismindwonderedsickly:HowmanyEternalshaveeverheardofSamson?Howmanyknowhowhedied?
Therewereonlytwenty-fiveminutesleft.Hewasnotcertainhowlongtheoperationwouldtake.Hewasnotreallycertainitwouldworkatall.
Butwhatchoicehadhe?Hisdampfingersalmostdroppedtheweaponbeforehesucceededinunhingingthebutt.
Heworkedrapidlyandincompleteabsorption.Ofalltheaspectsofwhatheplanned,thepossibilityofhisownpassageintononexistenceoccupiedhismindtheleastandbotheredhimnotatall.
AtminusoneminuteHarlanwasstandingatthecontrols.
Detachedlyhethought:Thelastminuteoflife?
Nothingintheroomwasvisibletohimbutthebackwardsweepoftheredhairlinethatmarkedthepassingseconds.
Minusthirtyseconds.
Hethought:Itwillnothurt.Itisnotdeath.
HetriedtothinkonlyofNoys.
Minusfifteenseconds.
Noys!
Harlan’slefthandmovedaswitchdowntowardcontact.Nothastily!
Minustwelveseconds.
Contact!
Theforce-gearwouldtakeovernow.Thrustwouldcomeatzerotime.AndthatleftHarlanonelastmanipulation.TheSamson-smash!
Hisrighthandmoved.Hedidnotlookathisrighthand.
