Конец вечности
Beyond the Downwhen Terminus
Minusfiveseconds.
Noys!
Hisrighthandmo-ZERO-vedagain,spasmodically.Hedidnotlookatit.
Wasthisnonexistence?
Notyet.Nonexistencenotyet.
Harlanstaredoutthewindow.Hedidnotmove.Timepassedandhewasunawareofitspassage.
Theroomwasempty.Wherethegiant,enclosedkettlehadbeenwasnothing.Metalblocksthathadservedasitsbasesatemptily,liftingtheirhugestrengthagainstair.
Twissell,strangelysmallanddwarfedintheroomthathadbecomeawaitingcavern,wastheonlythingthatmovedashetrampededgilythiswayandthat.
Harlan’seyesfollowedhimforamomentandthenlefthim.
Then,withoutanysoundorstir,thekettlewasbackinthespotithadleft.Itspassageacrossthehairlinefromtimepasttotimepresentdidnotasmuchasdisturbamoleculeofair.
TwissellwashiddenfromHarlan’seyesbythebulkofthekettle,butthenheroundedit,cameintoview.Hewasrunning.
Aflickofhishandwasenoughtoactivatethemechanismthatopenedthedoorofthecontrolroom.Hehurtledinside,shoutingwithanalmostlyricalexcitement."It’sdone.It’sdone.We’veclosedthecircle."Hehadbreathtosaynomore.
Harlanmadenoanswer.
Twissellstaredoutthewindow,hishandsflatagainsttheglass.
