Конец вечности
Beyond the Downwhen Terminus
"
"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Twissell’soldhandsfellonHarlan’sshoulderswithsurprisingstrength."You’reill,boy.Thestrain."
"Notill.Sickofeverything.You.Me.Notill.Thegauge.Seeforyourself."
"Thegauge?"Thehairlineonthegaugestoodatthe27thCentury,hardagainsttheright-handextreme."Whathappened?"Thejoywasgonefromhisface.Horrorreplacedit.
Harlangrewmatter-of-fact."Imeltedthelockingmechanism,freedthethrustcontrol."
"Howcouldyou--"
"Ihadaneuronicwhip.Ibrokeitopenanduseditsmicro-pileenergysourceinoneflash,likeatorch.There’swhat’sleftofit."Hekickedatasmallheapofmetalfragmentsinonecorner.
Twissellwasn’ttakingitin."Inthe27th?YoumeanCooper’sinthe27th--"
"Idon’tknowwhereheis,"saidHarlandully."Ishiftedthethrustcontroldownwhen,furtherdownthanthez4th.Idon’tknowwhere.Ididn’tlook.ThenIbroughtitback.Istilldidn’tlook."
Twissellstaredathim,hisfaceapale,unhealthyyellowishcolor,hislowerliptrembling.
"Idon’tknowwhereheisnow,"saidHarlan."He’slostinthePrimitive.Thecircleisbroken.IthoughteverythingwouldendwhenImadethestroke.Atzerotime.That’ssilly.We’vegottowait
