Конец вечности
Technician
Atthe2456thhewouldbenearlytwohundredfortymillenniafromhisbirthwhenandthatisasizabledistanceevenforahardenedEternal.
Underordinarycircumstancesallthiswouldbeso.
ButrightnowHarlanwasinpoormoodtothinkofanythingbutthefactthathisdocumentswereheavyinhispocketandhisplanheavyonhisheart.Hewasalittlefrightened,alittletense,alittleconfused.
ItwashishandsactingbythemselvesthatbroughtthekettletotheproperhaltattheproperCentury.
StrangethataTechnicianshouldfeeltenseornervousaboutanything.WhatwasitthatEducatorYarrowhadoncesaid:
"Aboveall,aTechnicianmustbedispassionate.TheRealityChangeheinitiatesmayaffectthelivesofasmanyasfiftybillionpeople.Amillionormoreofthesemaybesodrasticallyaffectedastobeconsiderednewindividuals.Undertheseconditions,anemotionalmake-upisadistincthandicap."
Harlanputthememoryofhisteacher’sdryvoiceoutofhismindwithanalmostsavageshakeofhishead.Inthosedayshehadneverimaginedthathehimselfwouldhavethepeculiartalentforthatveryposition.Butemotionhadcomeuponhimafterall.Notforfiftybillionpeople.WhatinTimedidhecareforfiftybillionpeople?Therewasjustone.Oneperson.
Hebecameawarethatthekettlewasstationaryandwiththemerestpausetopullhisthoughtstogether,puthimselfintothecold,impersonalframeofmindaTechnicianmusthave,hesteppedout.
