The Earlier Crime

           "Why?Why?"

           TwisselllookedhelplesslyfromthegaugetotheTechnician,hiseyesmirroringthepuzzledfrustrationinhisvoice.

           Harlanliftedhishead.Hehadonlyonewordtosay."Noys!"

           Twissellsaid,"ThewomanyoutookintoEternity?"

           Harlansmiledbitterly,saidnothing.

           Twissellsaid,"Whathasshetodowiththis?GreatTime,Idon’tunderstand,boy."

           "Whatistheretounderstand?"Harlanburnedwithsorrow."Whydoyoupretendignorance?Ihadawoman.Iwashappyandsowasshe.Weharmednoone.ShedidnotexistinthenewReality.Whatdiffer.encewouldithavemadetoanyone?"

           Twisselltriedvainlytointerrupt.

           Harlanshouted."ButtherearerulesinEternity,aren’tthere?Iknowthemall.Liaisonsrequirepermission;liaisonsrequirecomputations;liaisonsrequirestatus;liaisonsaretrickythings.WhatwereyouplanningforNoyswhenallthiswasover?Aseatinacrashingrocket?OramorecomfortablepositionascommunitymistressforworthyComputers?Youwon’tmakeanyplansnow,Ithink."

           HeendedinakindofdespairandTwissellmovedquicklytotheCommuniplate.Itsfunctionasatransmitterhadobviouslybeenrestored.

           TheComputershoutedintoittillhearousedananswer.Thenhesaid,"ThisisTwissell.Nooneistobeallowedinhere.Noone.Noone.Doyouunderstand?…Thenseetoit.