Конец вечности
The Earlier Crime
Hedidnotrealizethatanyreportconcerningyouwouldbeinstantlyreferredtome,unlessitssupremeimportanceweremadeperfectlyclearontheveryfaceofthings."
"Youneverspoketomeofthis?"
"HowcouldI?Iwasafraidtodoanythingthatwoulddisturbyouwiththecrisisoftheprojectathand.Igaveyoueveryopportunitytobringyourproblemtome."
Everyopportunity?Harlan’smouthtwistedindisbelief,butthenhethoughtofTwissell’swearyfaceontheCommuniplateaskinghimifhehadnothingtosaytohim.Thatwasyesterday.Onlyyesterday.
Harlanshookhishead,butturnedhisfaceawaynow.
Twissellsaidsoftly,"Irealizedatoncethathehaddeliberatelygoadedyouintoyour-rashaction."
Harlanlookedup."Youknowthat?"
"Doesthatsurpriseyou?IknewFingewasaftermyneck.I’veknownitforalongtime.Iamanoldman,boy.Iknowthesethings.ButtherearewaysinwhichdoubtfulComputerscanbecheckedupon.Therearesomeprotectivedevices,culledoutofTime,thatarenotplacedinthemuseums.TherearesomethatareknowntotheCouncilalone."
Harlanthoughtbitterlyofthetime-blockatthe100,000th.
"FromthereportandfromwhatIknewindependently,itwaseasytodeducewhatmusthavehappened."
Harlanaskedsuddenly,"IsupposeFingesuspectedyouofspying?"
"Hemighthave.Iwouldn’tbesurprised.
