Конец вечности
The Earlier Crime
Theycametogloatforthetomorrowtheywereexpecting."
"Myboy,therewasnothingofthat.Theywantedtoseeyouonlybecausetheywerehuman.Councilmenarehumantoo.TheycouldnotwitnessthefinalkettledrivebecausetheMallansohnmemoirdidnotplacethematthescene.TheycouldnotinterviewCoopersincethememoirmadenomentionofthateither.Yettheywantedsomething.FatherTime,boy,don’tyouseetheywouldwantsomething?Youwereascloseastheycouldget,sotheybroughtyoucloseandstaredatyou."
"Idon’tbelieveyou."
"It’sthetruth."
Harlansaid,"Isit?Andwhileweate,CouncilmanSennortalkedofamanmeetinghimself.Heobviouslyknewaboutmyillegaltripsintothe482ndandmynearlymeetingmyself.Itwashiswayofpokingatme,enjoyinghimselfcutelyatmyexpense."
Twissellsaid,"Sennor?YouworriedaboutSennor?Doyouknowthepatheticfigureheis?Hishomewhenisthe803rd,oneofthefewculturesinwhichthehumanbodyisdeliberatelydisfiguredtomeettheaestheticrequirementsofthetime.Itisrenderedhairlessatadolescence.
"Doyouknowwhatthatmeansinthecontinuityofman?Surelyyoudo.Adisfigurementsetsmenapartfromtheirancestorsanddescendants.Menofthe803rdarepoorrisksasEternals;theyaretoodifferentfromtherestofus.Fewarechosen.SennoristheonlyoneofhisCenturyevertositontheCouncil.
