Конец вечности
The Earlier Crime
"Don’tyouseehowthataffectshim?Surelyyouunderstandwhatinsecuritymeans.DiditeveroccurtoyouthataCouncilmancouldbeinsecure?SennorhastolistentodiscussionsinvolvingtheeradicationofhisRealityfortheverycharacteristicthatmakeshimsoconspicuousamongus.Anderadicatingitwouldleavehimoneofaveryfewinallthegenerationtobedisfiguredasheis.Somedayitwillhappen.
"Hefindsrefugeinphilosophy.Heovercompensatesbytakingtheleadinconversation,bydeliberatelyairingunpopularorunacceptedviewpoints.Hisman-meeting-himselfparadoxisacaseinpoint.Itoldyouthatheusedittopredictdisasterfortheprojectanditwaswe,theCouncilmen,thathewasattemptingtoannoy,notyou.Ithadnothingtodowithyou.Nothing!"
Twissellhadgrownheated.Inthelongemotionofhiswordsheseemedtoforgetwherehewasandthecrisisthatfacedthem,forheslippedbackintothequick-gestured,uneasilymotionedgnomethatHarlanknewsowell.Heevenslippedacigarettefromhissleevepouchandhadallbutfrictioneditintocombustion.
Butthenhestopped,wheeled,andlookedatHarlanagain,reachingbackthroughallhisownwordstowhatHarlanhadlastsaid,asthoughuntilthatmoment,hehadnotheardthemproperly.
Hesaid,"Whatdoyoumean,youalmostmetyourself?"
Harlantoldhimbrieflyandwenton,"Youdidn’tknowthat?"
"No.
