Конец вечности
The Earlier Crime
"Youwillhaveyourgirl.Ipromisedthat.Istillpromiseit.Shewillnotbeharmed.Youwillnotbeharmed.Ipromiseyouthis.Itismypersonalguarantee."
Harlanstaredathimwide-eyed."Butit’stoolate.What’stheuse?"
"Itisnottoolate.Thingsarenotirreparable.Withyourhelp,wecansucceedyet.Imusthaveyourhelp.Youmustrealizethatyoudidwrong.Iamtryingtoexplainthistoyou.Youmustwanttoundowhatyouhavedone."
Harlanlickedhisdrylipswithadrytongueandthought:Heismad.Hismindcan’tacceptthetruth.-or,doestheCouncilknowmore?
Didit?Didit?CoulditreversetheverdictoftheChanges?CouldtheyhaltTimeorreverseit?
Hesaid,"Youlockedmeinthecontrolroom,keptmehelpless,youthought,tillitwasallover."
"Yousaidyouwereafraidsomethingmightgowrongwithyou;thatyoumightnotbeabletocarryonwithyourpart."
"Thatwasmeanttobeathreat."
"Itookitliterally.Forgiveme.Imusthaveyourhelp."
Itcametothat.Harlan’shelpmustbehad.Washemad?WasHarlanmad?Didmadnesshavemeaning?Oranythingatall,forthatmatter?
TheCouncilneededhishelp.Forthathelptheywouldpromisehimanything.Noys.Computership.Whatwouldtheynotpromisehim?Andwhenhishelpwasdonewith,whatwouldheget?Hewouldnotbefooledasecondtime.
"No!"hesaid.
