Конец вечности
Observer
Ofcourse,hehadreachedthestagewherehecouldreadtheperforationsdirect.
Thecharttoldhimwhereandwhenintheworldofthe482ndCenturyhemightgoandwherehemightnot;whathecoulddoandwhatbecouldnot;whathemustavoidatallcosts.HispresencemustimpingeonlyuponthoseplacesandtimeswhereitwouldnotendangerReality.
The482ndwasnotacomfortableCenturyforhim.Itwasnotlikehisownaustereandconformisthomewhen.Itwasanerawithoutethicsorprinciples,ashewasaccustomedtothinkofsuch.Itwashedonistic,materialistic,morethanalittlematriarchal.Itwastheonlyera(hecheckedthisintherecordsinthemostpainstakingway)inwhichectogenicbirthflourishedand,atitspeak,40percentofitswomengaveeventualbirthbymerelycontributingafertilizedovumtotheovaria.Marriagewasmadeandunmadebymutualconsentandwasnotrecognizedlegallyasanythingmorethanapersonalagreementwithoutbindingforce.Unionforthesakeofchildbearingwas,ofcourse,carefullydifferentiatedfromthesocialfunctionsofmarriageandwasarrangedonpurelyeugenicprinciples.
InahundredwaysHarlanthoughtthesocietysickandthereforehungeredforaRealityChange.MorethanonceitoccurredtohimthathisownpresenceintheCentury,asamannotofthattime,couldforkitshistory.
