Конец вечности
The Earlier Crime
Allthesestoriescometomeeventually,andIthinkImustbealittleproudofthem.MaybeIgoaroundbelievingthemabit.It’safoolishthingforanoldmantodo,butitmakeslifealittleeasier.
Doesthatsurpriseyou?ThatImustfindawaytomakelifeeasier?I,SeniorComputerTwissell,seniormemberoftheAllwhenCouncil?
Maybethat’swhyIsmoke.Everthinkofthat?Ihavetohaveareason,youknow.Eternityisessentiallyanunsmokingsociety,andmostofTimeis,too.I’vethoughtofthatoften.Isometimesthinkit’sarebellionagainstEternity.Somethingtotaketheplaceofagreaterrebellionthatfailed…
No,it’sallright.Atearortwowon’thurtme,anditisn’tpretense,believeme.It’sjustthatIhaven’tthoughtaboutthisforalongtime.Itisn’tpleasant.
Itinvolvedawoman,ofcourse,asyouraffairdid.That’snotcoincidence.It’salmostinevitable,ifyoustoptothinkofit.AnEternal,whomustsellthenormalsatisfactionsoffamilylifeforahandfulofperforationsonfoil,isripeforinfection.That’soneofthereasonsEternitymusttaketheprecautionsitdoes.And,apparently,that’salsowhyEternalsaresoingeniousinevadingtheprecautionsonceinawhile.
Iremembermywoman.It’sfoolishofmetodoso,perhaps.Ican’trememberanythingelseaboutthatphysiotime.
