Конец вечности
The Earlier Crime
Forty-twoyearsinbed,undercircumstancesthatbarredmefromarrangingtohavethenerve-regeneratingtechniquesofthe900’sappliedtohiscase,orevenforarrangingtohavehislifeendedpainlessly.
"ThatnewRealitystillexists.MysonisstilloutthereintheappropriateportionoftheCentury.Ididthattohim.ItwasmymindandmyComputaplexthatdiscoveredthisnewlifeforhim,andmywordthatorderedtheChange.Ihadcommittedanumberofcrimesforhissakeandforhismother’s,butthatonelastdeed,thoughstrictlyinaccordancewithmyoathasanEternal,hasalwaysseemedtometobemygreatcrime,thecrime."
Therewasnothingtosay,andHarlansaidnothing.
Twissellsaid,"ButyouseenowwhyIunderstandyourcase,whyIwillbewillingtoletyouhaveyourgirl.ItwouldnotharmEternityand,inaway,itwouldbeexpiationformycrime."
AndHarlanbelieved.Allinonechangeofmind,hebelieved!
Harlansanktohiskneesandliftedhisclenchedfiststohistemples.Hebenthisheadandrockedslowlyassavagedespairbeatthroughhim.
HehadthrownEternityaway,andlostNoys-when,exceptforhisSamson-smash,hemighthavesavedoneandkepttheother.
