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           TwissellwasshakingHarlan’sshoulders.Theoldman’svoiceurgentlycalledhisname.

           "Harlan!Harlan!ForTime’ssake,man."

           Harlanemergedonlyslowlyfromtheslough."Whatarewetodo?"

           "Certainlynotthis.Notdespair.Tobeginwith,listentome.ForgetyourTechnician’sviewofEternityandlookatitthroughaComputer’seyes.Theviewismoresophisticated.WhenyoualtersomethinginTimeandcreateaRealityChange,theChangemaytakeplaceatonce.Whyshouldthatbe?"

           Harlansaidshakily,"BecauseyouralterationhasmadetheChangeinevitable?"

           "Hasit?Youcouldgobackandreverseyouralteration,couldn’tyou?"

           "Isupposeso.Ineverdid,though.OranyonethatIheardof."

           "Right.Thereisnointentionofreversinganalteration,soitgoesthroughasplanned.Butherewehavesomethingelse.Anunintentionalalteration.YousentCooperintothewrongCenturyandnowIfirmlyintendtoreversethatalterationandbringCooperbackhere."

           "ForTime’ssake,how?"

           "I’mnotsureyet,buttheremustbeaway.Iftherewerenoway,thealterationwouldbeirreversible;Changewouldcomeatonce.ButChangehasnotcome.WearestillintheRealityoftheMallansohnmemoir.Thatmeansthealterationisreversibleandwillbereversed."

           "What?"Harlan’snightmarewasexpandingandswirling,growingmurkierandmoreengulfing.