Конец вечности
Search through the Primitive
Shallwegetstarted?"
Hetookanothervolumedownfromtheshelf,openingitatrandomandstaringatthepagewithoddintentness.
Harlanthought:Doesthemanthinkhe’sgoingtohitthesolutionbyaluckystab?
Thethoughtmighthavebeencorrect,forTwissell,meetingHarlan’sappraisingeyes,reddenedandputthebookback.
Harlantookthefirstvolumeofthe19.25thCenticenturyandbeganturningthepagesregularly.Onlyhisrighthandandhiseyesmoved.Therestofhisbodyremainedatrigidattention.
AtwhatseemedaeonicintervalstohimselfHarlanrose,grunting,foranewvolume.Onthoseoccasionstherewouldbethecoffeebreakorthesandwichbreakortheotherbreaks.
Harlansaidheavily,"It’suselessyourstaying."
Twissellsaid,"DoIbotheryou?"
"No."
"ThenI’llstay,"mutteredTwissell.Throughouthewanderedoccasionallytothebookshelves,staringhelplesslyatthebindings.Thesparksofhisfuriouscigarettesburnedhisfingerendsattimes,buthedisregardedthem.
Aphysiodayended.
Sleepwaspoorandsparse.Midmorning,betweentwovolumes,Twisselllingeredoverhislastsipofcoffeeandsaid,"IwondersometimeswhyIdidn’tthrowupmyComputershipafterthematterofmy--Youknow."
Harlannodded.
"Ifeltlikeit,"theoldmanwenton."Ifeltlikeit.
