Конец вечности
Observer
Fingeaskedsuddenly,"HaveyouevermetSeniorComputerTwissell?"
"ComputerTwissell?"Harlan’seyeswidened."No,sir.Whydoyouask?"
"Heseemsparticularlyinterestedinyourreports."Finge’sroundcheeksdrewdownwardsulkilyandhechangedthesubject."Tomeitseemsthatyouhaveworkedoutaphilosophyofyourown,aviewpointofhistory."
TemptationtuggedhardatHarlan.Vanityandcautionbattledandtheformerwon."I’vestudiedPrimitivehistory,sir."
"Primitivehistory?Atschool?"
"Notexactly,Computer.Onmyown.It’smy-hobby.It’slikewatchinghistorystandingstill,frozen!ItcanbestudiedindetailwhereastheCenturiesofEternityarealwayschanging."Hewarmedupatrifleatthethoughtofit."It’sasthoughweweretotakeaseriesofstillsfromabook-filmandstudyeachpainstakingly.Wewouldseeagreatdealwewouldmissifwejustscannedthefilmasitwentpast.Ithinkthathelpsmeagreatdealwithmywork."
Fingestaredathiminamazement,widenedhiseyesalittle,andleftwithnofurtherremark.
Occasionally,thereafter,hebroughtupthesubjectofPrimitivehistoryandacceptedHarlan’sreluctantcommentswithnodecisiveexpressiononhisownplumpface.
Harlanwasnotsurewhethertoregretthewholematterortoregarditasapossiblewayofspeedinghisownadvancement.
Hedecidedonthefirstalternativewhen,passinghimonedayinCorridorA,Fingesaidabruptlyandinthehearingofothers,"GreatTime,Harlan,don’tyoueversmile?"
Thethoughtcame,shockingly,toHarlanthatFingehatedhim.
