Конец вечности
The Hidden Centuries
"
Harlanwasunimpressed.HehadneverquestionedthebasicidentityofmanthroughouttheCenturies.Itwasoneofthosethingsyoulivedwithandtookforgranted.Hesaid,"TherehavebeencasesofspecieslivingunchangedthroughmillionsofCenturies."
"Notmany,though.AnditremainsafactthatthecessationofhumanevolutionseemstocoincidewiththedevelopmentofEternity.Justcoincidence?It’snotaquestionwhichisconsidered,exceptbyafewhereandtherelikeSennor,andI’veneverbeenaSerinor.Ididn’tbelievespeculationwasproper.Ifsomethingcouldn’tbecheckedbyaComputaplex,ithadnobusinesstakingupthetimeofaComputer.Andyet,inmyyoungerdays,Isometimesthought--"
"Ofwhat?"Harlanthought:Well,it’ssomethingtolistento,anyway.
"IsometimesthoughtaboutEternityasitwaswhenitwasfirstestablished.ItstretchedoverjustafewCenturiesinthe30’sand40’s,anditsfunctionwasmostlytrade.Itinteresteditselfinthereforestationofdenudedareas,shippingtopsoilbackandforth,freshwater,finechemicals.Thoseweresimpledays.
"ButthenwediscoveredRealityChanges.SeniorComputerHenryWadsman,inthedramaticmannerwithwhichweareallacquainted,preventedawarbyremovingthesafetybrakeofaCongressman’sgroundvehicle.Afterthat,moreandmore,EternityshifteditscenterofgravityfromtradetoRealityChange.Why?"
Harlansaid,"Theobviousreason.
