Конец вечности
The Hidden Centuries
Maybetherewassomethingwrongwithyourket-"
"Therewasabarrier!"yelledHarlan."Whatotherexplanationisthere?Whydidn’tyoutellmethisbefore."
"Ididn’tbelieveit,"groanedTwissell."Istilldon’t.Ishouldn’thavesaidawordofthisfoolishdreaming.Myownfears-thequestionofCooper-everything-Butwait,justafewminutes."
Hepointedatthetemporometer.Thescalerindicatedthemtobebetweenthe95,000thand96,000thCenturies.
Twissell’shandonthecontrolsslowedthekettle.The99,000thwaspassed.Thescaler’smotionsstopped.TheindividualCenturiescouldberead.
99,726-99,727-99,728-"Whatwillwedo?"mutteredHarlan.
Twissellshookhisheadinagesturethatspokeeloquentlyofpatienceandhope,butperhapsalsoofhelplessness.
99,851-99,852-99,853-Harlansteeledhimselffortheshockofthebarrierandthoughtdesperately:WouldpreservingEternitybetheonlymeansoffindingtimetofightbackatthecreaturesoftheHiddenCenturies?HowelserecoverNoys?Dashback,backtothe575thandworklikefuryto-99,938-99,939-99,940-Harlanheldhisbreath.Twissellslowedthekettlefurther,letitcreep.Itrespondedperfectlytothecontrols.
99,984-99,985-99,986-"Now,now,now,"saidHarlaninawhisper,unawarethathehadmadeanysoundatall.
