Конец вечности

           "Areyouallright?"

           "I’mallright.Ithoughtsomethingmighthavehappenedtoyou.Ithought--"Shebrokeoff,terrorspringingintohereyesandgasped,"Andrew!"

           Harlanwhirled.

           ItwasonlyTwissell,panting.

           NoysmusthavegainedconfidencefromHarlan’sexpression.Shesaidmorequietly,"Doyouknowhim,Andrew?Isitallright?"

           Harlansaid,"It’sallright.Thisismysuperior,SeniorComputerLabanTwissell.Heknowsofyou."

           "ASeniorComputer?"Noysshrankaway.

           Twisselladvancedslowly."Iwillhelpyou,mychild.Iwillhelpyouboth.TheTechnicianhasmypromise,ifhewouldonlybelieveit."

           "Myapologies,Computer,"saidHarlanstiffly,andnotyetentirelyrepentant.

           "Forgiven,"saidTwissell.Heheldouthishand,tookthegirl’sreluctantone."Tellme,girl,hasitbeenwellwithyouhere?"

           "I’vebeenworried."

           "There’sbeennoonehere,sinceHarlanlastleftyou."

           "N-no,sir."

           "Nooneatall?Nothing?"

           Sheshookherhead.HerdarkeyessoughtHarlan’s."Whydoyouask?"

           "Nothing,girl.Afoolishnightmare.Come,wewilltakeyoubacktothe575th."

           OnthekettlebackAndrewHarlansank,bydegrees,intoatroubledanddeepeningsilence.