Конец вечности
The Closing Circle
"Iwouldrathernothavebroughtthemintothisatall,buttherewouldhavebeennoway,otherwise,ofusingthespecialkettleforfurthertripspastthedownwhenterminus."
Harlanturnedaway.Histhoughtsmovedaroundandaboutthesamechannelsthathadbeenoccupiedtotheincreasingexclusionofallelsefordays.HeheardTwissell’sfurtherremarkdimly,butitwasonlyatitsrepetitionthathesaidwithastart,"Pardonme?"
"Isay,isyourwomanready,boy?Doessheunderstandwhatshe’stodo?"
"She’sready.I’vetoldhereverything."
"Howdidshetakeit?"
"What?…Oh,yes,uh,asIexpectedherto.She’snotafraid."
"It’slessthanthreephysiohoursnow."
"Iknow."
Thatwasallforthemoment,andHarlanwasleftalonewithhisthoughtsandasickeningrealizationofwhathemustdo.
WiththekettleloadingdoneandthecontrolsadjustedHarlanandNoysappearedinafinalchangeofcostume,approximatingthatofanunurbanizedareaoftheearly20th.
NoyshadmodifiedHarlan’ssuggestionforherwardrobe,accordingtosomeinstinctivefeelingsheclaimedwomenhadwhenitcametomattersofclothingandaesthetics.ShechosethoughtfullyfrompicturesintheadvertisementsoftheappropriatedvolumesofthenewsmagazineandhadminutelyscrutinizeditemsimportedfromadozendifferentCenturies.
