Конец вечности
The Closing Circle
WecanthenreturntothatmomentplusfifteenminutestoallowforthekettletohaveleftCooper-"
Twissellinterposed,"Couldn’thavethekettleinthesameplaceatthesametimeintwodifferentphysiotimes,youknow,"andtriedtosmile.
Noysseemedtoabsorbit."Isee,"shesaid,nottoodefinitely.
TwissellsaidtoNoys,"PickingupCooperatthetimeofhisarrivalwillreverseallmicro-changes.TheA-bombadvertisementwilldisappearagainandCooperwillknowonlythatthekettle,havingdisappearedaswetoldhimitwould,hadunexpectedlyappearedagain.HewillnotknowthathewasinthewrongCenturyandhewillnotbetold.Wewilltellhimthattherewassomevitalinstructionwehadforgottentogivehim(we’llhavetomanufacturesome)andwecanonlyhopethathewillregardthematterassounimportantthathewon’tmentionbeingsentbacktwicewhenhewriteshismemoir."
Noysliftedherpluckedeyebrows."It’sverycomplicated."
"Yes.Unfortunately."Herubbedhishandstogetherandlookedattheothersasthoughnursinganinnerdoubt.Thenhestraightened,producedafreshcigarette,andevenmanagedacertainjauntinessashesaid,"Andnow,boy,goodluck."TwisselltouchedhandsbrieflywithHarlan,noddedtoNoys,andsteppedoutofthekettle.
"Areweleavingnow?"askedNoysofHarlanwhentheywerealone.
"Inafewminutes,"saidHarlan.
HeglancedsidewaysatNoys.
