Конец вечности
The Closing Circle
ThememoirhadlocateditandfirstCooper,nowhe,hadbeenpin-pointedbacktoit.
Hehadnotdoubtedprecisionpin-pointinginTime-travelsincehisCubhooddays.Herememberedhimselfthen,facingEducatorYarrowseriously,saying,"ButEarthmovesabouttheSun,andtheSunmovesabouttheGalacticCenterandtheGalaxymovestoo.IfyoustartedfromsomepointonEarth,andmovedownwhenahundredyears,you’llbeinemptyspace,becauseitwilltakeahundredyearsforEarthtoreachthatpoint."(ThosewerethedayswhenhestillreferredtoaCenturyasa"hundredyears.")
AndEducatorYarrowhadsnappedback,"Youdon’tseparateTimefromspace.MovingthroughTime,youshareEarth’smotions.OrdoyoubelievethatabirdflyingthroughtheairwhiffsoutintospacebecausetheEarthishurryingaroundtheSunateighteenmilesasecondandvanishesfromunderthecreature?"
Arguingfromanalogyisrisky,butHarlanobtainedmorerigorousproofinlaterdaysand,now,afterascarcelyprecedentedtripintothePrimitive,hecouldturnconfidentlyandfeelnosurpriseatfindingtheopeningpreciselywherehehadbeentolditwouldbe.
Hemovedthecamouflageoflooserubbleandrocktoonesideandentered.
Heprobedthedarknesswithin,usingthewhitebeamofhisflashalmostlikeascalpel.Hescouredthewalls,ceiling,floor,everyinch.
