Конец вечности
The Closing Circle
Iknowthismuch:speciesevolveonlytomeetthepressuresofnewenvironments.Inastableenvironment,aspeciesmayremainunchangedformillionsofCenturies.Primitivemanevolvedrapidlybecausehisenvironmentwasaharshandchangingone.Once,however,mankindlearnedtocreatehisownenvironment,hecreatedapleasantandstableone,sohejustnaturallystoppedevolving."
"Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout,"saidNoys,soundingnottheleastmollified,"andyou’renotsayinganythingaboutus,whichiswhatIwanttotalkabout."
Harlanmanagedtoremainoutwardlyunmoved.Hesaid,"Nowwhythebarrieratthe100,000th?Whatpurposediditserve?Youweren’tharmed.Whatothermeaningcouldithave?Iaskedmyself:Whathappenedbecauseofitspresencethatwouldnothavehappenedhaditbeenabsent?"
Hepaused,lookingathisclumsyandheavybootsofnaturalleather.Itoccurredtohimthathecouldaddtohiscomfortbyremovingthemforthenight,butnotnow,notnow…
Hesaid,"Therewasonlyoneanswertothatquestion.Theexistenceofthatbarriersentmeravingbackdownwhentogetaneuronicwhip,toassaultFinge.ItfiredmetothethoughtofriskingEternitytogetyoubackandsmashingEternitywhenIthoughtIhadfailed.Doyousee?"
Noysstaredathimwithamixtureofhorroranddisbelief."Doyoumeanthepeopleintheupwhenwantedyoutodoallthat?Theyplannedit?"
"Yes.Don’tlookatmelikethat.
