Конец вечности
The Closing Circle
Yes!Anddon’tyouseehowitmakeseverythingdifferent?AslongasIactedonmyown,forreasonsofmyown,I’lltakealltheconsequences,materialandspiritual.Buttobefooledintoit,tobetrickedintoit,bypeoplehandlingandmanipulatingmyemotionsasthoughIwereaComputaplexonwhichitwasonlynecessarytoinserttheproperlyperforatedfoils-"
Harlanrealizedsuddenlythathewasshoutingandstoppedabruptly.Heletafewmomentspass,thensaid,"Thatisimpossibletotake.I’vegottoundowhatIwasmarionettedintodoing.AndwhenIundoit,Iwillbeabletorestagain."
Andhewould-perhaps.Hecouldfeelthecomingofanimpersonaltriumph,dissociatedfromthepersonaltragedywhichlaybehindandahead.Thecirclewasclosing!
Noys’shandreachedoutuncertainlyasthoughtotakehisownrigid,unyieldingone.
Harlandrewaway,avoidedhersympathy.Hesaid,"Ithadallbeenarranged.Mymeetingwithyou.Everything.Myemotionalmake-uphadbeenanalyzed.Obviously.Actionandresponse.Pushthisbuttonandthemanwilldothat.Pushthatbuttonandhewilldothis."
Harlanwasspeakingwithdifficulty,outofthedepthsofshame.Heshookhishead,tryingtoshakethehorrorofitawayasadogwouldwater,thenwenton."OnethingIdidn’tunderstandatfirst.HowdidIcometoguessthatCooperwastobesentbackintothePrimitive?Itwasamostunlikelythingtoguess.Ihadnobasis.Twisselldidn’tunderstandit.
