Конец вечности
The Closing Circle
MorethanoncehewonderedhowIcouldhavedoneitwithsolittleunderstandingofmathematics.
"YetIhad.Thefirsttimewasthat-thatnight.Youwereasleep,butIwasn’t.IhadthefeelingthenthattherewassomethingImustremember;someremark,somethought,somethingthatIhadcaughtsightofintheexcitementandexhilarationoftheevening.WhenIthoughtlong,thewholesignificanceofCoopersprangintomymind,andalongwithitthethoughtenteredmymindthatIwasinapositiontodestroyEternity.LaterIcheckedthroughhistoriesofmathematics,butitwasunnecessaryreally.Ialreadyknew.Iwascertainofit.How?How?"
Noysstaredathimintently.Shedidn’ttrytotouchhimnow."DoyoumeanthemenoftheHiddenCenturiesarrangedthat,too?Theyputitallinyourmind,thenmaneuveredyouproperly?"
"Yes.Yes.Noraretheydone.Thereisstillworkforthemtodo.Thecirclemaybeclosing,butitisnotyetclosed."
"Howcantheydoanythingnow?They’renotherewithus."
"No?"HesaidthewordinsohollowavoicethatNoyspaled.
"Invisiblesuperthings?"shewhispered.
"Notsuperthings.Notinvisible.Itoldyoumanwouldnotevolvewhilehecontrolledhisownenvironment.ThepeopleoftheHiddenCenturiesareHomosapiens.Ordinarypeople."
"Thenthey’recertainlynothere."
Harlansaidsadly,"You’rehere,Noys."
"Yes.Andyou.
