Конец вечности
The Beginning of Infinity
ItwasnotanyChangethatEternityhadinitiated;itwastheestablishmentofEternityitself-themerefactofitsexistence.AnysystemlikeEternity,whichallowsmentochoosetheirownfuture,willendbychoosingsafetyandmediocrity,andinsuchaRealitythestarsareoutofreach.ThemereexistenceofEternityatoncewipedouttheGalacticEmpire.Torestoreit,Eternitymustbedoneawaywith.
"ThenumberofRealitiesisinfinite.ThenumberofanysubclassofRealitiesisalsoinfinite.Forinstance,thenumberofRealitiescontainingEternityisinfinite;thenumberinwhichEternitydoesnotexistisinfinite;thenumberinwhichEternitydoesexistbutisabolishedisalsoinfinite.Butmypeoplechosefromamongtheinfiniteagroupthatinvolvedme.
"Ihadnothingtodowiththat.TheyeducatedmeformyjobasTwissellandyourselfeducatedCooperforhisjob.ButthenumberofRealitiesinwhichIwastheagentindestroyingEternitywasalsoinfinite.IwasofferedachoiceamongfiveRealitiesthatseemedleastcomplex.Ichosethisone,theoneinvolvingyou,theonlyRealitysysteminvolvingyou."
Harlansaid,"Whydidyouchooseit?"
Noyslookedaway."BecauseIlovedyou,yousee.IlovedyoulongbeforeImetyou."
Harlanwasshaken.Shesaiditwithsuchdepthsofsincerity.Hethought,sickly:She’sanactress-Hesaid,"That’sratherridiculous."
"Isit?IstudiedtheRealitiesatmydisposal.
