Конец вечности

           "Ithasatouchoftheartist.Youareintuitive.Youfeelstrongly.IthinkIknowyourproperpositioninEternityandIhavecometoofferittoyou."

           Harlanthought:Ican’tbelievethis.

           Heheldalltriumphoutofhisvoice."Youdomegreathonor,sir,"hesaid.

           WhereuponSeniorComputerTwissell,havingcometotheendofhiscigarette,producedanotherinhislefthandbysomeunnotedfeatoflegerdemainandlitit.Hesaidbetweenpuffs,"ForTime’ssake,boy,youtalkasthoughyourehearsedlines.Greathonor,bah.Piffle.Trash.Saywhatyoufeelinplainlanguage.You’reglad,hey?"

           "Yes,sir,"saidHarlancautiously.

           "Allright.Youshouldbe.HowwouldyouliketobeaTechnician?"

           "ATechnician!"criedHarlan,leapingfromhisseat.

           "Sitdown.Sitdown.Youseemsurprised."

           "Ihadn’texpectedtobeaTechnician,ComputerTwissell."

           "No,"saidTwisselldryly,"somehownooneeverdoes.Theyexpectanythingbutthat.YetTechniciansarehardtofind,andarealwaysindemand.NotaSectioninEternityhaswhatitconsidersenough."

           "Idon’tthinkI’msuited."

           "Youmeanyou’renotsuitedtotakeajobwithtroubleinit.ByTime,ifyouaredevotedtoEternity,asIbelieveyouare,youwon’tmindthat.Sothefoolswillavoidyouandyouwillfeelostracized.Youwillgrowusedtothat.Andyouwillhavethesatisfactionofknowingyouareneeded,andneededbadly.Byme."

           "Byyou,sir?Byyouparticularly?"

           "Yes."Anelementofshrewdnessenteredtheoldman’ssmile."YouarenottobejustaTechnician.YouwillbemypersonalTechnician.