Конец вечности
Observer
Youunderstandme,boy?"
Harlandid.Itwasimpossibletoavoidpickinguppsychiatriclingo.Thatphraseaboveall.EverymemberofEternitywassupposedtohaveastrongdrive,thestrongerforbeingofficiallysuppressedinallitsmanifestations,toreturn,notnecessarilytohisownTime,butatleasttosomeonedefiniteTime;tobecomepartofaCentury,ratherthantoremainawandererthroughthemall.OfcourseinmostEternalsthedriveremainedsafelyhiddenintheunconscious.
"Idon’tthinkthat’sthecase,"saidHarlan.
"NorI.Infact,Ithinkyourhobbyisinterestingandvaluable.AsIsaid,it’swhyIwantyou.IwantyoutoteachaCubIshallbringtoyouallyouknowandallyoucanlearnaboutPrimitivehistory.Inbetween,youwillalsobemypersonalTechnician.You’llstartinafewdays.Isthatagreeable?"
Agreeable?TohaveofficialpermissiontolearnallhecouldaboutthedaysbeforeEternity?TobepersonallyassociatedwiththegreatestEternalofthemall?EventhenastyfactofTechnician’sstatusseemedbearableunderthoseconditions.
Hiscaution,however,didnotentirelyfailhim.Hesaid,"Ifit’snecessaryforthegoodofEternity,sir—"
"ForthegoodofEternity?"criedthegnomishComputerinsuddenexcitement.Hethrewhiscigarettebuttfromhimwithsuchenergythatithitthefarwallandbouncedoffinashowerofsparks."IneedyoufortheexistenceofEternity."
