Конец вечности
Cub
"Itdoesforallofus,"saidHarlancallously,andbegantalkingaboutthePrimitives.Bythetimethreehourshadpassed,hewasdeepinanexplanationconcerningthereasonswhytherewereCenturiesbeforetheistCentury.
("Butisn’tthe1stCenturyfirst?"Cooperhadaskedplaintively.)
HarlanendedbygivingtheCubabook,notagoodone,really,butonethatwouldserveasabeginning."I’llgetyoubetterstuffaswegoalong,"hesaid.
BytheendofaweekCooper’smustachehadbecomeapronounceddarkbristlethatmadehimlooktenyearsolderandaccentuatedthenarrownessofhischin.Onthewhole,Harlandecided,itwouldnotbeanimprovement,thatmustache.
Coopersaid,"I’vefinishedyourbook."
"Whatdidyouthinkofit?"
"Inaway—"Therewasalongpause.Cooperbeganoveragain."PartsofthelaterPrimitivewassomethinglikethe78th.Itmademethinkofhome,youknow.Twice,Idreamedaboutmywife."
Harlanexploded."Yourwife?"
"IwasmarriedbeforeIcamehere."
"GreatTime!Didtheybringyourwifeacrosstoo?"
Coopershookhishead."Idon’tevenknowifshe’sbeenChangedinthelastyear.Ifshehas,Isupposeshe’snotreallymywifenow."
Harlanrecovered.Ofcourse,iftheCubweretwenty-threeyearsoldwhenhewastakenintoEternity,itwasquitepossiblethathemighthavebeenmarried.Onethingunprecedentedledtoanother.
Whatwasgoingon?Oncemodificationswereintroducedintotherules,itwouldn’tbealongsteptothepointwhereeverythingwoulddeclineintoamassofincoherency.
