Конец вечности
Cub
Hehadtamperedwithamechanismduringaquickfewminutestakenoutofthe223rdand,asaresult,ayoungmandidnotreachalectureonmechanicshehadmeanttoattend.Heneverwentinforsolarengineering,consequently,andaperfectlysimpledevicewasdelayedinitsdevelopmentacrucialtenyears.Awarinthe224th,amazinglyenough,wasmovedoutofRealityasaresult.
Wasn’tthatgood?Whatifpersonalitieswerechanged?Thenewpersonalitieswereashumanastheoldandasdeservingoflife.Ifsomeliveswereshortened,morewerelengthenedandmadehappier.Agreatworkofliterature,amonumentofMan’sintellectandfeeling,wasneverwritteninthenewReality,butseveralcopieswerepreservedinEternity’slibraries,weretheynot?Andnewcreativeworkshadcomeintoexistence,hadtheynot?
YetthatnightHarlanspenthoursinahotagonyofwakefulness,andwhenhefinallydrowsedgroggily,hedidsomethinghehadn’tdoneinyears.
Hedreamedofhismother.
DespitetheweaknessofsuchabeginningaphysioyearwassufficienttomakeHarlanknownthroughoutEternityas"Twissell’sTechnician,"and,withmorethanatraceofill-humoras"TheWonderBoy"and"TheNever-Wrong."
HiscontactwithCooperbecamealmostcomfortable.Theynevergrewcompletelyfriendly.(IfCoopercouldhavebroughthimselftomakeadvances,Harlanmightnothaveknownhowtorespond.)Neverthelesstheyworkedwelltogether,andCooper’sinterestinPrimitivehistorygrewtothepointwhereitnearlyrivaledHarlan’s.
