Конец вечности
Technician
"Ifyou’llcomewithmenow,"saidVoy.
Harlanfollowedthroughemptycorridorsthat,Harlanknew,mustmomentsagohavebeenariotofmadelightandreflection,uparamp,throughananteroom,intoanoffice.
Inalltheshortjourneynohumanbeinghadbeenvisible.Harlanwassousedtothat,tookitsoforgranted,thathewouldhavebeensurprised,almostshocked,ifaglimpseofahumanfigurehurryingawayhadcaughthiseyes.NodoubtthenewshadspreadthataTechnicianwascomingthrough.EvenVoykepthisdistanceandwhen,accidentally,Harlan’shandhadbrushedVoy’ssleeve,Voyshrankawaywithavisiblestart.
Harlanwasfaintlysurprisedatthetouchofbitternesshefeltatallthis.Hehadthoughttheshellhehadgrownabouthissoulwasthicker,moreefficientlyinsensitivethanthat.Ifhewaswrong,ifhisshellhadwornthinner,therecouldonlybeonereasonforthat.
Noys!
SociologistKantorVoyleanedforwardtowardtheTechnicianinwhatseemedafriendlyenoughfashion,butHarlannotedautomaticallythattheywereseatedonoppositesidesofthelongaxisofafairlylargetable.
Voysaid,"IampleasedtohaveaTechnicianofyourreputationinteresthimselfinourlittleproblemhere."
"Yes,"saidHarlanwiththecoldimpersonalitypeoplewouldexpectofhim."Ithasitspointsofinterest."(Washeimpersonalenough?Surelyhisrealmotivesmustbeapparent,hisguiltbespelledoutinbeadsofsweatonhisforehead.)
HeremovedfromaninnerpocketthefoiledsummaryoftheprojectedRealityChange.
