Конец вечности
Computer
Communicationsstaredandsomeofhissteamevaporated.Hesaid,"She’snew.She’saTimer."
"What’sherjob?"
AslowsmilecreptoverCommunications’faceandgrewintoaleer."She’ssupposedtobetheboss’ssecretary.HernameisNoysLambent."
"Allright."Harlanturnedonhisheelandleft.
Harlan’sfirstObservationtripintothe482ndcamethenextday,butitlastedforthirtyminutesonly.Itwasobviouslyonlyanorientationtrip,intendedtogethimintothefeelofthings.Heentereditforanhourandahalfthenextdayandnotatallonthethird.
Heoccupiedhistimeinworkinghiswaythroughhisoriginalreports,relearninghisownknowledge,brushinguponthelanguagesystemofthetime,accustominghimselftothelocalcostumesagain.
OneRealityChangehadhitthe482nd,butitwasveryminor.ApoliticalcliquethathadbeenInwasnowOut,butthereseemednochangeinthesocietyotherwise.
Withoutquiterealizingitheslippedintothehabitofsearchinghisoldreportsforinformationonthearistocracy.SurelyhehadmadeObservations.
Hehad,buttheywereimpersonal,fromadistance.Hisdataconcernedthemasaclass,notasindividuals.
Ofcoursehisspatio-temporalchartshadneverdemandedorevenpermittedhimtoobservethearistocracyfromwithin.WhatthereasonsforthatmighthavebeenwasbeyondthepurviewofanObserver.Hewasimpatientwithhimselfatfeelingcuriosityconcerningthatnow.
Duringthosethreedayshehadcaughtglimpsesofthegirl,NoysLambent,fourtimes.
