Конец вечности
Computer
Atfirsthehadbeenawareonlyofherclothesandherornaments.Nowhenoticedthatshewasfivefeetsixinheight,halfaheadshorterthanhimself,yetslimenoughandwithacarriageerectandgracefulenoughtogiveanimpressionofheight.Shewasolderthanshefirstseemed,approachingthirtyperhaps,certainlyovertwenty-five.
Shewasquietandreserved,smiledathimoncewhenhepassedherinthecorridor,thenloweredhereyes.Harlandrewasidetoavoidtouchingher,thenwalkedonfeelingangry.
BythecloseofthethirddayHarlanwasbeginningtofeelthathisdutyasanEternallefthimonlyonecourseofaction.Doubtlessherpositionwasacomfortableoneforherself.DoubtlessFingewaswithintheletterofthelaw.YetFinge’sindiscretioninthematter,hiscarelessnesscertainlywentagainstthespiritofthelaw,andsomethingshouldbedoneaboutit.
Harlandecidedthat,afterall,therewasn’tamaninEternityhedislikedquiteasmuchasFinge.Theexcuseshehadfoundforthemanonlyafewdaysbeforevanished.
OnthemorningofthefourthdayHarlanaskedforandreceivedpermissiontoseeFingeprivately.Hewalkedinwithadeterminedstepand,tohisownsurprise,madehispointinstantly."ComputerFinge,IsuggestthatMissLambentbereturnedtoTime."
Finge’seyesnarrowed.Henoddedtowardachair,placedclaspedhandsunderhissoft,roundchin,andshowedsomeofhisteeth."Well,sitdown.Sitdown.YoufindMissLambertincompetent?Unsuitable?"
"Astoherincompetenceandunsuitability,Computer,Icannotsay.
