Конец вечности
Computer
Correctthat!Andmeanwhiletellme,Technician,haveyoueverhada"(hehesitated,seemingtopickamongwords)"girlfriend?"
Withpainstakingandinsultingaccuracy,backstillturned,Harlanquoted:"IntheinterestofavoidingemotionalentanglementswithTime,anEternalmaynotmarry.Intheinterestofavoidingemotionalentanglementswithfamily,anEternalmaynothavechildren."
TheComputersaidgravely,"Ididn’taskaboutmarriageorchildren."
Harlanquotedfurther:"TemporaryliaisonsmaybemadewithTimersonlyafterapplicationwiththeCentralChartingBoardoftheAllwhenCouncilforanappropriateLife-PlotoftheTimerconcerned.Liaisonsmaybeconductedthereafteronlyaccordingtotherequirementsofspecificspatio-temporalcharting."
"Quitetrue.Haveyoueverappliedfortemporaryliaison,Technician?"
"No,Computer."
"Doyouintendto?"
"No,Computer."
"Perhapsyououghtto.Itwouldgiveyouagreaterbreadthofview.Youwouldbecomelessconcernedaboutthedetailsofawoman’scostume,lessdisturbedaboutherpossiblepersonalrelationswithotherEternals."
Harlanleft,speechlesswithrage.
Hefounditalmostimpossibletoperformhisnear-dailytrekintothe482nd(thelongestcontinuousperiodremainingsomethingundertwohours.)
Hewasupset,andheknewwhy.Finge!Finge,andhiscoarseadviceconcerningliaisonswithTimers.
Liaisonsexisted.Everyoneknewthat.
