Конец вечности
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Inanycaseitmoldeditselftohisbodyashelaydown,firmwhenhelaystill,yieldingwhenhemovedorturned.
Reluctantlyheconfessedtheattractionofsuchthings,andheacceptedthewisdomwhichcausedeachSectionofEternitytoliveonthemedianscaleofitsCenturyratherthanatitsmostcomfortablelevel.Inthatwayitcouldmaintaincontactwiththeproblemsand"feel"oftheCentury,withoutsuccumbingtotoocloseanidentificationwithasociologicalextreme.
Itiseasy,thoughtHarlan,thatfirstevening,tolivewitharistocrats.
Andjustbeforehefellasleep,hethoughtofNoys.
HedreamedhewasontheAllwhenCouncil,fingersclaspedausterelybeforehim.Hewaslookingdownonasmall,averysmall,Finge,listeninginterrortothesentencethatwascastinghimoutofEternitytoperpetualObservationofoneoftheunknownCenturiesofthefar,farupwhen.ThesomberwordsofexilewerecomingfromHarlan’sownmouth,andimmediatelytohisrightsatNoysLambent.
Hehadn’tnoticedheratfirst,buthiseyeskeptslidingtohisright,andhiswordsfaltered.
Didnooneelseseeher?TherestofthemembersoftheCouncillookedsteadilyforward,exceptforTwissell.HeturnedtosmileatHarlan,lookingthroughthegirlasthoughsheweren’tthere.
Harlanwantedtoorderheraway,butwordswerenolongercomingoutofhismouth.Hetriedtobeatatthegirl,buthisarmmovedsluggishlyandshedidnotmove.Herfleshwascold.
Fingewaslaughing-louder—louder--anditwasNoysLambentlaughing.
