Конец вечности

           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.