Конец вечности

           Itwasapersonalquestionandtheanswerwasnoneofherbusiness.Whatheshouldhavesaidatthatpointwithpolitefirmnesswas:MayIbelefttomywork?Insteadwhatheheardhimselfsayingwas,"Thirty-twoyears."Hemeantphysioyears,ofcourse.

           Shesaid,"I’myoungerthanyou.I’mtwenty-seven.ButIsupposeIwon’talwayslookyoungerthanyou.Isupposeyou’llbelikethiswhenI’manoldwoman.Whatmadeyoudecidetobethirty-two?Canyouchangeifyouwish?Wouldn’tyouwanttobeyounger?"

           "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Harlanrubbedhisforeheadtoclearhismind.

           Shesaidsoftly,"Youliveforever.You’reanEternal."

           Wasitaquestionorastatement?

           Hesaid,"You’remad.Wegrowoldanddielikeanyoneelse."

           Shesaid,"Youcantellme."Hervoicewaslowandcajoling.Thefifty-millenniallanguage,whichhehadalwaysthoughtharshandunpleasant,seemedeuphoniousafterall.Orwasitmerelythatafullstomachandthescentedairhaddulledhisears?

           Shesaid,"YoucanseeallTimes,visitallplaces.IsowantedtoworkinEternity.Iwaitedthelongesttimeforthemtoletme.Ithoughtmaybethey’dmakemeanEternal,andthenIfoundtherewereonlymenthere.Someofthemwouldn’teventalktomebecauseIwasawoman.Youwouldn’ttalktome."

           "We’reallbusy,"mumbledHarlan,fightingtokeepoffsomethingthatcouldonlybedescribedasanumbcontent."Iwasverybusy."

           "Butwhyaren’ttheremorewomenEternals?"

           Harlancouldn’ttrusthimselftospeak.