Конец вечности

           Whatcouldhesay?ThatmembersofEternitywerechosenwithinfinitecaresincetwoconditionshadtobemet.First,theymustbeequippedforthejob;second,theirwithdrawalfromTimemusthavenodeleteriouseffectuponReality.

           Reality!Thatwasthewordhemustnotmentionunderanycircumstances.Hefeltthespinningsensationinhisheadgrowstrongerandheclosedhiseyesforamomenttostopit.

           HowmanyexcellentprospectshadbeenleftuntouchedinTimebecausetheirremovalintoEternitywouldhavemeantthenon-birthofchildren,thenon-deathofwomenandmen,non-marriage,non-happenings,non-circumstancethatwouldhavetwistedRealityindirectionstheAllwhenCouncilcouldnotpermit.

           Couldhetellheranyofthis?Ofcoursenot.CouldhetellherthatwomenalmostneverqualifiedforEternitybecause,forsomereasonhedidnotunderstand(Computersmight,buthehimselfcertainlydidnot),theirabstractionfromTimewasfromtentoahundredtimesaslikelytodistortRealityaswastheabstractionofaman.

           (Allthethoughtsjumbledtogetherinhishead,lostandwhirling,joinedtooneanotherinafreeassociationthatproducedodd,almostgrotesque,butnotentirelyunpleasant,results.Noyswasclosertohimnow,smiling.)

           Heheardhervoicelikeadriftingwind."Oh,youEternals.Youaresosecretive.Youwon’tshareatall.MakemeanEternal."

           Hervoicewasasoundnowthatdidn’tcoalesceintoseparatewords,justadelicatelymodulatedsoundthatinsinuateditselfintohismind.