Конец вечности
Timer
Heputouthisarmsclumsily,gropingly.Shedidnotresist,butmeltedandcoalescedwithhim.
Itallhappeneddreamily,asthoughitwerehappeningtosomeoneelse.
Itwasn’tnearlyasrepulsiveashehadalwaysimagineditmustbe.Itcameasashocktohim,arevelation,thatitwasn’trepulsiveatall.
Evenafterward,whensheleanedagainsthimwithhereyesallsoftandsmilingalittle,hefoundhehadtoreachoutandstrokeherdamphairwithslowandtremblingdelight.
Shewasentirelydifferentinhiseyesnow.Shewasnotawoman,notanindividualatall.Shewassuddenlyanaspectofhimself.Shewas,inastrangeandunexpectedway,apartofhimself.
Thespatio-temporalchartsaidnothingofthis,yetHarlanfeltnoguilt.ItwasonlythethoughtofFingethatarousedstrongemotioninHarlan’sbreast.Andthatwasn’tguilt.Notatall.
Itwassatisfaction,eventriumph!
InbedHarlancouldnotsleep.Thelightheadednesshadwornoffnow,buttherewasstilltheunusualfactthatforthefirsttimeinhisadultlifeagrownwomansharedhisbed.
Hecouldhearhersoftbreathingandintheultra-dimglowtowhichtheinternallightofthewallsandceilinghadbeenreducedhecouldseeherbodyasthemerestshadownexttohis.
Hehadonlytomovehishandtofeelthewarmthandsoftnessofherflesh,andhedarednotdothat,lesthewakeheroutofwhateverdreamingshemighthave.
