Конец вечности
Life-Plotter
Marginwasthereincaseofnecessity,butaTechnicianwasnotexpectedtohavetouseit.A"margin-eater"didnotremainaSpecialistlong.
Harlan,however,expectedtousenomorethan2minutesoftheiio.Wearinghiswrist-bornefieldgeneratorsothathewassurroundedbyanauraofphysiotime(aneffluvium,sotospeak,ofEternity)andthereforeprotectedfromanyoftheeffectsofRealityChange,hetookonesteptowardthewall,liftedasmallcontainerfromitspositiononashelf,andplaceditinacarefullyadjustedspotontheshelfbelow.
Havingdonethat,here-enteredEternityinawaythatseemedasprosaictohimselfaspassagethroughanydoormightbe.HadtherebeenaTimerwatching,itwouldhaveseemedtohimthatHarlanhadsimplydisappeared.
Thesmallcontainerstayedwhereheputit.Itplayednoimmediateroleinworldhistory.Aman’shand,hourslater,reachedforitbutdidnotfindit.Asearchrevealedithalfanhourlaterstill,butintheinterimaforce-fieldhadblankedoutandaman’stemperhadbeenlost.AdecisionwhichwouldhaveremainedunmadeinthepreviousRealitywasnowmadeinanger.Ameetingdidnottakeplace;amanwhowouldhavediedlivedayearlonger,underothercircumstances;anotherwhowouldhaveliveddiedsomewhatsooner.
Theripplesspreadwider,reachingtheirmaxiuminthe2481st,whichwastwenty-fiveCenturiesupwhenfromtheTouch.TheintensityoftheRealityChangedeclinedthereafter.
