Конец вечности
Life-Plotter
TheoristspointedoutthatnowheretotheinfiniteupwhencouldtheChangeeverbecomezero,butbyfiftyCenturiesupwhenfromtheTouchtheChangehadbecometoosmalltodetectbythefinestComputing,andthatwasthepracticallimit.
OfcoursenohumanbeinginTimecouldeverpossiblybeawareofanyRealityChangehavingtakenplace.MindchangedaswellasmatterandonlyEternalscouldstandoutsideitallandseethechange.
SociologistVoywasstaringatthebluishsceneinthe2481st,whereearliertherehadbeenalltheactivityofabusyspace-port.HebarelylookedupwhenHarlanentered.Hebarelymumbledsomethingthatmighthavebeenagreeting.
Achangehadindeedblastedthespace-port.Itsshininesswasgone;whatbuildingstherestoodwerenotthegrandcreationstheyhadbeen.Aspace-shiprusted.Therewerenopeople.Therewasnomotion.
Harlanallowedhimselfasmallsmilethatflickeredforamoment,thenvanished.ItwasM.D.R.allright.MaximumDesiredResponse.Andithadhappenedatonce.TheChangedidnotnecessarilytakeplaceattheprecisemomentoftheTechnician’sTouch.IfthecalculationsthatwentintotheTouchweresloppy,hoursordaysmightelapsebeforetheChangeactuallytookplace(counting,ofcourse,byphysiotime).ItwasonlywhenalldegreesoffreedomvanishedthattheChangetookplace.Whiletherewasevenamathematicalchanceforalternateactions,theChangedidnottakeplace.
