Конец вечности
Life-Plotter
Ifshehadfaults,hewantedthosefaults,too.
Whatcouldhedo?
Severalthingsoccurredtohim,allillegal.OneofthemwastolearnthenatureoftheChangeandfindoutdefinitelyhowitwouldaffectNoys.Onecouldnot,afterall,becertainthat...
AdeadsilencewrenchedHarlanoutofhisreverie.HewasintheLife-Plotter’sofficeoncemore.SociologistVoywaswatchinghimoutofthecornerofhiseye.Feruque’sdeath’s-headwasloweringathim.
Andthesilencewaspiercing.
Ittookamomentforthesignificancetopenetrate.Justamoment.TheSummatorhadceaseditsinnerclucking.
Harlanjumpedup."Youhavetheanswer,Life-Plotter."
Feruquelookeddownattheflimsiesinhishand."Yeah.Sure.Sortoffunny."
"MayIhaveit?"Harlanheldouthishand.Itwastremblingvisibly.
"There’snothingtosee.That’swhat’sfunny."
"Whatdoyoumean-nothing?"HarlanstaredatFeruquewitheyesthatsuddenlysmartedtilltherewasonlyatall,thinblurwhereFeruquestood.
TheLife-Plotter’smatter-of-factvoicesoundedthin."Thedamedoesn’texistinthenewReality.Nopersonalityshift.She’sjustout,that’sall.Gone.IranthealternativesdowntoProbability0.0001.Shedoesn’tmakeitanywhere.Infact"-andhereacheduptorubhischeekwithlong,sparefingers-"withthecombinationoffactorsyouhandedmeIdon’tquiteseehowshefitintheoldReality."
Harlanhardlyheard"But-buttheChangewassuchasmallone."
"Iknow.Afunnycombinationoffactors.Here,youwanttheflimsies?"
Harlan’shandclosedoverthem,unfeeling
