Prelude to Crime

           Harlansteppedintothekettleatthe2456thandlookedbackwardtomakecertainthatthebarrierthatseparatedtheshaftfromEternitywastrulyflawless;thatSociologistVoywasnotwatching.Intheselastweeksithadgrowntobeahabitwithhim,anautomatictwitch;therewasalwaysthequickbackwardglanceacrosstheshouldertomakesurenoonewasbehindhiminthekettleshafts.

           Andthen,thoughalreadyinthe2456th,itwasforupwhenthatHarlansetthekettlecontrols.Hewatchedthenumbersonthetemporometerrise.Thoughtheymovedwithblurryquickness,therewouldbeconsiderabletimeforthought.

           HowtheLife-Plotter’sfindingchangedmatters!Howtheverynatureofhiscrimehadchanged!

           AndithadallhingedonFinge.Thephrasecaughtathimwithitsridiculousrhymeanditsheavybeatcircleddizzyinglyinsidehisskull:IthingedonFinge.IthingedonFinge...

           HarlanhadavoidedanypersonalcontactwithFingeonhisreturntoEternityafterthosedayswithNoysinthe482nd.AsEternityclosedinabouthim,sodidguilt.Abrokenoathofoffice,whichseemednothinginthe482nd,wasenormousinEternity.

           Hehadsentinhisreportbyimpersonalair-chuteandtookhimselfofftopersonalquarters.Heneededtothinkthisout,gaintimetoconsiderandgrowaccustomedtotheneworientationwithinhimself.

           Fingedidnotpermitit.HewasincommunicationwithHarlanlessthananhourafterthereporthadbeencodedforproperdirectionandinsertedintothechute.

           TheComputer’simagestaredoutofthevisionplate.