Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
Heopenedhismouthforadeepbreath,forcinghimselftoremaincalm.Itwasridiculoustoidentifyhimselfwiththesebooks,tofeelasluruponthemtobeasluruponhimself.
"Idaresay,"saidFinge,stillonthesubject,"thatthewholecontentofthosebookscouldbeplacedontwometersoffilmandstoredinafinger’send.Whatdothebookscontain?"
Harlansaid,"Theyareboundvolumesofanewsmagazineofthe20th."
"Youreadthat?"
Harlansaidproudly,"TheseareafewvolumesofthecompletecollectionIhave.NolibraryinEternitycanduplicateit."
"Yes,yourhobby.IremembernowyouoncetoldmeaboutyourinterestinthePrimitive.I’mamazedyourEducatoreverallowedyoutogrowinterestedinsuchathing.Acompletewasteofenergy."
Harlan’slipsthinned.Theman,hedecided,wasdeliberatelytryingtoirritatehimoutofpossessionofcalmreasoningfaculties.Ifso,hemustnotbeallowedtosucceed.
Harlansaidflatly,"Ithinkyou’vecometoseemeaboutmyreport."
"Yes,Ihave."TheComputerlookedabout,selectedachair,andsatdowngingerly."Itisnotcomplete,asIsaidoverthecommunicator."
"Inwhatway,sir?"(Calm!Calm!)
Fingebrokeintoanervoustwitchofasmile."Whathappenedthatyoudidn’tmention,Harlan?"
"Nothing,sir."Andthoughhesaiditfirmly,hestoodthere,hangdog.
"Come,Technician.Youspentseveralperiodsoftimeinthesocietyoftheyounglady.Oryoudidifyoufollowedthespatio-temporalchart.
