Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
Ifhewantedthegirlhimself,lethimsaysoandHarlancouldinsistonallowingNoystomakeherchoice.Healmostsmiledatthat.Hehopeditwouldcometothat.Itwouldbethefinaltriumph.
Ordinarily,ofcourse,aTechniciancouldnothopetopushthroughsuchamatterinthefaceofaComputer’sdesires,butHarlanwassurehecouldcountonTwissell’sbacking,andFingehadalongwaytogobeforehecouldbuckTwissell.
Finge,however,seemedtranquil."Itwouldseem,"hesaid,"thatyouhavealreadytakenillegalpossessionofthegirl."
Harlanflushedandwasmovedtoafeebledefense."Thespatio-temporalchartinsistedonourremainingalonetogether.Sincenothingofwhathappenedwasspecificallyforbidden,Ifeelnoguilt."
Whichwasalie,andfromFinge’shalf-amusedexpressiononecouldfeelthatheknewittobealie.
Hesaid,"TherewillbeaRealityChange."
Harlansaid,"Ifso,IwillamendmyapplicationtorequestliaisonwithMissLambentinthenewReality."
"Idon’tthinkthatwouldbewise.Howcanyoubesureinadvance?InthenewReality,shemaybemarried,shemaybedeformed.InfactIcantellyouthis.InthenewReality,shewillnotwantyou.Shewillnotwantyou."
Harlanquivered."Youknownothingaboutit."
"Oh?Youthinkthisgreatloveofyoursisamatterofsoul-to-soulcontact?Thatitwillsurviveallexternalchanges?HaveyoubeenreadingnovelsoutofTime?"
Harlanwasgoadedintoindiscretion."Foronething,Idon’tbelieveyou.,,
Fingesaidcoldly,"Ibegpardon."
"You’relying."
