Конец вечности
Prelude to Crime
Youdorememberthat,don’tyou?"Hespokewiththemildurgingofaschoolmastertowardasomewhatbackwardstudent,yetHarlanthoughthecoulddetectakindofhardglitterinhiseye.
Harlansaid,"Ofcourse."
"Youremember,too,thatItoldyouthattheAllwhenCouncilwasreluctanttoacceptmyanalysisofthesituationwithoutspecificconfirmingObservations.Doesn’tthatimplytoyouthatIhadalreadyComputedthenecessaryRealityChange?"
"ButmyownObservationsrepresenttheconfirmation,don’tthey?"
"Theydo."
"Anditwouldtaketimetoanalyzethemproperly."
"Nonsense.Yourreportmeansnothing.Theconfirmationlayinwhatyoutoldmeorallymomentsago."
"Idon’tunderstandyou."
"Look,Harlan,letmetellyouwhatiswrongwiththe482nd.AmongtheupperclassesofthisCentury,particularlyamongthewomen,therehasgrownupthenotionthatEternalsarereallyEternal,literallyso;thattheyliveforever...GreatTime,man,NoysLambenttoldyouasmuch.Yourepeatedherstatementstomenottwentyminutesago."
HarlanstaredblanklyatFinge.HewasrememberingNoys’ssoft,caressingvoiceassheleanedtowardhimandcaughtathiseyeswithherownlovely,darkglance:_Youliveforever.You’reanEternal_.
Fingewenton,"Nowabelieflikethatisbad,but,initself,nottoobad.Itcanleadtoinconveniences,increasedifficultiesfortheSection,butComputationwouldshowthatonlyinaminorityofcaseswouldChangebenecessary.
