"George Alec Effinger - Bird of Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Effinger George Alec)

when the Internal Revenue Service wants to ask you a few
questions. Hartstein's stomach began to grumble again. He
told himself that there was no reason for anxiety, but he
couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. Doom he had
chosen and paid for himself, with his grandparentsтАЩ money.
тАЬMay I help you?тАЭ asked a young woman. She seemed
very bored. She was dressed in the same silver-and-blue
uniform, but on hers, there were no campaign ribbons. The
cut of the tunic was less severe as well, permitting the
general public to evaluate certain of her characteristics.
When Hartstein's eyes turned from the bustling activity
around him to this attractive Agent, he lost some of his fear.
тАЬI'd like to go to theтАФтАЭ
тАЬThe Library, I know. Yellow slip, please.тАЭ He gave the
receipt to her. тАЬWhen did you want to go?тАЭ
тАЬI'd like to do it today, if I could.тАЭ
She looked up at him and cracked her chewing gum. One
eyebrow went up just a bit. тАЬIn a hurry?тАЭ she said.
Hartstein shrugged. There was a framed quotation at this
counter, too:


The Bird of Time has but a little way
To flyтАФand Lo! the Bird is on the wing.
тАФThe Rub├бiy├бt of Omar Khayy├бm
8
 The Bird of Time
by George Alec Effinger




The lines didn't mean a damn thing to Hartstein.
тАЬToday,тАЭ said the Agent, тАЬlet's see.тАЭ She consulted several
clipboards and a large, black, vinyl-bound notebook. тАЬWell,
you're in luck. There's no real problem with that. It's, what?
it's almost eleven o'clock. So, we can have you ready by two
o'clock. You realize that you will have exactly twenty-four
hours in the past, no more and no less. So if you go through
at two, then you'll be back tomorrow at two. Right?тАЭ
тАЬI understand,тАЭ said Hartstein.
тАЬAnd you took care of everything downstairs? Uh huh, it's
all here on the voucher. So, is there anything you'd like to
change? This is your last chance.тАЭ
Hartstein wasn't crazy about the way she phrased that
remark. тАЬMy last chance?тАЭ he said.
She looked up at the ceiling impatiently. тАЬYou can't be
yelling тАШWait a minute, I forgot somethingтАЩ when they're
pushing you through the screen. If you don't want to go to
the Library, if you'd rather, say, go to see them assassinate