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

exist like that. Just like that necklace you have on.
Subjectively it's a chain, although objectively it's only a
collection of links. The past doesn't work that way. It isn't
really a long line of links extending from тАШthenтАЩ until тАШnow.'тАЭ
тАЬOh, I see,тАЭ said Hartstein, even though he didn't have the
slightest idea what Brannick was talking about. He didn't want
to annoy the man. тАЬI've done a lot of thinking about moving
around in time and what it could mean and what terrible
things could happen and all the awful accidents that might
occur if you weren't careful and all that.тАЭ
A visible change came over Sergeant Brannick. тАЬYou have?
The time business interests you?тАЭ he asked, his voice
suddenly hearty and full of hollow buddiness.
тАЬUh huh. What do you mean, no such thing as the past?
Where am I going, then?тАЭ
тАЬNo objective past, I said. There's definitely a past, all
right. You're going to Alexandria and you're going to see the
Library. While you're in town, by the way, why don't you run
up to Pharos and see the lighthouse? It was one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World, you know, and it was still
standing where you're going. But tell me, you think that time
travel is more exciting than, oh, spending a few days in Las
Vegas?тАЭ
тАЬI think so. I could have gone to Europe, but I decided to
go back instead.тАЭ
тАЬNo problem,тАЭ said Brannick. тАЬLike I said, we'll talk
tomorrow. Give my regards to Cleopatra.тАЭ


11
 The Bird of Time
by George Alec Effinger


The doctor made Hartstein strip and stand with his toes on
the yellow line. Then he told the young man to do all sorts of
undignified things, some of which Hartstein couldn't believe
had any diagnostic value. тАЬYour injection,тАЭ said the doctor in a
tired voice.
тАЬI've had all my shots and boosters,тАЭ said Hartstein. тАЬIn
school.тАЭ
The doctor shook his head. тАЬWe have to inoculate you
against things back there that don't even exist today. You'd
have no protection at all against some of those diseases.
You'd come back in such bad shape, in a week you'd look like
Dorian Gray's painting.тАЭ
тАЬLike what?тАЭ
The doctor waved a hand. тАЬHold still,тАЭ he said.
The yellow line took Hartstein to the ESB section. The
procedure itself was quick, painless, and pleasant. He was