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ray_bradbury_the_sound_of_thunder.php
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ray_bradbury_the_sound_of_thunder.php
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<?php
include("php/config.php");
session_start();
$user_check = $_SESSION['login_user'];
$ses_sql = mysqli_query($db,"select name from users where name = '$user_check' and active = 1");
$row = mysqli_fetch_array($ses_sql,MYSQLI_ASSOC);
$login_session = $row['name'];
if(!isset($_SESSION['login_user'])){
header("location: php/login.php");
die();
}
?>
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<title>Bradbury The Sound of Thunder - книжка-білінгва: англійською з паралельним українським перекладом (читати онлайн)</title>
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<section>
<p class="english"><span class=”engl”>The</span> <span class="engl">sign</span> <span
class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">wall</span> <span class="engl">seemed</span> <span
class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">quaver</span> <span class="engl">under</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">film</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">sliding</span> <span class="engl">warm</span>
<span class="engl">water,</span> <span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">felt</span>
<span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">eyelids</span> <span class="engl">blink</span>
<span class="engl">over</span> <span class="engl">his</span>
<span class="engl">stare,</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">sign</span> <span class="engl">burned</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">this</span>
<span class="engl">momentary</span> <span class="engl">darkness:</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">TIME</span> <span class="engl">SAFARI,</span>
<span class="engl">INC.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">SAFARIS</span> <span class="engl">TO</span>
<span class="engl">ANY</span> <span class="engl">YEAR</span>
<span class="engl">IN</span> <span class="engl">THE</span>
<span class="engl">PAST.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">YOU</span> <span class="engl">NAME</span> <span
class="engl">THE</span> <span class="engl">ANIMAL.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">WE</span> <span class="engl">TAKE</span> <span
class="engl">YOU</span> <span class="engl">THERE.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">YOU</span> <span class="engl">SHOOT</span> <span
class="engl">IT.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">A</span> <span class="engl">warm</span> <span
class="engl">phlegm</span> <span class="engl">gathered</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">Eckels’</span> <span class="engl">throat;</span>
<span class="engl">he</span> <span class="engl">swallowed</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">pushed</span> <span class="engl">it</span>
<span class="engl">down.</span> <span class="engl">The</span>
<span class="engl">muscles</span> <span class="engl">around</span> <span class="engl">his</span>
<span class="engl">mouth</span> <span class="engl">formed</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">smile</span> <span class="engl">as</span> <span class="engl">he</span> <span
class="engl">put</span> <span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">hand</span> <span
class="engl">slowly</span> <span class="engl">out</span>
<span class="engl">upon</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">air,</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">that</span>
<span class="engl">hand</span> <span class="engl">waved</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">check</span> <span class="engl">for</span> <span class="engl">ten</span> <span
class="engl">thousand</span>
<span class="engl">dollars</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">man</span> <span class="engl">behind</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">desk.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Does</span> <span class="engl">this</span> <span
class="engl">safari</span>
<span class="engl">guarantee</span> <span class="engl">I</span> <span class="engl">come</span> <span
class="engl">back</span> <span class="engl">alive?”</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“We</span> <span class="engl">guarantee</span> <span
class="engl">nothing,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">official,</span> <span class="engl">“except</span>
<span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">dinosaurs.”</span> <span class="engl">He</span> <span class="engl">turned.</span>
<span class="engl">“This</span> <span class="engl">is</span>
<span class="engl">Mr.</span> <span class="engl">Travis,</span> <span class="engl">your</span>
<span class="engl">Safari</span> <span class="engl">Guide</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Past.</span> <span class="engl">He’ll</span> <span
class="engl">tell</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">what</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">where</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">shoot.</span>
<span class="engl">If</span> <span class="engl">he</span>
<span class="engl">says</span> <span class="engl">no</span>
<span class="engl">shooting,</span> <span class="engl">no</span> <span class="engl">shooting.</span>
<span class="engl">If</span> <span class="engl">you</span>
<span class="engl">disobey</span> <span class="engl">instructions,</span> <span
class="engl">there’s</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">stiff</span> <span
class="engl">penalty</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">another</span> <span class="engl">ten</span>
<span class="engl">thousand</span> <span class="engl">dollars,</span> <span class="engl">plus</span>
<span class="engl">possible</span> <span class="engl">government</span> <span
class="engl">action,</span> <span class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">your</span> <span class="engl">return.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">glanced</span>
<span class="engl">across</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">vast</span> <span
class="engl">office</span> <span class="engl">at</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">mass</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">tangle,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">snaking</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">humming</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">wires</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">steel</span> <span class="engl">boxes,</span> <span class="engl">at</span> <span
class="engl">an</span> <span class="engl">aurora</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span
class="engl">flickered</span>
<span class="engl">now</span> <span class="engl">orange,</span> <span class="engl">now</span>
<span class="engl">silver,</span> <span class="engl">now</span> <span class="engl">blue.</span>
<span class="engl">There</span> <span class="engl">was</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">sound</span> <span class="engl">like</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">gigantic</span> <span class="engl">bonfire</span> <span class="engl">burning</span>
<span class="engl">all</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">Time,</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">years</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">parchment</span> <span
class="engl">calendars,</span>
<span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">hours</span>
<span class="engl">piled</span> <span class="engl">high</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">set</span> <span class="engl">aflame.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">A</span> <span class="engl">touch</span> <span
class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">hand</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">this</span> <span class="engl">burning</span> <span class="engl">would,</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">instant,</span> <span class="engl">beautifully</span> <span
class="engl">reverse</span> <span class="engl">itself.</span>
<span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">remembered</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">wording</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">advertisements</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">letter.</span> <span class="engl">Out</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">chars</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">ashes,</span> <span class="engl">out</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">dust</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">coals,</span> <span class="engl">like</span>
<span class="engl">golden</span> <span class="engl">salamanders,</span> <span
class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">old</span> <span class="engl">years,</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">green</span> <span class="engl">years,</span> <span class="engl">might</span>
<span class="engl">leap;</span> <span class="engl">roses</span> <span class="engl">sweeten</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">air,</span>
<span class="engl">white</span> <span class="engl">hair</span> <span class="engl">turn</span> <span
class="engl">Irish-black,</span> <span class="engl">wrinkles</span> <span
class="engl">vanish;</span> <span class="engl">all,</span>
<span class="engl">everything</span> <span class="engl">fly</span> <span class="engl">back</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">seed,</span> <span class="engl">flee</span> <span
class="engl">death,</span>
<span class="engl">rush</span> <span class="engl">down</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">their</span>
<span class="engl">beginnings,</span> <span class="engl">suns</span> <span class="engl">rise</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">western</span>
<span class="engl">skies</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">set</span> <span class="engl">in</span>
<span class="engl">glorious</span> <span class="engl">easts,</span> <span class="engl">moons</span>
<span class="engl">eat</span> <span class="engl">themselves</span> <span
class="engl">opposite</span>
<span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">custom,</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">everything</span> <span class="engl">cupping</span>
<span class="engl">one</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">another</span> <span class="engl">like</span>
<span class="engl">Chinese</span> <span class="engl">boxes,</span> <span class="engl">rabbits</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">hats,</span>
<span class="engl">all</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">everything</span> <span class="engl">returning</span> <span
class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">fresh</span>
<span class="engl">death,</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">seed</span> <span
class="engl">death,</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">green</span> <span class="engl">death,</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">time</span> <span class="engl">before</span> <span
class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">beginning.</span> <span class="engl">A</span> <span class="engl">touch</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">hand</span> <span
class="engl">might</span>
<span class="engl">do</span> <span class="engl">it,</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">merest</span> <span class="engl">touch</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">hand.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Hell</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">damn,”</span> <span class="engl">Eckels</span>
<span class="engl">breathed,</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">light</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Machine</span> <span
class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">thin</span>
<span class="engl">face.</span> <span class="engl">“A</span>
<span class="engl">real</span> <span class="engl">Time</span>
<span class="engl">Machine.”</span> <span class="engl">He</span> <span class="engl">shook</span>
<span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">head.</span> <span class="engl">“Makes</span> <span
class="engl">you</span>
<span class="engl">think.</span> <span class="engl">If</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">election</span> <span class="engl">had</span>
<span class="engl">gone</span> <span class="engl">badly</span> <span class="engl">yesterday,</span>
<span class="engl">I</span>
<span class="engl">might</span> <span class="engl">be</span>
<span class="engl">here</span> <span class="engl">now</span>
<span class="engl">running</span> <span class="engl">away</span> <span class="engl">from</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">results.</span>
<span class="engl">Thank</span> <span class="engl">God</span>
<span class="engl">Keith</span> <span class="engl">won.</span> <span class="engl">He’ll</span>
<span class="engl">make</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">fine</span> <span class="engl">President</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">United</span> <span class="engl">States.”</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Yes,”</span>
<span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">man</span> <span class="engl">behind</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">desk.</span> <span class="engl">“Were</span> <span class="engl">lucky.</span>
<span class="engl">If</span> <span class="engl">Deutscher</span> <span class="engl">had</span>
<span class="engl">gotten</span> <span class="engl">in,</span> <span class="engl">we’d</span> <span
class="engl">have</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">worst</span> <span
class="engl">kind</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">dictatorship.</span> <span
class="engl">There’s</span>
<span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">anti-everything</span> <span class="engl">man</span> <span
class="engl">for</span>
<span class="engl">you,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">militarist,</span>
<span class="engl">anti-Christ,</span> <span class="engl">anti-human,</span> <span
class="engl">anti-intellectual.</span> <span class="engl">People</span> <span
class="engl">called</span>
<span class="engl">us</span> <span class="engl">up,</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">know,</span>
<span class="engl">joking</span> <span class="engl">but</span> <span class="engl">not</span> <span
class="engl">joking.</span> <span class="engl">Said</span>
<span class="engl">if</span> <span class="engl">Deutscher</span> <span class="engl">became</span>
<span class="engl">President</span> <span class="engl">they</span>
<span class="engl">wanted</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">go</span> <span class="engl">live</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">1492.</span>
<span class="engl">Of</span> <span class="engl">course</span>
<span class="engl">it’s</span> <span class="engl">not</span>
<span class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">business</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">conduct</span> <span class="engl">Escapes,</span> <span class="engl">but</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">form</span>
<span class="engl">Safaris.</span> <span class="engl">Anyway,</span> <span
class="engl">Keith’s</span>
<span class="engl">President</span> <span class="engl">now.</span> <span class="engl">All</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">got</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span
class="engl">worry</span> <span class="engl">about</span> <span class="engl">is”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Shooting</span> <span class="engl">my</span> <span
class="engl">dinosaur,”</span>
<span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">finished</span> <span class="engl">it</span>
<span class="engl">for</span> <span class="engl">him.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“A</span> <span class="engl">Tyrannosaurus</span> <span
class="engl">Rex.</span> <span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">Thunder</span> <span
class="engl">Lizard,</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">damnedest</span> <span class="engl">monster</span>
<span class="engl">in</span>
<span class="engl">history.</span> <span class="engl">Sign</span> <span class="engl">this</span>
<span class="engl">release.</span> <span class="engl">Anything</span> <span
class="engl">happens</span>
<span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">you,</span> <span class="engl">we’re</span> <span class="engl">not</span> <span
class="engl">responsible.</span> <span class="engl">Those</span> <span
class="engl">dinosaurs</span>
<span class="engl">are</span> <span class="engl">hungry.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">flushed</span>
<span class="engl">angrily.</span> <span class="engl">“Trying</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">scare</span> <span class="engl">me!”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Frankly,</span> <span class="engl">yes.</span>
<span class="engl">We</span> <span class="engl">don’t</span>
<span class="engl">want</span> <span class="engl">anyone</span> <span class="engl">going</span>
<span class="engl">who’ll</span> <span class="engl">panic</span> <span class="engl">at</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">first</span> <span class="engl">shot.</span> <span
class="engl">Six</span> <span class="engl">Safari</span> <span class="engl">leaders</span>
<span class="engl">were</span> <span class="engl">killed</span> <span class="engl">last</span>
<span class="engl">year,</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">dozen</span>
<span class="engl">hunters.</span> <span class="engl">We’re</span> <span class="engl">here</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">give</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">damnedest</span> <span class="engl">thrill</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">real</span> <span class="engl">hunter</span>
<span class="engl">ever</span> <span class="engl">asked</span> <span class="engl">for.</span>
<span class="engl">Travelling</span> <span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">back</span>
<span class="engl">sixty</span> <span class="engl">million</span>
<span class="engl">years</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">bag</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">biggest</span> <span class="engl">damned</span> <span class="engl">game</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">Time.</span> <span class="engl">Your</span> <span class="engl">personal</span>
<span class="engl">check’s</span> <span class="engl">still</span> <span class="engl">there.</span>
<span class="engl">Tear</span> <span class="engl">it</span>
<span class="engl">up.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Mr.</span> <span class="engl">Eckels</span>
<span class="engl">looked</span> <span class="engl">at</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">check</span>
<span class="engl">for</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">long</span> <span class="engl">time.</span> <span class="engl">His</span> <span
class="engl">fingers</span> <span class="engl">twitched.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Good</span> <span class="engl">luck,”</span>
<span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">man</span> <span class="engl">behind</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">desk.</span> <span class="engl">“Mr.</span> <span class="engl">Travis,</span>
<span class="engl">he’s</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">yours.”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">They</span> <span class="engl">moved</span> <span class="engl">silently</span>
<span class="engl">across</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">room,</span> <span
class="engl">taking</span> <span class="engl">their</span>
<span class="engl">guns</span> <span class="engl">with</span>
<span class="engl">them,</span> <span class="engl">toward</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">Machine,</span> <span class="engl">toward</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">silver</span> <span class="engl">metal</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">roaring</span>
<span class="engl">light.</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">First</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">day</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">then</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">night</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">then</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">day</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">then</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">night,</span> <span class="engl">then</span> <span class="engl">it</span> <span
class="engl">was</span> <span class="engl">day-night-day-night-day.</span> <span
class="engl">A</span> <span class="engl">week,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">month,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">year,</span> <span
class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">decade!</span> <span class="engl">A.D.</span> <span
class="engl">2055.</span>
<span class="engl">A.D.</span> <span class="engl">zoic).</span> <span class="engl">1999!</span>
<span class="engl">1957!</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Gone!</span> <span class="engl">The</span> <span
class="engl">Machine</span> <span class="engl">roared.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">They</span> <span class="engl">put</span> <span
class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">their</span> <span class="engl">oxygen</span>
<span class="engl">helmets</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">tested</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">intercoms.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">swayed</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">padded</span> <span class="engl">seat,</span> <span class="engl">his</span> <span
class="engl">face</span> <span class="engl">pale,</span>
<span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">jaws</span>
<span class="engl">stiff.</span> <span class="engl">He</span>
<span class="engl">felt</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">trembling</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">his</span> <span
class="engl">arms</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">he</span> <span
class="engl">looked</span> <span class="engl">down</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">found</span> <span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">hands</span> <span
class="engl">tight</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">new</span> <span class="engl">rifle.</span> <span class="engl">There</span>
<span class="engl">were</span> <span class="engl">four</span>
<span class="engl">other</span> <span class="engl">men</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">Machine.</span> <span class="engl">Travis,</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">Safari</span> <span class="engl">Leader,</span> <span class="engl">his</span>
<span class="engl">assistant,</span> <span class="engl">Lesperance,</span> <span
class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">two</span> <span class="engl">other</span>
<span class="engl">hunters,</span> <span class="engl">Billings</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">Kramer.</span> <span class="engl">They</span> <span class="engl">sat</span> <span
class="engl">looking</span> <span class="engl">at</span>
<span class="engl">each</span> <span class="engl">other,</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">years</span>
<span class="engl">blazed</span> <span class="engl">around</span> <span class="engl">them.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Can</span> <span class="engl">these</span> <span
class="engl">guns</span>
<span class="engl">get</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">dinosaur</span> <span class="engl">cold?”</span> <span class="engl">Eckels</span>
<span class="engl">felt</span> <span class="engl">his</span>
<span class="engl">mouth</span> <span class="engl">saying.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“If</span> <span class="engl">you</span> <span
class="engl">hit</span> <span class="engl">them</span> <span class="engl">right,”</span> <span
class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">Travis</span> <span class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">helmet</span> <span class="engl">radio.</span>
<span class="engl">“Some</span> <span class="engl">dinosaurs</span> <span class="engl">have</span>
<span class="engl">two</span> <span class="engl">brains,</span> <span class="engl">one</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">head,</span> <span class="engl">another</span> <span class="engl">far</span>
<span class="engl">down</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">spinal</span> <span class="engl">column.</span> <span class="engl">We</span>
<span class="engl">stay</span> <span class="engl">away</span>
<span class="engl">from</span> <span class="engl">those.</span> <span class="engl">That’s</span>
<span class="engl">stretching</span> <span class="engl">luck.</span> <span class="engl">Put</span>
<span class="engl">your</span> <span class="engl">first</span>
<span class="engl">two</span> <span class="engl">shots</span>
<span class="engl">into</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">eyes,</span> <span class="engl">if</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">can,</span>
<span class="engl">blind</span> <span class="engl">them,</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">go</span> <span class="engl">back</span> <span class="engl">into</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">brain.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">Machine</span>
<span class="engl">howled.</span> <span class="engl">Time</span> <span class="engl">was</span> <span
class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">film</span> <span class="engl">run</span> <span
class="engl">backward.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Suns</span> <span class="engl">fled</span> <span
class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">ten</span> <span class="engl">million</span>
<span class="engl">moons</span> <span class="engl">fled</span> <span class="engl">after</span>
<span class="engl">them.</span> <span class="engl">“Good</span> <span class="engl">God,”</span>
<span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">Eckels.</span> <span class="engl">“Every</span>
<span class="engl">hunter</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span class="engl">ever</span> <span
class="engl">lived</span> <span class="engl">would</span>
<span class="engl">envy</span> <span class="engl">us</span>
<span class="engl">today.</span> <span class="engl">This</span> <span class="engl">makes</span>
<span class="engl">Africa</span> <span class="engl">seem</span> <span class="engl">like</span> <span
class="engl">Illinois.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">Machine</span>
<span class="engl">slowed;</span> <span class="engl">its</span> <span class="engl">scream</span>
<span class="engl">fell</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">murmur.</span>
<span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">Machine</span> <span class="engl">stopped.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">sun</span> <span
class="engl">stopped</span> <span class="engl">in</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">sky.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">fog</span> <span
class="engl">that</span> <span class="engl">had</span> <span class="engl">enveloped</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Machine</span> <span class="engl">blew</span>
<span class="engl">away</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">they</span> <span class="engl">were</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">old</span> <span class="engl">time,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">very</span>
<span class="engl">old</span> <span class="engl">time</span>
<span class="engl">indeed,</span> <span class="engl">three</span> <span class="engl">hunters</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">two</span>
<span class="engl">Safari</span> <span class="engl">Heads</span> <span class="engl">with</span>
<span class="engl">their</span> <span class="engl">blue</span> <span class="engl">metal</span>
<span class="engl">guns</span> <span class="engl">across</span> <span class="engl">their</span>
<span class="engl">knees.</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“Christ</span> <span class="engl">isn’t</span> <span class="engl">born</span>
<span class="engl">yet,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">Travis.</span>
<span class="engl">“Moses</span> <span class="engl">has</span> <span class="engl">not</span> <span
class="engl">gone</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">mountain</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">talk</span>
<span class="engl">with</span> <span class="engl">God.</span>
<span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">Pyramids</span> <span class="engl">are</span>
<span class="engl">still</span> <span class="engl">in</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">earth,</span> <span class="engl">waiting</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">be</span>
<span class="engl">cut</span> <span class="engl">out</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">put</span>
<span class="engl">up.</span> <span class="engl">Remember</span> <span class="engl">that,</span>
<span class="engl">Alexander,</span> <span class="engl">Caesar,</span> <span
class="engl">Napoleon,</span> <span class="engl">Hitler,</span> <span class="engl">none</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">them</span>
<span class="engl">exists.”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">men</span>
<span class="engl">nodded.</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“That”</span> <span class="engl">Mr.</span> <span class="engl">Travis</span>
<span class="engl">pointed”</span> <span class="engl">is</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">jungle</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">sixty</span> <span
class="engl">million</span>
<span class="engl">two</span> <span class="engl">thousand</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">fifty-five</span> <span class="engl">years</span> <span
class="engl">before</span>
<span class="engl">President</span> <span class="engl">Keith.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">He</span> <span class="engl">indicated</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">metal</span>
<span class="engl">path</span> <span class="engl">that</span>
<span class="engl">struck</span> <span class="engl">off</span> <span class="engl">into</span> <span
class="engl">green</span> <span class="engl">wilderness,</span> <span class="engl">over</span>
<span class="engl">steaming</span>
<span class="engl">swamp,</span> <span class="engl">among</span> <span class="engl">giant</span>
<span class="engl">ferns</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">palms.</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“And</span> <span class="engl">that,”</span> <span class="engl">he</span> <span
class="engl">said,</span> <span class="engl">“is</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">Path,</span> <span class="engl">laid</span> <span class="engl">by</span> <span
class="engl">Time</span> <span class="engl">Safari</span>
<span class="engl">for</span> <span class="engl">your</span>
<span class="engl">use.</span> <span class="engl">It</span>
<span class="engl">floats</span> <span class="engl">six</span> <span class="engl">inches</span>
<span class="engl">above</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">earth.</span> <span class="engl">Doesn’t</span> <span class="engl">touch</span>
<span class="engl">so</span> <span class="engl">much</span>
<span class="engl">as</span> <span class="engl">one</span>
<span class="engl">grass</span> <span class="engl">blade,</span> <span class="engl">flower,</span>
<span class="engl">or</span> <span class="engl">tree.</span>
<span class="engl">It’s</span> <span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">anti-gravity</span> <span class="engl">metal.</span> <span
class="engl">Its</span>
<span class="engl">purpose</span> <span class="engl">is</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span
class="engl">keep</span> <span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">from</span> <span
class="engl">touching</span>
<span class="engl">this</span> <span class="engl">world</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">past</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span
class="engl">any</span> <span class="engl">way.</span> <span class="engl">Stay</span> <span
class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Path.</span> <span
class="engl">Don’t</span>
<span class="engl">go</span> <span class="engl">off</span>
<span class="engl">it.</span> <span class="engl">I</span>
<span class="engl">repeat.</span> <span class="engl">Don’t</span> <span class="engl">go</span> <span
class="engl">off.</span> <span class="engl">For</span> <span class="engl">any</span> <span
class="engl">reason!</span>
<span class="engl">If</span> <span class="engl">you</span>
<span class="engl">fall</span> <span class="engl">off,</span>
<span class="engl">there’s</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">penalty.</span> <span class="engl">And</span> <span class="engl">don’t</span>
<span class="engl">shoot</span> <span class="engl">any</span> <span class="engl">animal</span> <span
class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">don’t</span> <span class="engl">okay.”</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Why?”</span>
<span class="engl">asked</span> <span class="engl">Eckels.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">They</span> <span class="engl">sat</span> <span
class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">ancient</span> <span
class="engl">wilderness.</span> <span class="engl">Far</span>
<span class="engl">birds’</span> <span class="engl">cries</span> <span class="engl">blew</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">wind,</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">smell</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">tar</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">old</span> <span class="engl">salt</span>
<span class="engl">sea,</span> <span class="engl">moist</span> <span class="engl">grasses,</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">flowers</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">colour</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">blood.</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“We</span> <span class="engl">don’t</span>
<span class="engl">want</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">change</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Future.</span>
<span class="engl">We</span> <span class="engl">don’t</span>
<span class="engl">belong</span> <span class="engl">here</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Past.</span> <span class="engl">The</span> <span
class="engl">government</span>
<span class="engl">doesn’t</span> <span class="engl">like</span> <span class="engl">us</span> <span
class="engl">here.</span> <span class="engl">We</span> <span class="engl">have</span> <span
class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">pay</span> <span class="engl">big</span> <span
class="engl">graft</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">keep</span> <span
class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">franchise.</span> <span class="engl">A</span>
<span class="engl">Time</span> <span class="engl">Machine</span> <span class="engl">is</span>
<span class="engl">damn</span> <span class="engl">finicky</span> <span class="engl">business.</span>
<span class="engl">Not</span>
<span class="engl">knowing</span> <span class="engl">it,</span> <span class="engl">we</span> <span
class="engl">might</span> <span class="engl">kill</span>
<span class="engl">an</span> <span class="engl">important</span> <span class="engl">animal,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">small</span> <span class="engl">bird,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">roach,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">flower</span>
<span class="engl">even,</span> <span class="engl">thus</span> <span class="engl">destroying</span>
<span class="engl">an</span> <span class="engl">important</span> <span class="engl">link</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">growing</span> <span class="engl">species.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“That’s</span> <span class="engl">not</span>
<span class="engl">clear,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">Eckels.</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“All</span> <span class="engl">right,”</span> <span
class="engl">Travis</span>
<span class="engl">continued,</span> <span class="engl">“say</span> <span class="engl">we</span>
<span class="engl">accidentally</span> <span class="engl">kill</span> <span class="engl">one</span>
<span class="engl">mouse</span> <span class="engl">here.</span>
<span class="engl">That</span> <span class="engl">means</span> <span class="engl">all</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">future</span>
<span class="engl">families</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">this</span> <span
class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">particular</span>
<span class="engl">mouse</span> <span class="engl">are</span>
<span class="engl">destroyed,</span> <span class="engl">right?”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Right.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“And</span> <span class="engl">all</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">families</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">families</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span
class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">mouse!</span>
<span class="engl">With</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">stamp</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">your</span> <span class="engl">foot,</span> <span class="engl">you</span> <span
class="engl">annihilate</span> <span class="engl">first</span> <span class="engl">one,</span>
<span class="engl">then</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">dozen,</span> <span class="engl">then</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">thousand,</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">million,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">billion</span>
<span class="engl">possible</span> <span class="engl">mice”</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“So</span> <span class="engl">they’re</span> <span
class="engl">dead,”</span>
<span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">Eckels.</span> <span class="engl">“So</span>
<span class="engl">what?”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“So</span> <span class="engl">what?”</span> <span class="engl">Travis</span>
<span class="engl">snorted</span> <span class="engl">quietly.</span> <span
class="engl">“Well,</span>
<span class="engl">what</span> <span class="engl">about</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">foxes</span> <span class="engl">that’ll</span>
<span class="engl">need</span> <span class="engl">those</span> <span class="engl">mice</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">survive?</span> <span class="engl">For</span>
<span class="engl">want</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">ten</span> <span class="engl">mice,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">fox</span>
<span class="engl">dies.</span> <span class="engl">For</span>
<span class="engl">want</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">ten</span> <span class="engl">foxes,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">lion</span> <span class="engl">starves.</span>
<span class="engl">For</span> <span class="engl">want</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">lion,</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">manner</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">insects,</span> <span class="engl">vultures,</span> <span
class="engl">infinite</span> <span class="engl">billions</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">life</span> <span class="engl">forms</span> <span class="engl">are</span> <span
class="engl">thrown</span> <span class="engl">into</span>
<span class="engl">chaos</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">destruction.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Eventually</span> <span class="engl">it</span> <span
class="engl">all</span> <span class="engl">boils</span> <span class="engl">down</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">this:</span>
<span class="engl">fifty-nine</span> <span class="engl">million</span> <span
class="engl">years</span>
<span class="engl">later,</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">cave</span> <span class="engl">man,</span>
<span class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">dozen</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">entire</span> <span class="engl">world,</span> <span class="engl">goes</span>
<span class="engl">hunting</span> <span class="engl">wild</span> <span class="engl">boar</span>
<span class="engl">or</span> <span class="engl">saber-tooth</span>
<span class="engl">tiger</span> <span class="engl">for</span>
<span class="engl">food.</span> <span class="engl">But</span>
<span class="engl">you,</span> <span class="engl">friend,</span> <span class="engl">have</span>
<span class="engl">stepped</span> <span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">all</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">tigers</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">that</span>
<span class="engl">region.</span> <span class="engl">By</span> <span class="engl">stepping</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">one</span>
<span class="engl">single</span> <span class="engl">mouse.</span> <span class="engl">So</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">cave</span> <span class="engl">man</span> <span
class="engl">starves.</span>
<span class="engl">And</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">cave</span> <span class="engl">man,</span>
<span class="engl">please</span> <span class="engl">note,</span> <span class="engl">is</span> <span
class="engl">not</span> <span class="engl">just</span> <span class="engl">any</span> <span
class="engl">expendable</span>
<span class="engl">man,</span> <span class="engl">no</span>
<span class="engl">I</span> <span class="engl">He</span>
<span class="engl">is</span> <span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">entire</span> <span class="engl">future</span> <span class="engl">nation.</span>
<span class="engl">From</span> <span class="engl">his</span>
<span class="engl">loins</span> <span class="engl">would</span> <span class="engl">have</span>
<span class="engl">sprung</span> <span class="engl">ten</span> <span class="engl">sons.</span> <span
class="engl">From</span> <span class="engl">their</span>
<span class="engl">loins</span> <span class="engl">one</span>
<span class="engl">hundred</span> <span class="engl">sons,</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">thus</span> <span class="engl">onward</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">civilisation.</span> <span class="engl">Destroy</span> <span
class="engl">this</span>
<span class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">man,</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">you</span>
<span class="engl">destroy</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">race,</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">people,</span> <span class="engl">an</span> <span class="engl">entire</span>
<span class="engl">history</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">life.</span> <span class="engl"></span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">It</span> <span class="engl">is</span> <span
class="engl">comparable</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">slaying</span> <span class="engl">some</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">Adam’s</span>
<span class="engl">grandchildren.</span> <span class="engl">The</span> <span
class="engl">stomp</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">your</span> <span class="engl">foot,</span> <span
class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">mouse,</span>
<span class="engl">could</span> <span class="engl">start</span> <span class="engl">an</span> <span
class="engl">earthquake,</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">effects</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">which</span> <span
class="engl">could</span> <span class="engl">shake</span>
<span class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">earth</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">destinies</span> <span class="engl">down</span>
<span class="engl">through</span> <span class="engl">Time,</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span
class="engl">their</span> <span class="engl">very</span>
<span class="engl">foundations.</span> <span class="engl">With</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">death</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span
class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">cave</span> <span class="engl">man,</span> <span
class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">billion</span> <span class="engl">others</span> <span
class="engl">yet</span>
<span class="engl">unborn</span> <span class="engl">are</span> <span class="engl">throttled</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">womb.</span> <span class="engl">Perhaps</span> <span class="engl">Rome</span>
<span class="engl">never</span> <span class="engl">rises</span> <span class="engl">on</span> <span
class="engl">its</span> <span class="engl">seven</span> <span class="engl">hills.</span> <span
class="engl">Perhaps</span>
<span class="engl">Europe</span> <span class="engl">is</span>
<span class="engl">forever</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">dark</span> <span class="engl">forest,</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">only</span> <span class="engl">Asia</span>
<span class="engl">waxes</span> <span class="engl">healthy</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">teeming.</span> <span class="engl">Step</span> <span class="engl">on</span> <span
class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">mouse</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span
class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">crush</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">Pyramids.</span> <span class="engl">Step</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">mouse</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">leave</span>
<span class="engl">your</span> <span class="engl">print,</span> <span class="engl">like</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">Grand</span>
<span class="engl">Canyon,</span> <span class="engl">across</span> <span
class="engl">Eternity.</span>
<span class="engl">Queen</span>
<span class="engl">Elizabeth</span> <span class="engl">might</span> <span class="engl">never</span>
<span class="engl">be</span> <span class="engl">born,</span>
<span class="engl">Washington</span> <span class="engl">might</span> <span class="engl">not</span>
<span class="engl">cross</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Delaware,</span>
<span class="engl">there</span>
<span class="engl">might</span> <span class="engl">never</span> <span class="engl">be</span> <span
class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">United</span> <span class="engl">States</span> <span
class="engl">at</span> <span class="engl">all.</span> <span class="engl">So</span> <span
class="engl">be</span> <span class="engl">careful.</span>
<span class="engl">Stay</span> <span class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Path,</span>
<span class="engl">Never</span> <span class="engl">step</span> <span class="engl">off!”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“I</span> <span class="engl">see,”</span> <span
class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">Eckels.</span> <span class="engl">“Then</span> <span class="engl">it</span> <span
class="engl">wouldn’t</span> <span class="engl">pay</span>
<span class="engl">for</span> <span class="engl">us</span>
<span class="engl">even</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">touch</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">grass?”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“Correct.</span> <span class="engl">Crushing</span> <span
class="engl">certain</span>
<span class="engl">plants</span>
<span class="engl">could</span> <span class="engl">add</span>
<span class="engl">up</span> <span class="engl">infinitesimally.</span> <span class="engl">A</span>
<span class="engl">little</span> <span class="engl">error</span> <span class="engl">here</span>
<span class="engl">would</span> <span class="engl">multiply</span> <span class="engl">in</span>
<span class="engl">sixty</span> <span class="engl">million</span> <span class="engl">years,</span>
<span class="engl">all</span> <span class="engl">out</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">proportion.</span> <span class="engl">Of</span>
<span class="engl">course</span> <span class="engl">maybe</span> <span class="engl">our</span> <span
class="engl">theory</span> <span class="engl">is</span> <span class="engl">wrong.</span> <span
class="engl">Maybe</span>
<span class="engl">Time</span> <span class="engl">can’t</span> <span class="engl">be</span> <span
class="engl">changed</span> <span class="engl">by</span>
<span class="engl">us.</span> <span class="engl">Or</span>
<span class="engl">maybe</span> <span class="engl">it</span>
<span class="engl">can</span> <span class="engl">be</span>
<span class="engl">changed</span> <span class="engl">only</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span
class="engl">little</span> <span class="engl">subtle</span>
<span class="engl">ways.</span> <span class="engl">A</span>
<span class="engl">dead</span> <span class="engl">mouse</span> <span class="engl">here</span>
<span class="engl">makes</span> <span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">insect</span> <span class="engl">imbalance</span> <span
class="engl">there,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">population</span> <span
class="engl">disproportion</span>
<span class="engl">later,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">bad</span> <span
class="engl">harvest</span>
<span class="engl">further</span> <span class="engl">on,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">depression,</span> <span class="engl">mass</span> <span
class="engl">starvation,</span>
<span class="engl">and,</span> <span class="engl">finally,</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">change</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">social</span>
<span class="engl">temperament</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span
class="engl">far-flung</span>
<span class="engl">countries.</span> <span class="engl">Something</span> <span
class="engl">much</span>
<span class="engl">more</span> <span class="engl">subtle,</span> <span class="engl">like</span>
<span class="engl">that.</span> <span class="engl">Perhaps</span> <span class="engl">only</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">soft</span>
<span class="engl">breath,</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">whisper,</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">hair,</span> <span
class="engl">pollen</span> <span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">air,</span> <span class="engl">such</span> <span class="engl">a</span> <span
class="engl">slight,</span> <span class="engl">slight</span>
<span class="engl">change</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span class="engl">unless</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">looked</span> <span class="engl">close</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">wouldn’t</span> <span class="engl">see</span>
<span class="engl">it.</span> <span class="engl"></span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Who</span> <span class="engl">knows?</span> <span
class="engl">Who</span>
<span class="engl">really</span> <span class="engl">can</span> <span class="engl">say</span> <span
class="engl">he</span> <span class="engl">knows?</span> <span class="engl">We</span> <span
class="engl">don’t</span> <span class="engl">know.</span> <span class="engl">We’re</span>
<span class="engl">guessing.</span> <span class="engl">But</span> <span class="engl">until</span>
<span class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">do</span> <span class="engl">know</span> <span
class="engl">for</span> <span class="engl">certain</span> <span class="engl">whether</span>
<span class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">messing</span> <span class="engl">around</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">Time</span>
<span class="engl">can</span> <span class="engl">make</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">big</span>
<span class="engl">roar</span> <span class="engl">or</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">little</span>
<span class="engl">rustle</span> <span class="engl">in</span>
<span class="engl">history,</span> <span class="engl">we’re</span> <span class="engl">being</span>
<span class="engl">damned</span> <span class="engl">careful.</span> <span class="engl">This</span>
<span class="engl">Machine,</span> <span class="engl">this</span> <span class="engl">Path,</span>
<span class="engl">your</span> <span class="engl">clothing</span> <span class="engl">and</span>
<span class="engl">bodies,</span> <span class="engl">were</span> <span
class="engl">sterilised,</span>
<span class="engl">as</span>
<span class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">know,</span>
<span class="engl">before</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">journey.</span>
<span class="engl">We</span> <span class="engl">wear</span>
<span class="engl">these</span> <span class="engl">oxygen</span> <span class="engl">helmets</span>
<span class="engl">so</span> <span class="engl">we</span>
<span class="engl">can’t</span> <span class="engl">introduce</span> <span class="engl">our</span>
<span class="engl">bacteria</span> <span class="engl">into</span> <span class="engl">an</span> <span
class="engl">ancient</span> <span class="engl">atmosphere.”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“How</span> <span class="engl">do</span>
<span class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">know</span>
<span class="engl">which</span> <span class="engl">animals</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">shoot?”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“They’re</span> <span class="engl">marked</span> <span class="engl">with</span>
<span class="engl">red</span> <span class="engl">paint,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">Travis.</span> <span class="engl">“Today,</span> <span class="engl">before</span>
<span class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">journey,</span> <span class="engl">we</span>
<span class="engl">sent</span> <span class="engl">Lesperance</span> <span class="engl">here</span>
<span class="engl">back</span> <span class="engl">with</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Machine.</span> <span class="engl">He</span>
<span class="engl">came</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">this</span> <span class="engl">particular</span> <span class="engl">era</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">followed</span> <span class="engl">certain</span>
<span class="engl">animals.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Studying</span> <span class="engl">them?”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“Right,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">Lesperance.</span> <span class="engl">“I</span> <span class="engl">track</span>
<span class="engl">them</span> <span class="engl">through</span>
<span class="engl">their</span> <span class="engl">entire</span> <span
class="engl">existence,</span>
<span class="engl">noting</span> <span class="engl">which</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">them</span>
<span class="engl">lives</span> <span class="engl">longest.</span> <span class="engl">Very</span>
<span class="engl">few.How</span> <span class="engl">many</span> <span class="engl">times</span>
<span class="engl">they</span> <span class="engl">mate.</span> <span class="engl">Not</span> <span
class="engl">often.</span> <span class="engl">Life’s</span>
<span class="engl">short.</span> <span class="engl">When</span> <span class="engl">I</span> <span
class="engl">find</span> <span class="engl">one</span> <span class="engl">that’s</span> <span
class="engl">going</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">die</span>
<span class="engl">when</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">tree</span> <span class="engl">falls</span> <span class="engl">on</span> <span
class="engl">him,</span> <span class="engl">or</span> <span class="engl">one</span> <span
class="engl">that</span> <span class="engl">drowns</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span
class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">tar</span> <span class="engl">pit,</span> <span
class="engl">I</span> <span class="engl">note</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">exact</span> <span class="engl">hour,</span>
<span class="engl">minute,</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">second.</span>
<span class="engl">I</span> <span class="engl">shoot</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">paint</span>
<span class="engl">bomb.</span> <span class="engl">It</span>
<span class="engl">leaves</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">red</span> <span class="engl">patch</span>
<span class="engl">on</span> <span class="engl">his</span>
<span class="engl">hide.</span> <span class="engl">We</span>
<span class="engl">can’t</span> <span class="engl">miss</span> <span class="engl">it.</span> <span
class="engl">Then</span> <span class="engl">I</span> <span class="engl">correlate</span> <span
class="engl">our</span>
<span class="engl">arrival</span> <span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">Past</span> <span class="engl">so</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span
class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">meet</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span
class="engl">Monster</span> <span class="engl">not</span>
<span class="engl">more</span> <span class="engl">than</span>
<span class="engl">two</span> <span class="engl">minutes</span> <span class="engl">before</span>
<span class="engl">he</span> <span class="engl">would</span>
<span class="engl">have</span> <span class="engl">died</span>
<span class="engl">anyway.</span> <span class="engl">This</span> <span class="engl">way,</span>
<span class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">kill</span> <span class="engl">only</span> <span
class="engl">animals</span>
<span class="engl">with</span> <span class="engl">no</span>
<span class="engl">future,</span> <span class="engl">that</span> <span class="engl">are</span> <span
class="engl">never</span> <span class="engl">going</span>
<span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">mate</span>
<span class="engl">again.</span> <span class="engl">You</span> <span class="engl">see</span> <span
class="engl">how</span> <span class="engl">careful</span>
<span class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">are?”</span>
</p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“But</span> <span class="engl">if</span> <span
class="engl">you</span> <span class="engl">came</span> <span class="engl">back</span> <span
class="engl">this</span> <span class="engl">morning</span>
<span class="engl">in</span> <span class="engl">Time,”</span>
<span class="engl">said</span> <span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">eagerly,</span>
<span class="engl">“you</span> <span class="engl">must’ve</span> <span class="engl">bumped</span>
<span class="engl">into</span> <span class="engl">us,</span>
<span class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">Safari]</span> <span class="engl">How</span>
<span class="engl">did</span> <span class="engl">it</span>
<span class="engl">turn</span> <span class="engl">out?</span>
<span class="engl">Was</span> <span class="engl">it</span>
<span class="engl">successful?</span> <span class="engl">Did</span> <span class="engl">all</span>
<span class="engl">of</span> <span class="engl">us</span> <span class="engl">get</span> <span
class="engl">through-alive?”</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">Travis</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">Lesperance</span>
<span class="engl">gave</span> <span class="engl">each</span>
<span class="engl">other</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">look.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">“That’d</span> <span class="engl">be</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">paradox,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">latter.</span> <span class="engl">“Time</span>
<span class="engl">doesn’t</span> <span class="engl">permit</span> <span class="engl">that</span>
<span class="engl">sort</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">mess</span> <span class="engl">a</span>
<span class="engl">man</span> <span class="engl">meeting</span> <span class="engl">himself.</span>
<span class="engl">When</span>
<span class="engl">such</span> <span class="engl">occasions</span> <span
class="engl">threaten,</span>
<span class="engl">Time</span>
<span class="engl">steps</span> <span class="engl">aside.</span> <span class="engl">Like</span>
<span class="engl">an</span> <span class="engl">airplane</span> <span class="engl">hitting</span>
<span class="engl">an</span>
<span class="engl">air</span> <span class="engl">pocket.</span> <span class="engl">You</span>
<span class="engl">felt</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">Machine</span> <span class="engl">jump</span> <span class="engl">just</span>
<span class="engl">before</span> <span class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">stopped?</span>
<span class="engl">That</span>
<span class="engl">was</span> <span class="engl">us</span>
<span class="engl">passing</span> <span class="engl">ourselves</span> <span class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">way</span>
<span class="engl">back</span> <span class="engl">to</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Future.</span> <span class="engl">We</span>
<span class="engl">saw</span> <span class="engl">nothing.</span> <span class="engl">There’s</span>
<span class="engl">no</span>
<span class="engl">way</span> <span class="engl">of</span>
<span class="engl">telling</span> <span class="engl">if</span> <span class="engl">this</span> <span
class="engl">expedition</span> <span class="engl">was</span>
<span class="engl">a</span> <span class="engl">success,</span> <span class="engl">if</span>
<span class="engl">we</span> <span class="engl">got</span>
<span class="engl">our</span> <span class="engl">monster,</span> <span class="engl">or</span>
<span class="engl">whether</span> <span class="engl">all</span> <span class="engl">of</span> <span
class="engl">us</span> <span class="engl">meaning</span>
<span class="engl">you,</span> <span class="engl">Mr.</span>
<span class="engl">Eckels,</span> <span class="engl">got</span> <span class="engl">out</span> <span
class="engl">alive.”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">Eckels</span> <span class="engl">smiled</span>
<span class="engl">palely.</span> </p>
<p class="english">
<span class="engl">“Cut</span> <span class="engl">that,”</span> <span class="engl">said</span>
<span class="engl">Travis</span> <span class="engl">sharply.</span> <span
class="engl">“Everyone</span>
<span class="engl">on</span>
<span class="engl">his</span> <span class="engl">feet!”</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">They</span> <span class="engl">were</span> <span
class="engl">ready</span> <span class="engl">to</span> <span class="engl">leave</span> <span
class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">Machine.</span> </p>
<p class="english"> <span class="engl">The</span> <span class="engl">jungle</span>
<span class="engl">was</span> <span class="engl">high</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">the</span>
<span class="engl">jungle</span> <span class="engl">was</span> <span class="engl">broad</span> <span
class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">jungle</span> <span
class="engl">was</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">entire</span> <span class="engl">world</span>
<span class="engl">forever</span> <span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">forever.</span>
<span class="engl">Sounds</span> <span class="engl">like</span> <span class="engl">music</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">sounds</span> <span class="engl">like</span>
<span class="engl">flying</span> <span class="engl">tents</span> <span class="engl">filled</span>
<span class="engl">the</span> <span class="engl">sky,</span>
<span class="engl">and</span> <span class="engl">those</span>
<span class="engl">were</span> <span class="engl">pterodactyls</span> <span
class="engl">soaring</span>
<span class="engl">with</span>