time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第115部分

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ssful。　Instead　let　me　tell　you　about　my　family。　Your　family；　too；　we　all　are　descended　from　you　by　one　line　or　another。　Two　of　my　wives　and　one　of　my　co…husbands　are　descended　both　from　Nancy　and　from　Woodie。〃
　　
　　〃'Wives？　Co…husband？'〃
　　
　　〃Sweetheart；　marriage　takes　many　forms。　Where　I　live　yo　don't　need　a　divorce　or　a　death　to　gather　in　someone　yo　love。　I　have　four　wives　and　three　co…husbands……and　my　si~　ters；　Laz　and　Lor　。　。　and　they　may　marry　out　of　the　famil　or　they　may　stay…and　don't　look　startled；　you　said　you　didn　fret　when　you　thought　I　was　your　half　brother…and　don　worry　about　harm　to　babies；　they　know　far　more　about　suc~　things　at　that　when…&…where　than　they　do　in　the　here…&…non　We　don't　risk　harm　to　babies。
　　
　　〃Of　which　we　have　plenty。　And　cats　and　dogs　and　anythin；　a　child　can　pet　and　take　care　of。　It's　a　real　family　in　a　hous　to　fit　a　big　family。
　　
　　〃I　can't　tell　you　about　each　one；　we've　got　to　get　our　stow　away　borne。　But　I　want　to　tell　you　about　one…because　you'v　been　insisting　that　you　don't　look　eighteen…merely　becaus　you've　been　using　your　breasts　to　feed　babies。　Tamara。　De　scended　from　you　through　Nancy　and　her　Jonathan…　Wan　to　hear　about　Nancy's　umpty…ump　granddaughter？　Tamara　i　about　two　hundred　and　fifty　years　old；　I　think…〃
　　
　　〃Two　hundred　and　fifty！〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　One　of　my　co…husbands；　Ira　Weatheral；　also　fron　Nancy　and　Jonathan　but　from　Woodie；　too…and　named　fo　your　father；　not　for　Ira　Howard…is　over　four　hundred　year：
　　
　　old。　Maureen；　Ira　Howard's　experiment　worked；　we　hav~　longer　life…spans…inherited　from　you　and　all　our　Howard　an　cestors…btit　also　in　that　when…&…where　they　know　how　to　re　jiivenate　a　person。　Tamara　has　had　two　rejuvenations…om　recently　and　looks　as　young　as　you　do。　Real　rejuvenation…　Tam　ara　was　pregnant　when　I　left。
　　
　　〃But　how　she　looks　is　not　important；　Tamara　is　a　healer…　and　I　suspect　she　gets　it　from　you。〃　…
　　
　　〃Theodore…Lazarus…again　I　don't　understand。　A　heaIer~　Like　a　faith　healer？〃
　　
　　〃No。　If　Tamara　has　a　religious　faith；　she　has　never　men　tioned　it。　Tamara　is　calm　and　happy　and　serene；　and　anyont　around　her　feels　it　so　strongly…just　as　with　you；　darling！…　that　he　or　she　is　happy；　too。　If　people　are　ill；　they　get　well　faster　if　Tamara　touches　them；　or　talks　to　them；　or　sleep5　with　them。
　　
　　〃But　Tamara　was　not　young　when　I　met　her。　She　was　quite　old　and　thinking　about　letting　it？go　at　that；　dying　of　old　age。　But　I　was　ill；　very　ill；　sick　in　my　soul…and　Ishtar；　later　my　wife　and　the　topnotch　rejuvenator　in　all　the　Milky　Way；　went
　　
　　…　out　and　fetched　Tamara。　Tamara。　Little　round　potbelly；　breasts
　　
　　that　were　really　baggy；　sags　under　her　eyes；　and　her　chin；　all
　　
　　…　the　old…age　things。　…
　　
　　〃Tamara　healed　the　sickness　in　my　soul；　just　by　being　with　me　。　。　and　somehow　this　renewed　her　own　interest　in　life；　and　she　took　another　rejuvenation　and　is　young　again　and　has　already　added　another　baby　to　the　Maureen…Nancy　line　and　is　pregnant　still　again。　You　and　Tamara　are　so　much　alike；　Maureen；　she's　just　love　with　some　skin　around　it…and　so　are　you。　But…〃　Lazarus　paused　and　frowned。
　　
　　〃Maureen；　I　don't　know　how　to　convince　you　that　I'm　telling　the　truth。　；You'll　know　it　when　Woodie's　sixth　birthday　es'around　and　they　blow　every　whistle　and　ring　every　bell　and　the　newsboys　shout：　'Extra！　Extra！　Germany　surrenders！'　But　that'll　be　too　late　to　help　you。　I　want　to　stop　your　worries　now！〃
　　
　　〃I've　stopped　worrying；　dear　one。　It　sounds　wonderful　and　impossible　。　…　and　I　believe　you。〃
　　
　　〃Do　you？　I've　offered　no　proof；　I've　told　you　a　tale　impossible　on　the　face　of　it。〃
　　
　　〃Nevertheless；　I　believe　it。　When　Woodrow　is　six　on　the　seventh　of　November…〃
　　
　　〃No；　the　eleventh！〃
　　
　　第79节
　　
　　〃Yes；　Lazarus。　But　how　did　you　know　that　his　birthday　is　the　eleventh？〃
　　
　　…〃Why；　you　told　me　yourself。〃
　　
　　〃Dear；　I　said　he　was　born　in　November；　I　did　not　say　what　day。　Then　I　deliberately　misstated　it…and　you　corrected　me　at　once。〃
　　
　　〃Well；　maybe　Ira　told　me。　Or　one　of　the　children。　Most　likely　Woodie　himself。〃　…　…
　　
　　〃Woodrow　does　not　know　the　date　of　his　birthday。　Wake　him　and　ask　him。〃
　　
　　〃I'd　rather　not　wake　him　until　we　get　home。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　my　birthday；　dear　one？〃
　　
　　〃The　Fourth　of　July；　1882。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　Marie's　birthday？〃　…
　　
　　〃I　think　she　is　nine。　I　don't　know　the　date。〃
　　
　　〃The　othe…r　children？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　not　sure。〃
　　
　　〃My　father's　birthday？〃
　　
　　〃Maureen；　is　there　some　point　to　this？　August　second；…
　　
　　1852。〃
　　
　　〃Beloved　Lazarus　who　calls　himself　'Theodore；'　I　have　a
　　
　　firm　rule　with　my　children。　I　l。eep　each　one　from　knowing　the　date　of　his　birth　as　long　as　possible　so　that　he　won't　advertise　it　and　thereby　blackmail　people　for　presents。　When　one　is　old　enough　for　school　and　needs　to　know　the　date；　he　is　old　enough　to　be　told　why；　and　I　make　it　bluntly　plain　that　if　he　drops　hints　ahead　of　time…no　birthday　cake；　no
　　
　　…　birthday　party。　I　haven't　had　to　use　that　penalty；　they　are　allintelligent。
　　
　　〃Last　year　Woodrow　was　too　young　for　it　to　be　a　problem；　his　birthday　came　as　a　surprise　to　him。　He　still　does　not　know　the　exact　date…so　I　strongly　believe。　Lazarus；　you　know　the　birthdays　of　your　direct　ancestors　。　。　because　you　looked　them　up　in　the　Foundation　records。　Since　you　can't　tell　me　the　birthdays　of　my　other　children；　I　assume　that　I've　found　that　proof。〃
　　
　　〃You　know　I　have　had　access　to　the　records。　I　could　have　looked　up　any　birthday　last　year。〃
　　
　　〃Pooh。　Why　did　you　bother　with　the　birth　date　of　one　child　and　skip　the　other　seven？　How　would　you　know　my　father's　birthday　if　he　had　not　been　of　special　interest　to　you？　It　won't　wash；　Beloved。　You　intended　to　seek　out　your　ancestors；　and　you　came　prepared　for　it。　I　no　longer　think　that　you　showed　up　at　our　church　by　accident；　you　went　there　to　find　me…　and　I'm　flattered。　You　probably　did　the　same　with　Father…　at　his　pool…hall　'chess　club。'　How　did　you　do　it？　Private　detectives？　I　doubt　that　our　church　or　that　pool　hall　can　be　looked　up　in　the　Foundation　records。〃
　　
　　〃Something　like　that。　Yes；　gentle　ancestress；　I　looked　for　an　acceptable　way　to　meet　you。　I　would　have　spent　years　on　it　had　it　been　necessary　。　。　because　I　couldn't　twist　your　doorbell　and　say；　'Hi　there！　I'm　descended　from　you。　May　I　e　in？'　You　would　have　called　the　police。〃
　　
　　〃I　hope　I　would　not　have；　darling…but　thank　you　for　finding　a　gentler　way。　Oh；　Lazarus；　I　love　you　so！…and　believe　every　word　and　I'm　no　longer　worried　about　Brian；　I　know　he'll　e　back　to　me！　Uh　。　。　I'm　feeling　very　brazen　again　and　more　passionate　than　ever　and　I　want　to　know　something。　About　your　family。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　delighted　to　talk　about　them。　I　love　them；〃
　　
　　〃I　was　most　flattered　to　be　pared　with　your　wife　Tamara。　Darling；　you　don't…　have　to　tell　me　this：　Does　it　ever　happen　that　two　husbands　sleep　with　one　wife？〃　…
　　
　　〃Oh；　certainly。　But　it's　more　likely　to　be　one　husband…
　　
　　Galahad…another　of　your　descendants；　Grandmother…Galahad　an&　twp　of　our　wives；　'Galahad　is　the　original　tireless　tomcat。〃　…
　　
　　〃That　sounds　1…ike　fun；　but　it's　the　other　bination　that　intrigued　me。　Beloved；　my　idea　of　heaven　would　be　to　take　both　you　and　Brian　to　bed　at　once…and　do　my　best　to　make　you　both　happy。　Not　that　I　ever　can。　But　I　can　dream　about　it　。　。　and　will。〃
　　
　　〃Why　not　out　in　the　woods　and　strip　down　for　both　of　us；　just　to　your　'French　postcard'　costume？　As　long　as　you're　dreaming。〃'
　　
　　〃Ooooh！　Yes；　I'll　put　that　into　my　dream…and　now　rm
　　
　　about　to　go　off　like　a　firecracker！〃…
　　
　　〃I'd　better　take　you　home。〃…
　　
　　〃I　think　you　~had　better。　I'm　terribly　happy　and　quite　unworried…and　will　stay　so…and　very　passionate。　For　you。　For　Brian。　For　…　being　a　French　postcard　in　the　woods。　In　daylight。〃
　　
　　〃Maureen；　if　you　can　sell　the　idea　to　Brian　。　…　well；　I'll　be　around　until　the　second　of　August；　1926。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　we'll　see。　I　want　to！〃　She　added；　〃Am　I　permitted　to　tell　him？　Who　you　are　and　where　you're　from…the　future…and　your　prediction　that　he　won't　be　hurt？〃
　　
　　〃Maureen；　tell　anyone　you　wish。　But　you　won't　be　believed。〃
　　
　　She　sighed。　〃I　suppose　so。　Besides；　if　Brian　did　believe　it　and　thereby　believed　that　he　had　a　charmed　life…it　might　make　him　careless。　I'm　proud　that　he　is　going　to　fight　for　us
　　
　　but　I　don't　want　him　to　take　unnecessary　risks。〃
　　
　　〃I　think　you're　right；　Maureen。〃
　　
　　〃Theodore　。　。　my　mind　has　been　so　busy　with　all　these　strange　things　that　I　missed　something。　Now　that　I　know　who　you　are…　This　isn't　your　country；　and　it's　nOt　your　war…so　why　did　you　volunteer？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　hesitated；　then　told　the　truth：
　　
　　〃I　wanted　you　to　be　proud　of　me。〃…
　　
　　〃Oh！〃
　　
　　〃No；　I　don't　belong　here　and　it's　not　my　war。　But　it's　your　war；　Maureen。　Others　are　fighting　for　other　reasons…I'll　be　fighting　for　Maureen。　Not　'to　make　the　world　safe　for　democracy'…this　war　won't　acplish　that；　even　though　the　Allies　are　going　to　win。　For　Maureen。〃
　　
　　…　〃Oh！　Oh！　I'm　crying　again…I　can't　help　it。〃
　　
　　〃Stop　it　at　once。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　my　warrior。　Lazarus？　You　…　will　e　back？　You　must　have　some　way　to　know。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？　Dear；　don't　worry　about　me。　People　have　tried　to　kill　me　in　all　sorts　of　ways…I've　outlived　them　all。　I'm　the　wary　old　cat　who　always　has　a　tree　within　reach。〃
　　
　　〃You　didn't　answer　me。〃
　　
　　He　sighed。　〃Maureen；　I　know　Brian　will　e　home；　it's　In　the　Foundation's　records。　He　will　live　to　a　ripe　old　age　and　don't　ask　how　long　as　I　won't　answer。　And　so　will　you；　and　I　won't　answer　that　either；　it　is　not　good　to　know　too　much　about　the　future。　But　me？　I　can't　know　my　future。　It　is　not　in　the　records。　How　could　it　be？　I　haven't　finished　it　yet。　But　I　can　tell　you　this：　This　is　not　my　first　war；　but　about　the　fifteenth。　They　didn't　get　me　in　the　others；　and　they'll　have　to　…　move　fast　to　kill　me　in　this　one。　Beloved；　I　am　your　warrior…but　to　kill　Hues　for　you；　not　for　them　to　kill　me。　I'll　do　my　duty；　but　I'm　not　going　to　try　some　crazy　。stulit　to　win　a　medal…　not　old　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Then…you　don't　know。〃
　　
　　〃No；　I　don't　But　I　promise　you　this：　I　won't　stick　my　head　up　when　I　don't　need　to。　I　won't　go　into　a　German　dugout　without　tossing　a　grenade　in　ahead　of　me。　I　won't　assume　that　a　German　is　dead　because　he　appears　to　be…I'll　make　sure　he's　dead；　I　don't　mind　wasting　a　bullet　on　a　corpse。　Especially　one　who　is　playing　'possutn。　I'm　an　old　soldier；　and　that's　how　one　gets　to　be　an　old　soldier…by　being　a　pessimist。　I　know　all　the　tricks。　Darling；　having　quieted　your　worries　about　Brian；　it　would　be　silly　to　get　you　worried　about　me。　Don't！〃
　　
　　She　sighed。　〃I'll　try　not　to。　If　you　turn　down　this　street；　we　can　pick　up　Prospect；　then　across　Linwood　to　Benton。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　get　you　home。　Let's　talk　about　？ove；　not　war。　Our　girl　Nancy…Is　the　Foundation　now　using　a　pregnancy　rule？　For　first　marriages？〃　…
　　
　　〃Goodness！　You　do　know　all　about　it〃
　　
　　〃No　ne