time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第116部分

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ancy　rule？　For　first　marriages？〃　…
　　
　　〃Goodness！　You　do　know　all　about　it〃
　　
　　〃No　need　to　tell　me。　Nancy's　business。　If　Jonathan　does　go　to　war…I　don't　know…I　can　assure　you　that　he　won't　get　his　balls　shot　off；　even　if　he　loses　an　arm　or　a　leg。　I　did　look　up　the　breeding　records　on　all　your　children　even　though　I　didn't　bother　with　their　birthdays。　Jonathan　and　Nancy　are　going　to　have　many　babies。　Which　means　he　es　back…or　maybe　gets　turned　down　and　won't　go。〃
　　
　　〃That's　forting。　How　many　babies？〃
　　
　　〃Nosy　little　girl。　You're　going　to　have　quite　a　number　yet
　　
　　c~　I
　　
　　yourself；　Grandmother；　and　I　won't　answer　that；　…　either。　I　withdraw　the。question　about　the　pregnancy　rule。〃　…
　　
　　〃Secret；　Lazarus…〃…
　　
　　〃Better　start　calling　me　'Theodore。'　We'll　be　home　soon。〃　…
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir；　Staff　Sergeant　Theodore　Bronson；　your　lecherous　old　great…great…great…grandmother　will　be　careful。　How　many　'greats'　should　there　be　in　that？〃
　　
　　〃Sweetheart；　do　you　want　that　answered？　If　it　had　not　been　necessary　to　calm　your　fears　about　Brian；　I　would　have　stayed　'Ted　Bronson。'　I　like　being　your　'Theodore。'　Fm　not　sure　that　being　a　mysterious　man　from　the　future　is　going　to　be　as　fortable。　Especially　if　you　think　of　me　as　some　remote　descendant　I'm　here　beside　you；　not　in　some　far　future。〃
　　
　　〃Beside　me。　Touching　me。　And　yet　you're　not　even　born　yet…are　you？　And…　in　your　time　…　…　I'm　long　dead。　You　even　know　when　I　will　die。　You　said　so。　You　just　won't　tell　me　when。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　confound　it；　Maureen；　that's　wrong　all　the　way　through！　That's　what　es　of　admittmg　that　I've　time…traveled。　But　I　had　to。　For　you。〃　…
　　
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Laz…　Theodore　my　warrior。　I　won't　ask　any　more…　questions。〃
　　
　　〃Sweetheart；　the　fact　that　I　am　here　means　that　you're　no：
　　
　　dead。　And　I　certainly　was　born；　pinch　me　and　find　out。　All　'flows'　are　equal；　that　is　the　basic　theorem　of　time　travel。　They　don't　disappear；　both　'past'　and　'future'　are　mathematical　abstractions；　the　'now'　is　always　all　there　is。　As　for　knowing　the　day　you　died…or　will　die；　it's　the　same　thing…I　don't。　I　just　know　that　you　had…have……will　have…many　children；　and　you　live　a　long　time。　。　and　your　hair　never　gets　gray。　But　the　Foundation　lost　track　of　you…will　lose　track　of　you…and　your　date　of　death　never　got　into　the　records。　Maybe　you　moved　and　didn't　tell　the　Foundation。　Shucks；　maybe　I　came　back…will　e　back…and　picked　you　up　in　your　old　age；　and　took　you　to
　　
　　Tertius。〃…　…　…
　　
　　〃Where？〃　〃My　home。　I　think　you　would　like　it　there。　You　could　run　around　all　day；　dressed…undressed…as　a　French　postcard。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　sure　I　would　like　that　now。　But　I　don't　think　I　would；　as　an　old　woman。〃
　　
　　〃All　you　would　have　to　do　is　to　…ask　Ishtar　for　rejuvenation。　I　told　you　what　she　did　for　Tamara　…　。　when　her　breasts　hung　down　to　her　waist　and　were　empty　sacks。　But　look　at
　　
　　Tamara　now…that　'now'…pregnant　again；　just　like　a　kid；　But　forget　it…if　it　did　happen；　it　will　happen。　Mama　Maureen…　I'm　durned　if　I'll　call　you　'Grandmother'　again…all　Fm　sure　of　is　that　I'm　not…sure　of　the　date　of　your　death；　and　I'm　glad　I'm　not；　and　you　should　be。　Nor　of　my　death；　and　I'm　glad　of　that；　too。　Carpe　diem！　We're　almost　home　and　you　started　to　say　something　and　I　said　to　call　me　'Theodore'　and　we　got　off　the　track。　Was　it　about　Tamara？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes！　Theodore？　When　you　go　home　to　wherever　your　home　is；　can　you　take　anything　with　you？　Or　does　it　have　to　be　just　you？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　no。　I　arrived　with　clothes　and　money。〃
　　
　　〃I'd　like　to　send　a　little　present　to　Tamara。　But　I　can't　guess　what　she　would　want。　。　from　this　time　to　that　wonderful　age　of　yours。　Can　you　suggest　something？〃
　　
　　〃Mmm　…　。　Tamara　would　treasure　anything　from　you。　She　knows　she's　descended　from　you；　and　she's　the　most　warmly　sentimental　of　all　my　family。　It　should　be　something　small　enough　to　carry　on　my　person；　even　in　the　trenches；　as　I'm　always　ready　to　abandon　anything　I'm　not　carrying…　have　to　be。　Not　jewelry。　Tamara　would　not　value　a　diamond　bracelet　…　one　whit　more　than　a　hairpin　。　…　but　she　would　treasure　a　hairpi？　that　I　could　tell　her　I　had　seen　you　wearing。　Something　small；　something　you've　worn。　Look；　send　her　a　garter！　Perfect！　One　of　these　you　have　on。〃
　　
　　〃Mayn't　I　send　her　a　brand…new　pail？　Oh；　I'll　slip　them　on　for　a　moment；　so　that　you。can　tell　her　truthfully　that　I've　worn　them。　But　these…　Not　only　are　they　rather　old　and　worn　but　I've　perspired　right　through　them　tonight　They're　not　fresh　and　clean。　And　they　do　have　naughty　mottoes　on　them。〃
　　
　　〃No；　no；　one　of　these。　Sweetheart；　'naughty'　today　can't　be　naughty　on　Tertius；　I'll　have　to　explain　any　naughtiness　to　Tamara。　As　for　perspiration；　I　hope　that　some　trace　of　your　sweet　fragrance　clings　to　them　until　I　can　get　them　to　her；　that　would　delight　Tamara。　You　say　this　pair　is　qld？　Maureen；　…by　any　chance　are　they　about　six　years　old？〃
　　
　　〃I　told　you　I　was　sentimental；　Theodore。　Yes；　this　is　the　same　pair。　Old　and　faded　and　worn　and　I've　replaced　the　elastic…but　the　same　pair；　I　picked　them　to　wear　for　you。〃
　　
　　〃Then　I　want　one　of　them　for　me！〃
　　
　　〃Beloved　Theodore。　I　planned　to　offer　you　both　of　them。　That's　why　I　suggested　a　new　pair　for　Tamara。　Very　well；　dear；　one　for　you；　one　for　her。　As　soon　as　we're　home。　I'll　trot　upstairs；　and　when　I　e　down；　I'll　have　a　present　for　you　and
　　
　　will　tell　you　…not　to　open　It　until　you're　back　at　Camp　Funston。　You　just　say　thank　you　and　go　straight　to　your　room　and　put　it　into　your　grip。　I　see　a　light　on　the　front　porch；　so　now　I　must　push　my　skirts　down　and　be　the　prim　and　proper　Mrs。　Brian　Smith。　With　a　smoldering　volcano　inside　her！　Thank　you；　Staff　Sergeant　Bronson。　You　have　given　my　son　and　me　a　most　enjoyable　evening。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　pretty　little　pussycat　in　green　garters　and　no　bloomers。　Will　you　grab　the　Teddy　bear　and　the　Kewpie　doll　while　I　carry　our　chaperon？〃
　　
　　Ira　Johnson　and　Nancy　were　not　yet　home。　Brian　Junior　relieved　Lazarus　of　the　limp　child　and　carried　him　upstairs。　Carol　went　along　to　put　Woodie　to　bed　after　exacting　a　promise　from　〃Uncle　Ted〃　not　to　go　to　bed　before　she　came　back。　George　wanted　to　know　where　they　had　gone　and　what　they　had　done；　but　Lazarus　put　him　off　with　a　promise　and　used　the　chance　to　repair　to　his　tiny　bath　and　repair　himself。　…
　　
　　Hair　a　bit　mussed…　Thank　God　respectable　women　did　not　use　lipstick。　Uniform　slightly　wrinkled；　nothing　damning　about　that。　Five　minutes　later；　refreshed　and　certain　there　were　no　feathers　on　his　chin；　Lazarus　returned　to　the　front　of　the　house　and　offered　George　and　Brian　Junior　an　account　of　the　eve…
　　
　　…　fling　truthful　in　everything　he　said。
　　
　　He　had　just　started　when　Carol　came　down　and　listened　too；　then　Mrs。　Smith　rejoined　them；　moving　regally　as　always　and　carrying　a　little　package　wrapped　in　tissue　paper。　〃A　surprise　for　you；　Sergeant　Theodore…please　don't　open　it　until　you　are　back　at　camp。〃
　　
　　〃Then　I　had　better　put　it　into　my　grip　right　now。〃
　　
　　〃If　you　wish；　sir。　I　think　it's　bedtime；　dears。〃　…
　　
　　〃Yes；　Mama；〃　agreed　Carol。　〃But　Uncle　Ted　was　telling　us　how　you　knocked　down　all　the　milk　bottles。〃
　　
　　〃He　says　you　should　pitch　for　the　Blues；　Mama！〃　added　George。
　　
　　〃All　right；…　fifteen　minutes。〃
　　
　　〃Mrs。　Smith；〃　said　Lazarus；　〃you　ought　not　to　start　your　stopwatch　on　us　until　I　get　back。〃
　　
　　〃You're　as　bad　as　the　rest　of　my　children；　Sergeant。　Very　well。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　put　the　package　into　his　grip；　locked　it　from　long　habit；　and　returned。　Nancy　and　her　young　man　arrived；　Lazarus　was　introduced　while　looking　over　Jonathan　Weath~…sral　with　real　interest。　Pleasant　young　fellow；　a　bit　on　the
　　
　　gawky　side…。…　Tamara　and　Ira　will　be　interested；　so　let's　photograph　him　by　eye；　be　able　to　sketch　him；　and…　remember　any　word　he　says。
　　
　　Mrs。　Smith　urged　her　prospective　son…in…law　into　the　parlor　while　cutting　Nancy　out　of　the　herd；　Lazarus　resumed　describing　what　they　had　done　at　the　amusement　park　while　Jonathan　looked　politely　bored。　Mrs。　Smith。　returned；　carrying　a　laden　tray　and　said；　〃That　fifteen　minutes　is　up；　dears。　Jonathan；　Nancy　wants　you　to　help　her　with　something；　will　you　see　what　it　is？　She's　in　the　kitchen。〃
　　
　　第80节
　　
　　Brian　Junior　asked　if　he　could　put　the　car　into　the　barn。
　　
　　…　〃Sergeant　Uncle　Ted；　I　haven't　let　your　car　sit　out…　at　the　curb　at　night；　not　once。　But　I'll　get　it　out　for　you；　first　thing　in　the　morning；　it's　kind　o'　tricky；　sort　of　a　'Z'　turn；　you　have　to　back　and　fill。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　thanked　him；　kissed　Carol　good…night；　as　she　was　clearly　expecting　it。　George　couldn't　seem　to　make　up　his　mind　whether　he　had　outgrown　kissing　or　not；　so　Lazarus　settled　it　by　shaking　hands　and　telling　him　he　had　quite　a　grip　on　him。　At　that　point　Mi~。　Johnson　got　home；　and　the　good…nights　started　over。
　　
　　Five　…　minutes　later　Mrs。　Smith；　her　father；　and　Lazarus　were　seated　in　the　parlor　over　coffee　and　cake；　and　Lazarus　was　suddenly　reminded　of　the　first　night　he　had　been　invited　in。　Save　that　the　men　were　now　in　uniform　the　tableau　was　the　same；　each　was　seated　in　the　spot　he　had　been　in　that　night；　Mrs。　Smith　presided　over　the　〃pany〃　coffee　service　with　the　same　serene　dignity；　even　the　refreshments　were　the　same。　He　looked　for　changes；　could　find　only　three：　His　elephant　was　not　back　of　Mrs。　Smith's　chair；　the　prizes　they
　　
　　…had　won　at　the　amusement　park　were　on　a　table　near　the　door；　and　sheet　music　for　〃Hello；　Central；　Give　Me　No　Man's　Land〃　was　~open　on　the　piano。　…　〃You　were　late　tonight；　Father。〃
　　
　　〃Seven　recruits；　and　I　had　just　the　…usual　sizes　for　them；　too　large　and　too　small。　Ted；　we　get　what　the　Army　doesn't　want。　Proper；　of　course。　We　now　…　have　Lewis　guns　for　the　machine…gun　panies　and　enough　Springflelds　to　go　around；　we　are　beginning　to　look　less　like　Villa's　bandits；　I'm　not　plaining。　Daughter；　what　are　those　things　on　that　table？　They　look　out　of　place。〃　…
　　
　　〃The　Kewpie　doll　I　wOn　myself；　so　I'm　thinking　of　giving　it　a　place　of　honor　on　top　of　the　piano。　The　Teddy　Roosevelt　bear　was　won　by　Sergeant　Theodore；　perhaps　he's　taking
　　
　　it　to　France　with　him。　Electric　Park；　Father；　and　I　don't　think　it　costS　Sergeant　Theodore　more　…than　twice　what　the　prizes　are　worth　for　us　to　win　them；　we　had　a　lucky　night…　and　a　very　gay　one。〃　…
　　
　　Lazarus　could　see　the　old　man　starting　to　cloud　up…in　public　with　a　bachelor？　With　her　husband　away？　So　he　spoke　up：
　　
　　〃I　can't　take　it　to　France；　Mrs。　Smith；　I　made　a　deal　with　Woodie…don't　you　remember？　My　Teddy　bear　for　his　elephant。　I　assume　it's　a　firm　deal；　he　carried　it　from　then　on。〃
　　
　　Mr。　Johnson　said；　〃If　you　didn't　get　it　in　writing；　Ted；　he'll　hornswoggle　you。　Do　I　understand　that　Woodie　went　to　Electric　Park　with　you　two？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir。　Between　ourselves　I　expect　to　leave　the　elephant　in　Woodie's　custody　for　the　duration。　But　I'm　going　to　dicker　with　him　first。〃
　　
　　〃He'll　still　hornswoggle　you。　Maureen；　the　idea　was　to　give　you　relief　from　the　children。　Especially　Woodie。　What　in　N