time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第24部分

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…nine…plus　hazards；　scratch…　'em　all。　I'm　interested　only　in　something　new…new　to　me…in　which　the　chances　of　surviving　are　better　than　fifty　percent　and　in　which　a　man　who　stays　alert　can　enhance　his　chances。　For　example；　I　never　hankered　to　go　over　high　falls　in　a　barreL　You　can　design　the　barrel　to　make　it　relatively　safe；　nevertheless；　once　you　start；　you　are　helpless。　Which　makes　it　a　silly　stunt…unless　it's　the　safest　way　out　of　a　worse　predicament。　Racing…cars；　steeplechase；　skis…is　more　interesting　because　each　calls　for　skill。　Yet　I　don't　fancy　that　sort　of　danger；　either。　Danger　for　the
　　
　　…sake　of　danger　is　for　children　who　don't　really　believe　they　can　be　killed。　Whereas　I　know　I　can　be。　So　there　are　a　lot　of　mountains　I'll　never　climb。　Unless　I'm　trapped；　in　which　case　I'll　do　it…have　done　itt…the　easiest；　safest；　most　chicken　way　I　can　figure　out。　Don't　bother　with　anything　in　which　the　prime　novelty　is　danger…danger　is　no　novelty。　It　is　simply；　something　to　be　faced　when　you　can't　run。　How　about　other　pigeonholes　in　your　box？〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　you　could　bee　female。〃
　　
　　I　do　not　think　I　have　ever　seen　the　Senior　quite　so　startled。　（So　was　I；　but　the　statement　was　not　aimed　at　me。）
　　
　　He　went　on　slowly；　〃Minerva；　I'm　not　sure　what　you　mea？。　Sur~geons　have　been　turning　inadequate　males　into　fake　females　for　more　than　two　thousand　years…and　females　into　fake　males　almost　as　long。　I'm　not　attracted　by　such　stunts。　For　good…or　bad…I　am　male。　I　suppose　that　every　human　has　wondered　how　it　would　feel　to　be　the　other　sex。　But　all　the　plastic　surgery　and　hormone　treatments　possible　won't　do　it…those　monsters　don't　reproduce。〃
　　
　　〃I　am　not　speaking　of　monsters；　Lazarus。　A　true　change　in　sex。〃　…
　　
　　〃Mmm…。。You　…remind　me　of　a　tale　I　had　almost　forgotten。　Not　sure　it's　true。　About　a　man；　oh；　must　have　been　around　2000　A。D。　Couldn't　be　much　later　…　because　things'　went　to　pieces　not　long　after。　Supposed　to　have　had　his　brain　moved　into　a　female　body。　Killed　him；　of　course。　Alien　tissue　re…　jection。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　this　would　not　involve　that　hazard；　it　would　be　done　with　your　own　clone。〃　…
　　
　　〃Not　bloody　…likely。　Keep　talking。〃…
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　this　has…　been　tested　on　animals　other　than　H。　sapiens。　It　works　best　in　changing　a　male　to　a　female。　A。　singlecell　is　selected　for　…cloning。　Before　cloning　is　started；　the　Y　chromosome　is　removed　and　an　X　chromosome　from　a　second　cell　of　the　same　zygote　is　supplied；　thus　creating　a　female　cell　of　the　same　geic　pattern　as　the　zygote　save　that　the　X　…　chromosome　is　replicated　while　the　…Y　chromosome　is　eliminated。　The　modified　cell　is　then…　cloned。　The　result　is　a　true　female　clone~zygote　derived　from　a　male　original。〃　…
　　
　　〃There　must　be　a　catch；〃　Lazarus　said；　frowning。　…
　　
　　〃There　may　be；　Lazarus。　Certain　it　is　that　the　basic　tech…　nique　works。　There　are　several　created　females　in　the　building　you　are　in…dogs；　cats；　one　sow；　others…and　most　of　them　have　…littered　successfully　。　。　except　…　when；　for　example；　a　derived　bitch　is　bred　with　the　male　dog　who　supplied　…　the　cell　for　cloning。　That　can　produce　lethals　and　mostrosities　from　the　high　probability　of　reinforcing　bad　recessives…〃　…
　　
　　〃I　…should；　think　it　would！〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　But　normal　outbreeding　does　not；　as　indicated　by　seventy…three　generations　of　hamsters　descended　from　one
　　
　　I　（~
　　
　　created　female。　The　method　has　not　been　adapted　to　fauna　native　to　Secundus　because　of　their　radically　different　geic　structure。〃
　　
　　〃Never　mind　Secundus　animals…how　about　men？〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　have　been　able　to　search　the　literature　only　on　items　released　by　the　Rejuvenation　Clinic。　The　published　literature　hints　at　problems　in　the　last　stage…activating　the　female　clone…zygote　with　the　memories　and　experiences…the　'personality'　if　you　prefer　that　term…of　the　parent　main。　When　to　terminate　the　parent　male…or　whether　to　terminate　it　at　all…suggests　several　problems。　But　I　am　unable　to　say　what　research　has　been　suppressed。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　turned　to　me。　〃Do　you　permit　that；　Ira？　Suppresskn　of　research？〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　interfere；　Lazarus。　But　I　didn't　know　this　research
　　
　　…　was　going　on。　Let's　find　out。〃　I　turned　to　the　Administrator
　　
　　…for　Rejuvenation；　shifted　to　Galacta；　and　explained　what　we　had　been…　discussing　and　asked　what　progress　had　been　made　with　humans。
　　
　　I　turned　back　with　my　ears　burning。　As　soon　as　I　mentioned　humans　in　this　connection；　she　had　interrupted　me　abruptly…as　if　I　had　said　something　offensive…and　stated　that　such　experimentation　was　proscribed。
　　
　　I　translated　her　answer。　Lazarus　nodded。　〃I　read　the　kid's　face；　I　could　see　the　answer　was　No。　Well；　Minerva；　that　seems　to　be　that。　I　am　not　about　to　attempt　chromosome　surgery　on　myself…somebody　swiped　my　jackknife。〃
　　
　　〃Perhaps　that　is　not　quite　the　end；〃　Minerva　replied。　〃Ira；　did　you　notice　that　Ishtar　said　only　that　such　research　was　'proscribed'？　She　did　not　say　that'　it　had　not　taken　place。　I　have　just　made　a　most　thorough　semantic　analysis　of　the　published　literature　for　truth…and…falsity　implications。　I　conclude　that　the　probability　approaches　certainty　that　much　pertinent　research　on　humans　has　taken　place　even　though　it　may　no　longer　be　going　on。　Do　you　wish　to　order　it　released；　sir？　I　am　certain　'that　I　can　freeze　their　puter　quickly　enough　to　prevent　erasure；　assuming　that　an　erasure　program　guards　it。〃
　　
　　〃Let's　not　do　anyth？ng　drastic；〃　drawled　Lazarus。　〃There　may　be　good　reason　for　a　'hold'　on　this　stuff。　I'm　forced　to　assume　that　these　johnnies　know　more　about　it　than　1　do。　Besides；　I'm　not　sure　I　want　to　be　a　guinea　pig。　Let's　put　it　on　~the　bacic　of　the　fire；　Minerva。　Ira；　I'm　not　sure　I　would　be　me　without　my　Y　chromosome。　To　say　nothing　91　those
　　
　　jolly　hints　of　how　you　transfer　the　personality　and　at　what　point　to　kill　off　the　male。　Me；　that　'is。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus…〃'…
　　
　　〃~'es；　Minerva？〃…
　　
　　〃The　published　literature　makes　one　option　both　certain
　　
　　and　safe。　This　method　can　be　used　to　create　your　twin　sister
　　
　　…identical　rather　than　fraternal；　save　for　sex。　A　host　mother　is　indicated；　with　no　forcing　to　maturity；　since　the　brain　would　be　allowed　to　develop　normally。　Would　this　meet　your　standards　of　newness　and　interest？　To　watch　yourself　grow　up　as　a　woman？　'Lazuli　Long；'　you　might　name　her…your　f　e
　　
　　male　other　self。〃…
　　
　　〃Uh…〃　Lazarus　stopped。
　　
　　I　said　dryly；　〃Grandfather；　I　think　I've　won　our　second　bet。　Something　new。　Something　interesting。〃
　　
　　〃Now　slow　up！　You　can't　do　it；　you　don't　know　how。　Nor　do　I。　And　the　Director　of　this　madhouse　appears　to　have　moral　scruples　about　it…〃
　　
　　〃We　don't　know　that。　Mere　inference。〃
　　
　　〃Not　so　'mere。'　And　I　may　have　moral　scruples。　'Twouldn't　interest　me　unless　I　stuck　around　and　watched　her'　grow　up
　　
　　which　might　send　me　crazy　either　through　trying　to　make　her　grow　up　just　like　me…what　a　fate　for　any　gjrl！…or　by　trying　to　keep　her　from　growing　up　as　ornery　as　I　am　when　that　would　be　her　nature。　Nor　would　I　be　justified　either　way；　she　would　be　a　separate　human　being；　not　my　slave。　Besides　that；　I　would　be　her　sole　parent…no；　mother。　I've　had　one　crack　at　trying　to　raise　a　daughter　alone…it's　not　fair　to　the　girl。〃
　　
　　〃You're　inventing　objections；　Lazar~is。　I'll　give　long　odds　that　Ishtar　would　gladly　be　both　host　mother　and　foster　mother。　Especially　if　you　promised　Ishtar　a　son　Of　her　own。　Shall　I　ask　her？'
　　
　　〃You　keep　your　biscuit　trap　shut；　Son！　Minerva；　place　that　on　'pending'…I　won't　be　hurried　into　a　major　decision　about　another　person。　Especially　one　e　to　tell　you　about　the　twins　who　were　no　relation　to　each
　　
　　other。　But　twins。〃…
　　
　　〃Preposterous。　You're　changing　the　subject。〃
　　
　　第15节
　　
　　〃So　I　am。　Minerva；　what　else　do　you　have；　girl？〃　　　…
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　have　one　program　…　which　involves　low　hazard　and　a　probability　approaching　certainty　of　supplying　one…or　more…experiences　pletely　new　to　you。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　listening。〃
　　
　　〃Suspended　animation…〃
　　
　　〃What's　aew　about　that？　We　had　that　when　I　was　a　kid；　hardly　two　hundred　years　old。　Used　it　in　the　'New　Frontiers。'　Didn't　attract　me　then；　doesn't　now。〃
　　
　　〃…as　a　means　of　time　travel。　If　you　stipulate　that　in　X　number　of　years；　something　truly　new　will　develop…a　certainty　based　on　history…then　your　only　problem　is　to　select　whatever　span　of　years　will；　in　your　opinion；　produce　the　degree　of　novelty　you　seek。　One　hundred　years；　one　thousand；　ten　thousand；　whatever　you　say。　The　rest　involves　nothing　but　minor　de~i~n　details。〃
　　
　　〃Not　so　'minor'　if　Fm　going　to　be　asleep　and　unable　to　protect　myself。〃
　　
　　〃But　you　need　not　go　into　hibernation　until　you　are　satisfied　with　my　design；　Lazarus。　A　hundred　years　is　obviously　no　problem。　A　thousand　years　is　not　much　problem。　For　ten　thousand　years　I　would　design　an　artificial　plaoid　equipped　with　fail…safes　to　insure　that　you　would　be　revived　automatically　in　case　of　emergency。〃
　　
　　〃That　e　designing；　girl。〃
　　
　　〃I　feel　confident　of　my　capacity　to　do　it；　Lazarus；　but　you　are　free　to　criticize　and　reject　any　part　of　it。　However；　there　is　no　point　in　my　submitting　preliminary　designs　until　you　give　me　the　controlling　parameter；　namely　the　time　span；　which　in　your　opinion　will　produce　something　new　to　you。　Or　do　you　wish　my　advice　on　that？〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　hold　your　horses；　dear。　Let's　assume　that　you've　got　me　in　liquid　helium　and　in　free　fall　and　thoroughly　pro。　tected　against　ionizing　radiation…〃
　　
　　〃No　problem；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃So　I　stipulated；　…dear；　I'm　not　underrating　you。　But　sup。　pose　some　tiny　little　fail…safe　fails　null　instead　and　I　go　on　snoozing　through　the　centuries…and　millennia…without　end。　Not　dead。　But　not　revived；　either。〃
　　
　　〃I　can　and　will　design　to　avoid　that。　But　let　me　accept　your　stipulation。　In　such　case；　how　would　you　be　worse　off　than　you　would　be　if　you　used　your　termination…option　switch？　What　do　you　lose　by　trying　this？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　that's　obvious！　If　there　is　anything　to　this　immortality　talk…or　any　sort　of　afterlife…I'm　not　saying　there　is　or　isn't
　　
　　…but　if　there　is；　then　when　the　'Roll　Is　Called　Up　Yonder；'　I　won't　be　there。　I'll　be　asleep　but　not　dead；　somewhere　off　in　space。　I'll　miss　the　last　boat。〃
　　
　　〃Grandfather；〃　I　said　impatiently；　〃quit　trying　to　wiggle
　　
　　out。　If　you　don't　want　it；　just　say　No。　But　Minerva　has　certainly　offered　you　a　way　to　reach　something　new。　If　there　is　anything　to　your　argument…which　I　don't　admit…you　will　ha'~e　achieved　something　really　unique：　the　only　human　being　out　of　many　billions　to　fail　to　show　up　for　muster　on　this　hypothetical…and…highly…unlikely　Judgment　Day。　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　you；　you　old　scoundrel；　you're　slippery。〃
　　
　　He　ignored　my　slur。　〃Why　'highly　unlikely'？〃
　　
　　〃Because　it　is。　I　won't　argue　it。〃
　　
　　〃Because　you　can't　argue　it；〃　he　retorted。　〃There　isn't　any　evidence　for　or　against…so　how　can　you　assign　even　a　loose　probability　e'ither　way？　I　was　pointing　out　the　desirability；　if　there　h