time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第26部分

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　　〃But　dirt；　and　missing　meals；　and　the　wheet　of　bullets　past　your　ears　stop　being　glamorous　as　you　grow　up；　the　next　time　I　was　in　the　military…not　entirely　my　idea…I　chose　Navy　in
　　
　　*　The　Gatling　gun　（Richard　J。　Gatling；　1818…1903）　was　obsolete　by　the　time　Lazarus　Long　was　born。　This　allegation　is　barely　possible　if　one　stipulates　that　an　obsolete　weapon　might　be　used　in　some　small；　out…of…the…way　insurrection。
　　
　　……J。F。　45th
　　
　　stead。　Wet　Navy；　although　I　was　space　Navy　at　later　times　and　under　other　names。
　　
　　〃I've　sold　almost　everything…except　slaves…and　worked　as　a　mind…reader　in　a　traveling　show；　and　was　a　king　once…　a　much　overrated　profession；　the　hours　are　too　long…and　designed　women's　styles　under　a　phony　French　name　and　accent　and　with　my　hair　long。　Almost　the　only　time　I've　worn　long　hair；　Ira；　not　only　does　long　hair　need　a　lot　of　timewasting　care；　it　gives　your　opponent　something　to　grab　in　close　bat　and　can　obscure　your　view　at　a　critical　moment
　　
　　…either　one　can　…　be　fatal。　But　I　don't　favor　a　billiard…ball　cut　because　a　thick　mat　of　hair…not　so　long　as　to　fall　over　your　eyes…can　save　you　a　nasty　scalp　wound。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　appeared　to　stop　to　think。　〃ha；　I　don't　see　how　I　can　list　all　the　things　I've　done　to　support　myself　and　my　wives　and　kids；　even　if　I　could　remember　them。　The　longest　I　ever　stuck　to　one　job　was　about　half　a　century…very　special　circumstances…and　the　shortest　was　from　after　breakfast　to　just　before　lunch…again；　special　circumstance。　But　no　matter　where　or　what；　there　are　makers；　takers；　and　fakers。　I　prefer　the　first　category　but　I　haven't　spurned　the　other　two。　Whenever　I　was　a　family　man…usually；　that　is…I　haven't　let　punctions　stop　me　from　keeping　food　on　the　table。　I　won't　steal　another　child's　food　to　feed　my　own…but　there　is　always　some　way　not　too　sickeningly　fake　to　garner　valuta　if　a　man　isn't　too　picky…which　I　never　was　whenever　I　had　family　obligations。
　　
　　〃You　can　sell　things　which　have　no　intrinsic　value；　such　as　stories　or　songs…I've　worked　every　branch　of　the　entertainment　profession　。　。　including　a　time　in　the　capital　of　Fatima　arketplace　with　a　brass　bowl　in　front　of　me；　telling　a　story　longer　…than　this　one；　and　waiting　at　cliff…hangers　for　the　clink　of　a　coin。
　　
　　〃I　was　reduced　to　that　because　my　ship　had　been　confiscated　and　foreigners　weren't　permitted　to　work　without　a　permit…a　high　squeeze　on　the　theory　that　jobs　should　be　reserved　for　local　citizens；　there　being　a　depression。　Telling　stories　without　a　fee　wasn't　classed　as　work；　nor　was　it　begging…which　required　a　license…and　cops　let　me　alone　as　long　as　I　volunteered　the　customary　daily　gift　to　the　Police　Benevolent　Fund。　…
　　
　　〃It　was　either　get　by　with　some　such　dodge~　or　be　reduced　to　stealing…difficult　in　a　culture　in　which　one　is　not　sophisticated　in　the　local　customs。　Still；　I　would　have　risked　it　save
　　
　　I　I'~~
　　
　　that　I　had　a　wife　and　three　small　childreq。　That　hobbled　me；　Ira；　a　family　man　should　not　take　risks　that　a　bachelor　~ndi　acceptable。
　　
　　1'So　1　sat　there　till　my　tailbone　wore　through　the　cobblestones；　recounting　everything　from　Grimm's　fairy　tales　to　Shakespeare's　plays；　and　not　letting　my　wife　spend　money　on　anything　but　food　until　we　saved　enough　to　buy　that　work　permit　plus　the　customary　cumshaw。　Then　I　clobbered　'em；　ha。〃　…
　　
　　〃How；　Lazarus？〃
　　
　　〃Slowly　but　thoroughly。　Those　months　in　the　marketplace　had　given　me　a　de~gree　of　sophistication　in　the　'Who：Whom'　of　that　society　and　what　its　sacred　cows　were。　Then　I　stayed　on　for　years…no　choice。　But　first　1　was　baptised　into　the　local　religion；　gaining　a　more　acceptable　name　in　the　process；　and　memorized　the…　Qur'an。　Not　quite　the　same　Qur'an　…　I　had　known　some　centuries　earlier；　…　but　it　was　worth　the　effort。
　　
　　…　〃I'll　skip　over　how　I　got　into　the　Tinkers'　Guild　and　got　my　first　job　repairing　television　receivers…had　my　pay　docked　to　cover　my　contribution　to　the　guild；　that　is；　with　a　private　arrangement　to　the　Grand　Master　Tinker；　not　too　…　expensive。　This　society　was　retarded　in　technology；　its　customs　didn't　encourage　progress；　and　they　had　slipped　behind　what　they　had　fetched　frOm　Earth　about　five　centuries　earlier。　That　made　me　a　wizard；　Ira；　and　could　have　got　me　hange？　had　I　not　been　careful　to　be　a　faithful…and　openhanded…son　of　the　church。　So　once　I　got　into　position　for　it；　I　peddled　fresh　electronics　and　stale　astrology…using　knowledge　they　didn't　have　for　one　and　a　free　imagination　for　the　other。
　　
　　〃Eventually　I　was　chief　stooge　to　the　very　official　who　had　confiscated　my　ship　and　trade　goods　years　earlier；　and　I　was　helping　him　get　richer　while　getting　rich　myself。　If　he　recognized　me；　he　never　said　so…a　beard　changes　my　looks　quite　a　lot。　Unfortunately　he　fell　into　disfavor　and　I　wound　up　with　his　job。〃
　　
　　〃How　did　~you　work　that；　Lazarus？　Without　being　caught；　I　mean？〃
　　
　　…　〃Now；　now；　Ira！　He　was　my　benefactor。　It　said　so　in　my　cOntract　and　I　always　addressed　him　as　such。　Allah's　ways　are…mysterious。　I　cast　a　horoscope　for　him；　warning　him　that　his　stars　were　in　bad　shape。　And　so　they　were。　That　system　is　one　of　the　few　I　know　of　with　two　usable　plas　around　the　same　star；　both　colonized　and　with　trade　between　them。　Artifacts　and　slaves…〃
　　
　　〃Slaves；'　Lazarus？　While　I　am　aware　of　such　a　practice　on　Si~preme；　I　didn't　think　that　vice　was　very　mon。　Not　economic。〃
　　
　　The　old　man　closed　his　eyes；　kept　them　closed　so　long　I　thought　he　had　fallen　asleep　（he　often　did　during　the　early　days　of　these　talks）。　Then　he　opened　them　and　spoke　very　grimly：
　　
　　〃Ira；　this　vice　is　far　more　mon　than　historians　usually　mention。　Uneconomic；　yes…a　slave　society　can't　pete　with　a　free　one。　But　with　the　Galaxy　as　wide　as　it　is；　there　is　usually　no　such　petition。　Slavery　can　and　does　exist　many　times　and　places；　…　whenever　the　laws　are　rigged　to　permit　it。
　　
　　〃I　said　that　I　would　do　almost　anything　to　support　my　wives　and　kids…and　I　have；　I　have　shoveled　human　excrement　for　a　pittance；　standing　in　it　up　to　my　knees；　rather　than　let　a　child　go　hungry。　But　this　I　will　not　touch。　Nor　is　it　because　I　was　once　a　slave　myself；　I　have　always　felt　this　way。　Call　it　a　'belief'　or　dignify　it　as　a　deep　moral　conviction。　Whatever　it　is；　for　me　it　is　beyond　argument。　If　the　human　animal　has　any　value　at　all；　he　is　too　valuable　to　be　property。　If　he　has　any　inner　dignity；　he　is　much　too　proud　to　own　other　men。　I　don't　give　a　damn　how　scrubbed　and　perfumed　he　may　be；　a　slaveowner　is　subhuman。
　　
　　〃But　this　does　i~t　mean　that　I'll　cut　my　throat　when　I　run　into　it；　or　I　would　not　have　lived　through　my　first　century。　For　there　is　another　bad　thing　about　slavery；　ha；　it　is　impossible　to　free　slaves；　they　have　to　free　themselves。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　scowled。　〃You've　got　me　preaching　again　and　about　matters　I　can't　possibly　prove。　Once　I　got　my　hands　on　my　ship；　I　had　it　fumigated　and　checked　it　over　myself　and　had　it　loaded　with　items　I　thought　I　could　sell　and　had　food　and　water　taken　on　for　the　human　cargo　it　had　been　refitted　for；　and　sent　th　captain　and　crew　on　a　…week's　leave；　and　notified　the　Protector　of　Servants…the　state　slave　factor；　that　is…that　we　would　load　as　soon　as　the　skipper　and　purser　were　back。
　　
　　〃Then　I　took　my　family　on　a　holiday　inspection　of　the　ship。　Somehow　the　Protector　of　Servants　was　suspicious；　be　insisted　on　touring　the　ship　with　us。　So　we　had　to　take　him　along　when　we　took　off　from　there；　very　suddenly；　shortly　after　my　family　was　aboard。　Right　out　of　that　system　and　never　went　back。　But　before　we　put　down　on　a　civilized
　　
　　pla；　me　and　my　boys…two　almost　grown　by　then…re…
　　
　　moved　any　sign　that　she　had　ever…　been　a　slaver；　even　though　it　mean　jettisoning　stuff　I　could　have　sold。〃
　　
　　〃What　about　the　Protector　of　Servants？〃　I　asked。　〃Wasn't　he　some　trouble　to　you？〃
　　
　　〃Wondered　if　you　would　notice　that。　I　spaced　the　bastardt　Alive。　He　went　thataway；　eyes　popped　out　and　peeing　blood。　What　did　you　expect　me　to　do？　Kiss　him？〃
　　
　　COUNTERPOINT　III
　　
　　第16节
　　
　　Once　they　reached　the　privacy　of　a　transport　Galahad　said　to　Ishtar；　〃Were　you　serious　in　your　proposal　to　the　Senior？　To　have　progeny　by　him？〃
　　
　　〃How　could　I　be　joking？…in　the　presence　of　two　witnesses；　one　of　them　the　Chairman　Pro　Tem　himself。〃
　　
　　〃I　didn't　see　how　you　could　be。　But　why；　Ishtai？'
　　
　　〃Because　I'm　a　sentimental　atavist！〃
　　
　　〃Do　you　have　to　snap　at　me？〃
　　
　　She　put　an　arm　around　his　shoulders；　took　his　hand　with　her　free　hand。　〃I'm　sorry；　dear。　It　has　been　a　long　day　…。　and　not　much　sleep　last　night；　sweet　as　it　was。　I'm　worried　about　several　things…and　the　subject　you　brought　up　is　not　one　I　can　be　unemotional　about。〃
　　
　　〃I　should　not　have　asked。　An　invasion　of　privacy…I　don't　know　what's　got　into　me。　Shall　we　wipe　the　matter？　Please？〃
　　
　　〃Dear；　dear！　I　do　know　what　got　into　me　。　。　and　that's　part　of　why　I　am　so　unprofessionally　emotional。　Let　me　put　it　…　this　way：　If　you　were　female；　wouldn't　you　jump　at　a　chance　to　make　such　a　proposal？　To　him？〃
　　
　　~~In　not　female。〃
　　
　　〃1　know　you're　not；　you're　delightfully　male。　But　try　for　a　moment　to　be　as　logical　as　a　female。　Try！〃
　　
　　~Males　are　not　necessarily　illogical；　that's　a　female　myth。〃
　　
　　〃Sorry。　…　I　must　take　a　tran4uilizer　the　minute　we　are　home
　　
　　…something　I　haven't　needed　in　years。　But　do　try　to　think　about　it　as　if　you　were　female。　Please？　Twenty　seconds。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　need　twenty　seconds。〃　He　lifted　her　hand；　kissed　it。　〃If　I　were　female；　I　would　jump　at　the　chance；　too。　The　best　proved　geic　pattern　one　can　offer　a　child？　Of　course。〃
　　
　　〃Not　that　at　all！〃
　　
　　He　blinked。　〃Perhaps　I　don't　know　what　you　mean　by　logic。〃
　　
　　〃Ub　…　。　does　it　matter？　Since　we　arrived　at　the　same　anI　I~
　　
　　swer？'　1…c　car　swerved　…　and　stopped　in　a　loading　pocket；　sh~　stood　up。　〃So　let's　wipe　it。　We're　home；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃You　are。　I'm　not。　I　think…〃
　　
　　〃Men　don't　think。〃…
　　
　　〃I　think　you　need　a　night's　rest；　Ishtar。〃
　　
　　〃You　sealed　this　onto　me；　now　you'll　have　to　undress　me。1　〃So？　Then　you'll　insist　on　feeding　me　and　you　won't　ge
　　
　　that　long　night　of　sleep　after　all。　Besides；　you　can　peel　it　ove~　your　head；　just　the　way　I　did　it　for　you　at　decontam。〃
　　
　　She　sighed。　〃Galahad…if　I　picked　the　right　name　for　yoi
　　
　　…do　I　have　to　offer　you　a　cohabitation　contract　merely　be　cause　I　might　invite　you　to　stay　overnight　again？　It's　lik閘：
　　
　　that　neither　of　us　will　get　any　sleep　tonight。〃
　　
　　…　〃That's　what　I　was　saying。〃
　　
　　〃Not　quite。　Because　we　may　work　all　night。　Even　if　yoi　choose　to　spend　three　minutes　to　our　mutual　pleasure。〃
　　
　　…　〃'Three　minutes'？　I　wasn't　that　hasty　even　the　first　time。
　　
　　〃Well…　Five　minutes？〃
　　
　　〃Am　I　offered　twenty　minutes　。　。　plus　an　apology？〃
　　
　　〃Men！　Thirty　minutes；　darling；　and　no　apology…。〃
　　
　　〃Accepted。〃　He　stood　up。
　　
　　〃Fiv？of　which　you've　wasted　arguing　about　it。　So　corn　along…exasperating　darling。〃
　　
　　He　followed　her　out　into