time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第27部分

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　　〃Fiv？of　which　you've　wasted　arguing　about　it。　So　corn　along…exasperating　darling。〃
　　
　　He　followed　her　out　into　her　foyer。　〃What's　this　abou　'work　all　night'？〃
　　
　　〃And　tomorrow；　too。　I'll　know　when　I　check　what's　in　m：
　　
　　phone。　If　there's　nothing；　I'll　have　to　call　the　Chairman　Pn　Tern；　much　as　I　hate　to。　I've　got　to　look　over　this　roofto＇　cabin　or　whatever　it　is；　and　see　what　arrangements　…　can　P~　made　to　take　care　of　him　there。　Then　both　of　us　will　rn~w　him；　I　can't　delegate　that。　Then…〃　…；　…~
　　
　　〃Ishtar！　Are　you　going　to　agree　to　that？　Nonsterile
　　
　　noemergency　equipment；　and　so　forth？〃　〃Darling　。　。　you　are　impressed　by　my　rank；　Mr。　Weathera
　　
　　is　not。　And　the　Senior…　isn't　even　impressed　by　Mr。　Weatb~al'：
　　
　　authority；　the　Senior　is　the　Senior。　I　kept　hoping　that　Mr　Chairman　Pro　Tern　would　find　some　way　to　wheedle　him　int　postponing　such　a　move。　But　he　did　not。　So　now　I　have　tw　choices：　Do　it　his　way…or　withdraw　pletely。　As　the　Di　rector　did。　Which　I　won't　do。　Which　leaves　me　no　choice。　S　tonight　I'll　inspect　his　new　quarters　and　see　what　can　be　don~　between　now　and　tomorrow　midmorning。　Even　though　it'：
　　
　　hopeless　to　make　such　a　place　sterile；　perhaps　it　can　be　madi　more　nearly　suitable　before　he　sees　it。〃
　　
　　〃And　emergency　equipment；　don't　forget　that；　Ishtar。〃
　　
　　〃As　if　I　would；　stupid　darling。　Now　help　me　out　of　this　damned　thing…I　mean　'this　pretty　dress　you　designed　for　me　and　which　the　Senior　clearly　liked。'　Please？〃
　　
　　〃So　stand　still　and　hold　still　and　shut　up。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　tickle！　Oh；　drat；　there's　the　phone　signal！　Get　it　off　me；　dear…hurry！〃　…
　　
　　VARIATIONS　ON　A　THEME
　　
　　IV
　　
　　Love
　　
　　…　Lazarus　lounged　in　his　hammock　and　scratched　his　ches　〃Hamadryad；〃　he　said；　〃that's　not　an　easy　question。　At　sever　teen　I　was　certain　I　was　in　love。　But　it　was　merely　excess　hoi　mones　and　self…delusion。　It　was　most　of　a　thousand　years　late　before　I　experienced　the　real　thing…and　didn't　recognize　th　condition　for　years；　as　I　had。　quit　using　that　word。〃
　　
　　Ira　Weatheral's　〃pretty　daughter〃　looked　puzzled；　whil~　Lazarus　thought　again　that　Ira　had　been　wrong：　Hamadrya　was　not　pretty；　she　was　so　startling　beautiful　that　she　wouk　have　fetched　top　premium　prices　at　auction　on　Fatima；　with　hard…eyed　Iskandrian　factors　outbidding　each　other　in　the　be　hief　that　she　was　a　sound　speculation。　If　the　Protector　of　th~　Faith　had　not　preempted　her　for　himself…　Hamadryad　did　not　seem　to　know　that　her　appearance　ww
　　
　　exceptional。　But　Ishtar　did。　The　first　ten　days　that　Ira's　dadgh　ter　bad　been　part　of　Lazarus'　〃family〃　（so　he　thought　ol　them…a　good　enough　term　as　Ira；　Hamadryad；　Ishtar；　asic　Galahad　were　all　his　descendants　and　now　privileged　fo　cal　him　〃Grandfather〃　as…　long　as　they　did　not　overdo　it）…thos~　first　days　Ishtar　had　shown　a　childish　…tendency　to　try　to　placc　herself　between　Hamadryad　and　Lazarus；　and　…also　betweer　Hamadryad　and　Galahad；　even　when　this　required　being　twc
　　
　　places　at　once。……　…。
　　
　　Lazarus　had　watched　this　barnyard　danqe　with　amus閙eni　and　had　wondered　if　Ishtar　knew　that　she　was　doii~g　it。　Proba。　bly　not；　he　decided。　His　rejuvenation　supervisor　was　all　dut）　and　no　sense　of　humor　and　would　have　been　shocked　had　she　known　that　she　had　reverted　to　adolescence。
　　
　　But　it　did　not　last。　It　was　impossi~le　not　to　like　Hamadryad　because　she　remained　quietly　friendl~'…no　matter　what。　Lazarus　wonuered　if　it　was　a　behavior　pattern　consciously　developed　to　prot郼t　herself　against　her　less…endowed　sisters…or　was　it　simply　her　nature？　He　had　not　tried　to　find　out。　But　Ishtar　now　tended　to　sit　by　Hamadryad；　or　even　to　make　room　be…
　　
　　tween　herself　and　Galahad　for　Ham醖ryad；　and　let　her　help　in　serving　meats　and　such…assistant　〃housewife〃　de　facto。
　　
　　〃If　I　must　wait　a　thousand　years　to　understand　that　word；〃　Hamadryad　replied；　〃then　I　probably　never　will。　Minerva　says　that　it　cannot　be　defined　in　Galacta　and　even　when　I　speak　Classic　English；　I　find　that　I　think　in　Galacta；　which　means　that　I　do　not　really　grasp　English。　Since　the　word　'love'　occurs　so　frequently　in　ancient　English　literature；　I　thought　my　failure　to　understand　that　word　might　be　the　block　that　keeps　me　from　thinking　in　English。〃　…
　　
　　〃Well；　let's　shift　to　Galacta　and　take　a　swing　at　it。　In　the　first　place；　very　little　thinking　was　ever　done　in　English；　it　is　not　a　language　suited　to　logical　thought。　Instead；　it's　an　emotive　lingo　…beautifully　adapted　to　concealing　fallacies。　A　rationalizing　language；　not　a　rational　one。　But　most　people　who　spoke　English　had　no　more　idea　of　the　meaning　of　the　word　'love'　than　you　have；　even　though　they　used　it　all　the　time。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　added；　〃Minerva！　We're　going　to　take　another　hack　at　the　word　'love。'　Want　to　join　in？　If　so；　shift　to　your　personal　mode。〃　…
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Lazarus。　Hello；　Ira…Ishtar…Hamadryad…Galahad；〃　the　disembodied　contralto　voice　answered。　〃I　am　and　have　been　in　personal　mode；　and　usually　am；　now　that　you　have　given　me　permission　to　use　my　judgment。　You're　looking　well；　Lazarus…younger　every　day。〃
　　
　　〃I　feel　younger。　But；　dear；　when　you　go　to　personal　mode；　you　should　tell　us。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Grandfather！〃…　…
　　
　　〃Don't　sound　so　humble。　Just　say；　'Howdy；　I'm　…here；'　that's　all。　If　you　could　manage　to　tell　me；　…or　Ira；　just　once；　to　go　tc　bell；　it　'ud　be　good　for　you。　Clean　your　circuits。〃
　　
　　〃But　I　have　no　wish　to　say　that　to　either　of　you。〃
　　
　　〃That's　what's　wrong。　If　you　hang　around　Dora；　you'll　learn　to。　Have　you　spoken　to　her　today？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　speaking；　with　Dora　now；　Lazarus。　We're　playing　fairy　chess　in　five　dimensions；　and　she's　teaching　me　songs　you　taught　her。　She　teaches　me　a　song；　then　I　sing　a　tenor　lead　while…　she　harmonizes　in　soprano。　We're　doing　this　in　real　time　because　we're　outing　through　the　speakers　in　your　controt　room　and　listening　to　ourselves。　Right　now　we're…　singing　the　story　of　One…Ball　Riley。　Would　you　care　to　hear　us？〃　…　…　…　……
　　
　　Lazarus　flinched。　〃No；　no；　not　that　one。〃……
　　
　　〃We've　practiced　several　others。　'Rangy　Lil'　and　'The　Bal
　　
　　lad　…of　Yukon　Jake'　and　…　'Barnacle　Bill'…I　sing　the　story　on　that　one　while　Dora　does　soprano　and　bass。　…Or　perhaps　'Four　Whores　Came　Down　from　Canada'…that　one　is　fun。〃
　　
　　〃Nb；　Minerva。　I'm　sorry；　Ira；　…　my　puter　is　corrupting　your　puter。〃　Lazarus　sighed。　〃I　didn't　plan　it　that　way；　I　just　wanted　Minerva　to　baby…sit　for　me。　Since　I've　got　the　only　retarded　ship　in　this　sector。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；〃　Minerva　said　reproachfully；　〃I　don't　think　it　is　correct　to　say　that　Dora　is　retarded'。　She's　quite　intelligent；　I　think。　I　do　not　understand　why　you　say　that　she　is　corrupting　me。〃
　　
　　Ira　had　been　lying　on　the　grass；　sunbathing　with　a　kerchief　over　his　eyes。　He　rolled　to　one　elbow。　〃Nor　I；　Lazarus。　That　last　one　I'd　like　to　hear。　I　recall　where　Canada　is…was。　North　of　the　country　you　were　born　in。〃　…
　　
　　Lazarus　counted　silently；　then　said；　〃Ira；　I　know　I　have　prejudices　ridiculous　to　a　civilized　modern　man　such　as　yourself。　I　can't　help　it；　I'm　canalized　…by　early　childhood；　liii…　printed　like　a　baby　duckling。　If　you　want　to　hear　bawdy　songs　from　a　barbaric　era；　please　listen　to　them　in　your　apartments…not　up　here。　Minerva；　Dora　doesn't　understand　those　songs；　to　her　they　are　nursery　rhymes。〃
　　
　　〃Nor　do　I　understand　them；　sir；　other　than　theoretically。　But　they　arc　jolly；　and　I　have　enjoyed　being　taught　to　sing。〃
　　
　　〃Well…　All　right。　Has　Dora　been；　behaving　herself　otherwise？〃
　　
　　〃She's　been　a　good　girl；　Grandfather　Lazarus；　and　I　think　she　is　contented　with　my　pany。　She　pouted　a　little　at　not　having　her　bedtime　story　last　night。　But　I　told　her　that　you。　were　very　tired　and　already　asleep；　and　told　her　a　story　myself。〃
　　
　　〃But…　Ishtar！　Did　I　miss　a　day？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　
　　〃Surgery？　I　didn't　notice　any　new　heated　places。〃
　　
　　The　Master　Chief　Technician　hesitated。　〃Grandfather；　I　will　discuss　procedures　only　if　you　insist。　It　does　a　client　no　good　to　be　reminded　of　such　things。　I　hope　that　you　will　not　insist。　I　do　hope　so；　sir。〃　…
　　
　　〃Urn。　All　right；　all　right。　But　next　time　you　chop　out　a　day…or　a　week；　or　whatever…warn　me。　So　that　I　can　leave　a　bedtime　story　on　file　with　Minerva。　No；　that　won't　do；　you　don't　want　me　to　know。　Okay；　I'll　keep　stories　on　file　with　Minerva　and　you　warn　her；　instead。〃
　　
　　〃I　will；　Grandfather。　It　does　help　when　the　client　cooper…
　　
　　ates；　especially　by　paying　as　little　…attention　…to　what　we　do　as　possible。〃　Ishtar　smiled　briefly。　〃The　client　we　dread　is　another　rejuvenator。　Worries　and　tries　to　run　things。〃
　　
　　〃Small　wonder。　I　know；　dear；　I　have　that　horrid　habit　of　trying　to　run　things。　myself。　The　only　way　I　can　keep　from　It　is　by　staying　out　of　the　control　room。　So　when　I　get　too　nosy；　tell　me　to　shut　up。　But　how　are　we　doing？　How　much　longer　do　I　have　to　go？〃
　　
　　Ishtar　answered　hesitantly；　〃Perhaps　this　is　a　time　when　I　should　tell　you　to　。　。　'shut　up。〃
　　
　　〃That's　it！　But　firmer；　dear。　'Get　out　of　my　control　room；　you　custardtheaded　dolt；　and　stay　out！'　Make　him　realize　that；　if　he　doesn't　jump；　you'll　toss　him　into　the　brig。　Now　try　it　again。〃
　　
　　Ishtar　grinned　widely。　〃Grandfather；　you're　an　old　fraud。〃
　　
　　〃So　I've　long　suspected。　I　was　hoping　it　didn't　show。　All　right；　the　subject　is　'love。'　Minerva；　the　Hamadarling　says　you　told　her　that　it　can't　be　defined　in　Galacta。　Got　anything　to　add　to　that？〃
　　
　　〃Tei~t~ely　yes；　Lazarus。　May　I　reserve　my　answer　until　the　others　speak？〃
　　
　　〃Suit　yourself。　Galahad；　you　talk　less　and…　listen　more　than　anybody　else　in　the　family。　Want　to　try　it？〃
　　
　　'~Well；　sir；　I　hadn't　realized　that　there　was　any　mystery
　　
　　…　about　'love'　until　I　heard　Hamadryad　ask　about　it。　But　I'm　still　learning　English。　By　the　naturalistic　method　the　way　a　child　learns　his　milk　language。　No　grammar；　no　syntax；　no　dictionary…just　listen　and　talk　and　read　it。　Acquire　new　words　by　context。　By　that　method　I　acquired　a~　f~ling　that　'love'　means　the　shared　ecstasy　that　can　be　attained　through　sex。　Is　that　right？〃　…　…　。　…
　　
　　〃Son；　I　hate　to　say　this…because；　if　you've　been　reading　a　lo？　of　English；　I　see　how　you　reached　that　opinion…but　you　are　one　hundred　percent　wrong。〃
　　
　　Ishtar　looked　startled。　Galahad　simply　looked　thoughtful。　〃Then　I　must　go　back　and　read　some　more。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　bother；　Galahad。　Most　of　those　writers　1ou've　been　reading　misuse　the　word　just　that　way。　Shucks；　F　misused　it　for　years　myself；　it's　a　prime　example　of　the　slipperiness　of　the　English　tongue。　But；　whatever　'love'　is1　it's　not　sex。　I'm　not　running　down　sex。　If　there　is　a　purpose　in　life　more　important　than　two　people　cooperating　in　making　a　baby；　all　the　philosophers　in　history　haven't　been　able　to　find　it。　And　between　babies；　the　practice　runs　keep　up　our　zest　m　hfe　and
　　
　　make　tolerable　the　…fact　that　raising　S　…　baby　is　…one　hell　of　a　lot　of　work。　But　that's　not　love。　Love　is　something　that　still　goes　on　when　you　are　not　sexually　excited。　It　being　so　stipulated；　who　w