time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第37部分

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　　But；　Minerva；　I　got　cheated；　Llita　couldn't　cook　worth　a　damn。
　　
　　It　is　a　long　and　plex　passage　from　Blessed　to　Valhalla；　and　Shipmaster　Sheffield　was　pleased　to　have　pany。
　　
　　There　was　a　mild　contretemps　the　first　night　of　the　voyage　caused　by　a　misunderstanding　that　had　started　the　night　before；　dirtside。　The　ship　had　a　cabin　and　two　staterooms。　Since　the　Captain　normally　operated　by　himself；　he？used　the　staterooms　for　casual　storage　or　light　cargo；　they　were　not　ready　for　passengers。　So　that　first　night　dirtside　he　put　his　freedwoman　into　his　cabin；　while　her　brother　and　he　slept　on　transom　couches　in　the　wardroom。
　　
　　The　following　day　Captain　Sheffield　unlocked　the　staterooms；　switched　power　to　them；　had　the　young　people　clean　them　and　move　the　clutter　to　a　gear　locker　until　he　could　see　what　space　he　had　left　in　his　holds；　and　told　them　each　to　take　a　room…and　forgot　it；　being　busy　with　cargo　and　final　squeeze；　then　with　supervising　his　piloting　puter　while　they　got　clear　of　that　system。　It　was　late　that　〃night；〃　ship's　time；　before　he　had　his　ship　on　her　first　leg　in　n…space；　and　could　relax。
　　
　　He　went　to　his　cabin　while　considering　whether　to　eat　first　or　shower　first；　or　possibly　neither。
　　
　　Estrellita　was　in　his　bed…wide　awake　and　waiting。
　　
　　He　said；　〃Llita；　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　
　　She　told　him　in　blunt　slave　lingo　what　she　was　doing　in　his　bed…waiting　for　him…as　she　had　known　what　would　be　expected　of　her　when　milord　Shipmaster　Sheffield　had　offered　to　take　them　along；　and　had　discussed　it　with　her　brother；　and　Brother　had　told　her　to　do　it。
　　
　　She　added　that　she　was　not　a　bit　afraid；　she　was　ready　and　eager。
　　
　　The　first　part　of　this　Aaron　Sheffield　had　to　believe；　the　addendum　seemed　clearly　a　white　lie；　he　had　seen　frightened　virgins　before…not　often；　but　a　few。
　　
　　He　dealt　with　her　fear　by　ignoring　it。　He　said；　〃You　impudent　bitch；　get　your　arse　out　of　my　bed　and　into　your　own。〃
　　
　　The　freedwoman　was　startled　and　unbelieving；　then　sulky　and　offended…then　she　wept。　Fear　of　an　unknown　that　she　had　felt　earlier　was　drowned　in　a　worse　emotion；　her　tiny　ego　was　crushed　by　his　rejection　of　service　she　knew　she　owed　him~…and　had　believed　he　wanted。　She　sobbed；　and　dripped　tears　on　his　pillow。
　　
　　Female　tears　always　had　a　strong　aphrodisiac　effect　on　Captain　Sheffield；　he　responded　to　them　at　once…by　grabbing　her　ankle；　dragging　her　out　of　bed；　hustling　her　out　of　his　cabin；　into　her　stateroom；　and　locking　her　in。　Then　he　returned　to　his　cabin；　locked　its　door；　took　measures　to　calm　himself；　and　went　to　sleep。
　　
　　Minerva；　there　was　nothing　wrong　with　Llita　as　a　woman。　Once　I　taught　her　to　bathe　properly　she　was　quite　attractive…good　figure；　pleasant　face　and　manner；　good　teeth；　and　her　breath　was　sweet。　But　taking　her　did　not　fit　any　customs。　All　〃Eros〃　is　custom；　dear；　there　is　never　anything　moral　or　immoral　about　copulation　as　such；　or　any　of　its　nonfunctional　frills。　〃Eros〃　is　simply　a　way　of　keeping　human　beings；　individuals；　each　different…keeping　them　together　and　happy。　It　is　a　survival　mechanism　developed　through　long　evolution；　and　its　reproductive　function　is　the　least　plex　aspect　of　its　very　plex　and　pervasive　role　in　keeping　the　human　race　going。
　　
　　But　any　sexual　act　is　moral　or　immoral　by　precisely　the　same　laws　of　morality　as　any　other　human　act；　all　other　rules　about　sex　are　simply　customs…local　and　transient。　There　are　more　codes　of　sexual　customs　than　a　dog　has　fleas…and　all　they　have　in　mon　is　that　they　are　〃ordained　by　God。〃　I　recall　a　society　where　copulation　in　private　was　obscene　and　forbidden；　criminal…while　in　public　it　was　〃anything　goes。〃　The　society　I　was　brought　up　in　had　the　reverse　of　those　rules…again　〃ordained　by　God。〃　I'm　not　sure　which　pattern　was　harder　to　follow；　but　I　ind…as　it　is　never　safe　to　ignore　such　customs；
　　
　　and　ignorance　is　no　excuse；　ignorance　like　to　got　my　ass　shot　off　several　times。
　　
　　In　refusing　Llita　I　was　not　being　moral；　I　was　following　my　own　sexual　customs；　worked　out　by　trial　and　error　and　many　bruises　over　the　centuries：　never　bed　a　female　dependent　on　me　unless　I　am　married　to　her　or　willing　to　marry　her。　This　is　an　amoral　rule　of　thumb；　subject　to　change　according　to　circumstances　and　not　applying　to　females　not　dependent　on　me…another　negotiation　entirely。　But　this　rule　is　a　safety　precaution　applicable　most　times　and　places　with　widely　varying　customs…a　safety　measure　for　me　。　。　because；　unlike　tha？　lady　from　Boston　I　told　you　about；　many　females　tend　to　regard　copulation　as　a　formal　proposal　of　contract。
　　
　　I　had　let　impulse　lure　me　into　a　predicament　in　which　Llita　was　temporarily　my　dependent；　I　had　no　intention　of　making　matters　worse　by　marrying　her；　I　didn't　owe　her　that。　Minerva；　long…lifers　should　never　marry　ephemerals；　it　is　not　fair　to　the　ephemeral　or　to　the　long…lifer。
　　
　　Nevertheless；　once　you　pick　up　a　stray　cat　and　feed　it；　you　cannot　abandon　it。　Self…love　forbids　it。　The　cat's　welfare　bees　essential　to　your　own　peace　of　mind…even　when　it's　a　bloody　nuisance　not　to　break　faith　with　the　cat。　Having　bought　these　kids　I　could　not　shuck　them　off　by　manumission；　I　had　to　plan　their　future…because　they　did　not　know　how。　They　were　stray　cats。
　　
　　Early　next　〃morning〃　（by　ship's　routine）　Captain　Sheffield　got　up；　unlocked　the　freedwoman's　stateroom；　found　her　asleep。　He　called　her　and　told　her　to　get　up；　wash　quickly；　then　get　breakfast　for　three。　He　left　to　wake　her　brother；　found　his　stateroom　empty；　found　him　in　the　galley。　〃Good　morning；　Joe。〃
　　
　　The　freedman　jumped。　〃Oh！　Good　morning；　Master。〃　He　ducked　and　bent　his　knee。
　　
　　〃Joe；　the　correct　answer　is：　'Good　morning；　Captain。'　It　amounts　to　the　same　thing　at　present；　for　I　am　indeed　master　of　this　ship　and　everyone　in　it。　But　when　you　leave　my　ship　on　Valhalla；　you　will　have　no　master　of　any　sort。　None；　as　I　explained　yesterday。　Meanwhile；　call　me　'Captain。'〃
　　
　　〃Yes　。　。　Captain。〃　The　young　man　repeated　obeisance。
　　
　　〃Don't　bow！　When　you　speak　to　me；　stand　tall　and　straight　and　proud；　and　look　me　in　the　eye。　The　correct　answer　to　an　order　is　'Aye　aye；　Captain。'　What　are　you　doing　there？〃
　　
　　〃Uh；　I　don't　know…Captain's
　　
　　〃I　don't　think　you　do；　either。　That's　enough　coffee　for　a　dozen　people。〃　Sheffield　elbowed　Joe　aside；　salvaged　most　of　the　coffee　crystals　the　lad　had　poured　into　a　bowl；　measured　enough　for　nine　cups；　made　note　to　teach　the　girl　how　if　she　did　not　know；　then　have　her　keep　coffee　ready　during　working　hours。
　　
　　As　he　sat　down　with　his　first　cup　of　coffee；　she　appeared。　Her　eyes　were　red　and　had　circles　under　them；　he　suspected　that　she　had　wept　some　more　that　morning。　But　he　made　no　ment　other　than　a　morning　greeting　and　let　her　cope　with　the　galley　unassisted；　she　having　seen　what　he　had　done　the　morning　before。
　　
　　Shortly　he　was　recalling　fondly　the　scratch　lunch　and　supper…sandwiches　he　had　made　himself　the　day　before。　But　he　said　nothing　other　than　to　order　them　to　sit　down　and　eat　with　him；　rather　than　hovering　over　him。　Breakfast　was　mostly　coffee；　cold　ship's　bread；　tinned　butter。　Reconstituted　accra　eggs　with　mushrooms　were　an　nedible　mess；　and　she　had　managed　to　do　something　to　heavenfruit　juice。　To　spoil　that　took　talent；　all　it　needed　was　eight　parts　of　cold　water　for　each　part　of　concentrate；　and　the　instructions　were　on　the　container。
　　
　　〃Llita；　can　you　read？〃
　　
　　〃No；　Master。〃
　　
　　〃Make　that　'Captain；'　instead。　How　about　you；　Joe？〃
　　
　　〃No；　Captain。〃
　　
　　〃Arithmetic？　Numbers？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes；　Captain；　I　know　numbers。　Two　and　two　is　four；　two　and　three　makes　five；　and　three　and　five　is　nine…〃
　　
　　His　sister　corrected　him。　〃Seven；　Josie…not　nine。〃
　　
　　〃That's　enough；〃　Sheffield　said。　〃I　can　see　we'll　be　busy。〃　He　thought；　while　he　hummed：　〃So　it's　well　to　。　。　Have　a　sister　。　。　Or　even　an　old　captain…〃　He　added　aloud：　〃When　you　have　finished　breakfast；　take　care　of　your　pessonal　needs；　then　tidy　your　rooms…shipshape　and　neatly；　I'll　inspect　later…and　make　the　bed　in　my　cabin；　but　don't　touch　anything　else　there；　especially　my　desk。　Then　each　of　you　take　a　bath。　Yes；　that's　what　I　said：　Bathe。　Aboard　ship　everyone　bathes　every　day；　oftener　if　you　wish。　There　is　plenty　of　pure　water；　we　recycle　it　and　we'll　finish　the　voyage　with　thousands　of　liters　more　than　we　started　with。　Don't　ask　why；　that's　the　way　it　works　and　I'll　explain　later。〃　（Several　months　later；　at　least…to　youngsters　unsure　about　three　plus　five。）　〃When　you're　through；　say；　an　hour　and　a　half　from　now…Joe；　can　you　read　a　clock？〃
　　
　　Joe　stared　at　the　old…fashioned　ship's　clock　m？unted　on　a　bulkhead。　〃I'm　not　sure；　Captain。　That　one　has　too　many　numbers。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course；　Blessed　is　on　another　system。　Try　to　be　back　here　when　the　little　hand　is　straight　out　to　the　left　and　the　big　hand　is　straight　up。　But　this　time　it　doesn't　matter　if　you　are　late；　it　takes　awhile　to　shake　down。　Don't　neglect　your　baths　to　be　on　time。　Joe；　shampoo　your　head。　Llita；　lean　toward　me；　dear；　let　me　sniff　your　hair。　Yes；　you　shampoo；　too。〃　（Were　there　hair　s　aboard？　If　he　cut　the　pseudogravity　and　let　them　go　free…fall；　they　would　need　hair　s…or　haircuts。　A　haircut　would　not　hurt　Joe；　but　his　sister's　long　black　hair　was　her　best　feature…would　help　her　catch　a　husband　on　Valhalla。　Oh；　well；　if　there　were　no　hair　s…he　didn't　think　there　were；　as　he　kept　his　own　hair；　free…fall　short…the　girl　could　braid　her　hair　and　tie　something　around　it。　Could　he　spare　power　to　maintain　an　eighth　gee　all　the　way？　People　not　used~to　free…fall　got　flabby；　could　even　damage　their　bodies。
　　
　　（Don't　worry　about　it　now。）　〃Get　our　quarters　tidy；　get　clean　yourselves；　e　back　here。　Git。〃
　　
　　He　made　a　list：　Set　up　a　schedule　of　duties…N。B。：　Teach　them　to　cook！
　　
　　Start　school：　What　subjects？
　　
　　Basic　arithmetic；　obviously…but　don't　bother　to　teach　them　to　read　that　jargon　spoken　on　Blessed；　they　were　never　going　back　there…never！　But　that　jargon　would　have　to　be　ship's　language　until　he　had　them　speaking　Galacta；　and　they　must　learn　to　read　and　write　in　it…and　English；　too：　Many　books　he　would　have　to　use　for　their　hurry…up　education　were　in　English。　Did　he　have　tapes　for　the　variation　of　Galacta　spoken　on　Valhalla？　Well；　kids　their　age　quickly　picked　up　local　accent　and　idiom　and　vocabulary。
　　
　　What　was　far　more　important　was　how　to　heal　their　stunted；　uh；　〃souls。〃　Their　personalities…how　could　he　take　full…grown　domestic　animals　and　turn　them　into　able；　happy　human　beings；　educated　in　every　needful　way　and　capable　of　peting　in　a　free　society？　Willing　to　pete；　undismayed　by　it…He　was　just　beginning　to　see　the　size　of　the　〃stray　cat〃　problem　he　had　taken　on。　Was　he　going　to　have　to　keep　them　as　pets　for　fifty　or　sixty　years　or　whatever；　until　they　died　naturally？
　　
　　Long；　long　before　that；　the　boy　Woodie　Smith　had　found　a　half…dead　fox　kit　in　the　woods；　apparently　lost　by　its　mother；　or　perhaps　the　vixen　was　dead。　He　took　it　home；　nursed　it　with　a　bottle；　raised　it　in　a　cage　through　one　winter。　In　the　spring　he　took