time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第83部分

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　　〃I'm　cook　this　morning；〃　he　said；　〃so　you　had　better　take　your　eggs　either　fried　or　boiled。〃　He　then　answered　the　question　a　guest　does　not　ask：　〃If　you　had　awakened　earlier；　you　would　have　had　more　choice；　Lazarus　claims　I　can't　boil　water。　But　everyone　else　is　gone。〃
　　
　　〃So？〃
　　
　　〃Si。　Ira　has　gone　to　his　office…to　work；　perchance　to'~eep。　Tamara　has　gone　back　to　her　patients　with　a　message　to　you　that　she　hopes　to　be　home　tonight…but　with　a　word　to　Hamadryad　to　take　you　to　bed　and　rub　your　shoulder　muscles
　　
　　and　put　you　to　sleep　early；　so　I'm　not　sure　she　expects　to　be　back…won't　if　she　thinks　her　patieists　need　her。　Lazarus　'has　gone　somewhere　and　one　does　not　ask。　Minerva　has　the　twins；　and　school　may　be　in　the　'Dora'；　it　often　is。　Ishtar　got　a　call　to　set　a　broketi　arm　on　a　farm　north　of　here。　Hamadryad　has　taken　our　kids　on　a　picnic　so　as　not　to　disturb　you；　you　lazy　lecher。　Boiled　or；；fried？〃
　　
　　He　was　already　frying　them；　so　I　answered；　〃Boiled。〃
　　
　　〃Good；　I'll　eat　these　myself。　To　hold　me　till　lunch。〃
　　
　　〃I　mean　'Fried。'〃
　　
　　〃So　I'll　put　in　three　more；　dear。　You're　staying；　aren't　you？　Answer　Yes　or　I'll　put　the　twins　to　work　on　you。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；　I　want　to…〃
　　
　　〃Then　it's　settled。〃
　　
　　〃…but　there　are　problems。〃　I　shifted　the　subject。　〃You　said　'Hamadryad　has　taken　our　kids　on　a　picnic…'　Haven't　I　met　all　your　family？〃
　　
　　〃Dear；　we　do　not　exhibit　our　youngest　the　moment　someone　sets　foot　in　the　foyer　and　thereby　place　on　him　the　onus　of　being　insincerely　ecstatic。　But　there　was　usually　someone　with　'them；　Lazarus　has　firm　ideas　on　raising　children。　Athene　keeps　eye　and　ear　on　them…but　can't　pick　them　up。　Lazarus　says　that　a　frightened　child　needs　to　be　picked　up　and　cuddled　now；　not　later。　He　believes　in　spanking　。right　now；　too；　it　evens　out；　our　kids　are　neither　spoiled　nor　timid。　Lazarus　is　especially　strong　on　not　letting　a　young　child　wake　up　alone…　so　now　you　know　why　I　kissed　you　good…night　a　bit　early。　So　that　Ishtar　could　help　keep　you　awake　while　I　slept　with　our　youngest　three。〃
　　
　　〃Do　you　actually　sleep　with　them？〃
　　
　　〃Well…　When　Elf　jumps　up　and　down　on　my　stomach；　it　makes　me　restless。　But　being　peed　on　doesn'*'~wake　me…　usually。　Having　the　cuddle　watch　isn't　bad；　*e　rotate　so　。it's　only　every　ninth　night。　Every　tenth　if　you　opt　in。　But　that　can　change　overnight。　Suppose　we　have　a　rejuvenation　client…　One　or　more　clients　puts　Ishtar；　Tamara；　Hamadryad；　and　me　out　of　circulation　much　of　the　time。　Add　that　Lazarus　may　leave　as　soon　as　he　decides　Laz　and　Lor　are　grown　up。　Then　assume　that　all　our　darlings　get　cracking　on　making　babies。〃
　　
　　Galahad　grinned　at　me。　〃How　long　does　it　take　four　willing　women　to　make　four　more　babies？　Or　six；　when　the　twins　join　the　production　schedule　as　they　threaten　to　at　least　twice　a　week。　Justin　dear；　we　want　you　to　stay　but　it　won't　all　be　like　last　night。　If　responsibilities　of　family　life　worry　you；　you'd
　　
　　be　better　off　in　New　Rome　where　you　can　hire　people　to　do　what　you　don't　fancy　doing　yourself。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；〃　I　said　earnestly；　〃stop　stuffing　your　face　a　moment；　dear。　You　can't　scare　me　with　baby　pee。　I　was　getting　up　in　the　night　to　soothe　crying　babies　a　hundred　years　before　you　were　born。　I　intend　to　colonize；　I　intend　to　marry　again；　I　intend　to　raise　kids。　I　had　planned　to　go　back　to　Secundus　to　clean　up　loose　ends；　then　e　back　with　the　second　wave。　But　I　may　say　the　hell　with　that　and　stay　。　as　some　of　the　Senior's　remarks　last　night　were　aimed　at　me。　At　least　I　took　them　per~onally…about　having　the　guts　。to　abandon　everything　and　go。　Secundus　is　a　smoking　volcano；　that　old　vixen　could　set　off　a　bloodbath。　One　that　could　include　me；　simply　because　I'm　a　major　bureaucrat。〃
　　
　　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　plunged　in：　〃What　I　don't　understand　'Es　why　I　seem　to　be　invited　to　join　the　Senior's　household。　Why？〃
　　
　　Galah？d　answered；　〃It's　not　your　pretty　face。〃
　　
　　〃I　know　that。　Oh；　I　hardly　ever　scare　dogs　with　it；　but　it's　just　a　face。〃
　　
　　〃It's　not　too　bad。　A　cosmetic　surgeon　could　do　wonders。　I'm　the　second…best　cosmetic　surgeon　on　this　pla…there　being　two。　The　practice　would　be　good　for　me　and；　as　you　pointed　out；　you've　nothing　to　lose。〃
　　
　　〃Damn　it；　dear；　don't　farce　me。　Answer　my　question。〃
　　
　　〃The　twins　like　you。〃
　　
　　〃So？　I　find　them　delightful。　But　the　opinion　of　inexperienced　adolescents　could　not　have　weighed　heavily。〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　don't　let　their　clowning　fool　you；　they　are　'adult　in　everything　but　height…and　they　are　our　Ancestor's　identical　'twins。　They　have　his　talent　for　looking　inside　a　person　and　spotting　a　bad　one。　Lazarus　lets　them　run　loose　because　he　trusts　them　to　shoot　to　kill　。　。　and　not　to　shoot　if　they　don't　intend　to　kill。〃
　　
　　I　gulped　inside。　〃Are　you　saying　that　those　little　guns　they　carry　are　not　toys？〃
　　
　　My　old　friend　Obadiah　looked　as　if　I　had　said　soniething　obscene。　〃Why；　Justin！　Lazarus　wouldn't　let　a　woman　go　out　of　this　house　unarmed。〃
　　
　　〃Why？　This　colony　seems　peaceful。　What　have　I　missed？〃
　　
　　〃Not　much；　I　think。　Lazarus'　advance　party　made　sure　that　this　subcontinent　was　reasonably　clear　of　large　predators。　But　we　brought　along　the　two…legged　sort；　and　despite　screening；　Lazarus　doesn't　assume　that　they　are　angels。　He　wasn't　looking
　　
　　An；
　　
　　for　angels；　'they　don't　make　the'　best　pioneers。　Uh；　yesterday　Minerva　was　wearing　a　little　skirt。　Did'　you　wonder'　about　at？　In　view　of　the　heat？〃
　　
　　〃Not　especially。〃
　　
　　〃She　wears　her　gun　strapped　to　her　thigh。　Nevertheless；　Lazarus　won't　let　her　go　out　alone；　the　twins　are　her　usual　bodyguard。　As　a　flesh…and…blood　she's　only　three　years　old；；　she　doesn't　shoot'　as　well　as　the　twins　do；　and　she's　more　trusting　than　they　are。　How's　your　marksmanship？〃
　　
　　〃Just　fair。　I　started　taking　lessons　when　I　made　up　my　mind　to　migrate。　But　I　haven't　had　time　to　practice。〃
　　
　　〃Better　find　time。　Not　that　Lazarus　will　ride　you　about　it；　he　feels　responsible　for　our　women；；not　for　men。　But　if　you　ask　for　help…I　did；　and　so　did　Ira…he'll　coach　you　in　everything　from　bare　hands　to　improvised　weapons　。　。　with　two　thousand　years　of　dirty　tricks　thrown　in。　Up　to　you；　old　darling…　but　here's　what　it　did　for　me。　As　you　know　I　used　to　be　a　campus　narky…a　scholar　poring　over　old　records…I　never　carried　arms。　Then　I　took　rejuvenation　and　became　a　rejuvenator　myself　and　was　even　less　inclined　to　go　armed。　But　for　fourteen　years　I've　had　regular　coaching　from　the　all…time　champion　in　how　to　stay　alive。　The　result？　I　stand　straight　and　proud。　Haven't　had　to　kill　anyone　yet。〃　Galahad　suddenly　grinned。　〃But　the　day　is　young。〃
　　
　　I　answered　soberly；　〃Galahad；　that's　one　reason　I　agreed　to　run　a　silly　errand　for　Madam　Arabelle：　to　find　out　things　like　that。　Very　well；　I　take　your　advice　seriously。　But　you　haven't　answered　my　question。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　I　knew　you　from　long　back；　and　so　did　Ira。　And　so　did　Minerva；　though　you　have　trouble　believing　it。　Hamadryad　had　met　you　but　did　not　get　to　know　you　until　last　night。　Ishtar　knew　you　only　from　your　chart　but　is　one　of　your　strongest　supporters。　But　the　deciding　factor　is　this：　Tamara　wants　you　in　our　family。〃
　　
　　'Tamara！'
　　
　　〃You　sound'　astonished。〃
　　
　　〃I　am。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　see　why。　She　arranged　for　someone　to　relieve　her　in　order　to　be　here　last　night。　She　loves　you；　Justin；　don't　you　know　it？〃
　　
　　〃Uh…〃　My　brain　was　fdddled。　〃Yes；　I　know　it。　But　Tamara　loves　everyone。'
　　
　　〃No；　just　those　who　need　her　love；　and　she　always　knows　who　they　are。　Incredible　empathy；　she's　going　to　be　a　great
　　
　　rejuvenator。　In　this　family　Tamara　can　have　anything　she　wants　。　。　and　she　happens　to　want　you…t髜stay　with　us；　live　with　us；　join　us。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　be　。　。　damned。〃　（Tamara？）
　　
　　〃Unlikely。　If　I　believed　in　damnation；　I　wouldn't　believe　that　anyone　picked　by　Tamara　Sperling　could　be　in　danger　of　it。〃　Galahad　smiled；　a　happy　expression　than　was　more　his　charm　than　was　his　extraordinary　beauty。　I　tried　to　remember　if　he　ha；~d　been　that　beautiful　a　hundred　years　back。　I　am　not　indifferent　to　male　beauty；　but　my　sensuality　is　not　perfectly　balanced；　in　the　presence　of　a　homely　female　and　a　beautiful　male；　I　tena　to　look　at　the　female。　So　I'll　never　be　an　esthete；　I　lack　judgment　in　matters　of　beauty。　I　apologize　in　advance　to　'any　female　who　finds　my　primitive　attitude　offensive。
　　
　　But　I'll　share　bed　with　Galahad　in　preference　to　a　selfcentered　female　beauty；　he's　warm　and　gentle　and　good　pany；　with　a　roguish　playfulness　not　unlike　that　of　the　twins。　The　thought　ran　through　my　mind　that　I　would　like　to　meet　his　sister…or　mother　or　daughter…a　female　version　of　him　in　character　and　personality；　as　well　as　in　appearance。
　　
　　Tamara！　The　above　was　froth　at　the　top　of　my　mind　because　I　was　unable　to　face　at　once　the　implications　of　Galahad's　announcement。
　　
　　He　went　on：　〃Close　your　mouth；　dear；　I　was　as　startled　as　you　are。　But；　even　if　we　hadn't　been　friends　years　back；　on　Tamara's　motion　I　would　have　voted　for　you　sight　unseen…　so　that　I　could　study　you。　Tamara　never　makes　a　mistake。　But　were　you　so　mind…ill　that　you　needed　that　much　from　her？　Or　so　superhuman　that　she　wanted　that　much　from　you？　But　you　are　neither；　or　I　failed　to　see　it。　You　aren't　ill；　I　think；　other　than　a　touch　of　wild…goose　fever。　You　may　be　superman；　but　none　of　us　found　it　o~it　last　night。　If　you　are　a　superstud；　you　restrained　yourself。　Hamadryad　did　say　at　breakfast　that　a　woman　is　happy　in　your　arms。　But　she　did　not　imply　that　you　are　the　Galaxy's　greatest　lover。
　　
　　〃Being　one　of　Minerva's　parents　is　in　your　favor；　none　of　them　has　any　serious　shortings；　Ishtar　made　sure　of　that
　　
　　…Ishtar　knows　more　about　you　than　you　do　yourself；　she　can　read　a　gene　chart　the　way　other　people　read　print…and　Mmerva　herself　is　proof　that　no　mistakes　were　made。　I　mean；　look　at　Minerva：　sweet　as　the　morning　breeze　and　as　beautiful　as　Hamadryad　in　her　own　fashion；　and　with　an　intelligence　level　so　high　you　wouldn't　believe　it…yet　so　modest　she's　almost　humble。
　　
　　〃But　still；　it's　Tamara。　Your　fate　was　settled　before　you　reached　this　house。　Slow　ride　home；　wasn't　it？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　one　doesn't　expect　speed　from　a　nuilboat。　Though　I　was~　surprised　to　find　one　in　a　young　colony。　I　expected　muledrawn　wagons。〃
　　
　　〃Lots　of　those；　too。　But　Lazarus　says　that　this　time　h'e　traveled　with　'seven　elephants'…we　fetched　a　mammoth　amount　of　equipment。　That's　an　overpowered　nullboat；　rebuilt　to　Lazarus'　specifications；　and　could　have　fetched　you　here　in　a　fifth　the　time　it　did。　But　Ira　let　Lazarus；　know　that　he　wanted　time　to　make　some　calls。　So　Lazarus　probably　told　whichever　twin　was　in　charge…or　signaled　her　somehow；　he　is　almost　telepathic　with　them…to　give　you　a　long；　slow　ride。　Which　you　got；　and　I　bet　that　Laz　and　Lor　never　changed　expression。〃
　　
　　〃They　didn't。〃
　　
　　〃Was　sure　of　it。　They　are　not　children…you　should　see　them　handle　a　spaceship。　Anyhow；　Ira　talked　to　Ishtar；　then　to　Tamara；　then　we　held　a　family　conference　and　settled　y