time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第84部分

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then　to　Tamara；　then　we　held　a　family　conference　and　settled　your　fate。　Lazarus　confirmed　it　while　you　played　with　the　twins…　who　were　given　a　chance　to　veto　it　later。　But　they　ratified　it　at　once。　They　not　only　like　you；　but　Aunt　Tammy's　wishes　are　law。〃
　　
　　I　was　still　bemused。　〃Apparently　much　went　on　tha~　I　didn't　suspect。〃
　　
　　〃You　weren't　supposed　to。　A　better　cook　would　have　stayed　to　get　your　breakfast；　had　I　not　been　deputized　to　tell　you…　old　friends　and　all　that…and　to　answer　questions。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　confused　about　that　conference。　I　thought　Tamara　got　home　just　before　dinner。〃
　　
　　〃She　did。　Oh…　Athene；　are　you　listening；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Uncle　Cuddly；　you　know　I　don't　listen　to　private　conversations。〃
　　
　　〃The　hell　you　don't。　It'll　be　all　right；　Justin；　Teena　keeps　secrets。　Tell　him　how　to　call　someone；　Teena。〃
　　
　　〃Tell　me　to　whom　you　wish　to　speak；　Justin；　I　have　radio　links　to　every　farm。　Or　anywhere。　And　I　can　always　reach　Ira　and　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Teena。　Now　if　you　must　listen；　pretend　not　to。　The　conference　was　here；　Justin；　；Teena　fetched　in　Tamara's　voice　and　Ira's。　Could　have　fetched　voices　from　the　nullboat…　but　you　were　the　subject。　By　the　way；　Teena　is　one　reason　this　family　isn't　farming；？instead　we　supply　services　that　colonies　usually　don't　have　so　soon。　Oh；　you　can　farm　if　you　want　to；　we've　claimed　quite　a　bit　of　land。　Or　there　are　other　ways　to
　　
　　make　a　living。　All　right；　I've　done　my　besL　e？〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；　I　think　I　understand　everything　but　why　Tamara　Wants　me　In　your　family。〃
　　
　　〃You'll　have　to　ask　her。　I　told　you　I　was　checking　for　your　halo。　Can't　see　it。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　wear　it　in　hot　weather。　Obadiah；　don't　farce　around；　this　is　terribly　important　to　me。　Why　do　you　keep　saying　that　Tam　ara's　wishes　settled　it？〃
　　
　　〃You　know　her；　man。〃
　　
　　〃I　know　how　important　her　wishes　are　to　me。　But　I've　been　in　love　with　her　for　many　years。〃　I　told　him　things　I　had　long　kept　to　nlyself。　〃So　that's　the　way　it　went。　A　great　hetaera　never　proposes　a　contract　and　usually　won't　listen　if　a　man　is　bold　enough　to　propose　one　himself。　But　I…　well；　I　made　a　nuisance　of　myself。　Tamara　finally　convinced　me　that　the　married　only　to　have　children　and　did　not　intend　to　have　more。　I　feel　sure　that　money　was　not　a　factor…〃
　　
　　〃It　wouldn't　be。　Oh；　I　don't　mean　that　Tamara　is　silly　that　way；　I've　heard　her　say　that　since　money　is　the　universal　symbol　for　value　received；　one　should　accept　it　proudly。　But　Tamara　wouldn't　marry　for　money；　she　wouldn't　feel　that…　Or　perhaps'she　would；　I　think　I'll　ask　her。　Mm　。　。　interesting。　Our　Tamara　is　a　plex　person。　Sorry；　dear；　I　interrupted。〃
　　
　　〃I　say　money　was　not　the　controlling　factor；　as　she　had　suitors　with　ten　to　a　hundred　times　my　modest　wealth；　yet　she　married　none　of　them。　So　I　shut　up　and　was　content　to　have　part　of　Tamara…spend　nights　with　her　when　I　was　permitted　to；　share　her　pany　in　happiness　circles　at　other　times；　pay　her　as　much　as　I　could…as　much　as　she　would　accept；　I　mean；　she　often　set　her　fee　by　refusing　part　of　a　gift…she　did　with　me；　I　don't　know　what　she　did　with　wealthy　clients。
　　
　　〃Years　and　years　of　that；　then　she　announced　that　she　was　retiring…and　I　was　stunned。　I　had　taken　rejuvenation　during　this　time　but　hadn't　noticed　that　she　was　any　older。　But　she　wa~　firm　about　it　and　left　New　Rome。
　　
　　〃Galahad；　it　left　me　impotent。　Oh；　not　incapable；　but　what　had　been　ecstasy　turned　out　to　be　mere　exercise　not　worth　the　troubl？　Has　this　ever　happened　to　you？〃　；
　　
　　〃No。　Perhaps　I　should　say；　'Not　yet；'　since　I'm　still　working　on　my　secon'd　century。〃
　　
　　〃Then　you　don't　know　what　I　mean。〃
　　
　　〃Only　vicariously。　But　may　I　quote　something　Lazarus
　　
　　A　A~
　　
　　once　said？　He　was　speaking　to　Ira；　but　privacy　was　not　placed　on　it；　you'll　e　across　it　in　his　raw　memoirs。
　　
　　〃'Ira；'　he　said；　'there　were　many　years　when　I　hardly　bOthered　with　women…not　only　unmarried　hut　celibate。　After　all；　how　much　variety　can　there　be　in　the　slippery　friction　of　mucous　membranes？
　　
　　〃'Then　I　realized　that　there　was　infinite　variety　in　women　as　people　。　。　and　that　sex　was　the　most　direct　route　tc~　knowing　a　woman　。　。　a　route　they　like；　one　that　we　like；　and　often　the　only　route　that　can　break　down　barriers　and　permit　close　acquaintance。
　　
　　〃'And　in　discovering　this；　I　gained　renewed　interest　in　the　friendly　frolic　itself；　happy　as　a　lad　with　his　first　bare　tit　warm　in　his　hand。　Happier…as　never　again　was　I　merely　a　piston　to　her　cylinder；　each　woman　was　a　unique　individual　worth　knowing；　and；　if　we　took　time　enough；　we　might　find　we　loved　each　other。　But　at　least　we　offered　each　other　pleasure　and　a　haven　from　cares；　we　wereni　simply　masturbating；　with　the　other　just　a　sex　doll。'
　　
　　〃That's　close　to　what　Lazarus　said；　Justin。　You　went　through　something　like　that？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　Somewhat。　A　long　period　when　sex　wasn't　worth　the　trouble。　But　I　got　over　it　。　。　with　a　woman　as　fine　in　her　own　way　as　Tamara　is；　although　I　didn't　fall　in　love　with　her　nor　she　with　me。　She　taught　me　something　I　had　forgotten；　that　sex　can　be　friendly　and　worthwhile　without　the　intense　love　I　felt　for　Tamara。　You　see；　a　'friend　；of　mine；　wife　of　another　'friend　and　they　were　both　close　to　me…as　a　special　gift　she'introduced　me　to　another　hetaera；　a　great　beauty；　and　arranged　for　me　a　holiday　with　her…paid　for　by　my　friends；　th？y　could　afford　it；　she　is　wealthy。　This　beautiful　hetaera；　Magdalene…〃
　　
　　Galahad　looked　delighted。　〃Maggie！〃
　　
　　〃Why；　yes；　she　d~d　use　that　pillow　name。　'Magdalene'　was　her　vocational　name。　But　when　she　learned　that　I　keep　the　Archives；　she　told　me　her　registered　name。〃
　　
　　〃Rebecca　Sperling…Jones。〃'　〃Then　you　do　know　her。〃　；；　〃All　my　life；　Justin　darling；　I　nursed　at　those　beautiful
　　
　　breasts。　She's　my　mother；　dear…what　a　delightful　coincidence！〃
　　
　　I　was　delighted；　too；　but　more　interested　in　something　else。；　〃So　that's　where　you　get　your　beauty。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　but　also　from　my　geic　father。　Becky…Maggie…　tells　me　I　look　more　like　him。〃
　　
　　第56节
　　
　　〃Really？　If'　you　permit；　I'll　look　up　your　liheage　when　I　get　back　to　Secundus。〃　An　archivist　should　not　consult　the　Archives　from　personal　curiosity；　I　was　presuming　on　friendship　to　suggest　it。
　　
　　〃Dear；　you're　not　going　back　to　Secundus。　But　you　can　get；　it　from　Athene　clear　back　to　the　first　push　in　the　bush　after　Ira　Howard's　death。　But　let's　talk　about　Mama。　She's　a　jolly　one？　isn't　she？　As　well　as　a　beauty。〃
　　
　　〃Both。　I　told　you　how　much　she　did　for　me。　Your　mother　assurhed　that　this　holiday　was　going　to　be　fun…fun　for　both　of　us…and　it　was　indeed！…and　I　forgot　about　being　uninterested　in　sex。　I'm　not　speaking　of　technique；　I　suspect　that　any　high…priced　hetaera　in　New　Rome　is　as　skilled　as　any　famous　courtesan　in　history。　I　mean　her　attitude。　Maggie　is　fun　to　be　around；　in　bed　or　out。　Laugh　wrinkles　but　no　frown　wrinkles。〃
　　
　　Galahad　nodded　agreement　as　he　wiped　egg　from　his　platter。　〃Yes；　that's　Mama。　She　gave　me　a　most　happy　childhood；　Justin；　so　much　so　that　I　was　grumpy　at　being　shoved'　out　when　my　eighteenth　rolled　around。　'But　she　was　sweet　about　it。　After　my　adulthood　party　she　reminded　me　that　she　was　moving　out；　too；　and　going　back　to　her　profession。　Her　contract　with　Papa；　my　foster　father；　was　a　term　contract；　over　when　I　b鏲ame　a　legal　adult　。　。　so　if　I　wanted　to　see　Maggie　again…and　I　wanted　to！…it　would　be　cash　at　the　counterpane；　no　family　discount。　Since　I　was　a　poor…but…honest　research　assistant；　paid　only　two　or　three　times　what　I　was　worth；　I　couldn't　have　afforded　thirty　seconds　with　her；　much　less　a　night；　Mama's　fees　were　always　sky…high。〃
　　
　　Galahad　looked　thoughtfully'　happy。　〃Goodness；　that　seems　long　ago…more　than　a　century　and　a　half；　Justin。　I　didn't　realize　that　Becky…Maggie…Mama…that　Magdalene　was　being　both　wise　and　kind。　I　was　grown　up　only　legally　and　physically；　and　if　she　hadn't　cut　the　cord；　I　would　have　hung　around；　an　overgrown　infant；　cluttering　her　life　and　interfering　with　her　vocation。　So　I　did　grow　up；　and　when　I　married；　my　first　wife　named　our　first　daughter　'Magdalene'　and　asked　Maggie　to　be　godmother　。　。　then　I　could　hardly　believe　that　this　beautiful　creature　had　borne　me　and　I　had　no　special　urge　to　play　Oedipus　to　her　regal　beauty；　I　was　too　much　in　love　with　my　wife。　Yes；　Maggie　is　a　fine　girl…
　　
　　although　she　spoiled　me　as　a　kid。　Was　that　holiday　the　only　time　you　had　her？〃
　　
　　〃No。　But　not　often。　As　you　say；　she　was　expensive。　She　offered　me　a　fifty…percent　discount…〃
　　
　　〃Well！　You　did　impress　her。〃
　　
　　〃…as　she　knew　I　wasn't　wealthy。　But　even　at　that；　I　couldn't　afford　her　pany　often。　But　she　got　me　over　my　emotional　hump；　and　I'm　grateful　to　her。　A　fine　woman；　Galahad；　you　have　reason　to　be　proud　of　her。〃
　　
　　〃I　think　so。　But；　Justin　dear；　your　mention　of　that　discount　makes　me　certain~　that　she　remembers　you　just　as　fondly…〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　I　hardly　think　so；　Years　back；　Galahad。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　trip；　in　your　modesty；　dear；　Maggie　grabbed　every　crown　the　traffic　would　bear。　But　the　'delightful　coincidence'　is　more　than　just　the　fact　that　you've　had　my　mother…after　all；　high　as　her　fees　were；　New'　Rome　has　many　wealthy　men　attractive　enough　that　Maggie　would　accept　them。　The　'delightful'　aspect　is　that　this　very　minute　she　is　about　forty　kilometers　south　of　here。〃
　　
　　〃No！〃
　　
　　〃Si；　si；　si！　Ask　Athene　to　call　her。　You　can　be　talking　with　her　in　thirty　seconds。〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　I　still　don't　think　she　would　remember　me。〃
　　
　　〃I　do。　But　there's　no　rush。　If　you　are　surprised；　think　how　surprised　I　was。　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　migrants'　roster；　I　was　arse…deep　in　getting　together　what　Ishtar　had　ordered　for　the　clinics。　Justin；　I　didn't　know　Maggie　had　married　again。　So　we're　here　a　couple　of　weeks；　the　headquarters　party；　with　a　temporary　setup　and　still　eating　and　sleeping　in　the　'Dora；'　when　the　first　transport　grounds…then　we're　busy　getting　people　and　supplies　out　in　a　sequence　worked　out　by　Lazarus　and　bossed　by　Ira。
　　
　　〃My　assignment；　once　I　had　my　shack　up…by　hand；　Athene　had　no　outside　extensionals　then…〃　…
　　
　　〃Poor　Uncle　Cuddly！〃
　　
　　〃Who　doesn't　listen　to　private　conversations？〃
　　
　　〃I　have　to　keep　you　straight；　dear。　It　was　Minerva　who　had　no　outside　hands　then；　I　wasn't　even　hatched。〃
　　
　　〃Well…　You　have　her　memories；　Teena；　it's　a　mere　technicality。〃
　　
　　〃Not　to　me；　deane。　The　chinchy　little　bitch　took　some　memories　with　her　that　she　didn't　want　to　share　with　her　ever…lovin'　twin。　And　；she　locked　one　whole　bank　that　she　did
　　
　　leave　behind　so　that　I　can't　touch　it　without　an　abracadabra　either　from　her　or　from　Grandpappy。　Except　that　you　can　unlock　it；　Justin。　。　if　both　my　twin　and　Lazarus　are　dead。〃
　　
　　I　managed　to　answer　quickly；　〃In　that　case；　Athene；　I　hope　that　it　is　a　very　long　time　before　I　am　able　to　trigger　it。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　when　you　put　it　that　way；　so　do　I。　But　I　can't　help　wondering　what　grim　secrets　and　unspeakable　crimes　are　locked　in　my　theta…niy…seven…B…d