time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第25章

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sher　Met　My　Cousin；'　and　smiles　and　throws　a　verse　at　him…and　the　customer　sits　down　and　listens　to　all　of　it…and　asks　Noisy　if　he　knows　'Dark　Eyes。'　Sure；　Noisy　knows　it；　but　instead　of　admitting　it；　he　asks　the　john　to　give　him　the　words　and　hum　it　and　he'll　see　what　he　can　do　with　it。
　　
　　〃If　the　customer　has　valuta；　he's　still　there　hours　later；　having　had　supper　and　bought　supper　for　one　of　the　girls　and　tipped　Noisy　rather　lavishly　and　is　ready　for　an　encore　with　the　girl　or　another　girl。　If　he's　got　the　money；　he　stays　all　night；　splitting　his　cash　between　the　girls　and　Noisy　and　the　bar　and　kitchen。　If　he　spends　himself　broke　and　has　been　a　good　customer…well　behaved　as　well　as　f？ee　with　his　money…I　stake　him　to　bed　and　breakfast　on　credit；　and　urge　him　to　e　back。　If　he's　alive　next　payday；　he's　sure　to　be　back。　If　not；　all　the　house　is　out　is　the　wholesale　cost　of　one　breakfast…nothing　pared　with　what　he's　spent。　Cheap　goodwill　advertising。
　　
　　〃A　month　of　that；　and　both　the　house　and　the　girls　have　made　much　more　money；　and　the　girls　haven't　worked　much　harder　as　they　have　spent　part　of　their　time　drinking　pay…me　drinks…colored　water；　half　the　price　to　the　house；　half　to　the　girl…while　they　help　a　john　listen　to　Noisy's　nostalgic　songs。　Shucks；　a　girl　doesn't　want　to　work　like　a　treadmill　even　if　she　usually　enjoys　her　work　as　many　of　them　did。　But　they　never　got　tired　of　sitting　and　listening　to　Noisy's　songs。
　　
　　〃I　quit　playing　the　piate；　except；　maybe；　while　Noisy　ate。　Technically　I　was　a　better　musician…but　he　had　that　undefinable　quality　that　sells　a　song；　he　could　make　'em　cry　or　laugh。　And　he　had　a　thousand　of　'em。　One　he　called　'The　Born　Loser。'　Not　much　of　a　tune；　just：
　　
　　〃Tahtah　pooin　poom！
　　
　　Tahtah　poom　poom！
　　
　　Tab　t'tah　tah　tah　poom　poom…　〃…about　a　bloke　ake　it。　Uh：
　　
　　〃There's　a　beer　joint　By　the　pool　hail　For　to　pass　some　pleasant　hours。
　　
　　〃There's　a　hook　shop　Above　the　pool　hail　Where　my　sister　makes　her　living。
　　
　　〃She's　a　good　sport；　I　can　spring　her　For　a　fin　or　even　a　sawbuck
　　
　　When　not　holding；
　　
　　Or　the　horses
　　
　　Have　been　running　rather　slowly…　〃Like　that；　folks。　But　more　of　it。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；〃　said　Ira；　〃you　have　been　humming　or　singing　that　song　every　day　you've　been　up　here。　All　of　it。　A　dozen　verses　or　more。〃
　　
　　〃Really；　Ira？　I　do　hum　and　sing；　I　know　that。　But　I　don't　hear　it　myself。　It's　like　the　purring　of　a　cat；　it　just　means　that　I'm　functioning　okay；　board　all　green；　operating　at　normal　cruising。　It　means　that　I　feel　secure；　relaxed；　and　happy…　and；　e　to　think　of　it；　I　do。
　　
　　〃But　'The　Born　Loser'　doesn't　have　a　mere　dozen　verses；　it　has　hundreds。　What　I　sang　was　only　a　snatch　of　what　Noisy　used　to　sing。　He　was　always　fiddling　with　a　song；　changing　it；　adding　to　it。　I　don't　think　this　one　started　out　as　his；　I　seem　to　remember　a　song　about　a　character　whose　overcoat　was　。。usually　in　hock　clear　back　when　I　was　very　young　and　raising　my　first　family；　on　Earth。
　　
　　〃But　that　song　belonged　to　Noisy　when　he　got　through　filing　off　serial　numbers　and　changing　the　body　lines。　I　heard　it　again；　oh；　must　have　been　twenty；　twenty…five　years　later；　in　a　cabaret　in　Luna　City。　From　Noisy。　But　he　had　changed　it。　Fixed　up　the　scansion；　given　it　a　proper　rhyme　scheme；　dolled　up　the　tune。　But　the　tune　was　still　recognizable…in　a　minor　key；　wistful　rather　than　sad；　and　the　words　were　still　about　this　third…rate　grifter　whose　topcoat　was　always　in　hock　and　who　sponged　off　his　sister。
　　
　　〃And　he　had　changed；　too。　A　shiny　new　instrument；　a　tailored　spaceman's　uniform；　gray　hair　at　the　temples…and　star　billing。　I　paid　a　waiter　to　tell　him　that　'Happy'　Daze　was　in　the　audience…not　my　name　then；　but　the　only　name　Noisy　had　for　me…and　after　his　first　group　he　came　over　and　let　me　buy　him　a　drink　while　we　swapped　lies　and　talked　about　our　happy　days　at　dear　old　Hormone　Hall。
　　
　　〃I　didn't　mention　to　him　that　he　had　left　us　rather　abruptly　and　that　the　girls　had　gone　into　a　decline　over　it；　worrying　that　he　might　be　dead　in　a　ditch…didn't　mention　it　because　he　did　not。　But　I　had　had　to　investigate　his　disappearance　because　my　staff　was　so　demoralized　by　it　that　the　place　felt　like　a　morgue…no　way　for　a　parlor　house　to　be。　I　was　able　to　establish　that　he　had　gone　aboard　the　'Gyrfalcon'　when；　she　was　about　to　lift　for　Luna　City　and　had　not　left　her…so　I　told　the　girls　that　Noisy　had　had　a　sudden　opportunity　to　go　home　again　but　had　left　a　message　with　the　port　captain　for　each　of　them…then　added　more　lies　to　personalize　the　goodbye　he　hadn't　made。　It　perked　them　up　and　lifted　the　gloom。　They　still　missed　him；　but　they　all　understood　that　grabbing　a　ride　home　was　not　something　he　could　postpone…and　since　he　had　'remembered'　to　send　a　message　to　each　of　them；　they　felt　apprec？ated。
　　
　　〃But　it　turned　out　that　he　did　remember　them；　mentioned　each　by　name。　Minerva　dear；　here　is　a　difference　between　a　blinded　flesh…and…blood　and　one　who　has　never　been　able　to　see。　Noisy　could　see　a　rainbow　any　time　he　cared　to；　by　memory。　He　never　stopped　'seeing；'　but　what　he　'saw'　was　always　beauty。　I　had　realized　that；　some；　back　when　we　were　on　Mars　together；　for…don't　laugh…he　thought　I　was　as　pretty　as　you　are；　Galahad。　Told　me　that　he　could　tell　what　I　looked　like　from　my　voice；　and　described　me　to　me。　I　had　the　grace　to　say　that　he　flattered　me　but　let　it　lie　when　he　answered　that　I　was　too　modest…even　though　I'm　not　handsome　now　and　wasn't　then　and　modesty　has　never　been　one　of　my　vices。
　　
　　〃But　Noisy　thought　all　the　girls　were　beautiful；　too…and　in　one　case　this　may　have　been　true　and　certainly　several　of　them　were　pretty。
　　
　　〃But　he　asked　me　what　had　bee　of　Olga　and　added；　'Golly；　what　a　little　beauty　she　was！'
　　
　　〃Kinfolk；　Olga　wasn't　even　homely；　she　was　ugly。　Pace　like　a　mud　pie；　figure　like　a　gunnysack…only　on　an　outpost　like　Mars　could　she　get　by。　What　she　did　have　was　a　warm　and　gentle　voice　and　a　sweet　personality…which　was　enough；　as　a　customer　might　pick　her　through　Hobson's　choice　on　a　busy　night；　but　once　he　had　done　so；　he　picked　her　some　later　time　on　purpose。　Mean　to　say；　dears；　beauty　will　lure　a　man　into　bed；　but　it　won't　bring　him　back　a　second　time；　unless　he's　awfully　young　or　very　stupid。〃
　　
　　〃What　does　bring　him　back　a　second　time；　Grandfather？〃　asked　Hamadryad。　〃Technique？　Muscular　control？〃
　　
　　〃Have　yo'u　had　any　plaints；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　no。〃
　　
　　第18节
　　
　　〃Then　you　know　the　answer　and　are　trifling　with　me。　Neither　of　those。　It's　the　ability　to　make　a　man　happy；　prjncipally　by　being　happy　about　it　yourself…a　spiritual　quality　rather　than　a　physical　one。　Olga　had　it　in　gobs。
　　
　　〃I　told　Noisy　that　Olga　had　married　shortly　after　he　left；　happily　so；　and　had　three　children　last　I　had　heard　。　。　which　was　an　utter　lie；　as　she　had　been　killed　accidentally　and　the　girls　bawled　about　it　and　1　didn't　feel　good　myself　and　we　had　shut　the　place　down　for　four　days。　But　I　couldn't　tell　Noisy　that；　Olga　had　been　one　of　the　first　to　mother　him；　had　helped　bathe　him　and　had　stolen　some　of　my　clothes　for　him　while　I　slept。
　　
　　〃But　they　all　mothered　him　and　never　fought　over　him。　I　have　not　deviated　from　our　subject　in　this　rambling　account　of　Noisy；　we're　still　defining　'love。'　Anybody　want　to　take　whack　at　it　now？〃
　　
　　Galahad　said；　〃Noisy　loved　every　one　of　them。　That's　what　you've　been　saying。〃
　　
　　〃No；　Son；　he　didn't　love　any　of　them。　Fond　of　them；　yes…but　he　left　them　without　looking　back。〃
　　
　　〃Then　you　are　saying　that　they　loved　him。〃
　　
　　〃Correct。　Once　you　figure　out　the　difference　between　what　he　felt　toward　them　and　what　they　felt　toward　him；　we're　almost　home。〃
　　
　　〃Mother　love；〃　said　Ira；　and　added　gruffly；　〃Lazarus；　are　you　trying　to　tell　us　that　'mother　love'　is　the　only　love　there　is？　Man；　you're　out　of　your　mind！〃　…
　　
　　〃Probably。　But　not　that　far　out。　1　said　they　mothered　him；　I　did　not　say　a　word　about　'mother　love。'〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　he　bedded　all　of　them？〃
　　
　　〃Wouldn't　be　surprised；　Ira。　I　never　tried　to　find　out。　Irrelevant　in　any　case。〃
　　
　　Hamadryad　said　to　her　father；　〃Ira；　'mother　love'　can't　be　what　we're　trying　to　define；　it　is　often　only　a　sense　of　duty。　Two　of　my　brats　I　was　tempted　to　drown；　as　you　may　have　guessed　seeing　what　little　demons　they　were。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter；　all　your　offspring　were　charming　children。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　fuff。　One　has　to　give　a　baby　mothering　no　matter　what；　or　it　will　grow　up　to　be　a　still　worse　monster。　What　did　you　think　of　my　son　Gordon　as　a　baby？〃
　　
　　〃A　delightful　child。〃
　　
　　〃Really？　I'll　tell　him　that…if　I　ever　have　a　male　child　I　name　'Gordon。'　Sorry；　old　darling；　I　shouldn't　have　trapped　you。　Lazarus；　Ira　is　a　perfect　grandfather；　one　who　never　forgets　a　birthday。　But　I've　suspected　that　Minerva　kept　track　of　such　things　for　him　and　now　I　know　it。　Right；　Minerva？〃
　　
　　Minerva　did　not　answer。　Lazarus　said；　〃She's　not　working　for　you；　Hamadryad。〃
　　
　　Ira　said　sharply；　〃Of　course　Minerva　keeps　track　of　such　things　for　me！　Minerva；　how　many　grandchildren　do　I　have？〃
　　
　　〃One　hundred　and　twenty…seven；　Ira；　counting　the　boy　child　to　be　born　next　week。〃
　　
　　〃How　many　great…grandchildren？　And　who　is　having　the　boy？〃
　　
　　〃Four　hundred　and　three；　sir。　Your　son　Gordon's　current　wife　Marian。〃　。
　　
　　〃Keep　me　posted　on　it。　That　was　the　baby　Gordon　I　was　thinking　of；　Miss　Smarty；　Gordon's　son　Gordon　。　。　uh；　by　Evelyn　Hedrick；　I　think。　Lazarus；　I　deceived　you。　The　truth　is　that　I　am　migrating　because　my　descendants　are　crowding　me　off　this　globe。〃
　　
　　〃Father；　are　you　really　going　to？　Not　just　talking？〃
　　
　　〃Still　top　secret　until　after　the　decennial　Trustees　Meeting；　dear。　But　I　am。　Want　to　e　along？　Galahad　and　Ishtar　have　decided　to　go；　they'll　set　up　a　rejuve　shop'　for　the　colony。　You'll　have　five　to　ten　years　in　which　to　learn　something　useful？'
　　
　　〃Grandfather；　are　you　going？〃
　　
　　〃Unlikely　to　the　nth　degree；　my　dear。　I've　seen　a　colony。〃
　　
　　〃You　may　change　your　mind。〃　Hamadryad　stood　up；　faced　Lazarus。　〃I　propose　to　you；　in　the　presence　of　three　witnesses…four；　Minerva　is　the　best　possible　witness…a　contract　for　cohabitation　and　progeny；　term　to　be　elected　by　you。〃
　　
　　Ishtar　looked　startled；　then　wiped　all　expression　from　her　face；　the　others　said　nothing。
　　
　　Lazarus　answered；　〃Granddaughter；　if　I　weren't　so　old　and　tired；　I　would　spank　you。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　am　your　granddaughter　only　by　courtesy；　you　are　less　than　eight　percent　of　my　total　ancestry。　Less　than　that　in　terms　of　dominant　genes；　with　a　vanishingly　small　probability　of　unfavorable　reinforcement；　the　bad　recessives　have　been　weeded。　I'll　send　my　geic　pattern　over　for　your　inspection。〃
　　
　　〃That's　not　the　point；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I'm　certain　you've　married　your　descendants　in　the　past；　is　there　some　reason　to　discriminate　against　me？　If　you'll　tell　me；　perhaps　I　can　correct　it。　I　must　add　that　this　submittal　is　not　contingent　on　your　migrating。〃　Hamadryad　added；　〃Or　it　could　be　for　progeny　only；　although　I　would　be　proud　and　happy　to　be　permitted　to　live　with　…you。〃
　　
　　〃Why；　Hamadryad？〃
　　
　　She　hesitated。　〃I　am　at　loss　to　answer；　sir。　I　had　thought　that　I　could　say；　'I　'love　you'…but　apparently　I　do　not　know　what　that　word　means。　So　I　have　no　word　in　either　language　to　describe　my　need　。　。　and　went　ahead　without　one。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　said　gently；　〃I　love　you；　dear…〃　Hamadryad's　face　lit　up。
　　
　　He　continued：　〃…and　for　that　very　reason　I　must　refuse　you。〃　Lazarus　looked　around　him。　〃I　love　all　of　you。　lshtar；　Galahad　。　。　even　that　ugly；　surly　father　of　yours；　dear；　sitting　there　and　looking　worried。　Now　smile；　dear；　for　I'm　certain　that　there　are　endless　young　bucks　anxious　to　marry　you。　You　smile；…tod；　Ishtar…but　not　you；　Ira；　it　would　crack　your　face。　Ishtar；　who　is　relieving　you　and　Galahad？　No；　I　don't　care　who　is　scheduled。　May　I　be　alone　the　rest　of　today？〃
　　
　　She　hesitated。　〃Grandfather；　may　I　keep　the　observation　station　manned？〃
　　
　　〃You　will　anyhow。　But　will　you　limit　them　to　dials　and　gauges　or　whatever　it　is　you　use？　No　eye　or　ear　on　me？　Minerva　will　tell　you　if　I　misbehave…I'm　certain　of　that。〃
　　
　　〃There　will　be　neither　eye　nor　ear　on　you；　sir。〃　Ishtar　stood　up。　〃e　along；　Galahad。　Hamadryad？〃
　　
　　〃J~ist　a　moment；　Ish。　Lazarus…have　I　offended　you？〃
　　
　　〃What？　Not　at　all；　my　dear。〃
　　
　　〃I　thought　you　were　angry　with　me　over　。　。　what　I　proposed。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　nonsense。　Hamadarling；　that　sort　of　proposal　never　offends　anyone；　it　is　the　highest　pliment　one　human　can　pay　another。　But　it　did　confuse　me。　Now　smile　and　kiss　me　good…night；　then　e　see　me　tomorrow　if　you　wish。　All　you　kids　kiss　me　good…night；　there's　nobody'　sore；　at　anybody。　Ira；　you　might　stick　around　a　bit　if　you　will。〃
　　
　　Like　docile　children　they　did　so；　then　went　into　Lazarus'　penthouse　and　took　transport　down。　Lazarus　said；　〃A　drink；　Ira？〃
　　
　　〃Only　if　you　are　having　one。〃
　　
　　〃We'll　skip　it　then。　Ira；　did　you　put　her　up　to　it？'
　　
　　〃You　kn