time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第30章

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fied　valuable　slaves；　not　to　be　knocked　down　on　open　bid。
　　
　　Sure　enough；　they　were　being　held　at　Dutch　auction；　with　the　minimum　bid　posted…ten　thousand　blessings。　That　amounts　to…　How　can　I　define　money　of　centuries　back　on　a　pla　hundreds　of　light…years　away　in　terms　that　make　sense　here　and　now？　Let's　put　it　this　way：　Unless　these　kids　were　something　extraordinary；　they　were　overpriced　by　a　factor　of　five；　as　prime　young　stock；　either　sex；　were　fetching　around　a　thousand　blessings　by　the　morning's　financial　news。
　　
　　Ever　paused　in　front　of　a　clothing　store　…　and　get　hooked　inside？　No；　of　course　you　haven't。　But　that's　what　happened　to　me。
　　
　　All　I　did　was　say　to　the　factor；　〃Goodman；　is　that　posted　bid　a　mistake？　Or　do　these　two　have　something　special　that　doesn't　show？〃　Just　curiosity；　Minerva；　as　I　neither　intended　to　own　slaves　nor　would　the　excess　in　my　purse　make　a　dent　in　a　plawide　custom。　But　I　could　not　see　why？　The　girl　was　not　outstandingly　pretty；　she　would　not　fetch　a　high　price　as　an　odalisque。　The　lad　wasn't　even　heavily　muscled。　Nor　were　they　a　matched　pair。　Back　home　I　would　have　picked　her　for　Eyetalian　and　him　for　a　Swede。
　　
　　Boom；　I'm　urged　into　the　tent　while　the　chattels　are　shoved　ahead；　the　factor's　manner　shows　that　he　hasn't　had　a　live　one　all　day…while　my　shadow　is　saying　in　my　ear；　〃Master；　that　price　is　too　high。　I　can　take　you　to　a　private　sale　where　prices　are　right　and　satisfaction　is　guaranteed。〃
　　
　　I　said；　〃Shut　up；　Faithful〃…all　rented　body　servants　were　named　〃Faithful；〃　probably　by　contraries…〃I　want　to　see　what　this　is。〃
　　
　　As　fast　as　the　tent　flap　is　fastened　against　the　rabble；　the　factor　is　shoving　a　chair　against　my　knees　and　handing　me　a　drink　with　a　bow　and　a　scrape　while　saying　lyrically；　〃Oh；　sweet　and　gentle　master；　happy　am　I　that　you　asked　that！　I　am　about　to　show　you　a　great　wonder　of　science！　A　thing　to　astound　the　very　gods！　I　speak　as　a　pious　man；　a　true　son　of　our　Everlasting　Church；　one　who　cannot　lie！〃
　　
　　A　slave　factor　who　can't　lie　has　yet　to　be　whelped。　Meantime　the　youngsters　stationed　themselves　docilely　on　a　display　platform；　and　Faithful　was　whispering：　〃Don't　believe　a　word；　Master。　The　girl　is　nothing　and　I　can　whip　three　of　that　punk　without　my　stick…yet　the　agency　would　sell　you　me　for　eight　hundred　blessings　and　that's　a　fact。〃
　　
　　I　motioned　him　to　silence。　〃Goodman；　what　swindle　is　this？〃　'
　　
　　〃No　swindle；　on　my　mother's　honor；　kind　sir！　Would　you　believe　that　these　are　brother　and　sister？〃
　　
　　I　looked　at　them。　〃No。〃
　　
　　〃Would　you　believe　that　they　are　not　only　brother　and　sister　but　twins？〃
　　
　　〃Would　you　believe　the　same　stud；　the　same　dam；　the　same　womb；　born　the　same　hour？'
　　
　　〃Possibly　the　same　womb；〃　I　conceded。　〃Host…mother？〃
　　
　　〃No；　no！　Exactly　the　same　ancestry。　And　yet…here　is　the　miracle…〃　He　held　my　eye　and　s？oke　in　a　hushed　voice：
　　
　　〃They　are　nevertheless　a　sound　breeding　pair　。　。　for　these　twins　are　unrelated　to　each　other！　Would　you　believe　it？〃
　　
　　I　told　him　what　I　would　believe；　including　his　losing　his　license　and　facing　a　charge　of　blasphemy。
　　
　　His　smile　grew　broader；　and　he　plimented　me　on　my　wit　and　asked　me　how　much…if　he　proved　all　of　these　things…how　high　a　bid　I　would　place　against　them？　Higher　than　ten　thousand　since　I　must　realize　that　the　posted　figure　represented　a　prior　bid。　Fifteen　thousand；　perhaps；　with　escrow　the　morrow　before　noon？
　　
　　I　said；　〃Forget　it；　I'm　shipping　out　before　noon〃…and　started　to　stand　up。
　　
　　He　said；　〃Wait；　I　beg　you！　I　see　that　you　are　a　gentleman　of　education；　of　science；　of　deep　knowledge　and　widely　traveled…surely　you　will　grant　your　humble　servant　a　moment　to　show　proof？〃
　　
　　I　still　would　have　left；　swindles　bore　me。　But　he　waved　a　hand；　and　the　kids　dropped　their　robes　and　fell　into　display　poses；　the　lad　with　his　arms　folded　across　his　chest　and　his　feet　planted　firmly；　the　girl　in　that　graceful　pose　that　must　be　as　old　as　Eve…one　knee　slightly　advanced；　hand　on　hip；　other　arm　hanging　easily；　chest　slightly　ruised。　It　almost　made　her　beautiful　save　that　she　looked　bored…having　taken　it　hundreds　of　times；　no　doubt。
　　
　　But　that　wasn't　what　made　me　stay；　something　annoyed　me。　The　lad　was　bare　of　course…she　was　wearing　a　chastity　girdle。　Do　you　know　what　one　is；　Minerva？
　　
　　〃Yes；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　Too　bad。　I　said；　〃Take　that　damned　thing　off　that　kid！　Now！〃　Silly　of　me；　I　rarely　interfere　with　anything　on　a　strange　pla。　But　those　things　are　abominations。
　　
　　〃Certainly；　gentle　sir；　I　was　about　to。　Estrellita！〃
　　
　　The　girl　turned　her　back；　with　that　same　bored　look。　The　factor　stood　so　that　his　back　kept　the　lad　from　seeing　him　work　the　bination　lock；　saying　apologetically；　〃She　must　wear　it　not　only　because　of　ruffians　but　to　protect　her　from　her　brother；　they　share　the　same　pallet；　for　she　is…would　you　believe　it；　sir；　seeing　how　full　ripe　she　is？…a　virgin！　Show　the　gentle　master；　'Trellita。〃
　　
　　Bored　as　ever；　she　promptly　started　to　do　so。　I　regard　virginity　as　a　correctable　perversity　of　no　interest；　I　motioned　her　to　stop　and　asked　the　factor　if　she　could　cook。
　　
　　第22节
　　
　　He　assured　me　that　she　was　the　envy　of　every　gourmet　chef　on　Blessed；　and　started　to　lock　her　back　into　that　steel　diaper。　I　said　roughly；　〃Leave　it　off！　Nobody　here　is　going　to　rape　her。　What's　this　proof　you　promised？〃
　　
　　Minerva；　he　proved　every　word…except　about　her　cooking…with　exhibits　that　made　me　suspicious　only　because　he　showed　them；　I　wouldn't　have　boggled　had　I　seen　them　in　the　Clinic　here。
　　
　　I　should　mention　that　Blessed　had　a　rejuvenation　clinic　even　though　it　was　not　settled　by　the　Families。　Eventually　the　clinic　was　taken　over　by　the　church　and　antigeria　techniques　that　work　fairly　well　even　on　short…lifers　were　no　longer　available　to　any　but　big　shots。　But　the　pla　stayed　advanced　in　biological　techniques；　the　church　needed　it。
　　
　　Minerva；　I　told　you　what　he　claimed　and　you　are　now　as　learned　in　biology　and　geics　and　associated　manipulations　as　Ishtar　is…more　so；　you　don't　have　her　limitations　in　time　and…　in　memory　storage。　What　did　he　prove　to　me？
　　
　　〃That　they　were　diploid　plements；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Right！　Although　he　called　them　〃mirror　twins。〃　Can　you　tell　me　how　these　kids　were　made；　Minerva？　How　would　you　go　about　producing　such　twins？
　　
　　The　puter　answered　thoughtfully；　〃'Mirror　twins'　would　be　an　inexact　term　for　zygotes　satisfying　the　listed　requirements…although　it　is　colorful。　I　can　answer　only　theoretically　as　the　records　in　me　do　not　show　that　it　has　been　attempted　on　Secundus。　But　the　steps　necessary　to　achieve　exact　diploid　plements　would　be　these：　There　must　be　intervention　in　gametogenesis　in　each　parent　just　before　meiotic　division…reduction　of　chromosome　number…that　is；　one　would　start　with　primary　spermatocytes　and　primary　oocytes；　unreduced　diploids。
　　
　　〃In　the　male　parent　the　intervention　presents　no　theoretical　problem　but　would　be　difficult　because　the　cells　are　very　small…but　I　would　not　hesitate　to　attempt　it　given　time　to　construct　the　necessary　fine　extensionals。
　　
　　〃The　logical　place　to　start；　both　parents；　would　be　with　gonia　placed　in　vitro；　and　cherished。　When　a　spermatogonium　was　observed　to　change　to　a　primary　spermatocyte…still　diploid…it　would　be　segregated　and　at　the　instant　it　divided　into　two　secondary　spermatocytes…haploids；　one　with　an　X　chromosome　and　one　with　a　Y　chromosome…they　would　be　again　segregated　and　each　would　be　encouraged　to　develop　into　spermatozoa。
　　
　　〃It　would　not　be　sufficient　to　intervene　at　the　spermatozoa　stage；　confusion　of　gamete　pairs　could　not　be　avoided；　and　resulting　zygotes　could　be　plementary　only　by　wildest　chance。
　　
　　〃Intervention　with　the　female　parent　is　mechanically　simpler　because　of　larger　cells…but　involves　a　different　problem；　the　primary　oocyte　must　be　encouraged；　at　point　of　meiosis；　to　produce　two　haploid　and　plementary　secondary　oocytes；　rather　than　one　oocyte　and　one　polar　body。　Lazarus；　this　might　require　many　attempts　before　a　reliable　technique　could　be　worked　out。　It　would　be　similar　to　the　process　of　identical　twinning　but　must　take　place　two　stages　earlier　in　the　gametogeic　sequence。　However；　it　might　turn　out　to　be　no　more　difficult　than　it　is　to　produce　fatherless　female　rabbits。　I　do　not　venture　an　opinion　as　I　lack　former　art　to　draw　dn…save　that　I　feel　certain　that　it　can　be　done；　given　time　to。　develop　technique。
　　
　　〃At　this　point　we　have　plementary　groups　of　spermatozoa；　one　group　with　Y　and　one　with　X；　and　a　plementary　pair　of　ova；　each　with　an　X　chromosome。　Fertilization　would　be　in　vitro；　with　a　possibility　of　choosing　either　of　two　potential　pairs　of　female…male　plements…　but　with　no　basis　for　choice　unless　the　geic　charts　of　haploids　are　determined　precisely；　which　is　difficult　and　likely　to　cause　geic　damage；　I　do…　not　think　it　would　be　attempted。　Instead　one　sperm　would　be　inserted　into　one　ovum；　its　plement　into　the　other；　on　a　blind　basis。
　　
　　〃One　last　requirement　must　be　met　to　justify　all　of　this　slave　factor's　allegations：　The　two　fertilized　ova　must　be　removed　from　vitro　and　planted　in　the　womb　of　the　donor　of　the　oogonium；　and　there　allowed　to　develop　as　twins　through　natural　gestation　and　birth。
　　
　　〃Am　I　right；　Lazarus？〃
　　
　　〃Exactly　right！　Go　to　the　head　of　the　class；　dear；　you　get　a　gold　star　on　your　report　card。　Minerva；　I　don't　know　that　it　happened　that　way。　But　that's　what　the　factor　claimed；　and　that's　what　his　exhibits…lab　reports；　holo…movies；　and　so　forth…seemed　to　show。　But　that　thief　may　have　faked　those　〃proofs〃　and　offered　a　random　pair　not　likely　to　fetch　a　price　above　average…save　for　his　fancy　sales　talk。　The　so…called　proofs　looked　good；　and　lab　reports　and　such　carried　a　bishop's　chop　and　seal。　The　stills　and　movies　looked　good；　too…but　how　can　a　layman　judge？　Even　if　those　exhibits　weren't　phony；　all　they　could　prove　was　that　such　a　process　had　once　taken　place；　they　did　not　prove　that　these　kids　were　the　result。　Shucks；　they　might　have　been　used　to　sell　many　slave　pairs；　with　a　bishop　in　on　the　racket。
　　
　　I　looked　over　the　stuff；　including　a　scrapbook　of　the　kids　growing　up；　said；　〃Very　interesting；〃　and　started　to　leave。
　　
　　This　pimple　teleported　himself　between　me　and　the　tent　flap。　〃Master；〃　he　said　urgently。　〃Kind　and　generous　sir…　twelve　thousand？〃
　　
　　Minerva；　my　trader　instincts　took　over。　〃One　thousand！〃　I　snapped。　I　don't　know　why。　Yes；　I　do　know。　The　girl's　body　was　scarred　from　that　damned　Torquemada　girdle；　I　wanted　to　insult　this　flesh　peddler。
　　
　　He　flinched　and　looked　as　if　he　were　giving　birth　to　broken　beer　bottles。　〃You　jest　with　me。　Eleven　thousand　blessings；　and　they　are　yours…though　I　won't　make　expenses！〃
　　
　　〃Fifteen　hundred；〃　I　answered。　I　bad　money　I　couldn't　spend　elsewhere　and　told　myself　I　could　afford　to　manumit　them　rather　than　let　that　girl　be　bound　into　that　damned　atrocity　again。
　　
　　He　moaned。　〃If　they　were　mine；　I　would　give　them　to　you。　I　love　these　cute　darlings　like　my　own　children　and　could　ask　for　them　nothing　better　tha？　a　kind　and　gentle　master　learned　in　science　who　appreciates　the　wonders　that　have　gone　into
　　
　　their　making。　But　the　Bishop　would　hang　me　and　have　me　cut　down　alive　to　be　dragged　to　death　by　my　tool。　Ten　thousand　and　take　all　proofs　and　exhibits。　I'~ll　suffer　a　loss　for　their　sakes…and　because　I　admire　you　so　much。〃
　　
　　I　got　up　to　forty…five　hundred　and　he　got　down　to　seven　thousand　and　there　we　stuck；　as　I　had　to　hold　out　cash　for　last…minute　squeeze；　whereas　it　felt　to　me　that　he　was　close　to　：the　point　where　he　really　could　not　sell　without　risking　the　Bishop's　wrath。　If　there　was　a　bishop。　。　。
　　
　　He　turned　away　in　a　fashion　that　says　that　a　dicker　is　over　and　he　is　through　flattering　you；　and　told　the　girl　sharply　to　step　back　inth　her　steel　harness。
　　
　　I　got　out　my　purse。　Minerva；　you　understand　money；　you　handle　the　government's　finances。　But　possibly　you　don't　know　that　cash　money　affects　some　people　the　way　catnip　does　Diablo~　I　counted　out　forty…five　hundred　blessings　in　big　red…and…gold　bills　under　that　scoundrel's　nose…and　stopped。　He　was　sweating　and　swallowing　his　Adam's　apple　but　managed　to　shake　his　head　a　tenth　of　an　inch。
　　
　　So　I　counted　more　bills；　very　slowly；　and　reached　five　thousand…then　started　briskly　to　pick　them　up。
　　
　　He　stopped　…　me…and　I　found　that　I　had　bought　the　only　slaves　I　have　ever　owned。
　　
　　He　relaxed　then；　in　a　resigned　way；　but　wanted　***lagniappe***　for　the　exhibits。　I　didn't　care　one　way　or　another　but　offered　two　hundred　and　fifty　for　the　pix　and　tapes；　take　it　or　leave　it。　He　took　it　and　again　started　to　put　the　girl　back　into　her　harness。
　　
　　I　stopped　him　and　said；　〃Show　me　how　that　works。〃
　　
　　I　knew　how　a　cylinder…type　ten…letter　bination　lock　you　could　set　to　a　new　bination　each　time　you　used　it。　Set　the　bination；　slide　the　ends　of　the　steel　strap　that　went　around　her　waist　through　the　ends　of　the　barrel；　spin　the　alphabet　disks　of　the　cylinder；　then　it　stays　locked　unt