time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lling　him　names　and　taunting　him；　he　still　hesitated　in　that　split　second　that　let　me　close　and　chop　him　instead。
　　
　　But　one　afternoon　he　got　the　idea　so'　well　that　he　landed　good　one　on　me　and　I　hardly　had　to　hold　back　to　let　him　land　it。　After　supper　he　got　his　reward：　permission　to　read　a　bound　book；　one　with　pages；　him　dressed　in　a　pair　of　my　surgical　gloves　and　warned　that　I　would　clobber　him　if　he　got　it　dirty　or　tore　a　page。　Llita　wasn't　permitted　to　touch　it；　this　was　his　prize。　She　sulked　and　didn't　even　want　to　use　the　reading　machine…until　he　asked　if　it　was　all　right　for　him　to　read　aloud　to　her。
　　
　　I　ruled　that　she　could　even　read　it　with　him…as　long　as　she　didn't　touch　it。　So　she　snuggled　up　close；　head　by　his；　happy　again；　and　started　bossing　him　about　turning　the　pages。
　　
　　The　next　day　she　asked　me　why　she　could　not　learn　to　fight；　too？
　　
　　No　doubt　she　was　fin？ing　solo　exercise　a　bore…I　always　found　it　so　and　did　it　only　because　it　was　needful　to　stay　in　shape…no　telling　what　hazards　next　groundfall　might　bring。　Minerva；　I've　never　felt　that　women　should　have　to　fight；　it　is　a　male's　business　to　protect　females　and　children。　But　a　female　should　be　able　to　fight　because　she　may　have　to。
　　
　　So　I　agreed；　but　we　had　to　change　the　rules。　Joe　and　I　had　been　working　out　by　dockside　rules…no　rules；　that　is；　save　that　I　didn't　tell　him　that　I　planned　not　to　do　him　any　permanent　damage　and　did　not　intend　to　let　him　give　me　anything　worse　than　bruises。　But　I　never　said　this…if　he　could　manage　it；　he　was　free　to　gouge　out　one　of　my　eyes　and　eat　it。　I　just　made　damn　sure　that　he　didn't。
　　
　　But　females　are　built　differently　from　males。　I　could　not　let　Llita　work　out　with　us　until　I　devised　a　plastron　to　protect　her　tits…necessary；　she　was　a　bit　oversized　in　that　department；　and　we　could　have　hurt　her　without　intending　to。　Then　I　told　Joe　privately　that　bruises　were　okay；　but　that　if　he　broke　one　of　her　bones；　I　would　break　one　of　his；　just　for　drill。
　　
　　But　I　put　no　restrictions　on　his　sister…and　I　underestimated　her；　she　was　twice　as　aggressive　as　he　was。　Untrained　but　fast…and　she　meant　business。
　　
　　The　second　day　we　worked　out　with　her；　not　only　was　she　wearing　that　plastron；　her　brother　and　I　were　wearing　jockstraps。　And　Llita　had　been　allowed　to　read　a　real　book　the　night　before。
　　
　　Joe　turned　out　to　have　talent　for　cooking；　so　I　encouraged　him　to　be　as　fancy　as　ship's　stores　permitted　while　crowding　her　to　bee　an　adequate　cook。　A　man　who　can　cook　can　support　himself　anywhere。　But　anyone；　male　or　female；　should　be　able　to　cook；　keep　house；　and　care　for　children。　I　hadn't　located　a　trade　for　Llita；　although　she　displayed　a　talent　for　mathematics　once　I　set　up　inducements　for　that；　too。　That　was　encouraging；　a　person　who　can　read　and　write　and　has　a　head　for　math　can　learn　anything　she　needs　to　know。　So　I　started　her　on　bookkeeping　and　accounting；　from　books；　not　helping　her；　and　required　Joe　to　learn　to　use　all　the　tools　the　ship　boasted…not　many；　mainly　maintenance　gear…and　supervised　him　closely；　I　didn't　want　him　losing　fingers　or　mining　tools。
　　
　　I　was　hopefuL　Then　the　situation　changed　（Circa　3；100　words　omitted）
　　
　　…easy　to　say　that　I　was　stupid。　I　had　raised　stock　and　a　good　many　children。　Being　ship's　surgeon　as　well　as　everything　else；　I　had　given　them　the　most　thorough　examinations　my　equipment　permitted　when　we　were　a　couple　of　days　out…quite　thorough　for　those　days；　I　had　not　practiced　medicine　after　leaving　Ormuzd　but　did　keep　my　sick　bay　stocked　and　equipped；　and　picked　up　the　latest　tapes　whenever　I　was　on　a　civilized　pla　and　studied　them　during　long　jumps。　I　was　a　good　jackleg　doctor；　Minerva。
　　
　　The　kids　were　as　healthy　as　they　looked；　aside　from　slight　dental　caries　in　him；　two　small　cavities。　I　noticed　that　the　factor's　allegation　about　her　was　correct…virgo　intacta；　semilunar　hymen；infrayed；　so　I　used　my　smallest　speculum。　She　neither　plained　nor　tensed　up　nor　asked　what　I　was　looking　for。　I　concluded　that　they　had　had　regular　checkups　and　other　medical　attention；　far　more　than　slaves　on　Blessed　usually　received。
　　
　　She　had　thirty…two　teeth　in　perfect　condition　but　could　not　tell　me　when　the　last　four　molars　had　erupted；　just　that　it　was　〃not　long　ago。〃　He　had　twenty…eight　teeth　and　so　little　space　in　his　jaw　for　adult　molars　that　I　anticipated　trouble。　But　X…ray　prints　showed　no　buds。
　　
　　I　cleaned　and　filled　the　cavities；　and　made　note　that　he　must　have　those　fillings　removed　and　the　tissue　regenerated　on　Valhalla；　and　be　inoculated　against　further　decay；　Valhalla　had　good　dentistry；　far　superior　to　what　I　could　do。
　　
　　Llita　could　not　tell　me　when　she　had　last　menstruated。　She　discussed　it　with　Joe；　he　tried　to　count　on　his　fingers　how　many　days　it　had　been　since　they　had　been　taken；　from　their　home　place；　as　they　agreed　that　it　was　before　that。　I　told　her　to　let　me　know　next　time　and　each　time；　so　that　I　could　determine　her　cycle。　I　gave　her　a　tin　of　napkins；　eme？gency　supplies　I　hadn't　known　I　had…must　have　been　in　the　ship　twenty　years。
　　
　　She　did　tell　me；　and　I　had　to　open　the　tin　for　her；　neither　of　them　knew　how。　She　was　delighted　with　the　little　elastic　panty　included　in　the　package；　and　often　wore　it　when　she　did　not　need　it；　as　〃dress　up。〃　The　kid　was　crazy　about　clothes；　as　a　slave　she　had　never　had　a　chance　to　pamper　her　vanity。　I　told　her　it　was　all　right　as　long　as　she　washed　it　every　time　she　wore　it…I　clamped　down　hard　on　cleanliness；　inspecting　their　ears；　sending　them　from　the　table　to　scrub　their　nails；　and　so　forth。　They　had　received　no　more　training　than　a　hog。　She　never　had　to　be　told　twice；　and　picked　on　him　and　made　sure　that　he　met　my　standards；　too。　I　found　myself　being　more　exacting　with　myself；　I　could　not　bring　dirty　fingernails　to　the　table　or　skip　a　shower　because　I　was　sleepy…I　had　set　the　standards　and　had　to　live　up　to　them。
　　
　　She　was　almost　as　unskilled　a　seamstress　as　she　was　a　cook；　but　she　taught　herself　because　she　liked　clothes。　I　dug　out　some　bright…colored　trade　cloth　and　let　her　have　fun…and　used　it　as　carrot…and…stick；　wearing　anything　became　a　privilege　that　depended　on　good　behavior。　I　put　a　stop　that　way…well；　mostly
　　
　　…to　her　nagging　her　brother。
　　
　　That　wouldn't　work　with　Joe；　clothes　did　not　interest　him…but　if　he　rated　it；　I　gave　him　more　of　a　working　over　during　exercise　period。　Seldom…he　was　not　the　problem　she　was。
　　
　　One　evening；　three　or　four　of　her　periods　later；　I　noticed　on　my　calendar　that　she　was　past　due…having　forgotten　the　matter。　Minerva；　I　never　walked　into　their　staterooms　without　knocking；　shipboard　life　required　such　privacy　as　can　be　managed…too　little；　that　is。
　　
　　Her　door　was　open；　and　her　room　was　empty。　I　tapped　on　his　door；　got　no　answer；　went　on；　looked　for　her　in　the　wardroom　and　galley；　even　in　our　little　gym。　I　decided　that　she　must　be　taking　a　bath　and　I　would　speak　to　her　in　the　morning。
　　
　　As　I　passed　his　stateroom　again　in　heading　back　to　my　cabin；　his　door　opened；　she　stepped　out　and　closed　it　behind　her。　I　said；　〃Oh；　there　you　are！〃　or　some　such。　〃I　thought　Joe　was　asleep。〃
　　
　　〃He's　just　gone　to　sleep；〃　Llita　said。　〃Do　you　want　him；　Captain？　Shall　I　wake　him？'
　　
　　I　said；　〃No；　I　was　looking　for　you；　but　I　tapped　on　his　door　five　or　ten　minutes　ago　and　got　no　answer。〃
　　
　　She　was　contrite　over　not　having　heard　my　knock。　〃I'm　sorry；　Captain。　I　guess　we　were　so　busy　we　didn't　hear　you。〃　She　told　me　how　they　were　busy…which　I　had　figured　out；　having　suspected　it　from　the　momeat　I　noticed　that　she　was　a　week　overdue　after　being　clock　regular。　〃That's　understandable；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　glad　my　knock　didn't　disturb　you。〃
　　
　　~'We　try　never　to　disturb　you　with　it；　Captain；〃　she　answered　with　sweet　seriousness。　〃We　wait　till　you　go　to　your　cabin　at　night。　Or　sometimes　when　you　take　siesta。〃
　　
　　I　said；　〃Goodness；　dear；　you　don't　have　to　be　that　careful。　Do　your　work　and　keep　your　study　hours；　then　do　as　you　please　the　rest　of　the　time。　Starship　'Libby'　is　not　a　sweatship；　I　want　you　kids　to。　be　happy。　Can't　you　get　it　through　your　fuzzy　head　that　you　are　not　a　slave？〃
　　
　　Apparently　she　could　not；　quite；　Minerva；　for　she　still　fretted　that　she　had　not　heard　my　knock　and　jumped　to　respond。　I　said；　〃Don't　be　silly；　Llita。　It　will　keep　till　tomorrow。〃
　　
　　But　she　insisted　she　wasn't　sleepy　and　as　ready　and　anxious　to　do　whatever　I　wanted…which　made　me　a　touch　nervous。　Minerva；　one　of　the　oddities　about　〃Eros〃　is　that　women　are　never　so　willing　as　when　they　just　have；　and　there　was　nothing　in　Llita's　background　to　inhibit　her。　Worse；　I　found　that　I　was　aware　of　her　as　a　ripe　female　for　almost　the　first　time…since　the　two　came　aboard…she　was　standing　close　to　me　in　a　narrow　passageway；　隺rrying　in　one　hand　one　of　those　weird　costumes　she　delighted　in　making；　and　was　a　bit　whiff　from　happy　exercise。　I　was　tempted…and　felt　certain　that　she　would　respond　at　once　and　happily。　The　thought　crossed　my　mind　that　she　was　already　pregnant…nothing　to　fret　about。
　　
　　But　I　had　gone　to　much　trouble　with　these　ephemerals　to　shift　from　slave　owner　to　father　figure；　stern　but　loving。　If　I　took　her；　I　would　lose　that　and　add　onc　more　disturbing　variable　to　a　problem　already　too　plex。　So　I　grasped　the
　　
　　tle。
　　
　　Captain　Sheffield　said；　〃Very　well；　Llita。　e　to　my　cabin。〃　He　headed　toward　it；　she　followed。　Once　there；　he　offered　her　a　seat。　She　hesitated；　then　put　her　gaudy　dress　down　and　sat　on　it…thoughtfulness　that　pleased　him；　as　the　ignorant　animal　she　had　been　would　not　have　been　capable　of　it；　the　humanizing　process　was　working。　He　did　not　ment。
　　
　　〃Llita；　your　period　is　a　week　overdue；　is　it　not？〃
　　
　　〃It　is；　Captain？〃　She　seemed　puzzled　but　not　troubled。
　　
　　Sheffield　wondered　if　he　could　be　mistaken。　After　he　had　taught　her　how　to　open　a　sealed　tin；　he　had　turned　over　to　her　the　limited　emergency　supply；　warning　her　that　if　she　used　it　too　lavishly；　she　would　have　to　fashion　by　hand　some　make…do；　as　Valhalla　was　months　away。　Then　he　had　dismissed　the　matter　other　than　to　log　it　on　his　desk　calendar　whenever　she　reported　onset。　Could　he　have　failed　to　notice？　There　had　been　three　days　last　week　when　he　had　kept　to　his　cabin；　leaving　the　young　people　on　their　own　and　having　his　meals　sent　in…a　habit　he　had　when　he　wanted　to　concentrate　on　a　problem。　During　such　periods　he　ate　little　and　slept　not　at　all　and　barely　noticed　anything　not　part　of　what　he　was　studying。　Yes；　it　was　possible。
　　
　　〃Don't　you　know；　Llita？　If　you　were　on　time；　then　you　failed　to　report　it。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　no；'Captain！〃　She　was　round…eyed　with　distress。　〃You　told　me　to　tell　you　and　I　have…every　time；　every　time！〃
　　
　　Further　questions　showed　first；　that　despite　her　new　grasp　of　arithmetic　she　did　not　know　when　she　should　have　experienced　onset；　and　second；　that　it　had　not　been　last　week　but　a　much　longer　time。
　　
　　Time　to　tell　her。
　　
　　〃Llita　dear；　I　think　you　are　going　to　have　a　baby。〃
　　
　　Her　mouth　dropped　open；　again　her　eyes　rounded。　〃Oh；　wonderful？'　She　added；　〃May　I　run　tell　Josie？　May　I；　please？　I'll　be　right　back！〃
　　
　　〃Wups！　Don't　rush　things。　I　said　only　that　I　thought　so。　Don't　get　your　hopes　up　yet；　and　don't　bother　Joe　with　it　till　we　know。　Many　a　girl　has　gone　much　longer　than　a　week　past　her　date；　and　it　didn't　mean　a　thing。〃　（But　I'm　pleased　to　learn　that　you　want　it；　child；　as　it　appears　you've　had　every　opportunity。）　〃Tomorrow　I'll　examine　you　and　try　to　find　out。〃　（What　did　he　have　aboard　for　a　pregnancy　test？　Damn　it；　if　he　must　abort　her；　it　should　be　as　quickly　as　possible　when　it's　no　worse　than　plucking　a　splinter。　Then…no；　there　wasn't　so　much　as　a　〃Monday　morning〃　pill　in　the　ship；　much　less　modern　contraception。　Woodie；　blast　your　stupid　soul；　don't　ever　go　into　space　again　so　poorly　equipped！）　〃In　the　meantime；　don't　get　excited。〃　（But　women　always　did　get　excited　by　it。　Of　course。）
　　
　　She　was　as　dashed　as　she　had　been　jubilant。　〃We　tried　so　hard！　Everything　in　the　Kama　Sutra　and　more。　I　thought　we　ought　to　ask　you　to　show　us　what　we　were　doing　wrong；　but　Joe　was　certain　we　were　doing　it　right。〃
　　
　　〃I　think　Joe　is　correct〃　Sheffield　got　up；　poured　a　cup　of　wine　for　each　of　them　while　performing　legerdemain　which　dosed　hers　such　that　she　would　go　to　sleep　before　long…after　some　relaxed　talk　that　she　might　not　remember；　he　wanted　tin　full　picture。　〃Here。〃
　　
　　She　looked　at　it　dubiously。　〃I'll　get　silly。　I　know；　I　had　a　chance　to　try　it　once。〃
　　
　　〃This　isn't　the　popskull　they　sell　on　Blessed；　this　is　wine　I　fetched　from　Landfall。　Pipe　down　and　drink　it。　Here's　to　your　baby　if　you're　having　one；　or　here's　to　good　luck　next　time。〃　（But　how　to　handle　that　〃next　time〃？…if　his　worries　were　well　grounded。　These　kids　must　not　be　saddled　with　a　defective。　A　healthy　baby　would　be　burden　enough　while　they　were　learning　to　stand　on　their　own　feet。　Could　he　stave　things　off　to　Valhalla；…then　get　her　on　proper　contraception？　Then　wbat~　Split　them　up？　How？）
　　
　　〃Tell　me　about　it；　dear。　When　you　came　aboard；　you　were　virgin。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes；