time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第48章

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rowing　colony；　barter　was　too　clumsy。　Some　medium　of　exchange　was　needed　even　before　government　was　needed。
　　
　　He　was　not　surprised　when　he　was　invited　to　meet　with　the　town's　selectmen　to　discuss　the　matter；　it　always　happened。　That　evening；　as　he　trimmed　his　Vandyke　and　added　a　touch　more　gray　to　it　and　to　the　hair　on　his　head　in　preparation　for　the　confrontation；　he　reviewed　in　his　mind　proposals　he　had　heard　in　the　past　for　making　water　run　uphill；　the　sun　to　stand　still；　and　one　egg　to　be　counted　as　two。　Would　there　be　some　novel　numbskullery　tonight？　He　hoped　so　but　did　not　expect　it。
　　
　　He　plucked　hairs　from　his　〃receding〃　hairline…damn　it；　it　was　getting　harder　and　harder　to　age　enough　each　year！…then　put　on　his　war…plaid　kilt　；not　only　more　impressive　but　with　more　ways　to　conceal　weapons…and　get　at　them　quickly。　He　was　fairly　sure　that　no　one　was；　as　yet；　annoyed　enough　at　him　to　start　violence；　but　once　he　had　been　too　optimistic；　since　that　time　he　had　been　a　pessimist　as　a　fixed　policy。
　　
　　Then　he　hid　some　items；　locked　up　others；　set　some　gadgets　that　Zaccur　had　fetc？ed　last　trip　but　which　were　not　offered　for　sale　at　the　Top　Dollar　T。P。；　unlocked　his　door；　handlocked　it　from　outside；　and　left　by　the　route　through　the　bar；　so　that　he　could　tell　the　barkeeper　that　he　would　be　away　〃a　few　minutes。〃
　　
　　Three　hours　later　Gibbons　had　settled　one　point：　No　one　had　been　able　to　think　of　any　new　way　to　debase　currency　that　he　had　not　heard　at　least　five　hundred　years　earlier…more　likely　a　thousand…and　each　was　certainly　much；　much　older　in　history。　Early　in　the　meeting　he　asked　the　Moderator　to　have　the　Town　Scribe　write　down　each　question　so　that　he　could　answer　them　in　a　lump…and　was　allowed　to　have　it　his　way　by　being　balky。
　　
　　At　last　the　Moderator　Selectman；　Jim　〃Duke〃　Warwick4　said；　〃That　seems　to　be　it。　Ernie；　we　have　a　motion　to　nationalize…I　guess　that's　the　word…the　New　Beginnings　Bank　of　merce。　You're　not　a　selectman；　but　we　all　agree　that　you　are　a　party　with　a　special　interest；　we　want　to　hear　from　you。　Do　you　want　to　speak　against　the　proposal？〃
　　
　　〃Not　at　all；　Jim。　Go　right　ahead。〃
　　
　　〃Eh？　I'm　afraid　I　didn't　understand　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　have　no　objection　to　the　bank　being　nationalized。　If　that's　all；　let's　adjourn　and　go　to　bed。〃
　　
　　Someone　in　the　audience　called　out；　〃Hey；　I　want　my　question　about　New　Pittsburgh　money　answered！〃
　　
　　〃And　mine　about　interest！　Interest　is　wrong…it　says　so　in　the　Bible！〃
　　
　　〃Well；　Ernie？　You　said　earlier　that　you　would　answer　questions。〃
　　
　　〃So　I　did。　But　if　you　are　nationalizing　the　bank；　wouldn't　it　make　more　sense　to　put　questions　to　your　state　treasurer；　or　whatever　you　decide　to　call　him？　The　new　head　of　the　bank。　By　the　way；　who　is　he？　Hadn't　he　better　sit　up　here　on　the　platform？〃
　　
　　Warwick　pounded　his　gavel；　then　said；　〃We　haven't　got　that　far；　Ernie。　For　the　time　being　the　entire　Council　of　Selectmen　is　the　finance　mittee…if　we　go　ahead　with　this。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　by　all　means　go　ahead。　I'm　shutting　down。〃
　　
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　
　　第36节
　　
　　〃Just　an　doesn't　like　to　have　his　neighbors　dislike　him。　The　people　of　Top　Dollar　don't　like　what　I've　been　doing　or　this　meeting　would　never　have　been　called。　So　I've　quit。　The　bank　is　closed；　it　will　not　reopen
　　
　　tomorrow。　Nor　ever；　…with　me　as　president　of　it。　That's　why　I　asked　who　your　state　treasurer　will　be。　I'm　as　interested　as　anyone　in　finding　out　what　we　are　going　to　use　for　money　from　here　on…and　what　it　will　be　worth。〃
　　
　　There　was　dead　silence；　then　the　Moderator　had　to　pound　his　gavel　and　the　Sergeant　at　Arms　was　very　busy；　all　to　shouts　of　〃What　about　my　seed　loan？〃　〃You　owe　me　money！〃
　　
　　〃I　sold　Hank　Brofsky　a　mule　on　his　personal　note…what　do　I　collect？〃
　　
　　〃You　can't　do　this　to　us！〃
　　
　　Gibbons　sat　quietly；　not　letting　his　alertness　show；　until　Warwick　got　them　quieted　down。　Then　Warwick　said；　wiping　sweat　from　his　brow：　〃Ernie；　1　think　you've　got　some　explaining　to　do。〃
　　
　　〃Certainly；　Mr。　Moderator。　The　liquidation　will　be　as　orderly　as　you　will　let　it　be。　Those　who　have　deposits　will　be　paid　。　。　in　banknotes；　that　being　what　was　deposited。　Those　who　owe　money　to　the　bank…well；　I　don't　know；　it　depends　on　the　policies　the　council　sets　up。　I　suppose　I'm　bankrupt。　I　can't　know　until　you　tell　me　what　you　mean　when　you　say　my　bank　is　being　'nationalized。'
　　
　　〃But　I　have　had…to　take　this　step：　Top　Dollar　Trading　Post　is　no　longer　buying　with　banknotes…they　may　be　worthless。　Each　deal　will　have　to　be　barter。　But　we　will　continue　to　sell　for　banknotes。　But　I　took　down　the　posted　prices　just　before　I　came　here　tonight　。　。　because　the　stock　I　have　on　hand　may　be　all　I　ever　have　with　which　to　redeem　those　banknotes。　Which　could　force　me　to　raise　prices。　It　all　depends　on　whether　'nationalize'　is　simply　another　word　for　'confiscate。'〃
　　
　　Gibbons　spent　several　days　explaining　to　Warwick　the　elementary　principles　of　banking　and　currency；　patiently　and　with　good　humor…to　Warwick　by　Hobgon's　choice　because　the　other　selectmen　found　that　they　were　too　busy　with　their　farms　or　businesses　to　take　on　the　chore。　There　had　been　one　candidate　for　the　job　of　national　banker　or　state　treasurer　（no　agreement　as　yet　on　title）　from　outside　the　selectmen；　a　farmer　named　Learner；　but　his　self…nomination　got　nowhere　despite　his　claim　of　generations　of　experience　in　banking　plus　a　graduate　degree　in　such　matters。
　　
　　Warwick　got　his　first　shock　while　he　was　taking　inventory；　with　Gibbons；　of　the　contents　of　the　safe　（almost　the　only　safe　on　New　Beginnings　and　the　only　one　of　Earth　manufacture）。
　　
　　〃Ernie；　where's　the　money？〃
　　
　　〃What　money；　Duke？〃
　　
　　〃'What　money？~　Why；　these　account　books　show　that　you've　taken　in　thousands　and　thousands　of　dollars。　Your　own　trading　post　：shows　a　balance　of　nearly　a　million。　And　I　know　you've　been　collecting　mortgage　payments　on　three　or　four　dozen　farms…and　haven't　loaned　hardly　anything　for　a　year　or　more。　That's　been　one　of　the　major　plaints；　Ernie；　why　the　selectmen　just　had　to　act…all　that　money　going　into　the　bank　and　none　ing　out。　Money's　scarce　everywhere。　So　where's　the　money；　man？〃
　　
　　〃I　burned　it；〃　Gibbons　answered　cheerfully。
　　
　　〃What？〃
　　
　　〃Certainly。　It　was　piling　up　and　getting　too　bulky。　I　didn't　dare　keep　it　outside　the　safe　even　though　we　don't　have　much　theft　here…if　somebody　stole　it；　it　could　ruin　me。　So　far　the　past　three　years；　as　money　came　into　the　bank；　I've　been　burning　it。　To　keep　it　safe。〃
　　
　　〃Good　God！〃
　　
　　〃What's　the　trouble；　Duke。　It's　just　wastepaper。〃
　　
　　〃'Wastepaper'？　It's　money。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　'money；'　Duke？　Got　any　on　you？　Say　a　ten…dollar　bill？〃　Warwick；　still　looking　shocked；　dug　out　one。　〃Read　it；　Duke；〃　Gibbons　urged。　〃Never　mind　the　fancy　engraving　and　the　pretty　paper　that　can't　be　made　here　as　yet…read　what　it　says。〃
　　
　　〃It　says　it's　ten　dollars。〃
　　
　　〃So　it　does。　But　the　important　part　is　where　it　says　that　this　bank　will　accept　that　note　at　face　value　in　payment　of　debts　to　the　bank。〃　Gibbons　took　out　of　his　sporran　a　thousand　dollar　banknote；　set　fire　to　it　while　Warwick　watched　in　horrified　fascination。　Gibbons　rubbed　the　char　off　his　fingers。　〃Wastepaper；　Duke；　as　long　as　it's　in　my　possession。　But　if　I　let　it　get　into　circulation；　it　bees　my　IOU　that　I　must　honor。　Half　a　moment　while　I　record　that　serial　number；　I　keep　track　of　what　I　burn　so　that　I　know　how　much　is　still　in　circulation。　Quite　a　lot；　but　I　can　tell　you　to　the　dollar。　Are　you　going　to　honor　my　IOU's？　And　what　about　debts　owed　to　the　bank？　Who　gets　paid？　You？　Or　me？〃
　　
　　Warwick　looked　baffled。　〃Ernie；　I　…　just　don't　know。　Hell；　man；　I'm　a　mechanic　by　trade。　But　you　heard　what　they　said　at　the　meeting。〃
　　
　　〃Yeah；　I　heard。　People　always　expect　a　government　to　work　miracles…even　people　who　are　fairly　bright　other　ways。　Let's　lock　up　this　junk　and　go　over　to　the　Waldorf　and　have　a　beer　and　discuss　it。〃
　　
　　〃…or　should　be；　Duke；　simply　a　public　bookkeeping　service　and　credit　system　in　which　the　medium　of　exchange　is　stable。　Anything　more　and　you　are　jiggering　with　other　people's　wealth；　robbing　Peter　to　pay　Paul。
　　
　　〃Duke；　I　did　my　best　to　keep　the　dollar　stable　by　keeping　key　prices　stable…seed　wheat　in　particular。　For　over　twenty　years　the　Top　Dollar　Trading　Post　has　paid　the　same　price　for　prime　seed　wheat；　then　resold　it　at　the　same　markup…　even　if　I　took　a　loss　and　sometimes　I　did。　Seed　wheat　isn't　too　good　a　money　standard；　it's　perishable。　But　we　don't　have　gold　or　uranium　as　yet；　and　it　has　to　be　something。
　　
　　〃Now　look；　Duke…when　you　reopen　as　a　treasury；　or　a　government　central　bank；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　you're　certain　to　have　pressures　on　you　to　do　all　sorts　of　things。　Lower　the　interest　rates。　Expand　the　money　supply。　Guarantee　high　prices　to　the　farmer　for　what　he　sells；　guarantee　low　prices　for　what　he　buys。　Brother；　you're　going　to　be　called　worse　names　than　they　call　me；　no　matter　what　you　do。〃
　　
　　〃Ernie…there's　only　one　thing　for　it。　You　know　how　。　。　so　you've　got　to　take　the　job　of　munity　treasurer。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　laughed　heartily。　〃No；　sirree；　bub。　I've　had　that　headache　for　more　than　twenty　years；　now　it's　your　turn。　You　grabbed　the　sack；　now　you　hold　it。　If　I　let　you　put　me　back　in　as　banker；　all　that　will　happen　is　that　they　will　lynch　both　of　us。〃
　　
　　Changes…Helen　M？yberry　married　the　Widower　Parkinson；　went　to　live　with　him　in　a　small　new　house　on　the　farm　now　worked　by　two　of　his　sons；　Dora　Brandon　became　schoolmistress　of　what　was　still　called　〃Mrs。　Mayberry's　Primary　School。〃　Ernest　Gibbons；　no　longer　banker；　was　now　silent　partner　in　Rick's　General　Store；　while　his　own　warehouses　bulged　with　cargo　for　the　Andy　J。　if　and　when。　Soon；　he　hoped；　as　the　new　inventory…　tax　was　eating　into　cash　he　had　held　out　for　trading；　and　inflation　was　eating　into　the　buying　power　of　that　cash。　Better　hurry；　Zack；　before　we　are　nibbled　to　death　by　ducks！
　　
　　At　last　the　ship　appeared　in　New　Beginnings'　sky；　and　Captain　Zaccur　Briggs　came　down　with　the　first　load　of　the　fourth　wave…almost…　all　of　them　quite　old。　Gibbons　refrained　from　ment　until　the　partners　were　alone：
　　
　　〃Zack；　where　did　you　find　those　walking　corpses？〃
　　
　　〃Call　it　charity；　Ernest。　That　sounds　better　than　what　did　happen。〃
　　
　　〃Such　as？〃
　　
　　〃Captain　Sheffield；　if　you　want　our　ship　to　go　back　to　Earth　again；　you　are　wele　to　take　her　there　yourself。　Not　me。　Not　there。　If　a　man　is　seventy…five　years　old　there　now；　he　bees　officially　dead。　His　heirs　inherit；　he　can't　own　property；　his　ration　books　are　canceled…anybody　can　kill　him　just　for　the　hell　of　it。　I　didn't　get　these　passengers　on　Earth；　they　were　refugees　at　Luna　City　and　I　took　as　many　as　I　could…no　messroom　passengers；　cold…sleep　or　nothing~　I　insisted　on　payment　in　hardware　and　pharmaceuticals；　but　coldsleep　let　me　hold　down　the　price　per　head；　I　think　we'll　break　even。　If　not；　we've　got　investments　on　Secundus；　I　haven't　lost　money　for　us。　I　think。〃
　　
　　〃Zack；　you　worry　too　much。　Make　money；　lose　money…who　cares？　The　idea　is　to　enjoy　it。　Tell　me　where　we　are　going　next；　and　I　can　begin　picking　cargo…I've　got　twice　the　metric　tonnage　we　can　stow。　While　you　get　her　loaded；　I'll　liquidate　what　we　aren't　lifting　and　invest　the　proceeds。　Leave　it　with　a　Howard；　that　is。〃　Gibbons　looked　thoughtful。　〃This　new　situation　probably　means　no　Clinic　here　any　time　soon？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　that　is　certain；　Ernest。　Any　Howard　who　needs　rejuvenation　soon　had　better　take　passage　with　us；　we　are　bound　to　hit　Secundus　in　a　leg　or　six；　no　matter　where　we　go。　Then　you　are　definitely　ing　along？　All　over　your　problem？　What　became　of　that　baby　girl？　The　short…lifer。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　grinned。　〃I　don't　think　i'll　let　you　lay　eyes　on　her；　Son；　I　know　you。〃
　　
　　Captain　Briggs'　arrival　caused　Gibbons　to　miss　three　days　running　his　usual　daily　ride　with　Dora　Brandon。　0n　the　fourth　day　he　showed　up　at　the　schoolhouse　as　school　let　out；　Briggs　having　gone　back　up　for　a　couple　of　days。　〃Got　time　for　a　ride　today？〃　…
　　
　　She　flashed　him　a　smile。　〃You　know　I　have。　Half　a　minute　while　I　change。〃
　　
　　They　rode　out　of　town；　Gibbons　as　usual　riding　Beulah　but　with　Dora　on　Betty。　Buck　was　saddled　（for　his　pride）；　but　the　saddle　was　empty；　he　was　now　ridden　only　ceremonially；　by　mule　years　he　was　quite　old。
　　
　　They　paused　on　a　sunny　hilltop　well　out　of　town。　Gibbons　said；　〃Why　so　silent；　little　Dora？　Buck　has　had　more　to　say　than　you　have。〃
　　
　　She　turned　in　the　saddle　an…d　faced　him。　〃How　many　more　rides　will　we　haye　together？　Is　this　the　last？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　…　Dora！　Of　course　we　will　have　more　rides　together。〃
　　
　　〃I　wonder。　Lazarus；　I。…〃
　　
　　〃What　did　you　call　me？〃
　　
　　〃I　called　you　by　your　name；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　He　stared　at　her　thoughtfully。　〃Dora；　you're　not　supposed　to　know　that　name。　I'm　your　'Uncle　Gibbie。'〃
　　
　　〃'Uncle　Gibbie'　is　gone；　and　so　is　'Little　Dora。'　I'm　almost　as　tall　as　you　are　now；　and　I've　known　for　two　years　who　you　are；　and　I　had　guessed　it　be