time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第5章

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　　〃We　still　understand　each　other。　I　think　I'll　leave　the　'Dora'
　　
　　…that's　my　yacht…to　you　personally　rather　than　to　the　Families'　chairman　。　。　if　you　lead　a　migration。〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　you　tempt　me　to　thank　you。〃
　　
　　〃Don't。　Just　be　good　to　her。　She's　a　sweet　craft；　she's　never　known　anything　but　kindness。　She'll　make　a　fine　flagship　for　you。　With　simple　reoutfitting…specs　for　it　in　her　puter…　she'll　house　a　staff　of　twenty　or　thirty。　And　you　can　ground　and　reconnoiter　in　her；　then　lift　off　again…which　your　transports　won't　be　able　to　do；　most　likely。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus　。　。　I　don't　want　to　inherit　either　money　or　a　yacht　from　you。　Let　thcm　finish　your　rejuvenation…and　e
　　
　　with　us；　mani　I'll　step　aside　and　you　can　boss。　Or　you　can　have　no　duties　at　all。　But　e！〃　…
　　
　　Lazarus　smiled　bleakly　and　shook　his　head。　〃I've　been　on　six　such　colonizing　ventures　to　virgin　plas；　not　counting　Secundlis。　All　to　plas　I　discovered。　Gave　it　up　centuries　back。　Anything　gets　boring　in　time。　Do　you　think　Solomon　serviced　all　his　thousand　wives？　If　so；　what　sort　of　job　did　he　do　on　the　last　one？…poor　girl！　Find　me　something　new　to　do　and　I　might　never　touch　that　suicide　switch　and　still　give　you　all　I've　got　for　your　colony。　It　'ud　be　a　fair　swap
　　
　　as　this　half~vay　rejuvenation　is　most　unsatisfactory；　I　don't　feel　well；　yet　I　can't　die。　So　I'm　stuck　between　the　suicide　switch　and　giving　in　for　the　full　treatment　。　…　the　donkey　that　starved　to　death　between　two　piles　of　hay。　But　it　would　have　to　be　new；　Ira；　not　something　I've　done　over　and　over　again。　Like　that　old　whore；　I've　climbed　the　same　stairs　too　many　times；　my　feet　hurt。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　think　about　the　problem；　Lazarus。　I'll　give　it　hard　and　systematic　research。〃
　　
　　〃Seven　to　t？o　you　can't　find　anything　I　haven't　done。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　make　a　real　try；　You'll　lay　off　the　suicide　switch　while　I　research　it？〃
　　
　　〃No　promises。　Not　once　I　get　this　will　redrafted。　Can　you　trust　your　chief　legal　eagle？　May　need　some　help　。　。　because　this　will〃…he　tapped　the　envelope…　〃leaving　everything　to　the　Families　would　stand　up　on　Secundus　no　matter　how　many　flaws　are　in　it。　But　if　I　leave　it　to　a　private　party…you；　I　mean…some　of　my　descendants…quite　a　passel…will　scream　'undue　influence'　and　try　to　break　it。　Ira；　they'll　keep　it　tied　up　in　court　until　it's　dribbled　away　in　leg…al　fees。　Let's　avoid　that；　eh？〃
　　
　　〃We　can。　I've　made　changes　in　the　rul~t　On　this　pla　a　man　can　put　his　will　through　probate　before　his　death；　and　if　there　are　fla…　rephrase　it　to　acplish　his　purposes。　If'he　does　it　that　way；　no　contest　Can'　be　entertained　by　any　court；　it　goes　automatically　into　effect　on　his　death。　Of　course　if　he　changes　his　will；　the　new　will　must　go　through　the　same　process…which　makes　changing　his　mind　expensive。　But　by　using　preprobate；　it　does　not　take　a　lawyer　for　even　the　most　plex　'will。　And　the　lawyers　can't　touch　it　afterwards。〃　…
　　
　　Lazarus'　eyes　widened　with　pleasure。　〃Didn't　you　annoy　a　few　lawyers？〃
　　
　　〃I've　annoyed　so　many；〃　Ira　said　dryly；　〃that　every　trans
　　
　　port　to　Pdlicity　has　voluntary　migrants　in　it…and　so　many　lawyers　have　annoyed　me。　that　some　are　involuntary　ones。〃　The　Chairman　Pro　Tens　looked　sourly　~nsused。　〃Once　I　said　to　m~'　Chief　Justice；　'Warren；　i've　bad　to　reVerse　too　many　of　your　decisions。　You've　been　splitting　hairs；　misinterpreting　the　rules；　and　ignoring　equity　ever　since　you　came　into　office。　Go　home；　you're　under　house　arrest　until　the　'Last　Chance'　lifts。　You　can　have　an　escort　during　daylight　hours　to　let　you　wind　up　your　private　affairs。〃；
　　
　　Lazarus　chuckled。　〃Shoulda　hanged　him。　You　know　what　he　did；　don't　you？　Set　up　shop　again　on　Felicity　and　went　into　politics。　If　they　didn't　lynch　him。〃
　　
　　〃His　problem　and　theirs；　not　mine。　Lazarus；　I　never　let　a　man　be　executed　for　being　a　fool…but　if　he's　too　obnoxious；　I　ship　him　out。　There's　no　need　to　sweat　over　your　new　will　if　you　want　one。　Just　dictate　it　with　any　elaborations　and　explanations　you　see　fit。　Then　we'll　run　it　through　a　semantic　analyzer　to　rephrase　it　into　airtight　legal　language。　Once　it　satisfies　you；　you　can　submit　it　to　the　High　Court…which　will　e　to　you　if　you　prefer…and　the　Court　will　validate　it。　Done　that　way　it　could　then　be　overturned　only　by　arbitrary　act　of　a　ne*　Chairman　Pro　Tern。　Which　I　consider　most　unlikely；　the　Trustees　do　not　place　such　men　in　office。〃
　　
　　Weatheral　added；　〃But　I　hope　you　will　take　plenty　of　time；　Lazarus。　1　want　a　fair　chance　to　search　for　something　new；　something　that　will　restore　your　interest　in　life。〃
　　
　　〃All　right。　But　don't　daIly；　I　won't　be　put　off　with　a　Scheherazade　gag。　Have　them　send　me　a　recorder…tomorrow　morning；　say。〃　…
　　
　　Weatheral　seemed　about　to　speak；　did　not。　Lazarus　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃This　conversation　is　being　recorded？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Lazarus。　Sound　and　holography；　everything　that　happens　in　this　suite。　But…your　pardon；　sir！…it　goes　only　to　my　desk　and　does　not　bee　a　permanent　record　until　I　have　checked　…and　okayed　it。　Nothing　so　far；　that　is。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　shrugged。　〃Forget　it。　Ira；　I　learned　centuries　back　that　there　is　no　privacy　in　any　society　crowded　enough　to　need　ID's。　A　law　guaranteeing　privacy　simply　insures　that　bugs…microphones　and　lenses　and　so　forth…are　that　much　harder　to　spot。　I　hadn't　thought　about　it　up　till　now　because　I　take　it　for　granted　that。。　my　privacy　will　be　invaded　any　time　I　visit　such　places…then　I　ignore　it　unless　I'm　up　to　something　the　local　law　won't　like。　In　which　case　I　use　evasive　tactics。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　that　record　can　be　wiped。　Its　only'　purpose　is　to　make　me　certain　that　the　Senior　is　being　properly　taken　care　of…a　responsibility　I　will　not　delegate。〃　…
　　
　　〃I　said；　'Forget　it。'　But　I'm　surprised　at　your　naivet？　a　man　in　your　position；　in　thinking　that　the　record　is　piped　only　to　your　desk？　I'll　lay　long　odds；　any　amount　you　like；　that　it　goes　one；　two；　even　three　or　more　other　places。〃
　　
　　…　〃If　so；　Lazarus；　and　I　can　find　it　out；　Felicity　will　have　some　new　colonists…after　they've　spent　some　unpleasant　hours　in　the　Colosseum。〃
　　
　　〃Ira；　it　doesn't　matter。　If　any　fool　wants　to　watch　an　old；　old　man　gfunting　on　the　pot　or　taking　a　bath；　he's　wele。　You　yourself　insured　that　it　would　happen　by　making　a　point　of　the　record　being　secret；　your　eyes　only。　Security　people　always　spy　on　their　bosses；　they　caift　help　it；　it's　a　syndrome　that　goes　with　the　job。　Have　you　had　dinner？　I'd　be　pleased　to　have　you　stay　if　you　have　time。〃
　　
　　〃I　would　be　honored　indeed　to　have　dinner　with　the　Senior。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　knock　it　off；　Bud；　there's　no　virtue　in　being　old；　it　just　takes　a　long　time。　I'd　like　you　to　stay　because　I'm　enjoying　human　panionship。　Those　two　over　there　are　no　pany；　Fm　not　even　sure　they're　human。　Robots；　maybe。　Why　do　they　wear　those　diving　suits　and　shiny　helmets'　I　like　to　see　a　man's　face。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　those　are　total　isolation　garments。　For　your　protection；　not　theirs。　Against　infection。〃
　　
　　〃What？　Ira；　when　a　bug　bites　me；　the　bug　dies。　Even　so；　since　they　have　to　wear　that；　how　is　it　that　you　e　in　wearing　Street　clothes？'
　　
　　〃Not　quite；　Lazarus。　For　my　purpose　I　needed　a　social　talk；　fake　to　face。　So　the　last　two　hours　before　I　came　in　I　spent　undergoing　a　most　careful　physical　examination；　followed　by　scalp…to…toe　sterilization　of　skin；　hair；　ears；　nails；　teeth；　nose；　throat…even　a　gas　inhalation　which　I　can't　name　but　did　not　like…while　my　clothes　were　sterilized　even　more　thoroughly。　Even　that　envelope　I　fetched　to　you。　This　suite　is　sterile　and　kept　so。〃
　　
　　〃Ira；　such　precautions　are　silly。　Unless　my　immunity　has　been　intentionally　lowered？〃
　　
　　〃No。　Or　let　me　say；　'I　think　not。'　No　reason　for　it　as　any　transplant　will　of　course　be　done　from　your　own　clone。〃
　　
　　〃So　it's　unnecessary。　If　I　didn't　catch　anything　in　that　flophouse；　why　would　I　catch　anything　now？　But　I　don't　catch
　　
　　things。　I　worked　as　a　physician　during　a　plague…don't　loul　surprised；　medicine　is　just　one　of。　fifty…odd　trades　I've　tol　lowed。　Unknown　plague　on　Ormuzd；　everybody　caught　it；　twehty…eight　percent　died。　Save　yours　truly；　who　didn't　ever　have　a　sniffle。　So　tell　those…　No；　you'll　want　to　do　it　through　the　Director　of　the　Clinic；　bypassing　your　chain…of…mand　ruins　morale…though　why　I　should　care　about　this　organization's　morale　I　don't　know；　seeing　that　I　am　an　involuntary　guest。　Tell　the　Director　that；　if　I　must　have　nurses；　I　want　them　to　dress　like　nurses。　Or；　better　yet；　like　people。　Ira；　if　you　want　cooperation　out　of　me　of　any　sort；　you'll　start　by　cooperating　with　me。　Otherwise　I'm　going　to　take　the　joint　apart　with　my　bare　hands。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　speak　to　the　Director；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Good。　Now　let's　have　dinner。　But　a　drink　first…and　if　the　Director　doesn't　think　I　should　have　one；　tell　him　bluntly　that　he　will　have　to　go　back　to　force…feeding　and　there　is　some　question　as　to　whose　throat　the　tube　will　go　down；　I'm　in　no　mood　to　be　pushed　around。　Is　there　any　real　whisky　on　this　pla？　Wasn't　the　last　time　I　was　here。〃
　　
　　〃Not　that　I　would　drink。　But　the　local　brandy　I　think　well　of。〃
　　
　　〃Good。　Brandy　and　bubbles　for　me　if　that　is　the　best　we　can　do；　a　brandy　Manhattan　if　anyone　knows　what　I　mean　by　that。〃
　　
　　〃I　do；　and　like　them…I　learned　something　about　ancient　drinks　when　I　studied　your　life。〃
　　
　　'Pine。　Then　please　order　for　us；　drinks　and　dinner…and　I'll　listen　and　see　how　many　words　I　can　pick　up。　I　think　my　memory　is　coining　back　a　bit。〃
　　
　　Weatheral　spoke　to　one　of　the　technicians；　Lazarus　interrupted。　〃That　should　be　one…third　sweet　vermoutit；　not　onehalf。〃
　　
　　〃So？　You　understood　it？〃
　　
　　〃Mostly。　Indo…European　roots；　with　a　simplified　syntcx　and　grammar；　I'm　beginning　to　recall　it。　Damn　it；　when　a　man　has　had　to　learn　as　many　languages　as　I　have；　it's　easy　for　one　to　slip　away。　But　it's　ing　back。〃
　　
　　Service　was　so　fast　as　to　cause　one　to　suspect　that　a　crew　was　standing　by　ready　to　produce　anything　that　the　Senior　or　the　Chai？man　Pro　Tem　asked　for；　…　…
　　
　　Weatheral　raised　hi~　glass。　〃Long　life。〃
　　
　　〃In　a　pig's　eye；〃　Lazarus　growled　and　took　a　sip。　He　made
　　
　　a　face。　'Whew！　Panther　sweat。　But　it　does　have　alcohol　in…it。〃　He　took　another。　〃Improves　as　your。　tongue　gets　numb。　Okay；　Ira；　you've　stalled　long　enough。　What　was　your　real　reason　for　snatching　me　back　from　my　well…earned　rest？'
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　we　need　your　wisdom。〃…　…
　　
　　PRELUDE
　　
　　U
　　
　　第4节
　　
　　Lazarus　stared　in　horror。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　　
　　〃I　said；〃　Ira　Weatheral　repeated；　〃that　we　need　your　wisdom；　sir。　We　do。〃
　　
　　〃I　thought　that　I　was　off　again　in　one　of　those　before…dying　dreams。　Son；　you've　e　to　the　wrong　window。　Try　across　the　hail。〃
　　
　　We醫heral　shook　his　head。　〃No；　sir。　Oh；　it　isn't　necessary　tcruse　the　word　'wisdom'　if　it　offends　you。　But　we　do　need　to　learn　what　you　know。　You　are　more　than　twice　as　old　as　the　next　oldest　member　of　the　Families。　You　mentioned　that　you　have　practiced　more　than　fifty　professions。　You've　been　everywhere；　you've　seen　far　more　than　anyone　else。　You've　certainly　learned　more　than　any　of　the　rest　of　us。　We　aren't　doing　things　much　better　now　than　we　were　two　thousand　years　ago；　when　you　were　young。　You　must　know　why　we　are　still　making　mistakes　our　ancestors　made。　It　would　be　a　great　loss　if　you　hurried　your　death　without　taking　time　to　tell　us　what　you　have　learned。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　scowled　and　bit　his　lip。　〃Son；　one　of　the　few　things　I've　learned　is　that　humans　hardly　ever　learn　from　the　experience　of　others。　They　learn…when　they　do；　which　isn't　often
　　
　　…on　their　own；　the　hard　way。〃
　　
　　〃That　one　statement　is　worth　recording　for　all　time。〃
　　
　　〃11mm！　No　one　would　learn　anything　from　it；　that's　what　it　says。　Ira；　age　does　not　bring　wisdom。　Often　it　merely　changes　simple　stupidity　into　arrogant　conceit。　Its　only　advantage；　~o　far　as　I　have　been　able　to　see；　is　that　it　spans　change。　A　young　person　sees　the　world　as　a　still　picture；　immutable。　An　old　person　has　had　his　nose　rubbed　in　chai~ges　and　more　changes　and　still　more　changes　so　many　times　that　he　knows　it　is　a　moving　picture；　forever　changing。　He　may　not　like　is…probably　doesn't；　I　don't…but　he　knows　it's　SO；　and　knowing　it　is　the　first　step　in　coping　with　it。〃
　　
　　〃May　I　place　in　open　record　what　you　have　just　said？〃
　　
　　〃Huh？　That's　not　wisdom；　that's　a　clich？　An　obvious　truth。　Any　fool　will　admit　that；　even　if　he　doesn't　live　by　it。〃
　　
　　〃It　would　carry　greater　weight　with　your　name　on　it；　Senior。〃
　　
　　〃Do　as　you　like；　it's　just　horse　sense。　But　if　you　think　I　have　gazed　upon　the　naked　Face　of　God；　think　again。　I　haven't　even　begun　to　find　out　how　the　Universe　works；　much　less　what　it　is　for。　To　figure　out　the　basic　questions　about　this　World　it　would　be　necessary　to　stand　outside　and　look　at　it。　Not　inside。　No；　not　in　two　thousand　years；　not　in　twenty　thousand。　When　a　man　dies；　he　may　shake　loose　his　local　perspe~tive　and　see　the　thing　as　a　whole。〃
　　
　　〃Then　you　believe　in　an　afterlife？〃
　　
　　〃Slow　up！　I　don't　'believe'