time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第63章

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　　Ira　blinked。　〃Run　a　chance　of　running　into　yourself？〃
　　
　　〃Why　not？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　there　are　paradoxes；　are　there　not？〃
　　
　　〃How？　If　I'm　going　to；　then　I　did。　That　old　clich？about　shooting　your　grandfather　before　he　sires　your　father；　then　going　luff！　like　a　soap　bubble…and　all　descendants；　too；　meaning　both　of　you　among　others…is　nonsense。　The　fact　that　Fm　here　and　you're　here　means　that　I　didn't　do　it…or　won't　do　it；　the　tenses　of　grammar　aren't　built　for　time　travel…but　it　does　not　mean　that　I　never　went　back　and　poked　around。　I　haven't　any　yen　to　look　at　myself　when　I　was　a　snot…nose；　it's　the　era　that　interests　me。　If　I　ran　across　myself　as　a　young　kid；　he…I…wouldn't　recognize　me；　I　would　be　a　stranger　to　that　brat。　He　wouldn't　give　me　a　passing　glance；　I　know；　I　was　he。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；〃　put　in　Justin　Foote；　〃if　you　intend　to　visit　that
　　
　　era；　I'd　like　to　invite　your　attention　to　one　thing　Madam
　　
　　Chairman　Pro　Tern　is　interested　in…because　I　am　interested。
　　
　　A　recording　of　exactly　what　was　said　and　done　at　the　Families'
　　
　　Meeting　in　2012　A。D。〃
　　
　　〃Impossible。〃
　　
　　〃Just　a　moment；　Justin；〃　Ira　put　in。　〃Lazarus；　you　have　refused　to　talk　about　that　meetii~g　on　the　grounds　that　the　others　who　were　there　can't　dispute　your　version。　But　a　recording　would　be　fair　to　everyone。〃
　　
　　〃Ira；　I　didn't　say　that　I　would　not；　I　said　it　was　impossible。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　follow　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　can't　make　a　recording　of　that　meeting　because　I　was　not　there。〃
　　
　　〃You　lost　me　again。　All　the　records…and　your　own　statements…show　that　you　were　there。〃
　　
　　〃Again　we　don't　have　language　adequate　for　time　travel。　Surely；　I　was　there　as　Woodrow　Wilson　Smith。　I　was　there　and　made　a　hairy　nuisance　of　myself　and　offended　~　lot　of　people。　But　I　did　not　have　a　recorder　on　me。　Let's　say　that　Dora　and　the　twins　drop　me　back　there…me；　Lazarus　Long；　not　that　younger　fellow…and　that　Ishtar　has　equipped　me　with　a　recorder　implanted　behind　my　right　kidney；　with　its　minimike　surfacing　inside　my　right　ear。　Okay；　let's　assume　that　ent　I　won't　be　noticed　making　a　record。
　　
　　〃But；　Ira；　what　you　don't　understand；　despite　having
　　
　　chaired　many　Families'　Meetings；　is　that　I　would　not　get　inside　the　hail。　In　those　days　an　executive　meeting　of　the　Families　was　harder　to　get　into　than　an　esbat　of　witches。　The　guards　were　armed　and　eager；　it　was　a　rough　period。　What　identity　could　I　use？　Not　Woodrow　Wilson　Smith；　he　was　there。　Lazarus　Long？　There　was　no　'Lazarus　Long'　on　the　Families'　rolls。　Try　to　fake　it　as　someone　eligible　but　not　able　to　attend？　Impossible。　There　were　only　a　few　thousand　of　us　then；　and　every　member　was　known　to　a　large　percentage　of　the　rest；　a　man　who　couldn't　be　vouched　for　ran　a　nasty　chance　of　being　buried　in　the　basement。　No　unidentified　person　ever　did　get　in；　we　had　too　much　at　stake。　Hi；　Minerva！　e　in；　honey。〃
　　
　　〃Hi；　Lazarus。　Ira；　am　I　intruding？〃
　　
　　〃Not　at　all；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you。　Hello；　Athene。〃
　　
　　〃Hello；　my　sister。〃
　　
　　Minerva　waited　to　be　introduced。　Ira　said；　〃Minerva；　you　remember　Justin　Foote；　Chief　Archivist。〃
　　
　　〃Certainly；　I've　worked　with　him　many　times。　Wele　to　Tertius；　Mr。　Foote。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Miss　Minerva。〃　Justin　Foote　liked　what　he　saw…a　tall；　slender　young　woman　with　an　erect　carriage；　a　small；　firm　bust；　long　chestnut　hair　worn　in　a　part　and　brushed　straight　down；　a　sober；　intelligent　face；　handsome　rather　than　pretty；　but　which　blossomed　into　beauty　each　time　she　gave　one　of　her　quick　smiles。　〃But；　Ira；　I　must　hurry　back　to　Secundus　and　apply　for　rejuvenation。　This　young　lady　has　worked　with　me　~many　times'…yet　I've　grown　so　senile　I　can't　place　the　occasions。　Forgive　me；　dear　lady。〃
　　
　　Minerva　flashed　him　another　of　her　smiles；　then　instantly　was　sober。　〃My　fault；　s？r；　I　should　have　explained　at　once。　When　I　worked　with　you；　I　was　a　puter。　Executive　puter　of　Secundus；　serving　Mr。　Weatheral；　then　Chairman　Pro　Tem。　But　now　I'm　a　flesh…and…blood；　and　have　been　for　the　past　three　years。〃
　　
　　Justin　Foote　blinked。　〃I　see。　I　hope　I　do。〃
　　
　　〃I　am　a　proscribed　construct；　sir；　not　born　of　woman。　A　posite　clone　of　twenty…three　donor…parents；　forced　to　maturity　in　vitro。　But　the　'I'　that　is　me；　my　ego；　was　the　puter　who　used　to　work　with　you　when　the　Archives　puters　needed　assistance　from　the　executive　puter。　Have　I　made　it　clear？〃　~
　　
　　~
　　
　　〃Uh　；。　all　I　can　say；　Miss　Minerva；　is　that　I　am　delighted　to　meet　you　in　the　flesh。　Your　servant；　Miss。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　doh't　call　me　'Miss；'　call　me　'Minerva。'　I　shouldn't　be　called　'Miss'　anyhow；　isn't　that　honorific　reserved　for　virgins　among　flesh…and…bloods？　Ishtar…one　of　my　mothers　an~l　my　chief　designer……defiowered。　me　surgically　before　she　woke　me。〃
　　
　　〃And　that　ain't　all！〃　came　the　voice　from　the　ceiling。
　　
　　〃Athene；〃　Minerva　said　reprovingly。　〃Sister；　you're　embarrassing　our　guest。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　not；　but　maybe　you　are；　sister　mine。〃
　　
　　〃Am　I；　〃Mr。　Foote？　I　hope　not。　But　I'm　still　learning　to　be　a　human　being。　Will　you　kiss　me？　I'd　like　to　kiss　you；　we've　known　each　other　almost　a　century　and　I've　always　liked　you。　Will　you？〃
　　
　　〃Now　who's　embarrassing　him；　sister？〃
　　
　　〃Minerva；〃　said　Ira~
　　
　　She　suddenly　sobered。　〃I　shouldn't　have　said　that？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　cut　in。　〃Pay　no　attention　to　Ira；　Justin；　he's　an　old　stick…in…the…mud。　Minerva　is　a　'kissin　COUSin'　fo　most　of　the　colony；　she's　making　up　for　lost　time。　Furthermore；　she　is　some　sort　of　cousin　to　practically　all　of　us　through　her　twentythree　parents。　And　she's　learned　how…kissing　her　is　a　treat。　Athene；　let　your　sis　be　while　she　adds　on　another　kissing　cousin。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Lazarus。　01'　Buddy　Boy！〃
　　
　　〃Teeisa；　if　I　could　reach　through　that　string　of　wires；　I'd　spank　you。〃　Lazarus　added；　〃Go　ahead；　Justin。〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　Minerva；　I　haven't　kissed　a　girl　in　many　years。　Out　of　practice。〃
　　
　　〃Mr。　Foote；　I　do　not　mean　to　embarrass　you。　I　am　simply　delighted　to　see　you　again。　You　need　not　kiss　me。　Or　if　you　are　willing　to　kiss　me　in　private；　you　are　most　wele。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　risk　it；　Justin；〃　advised　the　puter。　〃I'm　your　friend。〃
　　
　　〃Athene！〃
　　
　　〃I　was　about　to　add；〃said　the　Chief　Archivist；　〃that　I　probably　need　practice　in　'learning　to　be　a　human　being'　more　than　you　do。　If　you'll　put　up　with　my　rustiness；　Cousin；　I　accept　your　sweet　offer。　Brace　yourself。〃
　　
　　Minerva　smiled　quickly；　went　into　his　arms；　flowed　up　against　him　like　a　cat；　closed　her　eyes；　and　opened　her　mouth。　Ira　studied　a　paper　on　his　desk。　Lazarus　did　not　even　pretend　not　to　watch。　He　noted　that　Justin　Foote　put　his　heart　into
　　
　　第50节
　　
　　the　matter…the　old　buzzard　might　be　out　of　practice；　but　he　hadn't　forgotten　the　basics。
　　
　　When　they　broke；　the　puter　gave　a　respectful　whistle。　〃Wheeee　。　…　ooooo！　Justin；　wele　to　the　Club。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；〃　Ira　said　dryly；　〃a　person　can't　be　said　to　be　officially　on　Tertius　until　he　or　she　has　been　weled　with　a　kiss　from　Minerva。　Now　that　protocol　is　satisfied；　sit　down。　Minerva；　my　dear；　you　came　for　some　purpose？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　She　settled　down　by　Justin　Foote　on　a　couch　facing　Ira　and　Lazarus…took　Justin's　hand。　〃I　was　in　the　'Dora'　with　the　twins；　and　Dora　was　drilling　them　in　astrogation；　when　the　packet　showed　up　in　our　sky　and…〃
　　
　　〃Hold　it；〃　Lazarus　interrupted。　〃Did　the　brats　track　it？〃
　　
　　〃Certainly；　Lazarus。　A　live　exercise？…Dora　would　never　miss　such　a　chance。　She　split　herself　instantly　and　made　each　of　them　track　it　independently。　But　once　the　autopacket　grounded　I　asked　Dora　to　ask　Athene　who　was　in　it…and　as　soon　as　the　pod　opened；　my　sisters　told　me；　Justin〃…she　squeezed　his　hand…〃and　I　hurried　to　greet　you。　And　to　offer　some　arrangments。　Ira；　has　Justin　been　provided　for？　A　place　to　sleep；　things　like　that？〃
　　
　　〃Not　yet；　my　dear。　We　were　just　starting　to　talk…he's　barely　had　time　to　shake　off　the　anesthetic。〃
　　
　　Foote　remarked；　〃I　think　the　antidote　has　taken　hold。〃
　　
　　The　puter　added；　〃Cousin　Justin　just　had　a　second　dose；　Ira。　Pulse　fast　but　steady。〃
　　
　　〃That's　enough；　Athene。　Were　you　going　to　suggest　something；　my　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　I　swung　past　the　house　and　spoke　with　Ishtar。　We　are　in　agreement。　Subject　to　approval　of　you　and　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃You　mean　we　get　a　vote？〃　Lazarus　put　in。　〃Justin；　this　pla　is　run　by　its　women。〃
　　
　　〃Isn't　that　true　everywhere？〃
　　
　　〃No；　just　most　of　them。　I　remember　a　place　where　a　wedding　ceremony　always　concluded　by　killing　the　bride's　mother　if　she　hadn't　been　used　up　earlier。　I　thought　that　was　overdoing　it；　but　it　did　tend　to…〃
　　
　　〃Stow　it；　Grandpappy；〃　Ira　said　mildly。　〃Justin　would　have　to　edit　it　out。　Justin；　what　Minerva　has　been　saying　is　that　our　house　is　yours。　Lazarus？〃
　　
　　〃Certainly。　It's　a　madhouse；　Justin；　but　the　cooking　is　okay；　and　the　price　is　right。　Free；　that　is。　It's　just　your　nerves　that　pay。〃
　　
　　〃Really；　I　have　no　intention　of　imposing。　Isn't　there　some…
　　
　　one　who　can　rent　me　a　room？　Not　for　money…I　assume　that　Secundus　money　is　not　negotiable　here…but　for　artifacts　I've　fetched；　things　you　don't　make　as　yet。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　answered；　〃You　can　negotiate　Secundus　money　through　me　if　you　need　to。　As　for　artifacts；　you　may　be　suryrised　at　what　we　are　making。〃
　　
　　〃I　might　not　be；　I　know　that　a　universal　pantograph　was　moved　here。　So　I　fetched　new　Creative　items；　mostly　entertainments…solly　cubes　and　such。　Musicalarkies；　pomies；　dreams；　other　sorts…all　published　since　you　folks　left　Secundus。〃
　　
　　〃Well　planned。〃　Lazarus　added；　〃I　think　colonizing　was　more　fun　back　when　pioneers　had　no　choice　but　to　slep　in　and　slug　it　out　and　you　weren't　sure　who　was　going　to　win；　you　or　the　pla。　The　way　we　do　it　now　is　like　swatting　an　insect　with　a　sledgehammer。　Justin；　your　creepies　will　fetch　a　high　price…but　sell　them　in　dribbles　…　…　because　each　one　will　be　copied　as　soon　as　you　turn　it　loose。　No　copyright；　there's　no　way　to　enforce　it。　But　it　still　won't　rent　you　a　room；　we're　at　the　staying…with…kinfolk　stage。　You'd　best　accept　our　offer；　it　rains　'most　every　night　this　time　o'　year。〃
　　
　　Justin　Foote　looked　baffled。　〃I　have　misgivings　about　invading　your　privacy。　Ira；　could　I　borrow　this　couch　I'm　sitting　on？　For　a　short　time？　Then…〃
　　
　　〃Stow　it；　Justin。〃　Lazarus　stood　up。　〃Son；　you're　suffering　from　big…city　attitudes。　You're　wele　for　a　week　or　a　century。　You're　not　only　my　lineal　descendant…through　Harriet　Foote；　I　think…but　you're　a　kissm'　cousin　of　Minerva's。　Let's　take　him　home；　Minerva。　What　did　you　do　with　my　hellkins？〃
　　
　　〃They're　outside。〃
　　
　　〃Trust　you　staked　'em　down。〃
　　
　　〃No；　but　they　were　somewhat　miffed。〃
　　
　　〃Good　for　their　metabolism。　Ira；　declare　a　holiday。〃
　　
　　〃I　will…as　soon　as　I've　gone　over　the　ore　converter　plans　with　Athene。〃
　　
　　〃Meaning　you're　going　to　find　out　from　her　what's　she's　decided。〃
　　
　　〃You　can　say　that　again！〃　said　the　puter。
　　
　　〃Teena；〃　Lazarus　said　mildly；　〃you've　been　associating　with　Dora　too　much。　When　Minerva　had　your　job；　she　was　sw鏴t；　gentle；　respectful；　and　humble。〃
　　
　　〃Any　plaints　about　my　work；　Grandpappy？〃
　　
　　〃Just　your　manners；　dear。　In　the　presence　of　a　guest。〃
　　
　　〃Justin　isfl't　a　guest；　he's　family。　He's　my　sister's　kissing　cousin；　so　he's　mine；　too。　Logical？　Q。E。D。〃
　　
　　〃~l　disdain　to　argue。　Watch　out　for　Teena；　Justin；　she'll　trap　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　find　Athene's　reasoning　not　only　logical　but　warmly　pleasing。　Thank　you；　my…kissing　cousin。〃
　　
　　〃I　like　you；　Justin；　you　were　sweet　to　my　sister。　Don't　worry　about　me　trapping　you；　I　don't　plan　to　accept　a　clone　for　at　least　a　hundred　years…first　I've　got　to　get　this　pla　organized。　So　don't　wait　up；　you'll　see　me　in　about　a　century。　You'll　recognize　me；　I'll　look　exactly　like　Minerva。〃
　　
　　〃But　noisier。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　you　say　the　sweetest　things。　Kiss　him　for　me；　twin　sister。〃
　　
　　〃Let's　go；　Minerva；　Teena's　got　me　mixed　up　again。〃
　　
　　〃Just　a　moment；　Lazarus；　please。　Ira？　I　made　other　arrangements　through　Ishtar　but　only　tentatively　…　。　not　being　sure　of　Justin's　wishes。〃
　　
　　〃Oh。　I　don't　know　them　either。　Do　you　want　me　to　ask　him？〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　yes。〃
　　
　　〃On　your　behalf？〃
　　
　　Minerva　looked　startled。　Justin　Foote　looked　puzzled。　Athene　said；　〃Let's　cut　through　the　fog。　Justin；　Minerva　was　asking　Ira　whether　or　not　you　want　her　to　find　you　a　guest　wife。　Ira　says　he　doesn't　know　but　will　find　out…then　asked　her　if　she　was　volunteering　for　the　privilege。　All　clear？　Justin；　my　sister　is　so　new　at　being　a　flesh…and…blood　that　she　sometimes　isn't　sure　of　herself。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　reflected　that　he　had　not　seen　a　girl　blush…for　that　reason…for　three　centuries　or　more。　Nor　did　the　two　men　look　at　ease。　He　said　reprovingly；　〃Teena；　you　are　an　excellent　engineer　…　。　and　a　lousy　diplomat。〃
　　
　　〃What？　Oh；　nonsense。　I　saved　them　billions　of　nanosec…　onds。〃
　　
　　〃Shut　up；　dear；your　circuits　are　scrambled。　Justin；　Minerva　is　almo