time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第64章

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　　〃What？　Oh；　nonsense。　I　saved　them　billions　of　nanosec…　onds。〃
　　
　　〃Shut　up；　dear；your　circuits　are　scrambled。　Justin；　Minerva　is　almost　certainly　the　only　girl　on　this　pla　who　could　be　fussed　by　Teena's　unhelpful　help　。　…　because　she　is　probably　the　only　one　who　shows　any　tendency　to　stick　to　one　man。〃
　　
　　The　puter　giggled。
　　
　　〃I　told　you　to　keep　still；〃　Lazarus　said　sternly。
　　
　　Ira　said　quietly；　〃Minerva　is　a　free　agent；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Who　said　she　wasn't？　And　you　keep　quiet；　too；　until　the　Senior…that's　me；　son…finishes　speaking。　Justin；　Minerva　will
　　
　　find　you　a　dinner　partner…has　found　one；　I　think。　After　that　you　are　on　your　own。　If　you　and　your　dinner　partner　don't　hit　it　off；　no　8oubt　you'll　be　able　to　work　out　something　else。　Teena；　I'm　going　to　switch　you　off　at　the　house　tonight；　I　am　uninviting　you　to　dinner。　You　haven't　learned　how　to　behave　in　pany。〃
　　
　　〃Aw；　Lazarus；　I　didn't　mean　to　steal　your　pig。〃
　　
　　〃Well…〃　Lazarus　looked　around。　Ira's　face　was　impassive；　Minerva　looked　unhappy。　Justin　Foote　spoke　up：
　　
　　〃Senior；　I'm　sure　Athene　did　not　mean　any　harm。　I　do　appreciate　her　declaring　me　her　'kissing　cousin'；　I　found　it　warmly　friendly。　I　hope　you　will　reconsider　and　let　her　join　us　at　dinner。〃
　　
　　〃Very　well；　Teena；　Justin　has　intervened　for　you。　But　between　you　and　Dora　and　the　twins　I　am　beginning　to　need　a　gnarooth　to　ride　herd　on　you　kids。　Justin。　Minerva。　Let's　go。　Ira；　Teena…see　you　at　the　house。　Don't　waste　time　on　that　converter；　Ira；　Teena　did　a　perfect　job。〃
　　
　　Outside　the　colonial　headquarters　Justin　Foote　found　a　nullboat　waiting…not　the　one　that　had　fetched　him　from　the　skyfield；　this　one　had　a　pair　of　redheaded　twins　in　it　。　…　uh；　girls；　although　they　looked　as　if　they　had　just　recently　made　up　their　minds。　Twelve；　perhaps　thirteen。　Both　were　wearing　gun　belts　on　skinny　hips；　with　what　（he　hoped）　were　toy　guns。　One　was　wearing　captain's　insignia　on　bare　shoulders。　Bach　wore　eleven　thousand；　three　hundred；　and　two　freckles　as　near　as　he　could　estimate。
　　
　　Both　jumped　out　of　the　boat；　waited。　One　set　of　freckles　said；　〃About　time。〃　The　other　said；　〃Discrimination。〃
　　
　　？Lazarus　said；　〃Pipe　down　and　be　polite。　Justin；　these　are　my　twin　daughters…Lapis　Lazuli；　and　that　one's　Lorelei　Lee。　Mr。　Justin　Foote；　dears；　Chief　Archivist　for　the　Trustees。〃
　　
　　The　girls　glanced　at　each　other；　then　curtsied　deeply　in　perfect　unison。　〃Wele　to　Tertius；　Chief　Archivist　Foote！〃　they　said　in　chorus。
　　
　　〃Charming！〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　girls；　that　was　nice。　Who　taught　you？〃
　　
　　〃Mama　Hamadryad　taught　us…〃
　　
　　〃…and　Mama　Ishtar　said　this　would　be　a　good　time　to
　　
　　do　it。〃…
　　
　　〃But　I'm　Lori；　she's　Lazi。〃
　　
　　〃You're　both　lazy；〃　said　LazarusS
　　
　　？〃I'm　Captain　Lapis　Lazuli　Long；　manding　Starship　'Dora'　and　she's　my　clew。　Even…numbered　day。〃
　　
　　〃Till　tomorrow。　Odd…numbered　day。〃　〃Lazarus　can't　tell　us　apart…〃　〃…and　he's　not　our　father；　we　never　had　one。〃　〃He's　our　brother；　no　real　authority…〃　〃…he　just　dominates　us　by　brute　strength…〃　〃…but　someday　that　will　change。〃
　　
　　〃Into　the　boat；　you　mutinous　hellions；〃　Lazarus　said　cheerfully；　〃before　I　bust　you　back　to　apprentice　spacemen。〃
　　
　　They　jumped　into　the　boat；　sat　forward；　facing　aft。　〃Threats…〃
　　
　　〃…with　abusive　language…〃
　　
　　〃…and　without　due　process。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　did　not　seem　to　hear　them。　He　and　Justin　handed　Minerva　into　the　boat；　seated　her　aft　and　facing　forward；　they　took　seats　cornering　her。　〃Captain　Lazuli。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir？〃
　　
　　〃Will　you　please　tell　the　boat　to　take　us　home？〃
　　
　　〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Humpty　Dumpty…home！〃
　　
　　The　little　craf？　started　up；　hit　a　steady　ten　knots；　waddling　to　changing　contours　of　the　ground。　Lazarus　said；　〃And　now；　Captain；　having；　confused　our　guest；　please　straighten　him　out。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir。　We're　not　twins；　we　don't　even　have　the　same　mother…〃
　　
　　〃…and　01'　Buddy　Boy　is　not　our　father；　he's　our　'brother。〃
　　
　　〃Even…numbered　day！〃
　　
　　〃Then　make　it　march。〃
　　
　　〃Correction；〃　said　Lazarus。　〃I'm　your　father　because　I　adopted　you；　with　written　consent　of　your　mothers。〃
　　
　　〃Irrelevant…〃
　　
　　〃…and　illegal；　it　was　not　with　our　consent…〃
　　
　　〃…and　immaterial　in　any　case；　as　we　three；　Lazarus；　Lorelei　and　I；　are　identical　triplets　and　therefore　enjoy　the　same　rights　under　any　rational　jurisdiction　…　。　which　unfortunately　this　is　not。　So　he　beats　bs。　Illegally　and　brutally。〃
　　
　　〃Captain；　remind　me　to　get　。a　bigger　club。〃
　　
　　〃Aye　aye；　sir。　But　we're　fond　of　Buddy　Boy　anyhow；　despite　his　masochosadistic　behavior。　Because　he's　really　us。　You　see？〃
　　
　　〃Miss…Captain；　I　mean…I'm　not　sure　I　do。　I　think　I　slid　through　a　space　warp　on　the　way　here　and　failed　to　e　out。〃
　　
　　The　even…numbered…day　captain　shook　her　head。　〃Sorry；　sir；　but　that's　not　possible。　I　must　ask　you　to　take　my　word　for
　　
　　it　。　。　unless　you　can　handle　imperial　numbers　'and　Libby　field…physics。　Can　you？〃
　　
　　〃No。　Can　~you？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　certainly…〃
　　
　　〃…we're　geniuses。〃
　　
　　〃Quit　trying　to　snow　him；　kids；　and　belay　that　order。　I'll　explain　it　myself。〃
　　
　　〃I　wish　you　would；　Lazarus。　I　wasn't　aware　that　you　had　any　minor　children。　Or　sisters；　which　I　find　even　more　confusing。　Are　they　registered？　While　I　can't　see　everything　that　goes　into　tl~e　ifies；　for　many　years　there　has　been　an　automatic　relay　to　my　attention　on　anything　concerning　the　Senior。〃
　　
　　〃Which　I　knew　and　that's　why　you　didn't　see　it。　Registered；　yes；　but　by　their　mothers'　names…host…mothers；　actually；　but；　not　so　reported。　But　I　left　a　Delay…Mail　sealed　registration　of　the　actual　genealogy　involved；　to　be　opened　by　you　or　your　successor　on　my　death　or　in　year　2070　of　the　Diaspora；　whichever　es　first；　to　insure　that　they　will　receive　certain　knickknacks；　such　as　my　second…best　bed…〃
　　
　　〃And　the　'Dora'！〃
　　
　　第51节
　　
　　〃Pipe　down。　Keep　butting　in　and　your　sister　gets　the　'Dora'　and　you　won't　be　captain　even　on　alternate　days。　I　pinked　'that　date；　Justin；　because　I　expect　them　to　be　adults　by　then；　they　really　are　geniuses。　I　will　not　attempt　time　travel　until　then；　as　they　are　captain　and　crew　of　my　yacht…only　while　groundside　now　but　in　space　by　then。　As　to　how　they　are　my　sisters…　and　they　are…an　illegal…proscribed；　rather；　by　Secundus　Clinic…a　clandestine　surgical　procedure　was　used　to　clone　them　from　me。　Somewhat　like　Minerva's　case；　but　simpler。〃
　　
　　〃Much　simpler；〃　agreed　Minerva。　〃I　operated　for　me；　when　I　was　still　a　puter…and　failed　seventeen　times　before　I　achieved　a　perfect　clone。　I　couldn't　do　it　now；　although　Athene　would　be　able　to。　But　ou~　girls　were　cloned　by　a　fleshand…blood　surgeon…replication　of　the　X　chromosome　was　all　that　was　necessary…and　did　it　in　both　cases　in　one　try；　Laz　and　Lor　were　born　the　same　day。〃
　　
　　〃Mmm…　Yes；　I　think　that　Madam　Director　Doctor　Hildegarde　would　take　a　sour　view　of　such　things。　With　no　reflections　on　the　lady's　professional　petence…high；　I　assume
　　
　　…I　find　her　a　bit；　uh；　conservative。〃
　　
　　〃Murderess。〃
　　
　　〃Primitive　totalitarian。〃
　　
　　〃Three　times　over…〃？
　　
　　〃…for　what　right　has　she　to　say　that　We　can't　e~lst…〃
　　
　　〃…or　Minerva。　Crypto…criminal　mind！〃
　　
　　〃That's　enough；　girls；　you've　made　your　point；　you　don't　like　her。〃
　　
　　〃She　wouldhave　murdered　you；　too；　01'　Buddy　Boy。〃
　　
　　〃Lori；　I　said　that　was　enough。　Stipulated　that；　if　Nelly　Hildegarde's　policies　had　been　carried'　out；　I　wouldn't　be　here；　you　wouldn't　be　here；　Laz　wouldn't　be　here；　nor　would　Minerva。　But　she's　not　a　'murderess；'　as　all　four　of　us　are　here。〃
　　
　　〃And　I　am　delighted；〃　Justin　Foote　mented。　〃To　have　three　charkning　young　ladies　added　to　our　Families　through　breaking　rules　proves　something　I　have　long　suspected：　Rules　serve　best　when　broken。〃
　　
　　〃A　wise　man…〃
　　
　　〃…and　with　dimples；　too。　Mr。　Foote；　would　you　like　to　marry　me　and　my　sister？〃
　　
　　〃Say　'Yes'！　She　can　cook；　but　I'm　cuddly。〃
　　
　　Minerva　said；　〃Stop　it；　girls。〃
　　
　　〃Why？　Have　you　got　him　staked　out　already？　Was　that　why　we　couldn't　e　in？　Mr。　Foote；　Minerva　is　Mama　Pro　Tern　to　us　by　edict…〃
　　
　　〃…which　is　patently　unfair…〃
　　
　　〃…as　she　is　actually　years　and　years　younger　than　we　are…〃
　　
　　〃…and　it　gives　us　three　mothers　to　dodge　instead　of　the　regulation　one。〃
　　
　　〃Belay　that；〃　Lazarus　ordered。　〃Both　of　you　can　cook；　but　neither　of　you　is　very　cuddly。〃
　　
　　〃Then　why　do　you　cuddle　us；　Buddy　Boy？〃
　　
　　〃…suppressed　incestuous　yearning　perhaps？〃
　　
　　〃Merde。　Because　you　both　are　immature；　insecure；　and　frightened。〃
　　
　　The　redheads　looked　at　each　other。　〃Lori？〃
　　
　　〃I　heard　it。　Unless　I'm　hallucinating。〃
　　
　　〃No；　I　heard　it；　too。〃
　　
　　〃Is　it　time　to　cry？〃
　　
　　〃We'd　better　save　it。　Mr。　Foote　wouldn't　want　to　see　how　our　Buddy　Boy　goes　all　to　pieces　when　we　cry。〃
　　
　　〃We'll　save　it。　That　makes　ting。　Unless　Mr。　Foote　would　like　to　see　it；〃
　　
　　〃Would　you；　Mr。　Foote？〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　I'll　sell　either　one　of　them　cheap。　Still　better　price　on　a　package　deal。〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　thank　you；　Lazarus；　but　I'm　afraid　that　they　might
　　
　　cry　at　me…then　I　would　go　all　to　pieces。　Can　we　change　the　subject？　How　did　you　manage　to　put　over　this　triple；　uh；　irregularity？　May　one　ask？　Doctor　Hildegarde　runs　a　very　taut　organization。〃
　　
　　〃Well；　in　the　case　of　those　two　little　angels　over　there…〃
　　
　　〃Sarcasm　now…〃
　　
　　〃…and　not　clever。〃
　　
　　？〃…I　was　flummoxed　quite　as　tnuch　as　Nelly　Hildegarde。　At　the　time；　Ishtar　Hardy；　'that　one's　mother…〃
　　
　　〃No；　her　mother。〃
　　
　　〃You　two　are　interchangeable　parts；　and　besides；　you　were　mixed　up　the　week　you　were　born；　and　nobody　knows　which　you　are；　you　don't　know　yourself。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes；　I　do！　Sometimes　she　goes　away；　but　I'm　always　right　here。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　paused　in　midfiight；　looked　thoughtful。　〃That　may　be　the　most　succinct　statement　of　the　solipsist　thesis　I've　ever　heard。　Write　it　down。〃
　　
　　〃If　I　did；　you'd　take　credit　for　it。〃
　　
　　〃I　simply　want　to　save　it　for　posterity　。　。　a　notion　inpatible　with　the　thesis　itself。　Minerva；　you　preserve　it　for　me。〃
　　
　　〃Recorded；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Minerva　has　almost　as　exact　a　memory　as　she　had　when　she　was　a　puter。　I　was　saying：　Ishtar　was　temporarily~　Clinic　boss；　Nelly　having　gone　on　leave；　so　access　to　my　tissue　was　no　problem。　I　was　then　in　a　state　of　acute　anhedonia；　and　their　mothers　cooked　up　this　notion　for　restoring　my　interest　in　life。　The　only　problem　was　to　do　gene　surgery　not　permitted　by　the　rules　of　Secundus　Clinic。　How　and　who…　I　was　told　firmly　not　to　inquire。　You　can　ask　Minerva；　she　was　in　on　the　swindle。〃
　　
　　~'Lazarus；　that　was　a　memory　I　did　not　bring　along　when　I　was　selecting　what　to　fit　into　this　skull。〃
　　
　　〃You　see；　Justin？　I'm　allowed　to　know　only　what　they　think　is　good　for　me。　As　may　be；　this　heroic　treatment　worked；　I　have　not　been　bored　since。　Other　descriptives　might　apply…but　not　that　one。〃
　　
　　〃Lori；　do　you　sense　a　double　entendre？〃
　　
　　〃No；　merely　a　thinly　veiled　innuendo。　Ignore　it　with　dignity。〃
　　
　　〃But　at　first　I　didn't　know　my　odd　relationship　to　this　pair。　Oh；　I　couldn't　help　knowing　that　Ishtar；　and　Hamadryad…　one　of　Ira's　daughters；　you've　met　her？〃
　　
　　〃Years　back。　A　lovely　girl。〃
　　
　　〃Quite。　Both　~f　their　mothers　are　lovely。　I　couldn't　help　knowing　that　both　were　pregnant；　they　were　spending　most　of　their　time　with　me。　But　although　they　were　swelling　up　like　poisoned　pups；　they　ignored　it；　so　I　didn't　inquire。〃
　　
　　Justine　nodded。　〃Privacy。〃
　　
　　〃Naw；　just　hard…nosed。　I've　never　let　the　privacy　custom　keep　me　from　snooping　when　it　suited　me。　I　was　miffed；　that's　all。　Here　two　girls　are　with　me　every　day　and　like　daughters　to　me　and　obviously　as　knock鏳　up　as　Pharaoh's　Daughter…　and　they　tell　me　nit。　So　I　got　stubborn　and　outsat　them。　Till　one　day　Galahad…he's　their　husband…well；　not　exactly；　you'll　see…Galahad　invites　me　downstairs；　and　here　they　have；　one　each；　the　two　prettiest　little　redheads　I　ever　saw。〃
　　
　　〃Shall　we　let　him　off　one　cry？〃
　　
　　〃You　got　over　it；　you　both　look　like　me　now。〃
　　
　　〃Or　do　we　add　a　third　cry　for　that？〃
　　
　　〃I　still　don't　smell　a　mouse；　I'm　simply　pleased。　As　well　as　amazed　that　they　had　produced　babies　that　looked　like　identical　twins…〃
　　
　　〃Which　we　are；　except　that　we're　triplets。〃
　　
　　〃But　some　weeks　of　playing　with　these　babies　causes　my　natural　genius　and　suspicious　mind　to　infer　that　the　girls　have　pulled　a　whizzer。　I　was　not　then　in　the　sperm　bank　so　far　as　I　knew；　but　I　am　well　aware　of　tricks　that　can　be　played　on　a　helpless　client　undergoing　antigeria；　so　with　unerring　logic　I　reach　the　wrong　answer：　These　babies　are　my　daughters　by　artificial　insemination　unmentioned　to　me。　So　I　accuse　them　of　it。　And　they　deny　it。　And　I　explain　that　I　am　not　angry；　but　quite　the　contrary　I　hope　these　little　cherubs　are　mine。〃
　　
　　'Cherubs