time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第67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！


　him。　Even　the　twin　flam鑤ops　insisted　on　kissing　me　since　they　had　not　greeted　me　that　way　earlier。
　　
　　In　Boondock　a　kiss　of　greeting　is　not　the　ritual　peck　it　usually　is　in　New　Rome；　e~en　the　twins　bussed　me　in　a　fashion　that　made　me　certain　of　their　sex…I've　had　poorer　kisses　from　grown　women　whose　intentions　were　direct　and　immediate。　But　the　young　man；　introduced　as　〃Galahad；〃　startled　me。　He　hugged　me；　with　kisses　on　my　cheeks　followed　by　a　~iss　on　my　mouth　worthy　of　a　Ganymede…　which　surprised　me；　but　I　tried　to　return　as　good　as　I　got。
　　
　　Instead　of　letting　me　go；　he　pounded　my　back　and　said；　〃Justin；　it　tickles　my　root　to　see　you　again！　Oh；　this　is　wonderful！〃
　　
　　I　pulled　my　face　back　to　look　at　his。　I　must　have　looked　puzzled　for　he　blinked；　then　said　mournfully：　〃Ish；　I　boasted　too　soon！　Hamadear；　get　me　a　towel；　I'm　weeping。　He's　forgotten　me　。　。　after　all　the　things　he　said。〃
　　
　　I　said；　〃Obadiah　Jones；　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　
　　〃Weeping。　Being　humiliated　in　front　of　my　family。〃
　　
　　I　don't　know　how　long　it　had　been　since　I　had　seen　him。~　It　may　have　been　more　than　a　century　since　it　has　been　that　long　since　I　left　the　Howard　campus。　Brilliant　young　specialist　in　ancient　cultures　he　was　then；　with　an　impish　sense　of　humor。　I　recalled；　dredging　it　up　out　of　memory；　having　shared　a　Seven…Hours　with　him　and　two　other　savants；　both　female　and　happily　so…but　I　could　not　recall　their　faces　nor　who　they　were；　what　I　remembered　was　his　playful；　joyous；　boisterous　good　pany。　〃Obadiah；〃　I　said　sternly；　〃why　are　you　calling　yourself　'Galahad'？　Hiding　from　the　police　again？　Lazarus；　I'm　shocked　to　find　this；　uh；　macho　in　your　house…　lock　up　your　daughters！〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　that　name！〃　he　said　brokenly。　〃Don't　repeat　it；　Justin。　They　don't　know　it。　When　I　reformed；　I　changed　my　n~me。　You　won't　give　me　away？　Promise　me；　dear！〃　Suddenly　he　grinned　and　said　in　a　cheerful　voice；　〃e　on　into　'the　atrium　and　let's　get　a　skinful　of　rum　into　you。　Lazi；　who　has　the　duty？〃
　　
　　〃Lori　does。　Even…numbered　day。　But　I'll　help。　Straight　rum？〃
　　
　　〃Better　flavor　it。　I　want　to　add　a　wele　the　Borgias　used　on'old　friends。〃
　　
　　〃Sure　thing；　Uncle　Cuddly。　Who　are　the　Borgias？〃
　　
　　〃A　family　from　the　greatest　days　of　Old　Earth's　rise　and　fall；　sugar　lump。　The　Howards　of　their　time。　Very　suave　in　han；dling　guests。　I'm　descended　from　them；　and　their　secrets　were　passed　down　to　me　by　word　of　mouth。〃
　　
　　〃Laz；〃　said　Lazarus；　〃ask　Athene　for　a　rundown　on　the　Borgias　before　you　mix　a　drink　for　Justin。〃
　　
　　〃I　see；　he's　at　it　again…〃　〃…so　we'll　tickle　him…　〃…and　blow　in　his　ears…　〃…until　he　cries　Pax…　〃…and　promises　Veritas…　〃…he's　no　problem。　e　on；　Lazi。〃
　　
　　I　had　found　the　village　of　Boondock　pleasantly　unimpressive；　more　pleasant　and　less　impressive　than　I　had　expected。　Ira　and　Lazarus　had　accepted　only　seven　thousand　for　their　first　wave　from　applicants　numbering　more　than　niy　thou'sand；　therefore　the　present　population　of　Tertius　could　not　be　much　over　ten　thousand　and　was　in　fact　slightly　less。
　　
　　Boondock　seemed　to　have　only　a　few　hundred　people　and　was　centered　on　a'　few　small　buildings　for　public　and　semipublic　purposes；　most　colonists　being　scattered　around　the　countryside。　The　home　of　Lazarus　Long　was　by　far　the　most　impressive　structure　I　had　seen…not　counting　the　large　flat　cone　of　the　Senior's　yacht　and　the　much　larger　bulk　of　one　robot　space　freighter　on　the　skyfield　where　my　packet　had　grounded。　（The　skyfleld　was　a　level　place　a　few　kilometers　across；　one　could　not　call　it　a　port。　There　was　not　one　godown。　It　must　have　an　autobeacon　since　I　grounded　safely；　I　did　not　see　it。）
　　
　　This　rudimentary　settlement　had　not　prepared　me　for　the　Senior's　house。　Its　lines　and　plan　were　simple；　that　long…dead　Roman　had　picked　a　good　designer。　It　was　a　walled　garden；　the　house　itself　being　its　four　walls。　But　it　had　two　stories；　and　each　level　could　have　been　divided；　it　seemed　to　me；　into　twelve　to　sixteen　large　rooms　plus　the　usual　ancillary　spaces。　Twenty…four　or　more　rooms　for　a　household　of　eight？　The~　more　blatantly　rich　in　New　Rome　might　display　ego　in　so　much　space；　but　it　seemed　inappropriate　in　a　new　colony；　as　well　as　out　of　tune　with　what　I　had　learned　in　my　long　research　of　the　Senior's　lives。
　　
　　Simple…　Half　the　building　was　given　over　to　a　rejuvenation　clinic；　a　therapy　clinic；　an　infirmary；　these　could　be　reached　from　the　foyer　without　entering　the　private　part　of　the　house。
　　
　　…The　number　of　family　rooms　remaining　was'　indefinite；　most　interior　wall~　were　movable。　The　Howard　Clinic　and　the　medical　facilities　would　be　moved　to　a　nearby　site　when　the　colony　needed　larger　facilities；　when　size　of　the　Senior's　family　made　more　home　space　desirable。
　　
　　（I　was　lucky　in　that；　when　I　arrived；　no　client　was　being　rejuvenated；　no　patient　was　in　the　infirmary…or　most　of　the　adults　would　have　been　busy。）
　　
　　The　size　of　his　family　seemed　as　hazy　as　the　number　of　rooms。　I　had　thought　there　were　eight…three　men；　the　Senior；　Ira；　and　Galahad；　three　women；　Ishtar；　Hamadryad；　and　Minerva；　two　youngsters；　Lorelei　Lee　and　Lapis　Lazuli…but　I　was　not　aware　of　two　girl　toddlers　and　a　small　boy。　Besides　that；　I　was　neither　the　first　nor　the　last　to　be　urged　to　move　in　and　stay　as　long　as　one　wished。　Whether　such　stay　was　as　a　guest　or　as　a　member　of　th？Senior's　family　might　also　be　ut1~鑜ear　to　an　outsider。
　　
　　Relationships　inside　his　family　also　were　vague。　Colonists　are　always　families；　a　single　'colonist　is　a　contradiction　in　terms。　But　all　of　Tertius　…Colony　were　Howards；　and　we　Howards　have　used　every　sort　of　marriage；　I　think；　except　lifetime　monogamy。
　　
　　But　Tertius　has　no　laws　about　marriage；　the　Senior　had　not　thought　them　necessary。　The　few　laws　it　has　are　in　the　migration　contract；　written　by　Ira　and　Lazarus　jointly。　It　contains　the　usual　covenants　about　homesteading；　with　the　colony　leader　absolute　arbitrator　until　such　time　as　he　resigns。　But　it　says　not　one　word　about　marriage　and　family　relationships。　The　colonists　register　their　babies；　Howards　always　do
　　
　　…in　this　case　with　the　puter　Athene　as　surrogate　for　the　'Archives。　But　I　found　when　I　reviewed　these　records　that　parentage　of　children　was　expressed　in　geic　classification　code；　not　by　〃marriages　and　putative　ancestry。　This　system　the　Families'　geicists　have　been　urging　for　generations　（and　I　agree）；　but　it　does　make　a　genealogist　work　harder；　especially　if　marriages　have　not　been　registered　at　all；　as　was　sometimes　the　case。　'
　　
　　I　found　one　couple　with　eleven　children；　six　his；　five　hers；　none　theirs。　I　understood　it　when　I　read　their　codes…utterly　inpatible。　I　met　them　later；　a　fine　family　on　a　prosperous　farm　and　no　suggestion　that　the　swarm　of　children　were　any
　　
　　thing　but　〃theirs。〃…
　　
　　But　the　Senior's　family　was　even　more　vague。　Geic　an…
　　
　　cestry　in　each　case　was　'a　matter　of　record；　surely…but　who　was　married　to　whom？
　　
　　Their　bathing　room　was　as　〃decadent〃　as　had　been　promised；　it　was　a　lounging　room；　as　well　as　a　refresher；　and　planned　for　family　relaxation　and　entertaining。　It　stretched　all　along　the　ground　floor　on　the　side　'facing　the　foyer　across　the　inner　garden；　and　its　walls　could　be　pushed　back　to　open　it　to　the　garden　in　clement　weather…。
　　
　　It　had　anything　a　jaundiced　Sybarite　could　ask　for：　a　fountain　in　its　center　matching　a　fountain　in　the　garden　and
　　
　　昬ach　with　fortably　wide　rims　to　sit　on　while　soaking　tired　feet'and　enjoying　a　drink；　a　sauna　in　one　corner；　a　huge　happy　shower　at　the　other　end　with'　space　for　several　cycles　to　be　enjoyed　at　once　without　waiting　turns；　a　panion　querafansible　with　sophisticated　controls；　a　long　soaking　pooi　kneedeep　at　the　blue　end　to　chin…deep　at　the　red；　and　flanked　by　two　bathing　poois　lavish　for　one　person　and　fortable　for　two　or　three；　couches　for　napping；　for　cooling；　for　sweating；　for　intimate　talk　and　touch；　a　cosmetics　table　with　a　bi'g　duomirror　in　which　one；　could　see　her　back　as　readily　as　her　front　simply　by　asking　Athene's　help；　a　corner　big　enough；　for　a　dozen　people　in　which　floor　cushioning　was　bed…soft　and　lavish　with　pillows　large　and　small；　firm　and　soft；　a　refreshments　counter　which　backed　onto　their　kitchen…and　if　I　failed　to　name　something；　it　is　my　omission；　not　that　of　the　designers。　All　the　more　monplace　items　were　of　course　at　hand。
　　
　　I　had　thought　that　the　lighting　was　random　until　I　rezed　that　Athene　was　changing　it　endlessly　so　as　not　to　shine　it　in　anyone's　eyes　while　changing　the　light　level　in　all　parts　of　that　big　room　to　match　what　was　going　on…high　key　for　makeup；　subdued　light　for　lounging；　and　so　on…and　to　match　personalities　too；　our　little　redheads　were　crowned　with　light　no　matter　how　they　bounced　around…as　they　did。
　　
　　Soft　music　was　there　and　in　the　garden；　or　on　request　anywhere；　'selected　by　Athene　unless　someone　asked　for　some…；　thing…it　seemed　as　if　she　had　stored　in　her　all　the　music　that　ever　was　written。　Or　she　might　harmonize　with　the　twins　while　continuing　to　take　part　in　three　different　conversations　in　other　parts　of　the　bath　lounge。　A　self…aware　puter　of　her　capacity…great　enough　to　manage　Secundus…can　and　often
　　
　　must　talk　simultaneously　at　many　places；　but　I　had　never　encountered；　it　before　in　such　a　way　as　to　notice　it。　But　big　puters　are　not　often　members　of　a　family。
　　
　　The　rest　of　the　house　was　almost　unautomated…a　matter　of　taste　as　Athene's　capacity　was　largely　unused。　My　hostesses　actually　cooked；　with　Athene　helping　only　by　seeing　to　it　that　nothing　burned　and　watching　the　timing　in　other　ways…　twice　on　Athene's　advice　Hamadryad　left　the　bath　lounge；　once　in　such　a　Jwrry　that　she　fled　bare　and　dripping；　not　stoppmg　to　grab　a　towel　robe。
　　
　　Bathing　with　Lazi　and　Lori　is　indeed　〃squirmy　but　fun；〃　plus　squeals；　giggles；　chatter　in　which　one　sentence　would　be　chopped　several　times　before　one　of　them　put　a　period　on　it　（I　hypothesized　that　they　were　telepathic　with　each　other　and　had　an　uneasy　suspicion　that　they　sometimes　read　thoughts　of　persons　in　their　presence…but　was　not　anxious　to　find　out）…　all　charmingly　blunt　and　childishly　innocent。
　　
　　First　they　slathered　me　all　over　anded　the　same　service　from　me　and　threatened　me　with　chin　quivering　when　I　held　back　a　little；　and　said　loudly　that　〃Uncle　Cuddly〃　（my　old　friend　Obadiah；　now　Galahad）　washed　them　better　than　that　and　everybody　knows　how　lazy　he　is…or　didn't　I　like　them　well　enough　to　soapy…cuddle　them　and　if　they　married　me；　would　I　go　along　with　them　in　their　spaceship；　and　while　they　were　still　virgins；　though　not　from　lack　of　opportunity；　don't　worry　about　that　one　bit　as　both　Mama　Hamadryad　and　Mama　Ishtar　were　coaching　them　in　beginning　and　advanced　sensuality　and　would　speed　up　the　course　if　I　happened　to　want　to　many　them　now…won't　you；　Mama　Hamalambie？…tell　him！
　　
　　Hamadryad　from　a　meter　away　（she　was　soaping　Ira）　as…'　sured　us　that　she　would；　if　they　could　persuade　me　to　marry　them　that　quickly。　I　assumed　that　the　youngsters　were　farcing　me　and　that　their　mother…one　of　their　mothers…was　going　along　with　the　jest。　I've　wondered　since　whether　I　missed　a　diamond　opportunity。　Lazarus　was　in　hearing　distance；　he　did　not　tell　them　to　stop　teasing　me；　he　simply　advised　me　not　to　offer　them　more　than　a　ten…year　contract　as　their　span　of　attention　was　limited…whith　made　them　indignant…and　advised　them　that；　if　they　intended　to　get　married　that　'night；　they　had　better　trim　their　toenails　first；　which　made　them　still　more　indignant　so　they　stopped　bathing　me　to　assault　him　from　both　sides。
　　
　　This　wound　up　with　one　of　them'　under　each　of　his　arms
　　
　　~；　o~
　　
　　and　still　struggling。　Lazarus　asked　if　I　would　accept　custody　or　should　he　drop　them　into　the　deep　end　of　the　soak？
　　
　　I　accepted　custody；　and　we　showered　each　other　off　and　went　into　the　soak　p001　together…and　I　was　standing　in　it　up　to　my　shoulders　with　my　back　to　the　garden；　and　supporting　them　a　little；　an　arm　each；　as　their　toes　did　not~touch　bottom；　when　someone　placed　hands　over　my　eyes。
　　
　　The　ty！〃　and　levitated　out　of　the　water　while　I　turned　to　look。
　　
　　Tamara　Sperling…　I　had　thqught　she　was　on　Secundus；　in　retirement　up　country。　Tamara　the　Superb；　the　Superlative；　the　Unique…in　my　opinion　（and　many　others）　the　greatest　artist　of　her　profession。　I　feel　sure　that　I　am　not　the　only　man　who　chose　when　she　left　New　Rome　to　remain　celibate　for　a　long　time。
　　
　　She　had　e　in；　seen　that　the　family　was　in　the　bath　lounge；　dropped　her　gown　in　the　garden；　hurried　in　without　stopping　to　remove　her　high　sandals；　spotted　me；　and　blindfolded　me　with　her　lovely　hands。
　　
　　Why？　She　was　my　dinner　partner…and　（if　I　could　rely　on　an　exchange　I　had　heard　that　afternoon）　willing　to…be　my　guest　wife　if　I　were　willing。　Willing？　Fifty　years　earlier　I　had　offered　her　any　contract　she　would　accept　every　time　she　let　me　visit　her　and　had　finally　shut　up　only　after　she　had　told　me　repeatedly；　patie'ntly；　and　gently　that　she　did　not　intend　to　have　more　children　and　would　not　marry　again　for　any　other　purpose。
　　
　　But　there　she　was；　rejuvenated　（not　that　it　matte