time enough for love-ʱ¼ä×ã¹»Äã°®(Ó¢ÎÄ°æ)-µÚ68ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡not¡¡marry¡¡again¡¡for¡¡any¡¡other¡¡purpose¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡rejuvenated¡¡£¨not¡¡that¡¡it¡¡mattered£©£»¡¡looking¡¡gloriously¡¡young¡¡and¡¡healthy¡and¡¡a¡¡coloni~t¡£¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡who¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡who¡¡had¡¡persuaded¡¡her£»¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this£¿¡¡I¡¡envied¡¡him¡¡and¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡superhuman¡¡qualities¡¡he¡¡possessed¡¡¡but¡¡whatever¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡if¡¡Tamara¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡share¡¡a¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡me¡¡even¡¡for¡¡one¡¡night¡¡and¡¡only¡¡for¡¡old¡¡times'¡¡sake£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡take¡¡what¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡offered¡¡and¡¡not¡¡worry¡¡about¡¡him£»¡¡her¡¡wealth¡¡is¡¡endlessly¡¡divisible¡£¡¡Tamara£¡¡bells¡¡sound¡¡at¡¡her¡¡name¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡She¡¡kissed¡¡two¡¡wet¡¡little¡¡girls£»¡¡then¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡her¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡said¡¡softly£»¡¡rubbing¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡against¡¡mine£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡darling¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡you¡¡were¡¡here£»¡¡I¡¡hurried¡£¡¡Mi¡¡laroona¡¡d'¡¡vashti¡¡meedth¡¡du£¿¡¨¡¡'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£¡¡¡And¡¡any¡¡other¡¡night¡¡you¡¡have¡¡free¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡so¡¡fast¡¡with¡¡English£»¡¡doreeth¡¡mi£»¡¡I¡¡learning¡¡it¡¡¡slowly¡because¡¡my¡¡daughter¡¡wants¡¡her¡¡assistants¡¡in¡¡rejuvena
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡~
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡tion¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡language¡¡not¡¡known¡¡to¡¡most¡¡clients¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡because¡¡our¡¡f~mily¡¡speaks¡¡English¡¡much¡¡as¡¡Galacta¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡now¡¡a¡¡rejuvenator£¿¡¡And¡¡have¡¡a¡¡daughter¡¡here£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Ishtar¡¡datter¡¡mi¡did¡¡you¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡petsan¡¡mi¡mi£¿¡¡Nay£»¡¡Jam¡¡nurse¡¡only¡£¡¡But¡¡studying¡¡1¡¡am¡¡and¡¡Ishtar¡¡hope¡tells¡¡that¡¡I¡¡'will¡¡be~¡¡assistant¡¡technician¡¡in¡¡half¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡years¡£¡¡Good¡¡¡nay£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Good£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡to¡¡the¡¡art£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Blandjor£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡happily£»¡¡tousling¡¡my¡¡wet¡¡hair¡£¡¡¡¨Even¡¡though¡¡rejuvenated¡did¡¡you¡¡note£¿¡here¡¡the¡¡art¡¡pays¡¡no¡¡living¡£¡¡Too¡¡many¡¡willing¡¡ones£»¡¡sweeter¡¡and¡¡younger¡¡and¡¡prettier¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡twins¡¡had¡¡stayed¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡listening¡¡and¡¡quiet¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡Tamara¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡both¡¡a£¿ms£»¡¡hugged¡¡them¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨Example¡£¡¡These¡¡my¡¡granddaughters¡£¡¡Eager¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡tall¡¡so¡¡they¡¡can¡¡lie¡¡down¡¡and¡¡be¡¡short¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡kissed¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡red¡¡curls¡¡they¡¡have¡£¡¡I¡¡not¡¡have¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡I¡¡started¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡age¡¡and¡¡red¡¡curls¡¡did¡¡not¡¡matter£»¡¡then¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡a¡¡pliment¡¡to¡¡Tamara¡¡so¡¡phrased¡¡could¡¡cause¡¡chins¡¡to¡¡quiver¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡to¡¡speak£»¡¡the¡¡spout¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡again£º
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Aunt¡¡Tammy£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡not¡¡eager¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡just¡¡willing¡¡and¡¡practical¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡and¡¡anyhow¡¡he¡¡won't¡¡marry¡¡us¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡he¡¡just¡¡teases¡¡about¡¡it¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡and¡¡you¡¡can't¡¡be¡¡our¡¡grandmother¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡'cause¡¡that¡¡would¡¡make¡¡you¡¡our¡¡Buddy¡¡Boy's¡¡grandmother¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡which¡¡is¡¡illogical£»¡¡impossible£»¡¡and¡¡ridiculous¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡so¡¡you¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡our¡¡'Aunt¡¡Tammy¡£'¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡I¡¡found¡¡their¡¡logic¡¡doubly¡¡enthymematic¡¡if¡¡not¡¡a¡¡total¡¡non¡¡sequitur£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡agreed¡¡with¡¡it¡¡because¡¡the¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡Tamara¡¡being¡¡the¡¡Senior's¡¡grandmother¡¡was¡¡one¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡face¡££»¡¡So¡¡I¡¡changed¡¡the¡¡subject£º
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Tamara¡¡dear£»¡¡would¡¡you¡¡let¡¡me¡¡take¡¡off¡¡your¡¡sandals¡¡and¡¡then¡¡you¡¡e¡¡join¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡soak£¿¡¡Or¡¡shall¡¡1¡¡get¡¡out¡¡and¡¡get¡¡dry£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡have¡¡to¡¡answer£º
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡gotta¡¡run¡¡get¡¡ready¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡cause¡¡Mama¡¡Hainadryad¡¡has¡¡finished¡¡her¡¡face¡¡and¡¡started¡¡her¡¡nipples¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡so¡¡if¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡hurry£»¡¡we'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡dinner¡¡with¡¡our¡¡hides¡¡bare¡¡naked¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡and¡¡for¡¡a¡¡party¡¡that¡¡would¡¡never¡¡do¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡and¡¡you¡¡two¡¡had¡¡better¡¡hurry¡¡too¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡or¡¡Buddy¡¡Boy¡¡will¡¡throw¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pigs¡£¡¡Scuse£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡I¡¡climbed¡¡out¡¡and¡¡let¡¡Tamara¡¡dry¡¡me¡unnecessary¡¡as¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡~blowdry¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡Tamara¡¡offers¡¡me¡¡anything¡¡my¡¡answer¡¡is¡¡Yes¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡we¡¡¡¨wasted¡¨¡¡time¡¡on¡¡touch¡¡and¡¡talk¡£¡¡£¨Is¡¡there¡¡a¡¡better¡¡way¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡time£¿£©
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡was¡¡dry¡¡and¡¡wondering¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should¡¡try¡¡the¡¡cosmetics¡¡bench¡¡£¨I¡¡don't¡¡use¡¡cosmetics¡¡much£»¡¡just¡¡depilatories£©£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twins¡¡came¡¡rushing¡¡back¡¡with¡¡a¡¡garment¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡a¡¡blue¡¡chiamys¡£¡¡She¡¡said¡¡breathlessly£»¡¡¡¨Lazarus¡¡says¡¡try¡¡this¡¡or¡¡what¡¡would¡¡you¡¡like£¿¡but¡¡that¡¡you¡¡needn't¡¡wear¡¡anything¡¡if¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡'cause¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡hot¡¡night¡¡and¡¡you¡¡count¡¡as¡¡family¡¡because¡¡you're¡¡Minerva's¡¡father£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡had¡¡them¡¡keyed¡¡now¡¡by¡¡freckle¡¡pattern¡£¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¡Lorelei£»¡¡I'll¡¡wear¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡I've¡¡always¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡a¡¡napkin¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡wear¡¡in¡¡dining¡¡at¡¡home¡¡in¡¡a¡¡properly¡¡tempered¡¡house¡or¡¡outdoors¡¡in¡¡private¡¡on¡¡a¡¡warm¡¡night¡£¡¡But£»¡¡as¡¡guest¡¡of¡¡honor¡¡even¡¡though¡¡¡¨family£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡go¡¡bare¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡to¡¡be¡¡festively¡¡formal¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡wele£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡Captain¡¡Lazuli£»¡¡but¡¡that's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡she's¡¡me¡£¡¡Scuse£¡¡¨¡¡She¡¡vanished¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡I¡¡put¡¡it¡¡on£»¡¡we¡¡£»went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡retrieved¡¡Tamara's¡¡gown¡and¡¡it¡¡matched¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡wearing¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡blue£»¡¡1¡¡mean£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡Golden¡Age¡of¡Hellas¡¡flavor¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡Hers¡¡was¡¡about¡¡two¡¡grams¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡fog¡£¡¡The¡¡bodice¡¡fastened¡¡at¡¡the¡¡right¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡came¡¡diagonally¡¡down¡¡to¡¡her¡¡waist¡¡at¡¡the¡¡left¡£¡¡Its¡¡skirt¡¡was¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡mine¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡appropriate£»¡¡Greek¡¡men¡¡of¡¡their¡¡Golden¡¡Age¡¡did¡¡wear¡¡their¡¡skirts¡¡shorter¡¡than¡¡did¡¡women£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reverse¡¡that¡¡is¡¡more¡¡usual¡¡on¡¡Secundus¡£¡¡£¨I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡what¡¡was¡¡customary¡¡on¡¡Tertius¡££©¡¡We¡¡matched£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡pleased¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Accident£¿¡¡¡¨Accidents¡¨¡¡around¡¡the'¡¡Senior¡¡are¡¡Usually¡¡planned¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡We¡¡ate¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡a¡¡couch¡¡for¡¡each¡¡couple£»¡¡arranged¡¡in¡¡hexagon¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fountain¡¡as¡¡the¡¡sixth¡¡side¡£¡¡Athene¡¡made¡¡the¡¡water¡¡dance¡¡and¡¡danced¡¡lights¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡match¡¡whatever¡¡she¡¡was£»£»¡¡playing¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡womenfolk¡¡but¡¡Tamara¡¡helped¡¡with¡¡the¡¡primary¡¡serving£»¡¡Lori¡¡and¡¡Lazi¡¡played¡¡Hebe¡¡from¡¡then¡¡on¡¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡nailed¡¡to¡¡their¡¡couch¡¡anyhow¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡feast¡¡started£»¡¡Ira¡¡was¡¡with¡¡Minerva£»¡¡Lazarus¡¡with¡¡Ishtar£»¡¡Galahad¡¡with¡¡Hamadryad£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡twins¡¡together¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡women¡¡moved¡¡around¡¡like¡¡chessmen£»¡¡sharing¡¡a¡¡couch£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡bites£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cuddling£»¡¡then¡¡moving¡¡on¡all¡¡but¡¡Tamara£»¡¡whose¡¡firm¡soft£»¡¡rounded¡¡bottom¡¡lay¡¡against¡¡my¡¡lap¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡feast¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡just¡¡as¡¡well¡¡that¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡move£»¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡shy
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡but¡¡prefer¡¡not¡¡to¡¡show¡¡the¡¡gallant¡¡reflex¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡need¡¡it¡¡at¡¡once¡and¡¡1¡¡was¡¡very¡¡tonscious¡¡of¡¡her¡¡dear¡¡body¡¡warm¡¡against¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡But¡¡while¡¡Lazarus¡¡started¡¡the¡¡repast¡¡with¡¡Ishtar£»¡¡the¡¡next¡¡time¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡his¡¡way¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Minerva¡¡who¡¡reclined¡¡against¡¡him¡and¡¡next£»¡¡one¡¡of£¿the¡¡twins£»¡¡which¡¡one¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡sure¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡on¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡£1¡¡won't¡¡describe¡¡the¡¡feast¡¡except¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡it¡¡in¡¡a¡¡young¡¡colony¡¡and¡¡to¡¡add¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡paid¡¡high¡¡prices¡¡for¡¡poorer¡¡food¡¡in¡¡famous¡¡restaurants¡¡in¡¡New¡¡Rome¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡All¡¡but¡¡Lazarus¡¡and¡¡his¡¡sisters¡¡were¡¡wearing¡¡colorful£»¡¡pseudo¡Gre~ian¡¡garments¡£¡¡But¡¡Lazarus¡¡was¡¡dressed¡¡as¡¡a¡¡Scottish¡¡chieftain¡¡of¡¡two¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡millennia¡¡ago¡the¡¡kilt£»¡¡bon£»¡¡sporran£»¡¡dirk£»¡¡claym¡£ore£»¡¡etc¡£¡¡The¡¡sword¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡aside¡¡but¡¡handy£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡expecting¡¡to¡¡need¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡state¡¡firmly¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡never¡¡entitled¡¡to¡¡dress¡¡as¡¡a¡¡chief¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rules¡¡of¡¡those¡¡longlost¡¡clans¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡be¡¡is¡¡entitled¡¡to¡¡wear¡¡any¡¡Scottish¡¡dress¡£¡¡He¡¡once¡¡said¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡¡¨half¡¡Scotch¡¡and¡¡half¡¡soda£»¡¨¡¡but¡¡on¡¡another¡¡occasion¡¡he¡¡told¡¡Ira¡¡Weatheral¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡first¡¡worn¡¡the¡¡kilt¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡¡£¨shortly¡¡before¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Frontiers£©¡¡when¡¡the¡¡style¡¡was¡¡popular¡¡in¡¡his¡¡home¡¡country¡found¡¡that¡¡he¡¡liked¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡th~e~ter£»wore¡¡the¡¡kilt¡¡when¡¡local¡¡custom¡¡permitted¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡That¡¡night¡¡he¡¡went¡¡all¡¡out¡¡and¡¡added¡¡a¡¡fierce¡¡mustache¡¡to¡¡match¡¡his¡¡finery¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡His¡¡twin¡¡sisters¡¡were¡¡dressed¡¡exactly¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡still¡¡wondering¡¡whether¡¡all¡¡this¡¡was¡¡to¡¡£»honor¡¡me£»¡¡to¡¡'impress¡¡me£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡amuse¡¡me¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡all¡¡three¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡happily¡¡have¡¡spent¡¡those¡¡three¡¡hours¡¡in¡¡quiet£»¡¡feed¡¡¡big¡¡Tamara¡¡and¡¡letting¡¡her¡¡feed¡¡me£»¡¡bathed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡of¡¡soul¡¡that¡¡es¡¡from¡¡touching¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡closed¡¡happiness¡¡circle¡¡£¨and¡¡closed¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡Athene's¡¡voice¡¡now¡¡came¡¡from¡¡'the¡¡fountain£©¡¡showed¡¡that¡¨¡¡the¡¡Senior¡¡expected¡¡us¡¡to¡¡share¡¡pany£»¡¡talking¡¡and¡¡listening¡¡in¡¡turn£»¡¡as¡¡ritually¡¡as¡¡in¡¡any¡¡protocol¡bound¡¡salon¡¡in¡¡New¡¡Rome¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡we¡¡did£»¡¡in¡¡shared¡¡and¡¡gentle¡¡harmony¡with¡¡the¡¡twins¡¡adding¡¡unexpected¡¡grace¡¡notes¡¡but¡¡usually¡¡managing¡¡to¡¡restrain¡¡their¡¡exuberance¡¡and¡¡be¡¡¡¨grown¡up¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡Senior¡¡started¡¡it£»¡¡using¡¡Ira¡¡as¡¡Stimulator¡£¡¡¡¨Ira£»¡¡what¡¡would¡¡you¡¡say¡¡if¡¡a¡¡god¡¡came¡¡through¡¡that¡¡entranceway£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'd¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡to¡¡wipe¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡Ishtar¡¡doesn't¡¡permit¡¡gods¡¡with¡¡dirty¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡this¡¡house¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡all¡¡gods¡¡have¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡clay¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡wasn't¡¡what¡¡you¡¡said¡¡yesterday¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡µÚ54½Ú
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡not¡¡yesterday£»¡¡Ira¡£¡¡I've¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡gods¡¡and¡¡all¡¡bad¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡clay¡£¡¡All¡¡were¡¡swindles£»¡¡first¡¨¡Lazarus¡¡ticked¡¡it¡¡with¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡¨to¡¡benefit¡¡the¡¡shamans£»¡¡second£»¡¡to¡¡benefit¡¡the¡¡kings£»¡¡and¡¡third£»¡¡always¡¡to¡¡benefit¡¡the¡¡shamans¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡met¡¡the¡¡thousand¡and¡first¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡Senior¡¡paused¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Ira¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨At¡¡this¡¡point¡¡I¡¡am¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡'Do¡¡tell£¡'¡¡or¡¡some¡¡such¡¡insincerity£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡'rest¡¡of¡¡you¡¡chime£»¡¡'Yes£»¡¡yes£»¡¡Lazarus£¡'¡which¡¡has¡¡its¡¡merit£»¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡'us¡¡would¡¡have¡¡at¡¡least¡¡twenty¡¡uninterrupted¡¡minutes¡¡for¡¡swilling¡¡and¡¡guzzling¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡fool¡¡him¡£¡¡He's¡¡leading¡¡up¡¡to¡¡how¡¡he¡¡killed¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Joekaira¡¡with¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡a¡¡toy¡¡gun¡¡and¡¡moral¡¡superiority¡£¡¡Since¡¡that¡¡lie¡¡is¡¡already¡¡in¡¡his¡¡memoirs¡¡in¡¡four¡¡conflicting¡¡versions£»¡¡why¡¡should¡¡we¡¡be¡¡burdened¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fifth£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡toy¡¡gun£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡Mark¡¡Nieen¡¡Remington¡¡Blaster¡¡at¡¡full¡¡charge£»¡¡a¡¡superior¡¡weapon¡¡in¡¡its¡¡day¡and¡¡after¡¡I¡¡carved¡¡them¡¡up£»¡¡the¡¡stench¡¡was¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡Hormone¡¡Hall¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡after¡¡payday¡£¡¡And¡¡my¡¡superiority¡¡is¡¡never¡¡moral£»¡¡it¡¡lies¡¡always¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡it¡¡first¡¡before¡¡he¡¡does¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡the¡¡story¡¡Ira¡¡'won't¡¡let¡¡me¡¡tell¡¡is¡¡that¡¡those¡¡globs¡¡were¡¡real¡¡gods¡¡because¡¡neither¡¡shamans¡¡nor¡¡kings¡¡were¡¡cut¡¡in¡¡on¡¡the¡¡loot£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡swindled£»¡¡too¡£¡¡Those¡¡doggie¡¡people¡¡were¡¡property£»¡¡solely¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡their¡¡gods¡~gods¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sens~¡¡that¡¡a¡¡man¡¡can¡¡be¡¡a¡¡god¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dog¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡suspected¡¡first¡¡time¡¡around£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡drove¡¡poor¡¡Slayton¡¡Ford¡¡right¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡think¡¡tank¡¡and¡¡nearly¡¡killedhim¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time£»¡¡sonic¡¡eight¡¡or¡¡rime¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡later£»¡¡Andy¡¡Libby¡¡and¡¡I¡¡proved¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡so¡£¡¡'How£¿'¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡didn't¡¡ask¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¡Ira~¡¡Because¡¡after¡¡all¡¡that¡¡time¡¡the¡¡Jockaira¡¡had¡¡not¡¡changed¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way¡£¡¡Their¡¡speech£»¡¡customs£»¡¡buildings£»¡¡you¡¡name¡¡it¡were¡¡frozen¡£¡¡This¡¡can¡¡happen¡¡only¡¡with¡¡dOmesticated¡¡animals¡£¡¡A¡¡wild¡¡animal£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡man£»¡¡changes¡¡his¡¡ways¡¡as¡¡conditions¡¡change£»¡¡he¡¡adjusts¡£¡¡I've¡¡often¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡would¡¡'like¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡and¡¡see¡¡if¡¡the¡¡doggie¡¡people¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡go¡¡feral¡¡after¡¡they¡¡lost¡¡their¡¡owners¡£¡¡Or¡¡did¡¡they¡¡simply¡¡lie¡¡down¡¡and¡¡die£¿¡¡But¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡too¡¡tempted£»¡¡Andy¡¡and¡¡I¡¡were¡¡lucky¡¡to¡¡get¡¡off¡¡that¡¡pla¡¡still¡¡with¡¡our¡¡gonads£»¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they¡¡were¡¡yapping¡¡at¡¡our¡¡heels¡£¡¨¡¡'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨See¡¡what¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡Justin£¿¡¡Version¡¡number¡¡three¡¡had¡¡the¡¡Jockaira¡¡falling¡¡into¡¡a¡¡a¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡their¡¡masters¡¡were¡¡burned¡¡out¡and¡¡Libby¡¡doesn't¡¡figure¡¡into¡¡that¡¡version¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Papa¡¡Ira£»¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡understand¡¡Buddy¡¡Boy¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡¡he¡¡doesn't¡¡tell¡¡lies¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡he's¡¡a¡¡creative¡¡artist¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡speaking¡¡in¡¡parables¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡and¡¡he¡¡e'mancipated¡¡those¡¡Jabberwockies¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨¡who¡¡were¡¡cruelly¡¡oppressed¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Ira¡¡Weatheral¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Justin£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡trouble¡¡coping¡¡with¡¡one¡¡Lazarus¡¡Long¡£¡¡But¡¡three¡¡of¡¡him£¿¡¡I¡¡surrender¡£¡¡e¡¡here£»¡¡Lori£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡me¡¡nibble¡¡your¡¡ear¡£¡¡Minerva£»¡¡my¡¡lovely£»¡¡let¡¡go¡¡of¡¡that£»¡¡wash¡¡your¡¡pretty¡¡hands£»¡¡then¡¡see¡¡if¡¡Justin¡¡needs¡¡more¡¡wine¡£¡¡Justin£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡with¡¡news¡¡to¡¡impart¡£¡¡What¡¡news¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Bourse£»£»£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Falling¡¡steadily¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡own¡¡participations¡¡on¡¡Secundus£»¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡have¡¡me¡¡carry¡¡back¡¡instructions¡¡to¡¡your¡¡broker¡£¡¡Lazarus£»¡¡I¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡you¡¡classed¡¡'man'¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡animal¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡£¡¡You¡¡can¡¡kill¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡can't¡¡tame¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡worst¡¡bloodbaths¡¡in¡¡history¡¡derive¡¡from¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡tame¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡wasn't¡¡arguing¡¡it£»¡¡Ancestor¡£¡¡I'm¡¡a¡¡mathematic~¡¡historiographer£»¡¡my¡¡nose¡¡is¡¡rubbed¡¡in¡¡that¡¡fact¡£¡¡But¡¡has¡¡news¡¡reached¡¡here¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡'Vanguard'£¿¡¡The¡¡original¡¡'Vanguard£»'¡¡I¡¡mean¡pre¡Diaspora¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Lazarus¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡that¡¡he¡¡almost¡¡spilled¡¡Ishtar¡¡off¡¡his¡¡couch¡£¡¡He¡¡caught¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨Sorry£»¡¡honey¡£¡¡Justin¡keep¡¡talk
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡ing¡£¡¨¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡didn't¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡the¡¡'Vanguard'¡¡herself¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡about¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡no¡¡objection£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡so¡¡ruled¡£¡¡Talk£»¡¡Son£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡protocol¡¡of¡¡a¡¡salon¡¡feast¡¡having¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡pieces£»¡¡I¡¡talked£»¡¡first¡¡reviewing¡¡some¡¡ancient¡¡history¡£¡¡Although¡¡it¡¡has¡¡almost¡¡been¡¡forgotten£»¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Frontiers¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡first¡¡starship¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡an¡¡older¡¡sister£»¡¡the¡¡Vanguard£»¡¡that¡¡left¡¡the¡¡Solar¡¡System¡¡a¡¡few¡¡years¡¡earlier¡¡than¡¡the¡¡momentous¡¡date¡¡on¡¡which¡¡Lazarus¡¡Long¡¡mandeered¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Frontiers£»¡¡She¡¡was¡¡headed¡¡for¡¡Alpha¡¡Centauri¡¡but¡¡never¡¡reached¡¡there¡no¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡visitation¡¡were¡¡ever¡¡found¡¡on¡¡the¡¡one¡¡possible¡¡pla£»¡¡a¡¡Terran¡¡type¡¡around¡¡Alpha¡¡Centauri¡¡A£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡G¡type¡¡star¡¡in¡¡that¡¡volume¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡herself¡¡was¡¡found¡¡by¡¡accident£»¡¡in¡¡open¡¡orbit¡¡a¡¡long¡¡way¡¡from¡¡where¡¡she¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡by¡¡any¡¡rational¡¡assumption¡¡based¡¡on¡¡her¡¡mission¡discovered¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡century¡¡ago¡¡and¡¡this¡¡tells¡¡the¡¡difficulties¡¡of¡¡historiography¡¡when¡¡ships¡¡are¡¡the¡¡fastest¡¡means¡¡of¡¡munication£»¡¡this¡¡story¡¡echoed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Secundus¡¡via¡¡five¡¡colonial¡¡plas¡¡before¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡Archives¡a¡¡few¡¡years¡¡after¡¡Lazarus¡¡left¡¡New¡¡Rome£»¡¡a¡¡few
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡years¡¡before¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡Boondock¡¡as¡¡£¨nominal£©¡¡courier¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Chairwoman¡¡Pro¡¡Tern¡£¡¡Not¡¡that¡¡a¡¡century's¡¡delay¡¡matters£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡news¡¡interested¡¡only¡¡fusty¡¡specialists¡£¡¡To¡¡most¡¡people¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡uninteresting¡¡confirmation¡¡of¡¡an'¡¡inconsequential¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡ancient¡¡history¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Everything¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Vanguard¡¡was¡¡dead¡¡while¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡herself¡¡was¡¡sleeping£»¡¡her¡¡converter¡¡automatically¡¡shu