time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第70章

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o　tell　me　that　'spirit'　is　a　null　word；　I　know　that　it　is　undefinable
　　
　　but　it　means　something　to　me。
　　
　　〃But　here　is　still　more　of　the　truth　and　all　I'll　try　to　say　about　it。　Although　long…life　can　be　a　burden；　mostly　it　is　a　blessing。　It　gives　time　enough　to　learn；　time　enough　to　think；　time　enough　not　to　hurry；　time　enough　fQr　love。'
　　
　　〃Enough　of　weighty　matters。　Galahad；　pick　a　light　subject　and；　Justin；　you　plant　the　barbs；　I've　talked　enough。　Ishtar；　my　darling；　fetch　your　long　lovely　carcass　over　here；　stretch　Out；　and　let　me　ply　you　with　brandy；　I　want　you？relaxed　enough　for　what　I　intend　to　do　with　you　later。〃
　　
　　She　came　readily　to；　him；　stopping　only　to　kiss　Ira　a　promise；　then　saying　softly　but　clearly　to　our　Ancestor；　〃Our　beloved；　it　takes　no　brandy　to　make　me　utterly　willing　for　whatever　you　have　iniisind。〃
　　
　　〃Anesthesia；　Mama　Ishtar。　I　plan　to　show　you　something　Big　Anna　taught　me　which　I　haven't　dared　risk　in　all　these　years。　You　may　not　live　till　morning。　Frightened？〃
　　
　　She　smiled　lazily；　happily。　〃Oh；　terribly　frightened。〃
　　
　　Galahad　covered　Lapis　Lazuli's　mouth　with　a　hand；　she　bit　him。　〃Stop　it；　Laz。　Let's　everybody　watch　this…it　might　be　new；〃
　　
　　VARIATIONS　ON　A　ThEME
　　
　　XV
　　
　　Agape
　　
　　I　woke　slowly　next　morning；　lazed　in　bed　and　lived　again　my　Wele　Bacchanalia。　I　was　in　a　big　bed　in　a　groundfloor　room　with　its　garden　wall　still　open　as　it　had　been　when　the　party　had　moved　to　beds。　I　could　hear　no　one；　although　（as　I　recalled）　Tamara　and　Ira　had　been　with　me。　Or　had　Ira　visited　us　earlier？
　　
　　No　matter；　all　of　them　visited　us　at　some　time　before　Athene　sang　us　to　sleep；　I　seemed　to　recall　as　high　as　six　or　seven　at　once　in　that　big　bed；　counting　Tamara　and　me。　No；　Tamara　had　been　gone　once；　leaving　me　at　the　mercy　of　the　talkative　twins…who　were　almost　quiet。　They　said　they　wanted　to　assure　me　that　I　did　not　have　to　marry　them　in　order　to　be　a　member　of　the　family…they　would　be　gone　too　much　of　the　time　any。　how…because　they　were　going　to　be　pirates　when　they　were　big　enough…but　stay　groundside　half　the　time…and　open　a　hook　shop　over　a　pool　hall…and　would　I　e　to　see　them　there？
　　
　　They　had　to　explain　to　me　both　terms；　then　they　sang　me　a　little　song　that　seemed　partly　amphigory　and　partly　ancient'。；　English；　but　included　both　terms。　I　kissed　them　and　promised　that；　when　they　opened　this　studio；　Iwould　be　their　most　faithful　admirer…a　promise　that　did　not　ost　girls　（all　of　my　daughters）　have　ambitions　to　begrsne　great　hetaeras；　few　attempt　that　most　demanding　of　arts…br　only　long　enough　to　discover　that　they　do　not　have　~　tsiie　vocation。
　　
　　第55节
　　
　　I　thought　they　were　more　likely　to　bee　pirates；　Lazarus　Long's　identicals　might　figure　out　a　way　to　make　crime　pay　in　spite　of　the　enormous　depths　of　space。
　　
　　My　Wele　Bacchanalia　had　bridged　from　feast　to　bed　with　the　customary　entertainment　save　that　it　was　homemade　instead　of　the　expensive　（and　often　dull）　professional　acts　a　fashionable　New　Rome　hostess　offers。　Lazarus　and　his　sisterdaughters　started　it　with　what　may　have　been　an　authentic
　　
　　CIQ
　　
　　Highland　Fling　（who　knows；　today？）：　Lazarus　dancing　fiercely　and　vigorously　（after　all　that　food　and　drink！）；　his　two　miniature　copies'keeping　the　pattern　exactly　with　him…to　skirling　bagpipes　offered　by　Athene　。　。　which　I　would　not　have　recotnized　were　it　not　that　I　am　an　amateur　of　ancient　music　as　well　as　a　professional　of　ancient　history。　The　girls　followed　with　an　encore；　a　swOrd　dance；　while　Lazarus　pretended　to　be　passed　out　from　exertion。
　　
　　Ira；　to　my　amazement；　turned　out　to　be　a　skilled　juggler。
　　
　　Question：　Did　he　have　that　skill　all　those　years　he　managed　a　pla？
　　
　　Galahad　sang　a　ballad　with　professional　virtuosity　and　great　range　and　control；　which　astonished　me　almost　as　much　as　I　seemed　to　recall　that　he　used　to　sing　always　off　key。　Bpt　when　he　took　an　encore　with　a　kerchief　stuffed　in　his　mouth；　I　realized　that　I　had　been　swived；　Athene　had　done　it　all。　He　then　played　a　corpse　with　three　beautiful　widows；　Minerva；　Hamadryad；　Ishtar。　I　won't　describe　the　dialogue　except　to　say　that　they　seemed　cheerful　over　losing　him。
　　
　　Tamara　concluded　it　by　singing　〃My　Arms　Enclose　You　Still〃…attributed　on　slight　evidence　to　the　Blind　Singer　but　ancient　in　any　case。　I've　long　thought　of　it　as　Tamara's　Song；　and　I　wept　with　happiness；　and　I　was　not　alone；　all　did。　The　twins　blubbered　aloud　。　。　and　when　she　reached　that　last　line；　〃…wherever　the　wild　geese　lead　you；　love；　my　arms　will　hold　you　close；〃　I　was　startled　to　see　that　the　Senior's　craggy　features　were　as　wet　as　mine。
　　
　　I。　got　up；　poked　around　in　the　alcove　and　refreshed　myself　enough　to　face　other　people；　went　out　into　the　garden　and　found　Galahad。　I　kissed　him　and　accepted　a　happy…morning　in　a　frosty　tumbler。　It　was　fruit　juice　freshly　pressed…a　treat　for　taste　buds　used　to　morning　cups　〃improved〃　in　various　chemical　ways。
　　
　　〃I'm　cook　this　morning；〃　he　said；　〃so　you　had　better　take　your　eggs　either　fried　or　boiled。〃　He　then　answered　the　question　a　guest　does　not　ask：　〃If　you　had　awakened　earlier；　you　would　have　had　more　choice；　Lazarus　claims　I　can't　boil　water。　But　everyone　else　is　gone。〃
　　
　　〃So？〃
　　
　　〃Si。　Ira　has　gone　to　his　office…to　work；　perchance　to'~eep。　Tamara　has　gone　back　to　her　patients　with　a　message　to　you　that　she　hopes　to　be　home　tonight…but　with　a　word　to　Hamadryad　to　take　you　to　bed　and　rub　your　shoulder　muscles
　　
　　and　put　you　to　sleep　early；　so　I'm　not　sure　she　expects　to　be　back…won't　if　she　thinks　her　patieists　need　her。　Lazarus　'has　gone　somewhere　and　one　does　not　ask。　Minerva　has　the　twins；　and　school　may　be　in　the　'Dora'；　it　often　is。　Ishtar　got　a　call　to　set　a　broketi　arm　on　a　farm　north　of　here。　Hamadryad　has　taken　our　kids　on　a　picnic　so　as　not　to　disturb　you；　you　lazy　lecher。　Boiled　or；；fried？〃
　　
　　He　was　already　frying　them；　so　I　answered；　〃Boiled。〃
　　
　　〃Good；　I'll　eat　these　myself。　To　hold　me　till　lunch。〃
　　
　　〃I　mean　'Fried。'〃
　　
　　〃So　I'll　put　in　three　more；　dear。　You're　staying；　aren't　you？　Answer　Yes　or　I'll　put　the　twins　to　work　on　you。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；　I　want　to…〃
　　
　　〃Then　it's　settled。〃
　　
　　〃…but　there　are　problems。〃　I　shifted　the　subject。　〃You　said　'Hamadryad　has　taken　our　kids　on　a　picnic…'　Haven't　I　met　all　your　family？〃
　　
　　〃Dear；　we　do　not　exhibit　our　youngest　the　moment　someone　sets　foot　in　the　foyer　and　thereby　place　on　him　the　onus　of　being　insincerely　ecstatic。　But　there　was　usually　someone　with　'them；　Lazarus　has　firm　ideas　on　raising　children。　Athene　keeps　eye　and　ear　on　them…but　can't　pick　them　up。　Lazarus　says　that　a　frightened　child　needs　to　be　picked　up　and　cuddled　now；　not　later。　He　believes　in　spanking　。right　now；　too；　it　evens　out；　our　kids　are　neither　spoiled　nor　timid。　Lazarus　is　especially　strong　on　not　letting　a　young　child　wake　up　alone…　so　now　you　know　why　I　kissed　you　good…night　a　bit　early。　So　that　Ishtar　could　help　keep　you　awake　while　I　slept　with　our　youngest　three。〃
　　
　　〃Do　you　actually　sleep　with　them？〃
　　
　　〃Well…　When　Elf　jumps　up　and　down　on　my　stomach；　it　makes　me　restless。　But　being　peed　on　doesn'*'~wake　me…　usually。　Having　the　cuddle　watch　isn't　bad；　*e　rotate　so　。it's　only　every　ninth　night。　Every　tenth　if　you　opt　in。　But　that　can　change　overnight。　Suppose　we　have　a　rejuvenation　client…　One　or　more　clients　puts　Ishtar；　Tamara；　Hamadryad；　and　me　out　of　circulation　much　of　the　time。　Add　that　Lazarus　may　leave　as　soon　as　he　decides　Laz　and　Lor　are　grown　up。　Then　assume　that　all　our　darlings　get　cracking　on　making　babies。〃
　　
　　Galahad　grinned　at　me。　〃How　long　does　it　take　four　willing　women　to　make　four　more　babies？　Or　six；　when　the　twins　join　the　production　schedule　as　they　threaten　to　at　least　twice　a　week。　Justin　dear；　we　want　you　to　stay　but　it　won't　all　be　like　last　night。　If　responsibilities　of　family　life　worry　you；　you'd
　　
　　be　better　off　in　New　Rome　where　you　can　hire　people　to　do　what　you　don't　fancy　doing　yourself。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；〃　I　said　earnestly；　〃stop　stuffing　your　face　a　moment；　dear。　You　can't　scare　me　with　baby　pee。　I　was　getting　up　in　the　night　to　soothe　crying　babies　a　hundred　years　before　you　were　born。　I　intend　to　colonize；　I　intend　to　marry　again；　I　intend　to　raise　kids。　I　had　planned　to　go　back　to　Secundus　to　clean　up　loose　ends；　then　e　back　with　the　second　wave。　But　I　may　say　the　hell　with　that　and　stay　。　as　some　of　the　Senior's　remarks　last　night　were　aimed　at　me。　At　least　I　took　them　per~onally…about　having　the　guts　。to　abandon　everything　and　go。　Secundus　is　a　smoking　volcano；　that　old　vixen　could　set　off　a　bloodbath。　One　that　could　include　me；　simply　because　I'm　a　major　bureaucrat。〃
　　
　　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　plunged　in：　〃What　I　don't　understand　'Es　why　I　seem　to　be　invited　to　join　the　Senior's　household。　Why？〃
　　
　　Galah？d　answered；　〃It's　not　your　pretty　face。〃
　　
　　〃I　know　that。　Oh；　I　hardly　ever　scare　dogs　with　it；　but　it's　just　a　face。〃
　　
　　〃It's　not　too　bad。　A　cosmetic　surgeon　could　do　wonders。　I'm　the　second…best　cosmetic　surgeon　on　this　pla…there　being　two。　The　practice　would　be　good　for　me　and；　as　you　pointed　out；　you've　nothing　to　lose。〃
　　
　　〃Damn　it；　dear；　don't　farce　me。　Answer　my　question。〃
　　
　　〃The　twins　like　you。〃
　　
　　〃So？　I　find　them　delightful。　But　the　opinion　of　inexperienced　adolescents　could　not　have　weighed　heavily。〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　don't　let　their　clowning　fool　you；　they　are　'adult　in　everything　but　height…and　they　are　our　Ancestor's　identical　'twins。　They　have　his　talent　for　looking　inside　a　person　and　spotting　a　bad　one。　Lazarus　lets　them　run　loose　because　he　trusts　them　to　shoot　to　kill　。　。　and　not　to　shoot　if　they　don't　intend　to　kill。〃
　　
　　I　gulped　inside。　〃Are　you　saying　that　those　little　guns　they　carry　are　not　toys？〃
　　
　　My　old　friend　Obadiah　looked　as　if　I　had　said　soniething　obscene。　〃Why；　Justin！　Lazarus　wouldn't　let　a　woman　go　out　of　this　house　unarmed。〃
　　
　　〃Why？　This　colony　seems　peaceful。　What　have　I　missed？〃
　　
　　〃Not　much；　I　think。　Lazarus'　advance　party　made　sure　that　this　subcontinent　was　reasonably　clear　of　large　predators。　But　we　brought　along　the　two…legged　sort；　and　despite　screening；　Lazarus　doesn't　assume　that　they　are　angels。　He　wasn't　looking
　　
　　An；
　　
　　for　angels；　'they　don't　make　the'　best　pioneers。　Uh；　yesterday　Minerva　was　wearing　a　little　skirt。　Did'　you　wonder'　about　at？　In　view　of　the　heat？〃
　　
　　〃Not　especially。〃
　　
　　〃She　wears　her　gun　strapped　to　her　thigh。　Nevertheless；　Lazarus　won't　let　her　go　out　alone；　the　twins　are　her　usual　bodyguard。　As　a　flesh…and…blood　she's　only　three　years　old；；　she　doesn't　shoot'　as　well　as　the　twins　do；　and　she's　more　trusting　than　they　are。　How's　your　marksmanship？〃
　　
　　〃Just　fair。　I　started　taking　lessons　when　I　made　up　my　mind　to　migrate。　But　I　haven't　had　time　to　practice。〃
　　
　　〃Better　find　time。　Not　that　Lazarus　will　ride　you　about　it；　he　feels　responsible　for　our　women；；not　for　men。　But　if　you　ask　for　help…I　did；　and　so　did　Ira…he'll　coach　you　in　everything　from　bare　hands　to　improvised　weapons　。　。　with　two　thousand　years　of　dirty　tricks　thrown　in。　Up　to　you；　old　darling…　but　here's　what　it　did　for　me。　As　you　know　I　used　to　be　a　campus　narky…a　scholar　poring　over　old　records…I　never　carried　arms。　Then　I　took　rejuvenation　and　became　a　rejuvenator　myself　and　was　even　less　inclined　to　go　armed。　But　for　fourteen　years　I've　had　regular　coaching　from　the　all…time　champion　in　how　to　stay　alive。　The　result？　I　stand　straight　and　proud。　Haven't　had　to　kill　anyone　yet。〃　Galahad　suddenly　grinned。　〃But　the　day　is　young。〃
　　
　　I　answered　soberly；　〃Galahad；　that's　one　reason　I　agreed　to　run　a　silly　errand　for　Madam　Arabelle：　to　find　out　things　like　that。　Very　well；　I　take　your　advice　seriously。　But　you　haven't　answered　my　question。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　I　knew　you　from　long　back；　and　so　did　Ira。　And　so　did　Minerva；　though　you　have　trouble　believing　it。　Hamadryad　had　met　you　but　did　not　get　to　know　you　until　last　night。　Ishtar　knew　you　only　from　your　chart　but　is　one　of　your　strongest　supporters。　But　the　deciding　factor　is　this：　Tamara　wants　you　in　our　family。〃
　　
　　'Tamara！'
　　
　　〃You　sound'　astonished。〃
　　
　　〃I　am。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　see　why。　She　arranged　for　someone　to　relieve　her　in　order　to　be　here　last　night。　She　loves　you；　Justin；　don't　you　know　it？〃
　　
　　〃Uh…〃　My　brain　was　fdddled。　〃Yes；　I　know　it。　But　Tamara　loves　everyone。'
　　
　　〃No；　just　those　who　need　her　love；　and　she　always　knows　who　they　are。　Incredible　empathy；　she's　going　to　be　a　great
　　
　　rejuvenator。　In　this　family　Tamara　can　have　anything　she　wants　。　。　and　she　happens　to　want　you…t髜stay　with　us；　live　with　us；　join　us。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　be　。　。　damned。〃　（Tamara？）
　　
　　〃Unlikely。　If　I　believed　in　damnation；　I　wouldn't　believe　that　anyone　picked　by　Tamara　Sperling　could　be　in　danger　of　it。〃　Galahad　smiled；　a　happy　expression　than　was　more　his　charm　than　was　his　extraordinary　beauty。　I　tried　to　remember　if　he　ha；~d　been　that　beautiful　a　hundred　years　back。　I　am　not　ind