time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第73章

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　　〃That's　what　I　said；　dear。　Sorry；　Uncle　Cuddly；　but　you're　obsolete。　If　you　hadn't　gone　to　sleep　early；　you　would　know　why。〃
　　
　　I　kept　quiet　while；_making　a；；　mental　note　for　a　hundred　_；years　henc~…one　that　involved　Pallas　Athene　as　a　flesh…and~bIood　and　getting　her　into　a　helpless　position。　…
　　
　　This　side　conversation　was　cut　short；　Athene　notified　us　that　Lazarus　was　arriving。　Galahad　waved　his　arms。　〃Hey！　Pappy！　Back　here！〃
　　
　　〃ing。〃　Lazarus　bussed　me　in　passing；　did　so　to　Galahad　as　he　slid　in　by　him　and　grabbed　what　was　left　of　Galahad's　second　breakfast…a　home…baked　jam　roll…stuffed　it　into　his　mouth　and　said　around　it：　〃Well？　Did　he　fight　the　hook？〃
　　
　　〃Not　nearly　the　way　you　did　with　Hamadryad；　Pappy。　I　was　telling'　Justin　about　that…how　the　Hamadarling　tripped　you　and　thereby　set　up　our　family。〃
　　
　　〃My　God；　what　a　canard！〃　Lazarus　helped　himself　to　Galahad's　hot…cup。　〃Justin；　Galahad　is　a　sweet　lad　but　ro~　mantic。　I　knew　exactly　what　I　wanted　to　acplish；　so　I　started　by　raping　Hamathyad。　That　broke　down　her　resistance；　and　now　she　sleeps　with　anybody；　even　Galahad。　Everything　else　followed　in　logical　sequence。〃　He　added；　〃You　still　plan　to　go　back　to　Secundus？〃
　　
　　I　answered；　〃Perhaps　I　didn't　understand　what　Galahad　has　been　telling　me。　I　thought　I　was　mitting　myself；　in　joining；　to…〃　I　stopped。　〃Lazarus；　I　don't　know　what　I'm　mitted　to；　and　I　don't　know　what　I'm　joining。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　nodded。　〃One　must　make　allowances　for　youth；　Justin；'Galahad　doesn't　speak　clearly　as　yet。〃
　　
　　〃Thanks；　Pappy。　Too　much。　I　sold　him　the　deal。　Now　you've　got　him　wondering。〃
　　
　　〃Quiet；　Son。　Let　me　spell　it　out；　Justin。　What　you　are
　　
　　joining　is　a　family。　What　you　are　mitted　to　is　the　welfare　of　the　children。　All　of　them；　not　just　any　that　you　may　sire。〃　He　looked　aP　me；　waited。
　　
　　I　said；　〃Lazarus；　I've　raised　a　number　of　children…〃
　　
　　〃I　know。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　think　I've　let　one　down　yet。　Very　well；　three　that　I　haven't　seen；　plus　your　two…your　sisters　or　adopted　daughters…plus　others　as　they　e　along。　Correct？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　But　it's　not　a　lifetime　mitment；　that's　not　practical　for　a　Howard。　This　family　may　outlive　us　all…I　hope　so。　But　an　adult　can　opt　out　anytime　and　thereby　be　mitted；；　only　to　kids　then　on　hand…underfoot　or　in　womb。　Call　it　a　maximum　of　eighteen　years。　HoWever；　I　assume　that　the　rest　of　the　family　would　prefer　to　relieve　such　a　'person　of　his　or　her　responsibilities　in　order　to　see　the　back；　of　his　neck。　I　can't　envision　a　happy　relationship　continuing　for　years　after　someone　has　announced　that　he　wants　out。　Can　you？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　no。　But　I　won't　let　it　worry　me。〃
　　
　　〃Of　course　it　might　not　happen　that　way。　Suppose　Ishtar　and　Galahad　decided　to　set　up　a　separate　household…〃
　　
　　〃Now　wait　one　fiddlin'　minute；　Pappy！　Yoti　can't　get　rid　of　me　that　easily！　Ish　won't　have　me　except　as　part　of　the　package。　I　know；　I　tried　to　get　her　to　marry　me　years　back。〃
　　
　　第57节
　　
　　〃…and　wanted　to　take　our　three　youngest　with　them。　We　would　not　stop　them　nor　would　we　try　to　dissuade　children　who　preferred　to　go　with　them。　All　three　of　them　are　Galahad's…〃
　　
　　〃There　he　goes　again！　Pappy；　you　put　Undine　into　Ish　in　the　soak　pool；　that's　why　we　named　her　that。'　Elf　is　either　yours　or　Ira's；　the　Hamadear　told　me　so。　'And　nobody　has　any　doubt　about　Andrew　Jackson。　Justin；　I'm　sterile。〃
　　
　　〃…based　on　statistical　probability；　both　on　sperm　count　and　the　fact　that　he　keeps　so　busy　at　it。　But　Ishtar　reads　the　gene　charts　and　keeps　such　matters　to　herself；　we　prefer　it　that　way。　But　it　is　extremely　unlikely　that　Hamadryad　ever　said　that；　or　that　she　has　or　ever　will　have　a　child　by　Ira。　No　geic　hazard；　Ishtar　is　certain。　And　the　fact　that　we　have　yet　to　have　any　defectives　in　this　colony　gives　me　great　confidence　in　Ishtar's　skill　in　reading　a　gene　chart；　she　screened　the　first　wave；　a　job　that　gave　her　eyestrain　for　months。　Nevertheless；　Ira　has　some　unease　about　it　and　won't　even　stand　close　to　Hamadryad　when　she　is　fertile…an　irrational　attitude　I　understand；　as　I　am　cursed　with　it　myself。
　　
　　I　remember　too　well　a'　time　in　the　past　when　all　the　Howards　had　to　go　on　was　percentage　of　mutual　ancestry…and　got　defe鐃ives　all　too　often。　Of　course　today　a　woman　with　a　clean　gene　chart　is　better　off　married　to　her　biother　than　to　a　stranger　from　another　pla…but　old　ghosts　die　hard。
　　
　　〃What　it　amounts　to；　Justin；　is　three　fathers…four；　with　you…three　mothers；　~but　four　when　Minerva　asks　to　have　her　adolescence　protection　canceled…an　ever…changing　number　of　kids　to　be　taught　and　spanked　and　loved…plus　always　the　possibility　of　the　number　of　parents　being　either　enhanced　or　diminished。　But　this　is　my　house；　in　my　name；　and　I've　kept　it　that　way　because　I　planned　it　to　house　one　family；　not　to　make　life　jolly　for　goats　such　as　Galahad…〃
　　
　　〃But　it　does！　Thank　you；　Pappy　darling。〃
　　
　　〃…but　for　the　welfare　of　children。　I've　seen　catastrophe　strike　colonies　that　looked　as　safe　as　this　one。　Justin；　a　disaster　could　wipe~　out　all　but　one　'mother　and　father　in　this　family；　and　our　kids　would　still　grow　up　normally　and　happily。　This　is　the　only　long…run　purpose　of　a；tan~ily。　We　think　our　setup　insures　that　purpose　more　than　a　one…couple　family　can。　When　you　join；　you　mit　yourself　to　that　purpose…that's　all。〃
　　
　　I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Where　do　I　sign？〃
　　
　　〃I　see　no　use　in　written　marriage　contracts；　they　'can't　be　enforced　。　。　whereas　if　the　partners　want　to　make　it　work；　no　written　instrument　is　necessary。　If　you　seriously　want　to　join　us；　a　nod　of　your　head　is　enough。〃
　　
　　〃I　do！〃
　　
　　〃…or　if　you　want　ritual；　Laz　and　Lor　would　be　delighted　to　dream　up　a　fancy　one…and　we　can　all　have　a　crying　jag　together…〃
　　
　　〃…and　on　his　wedding　night　Justin　gets　to　sleep　With　the　babies　so　he'll　know　how　serious　it　is。〃
　　
　　〃Seal　it；　Galahad。　If　you　want　to　add　that　touch；　you　should　make　it　the　night　before；　so　he'll　have　a　fair　chance　to　back　out　if　he　can't　take　it。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　volunteer　for　the　diaper　watch　tonight；　I'm　hardened　to　such　things。〃
　　
　　〃I　doubt　if　the　women　will　let　you。〃
　　
　　〃And　you　won't　live　till　morning；〃　Galahad　added。　〃They're　an　emotional　lot。　Last　night　you　had　it　easy。　Better　take　the　pee　watch。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad　could　be　right；　I　should　check　your　heart。　As　may　be…keep　quiet；　Galahad…Justin；　this　household　is　not
　　
　　a　jail。　The　setup　is　not　only　safer　for　children；　it　is　more　flexible　for　adults。　When　I　asked　you　whether　you　intended　to　go　back　'to　Secundus；　I　meant　simply　that。　An　adult　can　be　away　for　a　year；　ten　years；　any　length　of　time　for　any　purpose…and　know　that　the　kids　are　taken　care　of　and　know　that　he…she　will　be　Weled　back。　The　twins　and　I　have　been　off…pla　several　times　and　will　be　again。　And　…　。　well；　you　know　I　intend　to　attempt　this　time…tripping　experiment。　That　won't　involve　much　elapsed　time　in　this　framework
　　
　　but　it　does　involve　a　slight　element　of　risk。〃
　　
　　〃Slight！'　Meaning　that　Pappy　is　out　of　his　silly　head。　Be　sure　to　'kiss　him　good…bye　when　he　leaves；　Justin；　he　won't　be　back。〃
　　
　　I　was　alarmed　to　see　that　Galahad　waa　not　joking。　Lazarus　said　quietly；　〃Galahad；　it　is　all　right　to　say　that　to　me。　But　don't　say　it　in　front　of　the　women。　Or　children。〃　He　went　on　to　me；　〃Of　course　there　is　an　element　of　risk；　there　is　in　anything。　But　not　to　a　time　trip　itself；　as　Galahad　seems　to　think。〃　（Galahad　shuddered。）　〃The　risk　is　the　same　as　in　visiting　any　pla；　someone　there　may　not　like　you。　But　the　time　jump　takes　place　in　the　safest　possible　surroundings：　in　space　with　a　ship　around　you…any　risk　es　later。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　grinned。　〃That's　why　I　was　so　riled　at　that　old　cow　Arabelle…telhing　me　to　go　look…see　at　battles！　Justin；　the　best　thing　about　modern　times　is　that　we　are　all　so　spread　apart　that　war　is　no'　longer　practical。　But…　Did　I　tell　you　what　I'm　going　to　use　as　a　practice　run？〃
　　
　　〃No。　I　had　the　impression　from　Madam　Chairman　Pro　Tern　that　you　already　had　a　perfected　technique。〃
　　
　　〃It's　possible　that　I　let　her　think　so。　But　Arabelle　wouldn't　know　an　imperial　number　from　an　imperial　edict；　she　couldn't　ask　the　right　questions。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　think　1　could　either；　Lazarus；　it's　not　my　field　of　mathematics。〃
　　
　　〃If　you're　interested；　Dora　can　teach　you…〃
　　
　　〃Or　ale；　Lover　Boy。〃
　　
　　〃Or　Teena。　What's　the　idea　of　calling　Justin　'Lover　Boy；'　Teena？　Are　you　trying　to　seduce　him？〃
　　
　　〃No；　he's　promised　to　seduce　me　。　。　about　a　hundred　years　from　now。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　looked　at　me　thoughtfully；　I　tried　to　look　as　if　I　hadn't　heard　the　exchange。　〃Mmm　。　。　maybe　you　had；　better　take　those　lessons　from　Dora；　Justin。　You　haven't　met　Dora；　but　think　of　her　as　about　eight　years　old；　she　won't　try　to
　　
　　seduce　you。　But　she's　the　brighted　puter　pilot　in　space　and　can　teach　you　more　than　you　want　to　know　about　Libby　field　transformations。　I　was　saying　that　we　felt　sure　of　the　theory；　but　I　wanted　a　separate　opinion。　So　I　thought　of　asking　Mary　Sperling…〃
　　
　　I　said；　〃Hold　it　a　moment！　Lazarus；　in　all　the　Archives　there　is；　I　am　certain；　only　one　Mary　Sperling。　I'm　descended　from　her；　Tamara　is　descended　from　her…〃　…
　　
　　〃Lots　of　Howards　descended　from　her；　Son；　Mary　had　over　thirty　children…quite　a　record　for　those　days。〃
　　
　　〃Then　you　do　mean　Elder　Mary　Sperling；　born　in　1953　Gregorian；　died　in…〃
　　
　　〃She　did　not　die；　Justin；　that's　the　point。　So　I　went；　back　there　and　talked　with　her。〃
　　
　　My　head　felt　fuzzy。　〃Lazarus；　I'm　confused。　Are　you　telling　me　that　you've　already　made　one　time　trip？　Nearly　two　thousand　years？　No；　I　mean　'over　two　thousand　years'…〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　if　you'll　keep　quiet；　I'll　tell　you　what　I　mean。〃
　　
　　〃Sorry；　sir。〃
　　
　　〃Call　me　'sir'　and　I'll　get　the　twins　to　tickle　you。　I　mean　I　went；　in　present　time；　to　star　PK3722　and　the　Pla　of　the　Little　People。　That　designation　is　obsolete；　and　the　new　catalogings　don't　hook　it　in　with　that　pla　because　Libby　and　I　d~cided　to　toss　in　a　joker；　we　felt　that　it　was　a　place　for　humans　to　stay　away　from。
　　
　　〃But　the　Little　People　are　the　source　of　the　concepts　that　Andy　Libby　worked　out　as　field　theory　that　anyone　can　use；　and　all　space　pilots；　puter　and　human；　do　use。　But　I　had　never　gone　back　there　because…well；　Mary　and　I　had　been　close。　So　close　that　it　was　a　blow　to　me　when　she　'went　over。'　More　disturbing　than　a　death；　some　ways~
　　
　　〃But　the　years　do　mellow　a　memory　and　I　did　want　to　consult。　So　the　twins　and　I　set　out　in　the　'Dora'　to　try　to　find　that　pla；　from　a　set　of　coordinates　and　a　ballistic　Andy　had　assigned　a　long　time　back。　The　ballistic　was　slightly　off；　but　a　star　doesn't　move　far　in　only　two　thousand　years；　we　found　it。
　　
　　〃No　trouble　then；　I　had　warned　Lor　and　Laz　most　solemnly　of　the　subtle　danger　of　the　place。　They　listened；　and　that　made　them　as　immune　to　the　place　as　I　am…not　tempted　to　swap　their　individual　personalities　for　a　pseudo…immortality。　In　fact；　they　had　a　wonderful　time；　the　place　is　charming；　and　safe　in　all　other　ways。　Hadn't　changed　much；　one　huge　park。
　　
　　〃I　orbited　first…it's　their　pla；　and　they　have　powers　we　don't　ken。　Same　as　last　time；　a　Doppelg鋘ger　of　a　Little　Per…
　　
　　son　showed　up　in　the　'Dora'　and　invited　us　down　to　visit；。　only　this　time　it　called　me　by　name…in　my　head；　they　don't　use　oral　speech…and　admitted　to　being　Mary　Sperling。　That　shook　me　but　it　was　good　news。　She…'it；'　I　mean…it　seemed　mildly　pleased　to　see　me　but　not　especially　intereste4；　it　was　not　like　meeting　a　beloved　old　friend　but　more　like　meeting　a　stranger　who　nevertheless　remembered　what　that　old　friend　remembered。〃
　　
　　〃I　understand　it；〃　the　puter　said。　〃Something　like　Minerva　and　me；　huh？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　dear　。　。　except　that　you　had　a　more　positive　personality　your　very　first　day　than　this　creature　who　used　the　name　of　my　old　friend　。　。　and　you've　been　getting　positiver　and　positiver　for　the　past　three　years。〃
　　
　　〃01'　Buddy　Boy；　I'll　bet　you　tell　that　to　all　the　girls。〃
　　
　　〃Could　be。　Please　keep　quiet；　dear。　Nothing　more　to　tell；　Justin；　save　that　we　grounded　and　stayed　a　few　days；　and　Dora　and　I　consulted　with　the　Little　People　about　space…time　field　theory　while　the　twins　listened　and　enjoyed　playing　tourist。　But；　Justin；　when　the　Families　left　there；　returning　to　Earth　in　the　'New　Frontiers；'　you　will　recall　that　we　left　some　ten　thousand　behind。〃
　　
　　〃Eleven　thousand；　one　hundred；　and　eighty…three；〃　I　answered；　〃according　to　log　of　the　'New　Frontiers。'〃
　　
　　〃Is　that　what　we　logged？　Should　have　been　more；　maybe；　as　the　logged　figure　was　reconstructed　by　seeing　who　couldn't　be　mustered；　so　almost　certainly　there　were　unregistered　children　among　those　who　elected　to　stay　behind；　we　were　there　quite　a　piece。　But　the　exact　number　doesn't　matter。　Justin；　call　it　an　even　ten　thousand。　Given　…a　favorable　environment；　how　many　would　you　expect　to　find　there　after　two　thousand　years？〃
　　
　　I　used　the　arbitrary　expansion。　〃Approximately　ten　to　the　twenty…second…which　is　ridiculous。