time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第74章

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　　I　used　the　arbitrary　expansion。　〃Approximately　ten　to　the　twenty…second…which　is　ridiculous。　I　would　expect　either　a　stabilized　optimax…call　it　ten　to　the　tenth…or　a　Malthusian　catastrophe；　in　not　over　seven　to　eight　centuries。〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　there　were　none。　Nor　any　sign　that　men　had　ever　been　there。〃
　　
　　〃What　happened　to　them？〃
　　
　　〃What　happened　to　Neanderthal　Man？　What　happens　to　any　champion　when　he's　defeated？　Justin；　what's　the　point　in　striying　when　you're　so　outclassed　that　it's　no　contest？　The　Little　People　have　the　perfect　Utopia…no　strife；　no　petition；　no　population　problem；　no　poverty；　perfect　harmony
　　
　　A　~1'~
　　
　　with　their　beautiful　pla。　Paradise；　〃Justin！　The'　Little　People　are　all　the　things　that　philosophers　and　religious　leaders　throughout　history　have　been　urging　the　human　race　to　bee。
　　
　　〃Maybe　they　are　perfect；　Justin。　Maybe　they　are　what　the　human　race　can　bee　。　。　in　another　million　years。　Or　ten　million。
　　
　　〃But　when　I　say　that　their　Utopia　frightens　me；　that　I　think　it　is　deadly　to　human　beings；　and　that　they　themselves　look　like　a　dead　end　to　me；　I　am　not　running　them　down。　Oh；　no！　They　know　far　more　about　mathematics　and　science　than　I　do…or　I　wouldn't　have　gone　there　to　'consult　them。　I　can't　imagine　fighting　them　because　it　wouldn't　be　a　fight；　they　would　already　have　won　against　anything　we　could　attempt。　If　we　became　obnoxious　to　them；　I　can't　guess　what　would　happen…and　don't　want　to　find　out。　But　I　don't　see　any　danger　as　long　as　we　leave　them　alone　as　we　don't　have　anything　they　want。　So　it　appears　to　me…but　what's　the　opinion　of　one　old　Neanderthal？　I　understand　them　as　little　as　that　kitten　over　there　understands　astrogation。
　　
　　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　to　the　Howards　who　stayed　behind。　Some　may　have　gone　over　and　been　assimilated；　as　Mary　Sperling　did。　I　didn't　ask；　I　didn't　want　to　know。　Some　may　have　lapsed　into　lotus…eaters'　apathy　and　died。　I　doubt　if　many　reproduced…although　it　is　possible　that　there　were　subhumans　around　being　kept　as　pets。　If　so；　I　most　especially　did　not　want　to　know　it。　I　got　what　I　wanted：　a　corroborating　opinion　on　a　mathematical　oddity　in　field　physics…then　gathered　up　my　girls　and　left。
　　
　　〃We　did　one　thing　before　we　left　that　neighborhood：　We　made　a　ball…of…twine　photographic　survey　of　their　pla；　then　had　Athene　exami~e　it　when　we　got　back。　Teena？〃
　　
　　〃Sure；　Buddy　Boy。　Justin；　if　there　is　a　humanartifact　on　the　surface　of　that　pla；　it　is　less　than　a　half　meter　in　diameter。〃
　　
　　〃So　I　assume　that　they　are　all　dead；〃　'　Lazarus　said　grimly；　〃and　I　shan't　go　back。　No；　the　trip　to　PK3722　was　not　a　trialrun　time　trip；　but　just　a；co~tion　star　hop。　The　test　run　will　be　about　as　simple　and'　quite〃~safe；　as　it　will　not　involve　put。　ting　down　on　a　pla？et。　Want　to　e　along？　Or　shall　we　take　Galahad？〃
　　
　　〃Pappy；〃　Galahad　said　earnestly；　〃I　am　young；　beautiful；　healthy；　and　happy；　and　plan　to　stay　that　way；　you　are　not　volunteering　me　for　any　such　harebrained　junket。　I'm　not　making　any　more　star'　hops　of　any　sort；　I'm　the　home…loving
　　
　　type。　I've　made　one　landing　with　Hot　Pilot　Lorelei　at　the　overrides。　That's　enough；　I'm　convinced。〃
　　
　　〃Now；　boy；　be　reasonable；〃　Lazarus　said　gently。　〃When　we　do　this；　my　girls　will　be　old　enough　to　want　active　male　attention…which　I　am　not　going　to　supply；　I　would　lose　all　control　over　them。　Think　of　it　as　your　duty。〃
　　
　　〃When　you　start　talking　about　'duty；'　I　break　out　with　hives。　The　trouble　is；　Pappy；　you're　a　sissy；　afraid　of　two　little　girls。〃
　　
　　〃Could　be。　Because　they　won't　be　little　girls　much　longer。
　　
　　Justinr'
　　
　　I　thoug1~t　furiously。　To　be　invited　by　the　Senjor　to　take　a　star　trip　with　him　is　not　an　honor　to　turn　down。　That　it　included　an　attempt　to　travel　in　time　did　not　bother　me；　the　idea　seemed　unreal。　But　it　couldn't　be　dangerous　or　he　wouldn't　be　taking　his　sister…daughters　along…and；　besides；　I　felt　that　Lazarus　was　unkillable；　a　passenger　with　him　should　be　safe。　Gigolo　for　his　girls？…Lazarus　was　farcing　Galahad；　I　was　sure　。　。　as　I　was　certain　；that　Lazi　and　Lori　would　settle　such　matters　to　suit　themselves。　〃Lazarus；　I　will　go　anywhere　you　ask　me　to　go。〃
　　
　　〃Hold　it！〃　objected　Galahad。　〃Pappy；　Tamara　isn't　going　to　like　this。〃
　　
　　〃No　trouble；　Son。　Tamara　is　wele；　'　and　I　think　she　would　enjoy　it。　She's　not　chicken　like　some　people　we　won't　mention。〃
　　
　　〃What？〃　Galahad　sat　up　straight。　〃Take　away　Tamara
　　
　　and　Justin　。　。　and　our　twins　。　。　and　you　yourself？　Half　the　family？　And　leave　the　rest　of　us　here　to　mourn？〃　Galahad　took　a　deep　breath；　sighed　it　out。　〃All　right；　I　give　up。　I　volunteer。　But　leave　Justin　and　Tamara　at　home。　And　the　twins；　we　can't　risk　them。　You　pilot；　I'll　cook。　As　long　as　we　last；　that　is。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad　shows　unexpected　streaks　of　nobility；〃　Lazarus　said　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃It'll　get　him　killed　yet。　Forget　it；　Son；　I　don't　need　a　cook；　Dora　is　a　better　cook　than　either　of　us~　The　twins　will　insist　on　going；　and　I　need　to　supervise　them　through　a　couple　of　time　jumps；　later　they　will　have　to　do　it　alone。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　turned　to　me。　〃Justin；　while　you　are　wele；　it　will　be　a　dull　trip。　You　would　know　you'd　traveled　in　time　only　because　I'd　tell　you　so。　I　have　in　mind　going　to　a　pla　easy　to　Ibid　because　Libby　and　I　surveyed　it　and　he　determined　its　ballistic　accurately。　I'm　not　planning　to　land；　it's　a
　　
　　moderately　dangerous　place。　But　it　happens　to　be　a　pla　I　can　use　as　a　clock。
　　
　　〃This　may　sound　silly。　But　it　is　hard　to　be　sure　of　the　date　in　space；　other　than　by　your　inboard　clocks…in　particular　the　radioactive…decay　clocks　of　your　puter。　Telling　'time　by　examining　celestial　bodies　is　difficult　and　involves　subtle　measurements　and　long　calculation；　it　is　more　practical　to　ground　on　a　civilized　pla　and　bang　on　somebody's　door　and　ask。
　　
　　〃There　are　exceptions…any　stellar　system　with　known　ephemerides　of　its　plas；　such　as　here；　or　Secundus'　star；　or　the　'Solar　System；　and　others…if　Dora　has　such　data　in　her　gizzards；　she　can　look　at　such　a　system　and　read　the　time　by　its　plas　as　if　they　were　hands　on　a　clock…Libby　did　that；　with　the　Solar　System　from。　the　'New　Frontiers。'
　　
　　〃But　on　this　trial　trip　I'll　be　calibrating　a　time…travel　clock
　　
　　…another　matter　and　new。　I　left　something　in　orbit　around　that　pla　on　a　known　date。　Later　I　could　not　find　it；　despite　having　equipped　it　so　that　I　certainly　should　have　found　it。　Uh　。　。　it　was　Andy　Libby's　coffin。
　　
　　〃Very　well；　I'll　go　look　again；　trying　to　split　two　known　dates。　If　I　find　it；　I　will　have　begun　calibration　of　a　time…travel　clock…as　well　as　proving　that　the　time…trip　theory　is　correct。　Follow　me？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　so；〃　I　admitted；　〃to　the　extent　of　seeing　that　it　is　an　experimental　proof。　But　field　theory　is　so　far　from　my　own　specialty　that　I　can't　say　more。〃
　　
　　〃No　need　to。　I　don't　understand　it　too　well　myself。　The　first　puter　desi？ned　to　manage　Libby…Sheffield　drive　was　a　reflection　of　Andy's　unique　mind；　all　since　are　refinements。　If　a　pilot　tells　you　he　understands　it　and　uses　a　puter　simply　because　it's　faster；　don't　ride　with　him；　he's　a　phony。　Eh；　Teena？〃
　　
　　〃I　understand　astrogation；〃　said　the　puter；　〃because　Minerva　replicated　Dora's　astrogation　circuitry　and　programming　in　me。　But　I　do　not　think　that　it　is　possible　to　discuss　it　in　English；　or　even　Galacta；　or　any　language　using　word　elements。　I　can　print　out　the　basic　equations　and　thereby　show　a　static　picture…a　slice…of　a　dynamic　process。　Shall　I　do　so？〃
　　
　　〃Don't　bother；〃　said　Lazarus。
　　
　　〃Heavens；　no！〃　I　echoed。'　〃Thank　you；　Athene；　but　I　have'　no　ambition　to　be　a　star　pilot。〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；〃　said　Lazarus；　〃How　about　rousing　your　lazy　carcass　…and　finding　a　little　snack　for　lunch？　Say　about　four
　　
　　thousand　calories　each。　Justin；　I　asked　if　you　plan　to　go　back　to　Secundus　because　I　don't　want　you　to。〃
　　
　　〃That　suits　me！〃
　　
　　〃Pallas　Athene；　make　this　a　private　record；　keyed　to　me　and　to　Chief　Archivist　Foote。〃
　　
　　〃Program　running；　Mr。　Chairman。〃　Galahad　lifted　his　eyebrows；　left　abruptly。
　　
　　〃Chief　Archivist；　is　the　situation　in　New　Rome　being　critical？〃
　　
　　I　answered　carefully；　〃Mr。　Chairman；　in　my　opinion　it　is；　although　I'm　no　more　than　a　dilettante　in　social　'dynamics。　But　。　。　I　did　not；　e　here　to　deliver　a　silly　message　from　Madam　Chairman　Pro　Tern。　I　came　here　hoping　to　talk　with　you　about　it。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　looked　at　me　long　and　thoughtfully…and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　part　of　what　makes　him　unique。　He　has　the　quality　of　giving　full　attention　to　whatever　he　does；　be　it　a　matter　of　life　and　death；　or　something　as　trivial　as　dancing　to　amuse　a　guest。　I　recognized　it　because　Tamara　has　the　same　quality；　she　displays　it　by　giving　total　attention　to　the　person　she　is　with。
　　
　　She　does　not　have　exceptional　beauty；　nor；　I　suppose；　is　she　more　skillful　in　technique　than　any　of　several　other　professionals…or　even　some　amateurs。　No　matter。　It　is　this　q~uality　of　total　concentration　that　sets　her　apart　from　other　fine　women　of　her　merciful　calling。
　　
　　I　think　the　Senior　extends　it　to　everything。　Now　he　had　suddenly　〃picked　up　the　gavel；〃　and　his　puter　knew　it　at　once；　and　Galahad　spotted　it　almost　as　quickly…and　I　stopped　worrying。
　　
　　〃I　never　assumed；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　Families'　Chief　of　Records　would　play　messenger　with　a　useless　message。　So　tell　me　your　reason。〃
　　
　　Elaborate　it？　No；　explanations　could　follow。　〃Mr。　Chairman；　the　Archives　should　be　replicated　off　Secundus。　I　came　here　to　see　if　it　could　be　done　on　Tertius。〃
　　
　　〃Go　on。〃
　　
　　〃I've　never　seen　civil　disorder。　I'm　not　sure　of　the　symptoms　nor　how　long　it　takes　them　to　grow　into　open　violence。　But　the　people　of　Secundus　aren't　used　to　arbitrary　laws　and　rules　that　change　overnight。　I　think　there　will　be　trouble。　r　would　feel　that　I　had　carried　out　the　duties　…of　my　office　if　I　insured　that　destruction　of　the　Archives　could　not　mean　that　our　records　are　lost。　The　vaults　are　underground…but　not　inAflA
　　
　　第58节
　　
　　vulnerable。　I　have　figured　out　eleven　ways　that　some　or　all　of　the　Archives　could　be　destroyed。〃
　　
　　〃If　there　are　eleven　ways；　then　there　is　a　twelfth；　and　a　thirteenth；　and　so　on。　have　you　discussed　this　with　anyone？'
　　
　　〃N'o〃　I　added　mOre　quietly；　〃I　didn't　want　to　put　ideas　into　anyone's　head。〃
　　
　　〃Sound。　Sometimes　the　best　one　can　do　about　a　weak　point　is　not　to　call　attention　to　it。〃
　　
　　〃It　seemed　so　to　me；　sir。〃　I　added；　〃But　when　I　started　worrying　I　started　trying　to　do　something　to　protect　the　records。　I　instituted　a　policy　of　making　dead…storage　duplicates　of　all　processed　data　at　the　point　they　enter　the　Archives。　I　had　in　mind　copying　the　entire　Archives；　then　shipping　them　somewhere。　But　I　had　no　funding；　or　enough　money　of　my　own；　to　pay　for　the　memory　cubes。　They　should　be　Welton　Fine…Grains；　or　they　would　be　too　bulky　to　ship。〃
　　
　　〃When　did　you　start　copying　new　accessions？〃
　　
　　〃Shortly　after　the　Trustees'　Meeting。　I　had　expected　Susan　Barstow　to　be　elected。　When　Arabelle　Foote…Hedrick　got　it…　well；　it　disturbed　me。　Because　of　an　incident　years　back　when　we　were　both　on　campus。　I　thought　about　resigning。　But　I　had　started　work　on　your　memoirs。〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　I　think　you　kidded　yourself　about　your　reason　for　staying。　You　suspected　that　Arabelle　might　make　an　ad…interim　appointment　other　than　your　deputy。〃
　　
　　〃That's　possible；　sir。〃
　　
　　〃But　irrelevant。　You　used　Weltons　for　this　copying？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes。　I　could　squeeze　funds　for　that　much。〃
　　
　　〃Where　are　they？　Still　in　the　'Homing　Pigeon'？〃
　　
　　I　suppose　I　looked　startled。　The　Senior　said；　〃e；　e！　They　were　important　to　you…do　you　expect　me　to　think　that　you　left　them　light…years　away？〃
　　
　　〃Mr。　Chairman；　the　cubes　ire　in　my　baggage　。　…　still　in　Colony　Leader　Weatheral's　office。〃
　　
　　〃Pallas　Athene？〃
　　
　　〃Back　of　the　visitors'　couch；　Mr。　Chairman。　The　Colony　Leader　told　me　to　remind　him　to　fetch　home　Mr。　Foote's　luggage。〃
　　
　　〃Perhaps　we　can　do　better。　Chief　Archivist；　if　you　will　permit　Pallas　Athene　to　have　the　code　to　your　bags；　she　has　extensionals　in　Ira's　office　to　copy　those　cubes　at　once。　Then　you　can　quit　worrying；　Pallas　Athene　already　has　the　Archives　in　her；　up　to　the　day　I　let　Arabelle　have　the　gavel　back。〃
　　
　　I　know　my　face　showed　it。　The　Senior　chuckled　and　said；
　　
　　〃Why　and　how？　'Why'　because　you　aren't　the　only　one　who　feels　that　the　Families'　records　should　be　safeguarded。　'How？'　We　stole　them；　Son；　we　stole　them。　I　had　control　of　the　execu…'　tive　puter　and　used　it　to　copy　the　whole　works…genealogies；　history；　minutes　of　the　Families'　Meetings；　everything…with　an　override　program　to　keep　your　boss　puter　from　knowing　what　I　was　doing。
　　
　　〃Right　under　your　nose；　Chief　Archivist…but　I　kept　it　from　'you　for　your　protection；　I　did　not　want　Arabelle　to　get　wind　of　it　and　quiz　you。　It　would　have　given　her　ideas；　and　she　had　too　many　already。　The　only'　problem　was　to　scrounge　enough　Welton　cubes。　But　you　are　sitting　on　them　righ