time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第75章

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e　enough　Welton　cubes。　But　you　are　sitting　on　them　right　now；　about　twenty　meters　under　your　arse…and　when　Pallas　Athene　reads　the　ones　in　your　luggage；　the　duplicate　Archives　will　be　plete　to　the　date　you　left　Secundus。　Feel　better？〃
　　
　　I　sighed。　〃Much　better；　Mr。　Chairman。　I　can　stay　with　a　clear　conscience。　I　now　feel　free　to　resign。〃
　　
　　〃Don't。〃
　　
　　〃Sir？〃
　　
　　〃Stay　here；　yes。　But　'don't　resign。　Your　deputy　is　carrying　on　and　you　trust　her。　Arabelle　can't　legally　put　in　her　own　boy　by　ad…interim　appointment　unless　you　do　resign；　since　your　appointment　es　from　the　Trustees。　Not　that　legality　would　bother　her…but　again　let's　not　put　ideas　into　her　head。　How　many　Trustees　on　Secundus？〃
　　
　　〃'On'　Secundus；　sir？　Or　resident　on　Secundus？〃
　　
　　〃Don't　quibble；　Son。〃
　　
　　〃Mr。　Chairman；　I　am　not　quibbling。　There　are　two　hundred　eighty…two　Senior　Trustees。　Of　that　number　one　hundred　niy…five　are　resident　on　Secundus；　the　other　eighty…seven　representing　Howards　on　other　plas。　I　put　it　as　I　did　because　it　requires　a　two…thirds　majority　to　pass　a　policy　motion
　　
　　…t　at　a　decennial　meeting；　or　twothirds　of　the　total　number；　or　one　hundred　eighty…eight；　at　an　emergency　meeting　unless　every　trustee　everywhere　has　been　notified…which　can　take　years。　I　mention　this　because；　were　you　to　call　an　emergency　meeting；　it　might　be　impossible　to　muster　one　hundred　eighty…eight　votes　necessary　to　recall　Madam　Chairman　Pro　Tern。〃
　　
　　The　Senior　blinked　at　me。　〃Mr。　Archivist；　what　in　Ned　gave　you　the　notion　that　I　would　call　a　Trustees'　meeting？　Or　would　attempt　to　recall　our　dear　Sister　Arabelle？〃
　　
　　〃Your　question　seemed　to　be　leading　toward　that；　sir…
　　
　　and　I　remember　an　occasion　on　which'　you　took　back　the　gavel。〃
　　
　　〃Entirely　different。　My　motives　then　were　selfish。　The　old　biddy　was　about　to　spoil　my　plans　by　grabbing　Ira。　The　circumstances　eaning　I　could　get　away　with　it…which　I　can't　today。　Son；　despite　what　the　records　show；　Arabelle　didn't　give　up　that　gavel　willingly；　I　grabbed　it　from　her。　Then　the　short　time　it　took　us　to　finish　up　and　leave；　I　kept　her　prisoner。〃
　　
　　〃Really；　Mr。　Chairman？　She　doesn't　seem　to　harbor　resentment。　She　speaks　of　you　in　the　highest　terms。〃
　　
　　The　Senior　grinned　his　l？zy；　cynical　grin。　〃That's　because　we're　both　pragmatists。　I　was　careful　to　save　her　face　and　made　sure　she　knew　it；　and　now　she　has　nothing　to　gain　by　running　me　down…and　something　to　lose；　because　I've　acquired　a　semisacred　status。　Her　status　depends　in　part　on　mine　and　she　knows　it。　Just　the　same…　Well；　if　I　ever　find　myself　on　the　same　pla　with　her…unlikely；　I'm　no　fool…I　shall　be　very　careful　going　through　doors　and　such。
　　
　　〃I'll　tell　you　how　it　worked；　and　you'll　see　why　I　can't　do　it　twice。　Once　Ira　handed　her　the　gavel　he　moved　out　of　the　Palace…proper。　But　until　we　left　I　continued　to　live　in　the　penthouse　on　top　of　the　Palace…also　proper；　the　Palace　is　my　official　residence。　Because　I　was　still　there；　Minerva　was　still　hooked　in。　In　consequence　she　was　able　to　warn　me　when　Arabelle's　busies　grabbed　Ira。　I　came　out　of　a　sound　sleep　and　grabbed　the　gavel。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　frowned。　〃A　plawide　executive　puter　is　a　menace；　Justin。　When　it　was　Minerva　with　Ira　giving　orders；　it　worked　fine。　But　see　what　I　did　with　it　and　extrapolate　what　someone　else　might　do　with　one。　Arabelle；　for　instance。　Uh…　Teena；　give　Justin　a　sample　of　Arabelle's　voice。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Mr。　Chairman。　'Chief　Archivist　Foote；　this　is　the　Chairwoman　Pro　Tern。　I　have　the　honor　to　announce　that　I　have　been　able　to　persuade　our　distinguished　Ancestor；　Lazarus　Long；　Permanent　Chairman　of　the　Howard　Families；　to　assume　for　us　the　titular　leadership；of　the　Families　during　the　regrettably　short　period　remaining　until　he　again　embarks　for　a　new　worid。　Please　give　this　announcement　full　distribution　among　your　subordinates。　I　will　continue　to　handle　routine　details　but'　the　Chairman　wants　you　to　feel　free　to　consult　him　at　any　time。　Speaking　for　the　Trustees　and　for　the　Chairman；　this　is　Arabelle　Foote…Hedrick；　Chairtvoman　Pro　Tem。~　pore　of　the　Howard　Families。'〃
　　
　　〃Why；　that's　exactly　what　she　said　to　me。〃
　　
　　〃Yup。　Minerva　did　a　good　job。　She　got　just　the　right　pomposity　into　the'　phrasing；　as　well　as　getting　Arabelle's　voice　down　pat；　even　to　that　sniff　she　uses　for　punctuation。〃
　　
　　〃That　wasn'r　Arabelle？　I　had　no　slightest　suspicion。〃
　　
　　〃Justin；　when　that　message　went　to　you…and　one　like　it　to　everyone　important　enough　to　rate　it…Arabelle　was　in　the　biggest；　fanciest　apartment　in　the　Palace…and　very　annoyed　that　doors　wouldn't　open　and　transport　wouldn't　e　and　none　of　the　munication　arrangements　would　work…except　when　I　syanted　to　talk　to　her。　Shucks；　I　didn~t　even　let　her　have　a　cup　of　coffee　until　she　got　her　feathers　down　and　conceded　that　I　was　Chairman　and　running　things。
　　
　　〃After　that　we　got　along　pretty　well；　even　became　somewhat　chummy。　I　did　everything　for　her　but　turn　her　loose。　She　took　over　the　routine…I　didn't　want　to　be　bothered…　which　was　safe　as　Minerva　would　have　chopped　her　off　if　she　got　out　of　line　and　she　knew　it。　She　and　I　even　appeared　together　on　a　newscast　the　morning　I　left；　and　Arabelle　spoke　her　piece　like　a　lady；　and　my　public　thanks　to　her　were　just　as　sincerely　insincere。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　Long　continued；　〃But　now　she　has　the　executive　puter　and　if　I　went　back；　I'd　throw　my　hat　in　first。　No；　Justin；　I　was　not　asking　about　the　Trustees　on　Secundus　with　any。　intention　of　calling　a　meeting；　instead　I　was　thinking　that　any　twenty　Trustees　can　call　an　emergency　meeting　and　hoping　that　they　would　see　it　as　you　do…futile……and　not　try。　She　might　grab　them　and　ship　them　to　Felicity。　Or；　if　she　has　the　nerve…I　think　she　has…she　might　let　them　hold　their　meeting；　then　if　it　went　against　her；　ship　all　the　Trustees　who　show　up　off　to　Felicity。　But　I　guarantee　she　won't　quit　without　a　fight。　I　caught　her　with　her　pants　down；　she　won't　be　caught　twice。〃
　　
　　〃Then　it　means　a　bloodbath。〃
　　
　　〃That　may　be　the　only　way　out。　But　you　and　I　can't　help　the　situation。　In　all　matters　of　government　the'correct　answer　is　usually：　Do　nothing。　This　is　such　a　time…a　time　to　exercise　creative　inaction。　Sit　tight。　Wait。〃
　　
　　〃Even　when　you　know　things　are　going　wrong？〃
　　
　　〃Even　when　you　know　it；　Justin。　The　itch　to　be　a　world　saver　should　not　be　scratched；　it　ra？ely　does　any　good　and　can　drastically　shorten　your　life。　I　see　three　major　possibilities：　Arabelle　may　be　assassinated。　The　Trustees　will　then　elect　another　Chairman　Pro　Tern；　hopefully　one　with　sense。　Or　she
　　
　　；1~~0
　　
　　may　last　till　the　next　ten…year　'meeting；　whereupon　the　Trustees　may　exercise　some　sense。　Or　she　may　get　smart；　not　expose　herself　to　assassination　while　consolidating　her　power　so　strongly　that　it　will　take　a　revolution　to　get　rid　of　her。
　　
　　〃I　regard　the　last　as　least　likely；　assassination　as　the　most　likely…and　none　of　it　our　business　here　on　Tert~us。　There　are　a　billion　people　on　Secundus；　let　them　handle　it。　You　and　I　have　saved　the　Archives　and　that's　good；　the　Families　maintain　their　continuity。
　　
　　〃In　a　few　years　ent　for　you…or　your　successor…to　set　up　the　sort　of　puterized　deal　you　have　on　Secundus。　Athene　can　keep　data　in　storage　until　we're　set　up。　Meanwhile　I'll　let　a　message　echo　around　the　inhabited　plas　that　the　Archives　are　here；　too。　I'll　also　announce　that　this　is　an　alternate　Families'　Seat　where　the　Trustees　are　we！…　e　to　meet。〃
　　
　　The　puter　said；　〃Mr。　Chairman；　Mr。　Jones　has　asked　if　I　know　when　you　will　be　ready　for　lunch。〃
　　
　　〃Please　tell　him　we　will　be　there　in　a　moment。　No　hurry'　on　any　of　this；　Justin；　if　you're　patient；　problems　tend　to　solve'　themselves…and　patient　is　all　one　can　be　when　it　takes　years　to　pass　a　message　around　even　among　the　more　thickly　settled~　plas。　So　wait　a　hundred　years。　One　private　message　for　you。　You're　one　of　us　now？　A　member　of　this　family　and　a　father　to　our　kids？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　I　want　to　be。〃
　　
　　〃You　want　it　formal？　All　right；　here's　a　short　one；　binding~
　　
　　…and　later　you　can　have　any　ritual　you　want。　Justin；　are　you　our　brother？　Till　the　stars　grow　old　and　our　sun　grows　cold？　Will　you　fight　for　us；　lie　for　us；　love　us…and　let　us　love　you？〃
　　
　　〃I　will！''
　　
　　〃That　does　it；　Athene　has　it　on　record…open　record；　Athene。〃
　　
　　〃Recorded；　Lazarus。　Wele　to　the　family；　Justin！〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Athene。〃
　　
　　〃The　private　message　is　thus；　Justin。　Tamara　asked　me　to　tell　you…if　you　married　us…that　she　is　going　to　ask　Ishtar　to　cancel　her　immunity　to　impregnation。　She　did　not　say　that　this　was　exclusively　for　you。　On　the　contrary　she　told　me　that　she　hopes　to　have　children　by　each　of　us　as　quickly　as　possible；　then　she　would　at　last　feel　fully　in　the　family。　Nevertheless　I　am　certain　that　her　decision　was　triggered　by　your　arrival　。　。　so　the　rest　of　us　will　hang　back　and　cheer　while　you　plant　the　first　one…our　Tammy　will　like　that。〃
　　
　　My　eyes　suddenly　filled　with　tears；　but　I　kept　my　voice　steady。　〃Lazarus；　I　don't　think　that's　what　Tamara　wants　I　thing　she　jusS　wants　to　be　fully　a　member　of　the　family…and　so　do　1！〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　perhaps　so。　In　any　case　Ishtar　keeps　the　geic　answers　to　herself。　Maybe　we'll　line　up　all　the　gals　and　see　what　a　new　rooster　can　do。　End　of　restricted　conference；　Teena。〃
　　
　　〃Sure　thing；　Buddy　Boy。　And　a　hundred　years　from　now　you　can　line　up　all　the　men　for　me。　Betcha　I　can　whip　'em！〃
　　
　　〃You　probably　can；　dear。〃
　　
　　？VARIATIONS　ON　A　THEME
　　
　　XVI
　　
　　Eros
　　
　　'Minerva　said；　〃Lazarus；　will　you　walk　with　me？　Outside？〃
　　
　　〃I　will　if　you'll　smile。〃
　　
　　She　smiled　briefly。　〃None　of　us　feels　much　like　smiling　today。　But　I'll　try。〃
　　
　　〃Confound　it；　dear；　you　know　I　won't　be　gone　any　time　to　speak　of；　by　this　framework。　Just　like　the　calibrating　hop　the　twins　and　I　made。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　dear。　Shall　we　go？〃
　　
　　He　patted　her　little　skirt。　〃Thought　so。　Where's　your　gun？〃
　　
　　〃Must　I　wear　it？　When　you　are　with　me？　I　will　wear　it　with…；　out　fail　。　。　while　you　are　gone。〃
　　
　　〃Well…　Bad　precedent。　All　right。〃
　　
　　They　paused　in　the　foyer。　Minerva　said；　〃Athene　dear；　please　tell　Tamara　I'll　be　back　in　time　to　help　with　dinner。〃
　　
　　〃Sure　thing；　Sis。　Hold　it…　Tammy　girl　says　she　doesn't　need　help；　so　don't　hurry。〃
　　
　　〃Thanks；　Sister。　And　thank　Tammy　for　me。〃　They　left　the　house；　started　up　a　gentle　hill。　Presently　she　said；　〃Tomorrow。〃
　　
　　〃'Tomorrow；'〃　Lazarus　repeated；　〃but　don't　make　it　sound　like　a　dirge。　I've　told　you　all　that；　while　th？s　trip　will　be　ten　T…years　elapsed　time　for　me；　it　will　be　at　most　a　few　weeks　for　you　at　home…and　even　less　for　the　twins。　What　is　there　to　get　solemn　over？〃
　　
　　Instead　of　answering；　she　said；　〃How　long　will　I　live？〃
　　
　　〃Eb？　Minerva；　what　sort　of　question　is　that？　Not　too　long　if　you　negl~ct　ordinary　precautions　such　as　going　armed　and　staying　alert。　If　you　mean　your　life　expectancy…well；　if　the　geicists　know　what　they　are　talking　about；　you　have　exactly　the　expectancy　I　was　born　with　and　it　doesn't　matter　that　I'm　a　freak；　I　pass　it　on　to　you。　But　even　if　they　are　mistaken　about　that　gene　plex　in　the　twelfth　chromosome　pair；　there　is　no　possible　doubt　that　you　are　a　Howard　in　every　gene。　So　you're　good　for　a　couple　of　centu~ies　without　trying。　But
　　
　　with　a　willingness　to　undergo　rejuve　every　time　you　reach　menopause；　I　couldn't　guess　how　long　you　will　last…they　learn　mo~re　about　it　every　year。　As　long　as　you　want　to　live；　probably。　How　long　is　that？〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　know；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Then　what's　eating　you；　dear？　Sorry　you　gave　up　being　a　puter　for　vuln鐁able　flesh…and…blood？〃
　　
　　？〃Oh；　no！~'
　　
　　Then　she　added；　〃But　sometimes　it　hu'rts。〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　Sometimes　it　does。〃
　　
　　〃Laz~rus　。　。　if　you　are　certain　you　are　ing　back
　　
　　why　did　you　reorient　Dora　so　that　her　affection　is　fixed　on　Lori　and　Lazi　rather　'than　on　you？〃
　　
　　？〃Is　that　all　that's　troubling　you？　A　routine　precaution；　that's　all。　Why　did　Ira　make　a　new　will　when　we　set　up　our　family？　Why　do　we　all　have　wills　emplaced　in　Teena？　My　sisters　will　own　the　'Dora'　presently　no　matter　what；　they　already　run　it。　If　anything　did　happen　to　me…　Do　you　remember　something　you　said　years　ago？　You　told　Ira　that　you　would　self…destroy　rather　than　serve　another　master。〃　~
　　
　　〃Is　it　likely　that　I　would　fail　to　carry　over　such　a　memory？　That　day　led　to　this；　by　inevitable　concatenation。　Lazarus；　I　left　behind　much　of　my　memories　。　。　but　I　traced　and　retraced　in　this　Minerva　every　conversation　that　Minerva　ever　shared　with　you。　Every　word。〃
　　
　　〃Then　you　know　why　I　won't　risk　hurting　a　puter　who　thinks　she's　a　little　girl　。　。　and　why　I　don't　dare　risk　an　emotional　malfunction　in　a　piloting　puter　somewhere　out　between　the　stars…when　my　sisters'　lives　depend　on　that　puter。　Minerva；　I　would　have　bonded　Dora　to　Lori　and　Lazi　just　on　Dora's　account；　she　needs　to　love　and　be　loved。　But　if　I　had　neglected　to　do　it　as　a　safety　precaution　for　the　twins…well；　a　man　who　refuses　to　take　his