time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第77章

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　　〃Dora　honey；　this　drill　is　based　on　the　pessimistic　~ssumption　that　Ellandell　might　have　to　find　it　without　your　help。　I　want　them　to　know　the　geography　of　Terra　so　well　that　they　won't　have　to。　ground　and　look　for　a　road　sign。　No　close　approaches　to　the　ground　at　all…except　to　put　me　down　and　pick　me　up。　I　don't　want　to　start　a　flying…saucer　scare；　I　don't
　　
　　A~Q
　　
　　want　to　attract　any　attention…5……some　yokel　might　take　a　shot　at　me。　It's　unfortunate　that　this　ship　is　shaped　such　that　'flying　saucer'　isn't　too　bad　a　description。〃
　　
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　the　way　I　look？〃　demanded　Dora。　〃I　look　pretty　damn　good！〃
　　
　　〃Dear；　you're　built　like　a　brick　outhouse…for　a　starship。　You're　beautiful。　It's　simply　that　unidentified　flying　objects…　oofohs…were　also　called　'flying　saucers。'　I　don't　believe　in　paradoxes　。　。　but　I　don't　want　any　attention。〃
　　
　　第60节
　　
　　〃Brother；　maybe　we　are　one　of　those　oofohs　you　told　us　about。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？　Could　be；　I　suppose。　If　so；　let's　not　get　shot　at。　I　want　a　quiet　trip。　If　everything　goes　well；　we　can　talk　about　letting　one　of　you。　get　on　the　ground　with　me　next　trip　though　durned　if　I　don't　think　a　stacked　redhead　is　more　conspicuous　than　an　unidentified　flying　object。　Okay；　the　crater。　I　intend　to　be　there；　before　sundown　and　after　sunrise；　from　minus　ten　days　to　plus　ten　days　at　plus　ten　years。　If　I'm　not　there；　what　do　you　do？〃
　　
　　Lapis　Lazuli　answered；　〃Look　for　you　half　a　T…year　later　on　top　of　the　biggest　pyramid　at　Gizeh…that's　here…at　midnight　。　。　only　this　time　we　scan　for　you　minus　thirty　days
　　
　　？through　plus　thirty　because　you　aren't　certain　when　you　can　get　there　and　may　be　able　to　manage　it　only　once…bribes　and　things。　Brother；　do　we　go　out　half　a。iight…year　and　reenter　the　time　axis？　Or　stay　in　orbit　and　wait？〃
　　
　　〃That's　up　to　you。　I　won't　use　the　Egyptian　rendezvous　unless　I've　pulled　some　goof　that　makes　it　unhealthy　for　me　to　meet　you　in　Arizona。　If　I　miss　both　dates；　what　do　you　do？　Lori？〃
　　
　　〃Look　for　you　again　both　places　at　eleven　years　and　eleven　and　a　half。　years。〃
　　
　　〃Then　what？〃　……
　　
　　Lorelei　glanced　at　her　sister。　〃Brother；　this　part　we　don't　go　along　with…〃
　　
　　〃…and　that　goes　for　Dora；　too…〃…
　　
　　…〃It　sure　does！〃
　　
　　…〃…because　we　won't　assume　that　you're　dead…〃
　　
　　〃…no　matter　how　many　times　you　miss　rendezvous…〃
　　
　　〃…so　we　start　checking　both　spots　day　after　day…〃
　　
　　〃…and　night　after　night…〃
　　
　　〃…and　over　nine　hours'　local　time　difference　means　some　weird　partial　orbits　to　check　sunrise　and　sundown　in　Arizona　and　still　check　midnights　in　Egypt…〃
　　
　　〃…but　Dora　can　do　it…〃
　　
　　〃You　bet　I　can！〃
　　
　　〃…and　we'll　keep　looking　for　you　day　after　day…〃
　　
　　~…and　year　after　year…〃
　　
　　〃…until　ypu　do　show　up。　Sir。〃
　　
　　〃Captain　Lorelei；　if　I　miss　four　rendezvous　dates；　I'm　dead。　You　must　assume　that。　Shall　I　put　it　in　writing？〃
　　
　　〃modore　Long；　if　you're　dead；　you　can't　give　orders。　That's　logical。〃
　　
　　〃If　you　assume　that　I　am　not　dead；　then　my　orders　still　apply。　。　and　you　must　give　up　the　search。　By　the　same　logic。〃
　　
　　〃Sir；　if　~7ou　are　out　of　the　ship　and　out　of　touch；　then　you　are　hardly　in　a　position　to　give　any　orders。　But　if　you　want　to　be　picked　up；　there　will　be　daily　service　from　drop　time　plus　eleven…and…one…half　T…years　on…〃
　　
　　〃…and　on　and　on　and　on；　because　that's　what　we　promised　the　family…〃
　　
　　〃…even　though　we'll　have　to　run　home　occasionally　for　rejuvenation…〃
　　
　　〃…and　to　have　babies；　but　neither　of　those　will　take　any　time　in　that　time　framework　。　。　as　you　pointed　out　in　another　connection。〃
　　
　　〃Mutiny。〃…
　　
　　The　twins　glanced　at　each　other。　〃I'll　take　it；　Laz；　I　have　to…odd…numbered　day。　modore；　as　you　taught　us　before　you　ever　let　either　of　us　take　mand　in　space；　a　modore　is　actually　a　passenger　…because　a　ship's　master　cannot　give　up　even　a　little　bit　of　her　total　responsibility。　So　'mutiny'　is　not　a　word　that　can　apply。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　sighed。　〃I've　raised　a　couple　of　blinkin'　space　lawyers。〃
　　
　　〃Brother；　that's　what　you　taught　us。　You　did。〃
　　
　　…　〃Okay；　I　did。　You　win　the　argument。　But　it's　silly　to　talk　about　checking　every　day　for　year　after　year　indefinitely。　I've　never　seen　the　prison　I　couldn't　escape　from　in　less　than　a　year
　　
　　…and　I've　been　in　quite　a　number。　Maybe　I　should　cancel　the　whole　caper…no；　no；　I　won't　argue　it！　Now　about　time　markers；　if　something　forces　you　to　recalibrate：　Simple　enough　to　ground　and　find　out　the　exact　Gregorian　date　。
　　
　　but　that's　exactly　what　I　don'：　want　you　to　do　。　。　because　neither　of　you　has　any　experience　in　coping　…with　strange　cultures…and　you　would　get　in　trouble　and　I　wouldn't　be　around　to　get　you　out。〃
　　
　　AAfl
　　
　　441〃Brother；　do　you　think　we　are　that　stupid？〃
　　
　　〃No；　Laz；　I　do　not　think　you　are　stupid。　You　each　have　exactly　the　brain　potential　J　started　with…and　I'm　not　stupid　or　I　would　not　have　lived　so　long。　Furthermore；　you　each　have　enormously　better　educations　than　I　had　at　your　age。　But；　darlings；　these　are　the　Dark　Ages　w&re　talking　about。　You　two　have　been　brought　up　to　expect　rational　treatment
　　
　　which　you　wouldn't　receive。　I　don't　dare　let　you　put　foot　to　ground　in　that　era；　even　with　me　at　your　side；　until　after　I　have　coached　you　endlessly　in　how　to　be　consistently　irrational　in　what　you　do　and　say。　Truly。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　continued；　〃Never　mind；　you　have　two　ways　to　read　the　clock　from　space。　One　is　the　Libby　method；　tedious　but　workable；　by　reading　positions　of　the　Solar　System's　plas。　The　trouble　with　that　one　is　that；　unless　you　spend　one　devilish　long　time　on　difficult　observations；　you　can　mistake　a　configuration　for　one　almost　like　it…but　several　thousand　years　earlier　or　later。
　　
　　〃So　we　use　what　time　marks　we　can　find　on　the　surface　of　Terra　herself。　The　radioactive　dating　of　that　impact　crater　is　probabl？　close…but　in　any　case；　if　the　crater　is　missing；　you're　too　early　by　some　centuries。　The　dates　for　the　building　of　the　Great　e　for　the　Egyptian　pyramids。　The　dates　for　the　Suez　Canal　and　the　Pan…ama　Canal　are　exact…so；　unfortunately；　is　the　date　of　the　destruction　of
　　
　　？Europe…but　don't　try　to　watch　it！　Keep　your　screens　up　and　get　out　fast；　that　is　a　year　when　a　strange　spaceship　would　be　shot　out　of　the　sky　if　you　were　careless　enough　to　be　vulnerable。　In　fact；　if　any　time　marker　on　this　list　shows　that　you　are　later　than　1940　Gregorian；　get　out　at　once！…and　shoot　for　an　earlier　date。
　　
　　〃That's　enough　for　now；　it's　getting　toward　bedtime　by　my　sort　of　time；　irrelevant　though　it　may　be　to　anything　outside　this　ship。　I　want　you　to　study　all　this　stuff　until　you　can　recite　it　in　your　sleep；　dates　and　what　you　look　for　and　how　to　find　it…even　if　you　don't　have　a　Terra　globe　to　look　at。　Anybody　think　she　can　beat　me　at　crib？　Don't　all　speak　at　once。〃
　　
　　〃I　can；〃　said　Dora；　〃if　you　promise　not　to　cheat　on　the　shuffle。〃
　　
　　〃Later；　Dora；〃　said　Captain　Lorelei。　〃Now　we　tell　him。〃
　　
　　〃Oh！　All　right；　I'll　be　very　quiet。〃
　　
　　〃Tell　me　what？〃　demanded　Lazarus。
　　
　　〃That　it's　time　for　you　to　impregnate　us　。　。　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　I　…~
　　
　　〃Both　of　us；〃　agreed　Lapis　Lazuli。…
　　
　　Lazarus　counted　ten　chimpanzees　in　his　mind…then　ten　more。　〃Absplutely　out　of　the　question！'~
　　
　　They　glanced　at　each　other。　Lorelei　said：
　　
　　〃We　knew　you　would　say　that…〃
　　
　　〃…bud　the　only　question　is　whether　you　do　it　sweet　and　friendlyilke…〃
　　
　　〃…or　we　tell　Ish　you　said　No　and　she　does　it　for　us…your　sperm…from　the　sperm　bank…〃
　　
　　〃…but　we'd　be　much　happier　if　our　beloved　brother；　who
　　
　　？has　always　been　good　to　us…〃
　　
　　〃…but　is　now　going　to　go　get　his　ass　shot　off　in　the　Dark　Ages…〃
　　
　　〃…were　to　drop　his　silly　prejudices　just　once…〃
　　
　　〃…and　treat　us　as　biologically　mature　females…〃
　　
　　〃…instead　of　the　children　we　used　to　be…〃
　　
　　〃…Ira　and　Galahad　and　Justin　don't　treat　us　as　children…〃
　　
　　〃…but　you　do　and　it's　not　just　humiliating；　it's　downright　heartbreaking　when　we　may　never　see　you　again…〃
　　
　　〃…when　you　didn't　make　any　real　fuss　about　knocking　up　Minerva…〃
　　
　　〃…not　to　mention　Tammy　and　Hamadarling　and　Ish…〃
　　
　　〃Stop　it！〃
　　
　　…　They　stopped。
　　
　　〃I　concede　a　remote　possibility　with　respect　to　three　of　them；　although　mathematically　most　unlikely。〃
　　
　　Lorelei　said　quietly；　〃Mathematically　extremely　likely；　Lazarus；　because　we　were　all　in　on　it。　Justin　and　Ira　and　Galahad　hung　back　at　the　right　times　just　the　way　they　insured　that　Minerva's　first　baby　was　Ira's　and　Tammy's　first　was　Justin's。　But　if　~t　did　not　work　out…for　any　one　of　four；　not　'three'…then　Ishtar　will　correct　it　from　the　sperm　bank。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　not　in　the　sperm　bank！〃
　　
　　The　girls　exchanged　glances。　Lapis　Lazuli　said；　〃Want　to　bet？〃
　　
　　The　puter　said；　〃It's　a　sucker　bet；　Buddy。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　looked　thoughtful。　〃Unless　Ishtar　tricked　me　almost　twenty　years　back。　When　I　was　her　rejuve　client。〃
　　
　　Lorelei　said　quietly；　〃I　suppose　she　could　have；　Lazarus。　But　she　did　not；　that　I　know　of…and　this　is　fresh　sperm。　Frozen　not　more　than　a　year　ago；　any　of　it。　After　the　day　you　announced　a　date　for　this　trip。〃
　　
　　〃Impossible。〃
　　
　　…442
　　
　　443〃Better　not　say　'Impossible。'　What　is　the　perfect　container　for　keeping　…　sperm　fresh　and　alive　until　a　technician　can　bank　it？'
　　
　　Lazarus　looked　very　thoughtful。　〃Well　。　。　I'll　。　…。　be
　　
　　damned！〃
　　
　　〃Correct；　I~rother。　Place　a　woman　around　it。　You　were　being　oh　so　careful　to　pick　your　bedmates　by　their　cycles　so　that　you　wouldn't　leave　any　babies　behind　。　。　and　they　were　being　oh。　so　careful　to　see　Ish　or　Galahad　as　soon　as　you　fell　asleep　。　。　as　well　as　fudging　calendars；　too。　The　point　is；
　　
　　beloved　brother　of　ours；　you　don't　own　your　genes…nobody　does。　We've　heard　you　say　so；　in　discussing　how　Minerva　was　constructed。　Genes　belong　to　the　race；　they're　simply　lent　to　the　individual　for　his…her　lifetime。　And　all　of　us…knowing　you　were　going　to　try　this　reckless　thing…decided　that；　while　you　were　free　to　throw　away　your　life；　you　weren't　free　to　waste　a　unique　gene　pattern。〃
　　
　　？azarus　changed　the　subject。　〃Why　do　you　say　'four'？〃
　　
　　Lorelei　answered；…　〃Brother；　are　you　ashamed　of　Minerva？　I　do　not　believe　it。　Nor　does　Laz。〃
　　
　　〃Uh…　No；　I'm　not　ashamed　of　her；　Fm　proud　of　her！　Damn　it；　you　two　have　always　been　able　to　get　me　mixed　up。　I　simply　did　not　know　that　she　had　told　anyone。　I　have　not。〃　The　other　twin　said；　〃Who　would　she　turn　to　but　us？〃
　　
　　〃You　mean　'To　whom　would　she　turn。〃
　　
　　〃Damn　it；　Brother；　this　is　a　hell　of　a　time　to　be　correcting　our　grammar！　Minerva　turned　to　us　for　advice…and　fort！
　　
　　…because　we're　in　the　same　difficult　position　with　respect　to　you　that　she　is。　That　she　was；　I　mean；　for　she　came　out　of　the　bushes　looking　as　smug　as　a　cat。　You　made　her　happy…〃
　　
　　〃…when　she　had　been　crying　her　eyes　out…〃〃…and　she'll　stay　happy　now；　even　if　she　missed　catching…〃
　　
　　〃…because　once　is　enough　for　a　symbol　and　if　she　missed…〃　…
　　
　　〃Lsh　will　fix　it…〃
　　
　　〃…and　of　cowse　we　knew　about　it　when　you　finally　quit　dithering　and　did　what　you　should　have　done　for　her　years　ago…〃
　　
　　〃…because　we　helped　rig　it　so　that　she　could　get　you　alone　and　twist　your　arm…〃
　　
　　〃…and　told　her　that　if　tears　weren't　enough；　to　chuck　in　some　chin　quivering…〃
　　
　　444〃…and　it　worked　and　she's　happy…〃…
　　
　　〃…but　we're　not　so　damned　happy；　not　at　all；　but　we　won't　cry　at　you…i…〃
　　
　　〃…or　quiver　our　chins；　that's　childish。　If　you　won't　do　it　simply　because　you　love　us…〃
　　
　　〃…then　the　hell　with　it　and　we　probably　won't　even　fall　back　on　the　sperm　bank；　Instead…〃
　　
　　〃…it　…might　be　better　to　have　Ish　sterilize　us…〃
　　
　　〃…permanently…not　just　offset　fertility　temporarily…〃
　　
　　〃…and　quit　being　females；　since　we're　failures　at　it…〃
　　
　　〃STOP　IT！　If　you're　not　going　to　cry　at　me；　what　are　all　those　tears'　for？〃
　　
　　第61节
　　
　　Lapis　Lazuli　said　with　quiet　dignity；　〃Those　aren't　weeping　tears；　Brother；　they　e　from　sheer　exasperation。　e　on；　Lor；　we've　swung　and　we've　missed…let's　go　to　bed。〃
　　
　　〃ing；　Sister。〃
　　
　　〃If　the　modore　will　excuse　us？〃…
　　
　　〃He　damn　well　won't！　Sit　back　down。　Girls；　can　we　talk　about　this　quietly　without　you　two　whipsawing　me？〃
　　
　　The　two　young　women　sat　back　down。　Captain　Lorelei　glanced　at　her　sister　and　said；　〃Laz　agrees　that　I　will　speak　for　us　both。　No　whipsawing。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　said　thoughtfully；　〃Do　you　two　run　your　brains　in　tandem　or　in　parallel？〃　…
　　
　　〃We　。　。　do　not　think　that　is　relevant　to　the　discussion。〃
　　
　　〃Just　scientific　interest。　If　you　could　teach　me　how　to　do　it；　。〃
　　
　　〃That　can　be　only　conjectural；　Lazarus　。　。　since　you　reject　Us。〃
　　
　　〃Damn　it；　girls…I　have　not　rejected　you；　I　will　never　reject　you。〃　…
　　
　　They　said　nothing；　he　went　on；　unfortably