time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第26章

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　　〃Only　if　you　are　having　one。〃
　　
　　〃We'll　skip　it　then。　Ira；　did　you　put　her　up　to　it？'
　　
　　〃You　know　what　I　mean。　Hamadryad。　First　Ishtar；　flow　Hamadryad。　You've　manipulated　this　whole　deal　from　the　moment　you　snatched　me　out　of　that　flophouse；　where　I　was　dyi？g　decently　and　quietly。　Have　you　again　been　trying　to　tie　me　down　to　whatever　scheme　you　have　in　the　back　of　your　mind　by　waving　pretty　tails　under　my　nose？　It　won't　work；　man。〃
　　
　　The　Chafrman　Pro　Tern　answered　quietly；　〃I　could　deny　that…and　for　the　hundredth　time　have　you　call　me　a　liar。　I　suggest　that　you　ask　Minerva。〃
　　
　　〃I　wonder　if　that　would　be　any　assurance。　Minerva！〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Lazarus？〃
　　
　　Did　Ira　rig　this？　With　either　of　the　girls？'
　　
　　〃Not　to　my　knowledge；　Lazarus？'
　　
　　〃Is　that　an　evasion；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　cannot'Iie　to　you。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　I　think　you　could　if　Ira　wanted　you　to；　but　there　is　no　point　in　my　inquiring　into　it。　Give　us　privacy　for　a　few　moments；　dear…recording　mode　only。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　went　on；　〃Ira；　I　wish　you　had　answered　Yes。　Because　the　only　other　explantation　is　one　I　do　not　like。　I　ain't　pretty　and　my　manners　are　not　such　as　to　endear　me　to　women…so　what　do　we　have　left？　The　fact　that　I　am　the　oldest　man　alive。　Women　sell　themselves　for　odd　reasons　and　not　always　for　money。　Ira；　I　do　not　choose　to　stand　at　stud　for　pretty　young　things　who　would　not　waste　a　moment　on　me　save　for　the　prestige　of　having　a　child　by；　quote；　The　Senior；　end　of　quote。〃　He　glared。　〃Right？〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　you　are　being　unjust　to　both　women。　As　well　as　unusually　obtuse。〃
　　
　　〃How？〃
　　
　　〃I've　watched　them。　I　think　they　both　love　you…and　don't　give　me　any　double…talk　about　what　that　verb　means；　I　am　not　Galahad。〃
　　
　　〃But…　Oh；　crap！〃
　　
　　〃I　won't　argue　on　that　basis；　'crap'　is　a　subject　in　which　you　are　the　Galaxy's　top　authority。　Women　do　not　always　sell　themselves　and　they　do　fall　in　love　。　。　often　for　the　oddest　reasons…if　'reason'　is　a　word　that　can　apply。　Granted　that　you　are　ugly；　selfish；　self…centered；　surly…〃
　　
　　〃I'm　aware　of　it！〃
　　
　　〃…to　me。　Nevertheless　women　don't　seem　to　care　much　how　a　man　looks　。　。　and　you　are　surprisingly　gentle　with　women。　I've　noticed。　You　say　those　little　whores　on　Mars　all　loved　that　blind　man。〃…
　　
　　〃Some　of　them　weren't　little。　Big　Anna　was　taller　than　I　am　and　weighed　more。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　try　to　change　the　subject。　Why　did　they　love　him？　Don't　bother　to　answer；　why　a　woman　loves　a　man…or　a　man　loves　a　woman…can　be　rationalized　only　in　survival　terms；　and　the　answer　has　no　flavor；　unsatisfying。　But　Lazarus；　when　you've　pleted　rejuvenation　and　you　and　I　have　finished　our　Scheherazade　bet；　however　we　finish　it…　are　you　going　away　again？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　brooded　before　answering：　〃I　suppose　so。　Ira；　this　cottage…and　garden　and　stream…that　you've　lent　me　are　very　nice；　the　times　I've　gone　down　to　the　city　I've　hurried　back；　glad　to　be　home。　But　it's　just　a　resting　place；　I　won't　stay　here。　When　the　wild　goose　cries；　I　go。〃　Lazarus　looked　sad。　〃But　I　don't　know　where　and　I　don't　want　to　repeat　the　things　I've　done。　Perhaps　Minerva　will　find　that　new　thing　for　me；　when　it's　time　to　move　on。〃
　　
　　Ira　stood　up。　〃Lazarus；　if　you　weren't　so　stinking　suspicious　and　mean；　you　would　give　both　women　the　benefit　of　the　doubt　and　leave　them　each　with　child　to　remember　you　by。　It　wouldn't　cost　you　much　effort。〃
　　
　　〃Out　of　the　question！　I　do　not　abandon　children。　Or　pregnant　women。〃
　　
　　〃Excuses。　I　will　adopt；　in　the　womb；　any　child　you　sire　before　you　leave　us。　Shall　I　have　Minerva　place　that　in　permanent　and　bind　it？〃
　　
　　〃I　can　support　my　own　kids！　Always　have。〃
　　
　　〃Minerva。　Transfer'it　and　bind　it。〃
　　
　　〃pleted；　Ira。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　best　Little　Nag。　Same　time　tomorrow；　Lazarus？〃
　　
　　〃I　suppose　so。　Yes。　Call　Hamadryad；　will　you；　and　ask　her　to　e；　too？…tell　her　I　asked　you　to。　I　don't　want　the　kid's　feelings　hurt。〃
　　
　　〃Sure；　***（Irainp。***〃
　　
　　COUNTERPOINT　IV
　　
　　On　the　level　in　the　Executive　Palace　of　Mr。　Weatheral's　private　apartments　Hamadryad　waited　with　Galahad　while　Ishtar　left　orders　for　the　rejuvenation　technicians　on　watch　there。　Then　the　three　took　transport　down　and　across；　still　inside　the　Palace；　to　an　apartment　Ira　had　placed　at　Ishtar's　disposal…a　dwelling　larger　and　more　lavish　than　her　quarters　in　the　Rejuvenation　Clinic　and　much　more　luxurious　than　the　penthouse　cottage　save　that　it　had　no　garde？；　it　was　intended　for　a　Trustee　or　other　V。I。P。　guest…not　that　its　luxury　mattered　much；　as　Ishtar　and　Galahad　spent　most　of　their　time　and　took　most　of　their　meals　with　Lazarus；　and　used　it　mainly　for　sleeping。
　　
　　Minerva　had　placed　a　dozen…odd　lesser　acmodations　with　Ishtar　for　her　watch　list；　one　of　them　for　Galahad。　He　did　not　need　it　and　Ishtar　had　Minerva　reassign　it　to　Hamadryad　when　she　had　bee　an　unofficial　part　of　the　team　caring　for　the　Senior。　Hamadryad　sometimes　slept　in　it　rather　than　go　to　her　country　home…without　telling　her　father；　as　the　Chairman　Pro　Tern　did　not　encourage　members　of　his　family　to　use　Palace　quarters　unnecessarily。　Or　she　sometimes　stayed　with　Ishtar　and　Galahad。
　　
　　This　time　all　three　went　to　Ishtar's　apartment；　they　had　matters　to　discuss。　On　arrival　there　Ishtar　checked：
　　
　　〃Minerva？〃
　　
　　〃Listening；　Ishtar。〃
　　
　　〃Anything？〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus　and　Ira　are　talking。　Private　conversation。〃
　　
　　〃Keep　me　advised；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃Certainly；　dear。〃
　　
　　Ishtar　turned　back　to　the　others。　〃Who　wants　a　drink　or　something？　Too　early　for　dinner。　Or　is　it？　Ham？〃
　　
　　Galahad　answered；　〃A　bath　for　me；　then　a　drink。　I　was　all　set　for　a　dip…hot　and　sweaty…when　Lazarus　kicked　us　out。〃
　　
　　〃And　stinky；〃　Ishtar　agreed。　〃I　noticed　it　in　the　transport。〃
　　
　　〃A　bath　wouldn't　hurt　you；　big　arse；　you　were　exercising　as　hard　as　I　was。〃
　　
　　〃Regrettably　true；　my　gallant　knight；　I　was　careful　to　sit　downwind　from　our　elders　after　that　last　match。　Ham；　get　us　all　something　tall　and　cold　while　Stinky　and　I　get　clean。〃
　　
　　〃Will　you　two　settle　for　Idleberry　Jolts　or　whatever　is　handy？　While　we　all　bathe？　I　don't　have　the　excuse　of　heavy　exercise；　but　I　broke　out　with　fear　stink　when　I　put　the　proposal　to　Gramp。　And　muffed　it！　After　all　your　coaching；　Ish。　I'm　sorry！〃　She　started　to　sniffle。
　　
　　Ishtar　put　her　arms　around　the　younger　woman。；　〃There；　there；　dear…stop　it。　I　don't　think　you　muffed　it。〃
　　
　　〃He　refused　me。〃
　　
　　〃You　laid　a　good　foundation…and　shook　him　up；　which　he　needed。　You　startled　me　with　your　timing　but　it　will　work　out　all　right。〃
　　
　　〃He　probably　won't　even　let　me　e　back！〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　he　will。　Stop　shaking。　e；　dear；　Galahad　and　I　will　give　you　a　long；　relaxing　back　rub。　Stinky；　fetch　the　fizz　and　join　us　in　the　shower　room。〃
　　
　　第19节
　　
　　〃With　two　women　around　I　have　to　work。　Okay。〃
　　
　　When　Galahad　arrived　with　cold　drinks；　Ishtar　had　Hamadryad　stretched　out　facedown　on　the　massage　table。　Ishtar　looked　up　and　said；　〃Dear；　before　you　get　wet；　see　if　there　are　three　towel　robes　in　the　rack；　I　didn't　check。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　ma'am；　no；　ma'am；　right　away；　ma'am；　will　that　be　all；　ma'am？…plenty　of　robes；！　dialed　for　more　this　morning。　Don't　bruise　her；　you　don't　know　your　own　strength。　I'm　going　to　need　her；　later。〃
　　
　　〃And　I'm　going　to　swap　you　for　a　dog；　sweetheart；　and　sell　the　dog。　Pass　around　those　drinks；　then　e　help；　or　you　won't　get　either　of　us　later。　If　ever。　We're　busy　agreeing　that　all　males　are　beasts。〃　She　continued　to　massage；　gently；　firmly；　with　professional　skill；　down　Hamadryad's　back　while　the　massage　table　matched　her　appropriately　down　the　subject's　front。　She　let　Galahad　hang　a　drink　around　her　neck　and　place　its　nipple　in　her　mouth　without　slowing　her　careful　fingers。
　　
　　He　snapped　Hamadryad's；　drink　to　the　table；　placed　nipple　in　her　mouth；　patted　her　cheek；　then　took　the　other　side　and　started　to　help；　following　Ishtar's　lead。　The　table　changed　action　to　match　four　hands。
　　
　　Some　minutes　later　he　let　the　nipple　for　his　drink　retract；　and　spoke。　〃Ish；　any　chance　that　Gramp　twigged？　About　you　two　broads？〃
　　
　　〃We're　not　all　that　broad。　At　least；　Ham　is　not。〃
　　
　　〃'Broad'　is　a　usual　English　idiom　for　a　female；　and　you　said　we　should　talk　and　think　in　English　as　long　as　we　are　on　this　mitment。〃
　　
　　〃I　simply　said　that　Hamadryad　is　not　very　broad。　Even　though　she's　had　more　children　than　I　have…and　I　haven't　had　any　since　rejuvenation。　But　it's　a　colorful　idiom；　I　like　it。　I　don't　see　how　Lazarus　could　guess　that　we　are　pregnant。　Not　that　it　would　matter　if　he　did；　in　my　case…except　just　how　I　am　pregnant；　and　he　can't　know　that　as　I　fudged　the　record　on　the　source　of　the　cloned　cell。　Ham；　you　haven't　hinted　anything　to　Lazarus…have　you？〃
　　
　　Hamadryad　surrendered　her　drink。　〃Of　course　not！〃
　　
　　〃Minerva　knows；〃　Galahad　said。
　　
　　〃Of　course　she　does；　I　discussed　it　with　her。　But…　Now　you've　got　me　wondering。　Minerva？〃
　　
　　〃Listening；　Ishtar。〃　The　puter　added；　〃Ira　is　leaving；　Lazarus　has　e　inside。　No　problems。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　dear。　Minerva；　is　there　any　possible　way　that　Lazarus　could　know　about　Hamadryad　and　me？　That　we　are　pregnant；　I　mean；　and　why　and　how？'
　　
　　〃He　has　not　said　so；　nor　has　anyone；　mentioned　it　in　his　presence。　Evaluation　of　pertinent　data　available　to　me　makes　it　probable　by　less　than　one　part　in　one　thousand。〃
　　
　　〃How　about　Ira？〃
　　
　　〃Less　than　one　part　in　ten　thousand。　Ishtar；　when　Ira　told　me　to　supply　you　with　service　and　to　assign　to　you　a　restricted　memory；　he　programmed　me　so　that　any　later　program　will　simply　wipe　your　assigned　box。　Truly；　there　is　no　way　for　him　to　retrieve　from　your　private　memory　file；　nor　can　I　self…program　to　get　around　it。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　so　you　assured　me。　But　I　don't　know　much　about　puters；　Minerva~〃
　　
　　Minerva　chuckled。　〃Whereas　I　do。　You　could　say　that　I　have　made　a　career　of　puters。　Don't　worry；　dear；　your　secrets　are　safe　with　me。　Lazarus　has　just　told　me　to　order　a　light　supper　for　him；　then　he　is　going　to　bed。〃
　　
　　〃Good。　Let　me　know　what　he　eats　and　how　much　and　when　he　goes　to　bed…then　call　me　if　he　wakes。　Awake　and　alone　at　night；　a　man　is　at　his　lowest　ebb；　I　must　be　ready　to　move　quickly。　But　you　know　that。〃
　　
　　〃I　shall　watch　his　wave　patterns；　Ishtar。　You　will　have　twc　to　five　minutes'　warning…unless　El　Diablo　jumps　on　his　stomach。〃
　　
　　〃That　damned　cat。　But　being　wakened　that　way　doesn't　depress　him；　it's　his　suicidal　nightmares　that　worry　me。　1　have　about　used　up　diversionary　emergencies；　I　can't　set　tire　to　the　penthouse　a　second　time。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus　has　not　had　one　of　his　typical　depression　nightmares　this　month；　Ishtar；　and　I　know　how　to　spot　the　wave　sequences　now；　I'll　be　very　careful。〃
　　
　　〃I　know　you　will；　dear。　I　wish　we　knew　the　incidents　in　his　past　from　which　each　is　derived；　we　might　be　able　to　wipe　them。〃
　　
　　〃Ish；〃　Galahad　put　in；　〃you　go　tinkering　with　his　memory　and　you　might　lose　everything　Ira　is　after。〃
　　
　　〃And　I　might　save　our　client；　too。　You　stick　to　backrubbing；　dear；　and　leave　delicate　work　to　Minerva　and　me。　Anything　more；　Minerva？〃…
　　
　　〃No。　Yes。　Ira　is　telling　me　to　find　Hamadryad；　he　wants　to　talk　to　her。　Will　she　take　the　call？〃
　　
　　〃Sure！〃　agreed　Hamadryad；　rolling　over。　〃But　patch　him　in　through　you；　Minerva；　I　won't　go　to　the　phone；　I　don't　have　my　face　on。〃
　　
　　〃Hamadryad？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Ira？〃
　　
　　〃Message　for　you。　Be　nice　to　an　old　man　and　show　up　at　the　cottage　as　usual；　will　you？　Better　yet；　get　there　early　and　have　breakfast　with　him。〃
　　
　　〃Are　you　sure　he　wants　to　see　me？〃
　　
　　〃He　does。　He　shouldn't；　after　the　way　you　embarrassed　him。　What　possessed　you；　Ham？　But　this　message　is　his　idea；　not　mine。　He　wants　to　be　sure　he　hasn't　scared　you　off。〃
　　
　　She　sighed　with　relief。　〃I'm　not　scared　off　if　he　will　let　me　stay。　Father；　I　told　you　I　would　devote　as　many　days　to　this　as　he　will　permit。　I　meant　it　and　still　mean　it。　In　fact　I've　told　my　manager　that　she　can　buy　me　out　on　long…term　credit；　that's　how　serious　I　am。〃
　　
　　〃So？　I'm　very　pleased。　If　you　do；　and　want　to　cash　out；　I…the　government；　that　is…will　pick　up　the　loan　from　you　without　discounting　it；　I've　assigned　unlimited　credit　to　anything　relating　to　the　Senior。　Just　tell　Minerva。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　sir。　I　don't　expect　to　need　it…unless　Gramp　gets　tired　of　me　and　I　see　something　else　I　want　to　invest　in。　But　the　business　is　prosperous；　I　may　just　let　Priscilla　support　me　in　style　for　a　few　years。　Quite　prosperous…betcha　my　assets　exceed　yours。　Your　private　fortune；　I　mean。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　be　silly；　my　silly　daughter；　as　a　private　citizen　I'm　almost　a　pauper…whereas　in　my　official　capacity　…I　could　confiscate　your　assets　with　just　a　word　to　Minerva　and　no　one　would　question　it。〃
　　
　　〃Except　that　you　never　would…you're　sweet；　Ir？。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？〃
　　
　　〃You　are　。　。　even　if　you　can't　remember　the　names　of　my　children