time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第27章

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　　〃Except　that　you　never　would…you're　sweet；　Ir？。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？〃
　　
　　〃You　are　。　。　even　if　you　can't　remember　the　names　of　my　children。　I'm　feeling　very　gay；　Papa；　you've　made　me　happy。〃
　　
　　〃You　haven't　called　me　'Papa'　for；　oh；　fifty　or　sixty　years。〃
　　
　　〃Because　you　never　encourage　intimacy　once　a　child　is　grown。　Nor　do　I　from　mine。　But　this　assignment　has　made　me　feel　closer　to　you。　I'll　shut　up；　sir；　and　I'll　be　there　early　tomorrow。　Off？〃
　　
　　〃One　moment。　I　forgot　to　ask　where　you　are。　If　you're　home…〃
　　
　　〃I'm　not；　I'm　having　a　bath　with　Galahad　and　Ishtar。　About　to；　that　is；　you　interrupted　a　wonderful　back　rub　they　were　giving　me。〃
　　
　　〃Sorry。　As　you　are　still　in　the　Palace；　I　suggest　that　you　stay。　To　be　here　early　tomorrow。　Beg　a　bed　from　them　or；　if　that　is　intruding；　e　to　my　apartments；　we'll　find　something。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　fret　about　me；　Ira。　If　I　can't　shame　them　into　keeping　me　overnight；　Minerva　will　find　me　a　bed。　Truly；　Lazarus'　bed　is　the　only　one　I've　ever　found　impossible　to　get　into…　maybe　I　need　to　apply　for　rejuve。〃
　　
　　The　Chairman　Pro　Tern　was　slow　in　answering。　〃Hamadryad　。　。　you　were　serious　in　proposing　to　have　children　by　him…were　you　not？〃
　　
　　〃Privacy；　sir。〃
　　
　　〃Sorry。　Hmm…　The　custom　of　privacy　does　not　forbid　me　to　say　that　I　think　it　is　a　very　good　idea。　If　you　tell　me　to；　I　will　encourage　it　in　any　way　I　can。〃
　　
　　Ham　adryad　looked　at　Ishtar　and　spread　her　hands　in　a　gesture　of　〃What　do　I　do　now？〃…then　answered：　〃His　refusal　seemed　very　firm；　sir。〃
　　
　　〃Let　me　offer　you　a　male　viewpoint；　my　daughter。　A　man　often　refuses　such　a　proposal　when　he　wants　to　accept　it…a　man　likes　to　be　sure　of　a　woman's　motives　and　sincerity。　At　a　later　time　he　may　accept。　I　don't　mean　that　you　should　nag　him　with　it；　that　would　not　work。　But　if　you　want　this　bide　your　time。　You're　a　charming　woman；　I　have　confidence　in　you。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir。　If　he　does　give　me　a　child；　we　would　all　be　richer　thereby…would　we　not？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　certainly。　But　my　motives　are　somewhat　different。　If　he　dies　or　leaves　us；　there　is　always　the　sperm　bank　and　the　tissue　bank…neither　of　which　he　can　touch　because　I'll　cheat　if　necessary。　But　I　don't　want　him　to　die；　Hamadryad；　nor　do　I　want　him　to　leave　soon…and　I　am　not　speaking　from　sentiment。　The　Senior　is　unique；　I've　gone　to　much　trouble　not　to　waste　him。　Your　presence　pleases　him；　your　offer　stimulates　him　。　。　even　though　you　feel　he　reacted　badly。　You're　helping　to　keep　him　alive…and　if　he　eventually　lets　you　have　his　child；　you　may　succeed　in　keeping　him　alive　a　long　time。　Indefinitely　long。〃　…　…
　　
　　Hamadryad　wiggled　with　pleasure　and　smiled　at　Ishtar。　〃Father；　you　make　me　feel　proud。〃
　　
　　〃You　have　always　been　a　daughter　to　be　proud　of；　dear。　Although　I　can't　claim　all　the　credit；　your　mother　is　a　most　exceptional　woman。　Off　now？〃
　　
　　〃Off；　with　music　playing。　Good　night；　sir！〃
　　
　　Without　getting　up；　Hamadryad　grabbed　both　her　friends　around　their　waists　and　hugged　them　tightly。　〃Oh；　I　feel　good！〃
　　
　　〃So　get　down　off　this　table；　narrow　broad；　it's　my　turn。〃
　　
　　〃You　don't　need　a　massage；〃　Ishtar　said　firmly；　〃you've　been　under　no　emotional　strain　and　the　hardest　work　you've　done　all　day　is　to　beat　me　two　games　of　murder　ball。〃
　　
　　〃But　I'm　the　spiritual　type。　Sensitive。〃
　　
　　〃So　you　are；　dear　Galahad；　and　now　you　can　most　spiritually　help　her　down　and　help　me　bathe　her…still　most　spiritually。〃
　　
　　Galahad　plied　while　plaining　〃You　two　ought　to　bathe　me；　instead。　Pretend　I'm　a　blind　music　maker。〃　He　closed　his　eyes　and　sang：
　　
　　〃'There's　a　cop　around　the　corner
　　
　　who　is　sometimes　not　so　friendly
　　
　　To　a　man　who　isn't　holding
　　
　　Or　otherwise　unlucky…
　　
　　〃That's　me…'unlucky'…or　I　wouldn't　have　to　work　with　two　women　in　the　house。　What　cycle；　Ish？〃
　　
　　〃'Relaxing'　of　course。　Hamadear；　since　you　let　us　hear　that　call；　I　assume　that　I　can　talk　about　it。　I　agree　with　Ira。　You　have　Lazarus　sexually　stimulated　whether　he　knows　it　or　not；　and　if　you　can　keep　him　that　way；　he　won't　be　depressed。〃
　　
　　〃Is　he　truly　that　nearly　recovered；　Ishtar？〃　Hamadryad　asked　while　raising　her　arms　and　letting　them　work　on　her。　〃He　looks　better。　But　I　can't　tell…his　manner　doesn't　change。〃？
　　
　　〃Oh；　definitely。　He　started　masturbating　a　month　ago。　Shampoo；　'dear？〃
　　
　　〃He　did？　Really？　Oh；　that's　wonderful！　Do　I　need　one？　Yes；　I　do…thanks。〃
　　
　　〃　'So　it's　well　to
　　
　　Have　a　sister
　　
　　Or　even　an　old　uncle…
　　
　　〃Close　your　eyes；　Hambone　baby；　shampoo　mix　ing。　A　client　has　no　privacy　with　Ishtar。　But　she　didn't　tell　me；　I　had　to　infer　it　from　his　graphs。　Ish；　why　do　I　always　wind　up　washing　Ham's　back？〃
　　
　　〃Because　you　tickle；　sweetheart。　There　was　no　need　for　you　to　know。　But　a　client　certainly　has　no　privacy　with　Minerva　to　help…and　that's　as　it　should　be；　we　need　better　puter　service　at　the　Clinic；　I　now　see。　Although　he　does　have　privacy　in　its　true　sense；　as　all　nf　this　is　covered　by　the　Oath。　Even　though　you　are　not　regular　staff；　Ham；　I'm　sure　you　realize　that。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　certainly！　Not　quite　so　hard；　Galahad。　Red…hot　pincers　could　not　make　me　talk　other　than　to　you　…tWo。　Not　even　to　Ira。　Ishtar；　do　you　think　I　could　learn　to　be　a　real　rejuvenator？〃
　　
　　〃If　you　feel　a　vocation　for　it　and　want　to　study　that　hard。　Let　it　rinse　now；　Galahad。　You　have　the　empathy；　rm　sure。　What's　your　index？〃
　　
　　〃'They're　your　friends；　boy。
　　
　　Don't　neglect　them
　　
　　Birthdays　and　Yom　Kippur…
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　'Genius…minus；〃　Harnadryad　admitted。
　　
　　〃Takes　genius；〃　Galahad　said　helpfully；　〃as　well　as　a　pulsive　need　to　work；　she's　a　slave　driver；　Hammy　baby。〃
　　
　　〃'Also　Christmas
　　
　　And　Chanukah
　　
　　A　card　or　even　candy。'〃
　　
　　〃You're　off　key；　dear。　You're　'Genius…plus；'　Ham；　slightly　higher　than　Galahad's　index。　I　looked　it　up　just　in　case…　and　you　did　ask。　I'm　very　pleased。〃
　　
　　〃'Off　key'？　Now　you've　gone　too　far。〃
　　
　　〃You　have　other　virtues；　my　true　knight；　you　need　not　be　a　troubadour。　Hamadear；　if　you　search　your　heart　and　really　want　it；　you　could　be　an　associate　technician　by　the　time　we　migrate。　If　you　intend　to　migrate。　If　not；　the　Clinic　here　always　needs　staff；　a　true　vocation　is　scarce。　But　I'd　like…terribly…to　have　you　with　us。　Both　of　us　will　help　you。〃
　　
　　〃Sure　we　will；　Hammy！　'Off　key'　indeed！　Is　this　colony　going　to　be　polygamous？〃
　　
　　〃Ask　Ira。　Does　it　matter？　Grab　a　robe　and　throw　it'　around　the　Hamadarling；　then　I'll　trade　a　quick　scrub　with　you；　I'n　hungry。〃　…
　　
　　〃Do　you　want　to　risk　it？　After　what　you　said　about　singing？　I　know。　every　spot　and　I'll　tickle　them　all。〃
　　
　　第20节
　　
　　〃King's　Cross！　I　apologize！　I　love　your　singing；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃The　idiom　is　'King's　X；'　Ish。　Pvc；　it　is。　Grab　robes　for　all　of　us；　Hammy；　that's　a　good　girl。　Long　legs；　while　I　was　singing…perfectly　on　key…I　figured　out　that　idiom　that　was　bothering　me。　it's　not　what　Minerva　thought　it　was；　a　'hoot　shop'　is　a　bordello。　Which　makes　the　…Born　Loser's　sister　hetaera…and　the　last　piece　falls　into　place。〃
　　
　　〃Why；　of　coursel　No　wonder　she　could　subsidize　hex　brother…artists　always　get　paid　more　than　anyone　else。〃
　　
　　Hamadryad　returned　with　robes；　laid　them　on　the　massage　table。　She　said；　〃I　didn't　know　that　idiom　was　bothering　you；　Galahad。　I　understood　it　the　first　time　I　heard　that　song。〃
　　
　　〃I　wish　you　had　told　me。〃
　　
　　〃Is　it　important？'　'
　　
　　〃Only　as　one　more　clue。　Ham；　in　analyzing　a　culture；　its　myths　and　folk　songs　and　idioms　and　aphorisms　are　more　basic　than　its　formal　history。　You　can't　understand　a　person　unless　you　understand　her　culture。　'His；'　I　should　say；　in　speaking　English…and　that　alone　tells　something　basic　about　the　culture　…　in　which　our　client　grew　up：　the　fact　that　a　general　term　invariably　takes　the　masculine　form　wh篑　both　masculine　and　feminine　are　implied。　it　means　either　that　males　are　dominant　or　that　women　have　just　emerged　from　lower　status；　but　the　language　lag…there　always　is　one…has　not　caught　up　with　cultural　change。　The　latter；　in　the　barbarism　Lazarus　came　from；　as　indicated　by　other　clues。〃
　　
　　〃You　can　tell　all　that　from　a　rule　of　grammar？〃
　　
　　〃Sometimes。　Hammy；　I　used　to　do　this　professionally；　when　I　was　old　and　grizzled　and　waiting　for　rejuvenation。　It's　detective　work　and　no　one　clue　is　ever　enough。　For　example；　women　must　not　have　reached　equal　status　even　though　other　clues　show　them　gaining　it…for　whoever　heard　of　a　bordello　managed　by　a　man？　A　guard　in　one；　yes；　and　Lazarus　said　that　he　was　that；　too。　But　manager？　Preposterous；　by　modem　standards。　Unless　that　colony　on　Mars　was　an　atypical　retrogression…it　may　have　been；　I　don't　know。〃
　　
　　〃Continue　it　as　we　eat；　kids；　Mama　is　hungry。〃
　　
　　〃ing。　Ish　dear。　Galahad；　I　understood　that　idiom　without　thinking　about　it。　You　see；　my　mother　was…still　is…a　hetaera。〃　…
　　
　　〃Really？　There's　a　wild　coincidence。　So　was　mine；　and　so　was　Ishtar's…and　we　three　wind　up　all　in　rejuvenation　work　and　on　the　same　client。　Two　numerically　small　professions…　I　wonder　what　the　odds　are　against　it？〃　…
　　
　　〃Not　too　high；　as　both　professions　require　strong　empathy。　But　if　you　want　to　know；　ask　Minerva；〃　advised　Ishtar；　〃and　hand　me　that　robe。　I　don't　like　blowdry　and　I　don't　want　to　get　chilled　while　rustling　food。　Hamasweet；　why　didn't　you　follow　your　mother's　profession？　With　your　beauty　you　would　be　a　star。〃
　　
　　Hamadryad　shrugged。　〃Oh；　I　know　what　I　look　like。　But　Mother　can　snatch　a　man　away　from　me　just　by　lifting　her　little　finger…except　that　I　avoid　the　chance。　Beauty　has　little　to　do　with　it…you　saw　a　man　turn　me　down　just　today。　Lazarus　himself　told　us　what　it　takes　to　make　a　great　artist…a　spiritual　quality　a　man　can　feel。　My　mother　has　it。　I　don't。〃
　　
　　〃I　follow　your　reasoning；〃　Ishtar　said　as　they　went　through　her　lounge　into　the　buttery。　There　she　screened　the　menu　offered　by　the　kitchen　down　below。　〃My　mother　has　it；　too。　Not　especially　pretty；　but　what　she　has；　men　want。　Still　want；　although　she's　retired。〃
　　
　　〃Long　Legs；〃　Galahad　said　soberly；　〃you　do　all　right。　You've　got　it　too。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　my　knight；　but　that's　not　true。　I　sometimes　have　it　for　one　man。　Or　two　at　most。　And　sometimes　not　at　all；　as　I　can　get　buried　in　our　profession　and　forget　about　sex。　I　told　you　how　many　years　I　had　been　celibate。　1　wouldn't　have　found　you；　dear；　would　never　have　risked　'Seven　Hours'…had　not　our　client　had　me　so　terribly　emotional。　Quite　unprofessionally；　Hamadryad；　I　was　as　silly　as　a　schoolgirl　on　a　warm　spring　night。　But；　Galahad；　Tamara…my　mother…　has　it　all　the　time　and　for　anyone　who　needs　her。　Tamara　never　set　a　price；　she　didn't　need　to；　they　showered　gifts　on　her。　She's　retired　now　and　considering　whether　to　rejuvenate　again。　But　her　fans　won't　leave　her　alone；　she　still　gets　endless　offers。〃
　　
　　Galahad　said　sorrowfully；　〃That's　what　I　would　like　to　be。　But　I'm　that　'Born　Loser。'　If　a　man　tried　that　profession；　he'd　kill　himself　in　a　month。〃
　　
　　〃In　your　case；　dear　Galahad；　it　might　take　a　little　longer。　But　eat　and　restore　your　strength；　we're　going　to　put　you　in　the　middle　of　the　bed　tonight。〃
　　
　　〃Does　that　mean　I'm　invited？〃　asked　Hamadryad。
　　
　　〃That's　one　way　of　putting　it。　A　more　accurate　statement　would　be　that　I'm　inviting　myself。　Galahad　made　it　clear　in　the　shower　that　his　plans　for　the　night　include　you；　dear。　But　he　didn't　mention　me。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　he　did；　too。　Anyhow　he's　horny　about　you　all　the　time；　I　can　feel　it。〃
　　
　　〃He's　horny…end　of　message　and　off。　Will　steaks　and　random　garnish　do；　or　do　you　each　wish　to　choose？　I　don't　feel　imaginative~〃
　　
　　〃Suits　me。　Ish；　you　should　put　Galahad　under　contract。　While　he's　groggy。〃
　　
　　〃Privacy；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃Sorry。　I　just　blurted　it　out。　Because　I'm　so　fond　of　you　both。〃
　　
　　〃Big…arsed　bitch　won't　marry　me；〃　said　Galahad。　〃And　me　so　good　and　pure　and　modest。　Claims　I　tickle。　Will　you　marry　me；　little　Hamadear？'…
　　
　　〃What？　Galahad；　you're　the　world's　worst　tease。　You　not　only　don't　want　me　to；　you　know　I'm　mitted　to　the　Senior　even　though　he　refused；　me。　Until　Ish　tells　me　to　drop　it。　If　she　does。〃
　　
　　Ishtar　finished　ordering；　wiped　the　screen。　〃Galahad；　don't　tease　our　baby。　I　want　both　Harnadryad　and　me　to　be　free　of　other　contracts　as　long　as　either　of　us　has　any　chance　of　getting　our　client　interested　in　cohabitation；　or　progeny；　or　both。　Not　just　a　lark　but　something　he　can　take　seriously。〃
　　
　　〃So？　Then　why　in　the　name　of　all　the　fertility　gods　did　you　arrange　to　have　both　of　you　pregnant　at　once？　I　don't　get　it。　I　hear　the　whir；　but　the　figures　won't　add。〃
　　
　　〃Becau？e；　my　stupid　darling；　I　didn't　dare　wait。　The　Director　may　e　back　any　time。〃
　　
　　〃But　why　you　two？　With　maybe　ten　thousand　healthy　hostmothers　registered　and　available？　And　why　two？〃
　　
　　〃Dearest　man；　I'm　sorry　I　said　you　were　stupid…you　aren't；　you〃re　just　male。　Hamadryad　and　I　know　exactly　what　risks　we　are　taking　and　why。　We　do