time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第22部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


h。
　　
　　〃But　that　song　belonged　to　Noisy　when　he　got　through　filing　off　serial　numbers　and　changing　the　body　lines。　I　heard　it　again；　oh；　must　have　been　twenty；　twenty…five　years　later；　in　a　cabaret　in　Luna　City。　From　Noisy。　But　he　had　changed　it。　Fixed　up　the　scansion；　given　it　a　proper　rhyme　scheme；　dolled　up　the　tune。　But　the　tune　was　still　recognizable…in　a　minor　key；　wistful　rather　than　sad；　and　the　words　were　still　about　this　third…rate　grifter　whose　topcoat　was　always　in　hock　and　who　sponged　off　his　sister。
　　
　　〃And　he　had　changed；　too。　A　shiny　new　instrument；　a　tailored　spaceman's　uniform；　gray　hair　at　the　temples…and　star　billing。　I　paid　a　waiter　to　tell　him　that　'Happy'　Daze　was　in　the　audience…not　my　name　then；　but　the　only　name　Noisy　had　for　me…and　after　his　first　group　he　came　over　and　let　me　buy　him　a　drink　while　we　swapped　lies　and　talked　about　our　happy　days　at　dear　old　Hormone　Hall。
　　
　　〃I　didn't　mention　to　him　that　he　had　left　us　rather　abruptly　and　that　the　girls　had　gone　into　a　decline　over　it；　worrying　that　he　might　be　dead　in　a　ditch…didn't　mention　it　because　he　did　not。　But　I　had　had　to　investigate　his　disappearance　because　my　staff　was　so　demoralized　by　it　that　the　place　felt　like　a　morgue…no　way　for　a　parlor　house　to　be。　I　was　able　to　establish　that　he　had　gone　aboard　the　'Gyrfalcon'　when；　she　was　about　to　lift　for　Luna　City　and　had　not　left　her…so　I　told　the　girls　that　Noisy　had　had　a　sudden　opportunity　to　go　home　again　but　had　left　a　message　with　the　port　captain　for　each　of　them…then　added　more　lies　to　personalize　the　goodbye　he　hadn't　made。　It　perked　them　up　and　lifted　the　gloom。　They　still　missed　him；　but　they　all　understood　that　grabbing　a　ride　home　was　not　something　he　could　postpone…and　since　he　had　'remembered'　to　send　a　message　to　each　of　them；　they　felt　apprec？ated。
　　
　　〃But　it　turned　out　that　he　did　remember　them；　mentioned　each　by　name。　Minerva　dear；　here　is　a　difference　between　a　blinded　flesh…and…blood　and　one　who　has　never　been　able　to　see。　Noisy　could　see　a　rainbow　any　time　he　cared　to；　by　memory。　He　never　stopped　'seeing；'　but　what　he　'saw'　was　always　beauty。　I　had　realized　that；　some；　back　when　we　were　on　Mars　together；　for…don't　laugh…he　thought　I　was　as　pretty　as　you　are；　Galahad。　Told　me　that　he　could　tell　what　I　looked　like　from　my　voice；　and　described　me　to　me。　I　had　the　grace　to　say　that　he　flattered　me　but　let　it　lie　when　he　answered　that　I　was　too　modest…even　though　I'm　not　handsome　now　and　wasn't　then　and　modesty　has　never　been　one　of　my　vices。
　　
　　〃But　Noisy　thought　all　the　girls　were　beautiful；　too…and　in　one　case　this　may　have　been　true　and　certainly　several　of　them　were　pretty。
　　
　　〃But　he　asked　me　what　had　bee　of　Olga　and　added；　'Golly；　what　a　little　beauty　she　was！'
　　
　　〃Kinfolk；　Olga　wasn't　even　homely；　she　was　ugly。　Pace　like　a　mud　pie；　figure　like　a　gunnysack…only　on　an　outpost　like　Mars　could　she　get　by。　What　she　did　have　was　a　warm　and　gentle　voice　and　a　sweet　personality…which　was　enough；　as　a　customer　might　pick　her　through　Hobson's　choice　on　a　busy　night；　but　once　he　had　done　so；　he　picked　her　some　later　time　on　purpose。　Mean　to　say；　dears；　beauty　will　lure　a　man　into　bed；　but　it　won't　bring　him　back　a　second　time；　unless　he's　awfully　young　or　very　stupid。〃
　　
　　〃What　does　bring　him　back　a　second　time；　Grandfather？〃　asked　Hamadryad。　〃Technique？　Muscular　control？〃
　　
　　〃Have　yo'u　had　any　plaints；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　no。〃
　　
　　第18节
　　
　　〃Then　you　know　the　answer　and　are　trifling　with　me。　Neither　of　those。　It's　the　ability　to　make　a　man　happy；　prjncipally　by　being　happy　about　it　yourself…a　spiritual　quality　rather　than　a　physical　one。　Olga　had　it　in　gobs。
　　
　　〃I　told　Noisy　that　Olga　had　married　shortly　after　he　left；　happily　so；　and　had　three　children　last　I　had　heard　。　。　which　was　an　utter　lie；　as　she　had　been　killed　accidentally　and　the　girls　bawled　about　it　and　1　didn't　feel　good　myself　and　we　had　shut　the　place　down　for　four　days。　But　I　couldn't　tell　Noisy　that；　Olga　had　been　one　of　the　first　to　mother　him；　had　helped　bathe　him　and　had　stolen　some　of　my　clothes　for　him　while　I　slept。
　　
　　〃But　they　all　mothered　him　and　never　fought　over　him。　I　have　not　deviated　from　our　subject　in　this　rambling　account　of　Noisy；　we're　still　defining　'love。'　Anybody　want　to　take　whack　at　it　now？〃
　　
　　Galahad　said；　〃Noisy　loved　every　one　of　them。　That's　what　you've　been　saying。〃
　　
　　〃No；　Son；　he　didn't　love　any　of　them。　Fond　of　them；　yes…but　he　left　them　without　looking　back。〃
　　
　　〃Then　you　are　saying　that　they　loved　him。〃
　　
　　〃Correct。　Once　you　figure　out　the　difference　between　what　he　felt　toward　them　and　what　they　felt　toward　him；　we're　almost　home。〃
　　
　　〃Mother　love；〃　said　Ira；　and　added　gruffly；　〃Lazarus；　are　you　trying　to　tell　us　that　'mother　love'　is　the　only　love　there　is？　Man；　you're　out　of　your　mind！〃　…
　　
　　〃Probably。　But　not　that　far　out。　1　said　they　mothered　him；　I　did　not　say　a　word　about　'mother　love。'〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　he　bedded　all　of　them？〃
　　
　　〃Wouldn't　be　surprised；　Ira。　I　never　tried　to　find　out。　Irrelevant　in　any　case。〃
　　
　　Hamadryad　said　to　her　father；　〃Ira；　'mother　love'　can't　be　what　we're　trying　to　define；　it　is　often　only　a　sense　of　duty。　Two　of　my　brats　I　was　tempted　to　drown；　as　you　may　have　guessed　seeing　what　little　demons　they　were。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter；　all　your　offspring　were　charming　children。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　fuff。　One　has　to　give　a　baby　mothering　no　matter　what；　or　it　will　grow　up　to　be　a　still　worse　monster。　What　did　you　think　of　my　son　Gordon　as　a　baby？〃
　　
　　〃A　delightful　child。〃
　　
　　〃Really？　I'll　tell　him　that…if　I　ever　have　a　male　child　I　name　'Gordon。'　Sorry；　old　darling；　I　shouldn't　have　trapped　you。　Lazarus；　Ira　is　a　perfect　grandfather；　one　who　never　forgets　a　birthday。　But　I've　suspected　that　Minerva　kept　track　of　such　things　for　him　and　now　I　know　it。　Right；　Minerva？〃
　　
　　Minerva　did　not　answer。　Lazarus　said；　〃She's　not　working　for　you；　Hamadryad。〃
　　
　　Ira　said　sharply；　〃Of　course　Minerva　keeps　track　of　such　things　for　me！　Minerva；　how　many　grandchildren　do　I　have？〃
　　
　　〃One　hundred　and　twenty…seven；　Ira；　counting　the　boy　child　to　be　born　next　week。〃
　　
　　〃How　many　great…grandchildren？　And　who　is　having　the　boy？〃
　　
　　〃Four　hundred　and　three；　sir。　Your　son　Gordon's　current　wife　Marian。〃　。
　　
　　〃Keep　me　posted　on　it。　That　was　the　baby　Gordon　I　was　thinking　of；　Miss　Smarty；　Gordon's　son　Gordon　。　。　uh；　by　Evelyn　Hedrick；　I　think。　Lazarus；　I　deceived　you。　The　truth　is　that　I　am　migrating　because　my　descendants　are　crowding　me　off　this　globe。〃
　　
　　〃Father；　are　you　really　going　to？　Not　just　talking？〃
　　
　　〃Still　top　secret　until　after　the　decennial　Trustees　Meeting；　dear。　But　I　am。　Want　to　e　along？　Galahad　and　Ishtar　have　decided　to　go；　they'll　set　up　a　rejuve　shop'　for　the　colony。　You'll　have　five　to　ten　years　in　which　to　learn　something　useful？'
　　
　　〃Grandfather；　are　you　going？〃
　　
　　〃Unlikely　to　the　nth　degree；　my　dear。　I've　seen　a　colony。〃
　　
　　〃You　may　change　your　mind。〃　Hamadryad　stood　up；　faced　Lazarus。　〃I　propose　to　you；　in　the　presence　of　three　witnesses…four；　Minerva　is　the　best　possible　witness…a　contract　for　cohabitation　and　progeny；　term　to　be　elected　by　you。〃
　　
　　Ishtar　looked　startled；　then　wiped　all　expression　from　her　face；　the　others　said　nothing。
　　
　　Lazarus　answered；　〃Granddaughter；　if　I　weren't　so　old　and　tired；　I　would　spank　you。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　am　your　granddaughter　only　by　courtesy；　you　are　less　than　eight　percent　of　my　total　ancestry。　Less　than　that　in　terms　of　dominant　genes；　with　a　vanishingly　small　probability　of　unfavorable　reinforcement；　the　bad　recessives　have　been　weeded。　I'll　send　my　geic　pattern　over　for　your　inspection。〃
　　
　　〃That's　not　the　point；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I'm　certain　you've　married　your　descendants　in　the　past；　is　there　some　reason　to　discriminate　against　me？　If　you'll　tell　me；　perhaps　I　can　correct　it。　I　must　add　that　this　submittal　is　not　contingent　on　your　migrating。〃　Hamadryad　added；　〃Or　it　could　be　for　progeny　only；　although　I　would　be　proud　and　happy　to　be　permitted　to　live　with　…you。〃
　　
　　〃Why；　Hamadryad？〃
　　
　　She　hesitated。　〃I　am　at　loss　to　answer；　sir。　I　had　thought　that　I　could　say；　'I　'love　you'…but　apparently　I　do　not　know　what　that　word　means。　So　I　have　no　word　in　either　language　to　describe　my　need　。　。　and　went　ahead　without　one。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　said　gently；　〃I　love　you；　dear…〃　Hamadryad's　face　lit　up。
　　
　　He　continued：　〃…and　for　that　very　reason　I　must　refuse　you。〃　Lazarus　looked　around　him。　〃I　love　all　of　you。　lshtar；　Galahad　。　。　even　that　ugly；　surly　father　of　yours；　dear；　sitting　there　and　looking　worried。　Now　smile；　dear；　for　I'm　certain　that　there　are　endless　young　bucks　anxious　to　marry　you。　You　smile；…tod；　Ishtar…but　not　you；　Ira；　it　would　crack　your　face。　Ishtar；　who　is　relieving　you　and　Galahad？　No；　I　don't　care　who　is　scheduled。　May　I　be　alone　the　rest　of　today？〃
　　
　　She　hesitated。　〃Grandfather；　may　I　keep　the　observation　station　manned？〃
　　
　　〃You　will　anyhow。　But　will　you　limit　them　to　dials　and　gauges　or　whatever　it　is　you　use？　No　eye　or　ear　on　me？　Minerva　will　tell　you　if　I　misbehave…I'm　certain　of　that。〃
　　
　　〃There　will　be　neither　eye　nor　ear　on　you；　sir。〃　Ishtar　stood　up。　〃e　along；　Galahad。　Hamadryad？〃
　　
　　〃J~ist　a　moment；　Ish。　Lazarus…have　I　offended　you？〃
　　
　　〃What？　Not　at　all；　my　dear。〃
　　
　　〃I　thought　you　were　angry　with　me　over　。　。　what　I　proposed。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　nonsense。　Hamadarling；　that　sort　of　proposal　never　offends　anyone；　it　is　the　highest　pliment　one　human　can　pay　another。　But　it　did　confuse　me。　Now　smile　and　kiss　me　good…night；　then　e　see　me　tomorrow　if　you　wish。　All　you　kids　kiss　me　good…night；　there's　nobody'　sore；　at　anybody。　Ira；　you　might　stick　around　a　bit　if　you　will。〃
　　
　　Like　docile　children　they　did　so；　then　went　into　Lazarus'　penthouse　and　took　transport　down。　Lazarus　said；　〃A　drink；　Ira？〃
　　
　　〃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　e