time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第32部分

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　　In　the　meantime　Joe　worked　long　hours；　only　one　day　off　in　seven。　So　just　before　we　left；　I　had　him　quit　his　job　and　I　took　my　kids　on　a　proper　holiday；　a　sleigh　hired　for　the　day；　with　reindeer　instead　of　power；　sightseeing　that　was　truly　sightseeing　on　a　clear；　sunny　day　that　was　almost　warm；　lunch　in　the　country　at　a　fine　restaurant　with　a　view　of　snowcovered　crags　of　Jotunheimen　range；　dinner　at　a　still　finer　restaurant　in　the　city；　one　with　live　music　and　entertaimnent　as　well　as　superb　food…and　a　stop　for　tea　at　the　little　gourmet　spot　where　Joe　had　labored　so　that　he　could　be　addressed　as　〃Friherr　Lang〃　by　our　host；　instead　of　〃Hey；　you！〃…and　have　a　chance　to　show　off　his　beautiful；　bulging　bride。
　　
　　And　beautiful　she　was；　Minerva。　On　Valhalla　both　sexes　wear；　under　heavy　outdoor　clothes；　indoor　clothes　that　are　essentially　pajamas。　The　difference　between　those　worn　by　women　and　by　men　lies　in　material；　cut；　and　such。　I　had　bought　one　party　outfit　for　each　of　them。　Joe　looked　smart　and　so　did　I；　but　all　eyes　were　on　Llita。　She　was　covered　from　shoulders　to　boots…but　only　technically。　The　cloth　of　that　harem　outfit　shimmered　with　changing　lights；　orange　and　green　and　gold；　without　obstructing　the　view。　Anyone　who　cared　to　look　could　see　that　her　nipples　were　crinkled　with　excitement…and　everyone　cared　to　look。　That　she　clearly　had　only　a　couple　of　months　to　go　gave　her　a　large　bonus　vote　toward？being　picked　as　〃Miss　Valhalla。〃
　　
　　She　looked　grand　and　knew　it；　and　her　face　showed　her　happiness。　She　was　self…confident；　too；　as　I　had　coached　her　in　local　table　manners；　and　how　to　stand　and　how　to　sit　and　how　to　behave　and　such；　and　she　had　already　got　through　lunch　without　a　bobble。
　　
　　It　was　all　right　to　let　her　display　herself　and　enjoy　the　silent；　or　sometimes　not　silent；　applause；　not　only　were　we　leaving　right　away；　but　also　Joe　and　I　had　our　knives　in　sight　in　our　boot　tops。　True；　Joe　was　no　knife　fighter。　But　the　wolves　there　didn't　know　that；　and　not　one　was　inclined　to　bother　our　beautiful　bitch　when　she　was　flanked　by　wolves　of　her　own。
　　
　　***　Proofer's　note　：　I　assume　something　is　missing　here　？***
　　
　　…early　next　morning　despite　a　short　night。　We　loaded　all　day　long；　with　Lilta　handling　manifests　and　Joe　checking　numbers　while　I　made　sure　I　wasn't　being　robbed。　Late　that　night　I　had　us　in　n…space；　with　my　pilot　puter　sniffing　out　the　last　decimal　places　for　the　first　leg　to　Landfall。　I　set　the　gravistat　to　bring　us　slowly　down　from　Valhalla　surface　normal　to　a　fortable　quarter　gee…no　more　free…fall　until　Llita　had　her　baby…then　locked　the　control　room　and　headed　down　to　my　cabin；　stinking　and　tired　and　trying　to　kid　myself　that　tomorrow　was　soon　enough　for　a　bath。
　　
　　Their　door　was　open…their　bedroom　door；　the　room　that　had　been　Joe's　before　I　turned　their　rooms　into　a　suite。　Door　open　and　them　in　bed…they　had　never　done　that　before。
　　
　　I　soon　learned　why。　They　piled　out　of　bed　and　paddled　toward　me；　they　wanted　me　to　join　their　fun…they　wanted　to　thank　me　。　。　for　that　party　day；　for　buying　them；　for　everything　else。　His　idea？　Hers？　Both？　I　didn't　try　to　find　out；　I　just　thanked　them　and　told　them　that　I　was　whipped　to　the　red；　worn　out；　and　dirty…all　I　wanted　was　soap　sand　hot　water　and　twelve　hours　of　shut…eye…and　for　them　to　sleep　late；　we'd　set　up　ship's　routine　after　we　were　rested。
　　
　　I　did　let　them　bathe　me　and　massage　me　to　sleep。　That　did　not　break　discipline；　I　had　taught　them　a　bit　about　massage；　and　Joe　in　particular　had　a　firmly　gentle　touch；　he　had　been　massaging　her　daily　during　her　pregnancy…even　while　working　long　hours　in　that　restaurant。
　　
　　But；　Minerva；　had　I　not　been　so　bushed；　I　might　have　broken　my　rule　about　dependent　females。
　　
　　（Omitted）
　　
　　…every　tape；　every　book　available　in　Torheim　for　a　refresher　in　obstetrics　and　gynecology；　plus　instruments　and　supplies　I　had　not　expected　to　need　aboard　ship。　I　kept　to　my　cabin　until　I　had　mastered　all　new　art　and　was　at　least　as　skilled　in　baby…catching　as　I　had　been　as　a　country　doctor　on　Ormuzd　long　before。
　　
　　I　kept　a　close　eye　on　my　patient；　watched　her　diet；　made　her　exercise；　checked　her　gizzards　daily…and　permitted　no　undue　familiarity。
　　
　　Dr。　Lafayette　Hubert；　MD；　aka　Captain　Aaron　Sheffield　aka　The　Senior；　et　al。；　worried　excessively　over　his　one　patient。　But　he　kept　her　and　her　husband　from　seeing　it　and　applied　his　worry　constructively　in　planning　for　every　obstetric　emergency　known　to　the　art　at　that　time。　Hardware　and　supplies　he　had　obtained　on　Valhalla　paralleled　in　every　major　respect　the　equipment　of　Frigg　Temple　in　Torheim；　where　fifty　births　a　day　were　not　unmon。
　　
　　He　smiled　to　himself　at　the　mass　of　junk　he　had　taken　aboard；　recalling　a　country　doctor　on　Ormuzd　who　had　delivered　many　a　baby　with　nothing　but　bare　hands；　while　the　mother　sat　in　her　husband's　lap；　knees　pulled　high　and　wide　by　her　husband　so　that　old　Doe　Hubert　could　kneel　in　front　of　them　and　catch　the　baby。
　　
　　True…but　he　had　always　had　with　him　all　the　gear　a　husky　pacing　born　could　tote；　even　though　he　might　never　open　a　saddlebag　if　everything　went　right。　That　was　the　point：　to　have　the　stuff　at　hand　if　things　did　not　go　right。
　　
　　One　item　purchased　in　Torheim　was　not　for　emergency：　the　latest　improved…model　delivery　chair…hand　grips；　padded　support　arms；　leg；　foot；　and　back　supports　adjustable　independently　in　three　axes　of　translation　and　rotation　with　controls　accessible　both　to　midwife　and　patient；　quick…release　restraints。　It　was　a　marvelously　？lexible　piece　of　mechanical　engineering　to　enable　the　mother　to　position　herself…or　be　positioned…so　that　her　birth　canal　was　vertical　and　as　wide　open　as　possible　at　the　moment　of　truth。
　　
　　Dr。　Hubert…Sheffield　had　it　set　up　in　his　cabin；　checked　its　many　adjustments　before　signing　for　it…then　looked　at　it　and　frowned。　A　good　gadget；　and　he　had　paid　its　high　price　wjthout　a　quiver。　But　it　had　no　love　in　it；　it　was　as　impersonal　as　a　guillotine。
　　
　　A　husband's　arms；　a　husband's　lap；　were　not　as　efficient…but　there　was　much　to　be　said；　in　his　opinion；　for　having　parents　go　through　the　ordeal　together；　she　with　her　husband's　arms　holding　her；　forting　her；　while　he　gave　both　muscular　and　emotional　support　that　left　the　midwife　free　to　concentrate　on　physical　aspects。
　　
　　A　husband　who　had　done　this　had　no　doubt　that　he　was　a　father。　Even　if　some　passing　stranger　had　slipped　her　the　juice；　such　fact　became　irrelevant；　swallowed　up　by　this　greater　experience。
　　
　　So　how　about　it；　Doc？　This　gadget？　Or　Joe's　arms？　Did　the　kids　need　this　second　〃marriage　ceremony〃？　Could　Joe　take　it；　physically　and　emotionally？　There　was　no　doubt　that　Llita　was　the　more　rugged　member　of　the　team　although　Joe　o黷massed　her　even　when　she　was　near　term。　What　if　Joe　fainted　and　dropped　her…at　the　exact　wrong　instant？
　　
　　Sheffield　worried　these　matters　while　he　led　auxiliary　controls　from　the　gravistat　in　the　control　room　to　the　delivery　chair~　He　had　decided　that；　nuisance　though　it　was；　his　cabin　had　to　be　the　delivery　room；　it　was　the　only　partment　with　enough　deck　space；　a　bed　at　hand；　and　its　own　bath。　Oh；　well；　he　could　stand　the　nuisance　of　squeezing　past　the　pesky　thing　to　reach　his　desk　and　wardrobe　for　the　next　fifty　days…sixty　at　the　outside；　if　he　had　Llita's　date　of　conception　right　and　had　judged　her　progress　correctly。　Then　he　could　disassemble　it　and　stow　it。
　　
　　Perhaps　he　could　sell　it　at　a　profit　on　Landfall；　it　was　in　advance　of　the　art　there；　he　felt　sure。
　　
　　He　positioned　the　chair；　bolted　it　to　the　deck；　ran　it　up　to　maximum　height；　placed　its　midwife's　stool　in　front　of　it；　adjusted　the　stool　until　he　was　fortable　in　it；　found　he　could　lower　the　delivery　chair　ten　or　twelve　centimeters　and　still　have　room　to　work。　That　done；　he　climbed　into　the　delivery　chair　and　fiddled　with　its　adjustments…found　that　it　could　be　made　to　fit　even　a　person　of　his　height…predictable；　some　women　on　Valhalla　were　taller　than　he　was。
　　
　　Minerva；　by　my　figures　Llita　was　about　ten　days　late…which　did　not　worry　them；　as　I　had　been　carefully　vague　about　it；　and　worried　me　only　a　touch；　as　she　checked　out　normal　and　healthy　in　all　respects。　I　prepared　them　not　only　with　instruction　and　drill；　but　also　with　hypnosis；　and　had　prepared　her　with　exercises　designed　to　make　it　as　easy　on　her　as　possible…I　dislike　postpartum　repairs；　that　canal　should　stretch；　not　tear。
　　
　　What　was　really　fretting　me　was　possibility　that　I　was　going　to　have　to　break　the　neck　of　a　monster。　Kill　a　baby；　1　mean…I　shouldn't　dodge　the　blunt　truth。　All　calculations　I　had　done　one　sleepless　night　still　left　this　chance　open…and　if　I　had　been　wrong　in　any　assumption；　the　chance　might　be　higher　than　I　liked　to　think　about。
　　
　　If　I　had　to　do　it；　I　wanted　to　get　it　over　with。
　　
　　I　was　far　more　worried　than　she　was。　I　don't　think　she　worried　at　all；　I　had　worked　hard　on　that　hypnotic　preparation。
　　
　　If　I　had　to　do　this　grisly　thing；　I　was　going　to　have　to　do　it　fast；　while　their　attentions　were　elsewhere…then　never　let　them　see　it　and　space　the　pitiful　remains　at　once。　Then　tackle　the　horrid　job　of　trying　to　put　them　back　together　emotionally。　As　a　married　couple？　I　did　not　know；　Maybe　I　would　have　an　opinion　after　I　saw　what　she　was　carrying。
　　
　　At　last　her　contractions　were　ing　close　together；　so　I　had　them　get　into　the　delivery　chair…easy；　one…quarter　gravity。　The　chair　was　already　adjusted；　and　they　were　used　to　the　position；　from　drill。　Joe　climbed　in；　sat　with　his　thighs　stretched　wide；　knees　over　the…　rests；　heels　braced…not　too　fortable　as　he　was　not　angleworm…limbed　the　way　she　was。　Then　I　picked　her　up　and　sat　her　in　his　lap…no　trouble；　she　weighed　less　than　forty　pounds　at　that　pseudo…acceleration。　Call　it　eighteen　kilos。
　　
　　She　spread　her　legs　almost　in　a　horizontal　split　and　scooted　forward　in　his　lap　while　Joe　kept　her　from　falling　between　his　thighs。　〃Is　that　far　enough；　Captain？〃　she　asked。
　　
　　〃Just　fine；〃　I　said。　The　chair　might　have　positioned　her　a　touch　better…but　she　would　not　have　had　Joe's　arms　around　her。　I　had　never　told　them　that　there　was　any　other　way　to　do　it。　〃Give　her　a　kiss；　Joe；　while　I　get　the　straps。〃
　　
　　Left　knee　strap　around　both　their　left　knees　together；　same　for　right　knees；　and　with　her　feet　braced　on　additional　supports　I　had　added…chest　and　shoulder　and　thigh　straps　on　him　so　firmly　that　he　would　stay　in　that　chair　even　if　the　ship　fell　apart；　but　no　such　straps　on　her。　Her　hands　on　the　hand　grips；　while　his　hands　and　arms　were　a　living；　warm；　and　loving　safety　belt；　just　under　her　tits；　just　over　the　bulge　but　not　on　it。　He　knew　how；　we　had　practiced。　If　I　wanted　pressure　on　her　belly；　I　would　tell　him…otherwise　leave　well　enough　a…lone。
　　
　　My　stool　was　bolted　to　the　deck；　I　had　added　a　seat　belt。　As　I　strapped　myself　down；　I　reminded　them　that　we　had　a　rough　ride　ing…and　this　we　had　not　been　able　to　practice；　it　would　have　risked　miscarriage。　〃Lock　your　fingers；　Joe；　but　let　her　breathe。　fortable；　Llita？〃
　　
　　〃Uh…〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃I…I'm　starting　another　one！〃
　　
　　〃Bear　down；　dear！〃　I　made　sure　my　left　foot　was　positioned　for　the　gravistat　control　and　watched　her　belly。
　　
　　Big　one！　As　it　peaked；　I　switched　from　one…quarter　gravity
　　
　　up　to　two　gravities　almost　in　one　motion…and　Llita　let　out　a　yip　and　the　baby　squirted　like　a　watermelon　seed　right　into　my　hands。
　　
　　I　dragged　my　foot　back　to　allow　the　gravistat　to　put　us　back　on　low　gee　even　as　I　made　a　nearly　instantaoeous　inspection　of　the　brat。　A　normal　boy；　red　and　wrinkled　and　ugly…so　I　slapped　his　tochis　and　he　bawled。
　　
　　…　VARIATIONS　ON　A　THEME
　　
　　…VIII
　　
　　Landfall
　　
　　（Omitted）
　　
　　…girl　I　had　intended　to　marry　had　married　again　and　had　another　baby。　Not　surprising；　I　had　been　off　Landfall　two　standard　years。　Not　tragic；　either；　as　we　had　been　married　once　abouf　a　hundred　years　earlier。　Old　friends。　So　I　talked　it　over　with　her；　and　her　new　husband；　then　married　one　of　her　granddaughters；　one　not　descended　from　me。　Both　gals　Howards；　of　course；　and　Laura；　the　one　I　married　that　time；　being　of　the　Foote　Family。*
　　
　　We　were　a　good　match；　Minerva；　Laura　was　twenty；　and　I　was　freshly　rejuvenated　and　holding　my　cosmetic　age　at　the　early　thirties。　We　had　several　children…nine；　I　think…　then　she　got　bored　with　me　forty…odd　years　later；　and　wanted　to　marry　my　5th/7th　cousin*　*　Roger　Sperling…which　did　not
　　
　　*　Correction：　Hedrick　Family。　This　woman　Laura　（one　of　the　ancestors　of　the　undersigned）　did　carry　the　surname　〃Foote〃　under　the　archaic　patrilineal　tradition…a　source　of　confusion　in　old　records；　as　the　more　logical　matrilineal　system　has　always　been　used　in　the　Families　in　assigning　clan　membership。　But　the　genealogies　were　not　revised　to　show　this　until　Gregorian　Year　3307。　This　misnomer　offers　a　means　of　dating　this　memoir　。　。　were　it　not　that　other　records　show　that　reindeer　were　not　introduced　onto　Valhalla　until　approximately　a　century　and　a　half　after　the　date　that　the　Senior…beyond　question…did　marry　Laura　Foote…Hedrick。
　　
　　But　more　interesting　is　the　Senior's　allegation　that　he　used　a　pseudogravity　field　in　that　year　to　facilitate　childbirth。　Was　he　the　first　tocologist　to　use　this　（now　standard）　method？　Nowhere　does　he　assert　this；　and　the　technique　is　usually　associated　with　Dr。　Virginius　Briggs　of　Secundus　Howard　Clinic
　　
　　and　a　much　later　date。
　　
　　J。F。　45th
　　
　　*　*And　descended　from　the　Senior　as　well　（through　Edmund　Hardy　2099…2259）　although　the　Senior　may　not　have　been　aware　of　it。
　　
　　J。F。　45th
　　
　　grieve　me　as　I　was　getting　restless　as　a　country　squire。　Anyhow；　when　a　woman　wants　to　go；　let　her　go。　I　stood　up　for　her　at　their　wedding。
　　
　　Roger　was　surprised　to　learn　that　my　plantation　was　not　co？munity　property。　Or　possibly　did　not　think　that　I　would　hold　Laura　to　the　marriage　settlement　she　had　signed…but　that　wasn't　the　first　time　I　had　been　wealthy；　I　had　learned。　It　took　a　tedious　suit　to　convince　him　that　Laura　owned　her　wedding　dower　plus　appreciation；　not　those　thousands　of　hectares　that　were　mine　before　I　married　her。　In　many　ways　it　is　simpler　to　be　poor。
　　
　　Then　I　shipped　out　again。
　　
　　But　this　is　about　my　kids　who　weren't　really　mine。　Before　we　reached　Landfall；　Joseph　Aaron　Long　looked　more　like　a　cherub　and　less　like　a　monkey　but　was　still　young　enough　to　wet　on　anyone　reckless　enough　to　pick　him　up…which　his　grandpappy　did；　several　times　a　day。　I　was　fond　of　him；　he　was　not　only　a　merry　baby　but　was　also；　to　me；　a　most　satisfying　triumph。
　　
　　By　the　time　we　grounded；　his　father　had　shaped　up　into　a　really　good　cook。
　　
　　Minerva；　I　could　have　set　those　kids　up　in　style；　that　was　as　profitable　a　triangle　trip　as　I　ever　made。　But　you　don't　cause　ex…slaves　to　stand　tall　and　free　and　proud　by　giving　them　things。　What　I　did　was　to　enable　them　to　get　out　and　scratch。　Like　this：
　　
　　第26节
　　
　　I　credited　them　with　half…time　apprentice　wages；　Blessed　to　Valhalla；　on　the　assumption　that　their　other　half…time　was　taken　up　by　studies。　This