time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第42部分

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got　some　explaining　to　do。〃
　　
　　〃Certainly；　Mr。　Moderator。　The　liquidation　will　be　as　orderly　as　you　will　let　it　be。　Those　who　have　deposits　will　be　paid　。　。　in　banknotes；　that　being　what　was　deposited。　Those　who　owe　money　to　the　bank…well；　I　don't　know；　it　depends　on　the　policies　the　council　sets　up。　I　suppose　I'm　bankrupt。　I　can't　know　until　you　tell　me　what　you　mean　when　you　say　my　bank　is　being　'nationalized。'
　　
　　〃But　I　have　had…to　take　this　step：　Top　Dollar　Trading　Post　is　no　longer　buying　with　banknotes…they　may　be　worthless。　Each　deal　will　have　to　be　barter。　But　we　will　continue　to　sell　for　banknotes。　But　I　took　down　the　posted　prices　just　before　I　came　here　tonight　。　。　because　the　stock　I　have　on　hand　may　be　all　I　ever　have　with　which　to　redeem　those　banknotes。　Which　could　force　me　to　raise　prices。　It　all　depends　on　whether　'nationalize'　is　simply　another　word　for　'confiscate。'〃
　　
　　Gibbons　spent　several　days　explaining　to　Warwick　the　elementary　principles　of　banking　and　currency；　patiently　and　with　good　humor…to　Warwick　by　Hobgon's　choice　because　the　other　selectmen　found　that　they　were　too　busy　with　their　farms　or　businesses　to　take　on　the　chore。　There　had　been　one　candidate　for　the　job　of　national　banker　or　state　treasurer　（no　agreement　as　yet　on　title）　from　outside　the　selectmen；　a　farmer　named　Learner；　but　his　self…nomination　got　nowhere　despite　his　claim　of　generations　of　experience　in　banking　plus　a　graduate　degree　in　such　matters。
　　
　　Warwick　got　his　first　shock　while　he　was　taking　inventory；　with　Gibbons；　of　the　contents　of　the　safe　（almost　the　only　safe　on　New　Beginnings　and　the　only　one　of　Earth　manufacture）。
　　
　　〃Ernie；　where's　the　money？〃
　　
　　〃What　money；　Duke？〃
　　
　　〃'What　money？~　Why；　these　account　books　show　that　you've　taken　in　thousands　and　thousands　of　dollars。　Your　own　trading　post　：shows　a　balance　of　nearly　a　million。　And　I　know　you've　been　collecting　mortgage　payments　on　three　or　four　dozen　farms…and　haven't　loaned　hardly　anything　for　a　year　or　more。　That's　been　one　of　the　major　plaints；　Ernie；　why　the　selectmen　just　had　to　act…all　that　money　going　into　the　bank　and　none　ing　out。　Money's　scarce　everywhere。　So　where's　the　money；　man？〃
　　
　　〃I　burned　it；〃　Gibbons　answered　cheerfully。
　　
　　〃What？〃
　　
　　〃Certainly。　It　was　piling　up　and　getting　too　bulky。　I　didn't　dare　keep　it　outside　the　safe　even　though　we　don't　have　much　theft　here…if　somebody　stole　it；　it　could　ruin　me。　So　far　the　past　three　years；　as　money　came　into　the　bank；　I've　been　burning　it。　To　keep　it　safe。〃
　　
　　〃Good　God！〃
　　
　　〃What's　the　trouble；　Duke。　It's　just　wastepaper。〃
　　
　　〃'Wastepaper'？　It's　money。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　'money；'　Duke？　Got　any　on　you？　Say　a　ten…dollar　bill？〃　Warwick；　still　looking　shocked；　dug　out　one。　〃Read　it；　Duke；〃　Gibbons　urged。　〃Never　mind　the　fancy　engraving　and　the　pretty　paper　that　can't　be　made　here　as　yet…read　what　it　says。〃
　　
　　〃It　says　it's　ten　dollars。〃
　　
　　〃So　it　does。　But　the　important　part　is　where　it　says　that　this　bank　will　accept　that　note　at　face　value　in　payment　of　debts　to　the　bank。〃　Gibbons　took　out　of　his　sporran　a　thousand　dollar　banknote；　set　fire　to　it　while　Warwick　watched　in　horrified　fascination。　Gibbons　rubbed　the　char　off　his　fingers。　〃Wastepaper；　Duke；　as　long　as　it's　in　my　possession。　But　if　I　let　it　get　into　circulation；　it　bees　my　IOU　that　I　must　honor。　Half　a　moment　while　I　record　that　serial　number；　I　keep　track　of　what　I　burn　so　that　I　know　how　much　is　still　in　circulation。　Quite　a　lot；　but　I　can　tell　you　to　the　dollar。　Are　you　going　to　honor　my　IOU's？　And　what　about　debts　owed　to　the　bank？　Who　gets　paid？　You？　Or　me？〃
　　
　　Warwick　looked　baffled。　〃Ernie；　I　…　just　don't　know。　Hell；　man；　I'm　a　mechanic　by　trade。　But　you　heard　what　they　said　at　the　meeting。〃
　　
　　〃Yeah；　I　heard。　People　always　expect　a　government　to　work　miracles…even　people　who　are　fairly　bright　other　ways。　Let's　lock　up　this　junk　and　go　over　to　the　Waldorf　and　have　a　beer　and　discuss　it。〃
　　
　　〃…or　should　be；　Duke；　simply　a　public　bookkeeping　service　and　credit　system　in　which　the　medium　of　exchange　is　stable。　Anything　more　and　you　are　jiggering　with　other　people's　wealth；　robbing　Peter　to　pay　Paul。
　　
　　〃Duke；　I　did　my　best　to　keep　the　dollar　stable　by　keeping　key　prices　stable…seed　wheat　in　particular。　For　over　twenty　years　the　Top　Dollar　Trading　Post　has　paid　the　same　price　for　prime　seed　wheat；　then　resold　it　at　the　same　markup…　even　if　I　took　a　loss　and　sometimes　I　did。　Seed　wheat　isn't　too　good　a　money　standard；　it's　perishable。　But　we　don't　have　gold　or　uranium　as　yet；　and　it　has　to　be　something。
　　
　　〃Now　look；　Duke…when　you　reopen　as　a　treasury；　or　a　government　central　bank；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　you're　certain　to　have　pressures　on　you　to　do　all　sorts　of　things。　Lower　the　interest　rates。　Expand　the　money　supply。　Guarantee　high　prices　to　the　farmer　for　what　he　sells；　guarantee　low　prices　for　what　he　buys。　Brother；　you're　going　to　be　called　worse　names　than　they　call　me；　no　matter　what　you　do。〃
　　
　　〃Ernie…there's　only　one　thing　for　it。　You　know　how　。　。　so　you've　got　to　take　the　job　of　munity　treasurer。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　laughed　heartily。　〃No；　sirree；　bub。　I've　had　that　headache　for　more　than　twenty　years；　now　it's　your　turn。　You　grabbed　the　sack；　now　you　hold　it。　If　I　let　you　put　me　back　in　as　banker；　all　that　will　happen　is　that　they　will　lynch　both　of　us。〃
　　
　　Changes…Helen　M？yberry　married　the　Widower　Parkinson；　went　to　live　with　him　in　a　small　new　house　on　the　farm　now　worked　by　two　of　his　sons；　Dora　Brandon　became　schoolmistress　of　what　was　still　called　〃Mrs。　Mayberry's　Primary　School。〃　Ernest　Gibbons；　no　longer　banker；　was　now　silent　partner　in　Rick's　General　Store；　while　his　own　warehouses　bulged　with　cargo　for　the　Andy　J。　if　and　when。　Soon；　he　hoped；　as　the　new　inventory…　tax　was　eating　into　cash　he　had　held　out　for　trading；　and　inflation　was　eating　into　the　buying　power　of　that　cash。　Better　hurry；　Zack；　before　we　are　nibbled　to　death　by　ducks！
　　
　　At　last　the　ship　appeared　in　New　Beginnings'　sky；　and　Captain　Zaccur　Briggs　came　down　with　the　first　load　of　the　fourth　wave…almost…　all　of　them　quite　old。　Gibbons　refrained　from　ment　until　the　partners　were　alone：
　　
　　〃Zack；　where　did　you　find　those　walking　corpses？〃
　　
　　〃Call　it　charity；　Ernest。　That　sounds　better　than　what　did　happen。〃
　　
　　〃Such　as？〃
　　
　　〃Captain　Sheffield；　if　you　want　our　ship　to　go　back　to　Earth　again；　you　are　wele　to　take　her　there　yourself。　Not　me。　Not　there。　If　a　man　is　seventy…five　years　old　there　now；　he　bees　officially　dead。　His　heirs　inherit；　he　can't　own　property；　his　ration　books　are　canceled…anybody　can　kill　him　just　for　the　hell　of　it。　I　didn't　get　these　passengers　on　Earth；　they　were　refugees　at　Luna　City　and　I　took　as　many　as　I　could…no　messroom　passengers；　cold…sleep　or　nothing~　I　insisted　on　payment　in　hardware　and　pharmaceuticals；　but　coldsleep　let　me　hold　down　the　price　per　head；　I　think　we'll　break　even。　If　not；　we've　got　investments　on　Secundus；　I　haven't　lost　money　for　us。　I　think。〃
　　
　　〃Zack；　you　worry　too　much。　Make　money；　lose　money…who　cares？　The　idea　is　to　enjoy　it。　Tell　me　where　we　are　going　next；　and　I　can　begin　picking　cargo…I've　got　twice　the　metric　tonnage　we　can　stow。　While　you　get　her　loaded；　I'll　liquidate　what　we　aren't　lifting　and　invest　the　proceeds。　Leave　it　with　a　Howard；　that　is。〃　Gibbons　looked　thoughtful。　〃This　new　situation　probably　means　no　Clinic　here　any　time　soon？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　that　is　certain；　Ernest。　Any　Howard　who　needs　rejuvenation　soon　had　better　take　passage　with　us；　we　are　bound　to　hit　Secundus　in　a　leg　or　six；　no　matter　where　we　go。　Then　you　are　definitely　ing　along？　All　over　your　problem？　What　became　of　that　baby　girl？　The　short…lifer。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　grinned。　〃I　don't　think　i'll　let　you　lay　eyes　on　her；　Son；　I　know　you。〃
　　
　　Captain　Briggs'　arrival　caused　Gibbons　to　miss　three　days　running　his　usual　daily　ride　with　Dora　Brandon。　0n　the　fourth　day　he　showed　up　at　the　schoolhouse　as　school　let　out；　Briggs　having　gone　back　up　for　a　couple　of　days。　〃Got　time　for　a　ride　today？〃　…
　　
　　She　flashed　him　a　smile。　〃You　know　I　have。　Half　a　minute　while　I　change。〃
　　
　　They　rode　out　of　town；　Gibbons　as　usual　riding　Beulah　but　with　Dora　on　Betty。　Buck　was　saddled　（for　his　pride）；　but　the　saddle　was　empty；　he　was　now　ridden　only　ceremonially；　by　mule　years　he　was　quite　old。
　　
　　They　paused　on　a　sunny　hilltop　well　out　of　town。　Gibbons　said；　〃Why　so　silent；　little　Dora？　Buck　has　had　more　to　say　than　you　have。〃
　　
　　She　turned　in　the　saddle　an…d　faced　him。　〃How　many　more　rides　will　we　haye　together？　Is　this　the　last？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　…　Dora！　Of　course　we　will　have　more　rides　together。〃
　　
　　〃I　wonder。　Lazarus；　I。…〃
　　
　　〃What　did　you　call　me？〃
　　
　　〃I　called　you　by　your　name；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　He　stared　at　her　thoughtfully。　〃Dora；　you're　not　supposed　to　know　that　name。　I'm　your　'Uncle　Gibbie。'〃
　　
　　〃'Uncle　Gibbie'　is　gone；　and　so　is　'Little　Dora。'　I'm　almost　as　tall　as　you　are　now；　and　I've　known　for　two　years　who　you　are；　and　I　had　guessed　it　before　that…guessed　that　you　were　one　of　the　Methuselahs；　I　mean。　But　I　said　nothing　to　anyone。　And　never　will。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　make　it　a　promise；　Dora；　it　isn't　necessary。　It's　just　that　I　never　meant　to　burden　you　with　it。　How　did　I　give　myself　away？　I　thought　I　had　been　most　careful。〃
　　
　　〃You　have　been。　But　I　have　seen　you　nearly　every　day　almost　as　far　back　as　I　can　remember。　Little　things。　Things　no　one　would　notice　who　didn't　see　you…really　look　at　you　every　day。〃
　　
　　〃Well；　yes。　But　I？didn't　expect　to　have　to　keep　it　up　so　long。　Helen　knew？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　she　did。　We　never　spoke　of　it。　But　I　think　she　guessed　the　same　way　I　did　and　she　may　have　figured　out　which　Methuselah　you　are…〃
　　
　　〃Don't　call　me　that；　dear。　It's　like　calling　a　Jew　a　'kike。'　I'm　a　member　of　the　Howard　Families。　A　Howard。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　sorry。　I　didn't　know　that　the　name　mattered。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　it　doesn't；　really。　It's　just　a　word　that　reminds　me　of　a　time　long　gone。　A　time　of　persecution。　Sorry；　Dora；　you　were　telling　me　how　you　learned　that　my　name　is　'Lazarus。'　One　of　my　names；　that　is；　for　I　am　'Ernest　Gibbons'　just　as　truly。〃
　　
　　〃Yes　。　。　Uncle　Gibbie。　It　was　in　a　book；　a　picture。　A　microbook　one　has　to　read　with　the　viewer　at　the　town　library。　I　saw　this　picture　and　winked　on　past　it…then　clicked　back　and　looked　again。　You　weren't　wearing　whiskers　in　the　picture　and　your　hair　was　longer　。　。　but　the　longer　I　stared　at　it；　the　more　it　looked　like　my　foster　uncle。　But　1　couldn't　be　sure…and　couldn't　ask。〃
　　
　　'Why　not；　Dora？　I　would　have　told　you　the　truth。〃
　　
　　〃If　you　had　wanted　me　to　know；　you　would　have　told　me。　You　always　have　reasons　for　everything　you　do；　everything　you　say。　I　learned　that　when　I　was　so　little　we　used　to　ride　the　same　saddle。　So　I　didn't　say　anything。　Until…　Well；　until　today。　Knowing　that　you　are　leaving。〃
　　
　　〃Have　I　said　that　I　was　leaving？〃
　　
　　〃Please！　~Once；　when　I　was　very　little；　you　told　me　a　story　about　when　you　were　a　little　boy　hearing　wild　geese　honking　in　the　sky…how；　when　you　grew　up；　you　wanted　to　find　out　where　they　went。　I　didn't　know　what　a　wild　goose　was；　you　had　to　explain　to　me。　I　know　you　follow　the　wild　goose。　When　you　hear　them　honking；　you　have　to　go。　You've　been　hearing　them　in　your　head　for　three　or　four　years。　I　know　。　。　because　when　you　hear　them；　I　hear　them；　too。　And　now　the　ship　is　here　and　it's　very　loud　in　your　head。　So　I　knew。〃
　　
　　〃Dora；　Dora！〃
　　
　　〃Don't；　please。　I'm　not　trying　to　hold　you　back；　truly　I'm　not。　But　before　you　go；　I　want　something　very　much。〃
　　
　　〃What；　Dora？　Uh；　didn't　mean　to　tell　you　this　yet；　but　I'm　leaving　some　property　for　you　with　John　Magee。　Should　be　enough　for…〃
　　
　　〃No；　no；　please！　I'm　a　grown　woman　now；　and　self…supporting。　What　I　want　doesn't　cost　anything。〃　She　looked　him　steadily　in　the　eye。　〃I　want　your　child；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　Long　took　a　deep　breath；　tried　to　steady　his　heartbeat。　〃Dora；　Dora；　my　dear；　you　are　hardly　more　than　a　child　yourself；　it　is　too　soon　for　you　to　be　talking　about　having　one。　You　don't　want　to　marry　me…〃
　　
　　〃I　did　not　ask　you　to　marry　me。〃
　　
　　〃I　was　trying　to　say　that；　in　a　year　or　two…or　three；　or　four
　　
　　…you　will　want　to　marry。　Then　you　will　be　glad　that　you　did　not　have　my　child。〃
　　
　　〃You　refuse　me　this？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　saying　that　you　must　not　let　an　emotional　upset　over　parting　cause　you　to　make　any　such　hasty　decision。〃
　　
　　She　sat　very　straight　in　the　saddle；　squared　her　shoulders。　〃It　is　not　a　hasty　decision；　sir。　I　made　up　my　mind　long　ago
　　
　　even　before　I　guessed　that　you　were　a…Howard。　Long　before。　I　told　Aunt　Helen；　and　she　said　that　I　was　a　silly　girl　and　that　I　must　forget　it。　But　I　have　never　forgotten　it；　and　if　I　was　a　silly　girl　then；　I　am　much　older　now　and　know　what　I　am　doing。　Lazarus；　I　am　not　asking　for　anything　else。　It　could　be　syringes　and　such；　with　Doc　Krausmeyer's　help。　Or〃
　　
　　…again　she　looked　him　squarely　in　his　eyes…〃it　could　be　the　usual　way。〃　She　dropped　her　eyes；　then　looked　up　again；　smiled　briefly　and　added；　〃But；　either　way；　it　had　best　be　quickly。　I　don't　know　the　ship's　schedule；　I　do　know　mine。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　spent　all　of　a　half　second　reviewing　certain　factors　in　his　mind。　〃Dora。〃
　　
　　〃Yes　。　。　Err（est？〃
　　
　　〃My　name　is　not　'Ernest；'　nor　is　it　'Lazarus。'　My　right　name　is　Woodrow　Wilson　Smith。　So　since　I　am　no　longer　'Uncle　Gibbie'…and　you　are　right　on　that　point；　'Uncle　Gibbie'　is　gone　and　will　never　be　back…you　might　as　well　call　me　'Woodrow。'〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　〃Do　you　want　to　know　why　I　had　to　change　my　name？〃
　　
　　〃No；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　〃So？　Do　you　want　to　know　how　old　I　am？'
　　
　　〃No；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　〃But　you　want　to　have　a　chil？　by　me？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　〃Will　you　marry　me？〃
　　
　　Her　eyes　widened　slightly。　But　she　answered　at　once：
　　
　　〃No；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　Minerva；　at　that　point　Dora　and　I　almost　had　our　first…　and　last；　and　only…quarrel。　She　had　been　a　sweet　and　lovable　baby　who　had　grown　into　a　sweet…tempered　and　utterly　lovable　young　woman。　But　she　was　as　stubborn　as　I　am…with　the　sort　of　firmness　that　can't　be　argued　with；　because　she　would　not　argue。　I　pay　her　the　respect　of　believing　that　she　had　thought　this　through；　all　aspects；　and　had　long　since　made　up　her　mind　to　bear　my　child　if　I　would　let　her…bi~t　not　to　marry　me。
　　
　　As　for　me；　I　did　not　ask　。her　to　marry　me　on　impulse；　it　just　sounds　like　it。　A　supersaturated　solution　will　crystallize　almost　instantly；　that's　the　shape　I　was　in。　I　had　lost　interest　in　that　colony　years　earlier；　as　soon　as　it　stopped　presenting　real　challenges；　I　was　itching　to　do　something　else。　At　the　top　of　my　mind　I　thought　I　was　waiting　for　Zack　to　return　。　。　but　when　the　Andy　J。　finally　did　orbit　in　that　sky；　two　years　overdue…well；　I　learned　that　it　was　not　what　I　had　been　waiting　for。
　　
　　When　Dora　made　that　amazing　request；　I　knew　what　I　had　been　waiting　for。