time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第43部分

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g　for。
　　
　　When　Dora　made　that　amazing　request；　I　knew　what　I　had　been　waiting　for。
　　
　　Surely；　I　tried　to　argue　her　out　of　it…but　I　was　playing　devil's　advocate。　In　fact；　my　mind　was　busy　with　what　and　how。　All　the　objections　to　marrying　a　short…lifer　still　remained。　My　even　stronger　objections　to　leaving　a　pregnant　woman　behind　me…shucks；　dear；　I　didn't　spend　a　nanosecond　on　that。
　　
　　〃Why　not；　Dora？〃
　　
　　〃I　told　you。　You　are　leaving；　I　will　not　hold　you　back。〃
　　
　　〃You　won't　hold　me　back。　No　one　ever　has　yet；　Dora。　But
　　
　　…no　marriage；　no　child。〃
　　
　　第37节
　　
　　She　looked　thoughtful。　〃What　is　your　purpose　in　insisting　on　a　marriage　ceremony；　Woodrow？　So　that　our　child　will　bear　your　name？　I　don't　want　to　be　a　sky　widow　。　。　but　if　that　is　what　it　takes；　let's　ride　back　to　town　and　find　the　Moderator。　Because　it　really　should　be　today。　If　the　books　are　right　about　how　to　figure　it。〃
　　
　　〃Woman4　you　talk　too　much。〃　She　did　not　answer　this；　he　went　on：　〃I　don't　give　a　hoot　about　a　wedding　ceremony…　certainly　not　one　in　Top　Dollar。〃
　　
　　She　hesitated；　then　said；　〃May　I　say　that　I　do　not　understand？〃
　　
　　〃Eh？　Yes；　surely。　Dora；　I　won't　settle　for　one　child。　You're　going　to　have　half　a　dozen　children　by　me；　or　more。　Probably　more。　Maybe　a　dozen。　Any　objection？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Woodrow…I　mean　No；　I　do　not　object。　Yes；　I　will　have　a　dozen　children　by　you。　Or　more。〃
　　
　　〃Having　a　dozen　kids　takes　time；　Dora。　How　often　should　I　show　up？　Every　two　years；　maybe？〃
　　
　　〃Whatever　you　say；　Woodrow。　Whenever　you　e　back…　each　time　you　e　back…I'll　have　a　child　by　you。　But　I　do　ask　that　we　start　the　first　one　at　once。〃
　　
　　〃You　crazy　little　idiot；　I　believe　you　would　do　it　that　way。〃
　　
　　〃Not　'would'…shall。　If　you　will。〃
　　
　　〃Well；　we're　not　going　to　do　it　that　way。〃　He　reached　out　and　took　her　hand。　〃Doja；　will　you　go　where　I　go；　do　what　I　do；　live　where　I　live？〃
　　
　　She　looked　startled　but　answered　steadily；　〃Yes；　Woodrow。　If　this　is　truly　what　you　want。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　put　any　conditions　on　it。　Will　you；　or　won't　you？〃
　　
　　〃I　will。〃
　　
　　〃If　it　es　to　a　showdown；　will　you　do　what　I　tell　you　to？　Not　give　me　any　more　stubborn　arguments？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Woodrow。'~
　　
　　〃Will　you　bear　my　children　and　be　my　wife　till　death；　do　us　part？〃
　　
　　〃I　will。〃
　　
　　〃I　take　thee；　Dora；　to　be　my　wife；　to　love　and　protect　and　cherish…and　never　to　leave　you　。　。　so　long　as　we　both　shall　live。　Don't　sniffle！　Lean　over　here　and　kiss　me　instead。　We're　married。〃
　　
　　〃I　was　not　either　sniffling！　Are　we　really　married？'
　　
　　〃We　are。　Oh；；　you　can　have　any　wedding　ceremony　you　want。　Later。　Now　shut　up　and　kiss　me。〃
　　
　　She　obeyed。
　　
　　Some　long　moments　later　he　said；　〃Hey；　don't　fall　out　of　your　saddle！　Steady；　Betty！　Steady；　Beulah！　'Durable　Dora；　who　taught　you　to　kiss　that　way？〃
　　
　　〃You　haven't　called　me　that　since　I　started　to　grow　up。　Years。〃
　　
　　〃Haven't　kissed　you　since　you　started　to　grow　up；　either。　For　good　reason。　You　didn't　answer　my　question。〃
　　
　　〃Is　that　one　of　the　things　I　just　promised？　Whoever　taught　me　to　kiss；　it　was　before　I　was　a　married　woman。〃
　　
　　〃Mmm；　you　may　have　a　point　there。　I'll　take　it　up　with　my　legal　staff　and　have　them　write　you　a　letter。　Besides　it　might　be　native　talent　rather　than　instruction。　Tell　you　what；　Dora；　I'll　refrain　from　quizzing　you　about　your　sinful　past　。　。　and　you　leave　mine　alone。　A　deal？〃
　　
　　〃Yes　indeed…for　I　have　a　very　sinful　past。〃
　　
　　〃Piffle；　darling；　you　haven't　had　time　to　be　sinful。　Swiped　some　sweets　I　had　fetched　for　Buck；　；maybe？　Very　sinful。〃
　　
　　〃I　never　did　any　such　thing！　But　lots　worse。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　sure。　Give　me　anoTher　of　those　native…talent　kisses。〃
　　
　　？Presently　he　said；　〃Whew！　No；　the　first　one　wasn't　a　fluke。　Dora；　I　think　I　married　you　just　barely　in　time。〃
　　
　　〃You　insisted　on　marrying　me…my　husband。　I　didn't　make　an　issue　of　it。〃
　　
　　〃Conceded。　Sweetheart；　are　you　still　anxious　to　get　started　on　that　baby？　Now　that　you　know　that　I　am　not　going　away；　without　you？'
　　
　　〃No　longer　anxious。　Eager；　perhaps。　Yes；　'eager'　is　the　right　word。　But　not　demanding。〃
　　
　　〃'Eager'　is　a　fine　word。　Me；　too。　I　could　also　add　'demanding。'　Who　knows？…you　may　have　other　native　talents。〃
　　
　　She　barely　smiled。　〃If　not；　Woodrow；　I'm　sure　you　can　teach　me。　I'm　willing　to　learn。　Eager。〃
　　
　　〃Let's　head　back　to　town。　My　apartment？　Or　the　schoolhouse？〃
　　
　　〃Either　one；　Woodrow。　But　see　that　little　stand　of　trees？　It's　much　closer。〃
　　
　　It　was　almost　dark　as　they　neared　town；　they　rode　back　at　a　gentle　walk。　As　they　passed　the　Markhams'　house　on　the　pid
　　
　　Harper　place；　Woodrow　Wilson　Smith　said；　〃Adorable　Dora…〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　my　husband？〃
　　
　　〃Do　you　want　a　public　wedding？〃
　　
　　〃Only　if　you　want　one；　Woodrow。　I　feel'　very　much　married。　I　am　married。〃
　　
　　〃You　certainly　are。　Not　going　to　run　away　with　a　younger　man？〃
　　
　　〃Is　that　a　rhetorical　question？　Not　now；　or　ever。〃
　　
　　〃This　young　man　is　an　immigrant　who　may　not　be　down　until　the　last　@r　nearly　the　last　trip。　He　is　about　my　height；　but　he　has　black　hair　and　a　darker　skin　than　I　have。　Can't　say　just　how　old　he　is；　but　he　looks　about　half　the　age　I'　look。　Smoothshaven。　His　friends　call　him　'Bill。'　Or　'Woodie。'　Captain　Briggs　says　Bill　is　very　fond　of　young　schoolmarms　and　is　anxious　to　meet　you。〃
　　
　　She　appeared　to　consider　it。　〃If　I　kissed　him　with　my　eyes　closed；　do　you　think　I　would　recognize　him？〃
　　
　　〃It's　possible；　Dorable。　Almost　certain。　But　I　don't　think　anyone　else　will。　I　hope　they　don't。〃
　　
　　〃Woodrow；　I　don't　know　your　plans。　But　if　I　do　recognize　this　'Bill；'　should　I　attempt　to　convince　him　that　I　am　that　other　schoolmarm？　The　one　you　were　singing　about？　Rangy　Lil？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　you　could　convince　him；　dearest　one。　All　right；　'Uncle　Gibbie'　is　back；　temporarily。　It　will　take　Ernest　Gibbons　three　or　four　days　to　wind　up　what'　he　must　do　here；　then　he'll　say　good…bye　to　people…including　his　foster　niece；　that　oldmaid　schoolmarm　Dora　Brandon。　Two　days　later　this　Bill　Smith　es　down　with　the'last；　or　nearly　the　last；　load　of　cargo　from　the　ship。　You　had　better　be　packed　and　ready　to　leave　by　then　because　Bill　is　going　to　drive　past　your　schoolhouse　the　following　day；　or　the　day　after　that；　just　before　dawn；　headed　for　New　Pittsburgh。〃
　　
　　〃New　Pittsburgh。　I'll　be　ready。〃
　　
　　〃But　we；　won't　stay　there　more　than　a　day　or　two。　On　we　go；　past　Separation；　then　right　over　the　horizon。　We're　going　to　tackle　Hopeless　Pass；　dear。　Does　that　appeal　to　you？〃
　　
　　〃I　go　where　you~go。〃。
　　
　　〃Does　it　appeal　'to　you？　You　won't　have　anyone　to　talk　to　but　me。　Until　you　bake　one　and　teach　him…or　her…to　talk。　No　neighbors。　Lopers　and　dragons　and　God　knows　what　else。　But　no　neighbors。〃　…　…　…
　　
　　〃So　I'll　cook　and　help　you　farm…and　bake　babies。　When　I　have　three　I'll　open　'Mrs。　Smith's　Primary　School。'　Or　should　we　call　it　'Rangy　Lil's　Primary　School'？〃
　　
　　〃The　latter；　I　think。　For　young　bellions。　My　kids　are　always　hell…raisers；　Dora。　You'll　teach　school　with　a　club　in　your　hand。〃
　　
　　〃If　necessary；　Woodrow。　I've　got　some　like　that　now；　and　two　of　them　outweigh　me。　I　clobber　them　as　necessary。〃
　　
　　〃Dora；　we　don't　have　to　tackle　Hopeless　Pass。　We　could　leave　in　the　'Andy　J。'　and　go　to　Secundus。　Briggs　tells　me　that　there　are　ov？r　twenty　million　people　there　now。　You　could　have　a　nice　house。　Inside　plumbing。　A　flower　garden　instead　of　breaking　your　back　helping　me　to　make　a　farm。　A　good　hospital　with　real　doctors　when　you　'have　babies。　Safety　and　fort。〃
　　
　　〃'Secundus。'　That's　where　all　the…Howards　moved。　Isn't　it？〃
　　
　　〃Ab；out　two…thirds　of　them。　A　few　are　right　here；　as　I　told　you。　But　we　don't　admit　it　because　when　you　are　outnumbered；　it　is　neither　safe　nor　fortable　to　be　a　Howard。　Dora；　you　don't　have　to　make　up　your　mind　in　only　three　or　four　days~　That　ship　will　stay　in　orbit　here~　as　long　as　I　want　it　to。　Weeks。　Months。　As　long　as　I　order　it　to　stay。〃
　　
　　？〃Goodness！　You　can　afford　to　have　Captain　Briggs　hold　a　starship　in　orbit？　Just　to　let　me　make　up　my　mind？〃
　　
　　〃I　shouldn't　have　rushed　you。　But　it's　not　exactly　a　case　of　affording　it；　Dora…although　it　doesn't　cost　much　to　stay　in　orbit。　Uh　。　。　I've　kept　my　own　counsel　so　long　that　Fm　out　of　the　habit　of　being　a　married　man；　with　a　wife　I　can　trust　with　secrets；　I　must　stop　it。　I　own　sixty　percent　of　the　'Andy　J。'　Dora；　Zack　Bnggs　is　my　junior　partner。　And　my　son。　Your　stepson；　you　could　say。〃
　　
　　She　did　not　answer　at　once。　Presently　he　said；　〃What's　the　trouble；　Dora？。　Did　I　shock　you？'
　　
　　〃No；　Woodrow。　I'm　just　having　to　get　used　to　new　ideas。　Of　course　you've　been　married　before；　you're　a　Howard。　I'd　never　thought　about　it；　that's　all。　A　son…sons。　And　daughters；　too；　no　doubt。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　surely。　But　what　I　was　getting　at　is　that　I've　done　some　bad　planning…through　my　own　selfishness。　I　was　rushing　you　when　there　is　no　need　for　it。　If　we　stay　on　New　Beginnings；　I　want　'Ernest　Gibbons'　to　disappear…leave　in　the　'Andy　J。；'　that　is；　as　he　is　getting　too　old：！　can't　keep　it　up　much　longer。
　　
　　So　young　'Bill　Smith；'　who　is　much　nearer　your　age；　takes　his　place　。　。　which　looks　better　and　no　one　here　will　ever　suspect　that　I'm　a　Howard。
　　
　　〃I've　worked　this　shenanigan　many　times；　I　know　how　to　make　it　stand　up。　But　I　was　trying　to　get　rid　of　'Ernest　Gibbons'　as　fast　as　possible　because　he's　your　old　foster　uncle　who　is　about　three　times　your　age~　and　wouldn't　dream　of　patting　your　pretty　bottom；　nor　would　you　encourage　him'　to。　As　everybody　knows。　But　I　want　to　pat　your　pretty　bottom；　Dorable。〃
　　
　　〃And　I　w~nt　you　to　pat　it。〃　She　reined　up；　they　were　getting　close　to　where　houses　were　near　together。　〃And　more。　Woodrow；　you're　saying　that　we　can't　live　together　right　away　because　of　what　the　neighbors　might　think。　But　who　taught　me　never　to　care　what　the　neighbors　think？　You　did。〃
　　
　　〃True。　Although　sometimes　it's　expedient　to　make　the　neighbors　think　what　you　want　them　to　think　in　order　to　influence　what　they　do　and　say…and　this　might　be　such　a　time。　But　I　also　tried　to　teach　you　to　be　patient；　dear　one。〃
　　
　　〃Woodrow；　I　will　do　exactly　what　you　tell　me　to。　But　I'm　not　really　patient　about　this。　I　want　my　husband　in　my　bed！〃
　　
　　〃And　I　want　to　be　there。〃
　　
　　〃Then　what　does　it　'matter　if　people　assume　that　I　choose　to　tell　my　Uncle　Gibbie　good…bye　in　bed？　Or　that　I　then　go　away　with　a　new　settl~r　almost　at　once？　Woodrow；　you　didn't　say　a　word　about　it　at　the　time…but　you　knew　that　I　was　not　virgin；　I'm　certain。　Don't　you　think　there　must　be　others　who　know　it；　too？　Probably　the　whole　town。　I've　never　worried　about　it。　Why　should　I　worry　what　they　think　ww？〃
　　
　　〃Dora。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　W~odrow？〃
　　
　　〃I'll　be　in　your　bed　every　night；　that's　settled。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　〃The　pleasure　is　mine；　madam。　Or　half　of　it；　at　least；　you　seem　to　enjoy　it；　too…〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　I　do！　And　you　know　it。　Or　should。〃
　　
　　〃So　stipulated；　let's　pass'　to　other　matters…except　to　say　that　had　I　found　you　virgin…big　as　you　are；　old　as　you　are…　it　would　have　worried　me　a　little；　and　I　might　have　felt　that　Helen　had　not　been　quite　the　wholesome　influence　that　I　thought　she　was。　That　she　was　indeed；　bless　her　heart！　The　matter　of　pretending　to　be　dear　old　'Uncle　Gibbie'　who　would　never　touch　little　Dora　was　purely　for　your　face；　since　it　does　not　worry　you；　let's　drop　it。　What　I　started　to　say　is　that　you
　　
　　can　take　as　long　as　you　like　in　deciding　？hether　to　pioneer　here　or　go　to　Secundus。　Dora；　Secundus　has　more'　than　inside　plumbing；　it　has　a　Rejuvenation　Clinic。〃
　　
　　〃Oh！　You　need　to　be　near　one；　Woodrow？〃
　　
　　〃No；　no！　For　you；　dear。〃
　　
　　She　was　very　slow　in　answering。　〃That　would　not　make　me
　　
　　a　Howard。〃'…
　　
　　〃Well；　no。　But　it　helps。　Rejuvenation　therapies　don't　make　Howards　last　forever；　either。　Some　people　are　helped　quite　a　lot　by　them；　some　are　not。　Maybe　someday　we'll　know　more…　but　now；　on　the　average；　rejuvenation　techniques　seem　to　about　double　whatever　a　person　could　expect　normally；　whether　~he's　a　Howard　。　。　or　not　a　Howard。　Uh；　do　you　know　anything　about　how　long　your　grandparents　lived？〃
　　
　　〃Hop　could　I；　Woodrow？　I　just　barely　remember　that　I　once　had　parents。　I　don't　even　know　the　names　of　my　grandparents。〃
　　
　　〃We　can　find　out。　The　ship　carries　records　of　every　migrant　who　takes　passage　in　her。　I'll　tell　Zack…Captain　Briggs…to　look　up　your　parents'　records。　Then…in　time；　for　it　will　take　'time…I　can　have　your　family　traced　on　Earth。　Then…〃
　　
　　〃No；　Woodrow。〃
　　
　　〃Why　not；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　need　to　know；　1　don't　want　to　know。　Long　ago；　three　or　four　years　at　least；　shortly　after　I　figured　out　that　you　were　a　Howard；　I　also　figured　out　that　Howards　don't　really　live　any　longer　than　we　ordinaries　do。〃
　　
　　〃So？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　We　all　have　the　past　and　the　present　and　the　future。　The　past　is　just　memory；　and　I　can't　remember　when　I　began；　I　can't　remember　when　I　wasn't。　Can　you？〃
　　
　　〃No。〃
　　
　　〃So　we're　even　on　that。　I　suppose　your　memories　are　richer；　you　are　older　than　I　am。　But　it's　past。　The　future？　It　hasn't　happened　yet；　and　nobody　knows。　'You　may　outlive　me　。　。　or　I　may　outlive　you。　Or　we　might　happen　to　be　killed　at　the　same　time。　We　can't　know　and　I　don't　want　to　know。　What　we　both　have　is　now　。　。　and　we　have　that　together　and　it　makes　me　utterly　happy。　Let's　get　these　mules　put　away　for　the　night　and　enjoy　some　now。〃
　　
　　〃Suits。〃　He　grinned　at　her。　'~E。F。；　or　F。F。？〃
　　
　　〃Both！〃
　　
　　〃That's　my　Dora！　Anything　worth　doing　is　worth　overdoing。〃
　　
　　〃And　doing　again。　But　just　a　moment；　dear。　You　told　…　me　that　Captain　Briggs　is　your　son；　and　consequently　my　stepson。　I　suppose　he　~s；　but　I　really　can't　think　of　him　as　such。　But…　and　you　needn't　answer　this；　we　agreed　not　to　quiz　each　other　about　our　pasts…〃
　　
　　〃Go　ahead　and　ask。　If　it　suits　me；　I'll　answer。〃
　　
　　第38节
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　I　can't　help　being　curious　about　Captain　Briggs'　mother。　Your　former　wife。〃
　　
　　〃Phyllis？　Phyllis　Briggs…Sperling　is　her　full　name。　What　do　you　want　to　knew　about　her；　dear？　Very　nice　girl。　Further　Deponent　Sayeth　Not。？No　invidious　parisons。〃
　　
　　〃I　guess　I'm　being　snoopy。〃
　　
　　〃Perhaps　you　are。　Not　that　I　mind；　and　it　can't　hurt　Phyllis。　Dear；　that　was　a　couple　of　centuries　ago；　forget　it。〃
　　
　　〃Oh。　She's　dead？〃
　　
　　…　〃Not　that　I　kn~；w　of。　Zack　would　know；　he's　been　to　Secundus　recently。　I　think　he　would　have　told　me。　But'　I　haven't　stayed　in　touch　with　her　since　she　divorced　me。〃
　　
　　〃Divorced　you？　A　woman　of　poor　taste！〃
　　
　　〃Dora；　Dora！　Phyllis　is　not　a　woman　of　poor　taste；　she　is　a　very　nice　girl。　I　had　dinner　with　her　and　her　husband　the　last　time　I　was　on　Secundus~　Zack　and　I　did；　I　mean…and　she　and　her　husband　had　gone　to　the　trouble　of　rounding　up　my　other　children　by　her；　those　who　were　on　pla；　and