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time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第62部分
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hat's the way it went。 A great hetaera never proposes a contract and usually won't listen if a man is bold enough to propose one himself。 But I… well; I made a nuisance of myself。 Tamara finally convinced me that the married only to have children and did not intend to have more。 I feel sure that money was not a factor…〃
〃It wouldn't be。 Oh; I don't mean that Tamara is silly that way; I've heard her say that since money is the universal symbol for value received; one should accept it proudly。 But Tamara wouldn't marry for money; she wouldn't feel that… Or perhaps'she would; I think I'll ask her。 Mm 。 。 interesting。 Our Tamara is a plex person。 Sorry; dear; I interrupted。〃
〃I say money was not the controlling factor; as she had suitors with ten to a hundred times my modest wealth; yet she married none of them。 So I shut up and was content to have part of Tamara…spend nights with her when I was permitted to; share her pany in happiness circles at other times; pay her as much as I could…as much as she would accept; I mean; she often set her fee by refusing part of a gift…she did with me; I don't know what she did with wealthy clients。
〃Years and years of that; then she announced that she was retiring…and I was stunned。 I had taken rejuvenation during this time but hadn't noticed that she was any older。 But she wa~ firm about it and left New Rome。
〃Galahad; it left me impotent。 Oh; not incapable; but what had been ecstasy turned out to be mere exercise not worth the troubl? Has this ever happened to you?〃 ;
〃No。 Perhaps I should say; 'Not yet;' since I'm still working on my secon'd century。〃
〃Then you don't know what I mean。〃
〃Only vicariously。 But may I quote something Lazarus
A A~
once said? He was speaking to Ira; but privacy was not placed on it; you'll e across it in his raw memoirs。
〃'Ira;' he said; 'there were many years when I hardly bOthered with women…not only unmarried hut celibate。 After all; how much variety can there be in the slippery friction of mucous membranes?
〃'Then I realized that there was infinite variety in women as people 。 。 and that sex was the most direct route tc~ knowing a woman 。 。 a route they like; one that we like; and often the only route that can break down barriers and permit close acquaintance。
〃'And in discovering this; I gained renewed interest in the friendly frolic itself; happy as a lad with his first bare tit warm in his hand。 Happier…as never again was I merely a piston to her cylinder; each woman was a unique individual worth knowing; and; if we took time enough; we might find we loved each other。 But at least we offered each other pleasure and a haven from cares; we wereni simply masturbating; with the other just a sex doll。'
〃That's close to what Lazarus said; Justin。 You went through something like that?〃
〃Yes。 Somewhat。 A long period when sex wasn't worth the trouble。 But I got over it 。 。 with a woman as fine in her own way as Tamara is; although I didn't fall in love with her nor she with me。 She taught me something I had forgotten; that sex can be friendly and worthwhile without the intense love I felt for Tamara。 You see; a 'friend ;of mine; wife of another 'friend and they were both close to me…as a special gift she'introduced me to another hetaera; a great beauty; and arranged for me a holiday with her…paid for by my friends; th?y could afford it; she is wealthy。 This beautiful hetaera; Magdalene…〃
Galahad looked delighted。 〃Maggie!〃
〃Why; yes; she d~d use that pillow name。 'Magdalene' was her vocational name。 But when she learned that I keep the Archives; she told me her registered name。〃
〃Rebecca Sperling…Jones。〃' 〃Then you do know her。〃 ;; 〃All my life; Justin darling; I nursed at those beautiful
breasts。 She's my mother; dear…what a delightful coincidence!〃
I was delighted; too; but more interested in something else。; 〃So that's where you get your beauty。〃
〃Yes; but also from my geic father。 Becky…Maggie… tells me I look more like him。〃
第56节
〃Really? If' you permit; I'll look up your liheage when I get back to Secundus。〃 An archivist should not consult the Archives from personal curiosity; I was presuming on friendship to suggest it。
〃Dear; you're not going back to Secundus。 But you can get; it from Athene clear back to the first push in the bush after Ira Howard's death。 But let's talk about Mama。 She's a jolly one? isn't she? As well as a beauty。〃
〃Both。 I told you how much she did for me。 Your mother assurhed that this holiday was going to be fun…fun for both of us…and it was indeed!…and I forgot about being uninterested in sex。 I'm not speaking of technique; I suspect that any high…priced hetaera in New Rome is as skilled as any famous courtesan in history。 I mean her attitude。 Maggie is fun to be around; in bed or out。 Laugh wrinkles but no frown wrinkles。〃
Galahad nodded agreement as he wiped egg from his platter。 〃Yes; that's Mama。 She gave me a most happy childhood; Justin; so much so that I was grumpy at being shoved' out when my eighteenth rolled around。 'But she was sweet about it。 After my adulthood party she reminded me that she was moving out; too; and going back to her profession。 Her contract with Papa; my foster father; was a term contract; over when I b鏲ame a legal adult 。 。 so if I wanted to see Maggie again…and I wanted to!…it would be cash at the counterpane; no family discount。 Since I was a poor…but…honest research assistant; paid only two or three times what I was worth; I couldn't have afforded thirty seconds with her; much less a night; Mama's fees were always sky…high。〃
Galahad looked thoughtfully' happy。 〃Goodness; that seems long ago…more than a century and a half; Justin。 I didn't realize that Becky…Maggie…Mama…that Magdalene was being both wise and kind。 I was grown up only legally and physically; and if she hadn't cut the cord; I would have hung around; an overgrown infant; cluttering her life and interfering with her vocation。 So I did grow up; and when I married; my first wife named our first daughter 'Magdalene' and asked Maggie to be godmother 。 。 then I could hardly believe that this beautiful creature had borne me and I had no special urge to play Oedipus to her regal beauty; I was too much in love with my wife。 Yes; Maggie is a fine girl…
although she spoiled me as a kid。 Was that holiday the only time you had her?〃
〃No。 But not often。 As you say; she was expensive。 She offered me a fifty…percent discount…〃
〃Well! You did impress her。〃
〃…as she knew I wasn't wealthy。 But even at that; I couldn't afford her pany often。 But she got me over my emotional hump; and I'm grateful to her。 A fine woman; Galahad; you have reason to be proud of her。〃
〃I think so。 But; Justin dear; your mention of that discount makes me certain~ that she remembers you just as fondly…〃
〃Oh; I hardly think so; Years back; Galahad。〃
〃Don't trip; in your modesty; dear; Maggie grabbed every crown the traffic would bear。 But the 'delightful coincidence' is more than just the fact that you've had my mother…after all; high as her fees were; New' Rome has many wealthy men attractive enough that Maggie would accept them。 The 'delightful' aspect is that this very minute she is about forty kilometers south of here。〃
〃No!〃
〃Si; si; si! Ask Athene to call her。 You can be talking with her in thirty seconds。〃
〃Uh 。 。 I still don't think she would remember me。〃
〃I do。 But there's no rush。 If you are surprised; think how surprised I was。 I had nothing to do with the migrants' roster; I was arse…deep in getting together what Ishtar had ordered for the clinics。 Justin; I didn't know Maggie had married again。 So we're here a couple of weeks; the headquarters party; with a temporary setup and still eating and sleeping in the 'Dora;' when the first transport grounds…then we're busy getting people and supplies out in a sequence worked out by Lazarus and bossed by Ira。
〃My assignment; once I had my shack up…by hand; Athene had no outside extensionals then…〃 …
〃Poor Uncle Cuddly!〃
〃Who doesn't listen to private conversations?〃
〃I have to keep you straight; dear。 It was Minerva who had no outside hands then; I wasn't even hatched。〃
〃Well… You have her memories; Teena; it's a mere technicality。〃
〃Not to me; deane。 The chinchy little bitch took some memories with her that she didn't want to share with her ever…lovin' twin。 And ;she locked one whole bank that she did
leave behind so that I can't touch it without an abracadabra either from her or from Grandpappy。 Except that you can unlock it; Justin。 。 if both my twin and Lazarus are dead。〃
I managed to answer quickly; 〃In that case; Athene; I hope that it is a very long time before I am able to trigger it。〃
〃Well 。 。 when you put it that way; so do I。 But I can't help wondering what grim secrets and unspeakable crimes are locked in my theta…niy…seven…B…dexter…aleph…prime? Will the stars tremble in their courses? But Uncle Cuddly did work hard a couple of days; Justin…probably the only honest work he has ever;done。〃
〃I disdain to ment; Teena。 Justin; my assignment was examining physician; for ost new diploma。 So Ishtar and Harnadryad are unpacking migrants and giving them their antidotes and I'm checking them to make sure they've made the trip safely…rushing it as I haven't yet snatched another medical doctor from that~ parade of flesh。
〃I glance up from my machine just long enough to note that the next victim is female and call out over my shoulder; 'Strip down; please;' and change the setting。 Then I look twice…and say; 'Hello; Mama; how did you get here?'。
〃This caused her to give me a second look。 Then she smiled her big; happy smile and said; 'I flew in on a broom; Obadiah。 Give me a kiss and tell me where to put my clothes。 Is the doctor around?'
〃Justin; I let the queue pile up while I gave Maggie a thorough examination…proper; as she was pregnant and I made certain that her unborn baby had e through all right…but also to gossip and get caught up。 Married again; four children by today; a farm wife with a sunburned nose; and happy as can be。
〃Got married quite romantically。 Mama heard the advertising about opening a virgin pla; went to the recruiting office Ira had in the Harriman Trust building to find out about it…that astonished me the most; Mama is the last person I would have suspected of yearnings to pioneer。〃
〃Well 。 。 I agree; Galahad。 But I don't suppose anyone would pick me as a likely pioneer; either。〃
〃Perhaps not。 Nor me。 But Maggie puts in her application at once; and runs into one of her wealthy regulars doing the same。 They go somewhere for a bite and discuss it 。 。 and leave the restaurant and register an open…end contract; and go back to
the recruiting office and withdraw their solo applications and submit a joint one as a married couple。 I won't say that got them accepted; but armost; no singles werc accepted for first wave。'! '
〃Did they know that?〃'
〃Oh; certainly! The recruiting clerk warned them before accepting their solo fees。 That's what they left to discuss They already knew they suited each other in bed; but Maggie wanted to find out if he intended to farm…believe it or not; that's what she wanted…and he wanted to know if she could cook and was she willing to have kids。 And it was: 'Fine; we agree; let's get on with it!' Maggie had her fertility restored; and they planted their first baby without waiting to see if they were accepted。〃
I said; 〃That;p?obably clinched it。〃
〃You think so? Why?〃
〃If they changed their application to show that Magdalene had caught。 If Lazarus passed on the applications。 Galahad; our Ancestor favors people who take big bites。〃
〃Mmm; yes。 Justin; why are you hanging back?〃
〃I'm not。 I had to be certain that the invitation was serious。 I still don't know why。 But I'm no fool; I'm staying。〃
〃Wonderful!〃 Galahad jumped up; came around the table; kissed me again; roughed my hair; and hugged me。 〃I'm happy for all of us; darling; and we'll try to make you happy。〃 He grinned…and I suddenly saw his mother in him。 Hard to imagine the glamorous Magdalene with kids and calluses; a frontier farm wife…but I recalled the old proverb about best wives。 Galahad went on: 〃The twins weren't sure I could be trusted with' so delicate a mission; they were afraid I would muff it。〃
〃Galahad; there was never a chance I would refuse; 'I just had to be sure I was wele。 I still don't know why。〃
〃Oh。 We were speaking of Tamara and got sidetracked。 Justin; it's not public knowledge how difficult it was to rejuvenate our Ancestor this time; although。 the recordings you have been editing may hint at it…〃
〃More than a hint。〃
〃But not all of it。 He was almost dead; and simply keeping him alive while we rebuilt him was hard enough。 But we managed that; you won't find another technician of Ishtar's skill。 But when we had him in good shape; bio…age almost as young as he is now; he took a turn for the worse。 What do you do when a client turns his face away; is reluctant; to
talk; doesn't want to eat…yet has nothing wrong with him physically? Bad。 Stays awake all night rather than risk going to sleep? Ver~y bad。
〃When he… Never mind; Ishtar knew what to do。 She went up into the mountains and fetched back Tamara。 She wasn't rejuvenated then…〃
〃That wouldn't matter。〃
〃It did matter; Justin。 You would have handicapped Tamara in coping with Lazarus。 Oh; Tamara would have overe the handicap; I have confidence in hcr。 But her bio…age and; appearance were around eighty on the Hardy scale; this made it easier; as Lazarus; despite his renewed body; was feeling the weight of his years。 But Tamara looked old 。 。 and every white hair was an asset。 Lines in her face; little round potbelly; breasts pendulous; varicosities…she looked the way he felt 。 。 so he didn't mind having her around during a crisis in which he…well; I skansed that he couldn't stand the sight of us who looked youthful。 That's all it took; she healed him…〃
〃Yes; she's a Healer。〃 (How well I knew!)
〃She's a great Healer。 That's what she's doing now; healing a young couple who lost their first baby…nursing the mother who had a rough time physically; sleeping with both of them。 We all sleep with her; she always knows when we need her。 Lazarus needed her then; she felt it; and stayed with him until he was well。 Uh; after last night this may be difficult to believe; but both of them had quit sex。 Years and years…Lazarus more than half a century; and Tamara had not coupled with anyone since she retired。〃
Galahad smiled。 〃Here is a case of the patient healing the physician; in bringing Lazarus around to the point where he invited her to share his bed; Tamara herself found new interest in living。 She lived with Lazar
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