time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第102部分

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ut　did　not　get　to　know　you　until　last　night。　Ishtar　knew　you　only　from　your　chart　but　is　one　of　your　strongest　supporters。　But　the　deciding　factor　is　this：　Tamara　wants　you　in　our　family。〃
　　
　　'Tamara！'
　　
　　〃You　sound'　astonished。〃
　　
　　〃I　am。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　see　why。　She　arranged　for　someone　to　relieve　her　in　order　to　be　here　last　night。　She　loves　you；　Justin；　don't　you　know　it？〃
　　
　　〃Uh…〃　My　brain　was　fdddled。　〃Yes；　I　know　it。　But　Tamara　loves　everyone。'
　　
　　〃No；　just　those　who　need　her　love；　and　she　always　knows　who　they　are。　Incredible　empathy；　she's　going　to　be　a　great
　　
　　rejuvenator。　In　this　family　Tamara　can　have　anything　she　wants　。　。　and　she　happens　to　want　you…t髜stay　with　us；　live　with　us；　join　us。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　be　。　。　damned。〃　（Tamara？）
　　
　　〃Unlikely。　If　I　believed　in　damnation；　I　wouldn't　believe　that　anyone　picked　by　Tamara　Sperling　could　be　in　danger　of　it。〃　Galahad　smiled；　a　happy　expression　than　was　more　his　charm　than　was　his　extraordinary　beauty。　I　tried　to　remember　if　he　ha；~d　been　that　beautiful　a　hundred　years　back。　I　am　not　indifferent　to　male　beauty；　but　my　sensuality　is　not　perfectly　balanced；　in　the　presence　of　a　homely　female　and　a　beautiful　male；　I　tena　to　look　at　the　female。　So　I'll　never　be　an　esthete；　I　lack　judgment　in　matters　of　beauty。　I　apologize　in　advance　to　'any　female　who　finds　my　primitive　attitude　offensive。
　　
　　But　I'll　share　bed　with　Galahad　in　preference　to　a　selfcentered　female　beauty；　he's　warm　and　gentle　and　good　pany；　with　a　roguish　playfulness　not　unlike　that　of　the　twins。　The　thought　ran　through　my　mind　that　I　would　like　to　meet　his　sister…or　mother　or　daughter…a　female　version　of　him　in　character　and　personality；　as　well　as　in　appearance。
　　
　　Tamara！　The　above　was　froth　at　the　top　of　my　mind　because　I　was　unable　to　face　at　once　the　implications　of　Galahad's　announcement。
　　
　　He　went　on：　〃Close　your　mouth；　dear；　I　was　as　startled　as　you　are。　But；　even　if　we　hadn't　been　friends　years　back；　on　Tamara's　motion　I　would　have　voted　for　you　sight　unseen…　so　that　I　could　study　you。　Tamara　never　makes　a　mistake。　But　were　you　so　mind…ill　that　you　needed　that　much　from　her？　Or　so　superhuman　that　she　wanted　that　much　from　you？　But　you　are　neither；　or　I　failed　to　see　it。　You　aren't　ill；　I　think；　other　than　a　touch　of　wild…goose　fever。　You　may　be　superman；　but　none　of　us　found　it　o~it　last　night。　If　you　are　a　superstud；　you　restrained　yourself。　Hamadryad　did　say　at　breakfast　that　a　woman　is　happy　in　your　arms。　But　she　did　not　imply　that　you　are　the　Galaxy's　greatest　lover。
　　
　　〃Being　one　of　Minerva's　parents　is　in　your　favor；　none　of　them　has　any　serious　shortings；　Ishtar　made　sure　of　that
　　
　　…Ishtar　knows　more　about　you　than　you　do　yourself；　she　can　read　a　gene　chart　the　way　other　people　read　print…and　Mmerva　herself　is　proof　that　no　mistakes　were　made。　I　mean；　look　at　Minerva：　sweet　as　the　morning　breeze　and　as　beautiful　as　Hamadryad　in　her　own　fashion；　and　with　an　intelligence　level　so　high　you　wouldn't　believe　it…yet　so　modest　she's　almost　humble。
　　
　　〃But　still；　it's　Tamara。　Your　fate　was　settled　before　you　reached　this　house。　Slow　ride　home；　wasn't　it？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　one　doesn't　expect　speed　from　a　nuilboat。　Though　I　was~　surprised　to　find　one　in　a　young　colony。　I　expected　muledrawn　wagons。〃
　　
　　〃Lots　of　those；　too。　But　Lazarus　says　that　this　time　h'e　traveled　with　'seven　elephants'…we　fetched　a　mammoth　amount　of　equipment。　That's　an　overpowered　nullboat；　rebuilt　to　Lazarus'　specifications；　and　could　have　fetched　you　here　in　a　fifth　the　time　it　did。　But　Ira　let　Lazarus；　know　that　he　wanted　time　to　make　some　calls。　So　Lazarus　probably　told　whichever　twin　was　in　charge…or　signaled　her　somehow；　he　is　almost　telepathic　with　them…to　give　you　a　long；　slow　ride。　Which　you　got；　and　I　bet　that　Laz　and　Lor　never　changed　expression。〃
　　
　　〃They　didn't。〃
　　
　　〃Was　sure　of　it。　They　are　not　children…you　should　see　them　handle　a　spaceship。　Anyhow；　Ira　talked　to　Ishtar；　then　to　Tamara；　then　we　held　a　family　conference　and　settled　your　fate。　Lazarus　confirmed　it　while　you　played　with　the　twins…　who　were　given　a　chance　to　veto　it　later。　But　they　ratified　it　at　once。　They　not　only　like　you；　but　Aunt　Tammy's　wishes　are　law。〃
　　
　　I　was　still　bemused。　〃Apparently　much　went　on　tha~　I　didn't　suspect。〃
　　
　　〃You　weren't　supposed　to。　A　better　cook　would　have　stayed　to　get　your　breakfast；　had　I　not　been　deputized　to　tell　you…　old　friends　and　all　that…and　to　answer　questions。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　confused　about　that　conference。　I　thought　Tamara　got　home　just　before　dinner。〃
　　
　　〃She　did。　Oh…　Athene；　are　you　listening；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Uncle　Cuddly；　you　know　I　don't　listen　to　private　conversations。〃
　　
　　〃The　hell　you　don't。　It'll　be　all　right；　Justin；　Teena　keeps　secrets。　Tell　him　how　to　call　someone；　Teena。〃
　　
　　〃Tell　me　to　whom　you　wish　to　speak；　Justin；　I　have　radio　links　to　every　farm。　Or　anywhere。　And　I　can　always　reach　Ira　and　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Teena。　Now　if　you　must　listen；　pretend　not　to。　The　conference　was　here；　Justin；　；Teena　fetched　in　Tamara's　voice　and　Ira's。　Could　have　fetched　voices　from　the　nullboat…　but　you　were　the　subject。　By　the　way；　Teena　is　one　reason　this　family　isn't　farming；？instead　we　supply　services　that　colonies　usually　don't　have　so　soon。　Oh；　you　can　farm　if　you　want　to；　we've　claimed　quite　a　bit　of　land。　Or　there　are　other　ways　to
　　
　　make　a　living。　All　right；　I've　done　my　besL　e？〃
　　
　　〃Galahad；　I　think　I　understand　everything　but　why　Tamara　Wants　me　In　your　family。〃
　　
　　〃You'll　have　to　ask　her。　I　told　you　I　was　checking　for　your　halo。　Can't　see　it。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　wear　it　in　hot　weather。　Obadiah；　don't　farce　around；　this　is　terribly　important　to　me。　Why　do　you　keep　saying　that　Tam　ara's　wishes　settled　it？〃
　　
　　〃You　know　her；　man。〃
　　
　　〃I　know　how　important　her　wishes　are　to　me。　But　I've　been　in　love　with　her　for　many　years。〃　I　told　him　things　I　had　long　kept　to　nlyself。　〃So　that'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