time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第15部分

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ecautions；　my　facial　appearance　is　not　known　to　the　public；　I　almost　never　appear　in　public　anyhow；　and　when　I　do；　it　is　never　announced。　The　job　of　ruler　is　dangerous…or　should　be…but　I　don't　intend　…　to　die　from　it。　The　〃disturbing　symptom〃　was　not　that　I　am　alive　but　that　there　are　no　dead　assassins。　No　one　seems　to　hate　me　enough　to　try。　Frightening。　Where　have　I　failed　them？）
　　
　　When　the　Howard　Clinic　notified　me　that　the　Senior　was　awake　（with　a　reminder　that　only　one　〃night〃　had　passed　for　him）　I　was　not　only　awake　but　had　pleted　necessary　work　and　bucked　the　rest；　I　went　at　once　to　the　Clinic。　After　they　decontaminated　me　I　found　him　dawdling　over　coffee；　having　just　finished　breakfast。
　　
　　He　glanced　up　and　grinned。　〃Hi；　Ira！〃
　　
　　〃Good　morning；　Grandfather。〃　I　went　to　him　ready　to　offer　a　respectful　salutation　such　as　he　had　permitted　when　I　bade　him　goodnight　the　night　〃before〃…but　watching　for　signs　that　say　Yes；　or　No；　before　the　mouth　speaks。　Even　among　the　Families　there　is　wide　variety　in　such　customs…and　Lazarus　is；　as　always；　a　law　unto　himself。　So　I　closed　the　last　of　the　gap　with　great　deliberation。
　　
　　He　answered　me　by　drawing　back　so　slightly　that　it　would　have　been　unnoticeabl'e　had　I　not　been　alert　for　it。　He　added　a　gentle　warning：　〃Strangers　present；　Son。〃
　　
　　I　stopped　at　once。　〃At　least　I　think　they　are　strangers；〃　he　added。　〃I've　been　trying　to　get　acquainted；　but　all　'we　share　is　some　pidgin　speech　plus　a　lot　of　handwaving。　But　it's　nice　to
　　
　　have　people　around　instead　of　those　zombies…we　get　alon　Hey；　dear！　e　here；　that's　a　good　girL〃…
　　
　　He　motioned　to　one　of　his…rejuvenation　technicians…two　watch；　as　usual；　and　this　morning　one　was　female；　one　w　male。　I　was　pleased　to　see　that　my　order　that　females　shou　〃dress　attractively〃　had　been　carried　out。　This　woman　was　blonde；　graceful　and　not　unattractive　if　one　likes　tallness　in　female。　（I　don't　dislike　it；　but　there　is　something　to　be　sa　for　one　small　enough　to　fit　on　one's　lap…not　that　I've　hi　much　time　for　that　lately。）
　　
　　She　glided　forward　and　waited；　smiling。　She　was　dressed　a　something…women's　styles　don't　stay　the　same　long　enou~　for　me　to　keep　track；　and　this　was　a　period　when　every　worm　in　New　Rome　seemed　to　be　trying　to　dress　differently　froevery　other　woman。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　an　iridescent　bh　that　set　off　her　eyes　and　fitted　her　closely　where　it　covered　hi　at　all；　the　effect　was　pleasing。
　　
　　〃Ira；　this　is　Ishtar…did　I　get　your　name　right　that　tim　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　Senior。〃
　　
　　〃And　that　young　man　over　there　is；　believe　it　or　nc　'Galahad。'　Know　any　legends　of　Earth；　Ira？　If　he　knew　i　idiomatic　meaning；　he　would　change　it…the　perfect　knig~　who　never　got　any。　But　I've　been　trying　to　remember　wi　Ishtar's　face　is　so　familiar。　Dear；　was　I　ever　married　to　yot　Ask　her　for　me；　Ira；　she　may　not　have　understood。〃
　　
　　〃No；　Senior。　Not　never。　Is　certain。〃
　　
　　〃She　understood　you；〃　I　said。
　　
　　〃Well；　it　could　have　been　her　grandmother…a　lively　wend　Ira。　Tried　to　kill　me；　so　I　left　her。〃
　　
　　The　Chief　Master　Technician　spoke　briefly　in　Galacta。　said；　〃Lazarus；　she　says　that；　while　she　has　never　had　the　houc　of　being　married　to　you；　contractually　or　informally；　she　quite　willing　if　you　are。〃
　　
　　〃Well！　A　saucy　one…it　must　have　been　her　grandmothe：
　　
　　Eight；　nine　hundred　years　back；　more　or　less…I　lose　track　C　half　centuries…and　on　this　pla。　Ask　her　if；　uh；　Ant　Barstow　is　her~grandmother？'
　　
　　The　technician　looked　very　pleased　and　broke　into　rapi　Galacta。　I　listened　and　said；？〃She　says　that　And　Barstow　is　he　great…great…great…grandmother　and　she　is　joyed　to　hear　yoi　acknowledge　the　connection　as　that　is　the　lineage　by　which　sh　is　descended　from　you　。　and　that　she　would　be　supremel~
　　
　　AO
　　
　　honored；　both　for　herself　and　on　behalf　of　her　siblings　and　cousins；　if　you　would　converge　the　lineage　again；　with　or　without　contract。　After　your　rejuvenation　is　pleted；　she　adds…she　is　nOt　trying　to　rush　you。　How　about　it；　Lazarus？　If　she　has　used　up　her　reproduction　quoti；　I　would　be　happy　to　grant　her　an　exception　so　that　she　would　not　have　to
　　
　　migrate。〃'　…
　　
　　〃The　hell　she　ain't　trying　to　rush　me。　And　so　are　you。　But　she　put　it　politely；　so　let's　give　it　a　polite　answer。　Tell　her　that　I'm　honored　and　her　name　goes　into　the　hat…but　don't　tell　her　I'm　shipping　out　on　Thursday。　'Don't　call　us；　we'll　call　you'　in　other　words…but　make　her　happy　about　it；　she's　a　nice　kid。〃
　　
　　I　revised　the　message　diplomatically；　Ishtar　beamed；　curtsied；　and　backed　away。　Lazarus　said；　〃Drag　up　a　rock；　Son；　and　sit　a　while。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　…　and　added；　〃Between　ourselves；　Ira；　I'm　pretty　sure　Ariel　slipped　otie　in　on　me。　But　with　another　of　my　descendants；　so　this　kid　is　descended　from　me　anyhow；　though　maybe　not　as　directly。　Not　that　it　matters。What　are　you　doing　up　so　early？　I　said　you　could；have　two　hours　after　breakfast　to　yourself。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　an　early　riser；　Lazarus。　Is　it　true　that　you　have　decided　on　the　full　course？　She　seems　to　think　so。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　looked　pained。　〃It's　probably　the　simplest　answer
　　
　　…but　how　do　I　know　Fil　get　my　own　balls　back？〃
　　
　　〃Gonads　from　your　clone　are　your　own；　Lazarus；　that's　basic　to　the　theory。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　we'll　see。　Early　rising　is　a　vice；　Ira；　it'll　stunt　your　growth　and　shorten　your　days。　Speaking　of　such…〃　Lazarus　glanced　up　at　the　walL　〃Thanks；　for　having　that　switch　reinstalled。　I　don't　feel　tempted　by　it　this　fine　morning；　but　a　man　does　like　to　have　a　choice。　Galahad；　coffee　for　the　Chairman　and　fetch　me　that　plastic　envelope。〃　Grandfather　Lazarus　supplemented　his　order　with　gestures；　but　I　think　the　tech　understood　his　words。　Or　was　somewhat　telepathic；　rejuvenators　are　quite　empathic…need　to　be。　The　man　moved　at　once　to　…　ply。
　　
　　He　handed　Lazarus　an　impervolope　and　poured　coffee　for　me…which　I　did　not　want　but　will　drink　anything　protocol　requires。　Lazarus　…Went　on；　〃Here's　my　new　will；　Ira。　Read　it　and　file　it　somewhere　and　tell　your　puter。　I've　already　approved　the　way　she　worded　it　and　read　it　back　into　her　'and　told　her　to　place　it　in　her　permanents　with　a　'bind'　on　it…it
　　
　　'ud　take　a　Philadelphia　lawyer　to　diddle　you　out　of　your　in~　heritance　now…though　no　doubt　one　could。〃
　　
　　He　waved　the　male　tech　aside。　〃No　more　coffee；　lad…　thanks。　Go　sit　down。　You　go　sit；　too；　dear。　Ishtar。　Ira；　whal　are　these　young　people？　Nurses？　Orderlies？　Servants？　Oi　what？　They　hover　over　me　like　a　hen　with　one　chick。　I'vt　never　cared　for　more　service　than　I　need。　Just　sociability　Human　pany。〃　…
　　
　　I　could　not　answer　without　inquiring。　Not　only　is　it　Un　necessary　for　me　to　know　how　the　Rejuvenation　Clinic　a　organized；　but　also　it　is　private　enterprise；　not　under　thi　Trustees…and　my　intervention　in　the　case　of　the　Senior　wa　much　resented　by　its　Director。　So　I　interfered　as　little　as　pos　sible…as　long　as　my　orders　were　carried　out。
　　
　　I　spoke　to　the　female　tech；　in　Galacta：　〃What　is　your　profes　sional　designation；　ma'am？　The　Senior　wants　to　know。　He　say~　that　you　have　been　behaving　like　a　servant。〃
　　
　　She　answered　quietly；　〃It　is　our　pleasure　to　serve　him　in　an~　way　we　can；　sir〃…then　hesitated　and　went　on：　〃I　am　Admin　istrator　Master　Chief'　Rejuvenation　Technician　Ishtar　Hardy　Deputy　Director　for　Rejuvenation　Procedures；　and　my　assistanl　watch　officer　is　AssociateTechnician　Galahad　Jones。〃
　　
　　Having　been　rejuvenated　twice　and　used　to　the　idea　all　m~　life；　it　does　not　surprise　me　when　cosmetic　age　does　not　matci　calendar　age。　But　I　admit　to　surprise　at　learning　that　this　youn~　woman　was　not　just　a　technician　but　boss　of　her　department…　probably　number　three　in　tjie　entire　Clinic。　Or　possibly　num　ber　？wo　while　the　Director　was　away　sulking　in　her　tent…　damn　her　duty…struck　stiff　neck。　Or　even　Director　Pro　Ten　with　her　deputy；　or　some　department　head；　bucked　into　〃mind　ing　the　store。〃　〃So？〃　I　answered。　〃May　I　ask　your　calenda　age；　Madam　Administrator？〃
　　
　　〃Mr。　Chairman　Pro　Tern　may　ask　anything。　I　am　only　ont　hundred　forty…seven　years　old…but　I　am　qualified；　this　ha~　been　my　only　career　since　first　maturity。〃
　　
　　〃I　did　not　imply　doubt　of　your　qualifications；　madam；　bul　I　am　astonished　to　see　you　standing　a　watch　rather　than　sittin~　at　a　desk。　Although　I　confess　I　don't　know　how　the　Clinic　i5　organized。〃
　　
　　She　smiled　slightly。　〃Sir；　I　could　express　a　similar　feeling　at　your　own　personal　interest　in　this　case　。　。　were　it　not　that　I　think　I　understand　it。　I　am　here　because　I　choose　not　to　delega~e　the　responsibility；　he　is　the　Senior。　I　have　screened　all　watch　officers　assigned　to　him…the　best　we　have　to　offer。〃
　　
　　I　shoi~ld　have　known　it。　〃We　understand　each　other。〃　I　added；　〃I　am　pleased。　But　may　I　make　a　suggestion？　Our　Senior　is　independent　by　temperament　and　highly　individualistic。　He　wants　a　minimum　of　personal　service…only　that　which　he　must　have。〃
　　
　　〃Have　we　beeii　annoying　him；　sir？　Too　solicitous？　I　can　watch　and　listen　from　outside　the　door　and　still　be　here　instantly　if　he　wants　something。〃　…
　　
　　…　〃Possibly　too　solicitous。　But　stay　in　si