time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第70部分

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　　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。