time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第3部分

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able。
　　
　　Justin　Foote　the　45th
　　
　　Chief　Archivist　Emeritus
　　
　　…PRELUD~3
　　
　　I
　　
　　As　the　door　of　the　suite　dilated~　the　man　seated　staring　glumly　out　the　window　looked　around。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　　
　　〃I　am　Ira　Weatheral　of　the　Johnson　Family；　Ancestor；　Chairman　Pro　Tern　of　the　Families。〃
　　
　　〃Took　you　long　enough。　Don't　call　me　'Ancestor。'　And　why　just　the　Chairman　Pro　Tern？〃　the　man　in　the　chair　growled。　〃Is　the　Chairman　too　damn　busy　to　see　me？　Don't　I　rate　even　that？〃　He　made　no　move　to　stand；　nor　did　he　invite　his　visitor　to　sit　down。
　　
　　〃Your　pardon；　Sire。　I　am　chief　executive　for　the　Families。　But　it　has　been　customary　for　some　time　now…several　centuries…for　the　chief　executive　to　hold　the　title。　'Chairman　Pro　Tern'　。　…　against　the　possibility　that　you　might　show　up　and　take　the　gavel。〃
　　
　　〃Eh？　Ridiculous。　I　haven't　presided　at　a　meeting　of　the　Trustees　for　a　thousand　years。　And　'Sire'　is　…　as　bad　as　'Ancestor'…call　me　by　name。　It's　been　two　days　since　I　sent　for　you。　Did　yOu　e　by　the　scenic　route？　Or　has　the　rule　that　entitles　me　to　the　ear　of　the　Chairman　been　revoked？〃
　　
　　〃I　am　not　aware　of　that　rule；　Senior；　it　was　probably　long　before　my　time…but　it　is　my　honor　and　duty…and　pleasure
　　
　　…to　wait　on　you　at　any　time。　I　will　be　pleased　and　honored　to　call　you　by　name　if　you　will　tell　me　what　your　name　is　now。　As　for　the　delay…thirty…seven　hours　since　I　received　your　summons…I　have　spent　it　studying　Ancient　English；　as　I　was　told　that　you　were　not　answering　to　any　other　language。〃　…
　　
　　The　Senior　looked　slightly　sheepish。　〃It's　true　I'm　not　handy　with　the　jabber　they　speak　here…my　memory　has　been　playing　tricks　on　me　lately。　I　guess　I've　been　sulky　about　answering　even　when　I　understood。　Names…　I　forget　what　name　I　checked　…　in　by　when　I　grounded　here。　Mmrn；　'Woodrow　Wilson　Smith'　was~rny　boyhood　name。　Never　used　it　much。
　　
　　I　suppose　'Lazarus　Lg'　is　the　name　I've　used　oftenest…
　　
　　第2节
　　
　　call　me　'Lazarus。'〃…
　　
　　〃Thank　you。；　Lazarus。〃
　　
　　〃For　what？　Don't　be　so　damned　formal。　You're　not　a　kid；　or　you　wouldn't　be　Chairman…how　old　are　you？　Did　you　really　take　the　trouble　to　learn　my　milk　language　just　to　call　on　me？　And　in　less　than　two　days？　Was　that　from　scratch？　It　takes　me　at　least　a　week　to　tack　on　a　new　language；　another　week　to　smooth　out　accent。〃
　　
　　〃I　am　three　hundred　and　seventy…two　standard　years　old；　Lazarus……just　under　four　hundred　Earth　years。　I　learned　Classic　English　when　I　took　this　job…but　as　a　dead　language；　to　enable　me　to　read　old　records　of　the　Families　in　the　original。　What　I　did　since　your　summons　was　to　learn　to　speak　and　understand　it　…　…。　in　North　American　twentieth…century　idiom…your　'milk　language'　as　you　said…as　that　is　what　the　linguistic　analyzer　puted　that　you　were　speaking。〃
　　
　　〃Pretty　smart　machine。　Maybe　1　am　speaking　it　the　way　I　did　as　a　youngster；　they　claim　that's　the　one　language…　a　brain　never　forgets。　Then　I　must　be　talking　in　a　Cornbelt　rasp　like　a　rusty　saw　…　…　whereas　you're　speaking　a　sort　of　Texas　drawl　with　…an　Oxford　British　overlay。　Odd。　I　suppose　the　machine　picks　the　version　out　of　its　permanents　closest　to　the　sample　fed　into　it。〃　…
　　
　　〃I　believe　so；　Lazarus；　although　the　te~hniques　involved　are
　　
　　not　my　field。　Do　you　have　trouble　understanding　my　accent？'　〃Oh；　none　at　all。　Your　accent　is　okay；　it's　closer　to　educated　General　American　of　that　time　than　is　the　accent　I　learned　as　a　kid。　But　I　can　follow　anything　from　Bluegum　to。
　　
　　Yorkshire；　accent　is　no　problem。　It　was　mighty　kind　of　you　to　bother。　Warming。〃
　　
　　…　〃My　pleasure。　I　have　a　talent　for　languages；　it　was　not　much　trouble。　I　try　to　be　able　to　speak　to　each　of　the　Trustees　in　his　native　language；　I'm　used　tO　swotting　up　a　new　one　quickly。〃　…　…
　　
　　〃So？　Noheless。a　courteous　thing　to　do…I've　felt　like　an
　　
　　…　animal　in　a　zoo　with　no　one　to　talk　to。　Those　dummies〃…　Lazarus　inclined　his　head　at　two　rejuvenation　technicians；　dressed　in　isolation　gear　and　one…way　helmets；　and　waiting　as　far　from　the　conversation　as　the　room　permitted…〃don't
　　
　　know　English；　I　can't　talk　with　them。　Oh；　the　taller　one　understands　a　little　but　not　enough　for　gossip。〃　Lazarus　whistled；　pointed　at　the　taller。　〃Hey；　you！　A　chair　for　the
　　
　　Chairman…chop　chop！〃　His　gestures　made　his　meaning　clear。　The　taller　technician　touched　the　controls　of　a　chair　nearby；　it　rolled　away；　wheeled　around；　and　stopped　at　a　fortable　t阾e…？t~te　distance　from　Lazarus。
　　
　　Ira　Weatheral　said　thank　you…to　Lazarus；　not　to　the　tech
　　
　　…sat　down；　then　sighed　as　the　chair　felt　him　out　and　cuddled　him。　Lazarus　said；　〃fortable？〃
　　
　　〃Quite。〃…　…
　　
　　…　〃Anything　to　eat　or　drink？　Or　smoke？　You　may　have　to　interpret　for　me。〃
　　
　　〃Nothing；　thank　you。　But　may　I　order　for　you？〃
　　
　　〃Not　now。　They　keep　me　stuffed　like　a　goose…once　they　force…fed　me；　damn　them。　Since　we're　fortable；　let's　get　on　with　the　powwow。〃　He　suddenly　roared；　〃WHAT　ThE　HELL　AM　I　DOING　IN　THIS　JAIL？〃
　　
　　Weatheral　answered　quietly；　〃Not　'jail；'　…Lazarus。　Th~　VIP　suite　of　the　Howard　Rejuvenation　Clinic。　New　Rome。〃
　　
　　〃'Jail；'　I　said。　All　it　lacks　is　cockroaches。　This　window…　you　couldn't　break　it　with　a　crowbar。　That　door…it　opens　to　any　voice　…　…　except　mine。　If　I　go　to　the　john；　one　of　those　dummies　is　at　my　elbow。　Apparently　afraid　I'll　drown　myself　in　the　pot。　Hell；　I　don't　even　know　whether　that　nurse　is　a　man　or　a　woman…and　don't　like　it　either　way。　I　don't　need　somebody　to　hold　my　hand　while　I　go　pee…pee！　I　resent　it。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　see　what　can　be　worked　out；　Lazarus。　But　the　technicians　are　…　understandably　jumpy。　A　person　can　get　hurt　quite　easily　in　any　bathroom…and　they　all　know　that；　if　you　are　hurt；　no　matter　by　what　mischance；　the　technician　in　charge　at　the　time　will　suffer　cruel　…and　unusual　punishment。　They　are　volunteers　and　are　drawing　high　bonuses。　But　they're
　　
　　jumpy。〃…
　　
　　〃So　I　figured　out。　'Jail。'　If　this　is　a　rejuvenation　suite
　　
　　WHERE'S　MY　SUICIDE　SWITCH？〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus…'Death　is　every　man's　privilege。'〃
　　
　　〃That's　what　I　said！　That　switch　belongs　right　there；　you　can　see　where　it　has　been　dismounted。　So　I'm　in　jail　without　trial；　with　my　most　basic　right　taken　from　me。　Why？　I'm　furious；　man。　Do　you　realize　what　danger　you　are　in？　Never　tease　an　old　dog；　he　might　have　one　bite　left。　Old　as　I　am；　I　could　break　your　arms　before　those　dummies　could　reach　us。〃
　　
　　〃You　are　wele　to　break　my　arms　if　it　pleases　you。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？〃　Lazarus　Long　looked　baffled。　〃No；　it's　not　worth　the　sweat。　They　would　have　you　patched　up　good　as　new　in
　　
　　thirty　minutes。〃　He　suddenly　grinned。　〃But　I　could　snap　your　neck；　then　crush　your　skull；　abOut　as　fast。　That's　one　injury　beyond　the　power　of　rejuvenators。〃
　　
　　Weatheral　did　not　stir；　did　not　tense。　〃I…　feel　sure　you
　　
　　could；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃But　I　do　not　think　that　you　would　kill　on~　of　your　descendants　without　giving　him　a　chance　to　parley　for　his　life。　You　are　my　remote　grandfather；　sir；　by　seven　different　tracks。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　chewed　his　lip　and　looked　unhappy。　〃Son；　I　have　so　many　descendants　that　consanguinity　doesn't　matter。　But　you're　essentially　right　In　all　my　life　I　have　never　killed　a　man　unneceskarily。　I　think。〃　Then　he　grinned。　〃But　if　I　don't　get　my　suicide　switch　back；　I　could　make　an　exception　1n　your　case。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　if　you　wish；　I　will　have　that　switch　remounted　at　once。　But…　'Ten　Words'？〃
　　
　　〃Uh…〃　Lazarus　looked　ungracious。　〃Okay。　'Ten　Words。'　Not　eleven。〃
　　
　　Weatheral　hesitated　a　split　second；　then　counted　on　his　fingers：　〃I　learned　…。　your。　language　…　to　…　explain　。　why　we　。　need　。　you。〃　…
　　
　　〃Ten　by　the　Rule；〃　Lazarus　admitted。　〃But　meaning　that　you　need　fifty。　Or　five　hundred。　Or　five　thousand。〃
　　
　　〃Or　none；〃　Weatheral　amended。　〃You　can　have　your　switch　without　giving　me　any　chance　to　explain。　I　promised。〃
　　
　　〃Humph！〃　said　Lazarus。　〃Ira；　you　old　scoundrel；　you　have　me　convinced　that　you　reIlly　are　my　kin。　You　figured　that　I　would　not　suicide　without　hearing　…what　you　have　on　your　mind…once　I　knew　you　had　bothered　to　learn　a　dead　language　just　to　make　palaver。　All　right；　talk。　You　can　start　by　telling　me　what　I'm　doing　here。　I　know…I　know…that　I　didn't　apply　for　rejuvenation。　But　I　woke　up　here　with　the　job　already　half　over。　So　I　screamed　for　the　Chairman。　Okay；　why　am　I　here？〃
　　
　　〃May　we　start　further　back？　~ou　tell　me　what　you　were　doing　in　a　flophouse　in　the　worst　part　of　Old　Town。〃
　　
　　〃What　was　I　doing？　I　was　dying。　Quietly　and　decently；　like　a　worn…out　horse。　That　is；　I　was；　until　your　busybodies　grabbed　me。　Can　you　think　of　a　better　place　than　a　fiophouse　for　a　man　who　doesn't　want　to　be　disturbed　while　he's　busy　with　it？　If　his　cot　is　paid　for　in　advance；　they　leave　a　man　be。　Oh；　they　stole　what　little　I　had；　even　my　shoes。　But　I　expected　that…would　have　done　the　same　myself　under　the　same　circumstances。　And　the　sort　of　people　who　live　in　flophouses
　　
　　are　almost　always　kind　to　…those　……worse　。off　than　they　are…　any　of　'em…　will　fetch　a　drink　of　water　to　a　sick　man。　That　was　the　most　I　wanted…that　and　to　be　left　alone　to　close　out　my　account　in　my　own　way。　Until　your　busies　showed　up。　Tell　me；　bow　did　they　find　me…？'　…
　　
　　〃How…　we　found　you　is　not　the　surprising　part；　Lazarus；　but　the　fact　that　SecFor…the…　cops？…Yes；　'cops'…that　my　cops　took　so　long　to　identify　you；　then　find　you；　and　pick　you　up。　A　section　chief　lost　his　job　over　that。　I　don't　tolerate　inef
　　
　　ficiency。〃…
　　
　　〃So　you　busted　him。　Your　business。　But　why？　I　reached　Secundus　from　Out…Far；　and　I　didn't　think　I　had　left　any　back　trail。　Different　everything　since　the　last　time　I　was　in　touch　with　the　Families　。　。　as　I　bought　my　last　rejuvenation　on　Supreme。　Are　the　Families　swapping　data　with　Supreme　these　days？〃
　　
　　〃Heavens；　no；　Lazarus；　we　won't　even　give　them　a　polite　word。　There　is　a　strong　minority　among　the　Trustees　who　favor　rubbing　out　Supreme；　instead　of　simply　maintaining　embargo。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　if　a　nova　bomb　hit　Supreme；　I　wouldn't　mourn　more　than　thirty　seconds。　But　I　did　have　a　reason　for　having　the　job　done　there；　even　though　I　had　to　pay　high　for　forced　cloning。　But　that's　another　story。　Son；　how　did　you　pick　me　up？〃
　　
　　〃Sir；　for　the　past　seventy　years　there　has　been　a　general　order　out　to　try　to　find　you；　not　just　here　but　on　every　pla　where　the　Families　maintain　offices。　As　to　how…do　you　recall　a　forced　inoculation　for　Reiber's　fever　at　Immigration？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　I　was　annoyed；　but　it　didn't　seem　worthwhile　to　make　a　fuss；　I　knew　I　was　headed　for　that　fiophouse~　Ira；　I've　known　that　Ie。　That　was　okay；　I　was　ready　for　it。　But　I　didn't　want　to　do　it　alone；　out　in　space。　Wanted　human　voices　around　me；　and　body　odors。　Childish　of　me。　But　I　was　pretty　far　gone　by　the　time　I　grounded。〃
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　there　is　no　such　thing　as　Reiber's　fever。　When　a　man　grounds　on　Secundus　and　all　？outine　identifications　show　null；　'Reiber's　fever'　or　some　other　nonexistent　plague　is　used　as　an　excuse　t