time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第130章
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〃Good; I'll eat these myself。 To hold me till lunch。〃
〃I mean 'Fried。'〃
〃So I'll put in three more; dear。 You're staying; aren't you? Answer Yes or I'll put the twins to work on you。〃
〃Galahad; I want to…〃
〃Then it's settled。〃
〃…but there are problems。〃 I shifted the subject。 〃You said 'Hamadryad has taken our kids on a picnic…' Haven't I met all your family?〃
〃Dear; we do not exhibit our youngest the moment someone sets foot in the foyer and thereby place on him the onus of being insincerely ecstatic。 But there was usually someone with 'them; Lazarus has firm ideas on raising children。 Athene keeps eye and ear on them…but can't pick them up。 Lazarus says that a frightened child needs to be picked up and cuddled now; not later。 He believes in spanking 。right now; too; it evens out; our kids are neither spoiled nor timid。 Lazarus is especially strong on not letting a young child wake up alone… so now you know why I kissed you good…night a bit early。 So that Ishtar could help keep you awake while I slept with our youngest three。〃
〃Do you actually sleep with them?〃
〃Well… When Elf jumps up and down on my stomach; it makes me restless。 But being peed on doesn'*'~wake me… usually。 Having the cuddle watch isn't bad; *e rotate so 。it's only every ninth night。 Every tenth if you opt in。 But that can change overnight。 Suppose we have a rejuvenation client… One or more clients puts Ishtar; Tamara; Hamadryad; and me out of circulation much of the time。 Add that Lazarus may leave as soon as he decides Laz and Lor are grown up。 Then assume that all our darlings get cracking on making babies。〃
Galahad grinned at me。 〃How long does it take four willing women to make four more babies? Or six; when the twins join the production schedule as they threaten to at least twice a week。 Justin dear; we want you to stay but it won't all be like last night。 If responsibilities of family life worry you; you'd
be better off in New Rome where you can hire people to do what you don't fancy doing yourself。〃
〃Galahad;〃 I said earnestly; 〃stop stuffing your face a moment; dear。 You can't scare me with baby pee。 I was getting up in the night to soothe crying babies a hundred years before you were born。 I intend to colonize; I intend to marry again; I intend to raise kids。 I had planned to go back to Secundus to clean up loose ends; then e back with the second wave。 But I may say the hell with that and stay 。 as some of the Senior's remarks last night were aimed at me。 At least I took them per~onally…about having the guts 。to abandon everything and go。 Secundus is a smoking volcano; that old vixen could set off a bloodbath。 One that could include me; simply because I'm a major bureaucrat。〃
I took a deep breath and plunged in: 〃What I don't understand 'Es why I seem to be invited to join the Senior's household。 Why?〃
Galah?d answered; 〃It's not your pretty face。〃
〃I know that。 Oh; I hardly ever scare dogs with it; but it's just a face。〃
〃It's not too bad。 A cosmetic surgeon could do wonders。 I'm the second…best cosmetic surgeon on this pla…there being two。 The practice would be good for me and; as you pointed out; you've nothing to lose。〃
〃Damn it; dear; don't farce me。 Answer my question。〃
〃The twins like you。〃
〃So? I find them delightful。 But the opinion of inexperienced adolescents could not have weighed heavily。〃
〃Justin; don't let their clowning fool you; they are 'adult in everything but height…and they are our Ancestor's identical 'twins。 They have his talent for looking inside a person and spotting a bad one。 Lazarus lets them run loose because he trusts them to shoot to kill 。 。 and not to shoot if they don't intend to kill。〃
I gulped inside。 〃Are you saying that those little guns they carry are not toys?〃
My old friend Obadiah looked as if I had said soniething obscene。 〃Why; Justin! Lazarus wouldn't let a woman go out of this house unarmed。〃
〃Why? This colony seems peaceful。 What have I missed?〃
〃Not much; I think。 Lazarus' advance party made sure that this subcontinent was reasonably clear of large predators。 But we brought along the two…legged sort; and despite screening; Lazarus doesn't assume that they are angels。 He wasn't looking
An;
for angels; 'they don't make the' best pioneers。 Uh; yesterday Minerva was wearing a little skirt。 Did' you wonder' about at? In view of the heat?〃
〃Not especially。〃
〃She wears her gun strapped to her thigh。 Nevertheless; Lazarus won't let her go out alone; the twins are her usual bodyguard。 As a flesh…and…blood she's only three years old;; she doesn't shoot' as well as the twins do; and she's more trusting than they are。 How's your marksmanship?〃
〃Just fair。 I started taking lessons when I made up my mind to migrate。 But I haven't had time to practice。〃
〃Better find time。 Not that Lazarus will ride you about it; he feels responsible for our women;;not for men。 But if you ask for help…I did; and so did Ira…he'll coach you in everything from bare hands to improvised weapons 。 。 with two thousand years of dirty tricks thrown in。 Up to you; old darling… but here's what it did for me。 As you know I used to be a campus narky…a scholar poring over old records…I never carried arms。 Then I took rejuvenation and became a rejuvenator myself and was even less inclined to go armed。 But for fourteen years I've had regular coaching from the all…time champion in how to stay alive。 The result? I stand straight and proud。 Haven't had to kill anyone yet。〃 Galahad suddenly grinned。 〃But the day is young。〃
I answered soberly; 〃Galahad; that's one reason I agreed to run a silly errand for Madam Arabelle: to find out things like that。 Very well; I take your advice seriously。 But you haven't answered my question。〃
〃Well 。 。 I knew you from long back; and so did Ira。 And so did Minerva; though you have trouble believing it。 Hamadryad had met you but 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