time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第14章

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　　〃What？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　he　doesn't　remember　it。　If　you　think　his　memory　is　bad　now；　you　should　have　seen　him　three　months　ago。　Actually；　it　speeds　up　our　work　every　time　he　does　it。　His　switch…when
　　
　　he　had？it…。…w醩　gimmicked；　it　simply　made　him　unconscious；　then　we　would　go　ahead　with　whatever　stage　was　next　while　hypnoing　more　of　his　memory　tapes　into　him。　But　we　had　to　stop　that…and　remove　the　switch…a　few　days　ago；　he　remembered　who　he　is。〃
　　
　　〃But…　That's　not　by　the　Canons！　'Death　is　every　man's　privilege。'〃
　　
　　The　Master　Chief　Technician　touched　the　emergency　control；　the　car　continued　on；　found　a　parking　pocket；　and　~stopped。　〃I　did　not　say　that　it　was　covered　by　the　Canons。　But　~ch　o1~cers　do　not　set　policy。〃　…
　　
　　'？〃When　I　was　accepted；　'I　took　the　oath　。　…　and　part　of　it　was　to　'give　life　freely　to　those　who　wish　it　…　…　and　never　refuse　death　to　those　who　yearn　for　it。'〃
　　
　　〃Don't　you　think　I　took　the　same　oath？　The　Director　is　so　angry　that　she　has　gone　on　leave…she　may　resign~　I　wouldn't　venture　to　guess。　But　the　Chairman　Pro　Tem　is　nOt　of　our　Vocation；　he　is　not　bound　by　our　oath；　and　the　motto　up　over　the　entrance　means　nothing　to　him。　His　motto　is…or　seems　to　be…'Every　rule　has　exceptions。'　Look；　1　knew　I　would　have　to　have　this　talk　with　you　and　I'm　pleased　that　you've　given　me　an　opportunity　before　our　next　watch。　Now　I　must　ask　you…do　you　wish　to　opt　out？　It　won't　affect　your　record；　I'll　see　to　that。　Don't　worry　about　a　relief；　the　Senior　will　still　be　asleep　…when　I　next　…　go　on　watch　and　any　assistant　will　do　for　that　watch…which　leaves　time　for　the　Skills　Board　to　select　…your　replacement。〃
　　
　　〃Uh……。　I　want　to　attend　him。　It's　a　great　privilege；　one　I　never　dreamed　would　e　my　way。　But　I'm　torn。　I　don't　think　he's　being　treated　fairly；　And　who　is　more　entitled　to　fair　treatment　in　this　than　the　Senior？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　torn　by　it；　too。　：1　was　shocked　silly　the　first　time　I　realized　that　I　was　being　ordered　to　keep　alive　a　man　who　had　…　terminated　voluntai~ily。　Or　who　had　been'　allowed　to　think　that　he　w~s　terminating；　rather。　But；　my　dear　colleague；　the　choice　is　not　up　to　us。　This　job　will　be　done　no　matter　what　we　think。　Once　I　…　realized　that…well；　I　am　not　lacking　iir'pi~otnisi髇al　confidence…call　it'。　conceit。　I　think　I　am　the　bult…qualified　senior　watch　officer　on'　the　list。　I　decided　that；　if　the　F~'mili雜'　Senior　was　going　to　have　this　done　to　him；　I　would　~not　opt　out　and　let　it　be　done　by　colleagues　less　skilled　th~　'~I　*m。　Bonuses　had　nothing　to…do　with　it；　I've　assigned　my　bonuses　to
　　
　　……　the　Sanctuary　for　D鄁ectives。〃…　…
　　
　　〃I　could　do　that；　couldn't　I？〃。；'　…
　　
　　〃Yes；　but　you　would　be　a　fool　to　…do　so；　I　draw　far　more　than　you　do。　But　I　must　add　this：　I　hope　your　body　tolerates　stimulants　easily　because　I　supervise　every　major　procedure　and　expect　my　assistant　to　help；　whether　it　falls　during　our　regular　watch　or　not。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　need　stimulants；　I　use　autohypnosis。　When　needed。　Seldom。　He'll　be　asleep　our　next　watch。　Mmm…〃
　　
　　〃Colleague；　I　want　your　answer　now。　So　that　I　can　notify　the　Skills　Board　if　necessary。〃
　　
　　〃Uh…　I'll　stick！　I'll　stick　as　long　as　you　do。〃
　　
　　〃Good。　I　thought　you　would。〃　The　Master　Chief　Technician　again　reached　for　the　controls。　〃Intermediate　lounge　now？〃
　　
　　〃Just　a　moment。　I　would　like　to　know　you　better。〃
　　
　　〃Colleague；　if　you　stick；　you'll　know　me　far　too　well。　I　have　a　sharp　tongue。〃
　　
　　〃I　meant　socially；　not　professionally。〃
　　
　　〃You　are　offended？　I've　e　to　admire　you　without　ever　having　seen　you。　Now　I　would　like　to　see　you。　I'm　not　trying　to　curry　favor。〃　…
　　
　　〃I　believe　you。　Grant　me　the　respect　pf　believing　that　I　studied　your　psych　scorea　before　I　accepted　the　Board's　choice。　No；　Pm　not　offended；　I'm　flattered。　Dinner　together　sometime；perhaps？〃
　　
　　〃Certainly。　But　I　had　more　in　mind。　What　would　you　say　to　'Seven　Hours　of　Ecstasy'？〃
　　
　　There　was　a　short　pause　which　felt　long。　The　Master　Chief　Technician　said；　〃Colleague；　what　sex　are　you？〃
　　
　　〃Does　it　matter？〃
　　
　　〃I　suppose　not。　I　accept。　Now？〃…　…
　　
　　〃If　it　suits　you。〃　…
　　
　　〃It　does。　I　was　simply　going　to　my　partment；　read　a　while；　and　sleep。　Shall　we　go　there？〃
　　
　　〃I　was　thinking　of　taking　you　to　Elysium。〃　…
　　
　　〃No　need　to：　Ecstasy　is　in　the　heart。　But　thank　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　can　afford　it。　Uh；　I'm　not　dependent　on　my　salary。　I　can　easily　afford　the　best　Elysium　has　to　offer。〃
　　
　　〃Perhaps'　another　time；　dear　colleague。　…　But　a　resident't　partment　here　in　the　Clinic　is　quite　fortable　and　at　least　an　hour　closer　not　counting　the　time　we　would　waste　getting　out　of　isolation　armor　and　dressed　to　face　the　public。　We'll　go　straight　to　my　placc；　I　find　I'm　…　eager。　GOodneSs；　I　haven't　…chanced　this　sort　of　lark　in…far　too　long。〃
　　
　　Four　minutes　later　the　Master　Chief　Technician　let　them　into　the　partment…large；　as　promised；　and　handsome　and　airy
　　
　　…a　〃happy〃　suite。　A　simulacrum　fire　blazed　merrily　in　a　corner　fireplace　and　cast　dancing　lights　around　the　lounging　room。　〃You'll　find　a　guests'　dressing　room　through　that　door；　'fresher　beyond　it。　The　chute　for　disposables　is　on　the　left；　racks　for　helmets　and　isolation　gear　on　the　right。　Need　help？〃
　　
　　…　〃No；　thank　you；　I'm　quite　limber。〃
　　
　　〃Well；　shout　if　you　need　anything。　Meet　me　here　in　front　of　the　fire　in　ten　minutes；　say？〃
　　
　　〃Suits。〃
　　
　　The　Associate　Tech　came　out　in　only　a　little　over　ten　minutes；　free　at　last　of　isolation　armor　and　looking　even　shorter　in　bare　feet　and　without　helmet。　The　Master　Chief　Tech　looked　up　from　the　hearth　rug。　〃Oh；　there　you　are！　You're　male！　I'm　surprised。　But　pleased。〃
　　
　　〃And　you're　female。　And　I　am　very　pleased。　But　I　don't　believe　for　an　instant　that　you　are　surprised。　You've　seen　my　records。〃
　　
　　〃No；　dear；〃　she　denied。　〃Not　your　personal　dossier；　just　the　brief　the　Board　supplies　to　a　prospective　supervisor…and　they　are　meticulously　careful　to　keep　name　and　sex　and　other　irrelevancies　out　of　it；　their　puter　program　sees　to　that。　I　did　not　know；　and　my　guess　was　wrong。〃
　　
　　〃I　didn't　try　to　guess。　But　I　certainly　am　pleased。　I　don't　know　why　I　have　this　special　liking　for　tall　women。　But　I　do。　Stand　up　and　let　me　look　at　you。〃
　　
　　She　squirmed　lazily。　〃What　an　irrational　criterion。　All　women　are　the　same　height…lying　down。　So　e　lie　down　here；　it's　very　fortable。〃
　　
　　〃Woman；　when　I　say　'Stand　up！'　I　expect　action。〃
　　
　　She　giggled。　〃You're　an　atavism。　But　pretty。〃　She　made　a　long　arm；　got　him　by　an　ankle；　snatched　him　off　balance。　He　went　down。　〃That's　better。　Now　we're　the　same　height。〃
　　
　　…COUNTERPOiNT　II
　　
　　She　said。　〃Would　you　like　a　middle…of…the…night　lunch？　Sleepyhead。〃
　　
　　He　said；　〃I　did　doze　off；　didn't　I？　I　had　reason。　Yes；　I　would。　What　am　I　being　offered？〃
　　
　　〃Name　it；　just　name　it；　If　I　don't　have　it；　I'll　send　for　it。　I'm　feeling　very　mellow　toward　you；　dear。〃
　　
　　〃All　right；　how　about　ten　tall　sixteen…year…old　redheaded　virgins？　Girls；　I　mean。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　darling。　Nothing　is　too　good　for　my　Galahad。　Although　if　you　insist　on　certified　virgins；　it　may　take　longer。　Why　this　fetish；　dear　man？　Your　psych　profiles　didn't　hint　at　any　exotic　abnormality。〃
　　
　　〃Cancel　that　order　and　make　it　one　dish　of　mango　ice　cream。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir；　I'll　send　for　it　at　once。　Or　you　can　have　fresh　peach　ice　cream　instantly。　Tease。　I　haven't　been　bothered　by　that　sort　of　teasing　since　1　was　sixteen　myself。　A　long　time　ago。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　settle　for　peach。　A　very　long　time　ago。〃
　　
　　第7节
　　
　　〃Right　away；　dearest　man。　Will　you　eat　it　with　a　spoon；　or　shall　I　plaster　it　on　your　face？　Nor　by　that　sort　of　teasing。　I've　had　one　rejuvenation　just　as　you　have　had；　and　I　keep　my　cosmetic　age　younger　than　yours。〃
　　
　　〃A　man　needs　to　look　mature。〃　…　〃And　a　woman　prefers　to　look　young；　we　always　have。　But　I　know　not　only　your　rejuvenated　age　but　your　calendar　age；　Galahad…and　my　calendar　age　is　less　than　yours。　Want　to　know　how　I　know；　dear？　I　recognized　yo