time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第6部分

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o　knock　off　I　had　the　basics　of　how　to　make　a　gun　do　what　I　wanted　it　to　do；　and　wanted　to　bet　him　again。　He　laughed　at　me　and　told　me　to　be　thankful　the　lesson　was　so　cheap。　Pass　the　salt；　please。〃
　　
　　Weatheral　did　so。　〃Lazarus；　if　I　could　find　a　way　to　entice　you　into　reminiscing　about　your　grandfather…or　about　anything…I'm　certain　we　could　extract　froth　such　record　endless　things　you　have　learned；　important　things…whether　you　choose　to　call　them　wisdom　or　not。　In　the　last　ten　minutes　you　have　stated　half　a　dozen　basic　truths；　or　rules　for　living…call　them　what　you　will…apparently　without　trying。〃
　　
　　〃Such　as？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　for　example；　that　most　people　learn　Qflly　by　experience…〃
　　
　　〃Correction。　Most　people　won't　learn　even　by　experience；　Ira。　Never　underestimate　the　power　of　human　stupidity。〃
　　
　　〃There's　another　one。　And　you　'made　a　couple　of　ments　on　the　fine　art　of　lying…three；　really；　as　you　also　mentioned　that　a　lie　should　never　be　too　plicated。　You　said　also　that　belief　gets　in　the　way　of　learning；　and　some…
　　
　　*　This　anecdote　is　too　obscure　to　be　elaborated　here。　See　Howard　Encyclopaedia：　Ancient　weapons；　chemical…explosives　firearms。
　　
　　thing　about　knowing　a　situation　was　the　essential　first　step　in　coping　with　it。〃
　　
　　〃J　didn't　say　that…although　I　could　have　said　it。〃
　　
　　〃I　generalized　something　；you　did　say。　You　said　also　that　you　never　'argued　with　the　weather　。。　which　I　would　generalize　to　mean：　Don't　indulge　in　wishful　thmkmg。　Or　as　'Face　up　to　the　facts　and　act　accordingly。'　Though　I　prefer　the　way　you　put　it；　it　has　more　flavor。　And　'Always　cut　the　cards。'　I　…haven't　played　card　games　in　many　years；　but　I　took　that　to　mean：　Never；　neglect　any　available　means　of　maximizing　one's　chances　in　a　situation　controlled　by　random　events。〃
　　
　　〃Hmm。　Gramp　would　have　said；　'Stow　the　fancy　talk；
　　
　　Sonny。'〃
　　
　　〃So　we'll　put　it　back　into　his　words：　'Always　cut　the　cards　。　…　and　smile　when　you　lose。'　If　indeed　that　is　not　your　own　phrasing　and　simply　attributed　to　him。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　his　all　right。　Well；　I　think　it　is。　Damn　it；　Ira；　after　a　long　time　it　is　…　hard　to　tell　a　real　memory　from　a　memory　of　a　memory　of　a　memory　of　a　real　memory。　That's　what　happens　when　you　think　about　the　past：　You　edit　it　and　rearrange　it；　make　it　more　tolerable…〃
　　
　　〃That's　another　one！〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　hush　up。　Son；　I　don't　want　to　reminisce　about　the　past；　it's　a　sure　sign　of　old　age。　Babies　and　young　children　live　in　the　present；　the　'now。'　Mature　adults　tend　to　live　in　the　future。　Only　the　senile　live　in　the　past　。　。　and　that　was　the　sign　that　made　me　realize　that　I　had　lived　long　enough；　when　I　found　I　was　spending　more　and　more　time　thinking　about　the　past　。　。　less　of　it　thinking　about　now…and　not　at　all　about　the　future。〃　…
　　
　　The　old　man　sighed。　〃So　I　knew　I　had　had　it。　The　way　to　live　a　long　time…oh；　a　thousand　years　or　more…is　something　between　the　way　a　child　does　it　and　the　way　a　mature　man　does　it。　Give　the　future　enough　thought　to　be　ready　for　it…but　don't　worry…　about　it。　Live　each　day　as　if　you　were　to　die　next　sunrise。　Then　face　each　sunrise　as　a　fresh　creation　and　live　for　it；　joyously。　And　never　think　about　the　past。　No　regrets；　ever。〃　Lazarus　~Long　looked　sad；　then　suddenly　smiled　and　repeated；　〃'No　regrets。'　More　wine；　Ira？〃
　　
　　…　〃Half　a　glass；　thank　you。　Lazarus；　if　you　are　determined　to…　die　soon…your　privilege；　certainly　！…what　harm　could　there　be　in　remembering　the　past　now　。　…　and　getting　those
　　
　　memories　on　record　for　the　benefit　of　your　descendants？　It　would　be　a　much　greater　legacy　than　leaving　your　wealth　to　us。'；
　　
　　Lazarus'　eyebrows　shot　up。　〃Son；　you　are　beginning　to　bore　me。〃
　　
　　〃Your　pardon；　sire。　May　I　have　permission　to　leave？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　shut　u？　and　sit　down。　Finish　your　dinner。　You　remind　me　of…　Well；　there　was　this　man　on　Novo　Brasil　who　plied　with　the　local　custom　of　serial　bigamy　but　was　always　careful　to　see　that　one　of　his　wives　was　as　utterly　homely　as　the　other　was　startlingly　beautiful；　so　that…　Ira；　that　dingu~　you　have　listening　to　us：　Can　it　be　keyed　to。　pick　out　particular　statements　and　arrange　them　as　a　separate　memorandum'？〃
　　
　　〃Certainly；　'sir。〃
　　
　　〃Good。　There's　no　point　in　telling　how　Ranch　Master
　　
　　Silva？…yes；　I　think　'Silva'　was　his　name；　Dom…　Pedro　Silva…　how　he　coped　with　it　when　he　found　himself　stuck　with　two　beautiful　wives　at　once；　except　to　note　that　when　a　puter　makes　a　mistake；　it　is　even　more　stupidly　stubborn　about　correcting　it　than　a　man　is。　But　if　I　thought　long　and　hard；　I　might　be　able　to　dig　out　those　'gems　of　wisdom'　you　think　I　have。　Paste　diamonds；　that　is。　Then　we　wouldn't　have　to　load　up　the　machine　with　dull　stories　about　Dom　Pedro　and　the　like。　A　key　word？'
　　
　　〃　'Wisdom'？〃
　　
　　〃Go　wash　out　your　mouth　with　soap。〃
　　
　　〃I　will　not。　You　stuck　your　chin　into　that　one；　Senior。
　　
　　'mon　sense'？〃
　　
　　…　〃Son；　that　phrase　is　self…contradictory。　'Sense'　is　never　'mon。'　Make　the　keying　word　'Notebook'…that's　all　I　have　in　mind；　just　a　notebook　to　jot　down　things　I've　noticed　and　which　might　be　important　enough　to　place　on　record。〃
　　
　　〃Fine！　Shall　I　amend　the　'programming　now？〃
　　
　　〃You　can　do　it　from　here？　I　don't　want'　you　to　interrupt　your　dinner。〃
　　
　　〃It's　a　very　flexible　machine；　Lazarus；　the　total　plex　is　the　one　I　use　to　govern　this　pla…to　the　mild　extent　that
　　
　　I　do　govern　it。〃4　；　…
　　
　　〃In　that　case　I　feel　sure　you　can　hang　an　auxiliary'　printout　In　here；　one　triggered　for　the　keying　word。　I　might　want　to　revise　my　sparkling　gems　of　wisdom…meaning　that　extemporaneous　remarks　sound　better　when　they　aren't　extemporaneous…or　why　politicians　have　ghost　writers。〃　…
　　
　　〃'Ghost　writers'？　'My　mand　of　Classic　English　is　les　than　peEfect；　I　don't　recognize　the　idiom。〃
　　
　　'qra；　don't　tell　me　you　write　your　own　speeches。〃
　　
　　第5节
　　
　　…　〃But；〃　Lazarus；　I　don't　make　speeches。　Never。　I　just　giv~　orders；　and…very　seldom…make　written　reports　to　thi　Trustees。〃
　　
　　〃Congratulations。　You　can　bet　that　there　are　ghost　writeri　on　Felicity。　Or　soon　will　be。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　have　that。~printout　installed　at　once；　sir。　Roman　alpha。　bet　and　twentieth…century　spelling？　If　you　intend　to　use　the　language　we've　been　talking？〃　…
　　
　　〃Unless　it　would　place　too　much　strain　on　a　poor　innoceni　machine。　If　so；　I　can　read　it　in　phoics。　I　think。〃
　　
　　〃It　is　a　very　flexible　machine；　sir；　it　taught　me　to　speak　this　language…and　earlier；　to　read　it。〃
　　
　　〃Good；　do　it　that　way。　But　tell　it　not　to　correct　my　grammar。　Human　editors　are　difficult　enough；　I　won't　accept　such　upstart　behavior　from　a　machine。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir。　If　you　will　excuse　me　one　moment…〃　The　Chairman　Pro　Tern　raised　his　voice　slightly　and　shifted　to　the　New；　Rome　variant　of　Lingua　Galacta。　Then　he　spoke　in　the　same　language　to　the　taller　technician。
　　
　　The　auxiliary　printout　was　installed　before　the　table　served　them　coffee。　…
　　
　　After　it　was　switched　on；　it　whirred　briefly。　〃What's　it　doing？〃　asked　Lazarus。　〃Checking　its　circuits？〃
　　
　　〃No；　sir…printing。　I　tried；　an　experiment。　The'　machine　has　considerable　judgment　within　the　limits；　of　its　programs　and　memoried　experience。　In　adding　the　extra　program　I　told　it　also　to　go　back；　review　everything　you　have　said　to　me；　and　attempt　to　select　all　statements　…　that　sounded　like　aphorisms。　I　m　not　sure　it　can　do　this　as　any　definition　of　aphorism　it　has　in　its　permanents　is　certain'　to　be　quite　abstract。　But　I　have　'hopes。　However；　I　told　it　firmly：　No　editing。〃
　　
　　〃Well。　'The　astounding'　thing　about　a　waltzing　bear　is　not　how　gracefully　…　it　waltzes　but　that　it　waltzes　at　all。'　Not　me；　some'　otf~er　bloke；　I'm　quoting。　Let's　see　what　it　has。〃
　　
　　Weatheral　gestured；　the　shorter　technician　hurried　to　the
　　
　　'machine；　pulled　a　copy　for　'each　Of　them；　fetched　them　back。　Lazarus　looked　his　copy　over　Mmmm　yes　That　next
　　
　　one　isn't　true…just　a　wisecrack。　Must　reword　the　third　one　a　little。　Hey'　it　put　a　question　mark　after　this　one。　What　an　impudent　piece　of　junk；　I　checked　that　one　out　centuries　before　it　was　anything　but　unrnined　ore。　Well；　at　least　it　didn't
　　
　　try　to　revise　it。　Don't　recall　saying　that；　but　it's　true　and　I；
　　
　　durned　near　got　killed　learning　it。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　looked　up　from　the　printout　copy。　〃Okay；　Son。　If
　　
　　you　want　this　stuff　on　record；　I　don't　mind。　As　long　as　I　am　allowed　to　check　and　revise　it　。　。　for　I　don't　Want　my　words　to　be　taken　as　Gospel　unless　I　have　a　chance　to　winnow　out　the　casual　nonsense。　Which　I　am　just　as　capable　of　voicing　as　t；he　next　man。〃　…
　　
　　〃Certainly；　sir。　Nothing　will　go　into　the　records　without　your　approval。　Unless　you　choose　to　use　that　switch　。　。　in　which　case　any　unedited　remarks　you　have　left　behind　I　will　have　to　fry　to　edit　myself。　That's　the　best　I　can　do。〃
　　
　　〃Trying　to　trap　me；　huh？　Hmm…　Ira；　suppose　I　offer　you　a　Scheherazade　deal　in　reverse。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　
　　〃is　Scheherazade　lost　at　last？　Did　Sir　Richard　Burton　live　in　vain？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　no；　sir！　I　have　read　The　Thousand　Nights　and　a　Night　in　the　Burton　original　…　。　and　her　stories　have　e　down　through　the　centuries；　changed　again　and　again　to　make　them　understandable　to　new　generations…but　with；　I　think；　the　flavor　retained。　I　simply　do　not　un4erstand　what　you　arc　proposing。〃
　　
　　〃I　see。　You　told　me　that　talking　with　me　is　the　most　important　thing　you　have　to　do。〃
　　
　　〃It　is。〃
　　
　　〃I　wonder。　…If　you　mean　that；　then　you　will　be　here　every　day　to　keep　me　pany…and　chat。　For　I'm　not　going　to　bother　babbling　to　your　…　machine　no　matter　how　smart　it　is。；'
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　I　will　be　not　only　honored　but　much　pleased　to　be　allowed　to　keep　you　pany　as　long　as　you　will　let　me。〃
　　
　　〃We'll　see。　When　a　man　makes　a　sweeping　statement；　he　often　has　mental　reservations。　I　mean　every　day；　Son；　and　all　day。　And　you…not　a　deputy。　Show　up　two'　hours　after　breakfast；　say；　and　stay　till　I　send　you　home。　But　any　day　you　miss…　Well；　if　it's　so　urgent　you　just　have　to　miss；　phone
　　
　　…your　excuses　and　send　over　a　pretty　girl　to　visit　me。　One　who　speaks　Classic　~nglish　but　has　sense　enough　to　listen　in…　…
　　
　　stead…as　an　old　fool　will　often　talk　to　a　pretty　girl　who　just　bats　her　lashes　at　him　and　looks　impressed。　If　she　pleases　me；　I　might　let　her　stay。　Or　I　might　be　so　petulant　that　I　would　send　her　away　and　use　that　switch　you　promised　to
　　
　　have　reinstalled。　But　I　won't　suicide　in　the　presence　of　a　guest；　that's　rude。　Understand　me？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　I　do；〃　Ira　Weatheral　answered　slowly。　〃You'll　be　both　Scheherazade　and　King　Shabryar；　and　I'll　be…no；　that's　not　right；　I　am　the　one　who　has　to　keep　it　going　for　a　thousand'　nights…I　mean　'days'…and　if　I　miss…but　I　won't！…　you　are　free　to…〃
　　
　　〃Don't　push　an　analogy　too　far；〃　Lazarus　advised。　〃I'm　simply　calling　your　bluff。　If　my　maunderings　are　as　all…fired　important　to　you　as　you　claim；　then　you'll　show　up　and　listen。
　　
　　…　You　can　skip　once；　or　even　twice；　if　the　girl　is　pretty　enough　and　knows　how　to　tickle　my　vanity…of　which　I　have　plenty…　just　right。　But　if　you　skip　too　often；　I'll　know　you're　bored　and　the　deal　is　off。　I'm　betting　that　your　patience　will　wear　out　long　before　any　thousand　days　and　a　day　have　passed…　whereas　I　do　know　…　how　to　be　patient；　for　year　after　year　if　necessary；　that's　a　prime　reason　I'm　still　alive。　But　you're　still　a　youngster；　I'm　betting　I　can　outsit　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　accept　the　bet。　This　girl…if　I　must　be　away　some　day…　would　you　object　if　I　sent　one　of　my　daughters？　She's　very　pretty。〃
　　
　　〃Hunh？　You　sound　like　an　Iskandrian　slave　factor　auctioning　his　mother。　Why　your　daughter？　I　don't　want　to　marry　her；　nor　even　to　bed　her；　I　simply　want　to　be　amused　and　flattered。　Who　told　you　she　was　pretty？　If　she　really　is　your　daughter；　she　probably　looks　like　you。〃
　　
　　〃e　off　it；　Lazarus；　you　can't　annoy　me　that　easily。　I　admit　to　a　father's　prejudice　but　I've　seen　the　effect　she　has　on　others。　She　is　quite　young；　less　than　eighty；　and　has　been　contractually　married　only　once。　But　you　specified　a　pretty　girl　who　speaks　your　milk　language。　Scarce。　But　this　one　of　？y　daughters　shares　my　talent　for　languages　and　is　much　cx。。　cited　by　your　presence　here…wants　to　meet　you。　I　can　stall　off　emergencies　long　enough　for　her　to　bee　letter…perfect　in　yoi~ir　language。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　grinned　and　shrugged。　〃Suit　yourself。　Tell　her　not　to　bother　with　a　chastity　girdle；　I　don't　have　the　energy。　But　I'll　still　win　the　bet。　Probably　without　laying　eyes　on　her；　it　won't　take　you　long　to　decide　that　I　am　an　unbearable　old　bore。　Which　I　am　and　have　been　almost　as　long　as　the　Wandering　JewA~。。a　crashing　bore　if　I　ever　met　one…did　I　tell　you　I　had　met　him？〃
　　
　　〃No。　And　I　don't　believe　you　have。　He's　a　myth。〃
　　
　　〃A　fat　lot　you　know　about　it；　Son。　I　have　met　him；　he　is　authentic。　Fought　the　Romans　in　70　Al）。　when　Jerusalem　was
　　
　　sacked。　Fought　in　every　Crusade…incited　one　of　them。　Redheaded　of　course；　all　of　the　natural　long…lifers　bear　the　mark　of　Gilgamesh。　When　I　met　him　he　was　using　the　name　Sandy　Macdougal；　that　being　a　better　handle　for　the　time　and　place　for　his　current　trade；　which　was　the　long　con；　with　a　variant　on　the　badger　game。　*　The　latter　involved…　Look；　Ira；　if　you　don't　believe　my　stories；　why　are　you　going　to　so　much
　　
　　…　trouble　to　get　them　on　record？〃　…
　　
　　〃Lazarus；　if　you　think　you　can　bore　me　to　death…correction：　to　your　death…why　are　you　bothering　to　invent　fictions　to　entertain　me？　Whatever　your　reasons；　I'll　listen　as　carefully…and　as　long…as　King　Shahryar。　As　may　be；　my　master　putbr　is　recording　whatever　you　choose　to　say…without　~diting；　I　guaranteed　that…but　it　has　incorporated　into　it　a　most　subtle　truth　analyzer　quite　capable　of　earmarking　any　fictions　you　include。　Not　that　I　care　about　historicity　as　long　as　you　will　talk　。。。　as　it　is　clear　to　me　that　you　automatically　'include　your　evaluations…those　'gems　of　wisdom'…no　matter　what　you　say。〃　…
　　
　　〃'Gems　of　wisdom。'　Youngster；　use　…　that　expression　once　more　and　you'll　stay　after　school　and　clean　the　blackboards。　That　puter　of　yours…　Better　instruct　it　that　my　most　outlandish　tales　are　the　ones　most　likely　to　be　true…as　that　is　the　literal　truth。　No　storyteller　has　ever　been　able　to　dream　up　anything　as　fantastically　unlikely　as　what　really　does　happen　in　this　mad　Universe。〃
　　
　　〃It　knows　that。　But　I　will　caution　it　again。　You　were　telling　me　about　Sandy　Macdougal；　the　Wandering　Jew。〃
　　
　　〃Was　I？　If　so　and　if　he　was　using　that　name；　that　must　have　been　late　in　the　twentieth　century　and　in　Vancouver；　as　I　recall。　Vancouver　was　a　part　of　the　United　States　where　the　people　were　so　clever　that　they　never　paid　taxes　to　Washington…Sandy　should　have　operated　in　New　York；　which　was　outstanding　in　stupidity　even　then。　I　won't　give　details　of　his　swindles；　it　might　corrupt　your　machine。　Let　it　suffice　that
　　
　　*　While　this　passage　bears　inner　contradictions；　the　idioms　are　authentic　for　North　America　of　the　twentieth　century。