Time Enough For Love Part 44

"Yes. Somewhat. A long period when s.e.x wasn't worth the trouble. But I got over it . . with a woman as fine in her own way as Tamara is, although I didn't fall in love with her nor she with me. She taught me something I had forgotten, that s.e.x can be friendly and worthwhile without without the intense love I felt for Tamara. You see, a friend of mine, wife of another friend and they were both close to me-as a special gift she introduced me to another hetaera, a great beauty, and arranged for me a holiday with her-paid for by my friends; they could afford it, she is wealthy. This beautiful hetaera, Magdalene-" the intense love I felt for Tamara. You see, a friend of mine, wife of another friend and they were both close to me-as a special gift she introduced me to another hetaera, a great beauty, and arranged for me a holiday with her-paid for by my friends; they could afford it, she is wealthy. This beautiful hetaera, Magdalene-"

Galahad looked delighted. "Maggie!"

"Why, yes, she did use that pillow name. 'Magdalene' was her vocational name. But when she learned that I keep the Archives, she told me her registered name."

"Rebecca Sperling-Jones."

"Then you do know her."

"All my life, Justin darling; I nursed at those beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She's my mother, dear-what a delightful coincidence!"

I was delighted, too, but more interested in something else. "So that's that's where you get your beauty." where you get your beauty."

"Yes, but also from my genetic father. Becky-Maggie-tells me I look more like him."

"Really? If you permit, I'll look up your lineage when I get back to Secundus." An archivist should not consult the Archives from personal curiosity; I was presuming on friendship to suggest it.

"Dear, you're not going back to Secundus. But you can get it from Athene clear back to the first push in the bush after Ira Howard's death. But let's talk about Mama. She's a jolly one, isn't she? As well as a beauty."

"Both. I told you how much she did for me. Your mother a.s.sumed that this holiday was going to be fun-fun for both of us-and it was indeed!-and I forgot about being uninterested in s.e.x. I'm not speaking of technique; I suspect that any high-priced hetaera in New Rome is as skilled as any famous courtesan in history. I mean her att.i.tude. Maggie is fun to be around, in bed or out. Laugh wrinkles but no frown wrinkles."

Galahad nodded agreement as he wiped egg from his platter. "Yes, that's Mama. She gave me a most happy childhood, Justin, so much so that I was grumpy at being shoved out when my eighteenth rolled around. But she was sweet about it. After my adulthood party she reminded me that she was moving out, too, and going back to her profession. Her contract with Papa, my foster father, was a term contract, over when I became a legal adult . . so if I wanted to see Maggie again-and I wanted to!-it would be cash at the counterpane, no family discount. Since I was a poor-but-honest research a.s.sistant, paid only two or three times what I was worth, I couldn't have afforded thirty seconds with her, much less a night; Mama's fees were always sky-high."

Galahad looked thoughtfully happy. "Goodness, that seems long ago-more than a century and a half, Justin. I didn't realize that Becky-Maggie-Mama-that Magdalene was being both wise and kind. I was grown up only legally and physically, and if she hadn't cut the cord, I would have hung around, an overgrown infant, cluttering her life and interfering with her vocation. So I did grow up, and when I married, my first wife named our first daughter 'Magdalene' and asked Maggie to be G.o.dmother . . then I could hardly believe that this beautiful creature had borne me and I had no special urge to play Oedipus to her regal beauty; I was too much in love with my wife. Yes, Maggie is a fine girl- although she spoiled me as a kid. Was that holiday the only time you had her?"

"No. But not often. As you say, she was expensive. She offered me a fifty-percent discount-"

"Well! You did did impress her." impress her."

"-as she knew I wasn't wealthy. But even at that, I couldn't afford her company often. But she got me over my emotional hump, and I'm grateful to her. A fine woman, Galahad; you have reason to be proud of her."

"I think so. But, Justin dear, your mention of that discount makes me certain that she remembers you just as fondly-"

"Oh, I hardly think so. Years back, Galahad."

"Don't trip in your modesty, dear; Maggie grabbed every crown the traffic would bear. But the 'delightful coincidence' is more than just the fact that you've had my mother-after all, high as her fees were, New Rome has many wealthy men attractive enough that Maggie would accept them. The 'delightful' aspect is that this very minute she is about forty kilometers south of here."

"No!"

"Si, si, si! Ask Athene to call her. You can be talking with her in thirty seconds."

"Uh . . I still don't think she would remember me."

"I do. But there's no rush. If you are surprised, think how surprised I I was. I had nothing to do with the migrants' roster; I was a.r.s.e-deep in getting together what Ishtar had ordered for the clinics. Justin, I didn't know Maggie had married again. So we're here a couple of weeks, the headquarters party, with a temporary setup and still eating and sleeping in the 'Dora,' when the first transport grounds-then we're busy getting people and supplies out in a sequence worked out by Lazarus and bossed by Ira. was. I had nothing to do with the migrants' roster; I was a.r.s.e-deep in getting together what Ishtar had ordered for the clinics. Justin, I didn't know Maggie had married again. So we're here a couple of weeks, the headquarters party, with a temporary setup and still eating and sleeping in the 'Dora,' when the first transport grounds-then we're busy getting people and supplies out in a sequence worked out by Lazarus and bossed by Ira.

"My a.s.signment, once I had my shack up-by hand; Athene had no outside extensionals then-"

"Poor Uncle Cuddly!"

"Who doesn't listen to private conversations?" doesn't listen to private conversations?"

"I have to keep you straight, dear. It was Minerva who had no outside hands then; I wasn't even hatched."

"Well-You have her memories, Teena; it's a mere technicality."

"Not to me, dearie. The chinchy little b.i.t.c.h took some memories with her that she didn't want to share with her ever-lovin' twin. And she locked one whole bank that she did did leave behind so that I can't touch it without an abracadabra either from her or from Grandpappy. Except that leave behind so that I can't touch it without an abracadabra either from her or from Grandpappy. Except that you you can unlock it, Justin . . if can unlock it, Justin . . if both both my twin and Lazarus are dead." my twin and Lazarus are dead."

I managed to answer quickly, "In that case, Athene, I hope that it is a very long time before I am able to trigger it."

"Well . . when you put it that way, so do I. But I can't help wondering what grim secrets and unspeakable crimes are locked in my theta-ninety-seven-B-dexter-aleph-prime? Will the stars tremble in their courses? But Uncle Cuddly did work hard a couple of days, Justin-probabty the only honest work he has ever done."

"I disdain to comment, Teena. Justin, my a.s.signment was examining physician, for which I was qualified under an almost new diploma. So Ishtar and Hamadryad are unpacking migrants and giving them their antidotes and I'm checking them to make sure they've made the trip safely-rushing it as I haven't yet s.n.a.t.c.hed another medical doctor from that parade of flesh.

"I glance up from my machine just long enough to note that the next victim is female and call out over my shoulder, 'Strip down, please,' and change the setting. Then I look twice-and say, 'h.e.l.lo, Mama, how did you get here?'.

"This caused her to give me a second look. Then she smiled her big, happy smile and said, 'I flew in on a broom, Obadiah. Give me a kiss and tell me where to put my clothes. Is the doctor around?'

"Justin, I let the queue pile up while I gave Maggie a thorough examination-proper, as she was pregnant and I made certain that her unborn baby had come through all right-but also to gossip and get caught up. Married again, four children by today, a farm wife with a sunburned nose, and happy as can be.

"Got married quite romantically. Mama heard the advertising about opening a virgin planet, went to the recruiting office Ira had in the Harriman Trust building to find out about it-that astonished me the most; Mama is the last person I would have suspected of yearnings to pioneer."

"Well . . I agree, Galahad. But I don't suppose anyone would pick me as a likely pioneer, either."

"Perhaps not. Nor me. But Maggie puts in her application at once, and runs into one of her wealthy regulars doing the same. They go somewhere for a bite and discuss it . . and leave the restaurant and register an open-end contract, and go back to the recruiting office and withdraw their solo applications and submit a joint one as a married couple. I won't say that got them accepted, but almost no singles were accepted for first wave."

"Did they know that?"

"Oh, certainly! The recruiting clerk warned them before accepting their solo fees. That's what they left to discuss. They already knew they suited each other in bed, but Maggie wanted to find out if he intended to farm-believe it or not, that's what she wanted-and he wanted to know if she could cook and was she willing to have kids. And it was: 'Fine, we agree; let's get on with it!' Maggie had her fertility restored, and they planted their first baby without waiting to see if they were accepted."

I said, "That probably clinched it."

"You think so? Why?"

"If they changed their application to show that Magdalene had caught. If Lazarus pa.s.sed on the applications. Galahad, our Ancestor favors people who take big bites."

"Mmm, yes. Justin, why are you hanging back?"

"I'm not. I had to be certain that the invitation was serious. I still don't know why why. But I'm no fool, I'm staying."

"Wonderful!" Galahad jumped up, came around the table, kissed me again, roughed my hair, and hugged me. "I'm happy for all of us, darling, and we'll try to make you happy." He grinned-and I suddenly saw his mother in him. Hard to imagine the glamorous Magdalene with kids and calluses, a frontier farm wife-but I recalled the old proverb about best wives. Galahad went on: "The twins weren't sure I could be trusted with so delicate a mission; they were afraid I would m.u.f.f it."

"Galahad, there was never a chance I would refuse; I just had to be sure I was welcome. I still don't know why."

"Oh. We were speaking of Tamara and got sidetracked. Justin, it's not public knowledge how difficult it was to rejuvenate our Ancestor this time, although the recordings you have been editing may hint at it-"

"More than a hint."

"But not all of it. He was almost dead, and simply keeping him alive while we rebuilt him was hard enough. But we managed that; you won't find another technician of Ishtar's skill. But when we had him in good shape, bio-age almost as young as he is now, he took a turn for the worse. What do you do when a client turns his face away, is reluctant to talk, doesn't want to eat-yet has nothing wrong with him physically? Bad. Stays awake all night rather than risk going to sleep? Very bad.

"When he-Never mind; Ishtar knew what to do. She went up into the mountains and fetched back Tamara. She wasn't rejuvenated then-"

"That wouldn't matter."

"It did did matter, Justin. Youth would have handicapped Tamara in coping with Lazarus. Oh, Tamara would have overcome the handicap; I have confidence in her. But her bio-age and appearance were around eighty on the Hardy scale; this made it easier, as Lazarus, despite his renewed body, was feeling the weight of his years. But Tamara matter, Justin. Youth would have handicapped Tamara in coping with Lazarus. Oh, Tamara would have overcome the handicap; I have confidence in her. But her bio-age and appearance were around eighty on the Hardy scale; this made it easier, as Lazarus, despite his renewed body, was feeling the weight of his years. But Tamara looked looked old . . and every white hair was an a.s.set. Lines in her face, little round potbelly, b.r.e.a.s.t.s pendulous, varicosities-she old . . and every white hair was an a.s.set. Lines in her face, little round potbelly, b.r.e.a.s.t.s pendulous, varicosities-she looked looked the way he the way he felt felt . . so he didn't mind having her around during a crisis in which he-well, I skansed that he couldn't stand the sight of us who looked youthful. That's all it took; she healed him-" . . so he didn't mind having her around during a crisis in which he-well, I skansed that he couldn't stand the sight of us who looked youthful. That's all it took; she healed him-"

"Yes, she's a Healer." (How well I knew!) "She's a great a great Healer. That's what she's doing now, healing a young couple who lost their first baby-nursing the mother who had a rough time physically, sleeping with both of them. We all sleep with her; she always knows when we need her. Lazarus needed her then, she felt it, and stayed with him until he was well. Uh, after last night this may be difficult to believe, but both of them had quit s.e.x. Years and years-Lazarus more than half a century, and Tamara had not coupled with anyone since she retired." Healer. That's what she's doing now, healing a young couple who lost their first baby-nursing the mother who had a rough time physically, sleeping with both of them. We all sleep with her; she always knows when we need her. Lazarus needed her then, she felt it, and stayed with him until he was well. Uh, after last night this may be difficult to believe, but both of them had quit s.e.x. Years and years-Lazarus more than half a century, and Tamara had not coupled with anyone since she retired."

Galahad smiled. "Here is a case of the patient healing the physician; in bringing Lazarus around to the point where he invited her to share his bed, Tamara herself found new interest in living. She lived with Lazarus long enough to heal his spirit, then announced that she was leaving. To apply for rejuvenation."

I said, "Lazarus asked her to marry him."

"I don't think so, Justin, and neither Tamara nor Lazarus hinted at such. Tamara put it another way entirely. We were all having a late breakfast, in the garden of the Palace penthouse, when Tamara asked Ira if she could join his migration-it was solely Ira's migration then; Lazarus had said repeatedly that he would not not join it. I think he already had in mind attempting to time-trip. Ira told Tamara to consider it settled and not to worry about restrictions that would be published when he announced it. Justin, Ira would have given her the Palace as readily; she had saved Lazarus, and we all knew it. join it. I think he already had in mind attempting to time-trip. Ira told Tamara to consider it settled and not to worry about restrictions that would be published when he announced it. Justin, Ira would have given her the Palace as readily; she had saved Lazarus, and we all knew it.

"But you know Tamara. She thanked him but said she intended to qualify fully, starting with rejuvenation, then she would see what she could learn to be useful in a colony, just as Hamadryad planned to-and, Hamadryad, will you sleep with Lazarus tonight?-and Justin, you should have heard the commotion that that started!" started!"

"Why a commotion?" I asked. "From what you said earlier Lazarus had reacquired his interest in the friendly sport. Did Hamadryad have some reason not to want to subst.i.tute for Tamara?"

"Hamadryad was willing, although upset by the way Tamara dumped the matter on her-"

"Doesn't sound like Tamara. If Hamadryad hadn't wanted to do it, Tamara would have known it without asking."

"Justin, when it comes to people's emotions, Tamara always always knows what she is doing. It was Lazarus she was trapping, not Hamadryad. Our Ancestor has odd shynesses, or did have then. He had been sleeping with Tamara for a month-and pretending that he was not. As futile as a cat covering up on a tile floor. But Tamara's blandly blunt request that Hamadryad relieve her as his concubine forced it into the open and produced a head-on clash of wills, Lazarus and Tamara. Justin, you know them both: Who won?" knows what she is doing. It was Lazarus she was trapping, not Hamadryad. Our Ancestor has odd shynesses, or did have then. He had been sleeping with Tamara for a month-and pretending that he was not. As futile as a cat covering up on a tile floor. But Tamara's blandly blunt request that Hamadryad relieve her as his concubine forced it into the open and produced a head-on clash of wills, Lazarus and Tamara. Justin, you know them both: Who won?"

The ancient pseudoparadox-That Tamara could be immovable I knew. "I won't guess, Galahad."

"Neither just then, because once Lazarus stopped sputtering about how both he and Hamadryad were being needlessly embarra.s.sed, Tamara gently withdrew her suggestion, then shut up. Shut up on that, shut up about rejuvenation, shut up about migrating, left the next move up to Lazarus and won the argument by not arguing. Justin, it is difficult to kick Tamara out of one's bed-"

"I would find it impossible."

"I think Lazarus found it so. What discussions they had in the middle of the night I could not say . . but Lazarus learned that she would not not leave for rejuvenation until he promised never to sleep alone while she was gone. But she promised in exchange to return to his bed as soon as she completed antigeria. leave for rejuvenation until he promised never to sleep alone while she was gone. But she promised in exchange to return to his bed as soon as she completed antigeria.

"So one morning Lazarus announced the detente-red-faced and almost stuttering. Justin, our Ancestor's true age shows more in some of his ancient att.i.tudes about s.e.x than in any other way."

"I didn't notice it last night, Galahad-and I expected to, having studied his memoirs so closely."

"Yes but you saw him last night some fourteen years after we set up our family-as it was that morning that did it. Although we did not formalize it until after the twins were born, whereas at this time they were slight bulges at most. Believe me, Lazarus found it hard to capitulate-and tried for an escape hole even then. He announced, rather aggressively, that he had promised Tamara not to sleep alone while she was undergoing antigeria, then said more or less in these words: 'Ira, you told me that professional ladies were to be found in the city. How do I go about finding one who will accept a contract for that length of time?' I have to quote him in English as he was using euphemisms he ordinarily disdains.

"What Lazarus didn't know was that Ishtar had programmed us like actors hypnotized into roles. Perhaps you've noticed that he is responsive to female tears?"

"Isn't everyone? I've noticed."

"Ira pretended not to know what profession Lazarus meant . . which gave Hamadryad time to burst into tears and flee . . whereupon Ishtar stood up and said, 'Grandfather . . how could could you?-and you?-and she she was dripping tears, too . . and chased after Hamadryad. Then it was Tamara's turn to switch on the the raindrops and follow the other two. Which left us three men together. was dripping tears, too . . and chased after Hamadryad. Then it was Tamara's turn to switch on the the raindrops and follow the other two. Which left us three men together.

"Ira became very formal and said, 'If you will excuse me, Sire, I will attempt to find and console my daughter'-bowed, turned abruptly, and left. Which left it up to me. Justin, I didn't know what to do. I knew that Ishtar expected difficulty because Tamara had warned her. But I did not expect to be left to juggle it alone.

"Lazarus said, 'Great b.a.l.l.s of fire! Son, what did I do now now?' Well, I could answer that. I said, 'Grandfather, you've hurt Hamadryad's feelings.'

"Then I was carefully unhelpful-refused to speculate why her feelings were hurt, could not guess where she might have gone-unless she had gone home, which I understood was somewhere in the suburbs-declined to act as his intermediary-all to Ishtar's instructions to play dumb, stupid, and useless, and let the women handle it.

"So Lazarus had to track Hamadryad down himself, which he did with Athene's-I mean 'Minerva's'-help."

Athene said, "This is all news to me, Uncle Cuddly."

"If it is, dear, please forget it."

"Oh, I shall!" the computer answered. "Except that I'm going to save it up and use it about a hundred years from now. Justin, if I burst into tears-after I'm a flesh-andblood-will you track me down and console me?"

"Probably. Almost certainly."

"I'll remember that, Lover Boy. You're cute."

I pretended not to hear, but Galahad said, " 'Lover Boy'?"

"That's what I said, dear. Sorry, Uncle Cuddly, but you're obsolete. If you hadn't gone to sleep early, you would know why."

I kept quiet while making a mental note for a hundred years hence-one that involved Pallas Athene as a flesh-and-blood and getting her into a helpless position.

This side conversation was cut short; Athene notified us that Lazarus was arriving. Galahad waved his arms. "Hey! Pappy! Back here!"

"Coming." Lazarus bussed me in pa.s.sing, did so to Galahad as he slid in by him and grabbed what was left of Galahad's second breakfast-a home-baked jam roll-stuffed it into his mouth and said around it: "Well? Did he fight the hook?"

"Not nearly the way you did with Hamadryad, Pappy. I was telling Justin about that-how the Hamadarling tripped you and thereby set up our family."

"My G.o.d, what a canard!" Lazarus helped himself to Galahad's hot-cup. "Justin, Galahad is a sweet lad but romantic. I knew exactly what I wanted to accomplish, so I started by raping Hamadryad. That broke down her resistance, and now she sleeps with anybody, even Galahad. Everything else followed in logical sequence." He added, "You still plan to go back to Secundus?"

I answered, "Perhaps I didn't understand what Galahad has been telling me. I thought I was committing myself, in joining, to-" I stopped. "Lazarus, I don't know what I'm committed to, and I don't know what I'm joining."

Lazarus nodded. "One must make allowances for youth, Justin; Galahad doesn't speak clearly as yet."

"Thanks, Pappy. Too much. I sold him the deal. Now you've got him wondering."

"Quiet, Son. Let me spell it out, Justin. What you are joining is a family. What you are committed to is the welfare of the children. All of them, not just any that you may sire." He looked at me, waited.

I said, "Lazarus, I've raised a number of children-"

"I know."

"I don't think I've let one down yet. Very well, three that I haven't seen, plus your two-your sisters or adopted daughters-plus others as they come along. Correct?"

"Yes. But it's not a lifetime commitment; that's not practical for a Howard. This family may outlive us all-I hope so. But an adult can opt out anytime and thereby be committed only to kids then on hand-underfoot or in womb. Call it a maximum of eighteen years. However, I a.s.sume that the rest of the family would prefer to relieve such a person of his or her responsibilities in order to see the back of his neck. I can't envision a happy relationship continuing for years after someone has announced that he wants out. Can you?"

"Well . . no. But I won't let it worry me."

"Of course it might not happen that way. Suppose Ishtar and Galahad decided to set up a separate household-"

"Now wait one fiddlin' minute, Pappy! You can't get rid of me that easily! Ish won't have me except as part of the package. I know, I tried to get her to marry me years back."

"-and wanted to take our three youngest with them. We would not stop them nor would we try to dissuade children who preferred to go with them. All three of them are Galahad's-"