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thoughts of persons in their presence…but was not anxious to find out）… all charmingly blunt and childishly innocent。
First they slathered me all over anded the same service from me and threatened me with chin quivering when I held back a little； and said loudly that 〃Uncle Cuddly〃 （my old friend Obadiah； now Galahad） washed them better than that and everybody knows how lazy he is…or didn't I like them well enough to soapy…cuddle them and if they married me； would I go along with them in their spaceship； and while they were still virgins； though not from lack of opportunity； don't worry about that one bit as both Mama Hamadryad and Mama Ishtar were coaching them in beginning and advanced sensuality and would speed up the course if I happened to want to many them now…won't you； Mama Hamalambie？…tell him！
Hamadryad from a meter away （she was soaping Ira） as…' sured us that she would； if they could persuade me to marry them that quickly。 I assumed that the youngsters were farcing me and that their mother…one of their mothers…was going along with the jest。 I've wondered since whether I missed a diamond opportunity。 Lazarus was in hearing distance； he did not tell them to stop teasing me； he simply advised me not to offer them more than a ten…year contract as their span of attention was limited…whith made them indignant…and advised them that； if they intended to get married that 'night； they had better trim their toenails first； which made them still more indignant so they stopped bathing me to assault him from both sides。
This wound up with one of them' under each of his arms
~； o~
and still struggling。 Lazarus asked if I would accept custody or should he drop them into the deep end of the soak？
I accepted custody； and we showered each other off and went into the soak p001 together…and I was standing in it up to my shoulders with my back to the garden； and supporting them a little； an arm each； as their toes did not~touch bottom； when someone placed hands over my eyes。
The ty！〃 and levitated out of the water while I turned to look。
Tamara Sperling… I had thqught she was on Secundus； in retirement up country。 Tamara the Superb； the Superlative； the Unique…in my opinion （and many others） the greatest artist of her profession。 I feel sure that I am not the only man who chose when she left New Rome to remain celibate for a long time。
She had e in； seen that the family was in the bath lounge； dropped her gown in the garden； hurried in without stopping to remove her high sandals； spotted me； and blindfolded me with her lovely hands。
Why？ She was my dinner partner…and （if I could rely on an exchange I had heard that afternoon） willing to…be my guest wife if I were willing。 Willing？ Fifty years earlier I had offered her any contract she would accept every time she let me visit her and had finally shut up only after she had told me repeatedly； patie'ntly； and gently that she did not intend to have more children and would not marry again for any other purpose。
But there she was； rejuvenated （not that it mattered）； looking gloriously young and healthy…and a coloni~t。 I wondered who the man was who had persuaded her； to do this？ I envied him and wondered what superhuman qualities he possessed… but whatever they were； if Tamara was willing to share a bed with me even for one night and only for old times' sake； I would take what the gods offered and not worry about him； her wealth is endlessly divisible。 Tamara！…bells sound at her name。
She kissed two wet little girls； then dropped to her knees and kissed me。
Then she said softly； rubbing her mouth against mine； 〃You darling。 When I heard you were here； I hurried。 Mi laroona d' vashti meedth du？〃 '
〃Yes！ And any other night you have free。〃
〃Not so fast with English； doreeth mi； I learning it… slowly…because my daughter wants her assistants in rejuvena
~
tion to speak language not known to most clients 。 。 and because our f~mily speaks English much as Galacta。〃
〃You are now a rejuvenator？ And have a daughter here？〃
〃Ishtar datter mi…did you not know； petsan mi…mi？ Nay； Jam nurse only。 But studying 1 am and Ishtar hope…tells that I 'will be~ assistant technician in half handful of years。 Good… nay？〃
〃Good； I suppose。 But what a loss to the art！〃
〃Blandjor；〃 she said happily； tousling my wet hair。 〃Even though rejuvenated…did you note？…here the art pays no living。 Too many willing ones； sweeter and younger and prettier。〃 The twins had stayed with us； listening and quiet for a moment。 Tamara reached out both a？ms； hugged them to her。 〃Example。 These my granddaughters。 Eager to grow tall so they can lie down and be short。〃 She kissed each of them。 〃And red curls they have。 I not have。〃
I started to say that age and red curls did not matter； then realized that a pliment to Tamara so phrased could cause chins to quiver。 But I did not need to speak； the spout had opened again：
〃Aunt Tammy； we are not eager…〃
〃…just willing and practical…〃
〃…and anyhow he won't marry us…〃
〃…he just teases about it…〃
〃…and you can't be our grandmother…〃
〃…'cause that would make you our Buddy Boy's grandmother…〃
〃…which is illogical； impossible； and ridiculous…〃
〃…so you have to be our 'Aunt Tammy。'〃
I found their logic doubly enthymematic if not a total non sequitur； but I agreed with it because the notion of Tamara being the Senior's grandmother was one I could not face。； So I changed the subject：
〃Tamara dear； would you let me take off your sandals and then you e join us in the soak？ Or shall 1 get out and get dry？〃
She did not have to answer：
〃We gotta run get ready…〃
〃…cause Mama Hainadryad has finished her face and started her nipples…〃
〃…so if we don't hurry； we'll have to e to dinner with our hides bare naked…〃
〃…and for a party that would never do…〃
〃…and you two had better hurry too…〃
〃…or Buddy Boy will throw it to the pigs。 Scuse！〃
I climbed out and let Tamara dry me…unnecessary as there was a ~blowdry at hand。 But if Tamara offers me anything my answer is Yes。 It took a while； we 〃wasted〃 time on touch and talk。 （Is there a better way to spend time？）
When I was dry and wondering if I should try the cosmetics bench （I don't use cosmetics much； just depilatories）； one of the twins came rushing back with a garment for me； a blue chiamys。 She said breathlessly； 〃Lazarus says try this or what would you like？…but that you needn't wear anything if you don't want to 'cause it's a hot night and you count as family because you're Minerva's father； one of them。〃
I thought I had them keyed now by freckle pattern。 〃Thank you； Lorelei； I'll wear it。〃 I've always felt that a napkin was enough to wear in dining at home in a properly tempered house…or outdoors in private on a warm night。 But； as guest of honor even though 〃family；〃 I could not go bare when they were taking th