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ical abstractions； the 'now' is always all there is。 As for knowing the day you died…or will die； it's the same thing…I don't。 I just know that you had…have……will have…many children； and you live a long time。 。 and your hair never gets gray。 But the Foundation lost track of you…will lose track of you…and your date of death never got into the records。 Maybe you moved and didn't tell the Foundation。 Shucks； maybe I came back…will e back…and picked you up in your old age； and took you to
Tertius。〃… … …
〃Where？〃 〃My home。 I think you would like it there。 You could run around all day； dressed…undressed…as a French postcard。〃
〃I'm sure I would like that now。 But I don't think I would； as an old woman。〃
〃All you would have to do is to …ask Ishtar for rejuvenation。 I told you what she did for Tamara … 。 when her breasts hung down to her waist and were empty sacks。 But look at
Tamara now…that 'now'…pregnant again； just like a kid； But forget it…if it did happen； it will happen。 Mama Maureen… I'm durned if I'll call you 'Grandmother' again…all Fm sure of is that I'm not…sure of the date of your death； and I'm glad I'm not； and you should be。 Nor of my death； and I'm glad of that； too。 Carpe diem！ We're almost home and you started to say something and I said to call me 'Theodore' and we got off the track。 Was it about Tamara？〃
〃Oh； yes！ Theodore？ When you go home to wherever your home is； can you take anything with you？ Or does it have to be just you？〃
〃Why； no。 I arrived with clothes and money。〃
〃I'd like to send a little present to Tamara。 But I can't guess what she would want。 。 from this time to that wonderful age of yours。 Can you suggest something？〃
〃Mmm … 。 Tamara would treasure anything from you。 She knows she's descended from you； and she's the most warmly sentimental of all my family。 It should be something small enough to carry on my person； even in the trenches； as I'm always ready to abandon anything I'm not carrying… have to be。 Not jewelry。 Tamara would not value a diamond bracelet … one whit more than a hairpin 。 … but she would treasure a hairpi？ that I could tell her I had seen you wearing。 Something small； something you've worn。 Look； send her a garter！ Perfect！ One of these you have on。〃
〃Mayn't I send her a brand…new pail？ Oh； I'll slip them on for a moment； so that you。can tell her truthfully that I've worn them。 But these… Not only are they rather old and worn but I've perspired right through them tonight They're not fresh and clean。 And they do have naughty mottoes on them。〃
〃No； no； one of these。 Sweetheart； 'naughty' today can't be naughty on Tertius； I'll have to explain any naughtiness to Tamara。 As for perspiration； I hope that some trace of your sweet fragrance clings to them until I can get them to her； that would delight Tamara。 You say this pair is qld？ Maureen； …by any chance are they about six years old？〃
〃I told you I was sentimental； Theodore。 Yes； this is the same pair。 Old and faded and worn and I've replaced the elastic…but the same pair； I picked them to wear for you。〃
〃Then I want one of them for me！〃
〃Beloved Theodore。 I planned to offer you both of them。 That's why I suggested a new pair for Tamara。 Very well； dear； one for you； one for her。 As soon as we're home。 I'll trot upstairs； and when I e down； I'll have a present for you and
will tell you …not to open It until you're back at Camp Funston。 You just say thank you and go straight to your room and put it into your grip。 I see a light on the front porch； so now I must push my skirts down and be the prim and proper Mrs。 Brian Smith。 With a smoldering volcano inside her！ Thank you； Staff Sergeant Bronson。 You have given my son and me a most enjoyable evening。〃
〃Thank you； pretty little pussycat in green garters and no bloomers。 Will you grab the Teddy bear and the Kewpie doll while I carry our chaperon？〃
Ira Johnson and Nancy were not yet home。 Brian Junior relieved Lazarus of the limp child and carried him upstairs。 Carol went along to put Woodie to bed after exacting a promise from 〃Uncle Ted〃 not to go to bed before she came back。 George wanted to know where they had gone and what they had done； but Lazarus put him off with a promise and used the chance to repair to his tiny bath and repair himself。 …
Hair a bit mussed… Thank God respectable women did not use lipstick。 Uniform slightly wrinkled； nothing damning about that。 Five minutes later； refreshed and certain there were no feathers on his chin； Lazarus returned to the front of the house and offered George and Brian Junior an account of the eve…
… fling truthful in everything he said。
He had just started when Carol came down and listened too； then Mrs。 Smith rejoined them； moving regally as always and carrying a little package wrapped in tissue paper。 〃A surprise for you； Sergeant Theodore…please don't open it until you are back at camp。〃
〃Then I had better put it into my grip right now。〃
〃If you wish； sir。 I think it's bedtime； dears。〃 …
〃Yes； Mama；〃 agreed Carol。 〃But Uncle Ted was telling us how you knocked down all the milk bottles。〃
〃He says you should pitch for the Blues； Mama！〃 added George。
〃All right；… fifteen minutes。〃
〃Mrs。 Smith；〃 said Lazarus； 〃you ought not to start your stopwatch on us until I get back。〃
〃You're as bad as the rest of my children； Sergeant。 Very well。〃
Lazarus put the package into his grip； locked it from long habit； and returned。 Nancy and her young man arrived； Lazarus was introduced while looking over Jonathan Weath~…sral with real interest。 Pleasant young fellow； a bit on the
gawky side…。… Tamara and Ira will be interested； so let's photograph him by eye； be able to sketch him； and… remember any word he says。
Mrs。 Smith urged her prospective son…in…law into the parlor while cutting Nancy out of the herd； Lazarus resumed describing what they had done at the amusement park while Jonathan looked politely bored。 Mrs。 Smith。 returned； carrying a laden tray and said； 〃That fifteen minutes is up； dears。 Jonathan； Nancy wants you to help her with something； will you see what it is？ She's in the kitchen。〃
第80节
Brian Junior asked if he could put the car into the barn。
… 〃Sergeant Uncle Ted； I haven't let your car sit out… at the curb at night； not once。 But I'll get it out for you； first thing in the morning； it's kind o' tricky； sort of a 'Z' turn； you have to back and fill。〃
Lazarus thanked him； kissed Carol good…night； as she was clearly expecting it。 George couldn't seem to make up his mind whether he had outgrown kissing or not； so Lazarus settled it by shaking hands and telling him he had quite a grip on him。 At that point Mi~。 Johnson got home； and the good…nights started over。
Five … minutes later Mrs。 Smith； her father； and Lazarus were seated in the parlor over coffee and cake； and Lazarus was suddenly reminded of the first night he had been invited in。 Save that the men were