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〃But that song belonged to Noisy when he got through filing off serial numbers and changing the body lines。 I heard it again； oh； must have been twenty； twenty…five years later； in a cabaret in Luna City。 From Noisy。 But he had changed it。 Fixed up the scansion； given it a proper rhyme scheme； dolled up the tune。 But the tune was still recognizable…in a minor key； wistful rather than sad； and the words were still about this third…rate grifter whose topcoat was always in hock and who sponged off his sister。
〃And he had changed； too。 A shiny new instrument； a tailored spaceman's uniform； gray hair at the temples…and star billing。 I paid a waiter to tell him that 'Happy' Daze was in the audience…not my name then； but the only name Noisy had for me…and after his first group he came over and let me buy him a drink while we swapped lies and talked about our happy days at dear old Hormone Hall。
〃I didn't mention to him that he had left us rather abruptly and that the girls had gone into a decline over it； worrying that he might be dead in a ditch…didn't mention it because he did not。 But I had had to investigate his disappearance because my staff was so demoralized by it that the place felt like a morgue…no way for a parlor house to be。 I was able to establish that he had gone aboard the 'Gyrfalcon' when； she was about to lift for Luna City and had not left her…so I told the girls that Noisy had had a sudden opportunity to go home again but had left a message with the port captain for each of them…then added more lies to personalize the goodbye he hadn't made。 It perked them up and lifted the gloom。 They still missed him； but they all understood that grabbing a ride home was not something he could postpone…and since he had 'remembered' to send a message to each of them； they felt apprec？ated。
〃But it turned out that he did remember them； mentioned each by name。 Minerva dear； here is a difference between a blinded flesh…and…blood and one who has never been able to see。 Noisy could see a rainbow any time he cared to； by memory。 He never stopped 'seeing；' but what he 'saw' was always beauty。 I had realized that； some； back when we were on Mars together； for…don't laugh…he thought I was as pretty as you are； Galahad。 Told me that he could tell what I looked like from my voice； and described me to me。 I had the grace to say that he flattered me but let it lie when he answered that I was too modest…even though I'm not handsome now and wasn't then and modesty has never been one of my vices。
〃But Noisy thought all the girls were beautiful； too…and in one case this may have been true and certainly several of them were pretty。
〃But he asked me what had bee of Olga and added； 'Golly； what a little beauty she was！'
〃Kinfolk； Olga wasn't even homely； she was ugly。 Pace like a mud pie； figure like a gunnysack…only on an outpost like Mars could she get by。 What she did have was a warm and gentle voice and a sweet personality…which was enough； as a customer might pick her through Hobson's choice on a busy night； but once he had done so； he picked her some later time on purpose。 Mean to say； dears； beauty will lure a man into bed； but it won't bring him back a second time； unless he's awfully young or very stupid。〃
〃What does bring him back a second time； Grandfather？〃 asked Hamadryad。 〃Technique？ Muscular control？〃
〃Have yo'u had any plaints； dear？〃
〃Well 。 。 no。〃
第18节
〃Then you know the answer and are trifling with me。 Neither of those。 It's the ability to make a man happy； prjncipally by being happy about it yourself…a spiritual quality rather than a physical one。 Olga had it in gobs。
〃I told Noisy that Olga had married shortly after he left； happily so； and had three children last I had heard 。 。 which was an utter lie； as she had been killed accidentally and the girls bawled about it and 1 didn't feel good myself and we had shut the place down for four days。 But I couldn't tell Noisy that； Olga had been one of the first to mother him； had helped bathe him and had stolen some of my clothes for him while I slept。
〃But they all mothered him and never fought over him。 I have not deviated from our subject in this rambling account of Noisy； we're still defining 'love。' Anybody want to take whack at it now？〃
Galahad said； 〃Noisy loved every one of them。 That's what you've been saying。〃
〃No； Son； he didn't love any of them。 Fond of them； yes…but he left them without looking back。〃
〃Then you are saying that they loved him。〃
〃Correct。 Once you figure out the difference between what he felt toward them and what they felt toward him； we're almost home。〃
〃Mother love；〃 said Ira； and added gruffly； 〃Lazarus； are you trying to tell us that 'mother love' is the only love there is？ Man； you're out of your mind！〃 …
〃Probably。 But not that far out。 1 said they mothered him； I did not say a word about 'mother love。'〃
〃Uh 。 。 he bedded all of them？〃
〃Wouldn't be surprised； Ira。 I never tried to find out。 Irrelevant in any case。〃
Hamadryad said to her father； 〃Ira； 'mother love' can't be what we're trying to define； it is often only a sense of duty。 Two of my brats I was tempted to drown； as you may have guessed seeing what little demons they were。〃
〃Daughter； all your offspring were charming children。〃
〃Oh； fuff。 One has to give a baby mothering no matter what； or it will grow up to be a still worse monster。 What did you think of my son Gordon as a baby？〃
〃A delightful child。〃
〃Really？ I'll tell him that…if I ever have a male child I name 'Gordon。' Sorry； old darling； I shouldn't have trapped you。 Lazarus； Ira is a perfect grandfather； one who never forgets a birthday。 But I've suspected that Minerva kept track of such things for him and now I know it。 Right； Minerva？〃
Minerva did not answer。 Lazarus said； 〃She's not working for you； Hamadryad。〃
Ira said sharply； 〃Of course Minerva keeps track of such things for me！ Minerva； how many grandchildren do I have？〃
〃One hundred and twenty…seven； Ira； counting the boy child to be born next week。〃
〃How many great…grandchildren？ And who is having the boy？〃
〃Four hundred and three； sir。 Your son Gordon's current wife Marian。〃 。
〃Keep me posted on it。 That was the baby Gordon I was thinking of； Miss Smarty； Gordon's son Gordon 。 。 uh； by Evelyn Hedrick； I think。 Lazarus； I deceived you。 The truth is that I am migrating because my descendants are crowding me off this globe。〃
〃Father； are you really going to？ Not just talking？〃
〃Still top secret until after the decennial Trustees Meeting； dear。 But I am。 Want to e along？ Galahad and Ishtar have decided to go； they'll set up a rejuve shop' for the colony。 You'll have five to ten years in which to learn something useful？'
〃Grandfather； are you going？〃
〃Unlikely to the nth degree； my dear。 I've seen a colony。〃
〃You may change your mind。〃 Hamadryad stood up； faced Lazarus