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bout it。 〃That mythical time machine I mentioned earlier would be a convenience。 I would like to look over all twenty…three after you pick them…and some of them may be dead。 The donors I mean； not the tissue cultures。〃
〃Lazarus； if other characteristics are satisfactory； is there any reason not to select as well for physical appearance？〃
〃Why worry about it； dear？ Ira is not the sort of man to insist on Helen of Troy。〃
〃No； I don't think he is。 But I want to be tall…tall as Ishtar…and slender； with small breasts。 And straight； brown hair。〃
〃Minerva 。 。 why？〃
〃Because that is the way I look。 You said so。 You did say so！〃
Lazarus blinked at the gloom and hummed softly： 〃She's a good sport 。 。 I can spring her 。 。 。for a fin or even a sawbuck〃…then said sharply： 〃Minerva； you're a crazy； mixed…up machine； lithe best bination of traits results in your being a short； plump blonde with big tits…buy it！ Don't worry about an old man's fantasies。 I'm sorry I mentioned that imaginary description。〃
〃But； Lazarus； I said 'if other characteristics are satisfactory…To get that physical appearance I need search only with respect to three autosome pairs； there is no conflict； the search is already plete within all parameters we have discussed thus far。 And that is me…is 'F？…no； me！ I've known it since you told me。 But…from things you have said…and others that you did not say…I feel that I need your permission to look like that。〃
The old man lowered his head and covered his face。 Then he looked up。 〃Go ahead； dear…look like her。 I mean 'look like yourself。' Like your mind's…eye picture of yourself。 You'll find it hard enough to learn to be flesh…and…blood without the added handicap of not looking the way you feel you ought to look。〃
〃Thank you； Lazarus。〃
〃There will be problems； dear； even if everything goes well。 For example； has it occurred to you that you will have to learn to talk all over again？ Even learn to see and to hear？ When you move yourself over into your clone body and leave nothing behind but a puter； you won't suddenly be an adult。 Instead； you'll be a weird sort of baby in an adult body； with the world a buzzing confusion around you and totally strange。 You may find it frightening。 I'll be there； I promise I will be there and holding your hand。 But you won't know me； your new eyes won't abstract a gestalt of me until you learn to use them。 You won't understand a word I say…did you realize that？〃
〃I do realize it； Lazarus。 I did know it； I have given it much thought。 Getting into my new body…without destroying the puter that I am now； which I must not； as Ira will need it and so will Ishtar…making that transition is the most critical phase。 But if I make it； I promise you that I will not be frightened by the strangeness。 Because I know that I will？have loving friends around me； cherishing me； keeping me alive； not letting me hurt myself nor be hurt…while I'm learning to be a flesh…and…blood。〃
〃That you will have； dear。〃
〃I know and I am not worried。 So don't you worry； beloved Lazarus…don't think of it now。 Why did you say； earlier； 'that mythical time machine'？〃
〃Eh？ How would you describe it？〃
〃I would describe it as an 'unrealized potential。' But 'mythical' implies impossibility。〃
〃Eh？ Keep talking！〃
第29节
〃Lazarus； I learned from Dora； when she taught me the mathematics of n…space astrogation； that every jump transition involves a decision as to when to reenter the time axis。〃
〃Yes； certainly。 Since you are cut off from the framework of the speed…of…light you could go as many years astray as there are light…years involved in the jump。 But that's not a time machine。〃
〃It isn't？〃
〃Hmm… It's a disturbing thought…it feels like intentionally making a bad landing。 I wish Andy Libby were here。 Minerva； why didn't you mention this before？〃
〃Should I have put it into your Zwicky Box？ You turned down time travel forward 。 。 and I ruled out time travel into the past because you said you wanted something new。〃
INTERMISSION
Excerpts from the Notebooks of Lazarus Long
Always；store beer in a dark place。
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By the data to date； there is only one animal in the Galaxy dangerous to man…man himself。 So he must supply his own indispensable petition。 He has no enemy to help him。
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Men are more sentimental than women。 It blurs their thinking。
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Certainly the game is rigged。 Don't let that stop you； if you don't bet； you can't win。
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Any priest or shaman must be presumed guilty until proved innocent。
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Always listen to experts。 They'll tell you what can't be done； snd why。 Then do it。
S
Get a shot off fast。 This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect。
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There is no conclusive evidence of life after death。 But here is no evidence of any sort against it。 Soon …enough you will know。 So why fret about it？
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If it can't be expressed in figures； it is not science； it is opinion。
It has long been known that one horse can run fister than another…but which one？ Differences are crucial。
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A fake fortueller can be tolerated。 But an authentic soothsayer should be shot on sight。 Cassandra did not get half the kicking around she deserved。
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Delusions are often functional。 A mother's opinions about her children's beauty； intelligence； goodness； et cetera ad nauseam； keep her from drowning them at birth。
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Most 〃scientists〃 are bottle washers and button sorters。
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A 〃pacifist male〃 is a contradiction in terms。 Most selfdescribed 〃pacifists〃 are not pacific； they simply assume false colors。 When the wind changes； they hoist the Jolly Roger。
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Nursing does not diminish the beauty of a woman's breasts； it enhances their charm by making them look lived in and happy。
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A generation which ignores history has no past…and no future。
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A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits。
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What a wonderful world it is that has girls in it！
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Small change can often be found under seat cushions。
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History doss not record anywhere at any time a religion that has any rational basis。 Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up to the unknown without help。 But； like dandruff； most people do have a religion and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it。
第30节
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It's amazing how much 〃mature wisdom〃 resembles beingtoo tired。
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If you don't like yourself； you can't like other people。
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Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes。 Keep this in mind； it may offer a way to make him your friend。 If not； you can kill him without hate…and quickly。
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A motion to adjourn is always in order。
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No state has an inherent right to survive through conscript troops and； in the long run； no state ever； has。 Roman matrons used to say to their sons： 〃e back with your shield； or on it。〃 Later on； this custom declined。 So did Rome。
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Of all the strange 〃crimes〃 that human beings have legislated… out of nothing； 〃blasphemy〃 is the most amazing…with 〃obscenity〃 and 〃indecent exposure〃 fighting it out for second and third place。
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Cheops' Law： Nothing ever gets built on schedule or within budget。
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It is better to copulate than never。
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All societies are based on rules to protect pregnant women and young children。 All else is surplusage； excrescence； adornment； luxury； or folly which can…and must…be dumped in emergency to preserve this prime function。 As racial survival is the only universal morality； no other basic is possible。 Attempts to formulate a perfect society on any foundation other than 〃Women and children first！〃 is not only witless； it is automatically genocidal。 Nevertheless； starry…eyed idealists （all of them male） have tried endlessly…and no doubt will keep on trying。
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All men are created unequal。
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Money is a powerful aphrodisiac。 But flowers work almost as well。
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A brute kills for pleasure。 A fool kills from hate。
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There is only one way to console a widow。 But remember the risk。
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When the need arises…and it does…you must be able to shoot your own dog。 Don't farm it out…that doesn't make it nicer； it makes it worse。
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Everything in excess！ To enjoy the flavor of life； take big bites。 Moderation is for monks。
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It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion； but it is better still to be a live lion。 And usually easier。
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One man's theology is atiother man's belly laugh。
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Sex should be friendly。 Otherwise stick to mechanical toys； it's more sanitary。
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Men rarely （if ever） manage to dream up a god superior to themselves。 Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child。
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Never appeal to a man's 〃better nature。〃 He may not have one。 Invoking his self…interest gives you more leverage。
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Little girls； like butterflies； need no excuse。
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You can have peace。 Or you can have freedom。 Don't ever count on having both at once。
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第31节
Avoid making irrevocable decisions while tired or hungry。 N。B。： Circumstances can force your hand。 So think ahead！
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Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark。
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An elephant： A mouse built to government specifications。
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Throughout history； poverty is the normal condition of man。 Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded…here and there； now and then…are the work of an extremely small minority； frequently despised； often condemned； and almost always opposed by all right…thinking people。 Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating； or （as sometimes happens） is driven out of a society； the people then slip back into abject poverty。 This is known as 〃bad luck。〃
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In a mature society； 〃civil servant〃 is semantically equal to 〃civil master。〃
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When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's； social collapse is not far away。 It is time to go elsewhere。 The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere。
A woman is not property； and husbands who think otherwise axe living in a dreamworld。
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The second best thing about space travel is that the distances involved make war very difficult； usually impractical； and almost always unnecessary。 This is probably a loss for most people； si