"Being one of Minerva's parents is in your favor, none of them has any serious shortcomings; Ishtar made sure of that-Ishtar knows more about you than you do yourself; she can read a gene chart the way other people read print-and Minerva herself is proof that no mistakes were made. I mean, look at Minerva: sweet as the morning breeze and as beautiful as Hamadryad in her own fashion, and with an intelligence level so high you wouldn't believe it-yet so modest she's almost humble.
"But still, it's Tamara. Your fate was settled before you reached this house. Slow ride home, wasn't it?"
"Well...one doesn't expect speed from a nullboat. Though I was surprised to find one in a young colony. I expected mule-drawn wagons."
"Lots of those, too. But Lazarus says that this time he traveled with 'seven elephants'-we fetched a mammoth amount of equipment. That's an overpowered nullboat, rebuilt to Lazarus' specifications, and could have fetched you here in a fifth the time it did. But Ira let Lazarus know that he wanted time to make some calls. So Lazarus probably told whichever twin was in charge-or signaled her somehow; he is almost telepathic with them-to give you a long, slow ride. Which you got, and I bet that Laz and Lor never changed expression."
"They didn't."
"Was sure of it. They are not children-you should see them handle a spaceship. Anyhow, Ira talked to Ishtar, then to Tamara; then we held a family conference and settled your fate. Lazarus confirmed it while you played with the twins- who were given a chance to veto it later. But they ratified it at once. They not only like you, but Aunt Tammy's wishes are law."
I was still bemused. "Apparently much went on that I didn't suspect."
"You weren't supposed to. A better cook would have stayed to get your breakfast, had I not been deputized to tell you- old friends and all that-and to answer questions."
"I'm confused about that conference. I thought Tamara got home just before dinner."
"She did. Oh- Athene, are you listening, dear?"
"Uncle Cuddly, you know I don't listen to private conversations."
"The hell you don't. It'll be all right, Justin; Teena keeps secrets. Tell him how to call someone, Teena."
"Tell me to whom you wish to speak, Justin; I have radio links to every farm. Or anywhere. And I can always reach Ira and Lazarus."
"Thank you, Teena. Now if you must listen, pretend not to. The conference was here, Justin; Teena fetched in Tamara's voice and Ira's. Could have fetched voices from the nullboat- but you were the subject. By the way, Teena is one reason this family isn't farming; instead we supply services that colonies usually don't have so soon. Oh, you can farm if you want to; we've claimed quite a bit of land. Or there are other ways to make a living. All right, I've done my best. Want to quiz me?"
"Galahad, I think I understand everything but why Tamara wants me in your family."
"You'll have to ask her. I told you I was checking for your halo. Can't see it."
"I don't wear it in hot weather. Obadiah, don't farce around; this is terribly important to me. Why do you keep saying that Tamara's wishes settled it?"
"You know her, man."
"I know how important her wishes are to me. But I've been in love with her for many years." I told him things I had long kept to myself. "So that's the way it went. A great hetaera never proposes a contract and usually won't listen if a man is bold enough to propose one himself. But I- well, I made a nuisance of myself. Tamara finally convinced me that she married only to have children and did not intend to have more. I feel sure that money was not a factor-"
"It wouldn't be. Oh, I don't mean that Tamara is silly that way; I've heard her say that since money is the universal symbol for value received, one should accept it proudly. But Tamara wouldn't marry for money; she wouldn't feel that- Or perhaps she would; I think I'll ask her. Mm...interesting. Our Tamara is a complex person. Sorry, dear; I interrupted."
"I say money was not the controlling factor, as she had suitors with ten to a hundred times my modest wealth, yet she married none of them. So I shut up and was content to have part of Tamara-spend nights with her when I was permitted to, share her company in happiness circles at other times, pay her as much as I could-as much as she would accept, I mean; she often set her fee by refusing part of a gift-she did with me; I don't know what she did with wealthy clients.
"Years and years of that, then she announced that she was retiring-and I was stunned. I had taken rejuvenation during this time but hadn't noticed that she was any older. But she wa~ firm about it and left New Rome.
"Galahad, it left me impotent. Oh, not incapable, but what had been ecstasy turned out to be mere exercise not worth the trouble. Has this ever happened to you?"
"No. Perhaps I should say, 'Not yet,' since I'm still working on my second century."
"Then you don't know what I mean."
"Only vicariously. But may I quote something Lazarus once said? He was speaking to Ira, but privacy was not placed on it; you'll come across it in his raw memoirs.
'Ira,' he said, 'there were many years when I hardly bothered with women-not only unmarried but celibate. After all, how much variety can there be in the slippery friction of mucous membranes?
"'Then I realized that there was infinite variety in women as people...and that sex was the most direct route to knowing a woman...a route they like, one that we like, and often the only route that can break down barriers and permit close acquaintance.
"'And in discovering this, I gained renewed interest in the friendly frolic itself, happy as a lad with his first bare tit warm in his hand. Happier-as never again was I merely a piston to her cylinder; each woman was a unique individual worth knowing, and, if we took time enough, we might find we loved each other. But at least we offered each other pleasure and a haven from cares; we weren't simply masturbating, with the other just a sex doll.'
"That's close to what Lazarus said, Justin. You went through something like that?"
"Yes. Somewhat. A long period when sex 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 sex can be friendly and worthwhile 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-"
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 breasts. She's my mother, dear-what a delightful coincidence!"
I was delighted, too, but more interested in something else.. "So that's 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 assumed that this holiday was going to be fun-fun for both of us-and it was indeed!-and I forgot about being uninterested in sex. 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 attitude. Maggie is fun to be around, in bed or out. Laugh wrinkles but no frown wrinkles."