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inary beauty。 I tried to remember if he ha；~d been that beautiful a hundred years back。 I am not indifferent to male beauty； but my sensuality is not perfectly balanced； in the presence of a homely female and a beautiful male； I tena to look at the female。 So I'll never be an esthete； I lack judgment in matters of beauty。 I apologize in advance to 'any female who finds my primitive attitude offensive。
But I'll share bed with Galahad in preference to a selfcentered female beauty； he's warm and gentle and good pany； with a roguish playfulness not unlike that of the twins。 The thought ran through my mind that I would like to meet his sister…or mother or daughter…a female version of him in character and personality； as well as in appearance。
Tamara！ The above was froth at the top of my mind because I was unable to face at once the implications of Galahad's announcement。
He went on： 〃Close your mouth； dear； I was as startled as you are。 But； even if we hadn't been friends years back； on Tamara's motion I would have voted for you sight unseen… so that I could study you。 Tamara never makes a mistake。 But were you so mind…ill that you needed that much from her？ Or so superhuman that she wanted that much from you？ But you are neither； or I failed to see it。 You aren't ill； I think； other than a touch of wild…goose fever。 You may be superman； but none of us found it o~it last night。 If you are a superstud； you restrained yourself。 Hamadryad did say at breakfast that a woman is happy in your arms。 But she did not imply that you are the Galaxy's greatest lover。
〃Being one of Minerva's parents is in your favor； none of them has any serious shortings； 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 Mmerva 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 nuilboat。 Though I was~ surprised to find one in a young colony。 I expected muledrawn wagons。〃
〃Lots of those； too。 But Lazarus says that this time h'e 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 tha~ 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 besL e？〃
〃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 Tam ara'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 nlyself。 〃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 the 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 plex 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 pany 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 troubl？ Has this ever happened to you？〃 ；
〃No。 Perhaps I should say； 'Not yet；' since I'm still working on my secon'd century。〃
〃Then you don't know what I mean。〃
〃Only vicariously。 But may I quote something Lazarus
A A~
once said？ He was speaking to Ira； but privacy was not placed on it； you'll e across it in his raw memoirs。
〃'Ira；' he said； 'there were many years when I hardly bOthered with women…not only unmarried hut celibate。 After all； how much variety can there be in the slippery friction of mucous membranes？
〃'Then I realized