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t she could learn to be useful in a colony； just as Hamadryad planned to…and； Hamadryad； swill you sleep with Lazarus tonight？…and Justin； you should have heard the motion that started！〃
〃Why a motion？〃 I asked。 〃From what you said earlier Lazarus had reacquired his interest in the friendly sport。' Did Hamadryad have some reason not to want to substitute for Tamara？〃
〃Hamadryad was willing； although upset by the way Tamara dumped the matter on her…〃
〃Doesn't sound like Tamara。 If Hamadryad hadn't wanted to do it； Tamara would 'have known it without asking。〃
〃Justin； when it es to people's emotions； Tamara always knows what she is doing。 It was Lazarus she was trapping； not Hamadryad。 Our Ancestor has oddshynesses； or did have then。 He had been sleeping with Tamara for a month…and pretending that he was not。； As futile as a cat covering up on a tile floor。 But Tamara's blandly blunt request that Hamadryad relieve her as his concubine forced it into the open and produced a head…on clash of wills； Lazarus and Tamara。 Justin； you know them both： Who won？〃
The ancient pseudoparadox… That Tamara could be immovable I knew。 〃I won't guess； Galahad。〃
〃Neither just then； because once Lazarus stopped sputter。 ing about how both he and Hamadryad were being needlessly embarrassed； Tamara gently withdrew her suggestion； then shut up。 Shut up on that； shut up about rejuvenation； shut up about migrating； left the next move up to Lazarus and won the argument by not arguing。 'Justin； it is difficult to kick Tamara out of one's bed…〃
〃I would find it impossible。〃
〃I think Lazarus found it so。 What discussions they had in the middle of the night I could not say 。 。 but Lazarus learned
that she would not leave for rejuvenation until he promised never to sleep alone while she was gone。 But she promised in exchange to return to his bed as sOon as she pleted antigeria。 '
〃So one morning Lazarus announced the d閠ente…red…faced
and almost stuttering。 Justin； our Ancestor's' true age shows snore in some of his ancient attitudes about sex than in any other way。〃
〃I didn't notice it last night； Qalahad…and I expected to； having studied his memoirs so closely。〃
〃Yes but you saw him last night some fourteen years after we set up our family…as it was that morning that did it。 Although we did not formalize it until after the twins were born； whereas at this time they were slight bulges at most。 Believe me； Lazarus found it hard to capitulate…and tried for an escape hole even then。 He announced； rather aggressively； that he had promised Tamara not to sleep alone while she was undergoing antigeria； then said； more or less in these words： 'Ira； you told me that professional ladies were to be found in the city。 How do I go about finding one who will accept a contract for that length of time？' I have to quote him in English as he was using euphemisms he ordinarily disdains。
〃What Lazarus didn't know was that Ishtar had programmed us like actors hypnotized into roles。 Perhaps you've noticed that he is responsive to female tears？〃
〃Isn't everyone？ I've noticed。〃
〃Ira； pretended not to know what profession Lazarus meant 。 。 which gave Hamadryad time to burst into tears and flee 。 。 whereupon Ishtar stood up and said； 'Grandfather 。 。 how could you？…and she was dripping tears； too 。 。 and chased after Hamadryad。 Then it was Tamara's turn to switch on the the raindrops and follow the other two。 Which left us three men together。
〃Ira became very formal and said； 'If you will excuse me； Sire； I will attempt to find and consol~ my daughter'… bowed； turned abruptly； and left。 Which left it up to me。 Justin； I didn't know what to do。 I knew that Ishtar expected difficulty because Tamara had warned her。 But I did not expect to be left to juggle it alone。
〃Lazarus said； 'Great balls of fire！ Son； what did I do now？' Well； I could answer that。 I said； 'Grandfather； you've hurt Hamadryad's feelings。'
〃Then I was carefully unhelpful…refused to speculate why her feelings were hurt； could not guess where she might' have gone…unless she had gone home； which I understood was somewhere in the suburbs…declined to act as his intermediary…ail to Ishtar's instructions to play dumb； stupid； and useless； and let the women handle it。 '
〃So Lazarus had to track Hamadryad down himself；； which he did with Athene's…I mean 'Minerva's'…help。〃
Athene said； 〃This is all news to me； Uncle Cuddly。〃
〃If it is； dear； please forget it。〃
〃Oh； I shall！〃 the puter answered。 〃Except that I'm going to save it up and use it about a hundred years from now。 Justin； if I burst into tears…after I'm a flesh…andblood…will you track me down and console me？〃
〃Probably。 Almost certainly。〃
〃I'll remember that； Lover Boy。 You're cute。〃 …
I pretended not to hear； but Galahad said； 〃'Lover Boy'？〃
〃That's what I said； dear。 Sorry； Uncle Cuddly； but you're obsolete。 If you hadn't gone to sleep early； you would know why。〃
I kept quiet while；_making a；； mental note for a hundred _；years henc~…one that involved Pallas Athene as a flesh…and~bIood and getting her into a helpless position。 …
This side conversation was cut short； Athene notified us that Lazarus was arriving。 Galahad waved his arms。 〃Hey！ Pappy！ Back here！〃
〃ing。〃 Lazarus bussed me in passing； did so to Galahad as he slid in by him and grabbed what was left of Galahad's second breakfast…a home…baked jam roll…stuffed it into his mouth and said around it： 〃Well？ Did he fight the hook？〃
〃Not nearly the way you did with Hamadryad； Pappy。 I was telling' Justin about that…how the Hamadarling tripped you and thereby set up our family。〃
〃My God； what a canard！〃 Lazarus helped himself to Galahad's hot…cup。 〃Justin； Galahad is a sweet lad but ro~ mantic。 I knew exactly what I wanted to acplish； so I started by raping Hamathyad。 That broke down her resistance； and now she sleeps with anybody； even Galahad。 Everything else followed in logical sequence。〃 He added； 〃You still plan to go back to Secundus？〃
I answered； 〃Perhaps I didn't understand what Galahad has been telling me。 I thought I was mitting myself； in joining； to…〃 I stopped。 〃Lazarus； I don't know what I'm mitted to； and I don't know what I'm joining。〃
Lazarus nodded。 〃One must make allowances for youth； Justin；'Galahad doesn't speak clearly as yet。〃
〃Thanks； Pappy。 Too much。 I sold him the deal。 Now you've got him wondering。〃
〃Quiet； Son。 Let me spell it out； Justin。 What you are
joining is a family。 What you are mitted to is the welfare of the children。 All of them； not just any that you may sire。〃 He looked aP me； waited。
I said； 〃Lazarus； I've raised a number of children…〃
〃I know。〃
〃I don't think I've let one down yet。 Very well； three that I haven't seen； plus your two…your sisters or adopted daughters…plus others as they e along。 Correct？〃
〃Yes。 But it's not a lifetime m