Chapter 25 Theme Variations XVI Love

Minerva said, "Lazarus, can you talk to me? Outside?" "I can if you smile." A smile flashed across her face. "None of us want to laugh today. But I'll try." "Come on honey, you know the plan, I'm not going long. Like the clock-correcting flights the twins and I used to make." "Yes, dear. Shall we go?" He patted her skirt. "Come on. Where's your gun?" "Do I have to take a gun? When you're with me? I'll definitely take it with you...when you leave." "Well, this exception is not good. All right."

They paused in the hall.Minerva said; "My dear Athena, please tell Tamara, and I will be back in time to help her with supper." "Okay, sister. Hold on—Tami says she doesn't need your help, so don't worry." "Thanks, sister. Thank Tammy for me." They went out and started climbing a hill.Not long after, she said, "Tomorrow." "'Tomorrow,'" Lazarus repeated, "but don't make it like a eulogy. I've told you that while the trip is ten Earth-years long for me, it's not for you who are at home. Only a few weeks at most for twins - less for twins. What's there to be sullen about?"

She didn't answer the question, "How long will I live?" "Huh? Minerva, what kind of a problem is that? It won't be very long, if you ignore the usual precautions you should take, like going out with a weapon, staying alert, etc. If you mean life expectancy - hmm , if the geneticists are right, then your lifespan will be as long as mine. I passed on to you the genes that determine your lifespan. Even if they got the genes on the twelfth pair of chromosomes wrong, each of your The genes are also unmistakably from the Howard family. So it doesn't take much effort for you to live in good health for centuries. But if you are willing to take rejuvenation treatments every time you approach the limit of aging, I don't know how long you can live Time—they're making progress on this every year. It's possible to live as long as you want. How long is that?"

"I don't know, Lazarus." "So what upsets you, dear? Regret not being a computer, but being a fragile human being?" "Oh no!" She went on to say, "But sometimes, it's really hard to be human." "Yes. Sometimes." "Lazarus...if you're sure you'll be back...why did you reprogram Dora to put her affections on Laurie and Razu instead of you?" "Is this what bothers you? It's just a routine precaution, that's all. Why did Ella make a new will when we started this family? Why did we all make our own wills at Tina's? Whatever What happened, my sisters are going to be the masters of 'Dora' soon; Ella you would self-destruct instead of serving another master."

"How could I forget such a memory? It was the conversation on that day that led to everything today. This is an inevitable causal relationship. Lazarus, I have not brought many memories... But today I remember the past Every conversation between Minerva and you. Every word." "Then you should understand that I'm not going to risk hurting two computers that think they're a little girl...nor risking a navigator computer getting emotionally confused in space, especially when my sisters' lives are at stake. When relying on that computer. Minerva, even if only for Dora, I would tie her to Laurie and Lazuo; she needs to love and be loved. If I ignore this , failed to implement this precaution for her and the twins - let's just say that a man is a fool if he does not take into account the possibility of his own death when planning. A self-centered, no one Love fool."

"You're not like that, Lazarus, you never were like that." "Oh yes, I've been like that before! It took me a long time to realize the mistake." Again, it was a long time before she spoke. "Lazarus... I think of Rita a lot." "'Remembering Rita'? What?" "I still think of her, even more than Rita. Do I really look like her?" He stopped and looked at her.They're almost at the top of the hill now, with no home in sight. "I don't know. How do I know? It's been a thousand years—the memory has faded and confused. I think you look like her. Yes, you do."

"Is this why you can't love me? Did I make a terrible mistake by asking myself to look like her?" "But honey... I do love you." "Really? Lazarus, you never let me have you." Suddenly she took off her skirt and let it fall on the grass. "Look at me, Lazarus. I'm not her. Because of you, I wish I could be her. But I'm not... I made a - I - I was a computer and I had no better idea. I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't want you to be in Feeling guilty! Can you forgive me?" "Minerva! Don't say that, dear! There is nothing to forgive."

"Time is running out and you are leaving. Can you really forgive me? Will you give me your child before you leave?" Her eyes filled with tears, but she stared at him with firm eyes, " I want your baby, Lazarus. I won't ask a second time...but I can't let you go without asking. I was stupid enough to make myself look like her—because you loved her— But you can close your eyes!" "Dear--" "Well, Lazarus?" "Did Ella close his eyes? Refuse to look at you?" "No." "Where's Justin? Where's Grahead? If you can bear my plain face, I can certainly look at your pretty face--and, with luck, the child will look a little more like you, Not me. Let's go home."

She looked up. "Is there anything wrong with this grove?" "Well. You're right. Now."