time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第51部分

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　　Once　she　said；　〃Aaron；　I　sniff　a　mouse。　You　told　us　to　be　free；　and　we've　tried　to　be…and　that's　why　we　sent　you　that　draft。　I　can　add　figures；　we　owe　you　that　money。　We　don't　have　to　have　the　biggest　restaurant　in　New　Canaveral　We're　happy；　the　children　are　healthy；　we're　making　money。
　　
　　〃And　working　too　hard；〃　I　answered。
　　
　　〃Not　all　that　hard。　Though　a　bigger　restaurant　woul　mean　even　more　work。　But　the　point　is：　You　seem　to　be　buying　us　again。　That's　all　right　if　you　wish　to…you　are　the　only　master　we　would　ever　accept。　Is　that　your　intention；　sir？　If　so；　piease　say　so。　Be　frank　with　us。〃
　　
　　I　said；　〃Joe；　will　you　hold　her　while　I　wallop　her？　For　using　that　dirty　word？　Llita；　you　are　wrong　on　both　counts。　A　bigger　restaurant　means　less　work。　And　I'm　not　buying　you；　this　is　a　business　deal　in　which　I　expect　a　fat　profit　I'm　betting　on　Joe's　genius　as　a　chef；　plus　your　genius　fos　pinching　pennies　ake　money；　I'll　exercise　my　option　to　liquidate；　get　my　investment　back；　and　you　can　go　back　to　running　a　lunch　counter。　If　you　fail　I　won't　prop　you　up。〃
　　
　　〃Brother？〃　She　called　him　that　in　the　dialect　of　their　childhood。　It　signified　to　me　that　the　lodge　was　styled　for　executive　session　at　the　highest　degree；　as　they　were　most　careful　not　to　call　each　other　〃Brother〃　or　〃Sister〃　in　any　language；　especially　in　front　of　the　children。　J。A。　was　sometimes　〃Brother~'　in　English…never　his　father　Joe。　Minerva；　I　don't　recall　that　Landfall　had　laws　against　incest…it　did　not　have　many　laws。　But　there　was　a　strong　taboo　against　it；　and　I　had　carefully　indoctrinated　them。　Half　the　battle　with　any　culture　is　knowing　its　taboos。
　　
　　Joe　looked　thoughtful。　〃I　can　cook。　Can　you　manage　it；　Sis？'
　　
　　〃I　can　try。　Of　course　we'll　try　it　if　you　want　us　to；　Aaron。　I'm　not　sure　we　can　make　a　go　of　it；　and　it　does　look　like　more　work　to　me。　I'm　not　plaining；　Aaron；　but　we　are　already　working　about　as　hard　as　we　can。〃
　　
　　〃I　know　you　are。　I　don't　see　how　Joe　found　time　to　knock　you　up。〃
　　
　　She　shrugged　and　said；　〃That　doesn't　take　long。　And　it　will；　be　a　long　time…I've　just　barely　caught…before　I'll　have　to　take　time　off。　J。A；　is　old　enough　to　handle　the　cashbox…when　I　do。　But　not　in　a　big　fancy　restaurant。〃
　　
　　I　answered；　〃Wench；　you're　thinking　in　terms　of　a　lunchroom。　Now　listen；　and　learn　how　to　make　more　money　with　less　work　and　more　time　off。
　　
　　〃We　may　not　open　Maison　Long　until　after　you　have　this　baby；　We　can't　set　this　up　overnight。　We　must　sell　or　lease　this　place……which　means　finding　buyers　who　can　keep　it　out　of　the　red；　it's　always　expensive　to　have　to　take　a　place　back。
　　
　　〃We　must　find　a　suitable　property　in　the　right　neighborhood；　for　sale　or　lease　with　option　to　buy。　I　may　buy　it　and　rent　it　to　the　corporation；　so　as　not　to　tie　up　too　much　of　the　corporation's　capital　in　senior　financing。　Find　the　place；
　　
　　remodel　it　probably；　redecorate　it　certainly。　Money　for　fixtures。　Not　much　for　squeeze；　I　know　where　the　bodies　are　buried　in　this　burg；　and　I　won't　hold　still　for　excessive　squeeze。
　　
　　〃But；　my　dear；　you　will　not　be　on　the　cashbox；　we'll　hire　help；　and　I'll　set　it　up　so　that　they　can't　steal。　You　will　be　moving　around；　looking　pretty；　smiling　at　people…and　keeping　your　eye　on　everything。　But　you'll　do　this　only　at　lunch　and　dinner。　Call　it　six　hours　a　day。〃
　　
　　Joe　looked　startled；　Llita　blurted　out；　〃But？　Aaron；　we　always　open　up　as　soon　as　we're　back　from　market　and　stay　open　late。　Otherwise　you　lose　so　much　trade。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　sure　you　work　that　hard；　this　draft　proves　it。　And　that's　why　you　think　getting　pregnant　'doesn't　take　long。'　But　it　should　'take　long；'　dear。　Work　is　not　an　end　in　itself；　there　must　always　be　time　enough　for　love。　Tell　me…　When　you　caught　J。A。　in　the　'Libby'；　were　you　rushed？　Or　did　did　you　have　time　to　enjoy　it？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　goodness！〃　Her　nipples　suddenly　crinkled。　〃Those　were　wonderful　days！〃
　　
　　〃There　will　be　wonderful　days　again。　Gather　ye　rosebuds；　time　is　still　a…flying。　Or　have　you　lost　interest？〃
　　
　　She　looked　indignant。　〃Captain；　you　know　me　better　than　that。〃
　　
　　〃Joe？　Slowing　down；　son？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　we　do　work　long　hours。　Sometimes　I'm　pretty　tired。〃
　　
　　〃Let's　change　that。　This　will　not　be　a　lunchroom；　this　is　going　to　be　a　high…priced　gourmet　restaurant　of　a　quality　this　pla　has　never　seen。　Remember　that　place　I　took　you　kids　fo　dinner　just　before　we　lifted　from　Valhalla？　That　sort。　Soft　lights　and　soft　music　and　wonderful　food　and　high　prices；　wine　cellar　but　no　hard　liquor；　our　patrons　must　not　hay　their　tastebuds　numbed。
　　
　　〃Joe；　you　will　still　go　to　market　each　morning；　selecting　top…quality　food　is　something　you　can't　delegate。　But　don't　take　Llita　and　do　take　J。A。　if　he's　going　to　learn　the　profession。
　　
　　〃I　sometimes　take　him　now。〃
　　
　　〃Good。　Then　e　home　and　go　to　bed　again；　you're　through　until　you　cook　dinner。　Not　lunch。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？〃
　　
　　第27节
　　
　　〃That's　right。　Your　number　two　chef　handles　lunch；　then　helps　with　dinner；　your　big　moneymaking　meal。　Llita　is　hostess…both　for　lunch　and　dinner；　but　keeps　an　especially　sharp　eye　on　quality　at　lunch；　Joe；　since　you　won！t　be　in　this　kitchen。　But　she　never　goes　to　market　and　should　still　be　in　bed　when　you　get　back　from　market…did　I　say　that　you　quarters　will　be　attached；　just　as　now？　You'll　both　be　off　duty　two　or　three　hours　in　the　afternoon…just　right　for　this　sort　of　siesta　you　used　to　grab　in　the　'Libby。'　In　fact；　if　you　two　can't　find　time　under　that　regime　both　for　sleep　and　plenty　of　happy　play…But　you　can。〃
　　
　　〃It　sounds　grand；〃　Uita　conceded；　〃if　we　can　make　a　living　with　those　hours~~。！'
　　
　　〃You　can。　A　better　living。　But　instead　of　trying　to　get　every　buck；　Llita；　your　object　will　be　to　maintain　top　quality　while　not　losing　money　。　。　and　enjoy　life。〃
　　
　　〃We　wilL　Aaron；　our　beloved　。　。　captain　and　***Mend***；　since　I　must　not　say　that　'dirty'　word；　we　enjoyed　life　even　a　children　when　I　had　to　wear　that　horrid　virgin's　basket…because　it　was　so　sweet　to　snuggle　together　all　the　lone　nights。　When　you　bought　us…and　freed　us…and　I　didn'i　have　to　wear　it；　life　was　perfect。　I　didn't　think　it　could　be　better…though　it　will　be；　when　we　don't　have　to　choose　between　sleep　and　trying　to　stay　awake　for　loving。　Uh；　you　must　not　believe　this　since　you　know　what　a　rutty　wench　I　am…but　lots　of　times　sleep　won。〃
　　
　　〃I　believe　it。　Let's　change　it。〃
　　
　　〃But…　No　breakfast　trade　at；all？　Aaron；　some　of　our　breakfast　customers　have　been　ing　to　us　the　whole　time　we've　been　on　Landfall。〃
　　
　　〃　profit？〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　not　much。　People　won't　pay　as　much　for　breakfast　even　though　materials　sometimes　cost　as　much。　I've　been　satisfied　with　a　very　small　　on　breakfast。　Advertising。　I'd　hate　to　tell　our　regulars　that　we　won't　serve　them　any　longer。〃
　　
　　〃Details；　dear。　You　can　have　a　breakfast　bar　in　one　corner　and　not　open　the　main　dining　room…but　Joe　won't　cook　breakfasts；　and　neither　will　you。　You'll　be　in　bed　with　Joe　at　that　hour…so　that　your　eyes　will　sparkle　at　lunch。〃
　　
　　〃J。A。　knows　breakfast　dishes；〃　put　in　Joe。　〃I　started　him　on　breakfasts。〃
　　
　　〃Details　again。　Maybe　we'll　work　out　a　deal　with　my　godson　whereby　he　makes　money　of　his　own；　if　the　breakfast　bar　makes　money…〃
　　
　　（Omitted）
　　
　　〃…sum　it　up。　Take　notes；　Llita。　I　agree　to　accept　this　draft　while　you　two…especially　you；　Llita…agree　that　it　settles　forever　any　debt　between　us。　Maison　Long　to　be　a　closely　held　corporation；　fifty…one　per　cent　to　you　two；　forty…nine　percent　to　me；　all　three　of　us　directors；　and　we　can't　sell　stock　save　to　each　other…except　that　I　retain　option　to　change　all　or　part　of　my　share　to　nonvoting　stock；　in　which　case　I　can　assign　it。　…
　　
　　〃My　share　of　the　initial　financing　is　this　draft。　Your　share　is　what　we　get　for　this　lunchroom…〃
　　
　　〃Hold　it；〃　said　Llita。　〃We　might　not　be　able　to　sell　for　that　much。〃
　　
　　〃Details；　dear。　Stick　in　a　paragraph　to　let　you　pay　the　corporation　any　discrepancy　out　of　your　…and　there　will　indeed　be　a　；　I　don't　stick　with　a　business　that　doesn't　make　money；　I　always　cut　my　losses。　Let's　have　another　paragraph　that　permits　me　to　supply　more　capital；　if　needed；　by　buying　nonvoting　stock…and　we'll　use　something　like　that　to　hang　onto　our　top　help；　too。　Not　have　Joe　train　a　chef　and　then　have　him　walk　out。　Never　mind；　let's　get　the　outlines　straight。　You　two　are　the　bosses；　I'm　silent　partner。　Salaries　for　you　two　on　the　scale　we　discussed；　escalating　with　rise　in　；　as　discussed。
　　
　　〃I　don't　get　a　salary；　just　dividends。　But　we　all　will　be　working　our　tails　off　to　get　this　rolling。　I'll　e　in　from　Skyhaven　as　necessary；　there's　nothing　going　on　there　now　that　my　overseer　can't　handle。　But　once　it's　rolling；　I　do　nothing；　I　sit　back　and　let　you　two　make　us　rich。　But…listen　carefully…once　it's　rolling；　you　two　must　stop　working　your　tails　off；　too。　More　time　in　bed。　More　time　for　fun　out　of　bed。　You　won't　make　us　rich　working　lunchroom　hours。　Have　we　reached　a　meeting　of　minds？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　so；〃　agreed　Joe。　〃Sis？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。　I'm　not　certain　New　Canaveral　will　support　a　gourmet　restaurant　like　those　lovely　ones　on　Valhalla…but　we'll　try！　I　still　think　our　starting　salaries　are　too　high；　but　I'll　wait　until　I've　struck　a　trial　balance　on　our　first　quarter　before　I　argue　the　matter。　Just　one　thing；　Captain…〃
　　
　　〃My　name's　'Aaron。'〃
　　
　　〃'Captain'　is　safer　than　that　'dirty　word。'　I've　agreed　to　the　whole　thing…and　I'm　durned　well　going　to　make　it　work！…as　you　always　say。　But　if　you　think　this　makes　me　forget　a　night　you　dragged　me　out　of　your　bed　and　bounced　me　on　my　bum　on　a　hard　steel　deck；　you　can　think　again！　Because　it　hasn't！〃
　　
　　I　sighed；　Minerva；　and　said　to　her　husband；　〃Joe；　how　do　you　cope　with　her？〃
　　
　　He　shrugged　and　grinned。　〃I　don't；　I　just　get　along。　Besides；　I　see　her　side　of　it。　If　I　were　you；　I'd　take　her　to　bed　and　make　her　forget　it。〃
　　
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃But　I'm　not　you；　that's　the　point。　Joe；　I　learned　long　before　you　were　born　that　free　tail　is　invariably　the　most　expens