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ationships。 The colonists register their babies； Howards always do
…in this case with the puter Athene as surrogate for the 'Archives。 But I found when I reviewed these records that parentage of children was expressed in geic classification code； not by 〃marriages and putative ancestry。 This system the Families' geicists have been urging for generations （and I agree）； but it does make a genealogist work harder； especially if marriages have not been registered at all； as was sometimes the case。 '
I found one couple with eleven children； six his； five hers； none theirs。 I understood it when I read their codes…utterly inpatible。 I met them later； a fine family on a prosperous farm and no suggestion that the swarm of children were any
thing but 〃theirs。〃…
But the Senior's family was even more vague。 Geic an…
cestry in each case was 'a matter of record； surely…but who was married to whom？
Their bathing room was as 〃decadent〃 as had been promised； it was a lounging room； as well as a refresher； and planned for family relaxation and entertaining。 It stretched all along the ground floor on the side 'facing the foyer across the inner garden； and its walls could be pushed back to open it to the garden in clement weather…。
It had anything a jaundiced Sybarite could ask for： a fountain in its center matching a fountain in the garden and
昬ach with fortably wide rims to sit on while soaking tired feet'and enjoying a drink； a sauna in one corner； a huge happy shower at the other end with' space for several cycles to be enjoyed at once without waiting turns； a panion querafansible with sophisticated controls； a long soaking pooi kneedeep at the blue end to chin…deep at the red； and flanked by two bathing poois lavish for one person and fortable for two or three； couches for napping； for cooling； for sweating； for intimate talk and touch； a cosmetics table with a bi'g duomirror in which one； could see her back as readily as her front simply by asking Athene's help； a corner big enough； for a dozen people in which floor cushioning was bed…soft and lavish with pillows large and small； firm and soft； a refreshments counter which backed onto their kitchen…and if I failed to name something； it is my omission； not that of the designers。 All the more monplace items were of course at hand。
I had thought that the lighting was random until I rezed that Athene was changing it endlessly so as not to shine it in anyone's eyes while changing the light level in all parts of that big room to match what was going on…high key for makeup； subdued light for lounging； and so on…and to match personalities too； our little redheads were crowned with light no matter how they bounced around…as they did。
Soft music was there and in the garden； or on request anywhere； 'selected by Athene unless someone asked for some…； thing…it seemed as if she had stored in her all the music that ever was written。 Or she might harmonize with the twins while continuing to take part in three different conversations in other parts of the bath lounge。 A self…aware puter of her capacity…great enough to manage Secundus…can and often
must talk simultaneously at many places； but I had never encountered； it before in such a way as to notice it。 But big puters are not often members of a family。
The rest of the house was almost unautomated…a matter of taste as Athene's capacity was largely unused。 My hostesses actually cooked； with Athene helping only by seeing to it that nothing burned and watching the timing in other ways… twice on Athene's advice Hamadryad left the bath lounge； once in such a Jwrry that she fled bare and dripping； not stoppmg to grab a towel robe。
Bathing with Lazi and Lori is indeed 〃squirmy but fun；〃 plus squeals； giggles； chatter in which one sentence would be chopped several times before one of them put a period on it （I hypothesized that they were telepathic with each other and had an uneasy suspicion that they sometimes read thoughts of persons in their presence…but was not anxious to find out）… all charmingly blunt and childishly innocent。
First they slathered me all over anded the same service from me and threatened me with chin quivering when I held back a little； and said loudly that 〃Uncle Cuddly〃 （my old friend Obadiah； now Galahad） washed them better than that and everybody knows how lazy he is…or didn't I like them well enough to soapy…cuddle them and if they married me； would I go along with them in their spaceship； and while they were still virgins； though not from lack of opportunity； don't worry about that one bit as both Mama Hamadryad and Mama Ishtar were coaching them in beginning and advanced sensuality and would speed up the course if I happened to want to many them now…won't you； Mama Hamalambie？…tell him！
Hamadryad from a meter away （she was soaping Ira） as…' sured us that she would； if they could persuade me to marry them that quickly。 I assumed that the youngsters were farcing me and that their mother…one of their mothers…was going along with the jest。 I've wondered since whether I missed a diamond opportunity。 Lazarus was in hearing distance； he did not tell them to stop teasing me； he simply advised me not to offer them more than a ten…year contract as their span of attention was limited…whith made them indignant…and advised them that； if they intended to get married that 'night； they had better trim their toenails first； which made them still more indignant so they stopped bathing me to assault him from both sides。
This wound up with one of them' under each of his arms
~； o~
and still struggling。 Lazarus asked if I would accept custody or should he drop them into the deep end of the soak？
I accepted custody； and we showered each other off and went into the soak p001 together…and I was standing in it up to my shoulders with my back to the garden； and supporting them a little； an arm each； as their toes did not~touch bottom； when someone placed hands over my eyes。
The ty！〃 and levitated out of the water while I turned to look。
Tamara Sperling… I had thqught she was on Secundus； in retirement up country。 Tamara the Superb； the Superlative； the Unique…in my opinion （and many others） the greatest artist of her profession。 I feel sure that I am not the only man who chose when she left New Rome to remain celibate for a long time。
She had e in； seen that the family was in the bath lounge； dropped her gown in the garden； hurried in without stopping to remove her high sandals； spotted me； and blindfolded me with her lovely hands。
Why？ She was my dinner partner…and （if I could rely on an exchange I had heard that afternoon） willing to…be my guest wife if I were willing。 Willing？ Fifty years earlier I had offered her any contract she would accept every time she let me visit her and had finally shut up only after she had told me repeatedly； patie'ntly； and gently that she did not intend to have more children and would not marry again for any other purpose。
But there she was； rejuvenated （not that it mattered）； looking gloriously young and healthy…and a coloni~t。 I wondered who the man was who had persuaded her； to do this？ I envied him and wondered what superhuman qualities he possessed… but whatever they were； if Tamara was willing to share a bed with me even for one night and only for old times' sake； I would take what the gods offered and not worry about him； her wealth is endlessly divisible。 Tamara！…bells sound at her name。
She kissed two wet little girls； then dropped to her knees and kissed me。
Then she said softly； rubbing her mouth against mine； 〃You darling。 When I heard you were here； I hurried。 Mi laroona d' vashti meedth du？〃 '
〃Yes！ And any other night you have free。〃
〃Not so fast with English； doreeth mi； I learning it… slowly…because my daughter wants her assistants in rejuvena
~
tion to speak language not known to most clients 。 。 and because our f~mily speaks English much as Galacta。〃
〃You are now a rejuvenator？ And