Time Enough for Love Read Online Free PDF

the full treatment, I feel better than I’ve felt for forty years or more—which means either that I must again wait it out for many weary years—or use that switch when my body isn’t saying, ‘Time to adjourn.’ You meddling scoundrel, by what authority—no, you’ve got the authority. By what ethical principle did you interfere with my death?”
    “Because we needed you, sir.”
    “That’s not an ethical reason, just a pragmatic one. The need was not mutual.”
    “Senior, I have studied your life as thoroughly as the records permit. It seems to me that you often acted pragmatically.”
    Lazarus grinned. “That’s my boy! I was wondering if you would have the gall to try to twist it into some high moral principle, like a damned preacher. I don’t trust a man who talks about ethics when he’s picking my pocket. But if he’s acting in his own self-interest and says so, I have usually been able to work out some way to do business with him.”
    “Lazarus, if you will let us complete your rejuvenation, you’ll feel like living again. I think you know that; you’ve been through it before.”
    “To what end, sir? When I’ve had more than two thousand years of trying everything? When I’ve seen so many planets that they blur in my mind? When I’ve had so many wives I can’t remember their names? ‘We pray for one last landing on the Globe that gave us birth—’ I can’t even do that ; the lovely green planet I was born on has aged even more than I have; to return to it would be a time for tears, not a happy homecoming. No, Son, despite all rejuvenation there comes a time when the only reasonable thing to do is turn out the lights and go to steep—and you, damn you, you took it away from me.”
    “I’m sorry—no, I’m not sorry. But I do ask your pardon.”
    “Well…you might get it. But not now. What was this aching reason you needed me? You mentioned some problem other than the troublemakers you transport.”
    “Yes, although it is not one that would have caused me to interfere with your right to die your own way; I can handle it, one way or another. I think Secundus is becoming both too crowded and too civilized—”
    “I’m sure of it, Ira.”
    “Therefore I think the Families should move again.”
    “I agree even though I am not interested. As a thumb rule, one can say that any time a planet starts developing cities of more than one million people, it is approaching critical mass. In a century or two it won’t be fit to live on. Do you have a planet in mind? Do you think you can get the Trustees to go along? And will the Families follow the Trustees?”
    “Yes to the first, maybe to the second, probably No to the third. I have a planet in mind as ‘Tertius,’ one as good or better than Secundus. I think many of the Trustees would agree with my reasoning but I’m not sure of the overwhelming support such a move would need—Secundus is too comfortable for the danger to seem imminent to most people. As for the Families themselves—no, I don’t think we could persuade most of them to uproot and move…but even a few hundred thousand would suffice. Gideon’s Band—you follow me?”
    “I’m way ahead of you. Migration always involves selection and improvement. Elementary. If they’ll do it. If . Ira, I had a hell of a time selling the idea to the Families when we moved here back in the twenty-third century. Could not have sold it at all if Earth had not become a dreary place. Good luck—you’ll need it.”
    “Lazarus, I don’t expect to succeed. I will try . But if I fail, I’ll resign and migrate anyhow. To Tertius if I can organize a party large enough for a viable colony. To some planet colonized but very thinly settled if not.”
    “Do you mean that, Ira? Or, when the time comes, will you kid yourself that it is really your duty to hang on? If a man has the temperament for power—and you have or you wouldn’t be where you are—he finds it hard to abdicate.”
    “I