The first engine proved to have a burnt-out bearing and Jason rebuilt it by melting down the original bearing metal and casting it in position. When he unbolted the head of the massive single cylinder4 he shuddered5 at the clearance6 around the piston7; he could fit his fingers into the opening between the piston and the cylinder wall; by introducing cylinder rings he doubled the compression and power output. When Edipon saw the turn of speed the rebuilt engine gave his caroj he hugged Jason to his bosom8 and promised him the highest reward. This turned out to be a small piece of meat every day to relieve the monotony of the krenoj meals, and a doubled guard to make sure that his valuable property did not escape.
Jason had his own plans and kept busy manufacturing a number of pieces of equipment that had nothing at all to do with his engine-overhauling business. While these were being assembled he went about lining9 up a little aid.
"What would you do if I gave you a club?" he asked a burly slave whom he was helping10 to haul a log towards his workshop. Narsisi and one of his brothers lazed along out of earshot, bored by the routine of the guard duty.
"What I do with club?" the slave grunted11, forehead furrowing12 and mouth gaping13 open with the effort of thought.
"That's what I asked. And keep pulling while you think, I don't want the guards to notice anything."
"If I have club, I kill!" the slave announced excitedly, fingers grasping eagerly for coveted14 weapon.
"Would you kill me?"
"I have club, I kill you, you not so big."
"But if I gave you the club wouldn't I be your friend? Then wouldn't you want to kill someone else?"
The novelty of this alien thought stopped the slave dead and he scratched his head perplexedly until Narsisi lashed15 him back to work. Jason sighed and found another slave to try his sales program on.
It took a while, but the idea was eventually percolating16 through the ranks of the slaves. All they had to look forward to from the D'zertanoj was backbreaking labor17 and an early death. Jason offered them something else, weapons, a chance to kill their masters, and even more killing18 later when they marched on Appsala. It was difficult for them to grasp the idea that they must work together to accomplish this and not kill Jason and each other as soon as they received weapons.
It was a chancy plan at best, and would probably break down long before any visit could be made to the city. But the revolt should be enough to free them from bondage19, even if the slaves fled afterwards. There were less than fifty D'zertanoj at this well station, all men, with their women and children at some other settlement further back in the hills. It would not be too hard to kill them or chase them off and long before they could bring reinforcements Jason and his runaway20 slaves would be gone. There was just one factor missing from his plans and a new draft of slaves solved even that problem for him.
"Happy days," he laughed, pushing open the door to his quarters and rubbing his hands together with glee. The guard shoved Mikah in after him and locked the door. Jason secured it with his own interior bolt then waved the two others over to the corner farthest from the door and tiny window opening.
"New slaves today," he told them, "and one of them is from Appsala, a mercenary or a soldier of some kind that they captured on a skirmish. He knows that they will never let him live long enough to leave here, so he was grateful for any suggestions I had."
"This is man's talk I do not understand," Ijale said, turning away and starting towards the cooking fire.
"You'll understand this," Jason said, taking her by the shoulder. "The soldier knows where Appsala is and can lead us there. The time has come to think about leaving this place."
He had all of her attention now, and Mikah's as well, "How is this?" she gasped21.
"I have been making my plans, I have enough files and lockpicks now to crack into every room in this place, a few weapons, the key to the armory22 and every able bodied slave on my side."
"What do you plan to do?" Mikah asked.
"Stage a servile revolt in the best style. The slaves fight the D'zertanoj and we get away, perhaps with an army helping us, but at least we get away."
"You are talking revolution!" Mikah bellowed23 and Jason jumped him and knocked him to the floor. Ijale held his legs down while Jason squatted24 on his chest and covered his mouth.
"What is the matter with you? Want to spend the rest of your life rebuilding stolen engines? They are guarding us too well for there to be much chance of our breaking out on our own, so we need allies. We have them ready made, all the slaves."
"Brevilushun...." Mikah mumbled25 through the restraining fingers.
"Of course it's a revolution. It is also the only possible chance of survival that these poor devils will ever have. Now they are human cattle, beaten and killed on whim26. You can't be feeling sorry for the D'zertanoj—every one of them is a murderer ten times over. You've seen them beat people to death. Do you feel that they are too nice to suffer a revolution?"
Mikah relaxed and Jason removed his hand slightly, ready to clamp down if the other's voice rose above a whisper.
"Of course they are not nice, beasts in human garb27 is more truthful28. I feel no mercy for them and they should be wiped out and blotted29 from the face of the earth as was Sodom and Gomorrah. But it cannot be done by revolution, revolution is evil, inherently evil."
Jason stifled30 a groan31. "Try telling that to two-thirds of the governments that now exist, since that's about how many were founded by revolution. Nice, liberal democratic governments—that were started by a bunch of lads with guns and the immense desire to run things in a manner more beneficial to themselves. How else do you get rid of the powers on your neck if there is no way to legally vote them away? If you can't vote them—shoot them."
"Bloody32 revolution, it cannot be!"
"All right, no revolution," Jason said, getting up and wiping his hands disgustedly. "We'll change the name. How about calling it a prison break? No, you wouldn't like that either. I have it—liberation! We are going to strike the chains off these poor people and restore them to the lands from which they were stolen. The tiny fact that the slave holders33 regard them as property and won't think much of the idea, therefore might get hurt in the process, shouldn't bother you. So—will you join me in this Liberation Movement?"
"It is still revolution."
"It is whatever I decide to call it!" Jason raged. "You come along with me on the plans or you will be left behind when we go. You have my word on that." He stomped34 over and helped himself to some soup and waited for his anger to simmer down.
"I cannot do it ... I cannot do it," Mikah brooded, staring into his rapidly cooling soup as into an oracular crystal ball, seeking guidance there. Jason turned his back in disgust.
"Don't end up like him," he warned Ijale, pointing his spoon back over his shoulder. "Not that there is much chance that you ever will coming as you do from a society with its feet firmly planted on the ground, or on the grave to be more accurate. Your people see only concrete facts, and only the most obvious ones, and as simple an abstraction as 'trust' seems beyond you. While this long-faced clown can only think in abstractions of abstractions, and the more unreal they are the better. I bet he even worries about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin."
"I do not worry about it," Mikah broke in, overhearing the remark. "But I do think about it once in a while, it is a problem that cannot be lightly dismissed."
"You see?"
Ijale nodded. "If he is wrong, and I am wrong—then you must be the only one who is right." She nodded in satisfaction at the thought.
"Very nice of you to say so," Jason smiled. "And true, too. I lay no claims to infallibility but I am sure that I can see the difference between abstractions and facts a lot better than either of you, and I am certainly more adroit35 at handling them. The Jason dinAlt fan club meeting is now adjourned36." He reached his hand over his shoulder and patted himself on the back.
"Monster of arrogance," Mikah bellowed.
"Oh, shut up."
"Pride goeth before a fall! You are a maledicent and idolatrous antipietist...."
"Very good."
"... And I grieve that I could have considered aiding you for even a second, or of standing37 by while you sin, and fear for the weakness of my own soul that I have not been able to resist temptation as I should. It grieves me, but I must do my duty." He banged loudly on the door. "Guard! Guard!"
Jason dropped his bowl and started to scramble38 to his feet, but slipped in the spilled soup and fell. As he stood again the locks rattled39 on the door and it opened. If he could reach Mikah before the idiot opened his mouth he would close it forever, or at least knock him out before it was too late.
It was too late. Narsisi poked41 his head in and blinked sleepily; Mikah struck his most dramatic pose and pointed42 to Jason. "Seize and arrest that man, I denounce him for attempted revolution, for planning red murder!"
Jason skidded43 to a halt and back-tracked, diving into a bag of his personal belongings44 that lay against the wall. He scrabbled in it, then kicked the contents about and finally came up with a metal-forming hammer that had a weighty solid lead head.
"More traitor45 you," Jason shouted at Mikah as he ran at Narsisi who had been dumbly watching the performance and mulling over Mikah's words. Slow as he appeared, there was nothing wrong with his reflexes and his shield snapped up and took Jason's blow while his club spun46 over neatly47 and rapped Jason on the back of the hand: the numbed48 fingers opened and the hammer dropped to the floor.
"I think you two better come with me, my father will know what to do," he said, pushing Jason and Mikah ahead of him out the door. He locked it and called for one of his brothers to stand guard, then poked his captives down the hall. They shuffled49 along in their leg-irons, Mikah nobly as a martyr50 and Jason seething51 and grinding his teeth.
Edipon was not at all stupid when it came to slave rebellions, and sized up the situation even faster than Narsisi could relate it.
"I have been expecting this, so it comes as no surprise." His eyes held a mean little glitter when he leveled them at Jason. "I knew the time would come when you would try to overthrow52 me, which was why I permitted this other to assist you and to learn your skills. As I expected he has betrayed you to gain your position, which I award him now."
"Betray? I did this for no personal gain," Mikah protested.
"Only the purest of motives53," Jason laughed coldly. "Don't believe a word this pious54 crook55 tells you, Edipon. I'm not planning any revolutions, he just said that to get my job."
"You caluminate me, Jason! I never lie—you are planning revolt. You told me—"
"Silence both of you, or I'll have you beaten to death. This is my judgment56. The slave Mikah has betrayed the slave Jason, and whether the slave Jason is planning rebellion or not is completely unimportant. His assistant would have not denounced him unless he was sure that he could do the work as well, which is the only fact that has any importance to me. Your ideas about a worker-class have troubled me Jason. I will be glad to kill them and you at the same time. Chain him with the slaves. Mikah, I award you Jason's quarter and woman, and as long as you do the work well I will not kill you. Do it a long time and you will live a long time.
"Only the purest of motives, is that what you said, Mikah?" Jason shouted back as he was kicked from the room.
The descent from the pinnacle57 of power was fast and smooth. Within half an hour new shackles58 were on Jason's wrists and he was chained to the wall in a dark room filled with other slaves. His leg-irons had been left on as an additional reminder59 of his new status. He rattled the chains and examined them in the dim light of a distant lamp as soon as the door was closed.
"How comes the revolution?" the slave chained next to him leaned over and asked in a hoarse60 whisper.
"Very funny, ha-ha," Jason grumbled61, then moved closer for a better look at the man who had a fine case of strabismus, his eyes pointing in independent directions. "You look familiar ... are you the new slave I talked to today?"
"That's me, Snarbi, fine soldier, pikeman, checked out on club and dagger62, seven kills and two possibles on my record, you can check it yourself at the guild63 hall."
"I remember it all Snarbi, including the fact that you know your way back to Appsala."
"I've been around."
"Then the revolution is still on, in fact it is starting right now but I want to keep it small. Instead of freeing all these slaves what do you say to the idea that we two escape by ourselves?"
"Best idea I heard since torture was invented, we don't need all these stupid people. They just get in the way. Keep the operation small and fast, that's what I always say."
"I always say that, too," Jason agreed, digging into his boot with his fingertip. He had managed to shove his best file and a lockpick into hiding there while Mikah was betraying him back in their room. The attack on Narsisi with the hammer had just been a cover up.
Jason had made the file himself after many attempts at manufacturing and hardening steel, and the experiments had been successful. He picked out the clay that covered the cut he had made in his leg-cuffs65 and tackled the soft iron with vigor66; within three minutes they were lying on the floor.
"You a magician?" Snarbi whispered, shuddering67 back.
"Mechanic. On this planet they're the same thing." He looked around but the exhausted68 slaves were all asleep and had heard nothing. Wrapping a piece of leather around it to muffle69 the sound he began to file a link in the chain that secured the shackles on his wrists. "Snarbi," he asked, "are we on the same chain?"
"Yeah, the chain goes through these iron cuff64 things and holds the whole row of slaves together, the other end goes out through a hole in the wall."
"Couldn't be better. I'm filing one of these links, and when it goes we're both free. See if you can't slip the chain through the holes in your shackles and lay it down without letting the next slave know what is happening. We'll wear these iron cuffs for now, there is no time to play around with them and they shouldn't bother us too much. Do the guards come through here at all during the night to check on the slaves?"
"Not since I've been here, just wake us up in the morning by pulling on the chain."
"Then let's hope that's what happens again tonight, because we are going to need plenty of time—there!" The file had cut through the link. "See if you can get enough of a grip on the other end of this link while I hold this end, we'll try and bend it open a bit." They strained silently until the opening gaped70 wide and the next link fitted through the cut.
They slipped the chain and laid it silently on the ground, then drifted noiselessly to the door.
"Is there a guard outside?" Jason asked.
"Not that I know. I don't think they have enough men here to guard all the slaves."
The door would not budge71 when they pushed against it, and there was just light enough to make out the large keyhole of a massive inset lock. Jason probed lightly with the pick and curled his lip in contempt.
"These idiots have left the key in the lock." He pulled off the stiffest of his leather wrappings and after flattening72 it out pushed it under the badly fitting bottom edge of the door, leaving just a bit to hold onto. Then he poked lightly at the key through the keyhole and heard it thud to the ground outside. When he pulled the leather back in the key was lying in the center of it. The door unlocked silently and a moment later they were outside, staring tensely into the darkness.
"Let's go! Run, get away from here," Snarbi said and Jason grabbed him by the throat and pulled him back.
"Isn't there one drop of constructive73 intelligence on this planet? How are you going to get to Appsala without food or water, and if you find some—how can you carry enough? You want to stay alive follow my instructions. I'm going to lock this door first so that no one stumbles onto our escape by accident. Then we are going to get some transport and leave here in style. Agreed?"
The answer was only a choked rattle40 until Jason opened his fingers a bit and let some air into the man's lungs. A labored74 groan must have meant assent75 because Snarbi tottered76 after him when he made his way through the dark alleys77 between the buildings.
Getting clear of the walled refinery78 town presented no problem since the few sentries79 were only looking for trouble from the outside. It was equally easy to approach Jason's leather-walled worksite from the rear and slip through it at the spot where Jason had cut the leather and sewn up the opening with thin twine80.
"Sit here and touch nothing or you will be cursed for life," he commanded the shivering Snarbi, then slipped towards the front entrance with a small sledge81 hammer clutched in his fist. He was pleased to see one of Edipon's other sons on guard duty, leaning against a pole and dozing82. Jason gently lifted his leather helm with his free hand and tapped once with the hammer: the guard slept even more soundly.
"Now we can get to work," Jason said when he had returned inside, and clicked a firelighter to the wick of a lantern.
"What are you doing? They'll see us, kill us—escaped slaves."
"Stick with me Snarbi and you'll be wearing shoes. Lights here can't be seen by the sentries, I made sure of that when I sited the place. And we have a piece of work to do before we leave—we have to build a caroj."
They did not have to build it from scratch, but there was enough truth in the statement to justify83 it. His most recently rebuilt and most powerful engine was still bolted to the test stand, a fact that justified84 all the night's risks. Three caroj wheels lay among the other debris85 of the camp and two of them were to be bolted to the engine while it was still on the stand. The ends of the driving axle cleared the edges of the stand, Jason threaded the securing wheel bolts into place and utilized86 Snarbi to tighten87 them.
At the other end of the stand was a strong, swiveling post that had been a support for his test instruments, and seemed strangely large for this small task. It was. When the instruments were stripped away a single bar remained projecting backwards88 like a tiller handle. When a third wheel was fitted with a stub axle and slid into place in the forked lower end of the post the test stand looked remarkably89 like a three-wheeled, steerable91, steam engine powered platform that was mounted on legs. This is exactly what it was, what Jason had designed it to be from the first, and the supporting legs came away with the same ease that the other parts had been attached. Escape had always taken first priority in his plans.
Snarbi dragged over the crockery jars of oil, water and fuel while Jason filled the tanks. He started the fire under the boiler92 and loaded aboard tools and the small supply of krenoj he had managed to set aside from their rations93. All of this took time, but not time enough. It would soon be dawn and they would have to leave before then, and he could no longer avoid making up his mind. He could not leave Ijale here, and if he went to get her he could not refuse to take Mikah as well. The man had saved his life, no matter what murderous idiocies94 he had managed to pull since that time. Jason believed that you owed something to a man who prolonged your existence, but he also wondered just how much he still owed. In Mikah's case he felt the balance of the debt to be mighty95 small, if not overdrawn96. Perhaps this one last time.
"Keep an eye on the engine and I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, jumping to the ground and loading on equipment.
"You want me to do what? Stay here with this devil machine? I cannot! It will burn and consume me—"
"Act your age, Snarbi, your physical age if not your mental one. This rolling junk pile was made by men and repaired and improved by me, no demons97 involved. It burns oil to make heat that makes steam that goes to this tube to push that rod to make those wheels go around so we can move, and that is as much of the theory of the steam engine as you are going to get from me. Maybe you can understand this better—only I can get you safely away from here. Therefore, you will stay and do as I say or I will beat your brains in. Clear?"
Snarbi nodded dumbly.
"Fine. All you have to do is sit here and look at this little green disk, see it? If it should pop out before I come back turn this handle in this direction. Clear enough? That way the safety valve won't blow and wake the whole country and we'll still have a head of steam."
Jason went out past the still-silent sentry98 and headed back towards the refinery station. Instead of a club or a dagger he was armed with a well tempered broadsword that he had managed to manufacture under the noses of the guards. They had examined everything he brought from the worksite, since he had been working in the evenings in his room, but ignored everything he manufactured as being beyond their comprehension. This primordial99 mental attitude had been of immense value for in addition to the sword he carried a sack of molotails, a simple weapon of assault whose origins were lost in pre-history. Small crocks were filled with the most combustible100 of the refinery's fractions and wrapped around outside with cloth that he had soaked in the same liquid. The stench made him dizzy and he hoped that they would repay his efforts when the time came, since they were completely untried. In use one lit the outer covering and threw them. The crockery burst on impact and the fuse ignited the contents. Theoretically.
Getting back in proved to be as easy as getting out, and Jason felt an unmistakable twinge of regret. His subconscious101 had obviously been hoping that there would be a disturbance102 and he would have to retreat to save himself, his subconscious obviously being very short on interest in saving the slave girl and his nemesis103, particularly at the risk of his own skin. His subconscious was disappointed. He was in the building where his quarters lay, trying to peek104 around the corner to see if a guard was at the door. There was, and he seemed to be dozing, but something jerked him awake. He had heard nothing but he sniffed105 the air and wrinkled his nose; the powerful smell of water-of-power from Jason's molotails had roused him and he spotted106 Jason before he could pull back.
"Who is there?" he shouted and advanced at a lumbering107 run.
There was no quiet way out of this one so Jason leaped out with an echoing shout and lunged. The blade went right under the man's guard—he must never have seen a sword before—and the tip caught him full in the throat. He expired with a bubbling wail108 that stirred voices deeper in the building. Jason sprang over the corpse109 and tore at the multifold bolts and locks that sealed the door. Footsteps were running in the distance when he finally threw the door open and ran in.
"Get out and quick we're escaping!" he shouted at them and pushed the dazed Ijale towards the door and exacted a great deal of pleasure from landing a tremendous kick that literally110 lifted Mikah through the opening, where he collided with Edipon who had just run up waving a club. Jason leaped over the tumbled forms, rapped Edipon behind the ear with the hilt of his sword and dragged Mikah to his feet.
"Get out to the engine works," he ordered his still uncomprehending companions. "I have a caroj there that we can get away in." He cursed them and they finally broke into clumsy motion. There were shouts from behind him and an armed mob of D'zertanoj ran into view. Jason pulled down the hall light, burning his hand on the hot base at the same time, and applied111 its open flame to one of his molotails. The wick caught with a roar of flame and he threw it at approaching soldiers before it could burn his hand. It flew towards them, hit the wall and broke, inflammable fuel spurted112 in every direction and the flame went out.
Jason cursed and grappled for another molotail, because if they didn't work he was dead. The D'zertanoj had hesitated a moment rather than walk through the puddle113 of spilled water-of-power and in that instant he hurled114 the second fire bomb. This one burst nicely too, and lived up to its maker's expectations when it ignited the first molotail as well and the passageway filled with a curtain of fire. Holding his hand around the lamp flame so it wouldn't go out, Jason ran after the others.
So far the alarm had not spread outside of the building and Jason bolted the door from the outside. By the time this was broken open and the confusion sorted out they would be clear of the buildings. There was no need for the lamp now and would only give him away. He blew it out and from the desert came a continuous and ear-piercing scream.
"He's done it," Jason groaned115. "That's the safety valve on the steam engine!"
He bumped into Ijale and Mikah who were milling about confusedly in the dark, kicked Mikah again out of sheer malice116 and hatred117 of all mankind, and led them towards the worksite at a dead run.
They escaped unharmed mainly because of the confusion on all sides of them. The D'zertanoj seemed to never have experienced a night attack before, which they apparently118 thought this was, and did an incredible amount of rushing about and shouting. Matters were not helped by the burning building nor the unconscious form of Edipon that was carried from the blaze. All the D'zertanoj had been roused by the scream of the safety valve, that was still bleeding irreplacable steam into the night air, and there was much milling about.
In the confusion the fleeing slaves were not noticed, and Jason led them around the guard post on the walls and directly towards the worksite. They were spotted as they crossed the empty ground and after some hesitation119 the guard ran in pursuit. Jason was leading the enemy directly to his precious steam-wagon, but he had no choice. The thing was certainly making its presence known in any case, and unless he reached it at once the head of steam would be gone and they would be trapped. He leaped the still recumbent guard at the entrance and ran towards his machine. Snarbi was cowering120 behind one wheel but there was no time to give him any attention. As Jason jumped onto the platform the safety valve closed and the sudden stillness was frightening. The steam was gone.
With frantic121 grabs he spun valves and shot one glance at the indicator122: there wasn't enough steam left to roll the meters. Water gurgled and the boiler hissed123 and clacked at him while screams of anger came from the D'zertanoj as they ran into the enclosure and saw the bootleg caroj. Jason thrust the end of a molotail into the firebox; it caught fire and he turned and hurled it at them. The angry cries turned into screams of fear as the tongues of flame licked up at the pursuers and they retreated in disorder124. Jason ran after them and hastened their departure with another molotail. They seemed to be retreating as far as the refinery walls, but he could not be sure in the darkness if some of them weren't creeping around to the sides.
He hurried back to the caroj, tapped on the still-unmoving pressure indicator and opened the fuel feed wide. As an afterthought he wired down the safety valve since his reinforced boiler should hold more pressure than the valve had been originally adjusted for. Once this was finished he chewed at his oily fingernails since there was nothing else that could be done until the pressure built up again. The D'zertanoj would rally, someone would take charge, and they would attack the worksite. If they had enough steam before this happened, they would escape. If not—
"Mikah, and you, too, you cowering slob Snarbi you, get behind this thing and push," Jason said.
"What has happened," Mikah asked. "Have you started this revolution? If so I will give no aid...."
"We're escaping, if that's all right with you. Just I, Ijale and a guide to show us the way. You don't have to come—"
"I will join you. There is nothing criminal in escaping from these barbarians125."
"Very nice of you to say so. Now push. I want this steamobile in the center, far from all the walls, and pointing towards the desert. Down the valley I guess, is that right, Snarbi?"
"Down the valley, sure, that's the way." His voice was still rasping from the earlier throttling126, Jason was pleased to notice.
"Stop it here and everyone aboard. Grab onto those bars I've bolted along the sides so you won't get bounced off, if we ever start moving that is."
Jason took a quick look through his workshop to make sure everything they might need was already loaded, then reluctantly climbed aboard himself. He blew out the lantern and they sat there in the darkness, their faces lit from below by the flickering127 glow from the firebox, while the tension mounted. There was no way to measure time since each second took an eternity128 to drag by.
The walls of the worksite cut off any view of the outside and within a few moments imagination had peopled the night with silent hordes129 creeping towards them, huddling130 about the thin barrier of leather, ready to swoop131 down and crush them in an instant.
"Let's run for it," Snarbi gurgled and tried to jump from the platform. "We're trapped here, we'll never get away...."
Jason tripped him and knocked him flat, then pounded his head against the floor planks132 a few times until he quieted.
"I can sympathize with that poor man," Mikah said severely133. "You are a brute134, Jason, to punish him for his natural feelings. Cease your sadistic135 attack and join me in a prayer."
"If this poor man you are so sorry for had simply done his duty and watched the boiler, we would all be safely away from here by now. And if you have enough breath for a prayer, put it to better use by blowing into the firebox. It's not going to be wishes or prayers that gets us out of here, just a head of steam."
A howled battlecry was echoed by massed voices and a squad136 of D'zertanoj burst in through the entrance, and at the same instant the rear of the leather wall went down and more armed men swarmed137 over it. The immobile caroj was trapped between the two groups of attackers who laughed happily as they charged. Jason cursed and lit four molotails at the same time and hurled them two and two in opposite directions. Before they hit he had jumped to the steam valve and wound it open; with a hissing138 clank the caroj shuddered and got underway.
For the moment the attackers were held back by the walls of flame and screamed even louder as the machine moved away at right angles from between their two groups. The air whistled with crossbow bolts, but most were badly aimed and only a few thudded into the baggage. With each revolution of the wheels their speed picked up and when they hit the walls the hides parted with a creaking snap. Strips of leather whipped at them, then they were through.
The shouts and the fires grew dimmer behind them as they streaked139 down the valley at a suicidal pace, hissing, rattling140 and crashing over the bumps. Jason clung to the tiller and shouted for Mikah to come relieve him, since if he let go of the thing they would turn and crash in an instant, and as long as he held it he couldn't cut down the steam. Some of this finally penetrated141 to Mikah because he crawled forward grasping desperately142 to every hand-hold until he crouched143 beside Jason.
"Grab this tiller and hold it straight and steer90 around anything big enough to see."
As soon as the steering144 was taken over Jason worked his way back to the engine and throttled145 down; they slowed to a clanking walk then stopped completely. Ijale moaned and Jason felt as if every inch of his body had been beaten with hammers. There was no sign of pursuit since it would be at least an hour before they could raise steam in the caroj and no one on foot could have possibly matched their headlong pace. The lantern he had used earlier had vanished during the wild ride so Jason dug out another one of his own construction.
"On your feet, Snarbi," he ordered. "I've cracked us all out of slavery so now it is time for you to do some of the guiding that you were telling me about. Walk ahead with this light and pick out a nice smooth track going in the right direction. I never did have a chance to build headlights for this machine so you will have to do instead."
Snarbi climbed down unsteadily and walked out in front. Jason opened the valve a bit and they clattered146 forward on his trail as Mikah turned the tiller to follow. Ijale crawled over and settled herself against Jason's side, shivering with cold and fright. He patted her shoulder.
"Relax," he said, "from now on this is just a pleasure trip."
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concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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specification
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| n.详述；[常pl.]规格，说明书，规范 | |
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cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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5
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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6
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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7
piston
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| n.活塞 | |
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8
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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10
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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11
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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12
furrowing
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的现在分词 ) | |
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13
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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14
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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15
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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16
percolating
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| n.渗透v.滤( percolate的现在分词 )；渗透；（思想等）渗透；渗入 | |
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17
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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18
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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19
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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20
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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21
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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22
armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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23
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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24
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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25
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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27
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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28
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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29
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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30
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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31
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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32
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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33
holders
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| 支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物 | |
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34
stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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36
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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38
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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39
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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40
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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41
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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42
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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43
skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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44
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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45
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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46
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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47
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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48
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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50
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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51
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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52
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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53
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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54
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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55
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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56
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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57
pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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58
shackles
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| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
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59
reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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60
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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61
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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62
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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63
guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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64
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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65
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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66
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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67
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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68
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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69
muffle
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| v.围裹；抑制；发低沉的声音 | |
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70
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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71
budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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72
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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73
constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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74
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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75
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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76
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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77
alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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78
refinery
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| n.精炼厂，提炼厂 | |
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79
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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80
twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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81
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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82
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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83
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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84
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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85
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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86
utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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88
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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89
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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90
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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91
steerable
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| 可驾驶的，易操纵的；可控 | |
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92
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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93
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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94
idiocies
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| n.极度的愚蠢( idiocy的名词复数 )；愚蠢的行为；白痴状态 | |
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95
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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96
overdrawn
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| 透支( overdraw的过去分词 )； (overdraw的过去分词) | |
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97
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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98
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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99
primordial
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| adj.原始的；最初的 | |
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100
combustible
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| a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物 | |
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101
subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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102
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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103
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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104
peek
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| vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥 | |
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105
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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106
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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107
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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108
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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109
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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110
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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111
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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112
spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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113
puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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114
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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115
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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116
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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117
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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118
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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119
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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120
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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121
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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122
indicator
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| n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器 | |
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123
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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124
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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125
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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126
throttling
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| v.扼杀( throttle的现在分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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127
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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128
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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129
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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130
huddling
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| n. 杂乱一团, 混乱, 拥挤 v. 推挤, 乱堆, 草率了事 | |
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131
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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132
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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133
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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134
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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135
sadistic
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| adj.虐待狂的 | |
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136
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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137
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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138
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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139
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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140
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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141
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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142
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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143
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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144
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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145
throttled
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| v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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146
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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