“THUS I was, and only the memory that I had lived through the dark, once before, served to sustain my thoughts. A great time passed — ages. And then a single star broke its way through the darkness. It was the first of one of the out-lying clusters of this universe. Presently, it was far behind, and all about me shone the splendour of the countless1 stars. Later, years it seemed, I saw the sun, a clot2 of flame. Around it, I made out, presently, several remote specks3 of light — the planets of the Solar system. And so I saw the earth again, blue and unbelievably minute. It grew larger, and became defined.
“A long space of time came and went, and then, at last, I entered into the shadow of the world — plunging4 headlong into the dim and holy earth-night. Overhead, were the old constellations5, and there was a crescent moon. Then, as I neared the earth’s surface, a dimness swept over me, and I appeared to sink into a black mist.
“For awhile, I knew nothing. I was unconscious. Gradually, I became aware of a faint, distant whining6. It became plainer. A desperate feeling of agony possessed7 me. I struggled madly for breath, and tried to shout. A moment, and I got my breath more easily. I was conscious that something was licking my hand. Something damp, swept across my face. I heard a panting, and then again the whining. It seemed to come to my ears, now, with a sense of familiarity, and I opened my eyes. All was dark; but the feeling of oppression had left me. I was seated, and something was whining piteously, and licking me. I felt strangely confused, and, instinctively8, tried to ward9 off the thing that licked. My head was curiously10 vacant, and, for the moment, I seemed incapable11 of action or thought. Then, things came back to me, and I called ‘Pepper,’ faintly. I was answered by a joyful12 bark, and renewed and frantic13 caresses14.
“In a little while, I felt stronger, and put out my hand for the matches. I groped about, for a few moments, blindly; then my hands lit upon them, and I struck a light, and looked confusedly around. All about me, I saw the old, familiar things. And there I sat, full of dazed wonders, until the flame of the match burnt my finger, and I dropped it; while a hasty expression of pain and anger, escaped my lips, surprising me with the sound of my own voice.
“After a moment, I struck another match, and, stumbling across the room, lit the candles. As I did so, I observed that they had not burned away, but had been put out.
“As the flames shot up, I turned, and stared about the study; yet there was nothing unusual to see; and, suddenly, a gust15 of irritation16 took me. What had happened? I held my head, with both hands, and tried to remember. Ah! the great, silent Plain, and the ring-shaped sun of red fire. Where were they? Where had I seen them? How long ago? I felt dazed and muddled17. Once or twice, I walked up and down the room, unsteadily. My memory seemed dulled, and, already, the thing I had witnessed, came back to me with an effort.
“I have a remembrance of cursing, peevishly18, in my bewilderment. Suddenly, I turned faint and giddy, and had to grasp at the table for support. During a few moments, I held on, weakly; and then managed to totter19 sideways into a chair. After a little time, I felt somewhat better, and succeeded in reaching the cupboard where, usually, I keep brandy and biscuits. I poured myself out a little of the stimulant20, and drank it off. Then, taking a handful of biscuits, I returned to my chair, and began to devour21 them, ravenously22. I was vaguely23 surprised at my hunger. I felt as though I had eaten nothing for an uncountably long while.
“As I ate, my glance roved about the room, taking in its various details, and still searching, though almost unconsciously, for something tangible24 upon which to take hold, among the invisible mysteries that encompassed25 me. ‘Surely,’ I thought, ‘there must be something — ’ And, in the same instant, my gaze dwelt upon the face of the clock in the opposite corner. Therewith, I stopped eating, and just stared. For, though its ticking indicated, most certainly, that it was still going, the hands were pointing to a little before the hour of midnight; whereas it was, as well I knew, considerably26 after that time when I had witnessed the first of the strange happenings I have just described.
“For, perhaps a moment, I was astounded27 and puzzled. Had the hour been the same, as when I had last seen the clock, I should have concluded that the hands had stuck in one place, while the internal mechanism28 went on as usual; but that would, in no way, account for the hands having travelled backwards29. Then, even as I turned the matter over in my wearied brain, the thought flashed upon me, that it was now close upon the morning of the twenty-second, and that I had been unconscious to the visible world through the greater portion of the last twenty-four hours. The thought occupied my attention for a full minute; then I commenced to eat, again. I was still very hungry.
“During breakfast, next morning, I inquired, casually30 of my sister, regarding the date, and found my surmise31 correct. I had, indeed, been absent — at least in spirit — for nearly a day and a night.
“My sister asked me no questions; for it is not, by any means, the first time that I have kept to my study for a whole day, and sometimes a couple of days, at a time, when I have been particularly engrossed32 in my books or work.
“And so the days pass on, and I am still filled with a wonder, to know the meaning of all that I saw on that memorable33 night. Yet, well I know that my curiosity is little likely to be satisfied.
收听单词发音 |
1
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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2
clot
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| n.凝块；v.使凝成块 | |
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specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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constellations
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| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
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whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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7
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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11
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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12
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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13
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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14
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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15
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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17
muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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totter
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| v.蹒跚， 摇摇欲坠；n.蹒跚的步子 | |
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20
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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23
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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24
tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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25
encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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27
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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28
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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29
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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30
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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31
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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32
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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33
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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