Frost lay thick on the groundas Brambleclaw’s patrol headed through the forest toward the lake. The cats trotted1 in silence through the silver bracken, their breath clouding around their muzzles2. Above Hollyleaf’s head the sky was lightening to a pale dove-gray.
Hollyleaf felt as though her paws would freeze to the ground at every step. Icy claws seemed to rake through her fur; the bitter cold numbed4 the tips of her ears. She felt light-headed—ever since Squirrelflight’s revelation, she had found it hard to choke down even the smallest piece of fresh-kill. All that kept her going was a burning need to find out what Sol knew.
Lionblaze trotted alongside her, grim-faced and strong, his amber5 gaze fixed6 on the forest ahead. His presence comforted Hollyleaf, though she felt Jayfeather’s absence like the stab of a thorn.
Maybe it’s best that he stayed behind,she thought. It’s not like he can look for Sol himself.
Brambleclaw led the way to the stream, and they followed it downhill until they reached the edge of the lake, where the water was still and shallow, with a delicate covering of ice.
Are we mouse-brained, to set out on a long journey in leaf-bare?
But in spite of the cold, tension within the patrol ebbed7 as they headed along the shore on the edge of WindClan territory. Hazeltail dropped back to pad along beside Hollyleaf, her eyes shining.
“Isn’t this great?” She gave a little bounce, like an excited kit9. “We’re going somewhere no cats have been before.”
“Actually they have,” Hollyleaf pointed10 out, not wanting to listen to Hazeltail’s chatter11. “Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight went to the sun-drown-place with the other cats chosen by StarClan.”
“That must have been so exciting!” Hazeltail sighed. “Your mother and father have traveled farther than any cats, ever. They’re so adventurous12!”
No, they’re just liars,Hollyleaf thought bitterly.
There was no sign of any WindClan cats as they skirted the territory, but as they approached the horseplace Hollyleaf began to pick up a strong WindClan scent13. Brambleclaw halted, raising his tail to tell his patrol to do the same. He stood with head raised, his jaws14 parted to taste the air.
Aware of the pelts15 bristling17 around her, Hollyleaf realized how jumpy they all were. They weren’t doing anything to break the warrior18 code by keeping close to the edge of the lake, but a single whiff of WindClan scent had them all unsheathing their claws. Ashfur’s death has done this to us.
“Why should there be any trouble?” Hazeltail asked, puzzled. “We’re allowed to walk beside the lake, aren’t we?”
Before Hollyleaf could respond, a gray she-cat appeared at the top of the bank and padded down toward the patrol.
“Ashfoot!” Brambleclaw relaxed. “Greetings.”
“Greetings, Brambleclaw.” The WindClan deputy dipped her head as she reached the group of ThunderClan cats. “I wondered if you would go looking for Sol. That is why you’re here, isn’t it?”
Brambleclaw nodded. “Whether or not he killed Ashfur, he has questions to answer.”
“Then I’ve something to show you,” Ashfoot meowed. “Follow me.”
She led the way along the edge of the lake until they reached the Twoleg fence around the horseplace; the mesh20 shone like a huge cobweb in the strengthening daylight.
“There.” Ashfur flicked21 her ears toward a rough place on the mesh where a long, silky strand22 of reddish fur was caught.
Brambleclaw padded up to it and sniffed24 it, then turned to the patrol with his amber eyes wide. “Sol.”
Hollyleaf’s heart pounded harder in her chest. The evidence of Sol’s presence brought his memory back to her more strongly than ever. He had seemed to know so much, had prophesied25 so much…and yet he had turned out to be a traitor26.
“Then he went this way!” Brackenfur exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. “We’re on the right track.”
“The scent’s stale,” Brambleclaw warned, “but not that old. Sol certainly passed this place not many sunrises ago.”
Ashfoot took a pace back, toward her own territory. “Good-bye, then, and good luck.”
“Thanks, Ashfoot,” Brambleclaw responded. “You’ve helped us a lot—what made you do it?”
Ashfoot twitched27 her ears. “I want my own Clan8 to be safe. Sol must be dealt with before he causes more trouble.” Without waiting for a reply, she padded back up the bank and disappeared over the shoulder of the hill.
“Or else she wants us to stop blaming WindClan,” Birchfall muttered as soon as she was out of earshot.
“That may be,” Brambleclaw mewed. “But we don’t need to bother about that now. All of you, get a good sniff23 of this fur, and fix the scent in your minds. Then we can be on our way.”
Sliding under the Twoleg fence, he led the way across the field. The ground was hard as stone, and the grass crunched28 underneath29 their paws. Their route led them close to the wooden horse nests. Hollyleaf felt her neck fur begin to bristle30 as she caught the scents31 of Twoleg and dog, but nothing moved and there was no sound.
She expected Brambleclaw to pass by quickly, but instead he halted at the entrance to the horse nest. “Why are we stopping?” she asked.
“We won’t stay long,” Brambleclaw replied, “but there are some cats here I want Hazeltail to meet. Hello!” he called softly through the opening.
Hazeltail looked up, puzzled, but before she could speak, two cats appeared from the shadows. In the lead was a muscular gray-and-white tom, with a smaller, paler she-cat just behind him.
“Brambleclaw!” The tom sounded surprised but welcoming. “What are you doing here—and all these others? I hope there’s no trouble in your Clan.”
“Nothing that need worry you,” Brambleclaw replied.
“Who are they?” Hollyleaf whispered in Lionblaze’s ear.
Lionblaze shrugged32. “No idea.”
“Smoky, Floss,” Brambleclaw went on, “this is Hazeltail, Daisy’s daughter.” He twitched his ears to draw Hazeltail to his side, in front of the stable cats. “Hazeltail, this is Smoky…your father.”
Hazeltail’s eyes widened in astonishment33. “Daisy brought us here when we were kits34. Father!”
She rushed forward and rubbed her muzzle3 against Smoky’s chin. Purring loudly, Smoky bent35 his head and gave her a lick around the ears. “I’ve missed you all,” he murmured.
With the touch of his tail on her shoulder, he urged the small she-cat forward. “Do you remember Floss?” he prompted Hazeltail. “She helped Daisy look after you, when you were first born.”
Hazeltail looked uncertain. “I don’t remember that,” she mewed, dipping her head to Floss. “But I do remember seeing you here when Daisy brought us back.”
“How is Daisy?” Smoky asked Brambleclaw. “And the other kits…Berry and Mouse?”
“They’re all fine,” Hazeltail assured him, her eyes sparkling. “They’re Berrynose and Mousewhisker now. We’re all warriors36 of ThunderClan. Berrynose lost half his tail in a fox trap—”
Floss interrupted with a gasp37. “Was he badly hurt?”
“Not too badly,” Hazeltail replied. “Leafpool—she’s our medicine cat—looked after him. He’s a strong warrior now, and so is Mousewhisker.”
“And Daisy?” There was a shadow of sadness in Smoky’s eyes as he looked to Brambleclaw for an answer. “Is she happy in the Clan? She was so scared, that time she brought our kits back here after the badger38 attack.”
Brambleclaw nodded. “She has found her place. She will never be a warrior, but she is a true cat of ThunderClan.”
“She has two more kits!” Hazeltail broke in. “Rosekit and Toadkit. They’re so cute!”
“I can see she has moved on,” Smoky murmured. Then he gave his pelt16 a shake, as if dismissing memories. “So you’re a warrior now,” he meowed to his daughter. “Show me what you’ve learned.”
“Okay.” Hazeltail dropped into the hunter’s crouch39 and began to glide40 forward. “Now I’m stalking a mouse,” she explained. “You have to set your paws down light as clouds, because the mouse will feel the vibrations41 through the earth. Then when you’re ready—” She paused, waggling her rump. “You pounce42!”
She leaped into the air and landed with her front paws gripping the tip of Birchfall’s tail.
Birchfall jumped a tail-length off the ground. “Hey! That hurt!”
Hazeltail’s eyes gleamed. “Attack me, then!”
Hollyleaf watched as Birchfall sprang for Hazeltail; she dodged43 to one side and fetched him a blow across the shoulder with her claws sheathed44. Birchfall whipped around and leaped on top of her with a screech45; the two young cats wrestled46 together on the ground.
We were like that once,Hollyleaf thought. Not a care in the world.Seeing the pride in Smoky’s eyes, she felt a wave of jealousy47 sweep over her. Would my father be proud of me?she wondered. Does he even know I exist?
“I’m impressed,” Smoky meowed, as Hazeltail and Birchfall broke apart and sat up, shaking scraps48 of earth and debris49 out of their fur. “ThunderClan certainly teaches cats to look after themselves.”
Floss stepped forward, looking shy but friendly. “Would you like to stay with us for the rest of the day?”
“Good idea.” Smoky stepped back and waved his tail toward the inside of the horse nest. “It’s warm in here, and there are plenty of mice if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks, but no,” Brambleclaw replied. “We have to keep going.”
“We’re on the trail of a killer50!” Hazeltail added.
Floss and Smoky exchanged an alarmed glance, their neck fur beginning to fluff up. “What—who did they kill?” Floss asked nervously51.
“It’s a long story.” Brackenfur padded up, giving Smoky a calming touch on the shoulder with the tip of his tail. “And you don’t have to be frightened about anything. We just need to speak to a cat who may have seen what happened.”
Smoky relaxed, the fur on his neck and shoulders beginning to lie flat again. “What cat is this?” he asked.
“A white-and-brown tabby tom,” Brambleclaw replied, “with very long fur and pale yellow eyes.”
Floss caught her breath. “I saw a cat just like that! He was heading across the field, very early, a couple of sunrises ago.”
“Then we’re hard on his paws,” Brambleclaw purred. “Let’s go.”
Hazeltail padded up to her father and touched noses with him. “Good-bye,” she mewed. “I’ll come to see you on the way back.”
“Come any time,” Smoky told her. Hollyleaf could see how sad he was to let his daughter go so soon.
“I will!” Hazeltail promised.
As they headed across the field, following in Sol’s paw steps, Birchfall veered52 to pad beside Hollyleaf. “It must be weird53 to be halfClan,” he murmured, too quietly for Hazeltail to hear him. “Imagine never seeing your kin19.”
Hollyleaf didn’t reply. It’s better than what I am,she thought bleakly54. I’mnothing Clan!
收听单词发音 |
1
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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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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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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ebbed
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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pelts
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| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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mesh
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| n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络 | |
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flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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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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prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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kits
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| 衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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41
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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42
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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43
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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44
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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45
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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46
wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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47
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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48
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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49
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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50
killer
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| n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者 | |
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51
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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52
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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53
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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bleakly
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| 无望地，阴郁地，苍凉地 | |
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