Chapter 4

When he awoke it was dark and quiet. For some moments he failed to recognize his whereabouts. Then he saw that stars were out in the California sky and that he was somewhere alone — no — he was held tight in someone’s arms. But the arms were of iron and he realized that he was still in the metallic¹ casing. And then it all came back to him — up to the moment when he heard the approach of the car.

As far as he could determine he was unhurt — but why out here and alone?

He struggled to get up but found it was impossible and after a horrified² moment he let out a cry for help. For five minutes he called out at intervals³ until finally a voice came from far away; and assistance arrived in the form of a studio policeman.

‘What is it fella? A drop too much?’

‘Hell no,’ cried Pat. ‘I was in the shooting this afternoon. It was a lousy trick to go off and leave me in this ditch.’

‘They must have forgot you in the excitement.’

‘Forgot me! I was the excitement. If you don’t believe me then feel what I got on!’

The cop helped him to his feet.

‘They was upset,’ he explained. ‘A star don’t break his leg every day.’

‘What’s that? Did something happen?’

‘Well, as I heard, he was supposed to drive the car at a bump and the car turned over and broke his leg. They had to stop shooting and they’re all kind of gloomy.’

‘And they leave me inside this — this stove. How do I get it off tonight? How’m I going to drive my car?’

But for all his rage Pat felt a certain fierce pride. He was Something in this set-up — someone to be reckoned with after years of neglect. He had managed to hold up the picture once more.

1 metallic   

adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的

参考例句：

• A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
• He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。

2 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

3 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。