IT WAS ALL VERY CHILDISH. WHY ON EARTH SHOULD EDward have to leave for Jacob to come over? Weren’twe past this kind of immaturity1?
“It’s not that I feel any personal antagonism2 toward him, Bella, it’s just easier for both of us,” Edward toldme at the door. “I won’t be far away. You’ll be safe.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
He smiled, and then a sly look came into his eye. He pulled me close, burying his face in my hair. I couldfeel his cool breath saturate3 the strands5 as he exhaled6; it raised goose bumps on my neck.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, and then he laughed aloud as if I’d just told a good joke.
“What’s so funny?”
But Edward just grinned and loped off toward the trees without answering.
Grumbling to myself, I went to clean up the kitchen. Before I even had the sink full of water, the doorbellrang. It was hard to get used to how much faster Jacob was without his car. How everyone seemed to be somuch faster than me. . . .
“Come in, Jake!” I shouted.
I was concentrating on piling the dishes into the bubbly water, and I’d forgotten that Jacob moved like aghost these days. So it made me jump when his voice was suddenly there behind me.
“Should you really leave your door unlocked like that? Oh, sorry.”
I’d slopped myself with the dishwater when he’d startled me.
“I’m not worried about anyone who would be deterred7 by a locked door,” I said while I wiped the frontof my shirt with a dishtowel.
“Good point,” he agreed.
I turned to look at him, eyeing him critically. “Is it really so impossible to wear clothes, Jacob?” I asked.
Once again, Jacob was bare-chested, wearing nothing but a pair of old cut-off jeans. Secretly, I wondered ifhe was just so proud of his new muscles that he couldn’t stand to cover them up. I had to admit, they wereimpressive — but I’d never thought of him as vain. “I mean, I know you don’t get cold anymore, but still.”
He ran a hand through his wet hair; it was falling in his eyes.
“It’s just easier,” he explained.
“What’s easier?”
He smiled condescendingly. “It’s enough of a pain to carry the shorts around with me, let alone a completeoutfit. What do I look like, a pack mule8?”
I frowned. “What are you talking about, Jacob?”
His expression was superior, like I was missing something obvious. “My clothes don’t just pop in and outof existence when I change — I have to carry them with me while I run. Pardon me for keeping my burdenlight.”
I changed color. “I guess I didn’t think about that,” I muttered.
He laughed and pointed9 to a black leather cord, thin as a strand4 of yarn10, that was wound three timesbelow his left calf11 like an anklet. I hadn’t noticed before that his feet were bare, too. “That’s more than just afashion statement — it sucks to carry jeans in your mouth.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
He grinned. “Does my being half-naked bother you?”
“No.”
Jacob laughed again, and I turned my back on him to focus on the dishes. I hoped he realized my blushwas left over from embarrassment12 at my own stupidity, and had nothing to do with his question.
“Well, I suppose I should get to work.” He sighed. “I wouldn’t want to give him an excuse to say I’mslacking on my side.”
“Jacob, it’s not your job —”
He raised a hand to cut me off. “I’m working on a volunteer basis here. Now, where is the intruder’s scent13 the worst?”
“My bedroom, I think.”
His eyes narrowed. He didn’t like that any more than Edward had.
“I’ll just be a minute.”
I methodically scrubbed the plate I was holding. The only sound was the brush’s plastic bristles14 scrapinground and round on the ceramic15. I listened for something from above, a creak of the floorboard, the click of adoor. There was nothing. I realized I’d been cleaning the same plate far longer than necessary, and I tried topay attention to what I was doing.
“Whew!” Jacob said, inches behind me, scaring me again.
“Yeesh, Jake, cut that out!”
“Sorry. Here —” Jacob took the towel and mopped up my new spill. “I’ll make it up to you. You wash,I’ll rinse16 and dry.”
“Fine.” I gave him the plate.
“Well, the scent was easy enough to catch. By the way, your room reeks17.”
“I’ll buy some air freshener.”
He laughed.
I washed and he dried in companionable silence for a few minutes.
“Can I ask you something?”
I handed him another plate. “That depends on what you want to know.”
“I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything — I’m honestly curious,” Jacob assured me.
“Fine. Go ahead.”
He paused for half a second. “What’s it like — having a vampire18 for a boyfriend?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s the best.”
“I’m serious. The idea doesn’t bother you — it never creeps you out?”
“Never.”
He was silent as he reached for the bowl in my hands. I peeked20 up at his face — he was frowning, hislower lip jutting21 out.
“Anything else?” I asked.
He wrinkled his nose again. “Well . . . I was wondering . . . do you . . . y’know, kiss him?”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“To each her own,” I murmured.
“You don’t worry about the fangs23?”
I smacked24 his arm, splashing him with dishwater. “Shut up, Jacob! You know he doesn’t have fangs!”
“Close enough,” he muttered.
I gritted25 my teeth and scrubbed a boning knife with more force than necessary.
“Can I ask another one?” he asked softly when I passed the knife to him. “Just curious, again.”
“Fine,” I snapped.
He turned the knife over and over in his hands under the stream of water. When he spoke26, it was only awhisper. “You said a few weeks. . . . When, exactly . . . ?” He couldn’t finish.
“Graduation,” I whispered back, watching his face warily27. Would this set him off again?
“So soon,” he breathed, his eyes closing. It didn’t sound like a question. It sounded like a lament28. Themuscles in his arms tightened29 and his shoulders were stiff.
“OW!” he shouted; it had gotten so still in the room that I jumped a foot in the air at his outburst.
His right hand had curled into a tense fist around the blade of the knife — he unclenched his hand and theknife clattered30 onto the counter. Across his palm was a long, deep gash32. The blood streamed down his fingersand dripped on the floor.
“Damn it! Ouch!” he complained.
My head spun33 and my stomach rolled. I clung to the countertop with one hand, took a deep breaththrough my mouth, and forced myself to get a grip so that I could take care of him.
“Oh, no, Jacob! Oh, crap! Here, wrap this around it!” I shoved the dish towel at him, reaching for hishand. He shrugged34 away from me.
“It’s nothing, Bella, don’t worry about it.”
The room started to shimmer35 a little around the edges.
I took another deep breath. “Don’t worry?! You sliced your hand open!”
He ignored the dish towel I pushed at him. He put his hand under the faucet36 and let the water wash overthe wound. The water ran red. My head whirled.
“Bella,” he said.
I looked away from the wound, up to his face. He was frowning, but his expression was calm.
“What?”
“You look like you’re going to pass out, and you’re biting your lip off. Stop it. Relax. Breathe. I’m fine.”
I inhaled37 through my mouth and removed my teeth from my lower lip. “Don’t be brave.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive you to the ER.” I was pretty sure I would be okay to drive. The walls were holdingsteady now, at least.
“Not necessary.” Jake turned off the water and took the towel from my hand. He twisted it loosely aroundhis palm.
“Wait,” I protested. “Let me look at it.” I clutched the counter more firmly, to hold myself upright if thewound made me woozy again.
“Do you have a medical degree that you never told me about?”
“Just give me the chance to decide whether or not I’m going to throw a fit over taking you to the hospital.”
He made a face of mock horror. “Please, not a fit!”
“If you don’t let me see your hand, a fit is guaranteed.”
He inhaled deeply, and then let out a gusty38 sigh. “Fine.”
He unwound the towel and, when I reached out to take the cloth, he laid his hand in mine.
It took me a few seconds. I even flipped39 his hand over, though I was sure he’d cut his palm. I turned hishand back up, finally realizing that the angry pink, puckered40 line was all that was left of his wound.
“But . . . you were bleeding . . . so much.”
He pulled his hand back, his eyes steady and somber41 on mine.
“I heal fast.”
“I’ll say,” I mouthed.
I’d seen the long gash clearly, seen the blood that flowed into the sink. The rust-and-salt smell of it hadalmost pulled me under. It should have needed stitches. It should have taken days to scab over and thenweeks to fade into the shiny pink scar that marked his skin now.
He screwed his mouth up into half a smile and thumped42 his fist once against his chest. “Werewolf,remember?”
His eyes held mine for an immeasurable moment.
“Right,” I finally said.
He laughed at my expression. “I told you this. You saw Paul’s scar.”
I shook my head to clear it. “It’s a little different, seeing the action sequence firsthand.”
I kneeled down and dug the bleach43 out of the cabinet under the sink. Then I poured some on a dusting ragand started scrubbing the floor. The burning scent of the bleach cleared the last of the dizziness from my head.
“Let me clean up,” Jacob said.
“I got this. Throw that towel in the wash, will you?”
When I was sure the floor smelled of nothing but bleach, I got up and rinsed44 the right side of the sink withbleach, too. Then I went to the laundry closet beside the pantry, and poured a cupful into the washing machinebefore starting it. Jacob watched me with a disapproving45 look on his face.
“Do you have obsessive-compulsive disorder46?” he asked when I was done.
Huh. Maybe. But at least I had a good excuse this time. “We’re a bit sensitive to blood around here. I’msure you can understand that.”
“Oh.” He wrinkled his nose again.
“Why not make it as easy as possible for him? What he’s doing is hard enough.”
“Sure, sure. Why not?”
I pulled the plug, and let the dirty water drain from the sink.
“Can I ask you something, Bella?”
I sighed.
“What’s it like — having a werewolf for a best friend?”
The question caught me off guard. I laughed out loud.
“Does it creep you out?” he pressed before I could answer.
“No. When the werewolf is being nice,” I qualified47, “it’s the best.”
He grinned widely, his teeth bright against his russet skin. “Thanks, Bella,” he said, and then he grabbedmy hand and wrenched48 me into one of his bone-crushing hugs.
Before I had time to react, he dropped his arms and stepped away.
“Ugh,” he said, his nose wrinkling. “Your hair stinks49 worse than your room.”
“Sorry,” I muttered. I suddenly understood what Edward had been laughing about earlier, after breathingon me.
“One of the many hazards of socializing with vampires50,” Jacob said, shrugging. “It makes you smell bad. Aminor hazard, comparatively.”
I glared at him. “I only smell bad to you, Jake.”
He grinned. “See you around, Bells.”
“Are you leaving?”
“He’s waiting for me to go. I can hear him outside.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll go out the back,” he said, and then he paused. “Hold up a sec — hey, do you think you can come toLa Push tonight? We’re having a bonfire party. Emily will be there, and you could meet Kim . . . And I knowQuil wants to see you, too. He’s pretty peeved52 that you found out before he did.”
I grinned at that. I could just imagine how that would have irked Quil — Jacob’s little human gal53 pal31 downwith the werewolves while he was still clueless. And then I sighed. “Yeah, Jake, I don’t know about that. See,it’s a little tense right now. . . .”
“C’mon, you think somebody’s going to get past all — all six of us?”
There was a strange pause as he stuttered over the end of his question. I wondered if he had troublesaying the word werewolf aloud, the way I often had difficulty with vampire.
His big dark eyes were full of unashamed pleading.
“I’ll ask,” I said doubtfully.
He made a noise in the back of his throat. “Is he your warden54, now, too? You know, I saw this story onthe news last week about controlling, abusive teenage relationships and —”
“Okay!” I cut him off, and then shoved his arm. “Time for the werewolf to get out!”
He grinned. “Bye, Bells. Be sure you ask permission.”
He ducked out the back door before I could find something to throw at him. I growled55 incoherently at theempty room.
Seconds after he was gone, Edward walked slowly into the kitchen, raindrops glistening57 like diamonds setinto the bronze of his hair. His eyes were wary58.
“Did you two get into a fight?” he asked.
“Edward!” I sang, throwing myself at him.
“Hi, there.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you trying to distract me? It’s working.”
“No, I didn’t fight with Jacob. Much. Why?”
“I was just wondering why you stabbed him. Not that I object.” With his chin, he gestured to the knife onthe counter.
“Dang! I thought I got everything.”
I pulled away from him and ran to put the knife in the sink before I doused59 it with bleach.
“I didn’t stab him,” I explained as I worked. “He forgot he had a knife in his hand.”
Edward chuckled60. “That’s not nearly as fun as the way I imagined it.”
“Be nice.”
He took a big envelope from his jacket pocket and tossed it on the counter. “I got your mail.”
“Anything good?”
“I think so.”
My eyes narrowed suspiciously at his tone. I went to investigate.
He’d folded the legal-sized envelope in half. I smoothed it open, surprised at the weight of the expensivepaper, and read the return address.
“Dartmouth? Is this a joke?”
“I’m sure it’s an acceptance. It looks exactly like mine.”
“Good grief, Edward — what did you do?”
“I sent in your application, that’s all.”
“I may not be Dartmouth material, but I’m not stupid enough to believe that.”
“Dartmouth seems to think that you’re Dartmouth material.”
I took a deep breath and counted slowly to ten. “That’s very generous of them,” I finally said. “However,accepted or not, there is still the minor51 matter of tuition. I can’t afford it, and I’m not letting you throw awayenough money to buy yourself another sports car just so that I can pretend to go to Dartmouth next year.”
“I don’t need another sports car. And you don’t have to pretend anything,” he murmured. “One year ofcollege wouldn’t kill you. Maybe you’d even like it. Just think about it, Bella. Imagine how excited Charlie andRenée would be. . . .”
His velvet61 voice painted the picture in my head before I could block it. Of course Charlie would explodewith pride — no one in the town of Forks would be able to escape the fallout from his excitement. And Renéewould be hysterical62 with joy at my triumph — though she’d swear she wasn’t at all surprised. . . .
I tried to shake the image out of my head. “Edward. I’m worried about living through graduation, let alonethis summer or next fall.”
His arms wrapped around me again. “No one is going to hurt you. You have all the time in the world.”
I sighed. “I’m mailing the contents of my bank account to Alaska tomorrow. It’s all the alibi63 I need. It’s farenough away that Charlie won’t expect a visit until Christmas at the earliest. And I’m sure I’ll think of someexcuse by then. You know,” I teased halfheartedly, “this whole secrecy64 and deception65 thing is kind of a pain.”
Edward’s expression hardened. “It gets easier. After a few decades, everyone you know is dead.
Problem solved.”
“Sorry, that was harsh.”
I stared down at the big white envelope, not seeing it. “But still true.”
“If I get this resolved, whatever it is we’re dealing67 with, will you please consider waiting?”
“Nope.”
“Always so stubborn.”
“Yep.”
The washing machine thumped and stuttered to a halt.
“Stupid piece of junk,” I muttered as I pulled away from him. I moved the one small towel that hadunbalanced the otherwise empty machine, and started it again.
“This reminds me,” I said. “Could you ask Alice what she did with my stuff when she cleaned my room? Ican’t find it anywhere.”
He looked at me with confused eyes. “Alice cleaned your room?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s what she was doing. When she came to get my pajamas68 and pillow and stuff to holdme hostage.” I glowered69 at him briefly70. “She picked up everything that was lying around, my shirts, my socks,and I don’t know where she put them.”
Edward continued to look confused for one short moment, and then, abruptly71, he was rigid72.
“When did you notice your things were missing?”
“When I got back from the fake slumber73 party. Why?”
“I don’t think Alice took anything. Not your clothes, or your pillow. The things that were taken, thesewere things you’d worn . . . and touched . . . and slept on?”
“Yes. What is it, Edward?”
His expression was strained. “Things with your scent.”
“Oh!”
We stared into each others eyes for a long moment.
“My visitor,” I muttered.
“He was gathering74 traces . . . evidence. To prove that he’d found you?”
“Why?” I whispered.
“I don’t know. But, Bella, I swear I will find out. I will.”
“I know you will,” I said, laying my head against his chest. Leaning there, I felt his phone vibrate in hispocket.
He pulled out his phone and glanced at the number. “Just the person I need to talk to,” he murmured, andthen he flipped it open. “Carlisle, I —” He broke off and listened, his face taut75 with concentration for a fewminutes. “I’ll check it out. Listen . . .”
He explained about my missing things, but from the side I was hearing, it sounded like Carlisle had noinsights for us.
“Maybe I’ll go . . . ,” Edward said, trailing off as his eyes drifted toward me. “Maybe not. Don’t letEmmett go alone, you know how he gets. At least ask Alice keep an eye on things. We’ll figure this out later.”
He snapped the phone shut. “Where’s the paper?” he asked me.
“Um, I’m not sure. Why?”
“I need to see something. Did Charlie already throw it out?”
“Maybe. . . .”
Edward disappeared.
He was back in half a second, new diamonds in his hair, a wet newspaper in his hands. He spread it outon the table, his eyes scanning quickly across the headlines. He leaned in, intent on something he was reading,one finger tracing passages that interested him most.
“Carlisle’s right . . . yes . . . very sloppy76. Young and crazed? Or a death wish?” he muttered to himself.
I went to peek19 over his shoulder.
The headline of the Seattle Times read: “Murder Epidemic77 Continues — Police Have No New Leads.”
It was almost the same story Charlie had been complaining about a few weeks ago — the big-cityviolence that was pushing Seattle up the national murder hot-spot list. It wasn’t exactly the same story, though.
The numbers were a lot higher.
“It’s getting worse,” I murmured.
He frowned. “Altogether out of control. This can’t be the work of just one newborn vampire. What’sgoing on? It’s as if they’ve never heard of the Volturi. Which is possible, I guess. No one has explained therules to them . . . so who is creating them, then?”
“The Volturi?” I repeated, shuddering78.
“This is exactly the kind of thing they routinely wipe out — immortals79 who threaten to expose us. They justcleaned up a mess like this a few years ago in Atlanta, and it hadn’t gotten nearly this bad. They will intervenesoon, very soon, unless we can find some way to calm the situation. I’d really rather they didn’t come toSeattle just now. As long as they’re this close . . . they might decide to check on you.”
I shuddered again. “What can we do?”
“We need to know more before we can decide that. Perhaps if we can talk to these young ones, explainthe rules, it can be resolved peacefully.” He frowned, like he didn’t think the chances of that were good.
“We’ll wait until Alice has an idea of what’s going on. . . . We don’t want to step in until it’s absolutelynecessary. After all, it’s not our responsibility. But it’s good we have Jasper,” he added, almost to himself. “Ifwe are dealing with newborns, he’ll be helpful.”
“Jasper? Why?”
Edward smiled darkly. “Jasper is sort of an expert on young vampires.”
“What do you mean, an expert?”
“You’ll have to ask him — the story is involved.”
“It does feel that way, doesn’t it? Like it’s coming at us from all sides these days.” He sighed. “Do youever think that your life might be easier if you weren’t in love with me?”
“Maybe. It wouldn’t be much of a life, though.”
“For me,” he amended81 quietly. “And now, I suppose,” he continued with a wry82 smile, “you havesomething you want to ask me?”
I stared at him blankly. “I do?”
“Or maybe not.” He grinned. “I was rather under the impression that you’d promised to ask mypermission to go to some kind of werewolf soirée tonight.”
“Eavesdropping again?”
He grinned. “Just a bit, at the very end.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to ask you anyway. I figured you had enough to stress about.”
He put his hand under my chin, and held my face so that he could read my eyes. “Would you like to go?”
“It’s no big thing. Don’t worry about it.”
“You don’t have to ask my permission, Bella. I’m not your father — thank heaven for that. Perhaps youshould ask Charlie, though.”
“But you know Charlie will say yes.”
“I do have a bit more insight into his probable answer than most people would, it’s true.”
I just stared at him, trying to understand what he wanted, and trying to put out of my mind the yearning83 Ifelt to go to La Push so that I wouldn’t be swayed by my own wishes. It was stupid to want to go hang outwith a bunch of big idiot wolf-boys right now when there was so much that was frightening and unexplainedgoing on. Of course, that was exactly why I wanted to go. I wanted to escape the death threats, for just a fewhours . . . to be the less-mature, more-reckless Bella who could laugh it off with Jacob, if only briefly. But thatdidn’t matter.
“Bella,” Edward said. “I told you that I was going to be reasonable and trust your judgment84. I meant that.
If you trust the werewolves, then I’m not going to worry about them.”
“Wow,” I said, as I had last night.
“And Jacob’s right — about one thing, anyway — a pack of werewolves ought to be enough to protecteven you for one evening.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Only . . .”
“I hope you won’t mind taking a few precautions? Allowing me to drive you to the boundary line, for one.
And then taking a cell phone, so that I’ll know when to pick you up?”
“That sounds . . . very reasonable.”
“Excellent.”
He smiled at me, and I could see no trace of apprehension86 in his jewel-like eyes.
To no one’s surprise, Charlie had no problem at all with me going to La Push for a bonfire. Jacob crowedwith undisguised exultation87 when I called to give him the news, and he seemed eager enough to embraceEdward’s safety measures. He promised to meet us at the line between territories at six.
I had decided88, after a short internal debate, that I would not sell my motorcycle. I would take it back toLa Push where it belonged and, when I no longer needed it anymore . . . well, then, I would insist that Jacobprofit from his work somehow. He could sell it or give it to a friend. It didn’t matter to me.
Tonight seemed like a good opportunity to return the bike to Jacob’s garage. As gloomy as I was feelingabout things lately, every day seemed like a possible last chance. I didn’t have time to procrastinate89 any task,no matter how minor.
Edward only nodded when I explained what I wanted, but I thought I saw a flicker90 of consternation91 in hiseyes, and I knew he was no happier about the idea of me on a motorcycle than Charlie was.
I followed him back to his house, to the garage where I’d left the bike. It wasn’t until I pulled the truck inand got out that I realized the consternation might not be entirely92 about my safety this time.
Next to my little antique motorcycle, overshadowing it, was another vehicle. To call this other vehicle amotorcycle hardly seemed fair, since it didn’t seem to belong to the same family as my suddenly shabby-looking bike.
It was big and sleek93 and silver and — even totally motionless — it looked fast.
“What is that?”
“Nothing,” Edward murmured.
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Edward’s expression was casual; he seemed determined94 to blow it off. “Well, I didn’t know if you were going to forgive your friend, or he you, and I wondered if you would still want to ride your bike anyway. Itsounded like it was something that you enjoyed. I thought I could go with you, if you wished.” He shrugged.
I stared at the beautiful machine. Beside it, my bike looked like a broken tricycle. I felt a sudden wave ofsadness when I realized that this was not a bad analogy for the way I probably looked next to Edward.
“I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you,” I whispered.
Edward put his hand under my chin and pulled my face around so that he could see it straight on. With onefinger, he tried to push the corner of my mouth up.
“I’d keep pace with you, Bella.”
“That wouldn’t be much fun for you.”
“Of course it would, if we were together.”
I bit my lip and imagined it for a moment. “Edward, if you thought I was going too fast or losing control ofthe bike or something, what would you do?”
He hesitated, obviously trying to find the right answer. I knew the truth: he’d find some way to save mebefore I crashed.
Then he smiled. It looked effortless, except for the tiny defensive95 tightening96 of his eyes.
“This is something you do with Jacob. I see that now.”
“It’s just that, well, I don’t slow him down so much, you know. I could try, I guess. . . .”
I eyed the silver motorcycle doubtfully.
“Don’t worry about it,” Edward said, and then he laughed lightly. “I saw Jasper admiring it. Perhaps it’stime he discovered a new way to travel. After all, Alice has her Porsche now.”
“Edward, I —”
He interrupted me with a quick kiss. “I said not to worry. But would you do something for me?”
“Whatever you need,” I promised quickly.
He dropped my face and leaned over the far side of the big motorcycle, retrieving97 something he hadstashed there.
He came back with one object that was black and shapeless, and another that was red and easilyidentifiable.
“Please?” he asked, flashing the crooked98 smile that always destroyed my resistance.
I took the red helmet, weighing it in my hands. “I’ll look stupid.”
“No, you’ll look smart. Smart enough not to get yourself hurt.” He threw the black thing, whatever it was,over his arm and then took my face in his hands. “There are things between my hands right now that I can’tlive without. You could take care of them.”
“Okay, fine. What’s that other thing?” I asked suspiciously.
He laughed and shook out some kind of padded jacket. “It’s a riding jacket. I hear road rash is quiteuncomfortable, not that I would know myself.”
He held it out for me. With a deep sigh, I flipped my hair back and stuffed the helmet on my head. Then Ishoved my arms through the sleeves of the jacket. He zipped me in, a smile playing around the corners of hislips, and took a step back.
I felt bulky.
“Be honest, how hideous99 do I look?”
He took another step back and pursed his lips.
“That bad, huh?” I muttered.
“No, no, Bella. Actually . . .” he seemed to be struggling for the right word. “You look . . . sexy.”
I laughed out loud. “Right.”
“Very sexy, really.”
“You are just saying that so that I’ll wear it,” I said. “But that’s okay. You’re right, it’s smarter.”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. “You’re silly. I suppose that’s part ofyour charm. Though, I’ll admit it, this helmet does have its drawbacks.”
And then he pulled the helmet off so that he could kiss me.
As Edward drove me toward La Push a little while later, I realized that this unprecedented100 situation felt oddlyfamiliar. It took me a moment of thought to pinpoint101 the source of the déjà vu.
“You know what this reminds me of?” I asked. “It’s just like when I was a kid and Renée would pass meoff to Charlie for the summer. I feel like a seven-year-old.”
Edward laughed.
I didn’t mention it out loud, but the biggest difference between the two circumstances was that Renée andCharlie had been on better terms.
About halfway102 to La Push, we rounded the corner and found Jacob leaning against the side of the redVolkswagen he’d built for himself out of scraps103. Jacob’s carefully neutral expression dissolved into a smilewhen I waved from the front seat.
Edward parked the Volvo thirty yards away.
“Call me whenever you’re ready to come home,” he said. “And I’ll be here.”
“I won’t be out late,” I promised.
Edward pulled the bike and my new gear out of the trunk of his car — I’d been quite impressed that it hadall fit. But it wasn’t so hard to manage when you were strong enough to juggle104 full-sized vans, let alone smallmotorcycles.
Jacob watched, making no move to approach, his smile gone and his dark eyes indecipherable.
I tucked the helmet under my arm and threw the jacket across the seat.
“Do you have it all?” Edward asked.
“No problem,” I assured him.
He sighed and leaned toward me. I turned my face up for a goodbye peck, but Edward took me bysurprise, fastening his arms tightly around me and kissing me with as much enthusiasm as he had in the garage— before long, I was gasping105 for air.
Edward laughed quietly at something, and then let me go.
“Goodbye,” he said. “I really do like the jacket.”
As I turned away from him, I thought I saw a flash of something in his eyes that I wasn’t supposed to see.
I couldn’t tell for sure what it was exactly. Worry, maybe. For a second I thought it was panic. But I wasprobably just making something out of nothing, as usual.
I could feel his eyes on my back as I pushed my bike toward the invisible vampire-werewolf treaty line tomeet Jacob.
“What’s all that?” Jacob called to me, his voice wary, scrutinizing106 the motorcycle with an enigmaticexpression.
“I thought I should put this back where it belongs,” I told him.
He pondered that for one short second, and then his wide smile stretched across his face.
I knew the exact point that I was in werewolf territory because Jacob shoved away from his car and lopedquickly over to me, closing the distance in three long strides. He took the bike from me, balanced it on thekickstand, and grabbed me up in another vice-tight hug.
I heard the Volvo’s engine growl56, and I struggled to get free.
“Cut it out, Jake!” I gasped107 breathlessly.
He laughed and set me down. I turned to wave goodbye, but the silver car was already disappearingaround the curve in the road.
“Nice,” I commented, allowing some acid to leak into my voice.
His eyes widened in false innocence108. “What?”
“He’s being pretty dang pleasant about this; you don’t need to push your luck.”
He laughed again, louder than before — he found what I’d said very funny indeed. I tried to see the jokeas he walked around the Rabbit to hold my door open for me.
“Bella,” he finally said — still chuckling109 — as he shut the door behind me, “you can’t push what you don’thave.”
收听单词发音 |
1
immaturity
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| n.不成熟；未充分成长；未成熟；粗糙 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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saturate
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| vt.使湿透，浸透；使充满，使饱和 | |
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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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strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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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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bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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ceramic
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| n.制陶业，陶器，陶瓷工艺 | |
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rinse
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| v.用清水漂洗，用清水冲洗 | |
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reeks
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| n.恶臭( reek的名词复数 )v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的第三人称单数 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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peek
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| vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥 | |
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peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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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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23
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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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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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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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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shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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faucet
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| n.水龙头 | |
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inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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40
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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42
thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
bleach
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| vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂 | |
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44
rinsed
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| v.漂洗( rinse的过去式和过去分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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45
disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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46
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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47
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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48
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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49
stinks
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| v.散发出恶臭( stink的第三人称单数 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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50
vampires
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| n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门 | |
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51
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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52
peeved
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| adj.恼怒的，不高兴的v.（使）气恼，（使）焦躁，（使）愤怒( peeve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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54
warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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55
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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56
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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57
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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58
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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59
doused
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| v.浇水在…上( douse的过去式和过去分词 )；熄灯[火] | |
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60
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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62
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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63
alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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64
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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65
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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66
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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68
pajamas
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| n.睡衣裤 | |
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69
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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71
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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72
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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73
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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74
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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75
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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76
sloppy
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| adj.邋遢的，不整洁的 | |
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77
epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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78
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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79
immortals
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| 不朽的人物( immortal的名词复数 )； 永生不朽者 | |
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80
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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81
Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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82
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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83
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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84
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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85
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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86
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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87
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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88
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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89
procrastinate
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| v.耽搁，拖延 | |
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90
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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91
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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92
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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93
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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94
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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95
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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96
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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97
retrieving
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| n.检索（过程），取还v.取回( retrieve的现在分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
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98
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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99
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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100
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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101
pinpoint
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| vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置 | |
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102
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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103
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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104
juggle
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| v.变戏法，纂改，欺骗，同时做；n.玩杂耍，纂改，花招 | |
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105
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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106
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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107
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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108
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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109
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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