CHAPTER FOUR

“There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.” Maya Angelou PPenelope was relieved that traffic was light on I-526. Known as the Mark Clark, it was named after the General who signed the ceasefi re agreement with North Korea in 1953, and who served as president of Th e Citadel¹ from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. The highway was a loop of interstate that skirted north of Charleston, allowing people traveling from Savannah to Myrtle Beach the opportunity to avoid the congestion² of downtown. Without having to focus so much on her driving, Penelope allowed her mind to work overtime³ on the task at hand. She doubted Mark could have gotten it completely wrong; that would have been out of character. He checked, rechecked and verifi ed everything. He could have been misinformed, but he referred to his source as “unimpeachable⁴.” Odd choice of words, even for Mark. As Penelope continued to work the angles over and over in her mind she noticed a huge green directional marker that read “I-26 Columbia”. “What the heck,” she muttered to herself. “What else do I have to do?” She turned on her right blinker, headed west on I-26, and had gone less than a mile when a foreboding sense that she was not alone in the car hit her like an unexpected chilly⁵ breeze. Penelope checked her rearview mirror to be sure there wasn’t an axe⁶ murderer in the backseat. It was empty. “Get a grip Penelope,” she said as she shook her head and refocused 27 The Fourth Awakening⁷ on her driving. “I have a good feeling about this. Senator Horn is going to be in his office and there is no one else in the car but me.” She checked her rearview mirror again, just to be sure. Not wanting to be on the road without some traveling money, Penelope exited at Ashley Phosphate and headed toward the Bank of America branch on Rivers Avenue. There were more cars lined up in the drive-through lane at the ATM than she had seen on the Interstate, so she wheeled her precious little hybrid⁸ car into a parking space at the front door of the branch. Since it was a Saturday morning and there were so many people waiting to use the ATM she thought the branch was probably closed, but it wasn’t. It turned out to be one of only a handful of Bank of America locations in Charleston with Saturday morning banking⁹ hours. . AAt the counter I absently reach for one of the two checkbooks in my purse as I try to shake the feeling that I am not alone. I can feel eyes on me, but turning around, no one is there. Still these odd pulls and tugs¹⁰ make my skin crawl. It was similar to a few minutes earlier in the car only much stronger. I write the check on autopilot as I struggle to understand the emotions and sensations that are sweeping¹¹ over, around and through me. Maybe I am overwhelmed by being back in the game. Maybe I am losing my mind. . “May I help you?” the tall, athletic¹² African-American teller¹³ said, as she smiled in Penelope’s direction. Penelope placed her check and driver’s license¹⁴ on the counter top. The teller examined the check, front and back, and compared the photograph on Penelope’s South Carolina driver’s license to her face. The picture was three years old and she had dropped nearly 15 pounds in the interim¹⁵ but it still looked enough like the person whose name was on the check to satisfy the teller. “Would you like that in large bills?” she asked in a surprisingly high voice that didn’t match her physique. It seemed like an odd question for a $300 withdrawal¹⁶, but Penelope nodded that large bills would be fi ne. Penelope waited as the teller, for some reason, moved to a diff erent part of the bank. She again allowed her mind to wander. Th is assignment 28 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin had dredged up all of the old doubts that had kept her awake at night. Had it been too many years since she had done something like this? How could she compete with reporters who were younger than her children? Obviously this Walker character was involved in something shady or he wouldn’t be under arrest; he was wealthy and connected enough for very little to be out of his reach. Did she really want someone like him to even know her name? Pulling her cell phone from her purse, she dialed the last phone number she had for Senator Horn’s Columbia Offi ce. Not surprisingly, being a Saturday, it went straight to voice mail. “What in the world am I doing?” she thought to herself. “I’m planning on driving two hours to arrive unannounced at what would likely be an empty offi ce…” Her chain of thought was broken as the teller began counting $100 bills out on the counter. “Excuse me, what are you doing?” The teller looked a bit perplexed¹⁷. “I’m sorry; I thought you said you wanted large bills.” Looking over the counter at the check Penelope had handed the teller she was stunned¹⁸ when she noticed the amount on the check was $3,000, not $300. “Where is your brain, Penelope?” she muttered to herself. Instead of making a scene or infl icting further embarrassment¹⁹ upon herself, she decided²⁰ to redeposit the funds on Monday at her usual West Ashley branch. “I’m sorry, you’re right,” Penelope said with a self-conscious smile. Th e teller hesitated for a moment to be sure, then finished counting out the bills, stuffed them in a narrow white envelope and pushed them in her direction. After climbing behind the wheel of her Prius, Penelope shook her head. She wasn’t sure what was stranger, what had just happened or what she was actually planning to do. Her mind and emotions continued to churn for the two hours it took to drive from Charleston to the Columbia offi ce of Senator Clayton Horn. In Penelope Spence’s mind, politicians pretty much fell into four categories: True Believer, Corrupt²², Ambitious, and Serious. Th e True Believers, whether from the left or the right end of the political spectrum²³, are the most interesting. They hold strong views which they defend loudly while being impervious²⁴ to logic²⁵ or counter arguments. They’re always a great source for quotes and fun to poke²⁶ sticks at by asking loaded questions at press conferences. The most common are the Corrupt and Ambitious types. Th ey’re difficult to tell apart until an indictment²⁷ is handed down. 29 The Fourth Awakening The rarest form of politician is the Serious. These are men and women who get involved in politics because they love their country and want to give something back. Unlike the rest, they know how to keep a secret. Senator Clayton Horn was a Serious politician. After four terms in the House of Representatives, the good people of South Carolina had seen fit to elect him five times to be their U.S. Senator, each with a larger majority. With more time on her hands as her kids started to troop off to college and no prospects²⁸ of gainful employment in journalism²⁹ on the horizon, she volunteered to help the senator in his last re-election campaign. To her surprise, instead of stuffing envelopes or making phone calls, he hired her to do opposition³⁰ research. When the campaign ended, he kept her on as a part-time staffer doing background checks from her home in Charleston. Over time her duties expanded to include even more sensitive assignments, including research involving the senator’s role on the select Committee on Intelligence. Getting a Top Secret clearance³¹ took some time but was less odious³² than she had imagined, mostly because all she had done for the previous several decades was raise her family and serve on various charity boards. The required additional ‘codeword’ levels were another matter entirely³³. Thirty-six hours of labor³⁴ for her first daughter had been a snap compared to that process. Horn had already announced that his last campaign would indeed be his last campaign. Penelope found herself being used less and less as the senator’s retirement³⁵ date got closer and he groomed³⁶ another senator to take his place on the select Committee. It had been over a year since Penelope had visited the senator’s office. While strongly hoping he would be there, she had no delusions³⁷ that he would actually be in. The sign on the door indicated that his offi ce was closed on Saturday, which wasn’t a good omen²¹. Bracing³⁸ herself for the worse, she tried the knob on the door and found it unlocked. Inside was the familiar large room with a half dozen desks, each with stacks of file folders³⁹ on the corners and computer monitors in the middle. Her previous visits had been during normal hours when the offi ce was a madhouse of activity. Now it was eerily⁴⁰ still. Having heard the door open, a grey-haired woman popped her head out of her offi ce; Penelope recognized her immediately as Joan Inman, the senator’s long serving chief of staff . “I’m sorry, but we’re not open…” she stopped dead in mid-sentence, stared and blinked. “As I live and breathe,” she said with a not too thick 30 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin but nonetheless charming Southern accent. “Penelope Drayton Spence? Is that you?” “Hi, Joan!” Inman held Penelope at arm’s length and examined her from head to toe. “I swear; I hate you. You look better now than the last time I saw you. What has it been, a year?” “At least that…” “We were just talkin’ about you,” her Southern accent, like a pot of grits⁴¹ bubbling on the burner, was getting thicker by the second. “Clay! Clay! Look who’s come here for a visit!” Senator Clayton Horn stuck his head out of the office next to his chief of staff ’s to see what was causing the commotion⁴². The senator looked much older and more tired than the last time she had seen him. Th ere was less hair on top and more lines on his face. He still had those gentle brown eyes that made you trust him instantly, but his skin appeared drawn⁴³ and had a sallow, grayish cast. There had been rumors⁴⁴ that he was in failing health, and seeing him fi rsthand confirmed them. Instead of being in a suit or blazer, the senator was wearing a golf shirt and Dockers. He always felt a responsibility to wear a coat and tie whenever he was doing government business, so he obviously hadn’t expected to see anyone today. Upon seeing Penelope, his eyes brightened and a huge smile broke across his face. He embraced her with arms that were more frail⁴⁶ than she had remembered. “We were just talking about you!” “That’s what I told her, too.” “You are lucky to catch us,” the senator said with a warm smile. “We decided to stop by and pick up some stuff at the last minute.” “If you had been five minutes earlier or later, you’d have missed us completely,” Inman cooed. “That would have broken my heart.” “What can I do for you?” Horn asked. “I have a couple of questions for you. Then maybe a favor to ask.” “If there is anyone I owe a favor to it would be you.” Senator Horn motioned toward his office and then to one of the comfortable chairs directly across from his massive Carolina pine desk. After they had settled in, the senator’s voice softened⁴⁷. “I heard about you and your husband.” Penelope waved it off . “These things happen.” On the wall behind him were framed pictures of the senator with 31 The Fourth Awakening various other politicians, world leaders, and prominent South Carolinians. The one in the center of the maze⁴⁸ was a much younger Clayton Horn, probably taken when he was still a congressman⁴⁹. He was in the Oval Office, shaking Ronald Reagan’s hand. Sharing the center spotlight⁵⁰ of the photo array was a more recent picture of the senator with the Reverend Billy Graham. Penelope smiled when she noticed that she had made the wall of fame. Up in a corner near the top was a picture of the senator taken at the Rickman’s years earlier during a fund raising event. To the senator’s right were Josephine, not Joey, and her ex-husband; to his left were Penelope and Bill. They were all beaming and happy. What a diff erence time made. The top of his desk was reserved for pictures of his children, grandchildren, and an adorable infant with a pink ribbon on her bald head, who Penelope assumed was a great granddaughter. Joan Inman joined them and perched herself on the corner of the desk, continuing to beam. “So to what do I owe this visit?” “I’m working on a story.” “Good for you,” Joan said, almost clapping her hands. The senator, on the other hand, became much more serious as his grin melted into a smile. “What kind of story?” “I’m looking into the recent activities of Michael Walker.” Horn didn’t flinch⁵¹. “I see.” “You previously⁵² had me do some background research on him but since then there are some rumors fl oating around.” “There are always stories circulating around Washington. I wouldn’t put too much stock in an unsubstantiated rumor⁴⁵.” “With your help,” Penelope said with a smile, “maybe we can put this one to rest quickly. How well do you know him?” “Mr. Walker is a very wealthy man and a generous political donor⁵³. I would suspect that everyone in Washington knows him, or would like to. Why do you ask?” The smile was completely gone. “Have you ever heard of the Hermes Project?” “Why do you ask?” Always answer a question you want to avoid by asking another question. Political Speak 101. 32 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin “You didn’t answer my question.” “Nor did you answer mine.” Penelope knew they could parry and thrust all day, but in the end the guy with nearly four decades in Washington wasn’t going to be tricked by any questions he didn’t want to answer. Penelope had a weak hand, and it wasn’t getting any stronger sitting across the table from someone like Horn. She had already shown her two best cards by mentioning Walker and the Hermes Project and Horn hadn’t even blinked. Now she only had one good card left, and it might be a joker if Mark’s information was wrong. At this point she had nothing to lose and decided to go all in. “I have been told, from what is considered an unimpeachable source, that Michael Walker was recently detained and transferred to the Charleston Consolidated⁵⁴ Brig because of his association with the Hermes Project. I was there today and spoke⁵⁵ to a Commander Durkin, who denied that he is being held in their facility.” A heavy silence settled over the room for a few moments. Senator Clayton Horn, never taking his eyes off of Penelope Spence finally said, “Joan, will you excuse us?” After 39 years of working together, the senator’s chief of staff knew exactly what the tone of the request meant. She immediately got up and closed the door behind her as she left the room. “An unimpeachable source,” he said, with a laugh. “This is all very interesting, Penelope. Where did you get this information?” She had obviously hit a nerve. Horn was the ranking Republican on the senate oversight⁵⁶ committee that controlled the spending and kept an eye on all of America’s intelligence-gathering agencies. He and the other members of the committee had the authority to write whatever number of dollars they felt were needed into the annual federal budget for these agencies. Last year they had written $173 billion dollars on that line and it was approved by both chambers⁵⁷, without debate, and by unanimous consent. “You know I can’t tell you that. What do you know about the Hermes Project, Michael Walker and his being held incommunicado?” “Can we go off the record?” “I would prefer we stay on the record.” The senator rose from his chair and extended his right hand. “Th en it has been good to see you. As you know I’m not running for re-election so I guess we won’t be doing any more fundraisers.” Penelope knew exactly 33 The Fourth Awakening what the senator meant. He was grateful for her past generous support, but there were limits to his gratitude⁵⁸. Penelope didn’t move. The problem for Penelope was the senator now knew all of her cards, and she didn’t know anymore than when she walked in except that Mark Hatchet’s information had been correct. Th ere was a Hermes Project and wealthy industrialist⁵⁹ Michael Walker was involved. Plus, Walker was probably in the Charleston Consolidated Brig. If she refused to go off the record now, with the brig denying they had him, the story might end here. “Okay,” Penelope said, her shoulders sagging⁶⁰ slightly. She dropped her notepad and pen in her purse. “We’re off the record.”

1 citadel   

n.城堡；堡垒；避难所

参考例句：

• The citadel was solid.城堡是坚固的。
• This citadel is built on high ground for protecting the city.这座城堡建于高处是为保护城市。

2 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

3 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

4 unimpeachable   

adj.无可指责的；adv.无可怀疑地

参考例句：

• He said all five were men of unimpeachable character.他说这五个都是品格完美无缺的人。
• It is the revenge that nature takes on persons of unimpeachable character.这是自然对人品无瑕的人的报复。

5 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

6 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

7 awakening   

n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的

参考例句：

• the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
• People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。

8 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

9 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

10 tugs   

n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The raucous sirens of the tugs came in from the river. 河上传来拖轮发出的沙哑的汽笛声。 来自辞典例句
• As I near the North Tower, the wind tugs at my role. 当我接近北塔的时候，风牵动着我的平衡杆。 来自辞典例句

11 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

12 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

13 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

14 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

15 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

16 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

17 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

18 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

19 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

20 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

21 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

22 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

23 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

24 impervious   

adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的

参考例句：

• He was completely impervious to criticism.他对批评毫不在乎。
• This material is impervious to gases and liquids.气体和液体都透不过这种物质。

25 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

26 poke   

n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• We never thought she would poke her nose into this.想不到她会插上一手。
• Don't poke fun at me.别拿我凑趣儿。

27 indictment   

n.起诉；诉状

参考例句：

• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
• They issued an indictment against them.他们起诉了他们。

28 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

29 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

30 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

31 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

32 odious   

adj.可憎的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。
• His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。

33 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

34 labor   

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

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

35 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

36 groomed   

v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗

参考例句：

• She is always perfectly groomed. 她总是打扮得干净利落。
• Duff is being groomed for the job of manager. 达夫正接受训练，准备当经理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

37 delusions   

n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想

参考例句：

• the delusions of the mentally ill 精神病患者的妄想
• She wants to travel first-class: she must have delusions of grandeur. 她想坐头等舱旅行，她一定自以为很了不起。 来自辞典例句

38 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

39 folders   

n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 )；纸夹；（某些计算机系统中的）文件夹；页面叠

参考例句：

• Encrypt and compress individual files and folders. The program is compact, efficient and user friendly. 加密和压缩的个人档案和folders.the计划是紧凑，高效和用户友好。 来自互联网
• By insertion of photocopies,all folders can be maintained complete with little extra effort. 插入它的复制本，不费多大力量就能使所有文件夹保持完整。 来自辞典例句

40 eerily   

adv.引起神秘感或害怕地

参考例句：

• It was nearly mid-night and eerily dark all around her. 夜深了，到处是一片黑黝黝的怪影。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
• The vast volcanic slope was eerily reminiscent of a lunar landscape. 开阔的火山坡让人心生怪异地联想起月球的地貌。 来自辞典例句

41 grits   

n.粗磨粉；粗面粉；粗燕麦粉；粗玉米粉；细石子，砂粒等( grit的名词复数 )；勇气和毅力v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的第三人称单数 )；咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The sands [grits] in the cooked rice made my tooth ache. 米饭里的砂粒硌痛了牙。 来自辞典例句
• This process also produces homing and corn grits. 此法也产生玉米麸(homing)和玉米粗粉。 来自辞典例句

42 commotion   

n.骚动，动乱

参考例句：

• They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。
• Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

43 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

44 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

46 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

47 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

48 maze   

n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑

参考例句：

• He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
• She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时，她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。

49 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

50 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

51 flinch   

v.畏缩，退缩

参考例句：

• She won't flinch from speaking her mind.她不会讳言自己的想法。
• We will never flinch from difficulties.我们面对困难决不退缩。

52 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

53 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

54 consolidated   

a.联合的

参考例句：

• With this new movie he has consolidated his position as the country's leading director. 他新执导的影片巩固了他作为全国最佳导演的地位。
• Those two banks have consolidated and formed a single large bank. 那两家银行已合并成一家大银行。

55 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

56 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

57 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

58 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

59 industrialist   

n.工业家，实业家

参考例句：

• The industrialist's son was kidnapped.这名实业家的儿子被绑架了。
• Mr.Smith was a wealthy industrialist,but he was not satisfied with life.史密斯先生是位富有的企业家，可他对生活感到不满意。

60 sagging   

下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is continuously sagging. 敌军的士气不断低落。
• We are sagging south. 我们的船正离开航线向南漂流。