CHAPTER TEN

“Adversity is the first path to truth.” Lord Byron PPenelope slowed down as she approached the guard station of her gated community, expecting the night man, Lenny, to simply wave her through like always. Instead he got up and motioned for her to stop. Stepping from his tiny air-conditioned building, he had a gun belt and holster around his waist. “Since when do you carry a gun?” Penelope asked before her window was completely down. “I always have it with me, Ms. Spence,” he answered as he patted the 40 caliber¹ Glock strapped² to his waist. “Only wear it on special occasions since it makes the residents nervous.” “So what’s the occasion?” “You have some company at your house. Offi cial company.” “I see,” Penelope said with a sigh as their eyes locked. “They’re looking for a guy who escaped from the brig. It’s all over the TV and radio,” Lenny said as he motioned toward a tiny portable television that was propped³ up on his desk. Lenny McElroy was a tough old bird. After 30 years as a cop in New York City, he had retired⁴ to Charleston to be closer to his only daughter and grandkids. He had been the night guard for the past couple of years; more to fill his time than to supplement his retirement⁵ income. There had never been any robberies 77 The Fourth Awakening⁶ or vandalism on his watch. “They wanted me to call them if you showed up.” “Th at’s fine, Lenny. I didn’t do anything.” “I figured, but I think I misplaced their number.” Lenny motioned toward the small building surrounded with beautiful landscaping to minimize its presence. “They put your name and address out on the local police band.” Lenny shook his head and looked like he would have spit on the ground if a lady hadn’t been present. “You would have thought they would have used a scrambled⁷ tactical channel.” He shook his head again. “Bunch of press in there too.” “Thanks for the heads up, Lenny.” “You take care, Ms. Spence.” Penelope turned the corner onto her street and saw what had to be half the police cars in Charleston parked in front of her house. In addition, there were two large unmarked black Chevy Suburbans — the kind favored by the federal government — and what looked to be two unmarked police cars. There were men in a variety of uniforms standing⁸ in her yard, and a couple of local cops who appeared to have been relegated⁹ to traffi c control. Along with law enforcement and the media, the street was starting to fill with gawkers and the idle curious with nothing better to do. Penelope pulled into the first parking space she could find. Opening her purse, instead of using the untraceable phone Mark had given her she used her normal cell phone and called his office. If they were taping their conversations, she wanted them to hear this one. “Mark Hatchet¹⁰.” “It’s me.” “I thought I told…” “I got in to see Walker.” “They were holding him in the Charleston Brig?” “Absolutely.” “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Penelope could almost see Hatchet jumping up and down in his office and the heads turning in the cluster of desks in the newsroom’s bullpen just outside his window. “I knew you could do it. When can….” “Hold on. It gets better.” “Impossible.” “Walker escaped right after I talked to him.” 78 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin “Don’t tease me, Nellie.” “I’m serious. But there is one small problem.” “No, no, no, no. There are no problems. Military industrial complex billionaire first held incognito¹¹ then escapes from the maximum security prison we use to hold terrorists. This is the story of the year.” “You want to explain that to all of the police and Homeland Security people tromping on my fl owerbeds?” “Damn.” “My thought exactly. I happen to know there is a recent vacancy¹² in the high security wing at the Charleston Brig but I would prefer to sleep in my own bed tonight.” “You still have those press credentials¹³ I sent you?” Penelope tucked her phone under her chin as she reached again for her purse. “I think they’re upstairs on my…” To her surprise, the laminated badge with her name and The Washington Post logo was the first thing she saw when she opened her bag. “My bad. Got it in my hand.” “Okay. I’m going to get some people in here and you’re going to fi le your reports over the phone just in case.” “Just in case what?” “Just in case they throw a black bag over your head and you disappear. They could be hoping to squelch¹⁴ this by detaining you before you can fi le your story.” “Lovely.” After about fi fteen minutes of questions and answers on a quickly assembled conference call Mark Hatchet felt he had enough to run the story if Penelope was arrested and unable to write it herself. “And Senator Horn’s offi ce will confirm all of this?” “He said he would.” There was a rustling¹⁵ in the background and Penelope heard a voice she didn’t recognize say, “I’ve got confirmation¹⁶ from Senator Horn himself that Walker was being held in the brig and that he has escaped. He said we can use him as a named source.” A whoop¹⁷ went up in the conference room. Usually a confirmation on that level came from an unnamed “high government official”. To have someone as highly regarded as Senator Horn be willing to put his name on it was the absolute gold standard for journalism¹⁸. “Welcome back to the big time kiddo. Not one but two front page exclusives.” 79 The Fourth Awakening “Save a couple of inches for me in Monday’s edition. Some of the stuff with Horn is embargoed¹⁹ until noon tomorrow.” “Will do, Nellie. You should be safe from the storm troopers now.” “How so?” “We’ve got the story and we’ve got high level confirmation on the record. They can’t stop it from getting out. If they arrest you now there will be hell to pay and they know it.” “I think we’re just scratching the surface,” “There is a one Pulitzer Prize winning story per issue limit. We’ll worry about that tomorrow. For now, get a good lawyer before you talk to the feds. If anyone asks, you are now offi cially working for Th e Washington Post, and you can have anyone who questions it call me directly.” “Th anks.” “Call me back as soon as you can.” The line went dead. Penelope gathered her thoughts for a moment as she felt her pulse rate slowly returning to somewhere close to normal. She had been dreaming about this day for years and now that it had arrived it was everything she could have hope for and more. She still needed a lawyer. Drawing in a deep breath, she dialed the phone number she calls the most. Th anks to the joys of caller ID Joey answered without bothering to say hello. “Where are you?” “Down the street from my house.” “That Michael Walker character has escaped they’re looking for both of you. Your name and address are all over the local channels.” “So I heard. I need to ask a favor.” “Sure.” “It looks like I may need an attorney. Do you think your ex might be willing to help me?” “Willing? Ha! He is currently sitting in my kitchen begging me to call you for him.” Penelope heard a muffled²⁰ conversation and a struggle for the phone. “Penelope, this is Ron. Where are you?” “I’m down the street from my house. There are police and reporters everywhere.” “I’ll be there in three minutes. Don’t talk to anyone.” “Aren’t you going to ask if I did anything?” “I’m a lawyer. I don’t care if you shot JFK. Just don’t talk to anyone 80 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin before I get there. Here’s Joey.” After a brief pause, the familiar voice of Joey Rickman came back on the phone. “You okay?” “I’m fi ne.” “So, did you bust²¹ that hunk out of stir so you could have your way with him?” Penelope was dying to tell Joey exactly what had happened. She knew her friend wouldn’t believe a word of it. She knew she wouldn’t believe it if their roles were reversed and decided²² to stick with the truth, or at least parts of it. “I did nothing to help him escape from prison. He did it all by himself.” “So was he all yummy and dangerous?” “I was there to interview someone for a story; I wasn’t cruising a single’s bar.” “I know that. So was he yummy and dangerous? The kind of guy you just know you should avoid but can’t resist?” “Oh, you mean a guy like Ron Rickman?” “Exactly.” Joey realized what she had just said. “Hey!” Before Penelope could respond, there was a tapping on the window of her car. Apparently²³ one of the Charleston policemen who had been directing traffic had recognized her Prius, which was hardly the car of choice in her neighborhood, and was in the process of making his sergeant’s day. He was young, maybe 25, and like all members of the Charleston police department, a college graduate. “Please hang up the phone,” he said, while resting his hand on the butt²⁴ of his 38 Police Special. “And step out of the car.” “There is a nice young man here with a gun that is telling me it’s time to hang up. I’ll talk to you later.” “How come you’re getting all of the men?” “Bye, Joey.” Penelope gathered her thoughts and stepped out of her car. “Are you Penelope Spence?” the policeman asked politely. “Yes.” “Would you please come with me Ms. Spence?” he said, more as an invitation than as an instruction. Penelope nodded. They were almost to the edge of her front yard before the press noticed her and began to surge in her direction. Sgt. Donald Donnelley, an 18-year police veteran who was cooling his heels on the sidewalk in front of the house as a bunch of Feds 81 The Fourth Awakening conducted a search in his district, was steaming. Even though he had been first on the scene, some guy from Homeland Security had waved a federal search warrant in his face and sent him and his men out of the house with their tails between their legs. He saw the press coming and motioned to the six officers who were milling around nursing their bruised²⁵ pride. They formed a blue wall between Penelope and the media jackals. “Good job, Johnson,” Donnelley said, slapping the young offi cer on the back. “Damned good job. Captain will hear about it.” Offi cer Johnson knew he would get full credit for, want of a better word, the “collar” because that was the kind of guy Donnelley was. He was one of the most popular shift commanders in Charleston. He was fair, he was honest, and he didn’t have a political bone in his body. Donnelley was an imposing²⁶ six-six and 240 pounds, which was 30 pounds below the playing weight from his days as an off ensive tackle for the USC Gamecocks and three years in the Canadian Football League. Skin the color of strong coffee with light cream, he had an easy smile and a deep voice. “Ms. Spence?” he asked politely. She nodded. Looking over his shoulder, he pulled her further away from the mob of reporters shouting questions at her. “At the present time,” he said in a firm, professional voice, “the Federal Bureau of Investigation²⁷ and Department of Homeland Security are executing a search warrant involving your premises²⁸. They are looking for an escaped convict named Michael Walker. There is nothing to be alarmed about…” “That’s enough,” Ronald F. Rickman, Esquire said as he and his two assistants, one male, one female, muscled their way through the phalanx of policemen. “Ms. Spence is represented by counsel and has nothing further to say.” Rickman’s female assistant, Amy Kindle²⁹, an intense woman in her mid³⁰-30’s, leaned in and whispered in her boss’s ear. Th e famous smile that had charmed juries for three decades and made him a millionaire many times over lit his face. He slapped Sgt. Donnelley on the back as if he were some long lost friend. “Hey, Donny, how you doin’? How’s Sandy and the kids?” Donny Donnelley rubbed his mouth before turning to face Ron Rickman. They’d had a symbiotic³¹ relationship for years. Donnelley would arrest them, and those with money would hire Rickman and get off . Th ey both looked at it as job security. 82 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin “Counselor³²,” Donnelley answered with considerably³³ less warmth than he had shown to Penelope. “Donny Junior still going to play in Columbia on Saturdays?” “He hasn’t signed his national letter yet, but Florida and LSU are coming after him hard.” “I hope you told him you’d disown him if he went to another SEC team.” It was hard not to like Ron Rickman. He was handsome, rich, funny and, thanks to his assistants, always had a personal word or comment to add to every conversation. He had the power to speak to a room full of people with each one convinced they were the only one he was talking to. An excellent skill set for a trial lawyer. “Did the best offensive lineman to ever come out of West Ashley High School ask you any questions, Penelope?” “He was just explaining that the FBI and Homeland Security are searching my house.” “Feds, huh?” He patted Donnelly on the arm again. “Explains why you’re out here.” He winked³⁴ at the big cop. “When I get through with them, they’re going to wish they hadn’t peed on your jurisdiction³⁵.” Donnelley smiled. Those arrogant³⁶ Feds were about to get hit by Hurricane Rickman. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of guys. Rickman motioned for his two assistants to join them, as they huddled³⁷ out of earshot of the press who were still shouting questions. Turning to Penelope, “I think you know Josh and Amy.” Josh Wassermann and Amy Kindle were the two highest paid personal assistants in Charleston, each earning in the mid six-fi gure range. Amy was the face person. She had a photographic memory and her primary function was to make her boss look like he cared by remembering personal details about everyone he met. She was also the research specialist of the team and a master of contract law. If she had ever read about a case, she could instantly cite it. Josh was the legal brain of the trio but lacked charisma³⁸ in front of a jury. Tongue tied and unsteady in court, he was a whiz when it came to strategy and tactics. He scripted nearly all of Rickman’s closing arguments, wrote his briefs, and was always his second chair. “Penelope, we don’t have a lot of time. In 25 words or less, what happened?” “I went to the Charleston brig. I interviewed Michael Walker for 83 The Fourth Awakening probably twenty minutes…” “Who are you working for?” Rickman interrupted. “The Washington Post,” Penelope said as she held up her press credentials. “No kidding,” Rickman and his posse were impressed. “I just got off the phone with the Managing Editor, Mark Hatchet. He’s going to make some calls to be sure I don’t get arrested.” “You don’t need to worry about that,” Rickman said with a broad smile. Amy whispered something is his ear. “Right.” Turning back to Penelope he said, “Why don’t you go ahead and pin that thing on.” He waited until Penelope had the press pass clipped to the front of her blouse before continuing. “So what happened next?” “He was still sitting at the interrogation room handcuffed to the table when I left. A few minutes later he escaped.” “Josh?” “We blame it on the lack of security at the brig. He was there when she left, which they will probably have on videotape.” Three sets of eyes turned to Penelope. For a moment Penelope panicked. What if the videotapes caught the same glimpse of the second Walker leaving the room that she had seen? No, that couldn’t be possible or Walker would have told her. Or would he? “Penelope, video?” “Sorry,” she said, pulling herself back to reality. “They have video cameras everywhere.” “Amy.” “Youngest Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter ever. One of only three people to get a perfect score on both their SAT and ACT college entrance exams in Charleston County in the past 50 years. Established Charleston family since before the American Revolution. Pillar of the community.” “Got it,” Rickman said. “Showtime.” The quartet walked up the front sidewalk of Spence’s house. Ronald F. Rickman, Esquire, stood on the top step of the covered porch, next to Penelope. His two assistants melted into the background. He made eye contact with Donnelley and nodded. The big cop smiled as he instructed his men to let the reporters through. Rickman watched with a twinkle in his eye as the media scrambled to get their cameras positioned and microphones set up. He ignored all of the shouted questions until the last television reporter indicated that he 84 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin was ready. The press loved him. “Currently the Federal Government of the United States of America is searching the home of Ms. Penelope Drayton Spence.” The way he said ‘Federal Government’ made it sound as if General William Tucumseh Sherman and union troops had been sighted in Summerville and were headed south. “Ms. Spence,” Rickman placed his arm around her and drew her next to him, “has done nothing wrong, yet she is being forced to feel the full weight of the Federal Government on her shoulders. Why, you ask? Because she was simply doing her job while the Federal Government failed to do theirs.” Rickman was an eloquent³⁹ public speaker. He knew exactly when to pause in his cadence⁴⁰ for the fullest effect. His voice could travel from sympathy to outraged⁴¹ indignation within a single sentence. He was currently on a 183-case streak⁴² where he had moved at least one member of a jury to tears during his closing remarks. “Earlier today, Penelope Drayton Spence interviewed a man at the Charleston Consolidated⁴³ Brig for The Washington Post. And for those of you who don’t know, Ms. Spence was the youngest person and one of the first females to ever win the coveted⁴⁴ Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism, and has been a pillar of our community for her entire life. “The Federal Government,” he said with a conspiratorial⁴⁵ raise of his eyebrow⁴⁶, “has video tape recordings⁴⁷ that clearly show that the man she interviewed was still in Federal custody⁴⁸ after she had vacated the area. Then why this search, you may ask?” He waited for someone to off er an answer and when none was forthcoming, he provided his own. “Th rough their own incompetence⁴⁹, the Federal Government allowed a dangerous man to slip through their fingers, and he could be somewhere in our community. ‘Armed and dangerous, do not approach’, they will tell us.” Rickman paused and looked around. “Armed and dangerous, do not approach. Why are they here, instead of looking for a man who may be hiding in your neighborhood, or yours, or yours?” Rickman’s outstretched finger pointed⁵⁰ at diff erent sections of his media congregation with the fervor⁵¹ of a Southern Baptist minister rooting out the devil. Penelope half expected to hear an “Amen” from Josh and Amy. “They are here because they are trying to defl ect attention from their own incompetence and have you focus your attention on a woman who… was …only… doing …her… job.” When it was clear that Rickman was finished, shouted questions 85 The Fourth Awakening pounded the porch. Penelope leaned in and whispered, “You left out the part about my college exam scores.” He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. “Makes you look like a know-it-all.” He leaned in even closer, “Your hair smells nice.” “Do you ever give it a rest?” She didn’t need to wait for an answer. She knew at anytime in the past 30 years if she had so much as raised an eyebrow to Ron Rickman he would have had one of his assistants booking them a weekend in the Bahamas. She turned to enter the house. Inside, she saw a familiar face leading the search. “Assistant Director Smith.” “Ms. Spence. You’ve been busy. I’ve already gotten a call from the Secretary of Homeland Security. Round one goes to you.” “Please speak to me and not my client,” Rickman said. “Not many innocent people show up with an attorney,” Smith said, handing Rickman one of the two warrants he had in his hand. Rickman passed the search warrant over to Josh without so much as a glance. “Not many people arrive home and find it filled with Federal law enforcement offi cers.” Rickman glanced at the other document. “What else have you got there?’ “It is a sealed warrant to hold Ms Penelope Drayton Spence as a material witness.” Rickman’s face lit up. “You just made my day.” “Relax counselor,” Smith said. “The cat is out of the bag now and I’ve been instructed not to serve it.” He turned and stared hard at Penelope. “Yet.” Smith’s voice was level and calm as he tucked the warrant in his inside coat pocket. “You need to inform your client that, pending⁵² the completion of an administrative⁵³ review, all of her security clearances⁵⁴ have been revoked⁵⁵ along with access to all password protected federal databases.” Smith’s cold eyes found Penelope. “And you should remind her of the severe penalties if she should reveal any classifi ed information.” “That sounds like a threat, Assistant Director Smith,” Rickman said. “I certainly hope so, counselor.” The tension in the room was so thick it even chased the smile from Rickman’s face as he glanced at Penelope, whose blood had turned to ice and frozen her on the spot. It was broken by the unexpected sound of a high pitched male voice. “Tell them to stop, right now,” Josh said as he read the warrant and 86 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin whispered something to Rickman. “Stop!” Rickman shouted as he leaned in to hear what Josh had discovered. All activity in the room ceased and all eyes turned to Rickman. He nodded that he understood and a broad smile returned to his face. “You have violated my client’s rights long enough, you will leave now.” “We’re not fi nished.” “Oh, yes you are. This warrant allows you to search the premises for Michael Walker.” Josh pulled a digital camera out of his pocket and began taking pictures. “And I’m going to assume that Mr. Walker is of normal height and weight.” “Yes,” Smith answered without the slightest hint of emotion. “Do you think Mr. Walker would fit in the drawer that agent is currently rummaging⁵⁶ through?” A flash went off, catching⁵⁷ the agent with his hand in the drawer. “I’m sure Judge…” he leaned toward Josh and got his answer, “Mallory will be interested in how you’ve turned this into a fishing expedition and abused his warrant.” Smith never changed expressions but motioned to one of his technicians, who was holding a small cardboard box that he handed to Penelope. “I’m sorry, I thought we were doing your client a favor.” Turning his attention to Penelope, he continued. “We found these listening devices all over your house. There are probably more but we’ll let your lawyer find the rest of them for you.” “What?” Penelope asked as she accepted the box. “You house has been bugged⁵⁸, Ms. Spence,” Smith said. “And these aren’t the kind you buy at Radio Shack⁵⁹ or online.” Penelope looked in the box and saw an assortment⁶⁰ of listening devices, some smaller than the head of a thumbtack. “Bugged? Who? Why?” “It happens all the time to people who get too close to Michael Walker.” Smith motioned to his crew to pack up and leave. “They found her car down the street,” one of the agents said as he popped back inside. “You want it searched?” Smith and Rickman both turned to look at Josh who was shaking his head no. “Not covered by the warrant since it is not currently in the house.” “Would you have any objections to our looking in the trunk of your car, Ms. Spence?” “Why?” 87 The Fourth Awakening “To be sure Michael Walker is not in there. I can have a warrant in less than an hour,” Smith answered calmly. Rickman looked at Penelope for any clue that a visual search of her car would be a problem. She shrugged⁶¹. “I have nothing to hide.” “Give Josh your keys,” Rickman said. “He will open the trunk and interior of the car to allow for a visual inspection⁶² but you are not allowed to touch her vehicle.” Smith nodded his agreement. “We’re done,” Rickman said. “So are we,” Smith said as he nodded toward Penelope Spence. “Be very, very careful. You have made some dangerous enemies today and you are in way over your head with Michael Walker. He is not at all what he seems.” Rickman stepped between Smith and Spence. “That’s enough. You’re scaring her.” “I certainly hope so,” Smith said as he handed Penelope one of his business cards. “Call this number any time day or night and my offi ce will connect us.” Penelope frowned as she examined the card with the blue Homeland Security logo, then her eyes turned again to the contents of the box. Where did they come from? Walker was either in jail or with her until a few minutes earlier; he couldn’t possibly have planted the bugs⁶³ himself. But, he could have easily have had someone else do his dirty work for him. The person most likely to want listening devices in her home, Assistant Director Smith, was the one who told her about them. She felt a chill again as she considered another possibility. Was there another player in this game she was unaware⁶⁴ of ? The prospect⁶⁵ sent her brain reeling.

1 caliber   

n.能力；水准

参考例句：

• They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
• We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。

2 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 propped   

支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
• This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 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。

6 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。

7 scrambled   

v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 relegated   

v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类

参考例句：

• She was then relegated to the role of assistant. 随后她被降级做助手了。
• I think that should be relegated to the garbage can of history. 我认为应该把它扔进历史的垃圾箱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 hatchet   

n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀

参考例句：

• I shall have to take a hatchet to that stump.我得用一把短柄斧来劈这树桩。
• Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet.别用斧头拍打朋友额头上的苍蝇。

11 incognito   

adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的

参考例句：

• He preferred to remain incognito.他更喜欢继续隐姓埋名下去。
• He didn't want to be recognized,so he travelled incognito.他不想被人认出，所以出行时隐瞒身分。

12 vacancy   

n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺

参考例句：

• Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。
• The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

13 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

14 squelch   

v.压制，镇压；发吧唧声

参考例句：

• The President wants to squelch any perception that the meeting is an attempt to negotiate.总统想要消除任何视本次会议为谈判尝试的看法。
• You cannot squelch wanting.你不能压制要求。

15 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

16 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

17 whoop   

n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息

参考例句：

• He gave a whoop of joy when he saw his new bicycle.他看到自己的新自行车时，高兴得叫了起来。
• Everybody is planning to whoop it up this weekend.大家都打算在这个周末好好欢闹一番。

18 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。

19 embargoed   

禁止贸易，禁运( embargo的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They embargoed oil shipments to the US. 他们对美国实施石油禁运。
• They embargoed those ships. 他们禁止那些船只出入港口。

20 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。

22 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。

23 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

24 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

25 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

26 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

27 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

28 premises   

n.建筑物，房屋

参考例句：

• According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定，场内不准饮酒。
• All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行，不用送到外面去做。

29 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

30 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

31 symbiotic   

adj.共栖的，共生的

参考例句：

• Racing has always had a symbiotic relationship with betting.赛马总是与赌博相挂钩。
• Engineering completely new symbiotic relationship is obviously not an imminent possibility.筹划完全新的共生关系显然是可能性不大。

32 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

33 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

34 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

35 jurisdiction   

n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权

参考例句：

• It doesn't lie within my jurisdiction to set you free.我无权将你释放。
• Changzhou is under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province.常州隶属江苏省。

36 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

37 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

38 charisma   

n.(大众爱戴的)领袖气质，魅力

参考例句：

• He has enormous charisma. He is a giant of a man.他有超凡的个人魅力，是个伟人。
• I don't have the charisma to pull a crowd this size.我没有那么大的魅力，能吸引这么多人。

39 eloquent   

adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。

40 cadence   

n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫

参考例句：

• He delivered his words in slow,measured cadences.他讲话缓慢而抑扬顿挫、把握有度。
• He liked the relaxed cadence of his retired life.他喜欢退休生活的悠闲的节奏。

41 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

42 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

43 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。

44 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 conspiratorial   

adj.阴谋的，阴谋者的

参考例句：

• She handed the note to me with a conspiratorial air. 她鬼鬼祟祟地把字条交给了我。 来自辞典例句
• It was enough to win a gap-toothed, conspiratorial grin. 这赢得对方咧嘴一笑。 来自互联网

46 eyebrow   

n.眉毛，眉

参考例句：

• Her eyebrow is well penciled.她的眉毛画得很好。
• With an eyebrow raised,he seemed divided between surprise and amusement.他一只眉毛扬了扬，似乎既感到吃惊，又觉有趣。

47 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

48 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

49 incompetence   

n.不胜任，不称职

参考例句：

• He was dismissed for incompetence. 他因不称职而被解雇。
• She felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss's incompetence. 她觉得，本是老板无能，但她却成了替罪羊。

50 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

51 fervor   

n.热诚；热心；炽热

参考例句：

• They were concerned only with their own religious fervor.他们只关心自己的宗教热诚。
• The speech aroused nationalist fervor.这个演讲喚起了民族主义热情。

52 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

53 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

54 clearances   

清除( clearance的名词复数 )； 许可； （录用或准许接触机密以前的）审查许可； 净空

参考例句：

• But I can't get to him without clearances. 但是没有证明我就没法见到他。
• The bridge and the top of the bus was only ten clearances. 桥与公共汽车车顶之间的间隙只有十厘米。

55 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

56 rummaging   

翻找，搜寻( rummage的现在分词 )； 海关检查

参考例句：

• She was rummaging around in her bag for her keys. 她在自己的包里翻来翻去找钥匙。
• Who's been rummaging through my papers? 谁乱翻我的文件来着？

57 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

58 bugged   

vt.在…装窃听器（bug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The police have bugged his office. 警察在他的办公室装了窃听器。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had bugged off before I had a chance to get a word in. 我还没来得及讲话，他已经走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

59 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

60 assortment   

n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集

参考例句：

• This shop has a good assortment of goods to choose from.该店各色货物俱全，任君选择。
• She was wearing an odd assortment of clothes.她穿着奇装异服。

61 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

62 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

63 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

64 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

65 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。