CHAPTER TWELVE

“Most people stumble over the truth, now and then, but they usually manage to pick themselves up and go on, anyway.” Winston Churchill PPenelope Spence didn’t hesitate. Throwing the sheet off her bare legs she opened the door to the bedroom. The hallway was fi lled with smoke and for the first time she realized the odd buzz she had heard in her dream was the blaring of the smoke detectors¹ in the kitchen. Th e back staircase that led to the kitchen was fully² engulfed³ in flames, while the main staircase was filled with dense⁴ smoke but no fire. Dropping low to the floor, she filled her lungs with air and bounded down the stairs, three steps at a time. Flames licked the foyer, forcing her into the great room off to the right. She bolted toward the rear patio⁵ door but stopped short when she saw it. The privacy fence around the propane tank was a blaze. It could only be a matter of seconds before the 250 gallons of propane in the recently refilled tank exploded. All doors in the front of the house were blocked with flames and the last place she wanted to be was in the backyard anywhere near the propane tank. Her only chance was the front window. As Penelope gained speed for the impact with the glass of the oversized front window, she relaxed and thought of Michael Walker’s words about letting her mind take her to a diff erent place. . 96 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin I put all of the things that could go wrong out of my thoughts; as I approach the window, I feel time begin to slow. I feel an inner calmness that this is going to work out just fine and I surrender to this feeling. I close my eyes, jump and wait for impact, but there is none. I open my eyes and discover I’m sitting in the middle of my front yard. A quick inventory⁷ shows no cuts or bruises⁸; I don’t have a scratch on me. . PPenelope glanced back at the plate glass window. No, that wasn’t possible; the glass in the front window appeared intact. Th e groan⁹ of sagging¹⁰ timbers accompanying the collapse¹¹ of her covered side porch into a pile of burning rubble¹² caused her mind to snap back to reality. “The propane tank…!” Regaining¹³ her footing, she charged toward the street and the only object of any size and bulk she had a chance of reaching, her neighbor’s silver Buick Park Avenue Ultra that was parked on the opposite curb¹⁴. If she could just get behind it. She didn’t make it. As if being lifted by invisible hands Penelope felt herself leaving her feet as the force of the explosion sent her flying through the air. She cleared the roof of the Buick by several inches and had her fall softened¹⁵ by the lush lawn that had been watered only a few hours earlier. She tumbled a few more feet along the wet turf before finally coming to a complete stop in a heap just shy of her neighbor’s front porch. Dogs barked. Car alarms went off . The quiet neighborhood was as bright as midday when the huge fireball erupted from behind the house that had been her home for 26 years, and instantly vaporized most of the walls and roof. Splinters of wood, none larger than a toothpick, began raining down on her. She shielded her face from the heat as fl ames began consuming what little was left of her home. . IIf anyone else told her how lucky she was, Penelope vowed¹⁶ she was going to deck them. What’s lucky about losing the only house you had called home your entire adult life? All of the kids pictures, all of her clothes, her beautiful 97 The Fourth Awakening¹⁷ shoes, her computer, purse, shoes, cell phone, shoes. Every material item she had on this planet, including her precious Prius, which she had made a special point of moving into the garage because she didn’t want to leave it on the street overnight, were all gone in the blink of an eye. The sun was just starting to rise in the east, casting golden fi ngers toward Charleston. As she sat on the tailgate of an EMS wagon¹⁸ with a blanket draped over her shoulders, dressed only in ratty terrycloth running shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, she knew that ignoring her mom’s advice to always wear clean underwear would come back to haunt her someday. All things considered, she was in pretty good shape. Other than smelling like a chimney sweep, she didn’t have a mark on her. Th e fire was under control but the smell of burnt plastic and rubber would linger for weeks. What hadn’t blown up with the house had been incinerated to ash and lay on top of the concrete slab¹⁹. Other than the chimney and a few wall supports and water pipes, there was absolutely nothing left of Penelope’s home. It was odd to be able to look straight into the backyard from the street and see the sun coming up over the Ashley River. She almost cried when she noticed the two-foot high lump of metal on what had once been her garage floor. All non-metallic parts of her car had long since gone up in fl ames. The heat from the fi re had been so intense it had melted the roof supports, and the sheet metal of the car’s body was now covering the engine and transmission in a blanket of lumpy scorched²⁰ metal. The houses of her neighbors on both sides were far enough away they had suff ered only minor²¹ damage, and thankfully no one was injured. The live oak that threw afternoon shade on the front porch was missing all of its branches on the house side and those that were still attached after the blast were black and charred²². Neighbors fi ve houses in all directions had wood splinters and other tiny bits of building material too small to identify littering their roofs and lawns. Penelope looked up as the Captain in charge of the West Ashley fi re station approached. “I’m sorry for your losses, Ms. Spence,” he said as he removed his helmet. “Now you say you went through the window in the family room.” “Yes. Why? “Well, we’re all baffled as to how you got out at all.” “How so?” “You had hurricane-grade windows throughout your home. Th ose 98 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin things are designed to take 190 mph wind. Unless you’ve got solid brick, in most cases those windows are stronger than your walls. In your fi re, with the force of the explosion, many of them blew out as a unit with the frame and glass still intact.” “So.” “Ms. Spence. There is no way a woman your size could have broken through a triple pane⁶ hurricane-rated window without breaking the glass fi rst.” “I was having a pretty good adrenaline rush.” “I understand, but in the confusion you may have gone out an open window or door somewhere else.” “What are you saying?” He watched as his men continued to roll up their hoses. “What I’m saying is we found the window you believe you went out but it is still in one piece. The glass is not broken. We don’t know how you got out alive.” “Are you accusing me of arson²³?” “Lord no, ma’am. We’re all just going to call this one of those miracles we see from time to time and leave it at that. But, I’ll tell you what, I’d put a few extra dollars in the collection plate this week, if it were me. You’ve got a lot to be grateful for this Sunday morning.” Penelope was stunned²⁴. If she hadn’t gone through the window, how did she end up in the yard? Was it possible? No. It wasn’t. “We’re going to keep one unit on the scene for a few more hours in case there are any flame-ups. You’re a very lucky woman.” Despite her earlier promise to deck the next person to tell her how lucky she was, she had to admit he might be right. . AAfter her shower, Joey found Penelope some clothes and a pair of running shoes about a half size too big, but they were better than nothing. The two sat in the kitchen sipping²⁶ coffee with a generous shot of Irish whiskey added. Penelope had managed to reach all of her children to give them the bad news and to let them know she was all right. She hadn’t been able to track down Bill, he was probably out on the boat, but she had left a message on his voice mail. Penelope cradled the cup in both hands and was surprised they were not shaking more. A strange feeling was coursing through her body. She didn’t feel angry or even sad. Despite 99 The Fourth Awakening everything that had happened, she felt grateful. She was still alive; she wasn’t injured, and no one else had been hurt. All of the material things could be replaced, and none of the important things had really changed. Plus now that damn house was gone. Grateful. How odd. Penelope took a sip²⁵ from her coffee cup and held it out for Joey to top off with more whiskey. Joey poured another jigger and when Penelope didn’t retract²⁷ her mug, kept pouring. When it threatened to overfl ow, Penelope gingerly drew the ceramic²⁸ mug to her lips and sipped²⁹ off enough of the liquid to ensure it wouldn’t spill when she sat it down. She got a mouthful of almost straight Bushmills. Penelope glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall; it was 8:45. In fi fteen minutes Senator Horn would be on Meet the Press and she would see exactly how big of a story the Hermes Project actually was. Right now that didn’t seem so important. She took another pull from her mug. “You make a great cup of coffee, Joey,” she said, finally starting to relax. Joey smiled but didn’t speak. They had been friends long enough that times like these didn’t require words to lend support. Penelope and Joey had met in kindergarten at Charleston’s exclusive school for young women of proper pedigree, Ashley Hall. For over 100 years, the campus located on the peninsula near the College of Charleston and the hospital complex had provided a well-rounded classical education for those who could afford to attend. Penelope and Joey were born to be close friends, being sired from two of the most famous bloodlines in Charleston: the Middletons and the Draytons. Middleton Place and Drayton Hall have stood shoulder to shoulder on the west banks of the Ashley River since before the American Revolution. The two women had followed similar paths their entire lives: excelling in school, then leaving promising³⁰ careers to marry early, have children, and be active in the community. Each watched as the last child left the nest and the man they had expected to grow old with departed as well. It took Penelope a year to get her legs back under her aft er Bill announced he was leaving. Her weight fl uctuated in a 30-pound range; she fought bouts³¹ of depression, with suicide occasionally contemplated³². Church didn’t help and most of her “couple” friends gradually stopped calling. If it hadn’t been for Joey, there’s no telling what would have happened. She would drag her to concerts and plays she really didn’t 100 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin want to see. She would take her shopping to “spend the SOB’s money.” When Penelope tearfully called at midnight, Joey came over with a bottle of wine and stayed the night. The friends had grown like two vines on the same tree. Sometimes they would grow in different directions for awhile but they always ended up back together. Now their lives were so intertwined, Penelope couldn’t imagine her life without Joey. The last two days were starting to blur³³ in her memory as her conscious mind began rearranging the facts in such a way to have her quit questioning her sanity³⁴. The prison escape clearly couldn’t have happened the way she remembered. People can’t just walk through a wall, although she had appeared to pass through a plate glass window. Maybe Walker hypnotized her in some way; that would explain a lot. Her concentration was broken as her ex-husband, Bill Spence, charged through the front door and into the kitchen. “What the hell happened to the house?” Bill was close enough to being the six feet tall that he had put it on his driver’s license³⁵ without feeling like he was fudging. An athlete in high school, but not quite good enough to play any sports at the college level, he had kept reasonably fi t until he turned forty. The day he got his first pair of bifocals at forty-two, he started to go to seed. Each passing year or two since had added an inch to his waistline and a bit more volume to his multiplying chins. Now he seldom exercised and his cholesterol³⁶ score was awful. Normally his complexion³⁷ was doughboy white from slathering on sun block whenever it was impossible to avoid being in the sun, but right now he was bright pink from agitation³⁸. Penelope took another sip of her “coffee” before glaring at her ex. “Oh, I’m fine, Bill, thanks for asking.” Bill, realizing how stupid he sounded, turned back to his normal pale color. “I’m sorry. I just drove past the house and it’s just gone.” The high school sweethearts locked eyes. Where had it gone wrong? They’d had a fairytale life. Three great kids, they were comfortable financially, and she had thought they would love each other forever. Gradually, time and responsibility had sapped it all away. Th ey never actually fell out of love with each other; it had just atrophied³⁹. Yesterday, they’d still had two things in common, the kids and the house. Now, another fragile link that had connected them was gone. 101 The Fourth Awakening Joey, wanting to give them privacy, slipped into the adjoining family room. She turned on the television to hear what the distinguished⁴⁰ Senator from South Carolina had to say about Michael what’s his name, and maybe explain those bowls. She fl ipped one channel. Then another. Then another. Her left hand flew to her heart as she dropped the remote. “Penelope! Get in here!” The tone and urgency of her friend’s request caused Penelope to slip off her stool and immediately hurry towards the family room. When she saw what was on the television screen, Penelope felt the strength leaving her body like the air from a deflating balloon. The ceramic coffee mug slipped from her fingers, hit the Italian marble tile and shattered. She was on her way to the floor when Bill hooked his arm under hers, breaking her fall. There was a live video feed on CNN originating in front of University Hospital in Columbia. The volume was too low to hear, but a graphic⁴¹ across the bottom of the screen told her everything she needed to know. “Senator Clayton Horn (R-SC) Suffers Massive Stroke. Not Expected to Live.” . IIt took Penelope half an hour before she felt she was composed enough to make rational decisions and take any sort of action. She had to reach Mark Hatchet⁴². Picking up Joey’s phone she dialed the disposable cell phone number he had given her. He answered on the fi rst ring. “Nellie? Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Did you hear about Horn?” “Yes. Did you hear about what happened to me?” There was a long silence. Hatchet could hardly imagine anything Penelope Spence could tell him that would top the sudden collapse of a senior U.S. Senator hours before he was going to lift the sheet covering a secret project he had helped conceal⁴³. “No, what happened?” “My house burnt to the ground last night.” “My God, are you hurt?” “I’m fine. I got out just in time.” She wanted to give credit to Michael Walker but had no idea how she could explain it without sounding crazy. Walker! That’s it! Her shoulders straightened and she tossed aside the maudlin⁴⁴ funk she had been about to wrap herself in. “Are you still interested in the Hermes Project story?” 102 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin “Are you kidding me? After your story hit the wire and people fi gured out what Horn was going to talk about this morning the entire town started going nuts. Horn refused to give any details ahead of time, and now every news organization in the world is on this story.” “Will Horn’s illness have any impact on my putting everything I saw yesterday on the record?” “I don’t see how. It was a pretty straightforward⁴⁵ release, but I’ll run it by legal again. What are you thinking, Nellie?” “Is it still my story?” “I don’t like coincidences. A senator is in intensive care, and your house burns down with you in it.” Penelope Spence pushed aside the fresh cup of alcohol-laced coff ee Joey off ered and reached for the toast that she had refused earlier. She needed to get some solid food in her stomach. Her voice was fi rm, her resolve fixed⁴⁶. “If I can get an exclusive interview with Michael Walker and find the Hermes Project before anyone else, is it still my story?” “Nellie,” Market Hatchet said, “this is getting too dangerous.” “He picked me, Mark. He looked me straight in the eyes and said he had picked me to write this story.” “This is a man who 24 hours ago was in Federal Maximum Security! I can’t let you do this!” Bill Spence and Joey Rickman both gawked at Penelope, trying to figure out what was going on. “Then,” Penelope’s voice was ice cold. “You are releasing me from my obligation to give The Washington Post the story and I will be free to sell it to the highest bidder⁴⁷?” “Nellie…” “Are you releasing me from my commitment?” There was a long silence. “I have already assigned eight other reporters to the story.” “Then I’m freelance?” “Nellie…” “I have a noon appointment to meet the most sought after interview in the free world, Michael Walker.” “You have a what!?” demanded Bill Spence. Penelope glared at her ex-husband briefly⁴⁸, then turned her back on him and continued talking to Hatchet. “Mark, I’m going to do this story with you or without you. It is your call. In or out?” 103 The Fourth Awakening “I’m not going to talk you out of this?” “No. In or out?” There was another long pause. “In.” Penelope checked the clock on the kitchen wall; she had less than two hours. “I need to go. I don’t have much time. I’ll call you when I can.” “We’ve already got the basic stuff from your interview with Walker and his confrontation⁴⁹ with Senator Horn ready to go but I’ll hold ten more inches on tomorrow’s front page for you, Nellie. Please be careful.” “I will.” Penelope turned and saw her ex-husband and best friend staring at her with openmouthed wonder. Neither had seen her act like this in years. “Who are you?” Joey said. “And what have you done with Penelope Spence?”

1 detectors   

探测器( detector的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The report advocated that all buildings be fitted with smoke detectors. 报告主张所有的建筑物都应安装烟火探测器。
• This is heady wine for experimenters using these neutrino detectors. 对于使用中微子探测器的实验工作者，这是令人兴奋的美酒。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

5 patio   

n.庭院，平台

参考例句：

• Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there,I thought.我又忽然想到家里漂亮的院子，我能够在这里宁静地呆会。
• They had a barbecue on their patio on Sunday.星期天他们在院子里进行烧烤。

6 pane   

n.窗格玻璃，长方块

参考例句：

• He broke this pane of glass.他打破了这块窗玻璃。
• Their breath bloomed the frosty pane.他们呼出的水气，在冰冷的窗玻璃上形成一层雾。

7 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

8 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

10 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。

11 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

12 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

13 regaining   

复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• She was regaining consciousness now, but the fear was coming with her. 现在她正在恢发她的知觉，但是恐怖也就伴随着来了。
• She said briefly, regaining her will with a click. 她干脆地答道，又马上重新振作起精神来。

14 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

15 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。

16 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

17 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。

18 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

19 slab   

n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上

参考例句：

• This heavy slab of oak now stood between the bomb and Hitler.这时笨重的橡木厚板就横在炸弹和希特勒之间了。
• The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab.这座纪念碑由两根垂直的柱体构成，它们共同支撑着一块平板。

20 scorched   

烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦

参考例句：

• I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
• The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。

21 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

22 charred   

v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦

参考例句：

• the charred remains of a burnt-out car 被烧焦的轿车残骸
• The intensity of the explosion is recorded on the charred tree trunks. 那些烧焦的树干表明爆炸的强烈。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

24 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。

25 sip   

v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量

参考例句：

• She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
• Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

26 sipping   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
• She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

27 retract   

vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消

参考例句：

• The criminals should stop on the precipice, retract from the wrong path and not go any further.犯罪分子应当迷途知返，悬崖勒马，不要在错误的道路上继续走下去。
• I don't want to speak rashly now and later have to retract my statements.我不想现在说些轻率的话，然后又要收回自己说过的话。

28 ceramic   

n.制陶业，陶器，陶瓷工艺

参考例句：

• The order for ceramic tiles has been booked in.瓷砖的订单已登记下来了。
• Some ceramic works of art are shown in this exhibition.这次展览会上展出了一些陶瓷艺术品。

29 sipped   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sipped his coffee pleasurably. 他怡然地品味着咖啡。
• I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. 我小口喝着她调制的巧克力热饮。 来自辞典例句

30 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

31 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

32 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

33 blur   

n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚

参考例句：

• The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
• If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了，图像就会变得模糊不清。

34 sanity   

n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确

参考例句：

• I doubt the sanity of such a plan.我怀疑这个计划是否明智。
• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。

35 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。

36 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

37 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

38 agitation   

n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动

参考例句：

• Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
• These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

39 atrophied   

adj.萎缩的，衰退的v.（使）萎缩，（使）虚脱，（使）衰退( atrophy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Patients exercised their atrophied limbs in the swimming pool. 病人们在泳池里锻炼萎缩的四肢。 来自辞典例句
• Method: Using microwave tissue thermocoaqulation to make chronic tonsillitis coagulated and atrophied. 方法：采用微波热凝方法使慢性扁桃体炎组织凝固、萎缩。 来自互联网

40 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

41 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

42 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。

43 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

44 maudlin   

adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的

参考例句：

• He always becomes maudlin after he's had a few drinks.他喝了几杯酒后总是变得多愁善感。
• She continued in the same rather maudlin tone.她继续用那种颇带几分伤感的语调说话。

45 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

46 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

47 bidder   

n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
• The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。

48 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

49 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。