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Chapter 15 Chalfenism versus Bowdenism
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It was Me Jones all right. Six years older than the last time they met. Taller, wider, with breastsand no hair and slippers1 just visible underneath2 a long duffle coat. And it was Hortense Bowden.

  Six years older, shorter, wider, with breasts on her belly4 and no hair (though she took the peculiarstep of putting her wig6 in curlers) and slippers just visible underneath a long, padded baby-pinkhousecoat. But the real difference was Hortense was eighty-four. Not a littleoldwoman by anymeans; she was a round robust7 one, her fat so taut8 against her skin the epidermis9 was having a hardtime wrinkling. Still, eighty-four is not seventy seven or sixty-three; at eighty-four there is nothingbut death ahead, tedious in its insistence10. It was there in her face as Me had never seen it before.

  The waiting and the fear and the blessed relief.

  Yet though there were differences, walking down the steps and into Hortense's basement flat,Me was struck by the shock of sameness. Way-back-when, she had been a fairly regular visitor ather grandmother's: sneaky visits with Archie while her mother was at college, and always leavingwith something unusual, a pickled fish head, chilli dumplings, the lyrics13 of a stray but persistentpsalm. Then at Darcus's funeral in 1985, ten-year-old Irie had let slip about these social calls andClara had put a stop to them altogether. They still called each other on the phone, on occasion. Andto this day Irie received short letters on exercise paper with a copy of the Watchtower slipped inside.

  Sometimes Irie looked at her mother's face and saw her grandmother: those majestic15 cheekbones,those feline16 eyes. But they had not been face to face for six years.

  As far as the house was concerned, six seconds seemed to have passed. Still dark, still dank,still underground. Still decorated with hundreds of secular17 figurines ("Cinderella on her way to theBall', "Mrs. Tiddlytum shows the little squirrels the way to the picnic'), all balanced on theirseparate doilies and laughing gaily19 amongst themselves, amused that anyone would pay a hundredand fifty pounds in fifteen instalments for such inferior pieces of china and glass as they. A hugetripartite tapestry20, which Irie remembered the sewing of, now hung on the wall above the fireplace,depicting, in its first strip, the Anointed sitting in judgement with Jesus in heaven. The Anointedwere all blond and blue-eyed and appeared as serene21 as Hortense's cheap wool would allow, andwere looking down at the Great Crowd who were happy-looking, but not as happy as the Anointedfrolicking in eternal paradise on earth. The Great Crowd were in turn looking piteously at theheathens (by far the largest group), dead in their graves, and packed on top of each other like sardines22.

  The only thing missing was Darcus (whom Irie only faintly remembered as a mixture of smelland texture23; naphthalene and damp wool); there was his huge empty chair, rstill fetid, and there washis television, still on.

  The, look at you! Pickney nah even got a gansey on child must be freezin'! Shiverin' like aMexico bean. Let me feel you. Fever! You bringin' fever into my house?"It was important, in Hortense's presence, never to admit to illness. The cure, as in mostJamaican households, was always more painful than the symptoms.

  "I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with'

  "Oh, really?" Hortense put Irie's hand on her own forehead. "That's fever as sure as fever isfever. Feel it?"Irie felt it. She was hot as hell.

  "Come 'ere." Hortense grabbed a rug from Darcus's chair and wrapped it around Irie's shoulders,"Now come into the kitchen an' cease an' sekkle. Runnin' roun' on a night like dis, wearin'

  flimsy nonsense! You're having a hot drink of cer ace11 and den3 gone a bed quicker den you everdid in your life."Irie accepted the smelly wrap and followed Hortense into the tiny kitchen, where they both sat down.

  "Let me look at you."Hortense leant against the oven with hands on hips25. "You look like Mr. Death, your new lover.

  How you get here?"Once again, one had to be careful in answering. Hortense's contempt for London Transport wasa great comfort to her in her old age. She could take one word like train and draw a melody out of it(Northern Line), which expanded into an aria26 (The Underground) and blossomed into a theme (TheOverground) and then grew exponentially into an operetta (The Evils and Inequities of British Rail).

  "Er .. . Bus. ni/. It was cold on the top deck. Maybe I caught a chill.""I don' tink dere's any maybes about it, young lady. An' I'm sure I don' know why you come'pon de bus, when it take tree hours to arrive an' leave you waitin' in de col' an' den' when you getpon it de windows are open anyway an' you freeze half to death."Hortense poured a colourless liquid from a small plastic container into her hand. "Come 'ere.""Why?" demanded Irie, immediately suspicious. "What's that?""Nuttin', come 'ere. Take off your spectacles."Hortense approached with a cupped hand.

  "Not in my eye! There's nothing wrong with my eye!" "Stop fussin'. I'm not puttin' nuttin' inyour eye.""Just tell me what it is," pleaded Irie, trying to work out for which orifice it was intended andscreaming as the cupped hand reached her face, spreading the liquid from forehead to chin.

  "Aaagh! It burns!""Bay rum," said Hortense matter-of-factly. "Burns de fever away. No, don' wash it off. Jus'

  leave it to do its biznezz."Irie gritted27 her teeth as the torture of a thousand pinpricks faded to five hundred, thentwenty-five, until finally it was just a warm flush of the kind delivered by a slap.

  "So!" said Hortense, entirely28 awake now and somewhat triumphant29. "You finally dash from thatgodless woman, I see. An' caught a flu while you doin' it! Well .. . there are those who wouldn'tblame you, no, not at all... No one knows better clan30 me what dat woman be like. Never at home,learnin' all her isms and skis ms in the university, leavin' husband and pickney at home, hungry andmaga. Lord, naturally you flee! Well.. ." She sighed and put a copper31 kettle on the stove. "It iswritten. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fledfrom the earthquake in the days ofUzziah king of judah Then the LORD my God will come, and allthe holy ones with him. Zechariah 14:5. In the end the good ones will flee from the evil. Oh, IrieAmbrosia ... I knew you come in de end. All God's children return in de end.""Gran, I haven't come to find God. I just want to do some -quiet study here and get my headtogether. I need to stay a few months at least till the New Year. Oh .. . ugh ... I feel a bit woozy. CanI have an orange?""Yes, dey all return to de Lord Jesus in de end," continued Hortense to herself, placing the bitterroot of cer ace into a kettle. "Dat's not a real orange, dear. All de fruit is plasticated. De flowers areplasticated also. I don't believe de Lord meant me to spend de little housekeeping money I possesson perishable34 goods. Have some dates."Irie grimaced35 at the shrivelled fruit plonked in front of her.

  "So you lef Archibald wid dat woman.. . poor ting. Me always like Archibald," said Hortensesadly, scrubbing the brown scum from a teacup with two soapy fingers. "Him was never myobjection as such. He always been a level-headed sort a fellow. Blessed are de peacekeepers. Healways strike me as a peacekeeper. But it more de principle of de ting, you know? Black andwhite never come to no good. De Lord Jesus never meant us to mix it up. Dat's why he made ahoi' heap a fuss about de children of men building de tower of Babel. "Im want everybody to keeptings separate. And the Lord did confound the language of all the earth and from thence did theLord scatter37 them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:9. When you mix it up, nuttin'

  good can come. It wasn't intended. Except you," she added as an afterthought. "You're about deonly good ting to come out of dat.. . Bwoy, sometime it like lookin' in a mirror-glass," she said,lifting Irie's chin with her wrinkled digits38. "You built like me, big, you know! Hip24 and tie and rhas,and titties. My mudder was de same way. You even named after my mudder.""Irie?" asked Me, trying hard to listen, but feeling the damp smog of her fever pulling her under.

  "No, dear, Ambrosia32. De stuff dat make you live for ever. Now," she said, clapping her handstogether, catching39 Irie's next question between them, 'you sleepin' in de living room. I'll get ablanket and pillows and den we talk in de marnin'. I'm up at six, 'cos I got Witness biznezz, so don'

  tink you sleeping none after eight. Pickney, you hear me?""Mmm. But what about Mum's old room? Can't I just sleep in there?"Hortense took Irie's weight half on her shoulder and led her into the living room. "No, dat's notpossible. Dere is a certain situation," said Hortense mysteriously. "Dat can wait till de sun is up tobe hexplained. Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed," sheintoned quietly, turning to go. "And nothing hid, that shall not be known. Dat is Mat-chew, 10:26."An autumn morning was the only time worth spending in that basement flat. Between 6 and 7a.m. when the sun was still low, light shot through the front window, bathed the lounge in yellow,dappled the long thin allotment (7 it x 30 it) and gave a healthy veneer40 to the tomatoes. Youcould almost convince yourself, at 6 a.m." that you were downstairs in some Continental41 cabana, orat least street level in Torquay, rather than below ground in Lambeth. The glare was such that youcouldn't make out the railway sidings where the strip of green ended, or the busy everyday feet thatpassed by the lounge window, kicking dust through the grating at the glass. It was all white lightand clever shade at six in the morning. Hugging a cup of tea at the kitchen table, squinting42 at thegrass, Me saw vineyards out there; she saw Florentine scenes instead of the unevenhiggledy-piggledy of Lambeth rooftops; she saw a muscular shadowy Italian plucking full berriesand crushing them underfoot. Then the mirage43, sun reliant as it was, disappeared, the whole sceneswallowed by a devouring44 cloud. Leaving only some crumbling45 Edwardian housing. Railwaysidings named after a careless child. A long, narrow strip of allotment where next to nothing wouldgrow. And a bleached-out bandy-legged red-headed man with terrible posture48 and Wellington boots,stamping away in the mulch, trying to shake the remnants of a squashed tomato from his heel.

  "Dat is Mr. Topps," said Hortense, hurrying across the kitchen in a dark maroon49 dress, the eyesand hooks undone50, and a hat in her hand with plastic flowers askew51. "He has been such a help to mesince Darcus died. He soothes52 away my vexation and calms my mind."She waved to him and he straightened up and waved back. Me watched him pick up two plasticbags filled with tomatoes and walk in his strange pigeon-footed manner up the garden towards theback kitchen door.

  "An' he de only man who made a solitary53 ting grow out dere. Such a crop of tomatoes as younever did see! Me Ambrosia, stop starin' and come an' do up dis dress. Quickbefore yourgoggle-eye fall out.""Does he live here?" whispered Me in amazement54, strugglingto join the two sides of Hortense's dress over her substantial flank. "I mean, with you?""Not in de sense you meaning," sniffed55 Hortense. "He is jus' a great help to me in my of' age.

  He bin36 wid me deez six years, God bless 'im and keep 'is soul. Now, pass me dat pin."Me passed her the long hat pin which was sitting on top of a butter dish. Hortense set the plasticcarnations straight on her hat and stabbed them fiercely, then brought the pin back up through thefelt, leaving two inches of exposed silver sticking up from the hat like a German pickelhaube.

  "Well, don' look so shock. It a very satisfactory arrangement. Women need a man 'bout14 de house,udder wise ting an' ting get messy. Mr. Topps and I, we of' soldiers fightin' the battle of de Lord.

  Some time ago he converted to the Witness church, an' his rise has been quick an' sure. I've waitedfifty years to do so meting57 else in de Kingdom Hall except clean," said Hortense sadly, 'but deydon' wan33' women interfering58 with real church biz ness Got Mr. Topps do a great deal, and 'im let mehelp on occasion. He's a very good man. Butim family are nasty-nasty," she murmuredconfidentially. The farder is a terrible man, gambler an' whoremonger ... so after a while, I arks himto come and live with me, seem' how de room empty and Darcus gone. "Im a very civilized59 bwoy.

  Never married, though. Married to de church, yes, suh! An' 'im call me Mrs. Bowden deez six years,never any ting else." Hortense sighed ever so slightly. "Don' know de meaning of being' improper60.

  De only ting he wan' in life is to become one of de Anointed. I have de greatest hadmiration for him.

  He him proved so much. He talk so posh now, you know! And 'im very good wid de pipin' an' plumming also. How's your fever?""Not great. Last hook .. . there that's done."Hortense fairly bounced away from her and walked into the hall to open the back door to Ryan.

  "But Gran, why does he live '

  Me 1990, 1907"Well, you're going to have to eat up dis marnin' feed a fever, starve a col'. Deez tomatoes friedwid plantain and some of las' night's fish. I'll fry it up and den pop it in de microwave.""I thought it was starve a fe '

  "Good marnin', Mr. Topps.""Good mornin', Missus Bowden," said Mr. Topps, closing the door behind him and peeling off aprotective cagoule to reveal a cheap blue suit, with a tiny gold cross pendant on the collar. "I trustyou is almost of a readiness? We've got to be at the hall on the dot of seven."As yet, Ryan had not spotted61 Me. He was bent62 over shaking the mud from his boots. And he didit formidably slowly, just as he spoke63, and with his translucent64 eyelids65 fluttering like a man in acoma. Me could only see half of him from where she stood: a red fringe, a bent knee and the shirtcuff of one hand.

  But the voice was a visual in itself: cockney yet refined, a voice that had had much work doneupon it missing key consonants67 and adding others where they were never meant to be, and alldelivered through the nose with only the slightest help from the mouth.

  "Fine mornin', Mrs. B." fine mornin'. Somefing to fankthe Lord for."Hortense seemed terribly nervous about the imminent68 likelihood that he should raise his headand spot the girl standing69 by the stove. She kept beckoning70 Me forward and then shooing her back,uncertain whether they should meet at all.

  "Oh yes, Mr. Topps, it is, an' I am ready as ready can be. My hat give me a little trouble, youknow, but I just got a pin an '

  "But the Lord ain't interested in the vanities of the flesh, now, is he Mrs. B.?" said Ryan, slowlyand painfully enunciating each word while crouching72 awkwardly and removing his left boot.

  "Jehovah is in need of your soul.""Oh yes, surely dat is de holy troot," said Hortense anxiously, fingering her plasticatedcarnations. "But at de same time, surelya Witness lady don' wan' look like a, well, a buguyaga in de house of de Lord."Ryan frowned. "My point is, you must avoid interpretin' scripture73 by yourself, Mrs. Bowden. Infuture, discuss it wiv myself and my colleagues. Ask us: is pleasant clothing a concern of the Lord's?

  And myself and my colleagues amongst the Anointed, will look up the necessary chapter and verse ..."Ryan's sentence faded into a general Erhummmm, a sound he was prone74 to making. It began inhis arched nostrils75 and reverberated76 through his slight, elongated77, misshapen limbs like the finalshiver of a hanged man.

  "I don' know why I do it, Mr. Topps," said Hortense shaking her head. "Sometime I tink I couldbe one of dem dat teach, you know? Even though I am a woman ... I feel like the Lord talk to me ina special way ... It jus' a bad habit.. . but so much in de church change recently, sometimes me kyankeep up wid all de rules and regulations."Ryan looked out through the double glazing78. His face was pained. "Nuffin' changes about theword of God, Mrs. B. Only people are mistaken. The best thing you can do for the Truth, is justpray that the Brooklyn Hall will soon deliver us with the final date. Erhummmm.""Oh yes, Mr. Topps. I do it day and night."Ryan clapped his hands together in a pale imitation of enthusiasm. "Now, did I 'ear you sayplantain for breakfast, Mrs. B.?""Oh yes, Mr. Topps, and dem tomatoes if you will be kind enough to ban' dem over to de chef."As Hortense had hoped, the passing of the tomatoes coincided with the spotting of Irie.

  "Now, dis is my grand darter Me Ambrosia Jones. And dis is Mr. Ryan Topps. Say hello, Irie, dear."Irie did so, stepping forward nervously79 and reaching out her hand to shake his. But there was noresponse from Ryan Topps, and the inequality was only increased when on the sudden heMe 1990, 1907seemed to recognize her; there was a pulse of familiarity as his eyes moved over her, whereasMe saw nothing, not even a type, not even a genre81 of face in his; the monstrosity of him was quiteunique, redder than any red-head, more freckled82 than the freckled, more blue-veined than a lobster83.

  "She's she's Clara's darter said Hortense tentatively. "Mr. Topps knew your mudder, long time.

  But it all right, Mr. Topps, she come to live wid us now.""Only for a little time Me corrected hurriedly, noting the look of vague horror on Mr. Topps'sface. "Just for a few months maybe, through the winter while I study. I've got exams in June/Mr. Topps did not move. Moreover nothing on him moved. Like one of China's terra cotta army,he seemed poised84 for battle yet unable to move.

  "Clara's darter repeated Hortense in a tearful whisper. "She might have been yours."Nothing surprised Me about this final, whispered aside; she just added it to the list: AmbrosiaBowden gave birth in an earthquake .. . Captain Charlie Durham was a no-good djam fool bwoy.. .

  false teeth in a glass .. . she might have been yours .. .

  Half-heartedly, with no expectation of an answer, Me asked, "What?""Oh, nuttin', Me, dear. Nuttin', nuttin'. Let me start fryin'. I can hear bellies85 rumblin'. Youremember Clara, don't you Mr. Topps? You and she were quite good .. . friends. Mr. Topps?"For two minutes now Ryan had been fixing Me with an unwavering stare, his body heldabsolutely straight, his mouth slightly open. At the question, he seemed to compose himself, closedhis mouth and took his seat at the un laid table.

  "Clara's daughter, is it? Erhummmm .. ." He removed what looked like a small policeman's padfrom his breast pocket and poised a pen upon it as if this would kick start his memory.

  "You see, many of the episodes, people and events from my earlier life have been, as it were,severed from myself by thealmighty sword that cut me from my past when the Lord Jehovah saw fit to enlighten me withthe Truth, and as he has chosen me for a new role I must, as Paul so wisely recommended in hisepistle to the Corinfians, put away childish things, allowing earlier incarnations of myself to beenveloped into a great smog in which said Ryan Topps, taking only the smallest breath and hiscutlery from Hortense, 'it appears that your mother, and any memory I might 'ave of her, 'avedisappeared. Erhummmm.""She never mentioned you either," said Me.

  "Well, it was all a long time ago now," said Hortense with forced joviality88. "But you did tryyour best wider Mr. Topps. She was my miracle child, Clara. I was forty-eight! I taut she was God'schild. But Clara was bound for evil .. . she never was a godly girl an' in de end dere was nuttin' tobe done.""He will send down His vengeance89, Mrs. B.," said Ryan, with more cheerful animation90 than Mehad yet seen him display. "He will send terrible torture to those who 'ave earned it. Three plantainfor me, if you please."Hortense set all three plates down and Me, realizing she hadn't eaten since the previousmorning, scraped a mountain of plantain on to her plate.

  "Ah! It's hot!""Better hot clan lukewarm," said Hortense grimly, with a meaningful shudder91. "Ever so, ha men"Amen," echoed Ryan, braving the red-hot plantain. "Amen. So. What exactly is it that you arestudy inT he asked, looking so intently past Me that it took a moment before she realized he wasaddressing her.

  "Chemistry, biology and religious studies." Me blew on a hot piece of plantain. "I want to be adentist."Ryan perked92 up. "Religious studies? And do they acquaint you with the only true church?"Me shifted in her seat. "Er .. . I guess it's more the big three. Jews, Christians93, Muslims. We dida month on Catholicism."Ryan grimaced. "And do you have any uwer inter-rests?"Irie considered. "Music. I like music. Concerts, clubs, that kind of thing.""Yes, erhummmm. I used to go in for all that myself at one time. Until the Good News wasdelivered unto me. Large gatherings94 of yoof, of the kind that frequent popular conceits95, arecommonly breeding grounds for devil worship. A girl of your physical .. . assets might find herselflured into the lascivious96 arms of a sexualist," said Ryan, standing up from the table and looking athis watch. "Now that I fink about it, in a certain light you look a lot like your mother. Similar .. .

  cheekbones."Ryan wiped a pearly line of sweat from his forehead. There was a silence in which Hortensestood motionless, clinging nervously to a dishcloth, and Irie had to physically97 cross the room for aglass of water to remove herself from Mr. Topps's stare.

  "Well. That's twenty minutes and counting, Mrs. B. I'll get the gear, shall I?""Oh yes, Mr. Topps," said Hortense beaming. But the moment Ryan left the room the beamturned to a scowl98.

  "Why must you go an' say tings like dat, hmm? You wan' 'im to tink you some devilish heathengal? Why kyan you say stamp-collecting or some ting? Come on, I gat to clean deez plates finish up."Irie looked at the pile of food left on her plate and guiltily tapped her stomach.

  "Cho! Just as I sus peck Your eyes see more clan your belly can hoi'! Give it 'ere."Hortense leant against the sink and began popping bits of plantain into her mouth. "Now, youdon' back chat Mr. Topps while you here. You gat study to do an' he gat study too," said Hortense,lowering her voice. "He's in consultation99 with the Brooklyn gentlemen at de moment .. . fixing definal date; no mistakes dis time. You jus' 'ave to look at de trouble goin' on in de world to know weThat far from de appointed day."Chalfenism versus100 Bovcdenism"I won't be any trouble," said Me, approaching the washing-up as a gesture of goodwill101. "Hejust seems a little .. . weird102.""De ones who are chosen by the Lord always seem peculiar5 to de heathen. Mr. Topps is jus'

  misunderstood. "Im mean a lot to me. Me never have nobody before. Your mudder don' like to tellyou since she got all hitey-titey, but de Bowden family have had it hard long time. I was barnduring an cart-quake. Almost kill fore12 I was barn. An' den when me a fully71 grown woman, my owndarter run from me. Me never see my only grandpickney. I only have de Lord, all dem years. Mr.

  Topps de first human man who look pon me and take pity an' care. Your mudder was a fool to letimgo, true sir!"Irie gave it one last try. "What? What does that mean?""Oh, nuttin, nuttin, dear Lord... I and I talking all over de place dis marnin .. . Oh Mr. Topps,dere you are. We not going to be late now, are we?"Mr. Topps, who had just re-entered the room, was fully adorned103 in leather from head to toe, ahuge motorcycle helmet on his head, a small red light attached to his left ankle and a small whitelight strapped104 to his right. He flipped105 up the visor.

  "No, we're all right, by the grace of God. Where's your helmet, Mrs. B.?""Oh, I've started keepin' it in the oven. Keeps it warm and toasty on de col' marnins. IrieAmbrosia, fetch it for me please."Sure enough, on the middle shelf preheated to gas mark 2 sat Hortense's helmet. Irie scooped106 itout and carefully fitted it over her grandmother's plasticated carnations56.

  "You ride a motorbike," said Irie, by way of conversation.

  But Mr. Topps seemed defensive107. "A G S Vespa. Nuffink fancy. I did fink about givin' it away atone108 point. It represented a life I'd raaver forget, if you get my meaning. A motorbike is a sexualmagnet, an' God forgive me, but I misused109 it in that fashion. I was all set on getting' rid of it. Butthen Mrs. B. convinced me that what wiv all my public speaking, I need somefing quick to getMe 1990, 1907around on. An' Mrs. B. don't want to be messin' about with buses and trains at her age, do youMrs. B.?""No, indeed. He got me dis little buggy '

  "Sidecar," corrected Ryan tetchily. "It's called a sidecar. Minetto Motorcycle-combination, 1973model.""Yes, of course, a sidecar, an' it is comfortable as a bed. We go everywhere in it, Mr. Topps an'

  I."Hortense took down her overcoat from a hook on the door, and reached in the pockets for twoVelcro reflector bands which she strapped round each arm.

  "Now, Me, I've got a great deal of biz ness to be getting' on with today, so you're going to haveto cook for yourself, because I kyan tell what time we'll be home. But don' worry. Me soon come.""No problem."Hortense sucked her teeth. "No problem. Dat's what her name mean in patois110: Irie, no problem.

  Now, what kind of a name is dat to .. . ?"Mr. Topps didn't answer. He was already out on the pavement, revving111 up the Vespa.

  "First I have to keep her from those Chalfens," growls112 Clara over the phone, her voice aresonant tremolando of anger and fear. "And now you people again."On the other end, her mother takes the washing out of the machine and listens silently throughthe cordless that is tucked between ear and weary shoulder, biding113 her time.

  "Hortense, I don't want you filling her head with a whole load of nonsense. You hear me? Yourmother was fool to it, and then you were fool to it, but the buck114 stopped with me and it ain't goingno further. If Irie comes home spouting115 any of that claptrap, you can forget about the SecondComin' 'cos you'll be dead by the time it arrives."Big words. But how fragile is Clara's atheism116! Like one of those tiny glass doves Hortensekeeps in the lounge cabinet a breath would knock it over. Talking of which, Clara still holds herswhen passing churches the same way adolescent vegetarians118 scurry119 by butchers; she avoids Kilburnon a Saturday for fear of streetside preachers on their upturned apple crates120. Hortense senses Clara'sterror. Coolly cramming121 in another load of whites and measuring out the liquid with a thriftywoman's eye, she is short and decided122: "Don' you worry about Me Ambrosia. She in a good placenow. She'll tell you herself As if she had ascended123 with the heavenly host rather than entombedherself below ground in the borough124 of Lambeth with Ryan Topps.

  Clara hears her daughter getting on the extension; an initial crackle and then a voice as clear asa carillon. "Look, I'm not coming home, all right, so don't bother. I'll be back when I'm back, justdon't worry about me." And there should be nothing to worry about and there is nothing to worryabout, except maybe that outside in the streets it is cold packed on cold, even the dogshit hascrystallized, there is the first suggestion of ice on the windscreens and Clara has been in that housethrough the winters. She knows what it means. Oh, wonderfully bright at 6 a.m., yes, wonderfullyclear for an hour. But the shorter the days, the longer the nights, the darker the house, the easier it is,the easier it is, the easier it is, to mistake a shadow for the writing on the wall, the sound ofoverland footsteps for the distant crack of thunder, and the midnight chime of a New Year clock forthe bell that tolls125 the end of the world.

  But Clara needn't have feared. Irie's atheism was robust. It was Chalfenist in its confidence, andshe approached her stay with Hortense with detached amusement. She was intrigued126 by theBowden household. It was a place of end games and after times full stops and finales; where tocount on the arrival of tomorrowwas an indulgence, and every service in the house, from the milkman to the electricity, was paidfor on a strictly127 daily basis so as not to spend money on utilities or goods that would be wastedshould God turn up in all his holy vengeance the very next day. Bowdenism gave a whole newmeaning to the phrase 'hand-to-mouth'. This was living in the eternal instant, ceaselessly teeteringon the precipice128 of total annihilation; there are people who take a great deal of drugs simply toexperience something comparable to 84-year-old Hortense Bowden's day-to-day existence. Soyou've seen dwarfs129 rip open their bellies and show you their insides, you've been a televisionswitched off without warning, you've experienced the whole world as one Krishna consciousness,free of individual ego130, floating through the infinite cosmos131 of the soul? Big fucking deal. That's allbullshit next to St. John's trip when Christ laid the twenty-two chapters of Revelation on him. Itmust have been a hell of a shock for the apostle (after that thorough spin-job, the New Testament132,all those sweet words and sublime133 sentiments) to discover Old Testament vengeance lurking134 roundthe corner after all. As many as I love, I rebuke135 and chasten. That must have been some eye-opener.

  Revelation is where all crazy people end up. It's the last stop on the nut so express. AndBowdenism, which was the Witnesses plus Revelation and then some, was as left field as theycome. Par18 exemple: Hortense Bowden interpreted Revelation 3:15 - / know thy works, that thou anneither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou an lukewarm, and neithercold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth as a literal mandate136. She understood 'lukewarm' to bean evil property in and of itself. She kept a microwave on hand at all times (her sole concession137 tomodern technology for a long time it was a toss-up between pleasing the Lord and laying oneselfopen to the United States mind-ray control programme as operated through high-frequency radiowaves in order to heat every meal to an impossible temperature; she kept whole buckets of ice tochill every glass of water 'colder than cold'. She wore two pairs of knickers at all times like a warypotential traffic-victim; when Me asked why, she sheepishly revealed that upon hearing the firstsigns of the Lord (approaching thunder, bellowing138 voice, Wagner's Ring Cycle), she intended towhip off the one closest to her and replace it with the outer pair, so that Jesus would find her freshand odour less and ready for heaven. She kept a tub of black paint in the hallway so when the timecame she might daub the neighbours' doors with the sign of the Beast, saving the Lord all thattrouble of weeding out the baddies, separating sheep from goats. And you couldn't form anysentence in that house which included the words 'end', 'finished', 'done', etc." for these were like somany triggers setting off both Hortense and Ryan with the usual ghoulish relish139:

  Irie: I finished the washing-up.

  Ryan Topps (shaking his head solemnly at the truth of it): As one day we all shall be finished,Irie, my dear; be zealous140 therefore, and repent141. OrIrie: It was a such a good film. The end was great! Hortense Bowden (tearfully): And dem datex peck such an end to dis world will be sorely disappointed, for He will come trailin' terror and Lode142 generation dat witness de events of 1914 shall now witness de turd part of de trees burn, and theturd part of de sea become as blood, and de turd part of de .. .

  And then there was Hortense's horror of weather reports. Whoever it was, however benign,honey-voiced and inoffensively dressed, she cursed them bitterly for the five minutes they stoodthere, and then, out of what appeared to be sheer perversity143, proceeded to take the opposite ofwhatever advice had been proffered144 (light jacket and no umbrella for rain, full cagoule arain hat for sun). It was several weeks before Me understood that weathermen were the secularantithesis of Hortense's life work, which was, essentially145, a kind of supercosrnic attempt to secondguess the Lord with one almighty86 biblical exegesis146 of a weather report. Next to that weathermenwere nothing but upstarts .. . And tomorrow, coming in from the east, we can expect a great furnaceto rise up and envelop87 the area with flames that give no light, but rather darkness visible .. . whileI'm afraid the northern regions are advised to wrap up warm against thick-ribbed ice, and there's afair likelihood that the coast will be beaten with perpetual storms of whirlwind and dire147 hail whichon firm land thaws148 not... Michael Fish and his ilk were stabbers-in-the-dark, trusting to thetomfoolery of the Met Office, making a mockery of that precise science, eschatology, that Hortensehad spent over fifty years in the study of.

  "Any news, Mr. Topps?" (This question almost invariably asked over breakfast; and girlishly,breathlessly, like a child asking after Santa.)"No, Mrs. B. We are still completing our studies. You must let my colleagues and myselfdeliberate thoroughly149. In this life there are them that are teachers and then there are them that arepupils. There are eight million Witnesses of Jehovah waiting for our decision, waiting for theJudgement Day. But you must learn to leave such tings to them that 'ave the direct line, Mrs. B." thedirect line."After bunking150 for a few weeks, Me returned to school. But it seemed so distant; even thejourney from South to North each morning felt like an almighty polar trek152, and worse, one thatstopped short of its goal and ended up instead in the tepid153 regions, a non-event compared with theboiling maelstrom154 of the Bowden home. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold norhot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. You become so used to extremity155, suddenly nothing else willdo.

  She saw Millat regularly, but their conversations were brief. He was green-tied now andotherwise engaged. She still did Marcus's filing twice a week, but avoided the rest of the family.

  She saw Josh fleetingly156. He seemed to be avoiding the Chalfens as assiduously as she. Her parentsshe saw on weekends, icy occasions when everybody called everybody by their first names (Irie,can you pass the salt to Archie? Clara, Archie wants to know where the scissors are), and all partiesfelt deserted157. She sensed that she was being whispered about in the way North Londoners willwhen they suspect someone of coming down with religion, that nasty disease. So she hurried backto No. 28 Lindaker Road, Lambeth, relieved to be back in the darkness, for it was like hibernatingor being cocooned158, and she was as curious as everyone else to see what kind of Irie would emerge.

  It wasn't any kind of prison. That house was an adventure. In cupboards and neglected drawers andin grimy frames were the secrets that had been hoarded159 for so long, as if secrets were going out offashion. She found pictures of her great-grandmother Ambrosia, a bony, beautiful thing, with hugealmond eyes, and one of Charlie "Whitey' Durham standing in a pile of rubble160 with a sepia-printsea behind him. She found a bible with one line torn from it. She found photo-booth snaps of Clarain school uniform, grinning maniacally161, the true horror of the teeth revealed. She read alternatelyfrom Dental Anatomy162 by Gerald M. Cathey and The Good News Bible, and raced voraciouslythrough Hortense's small and eclectic library, blowing the red dust of a Jamaican schoolhouse offthe covers and often using a pen knife to cut never-before-read pages. February's list was asfollows:

  An Account of a West Indian Sanatorium, by Geo. J. H. Sutton Moxly. London: Sampson, Low,Marston & Co." 1886. (There was an inverse163 correlation164 between the length of the author's nameand the poor quality of his book.)Tom Cringle's Log, by Michael Scott. Edinburgh: 1875.

  In Sugar Cane165 Land, by Eden Phillpotts. London: McClure &Co." 1893. Dominica: Hints and Notes to Intending Settlers, by His HonourH. Hesketh Bell, CMC. London: A. & C. Black, 1906.

  The more she read, the more that picture of dashing Capt. Durham aroused her natural curiosity:

  handsome and melancholy166, surveying the bricks of half a church, looking worldly-wise despite hisyouth, looking every inch the Englishman, looking like he could tell someone or another a thing ortwo about something. Maybe Me herself. Just in case, she kept him under her pillow. And in themornings it wasn't Italian ate vineyards out there any more, it was sugar, sugar, sugar, and next doorwas nothing but tobacco and she presumptuously167 fancied that the smell of plantain sent her back tosomewhere, somewhere quite fictional168, for she'd never been there. Somewhere Columbus called St.

  Jago but the arawaks stubbornly re-named Xaymaca, the name lasting169 longer than they did.

  Well-wooded and Watered. Not that Me had heard of those little sweet-tempered potbellied victimsof their own sweet-tempers. Those were some other Jamaicans, fallen short of the attention-span ofhistory. She laid claim to the past her version of the past aggressively, as if retrieving170 misdirectedmail. So this was where she came from. This all belonged to her, her birthright, like a pair of pearlearrings or a post office bond. X marks the spot, and Me put an X on everything she found,collecting bits and bobs (birth certificates, maps, army reports, news articles) and storing themunder the sofa, so that as if by osmosis the richness of them would pass through the fabric171 while shewas sleeping and seep172 right into her.

  As the buds came with the spring, so like any anchoress she was visited. First, by voices.

  Coming crackling over Hortense's neolithic173 radio, Joyce Chalfen on Gardeners' Question Time:

  Foreman: Another question from the audience, I think. Mrs. Sally Whitaker from Bournemouthhas a question for the panel, I believe. Mrs.

  Whitaker?

  Mrs. Whitaker: Thank you, Brian. Well, I'm a new gardener and this is my first frost and in twoshort months my garden's gone from being a real colour explosion to a very bare thing indeed .. .

  Friends have advised flowers with a compact habit but that leaves me with lots of tiny auricula anddouble daisies, which look silly because the garden's really quite large. Now, I'd really like to plantsomething a little more striking, around the height of a delphinium, but then the wind gets it andpeople look over their fences thinking: Dear oh dear (sympathetic laughter from the studioaudience). So, my question to the panel is, how do you keep up appearances in the bleakmidwinter?

  Foreman: Thank you, Mrs. Whitaker. Well, it's a common problem .. . and it doesn't necessarilyget any easier for the seasoned gardener. Personally, I never get it quite right. Well, let's hand thequestion over to the panel, shall we? Joyce Chalfen, any answers or suggestions for the bleakmidwinter?

  Joyce Chalfen: Well, first I must say your neighbours sound very nosy175. I'd tell them to mindtheir own beeswax if I were you (laughter from audience). But to be serious, I think this wholetrend for round-the-clock bloom is actually very unhealthy for the garden and the gardener andparticularly the soil, I really do ... I think the winter should be a time of rest, subdued176 colours, youknow and then when the late spring does finally arrive the neighbours get a hell of a shock! Boom!

  There it is, this wonderful explosion of growth. I think the deep winter is really a time for nurturingthe soil, turning it over, allowing it a rest and plotting its future all the better to surprise the nosypeople next door. I always think of agarden's soil like a woman's body moving in cycles, you know, fertile at some times and notothers, and that's really quite natural. But if you really are determined177, then Lenten rosesHelleborus corsicus do remarkably178 well in cold, calcareous soil, even if they're quite in theIrie switched Joyce off. It was quite therapeutic179 switching Joyce off. This was not entirelypersonal. It just seemed tiring and unnecessary all of a sudden, that struggle to force something outof the recalcitrant180 English soil. Why bother when there was now this other place? (For Jamaicaappeared to Irie as if it were newly made. Like Columbus himself, just by discovering it she hadbrought it into existence.) This well-wooded and watered place. Where things sprang from the soilriotously and without supervision181, and a young white captain could meet a young black girl with nocomplications, both of them fresh and untainted and without past or dictated182 future a place wherethings simply were. No fictions, no myths, no lies, no tangled184 webs this is how Irie imagined herhomeland. Because homeland is one of the magical fantasy words like unicorn185 and soul and infinitythat have now passed into the language. And the particular magic of homeland, its particular spellover Irie, was that it sounded like a beginning. The beginning est of beginnings. Like the firstmorning of Eden and the day after apocalypse. A blank page.

  But every time Irie felt herself closer to it, to the perfect blankness of the past, something of thepresent would ring the Bowden doorbell and intrude186. Mothering Sunday brought a surprise visitfrom Joshua, angry on the doorstep, at least a stone and a half lighter187, and much scruffier188 than usual.

  Before Irie had a chance to express either concern or shock, he had flounced into the lounge andslammed the door. Tm sick of it! Sick to the back fucking teeth with it!"The vibration189 of the door knocked Capt. Durham from his perch190 on Irie's windowsill, and shecarefully re-erected him.

  "Yeah, nice to see you too, man. Why don't you sit down and slow down. Sick of what?""Them. They sicken me. They go on about rights and freedoms, and then they eat fifty chickensevery fucking week! Hypocrites!"Me couldn't immediately see the connection. She took out a fag in preparation for a long story.

  To her surprise Joshua took one too, and they went to kneel on the window seat, blowing smokethrough the grate up into the street.

  "Do you know how battery chickens live?"Me didn't. Joshua explained. Cooped up for most of their poor chicken lives in total chickendarkness, packed together like chicken sardines in their chicken shit and fed the worst type ofchicken grain. And this, according to Joshua, was apparently191 nothing on how pigs and cows andsheep spent their time. "It's a fucking crime. But try telling Marcus that. Try getting him to give uphis Sunday hog-fest. He's so fucking ill informed. Have you ever noticed that? He knows thisenormous amount about one thing, but there's this whole other world that.. . Oh, before I forget youshould take a leaflet."Me never thought she would see the day when Joshua Chalfen handed her a leaflet. But here itwas in her palm. It was called: Meat is Murder: The Facts and the Fiction, a publication from theFATE organization.

  "It stands for Fighting Animal Torture and Exploitation. They're like the hardcore end ofGreenpeace or whatever. Read it they're not just hippy freaks, they're coming from a solid scientificand academic background and they're working from an anarchist192 perspective. I feel like I've reallyfound my niche193, you know? It's a really incredible group. Dedicated194 to direct action. The deputy'san ex-Oxford fellow.""Mmmm. How's Millat?"Joshua shook off the question. "Oh, I don't know. Barmy. Going barmy. And Joyce is stillpandering to his every whim195. Justdon't ask me. They all sicken me. Everything's changed." Josh ran his fingers anxiously throughhis hair, which just reached his shoulders now in what Willesdeners affectionately call a Jew-froMullet. "I just can't tell you how everything's changed. I'm having these real.. . moments of clarity."Irie nodded. She was sympathetic to moments of clarity. Her seventeenth year was provingchock-a-block with them. And she wasn't surprised by Joshua's metamorphosis. Four months in thelife of a seventeen-year-old is the stuff of swings and roundabouts; Stones fans into Beatles fans,Tories into Liberal Democrats196 and back again, vinyl junkies to C D freaks. Never again in your lifedo you possess the capacity for such total personality overhaul197.

  "I knew you'd understand. I wish I'd talked to you before, but I just can't bear to be in the housethese days and when I do see you Millat always seems to be in the way. It's really good to see you.""You too. You look different."Josh gestured dismissively at his clothes, which were distinctly less nerdy than they had been.

  "I guess you can't wear your father's old corduroy for ever.""I guess not."Joshua clapped his hands together. "Well, I've booked my ticket for Glastonbury and I might notcome back. I met these people from FATE and I'm going with them.""It's March. Not till the summer, surely.""Joely and Crispin that's these people I met say we might go up there early. You know, camp outfor a bit.""And school?""If you can bunk151, I can bunk .. . it's not as if I'm going to fall behind. I've still got a Chalfenhead on my shoulders, I'll just come back for the exams and then fuck off again. Irie, you've just gotto meet these people. They're just.. . incredible. He's a Dadaist. And she's an anarchist. A real one.

  Not like Marcus. Itold her about Marcus and his bloody198 Future Mouse She thinks he's a dangerous individual.

  Quite possibly psychopathic."Me thought about this. "Mmm. I'd be surprised."Without stubbing out his fag, he threw it up on to the pavement. "And I'm giving up all meat.

  I'm a pescatarian at the moment, but that's just half measures. I'm becoming a fucking vegetarian117."Me shrugged199, not certain what the right response should be.

  "There's a lot to be said for the old motto, you know?""Old motto?""Fight fire with fire. It's only by really fucking extreme behaviour that you can get through tosomebody like Marcus. He doesn't even know how out there he is. There's no point beingreasonable with him because he thinks he owns reasonableness. How do you deal with people likethat? Oh, and I'm giving up leather wearing it and all other animal by-products. Gelatin and stuff."After a while of watching the feet go by leathers, sneakers, heels Me said, "That'll show 'em."On April Fool's Day, Samad turned up. He was all in white, on his way to the restaurant,crumpled and creased80 like a disappointed saint. He looked to be on the brink200 of tears. Me let him in.

  "Hello, Miss Jones," said Samad, bowing ever so slightly. "And how is your father?"Me smiled with recognition. "You see him more than we do. How's God?""Perfectly201 fine, thank you. Have you seen my good-for-nothing son recently?"Before Me had a chance to give her next line, Samad broke down in front of her and had to beled into the living room, sat in Darcus's chair and brought a cup of tea before he could speak.

  "Mr. Iqbal, what's wrong?""What is right?""Has something happened to Dad?""Oh no, no... Archibald is fine. He is like the washing-machine advert202. He carries on and on asever."Then what?""Millat. He has been missing these three weeks.""God. Well, have you tried the Chalfens?""He is not with them. I know where he is. Out of the trying pan and into the fire. He is on someretreat with these lunatic green-tie people. In a sports centre in Chester.""Bloody hell."Me sat down cross-legged and took out a fag. "I hadn't seen him in school, but I didn't realizehow long it had been. But if you know where he is .. ." "I didn't come here to find him, I came toask your advice, Me. What can I do? You know him how does one get through?"Me bit her lip, her mother's old habit. "I mean, I don't know . we're not as close as we were .. .

  but I've always thought that maybe it's the Magid thing .. . missing him ... I mean he'd never admitit ... but Magid's his twin and maybe if he saw him"No, no. No, no, no. I wish that were the solution. Allah knows how I pinned all my hopes onMagid. And now he says he is coming back to study the English law paid for by these Chalfenpeople. He wants to enforce the laws of man rather than the laws of God. He has learnt none of thelessons of Muhammad peace be upon Him! Of course, his mother is delighted. But he is nothingbut a disappointment to me. More English than the English. Believe me, Magid will do Millat nogood and Millat will do Magid no good. They have both lost their way. Strayed so far from the lifeI had intended for them. No doubt they will both marry white women called Sheila and put me inan early grave. All I wanted was two good Muslim boys. Oh, Me ..." Samad took her free hand andpatted it with sad affection. "I just don't understand where I have gone wrong. You teach them buttheydo not listen because they have the "Public Enemy" music on at full blast. You show them theroad and they take the bloody path to the Inns of Court. You guide them and they run from yourgrasp to a Chester sports centre. You try to plan everything and nothing happens in the way that youexpected .. ."But if you could begin again, thought Irie, if you could take them back to the source of the river,to the start of the story, to the homeland .. . But she didn't say that, because he felt it as she felt itand both knew it was as useless as chasing your own shadow. Instead she took her hand fromunderneath his and placed it on top, returning the stroke. "Oh, Mr. Iqbal. I don't know what to say"There are no words. The one I send home comes out a pukka Englishman, white suited, sillywig lawyer. The one I keep here is fully paid-up green bow-tie-wearing fundamentalist terrorist. Isometimes wonder why I bother," said Samad bitterly, betraying the English inflections of twentyyears in the country, "I really do. These days, it feels to me like you make a devil's pact174 when youwalk into this country. You hand over your passport at the check-in, you get stamped, you want tomake a little money, get yourself started .. . but you mean to go back! Who would want to stay?

  Cold, wet, miserable203; terrible food, dreadful newspapers who would want to stay? In a place whereyou are never welcomed, only tolerated. Just tolerated. Like you are an animal finally house-trained.

  Who would want to stay? But you have made a devil's pact ... it drags you in and suddenly you areunsuitable to return, your children are unrecognizable, you belong nowhere.""Oh, that's not true, surely.""And then you begin to give up the very idea of belonging. Suddenly this thing, this belonging,it seems like some long, dirty lie ... and I begin to believe that birthplaces are accidents, thateverything is an accident. But if you believe that, where do you go? What do you do? What doesanything matter?"As Samad described this dystopia with a look of horror, Me was ashamed to find that the landof accidents sounded like paradise to her. Sounded like freedom.

  "Do you understand, child? I know you understand."And what he really meant was: do we speak the same language? Are we from the same place?

  Are we the same?

  Irie squeezed his hand and nodded vigorously, trying to ward47 off his tears. What else could shetell him but what he wanted to hear?

  "Yes," she said. "Yes, yes, yes."When Hortense and Ryan came home that evening after a late-night prayer meeting, both werein a state of high excitement. Tonight was the night. After giving Hortense a flurry of instructions asto the typesetting and layout of his latest Watchtower article, Ryan went into the hallway to makehis telephone call to Brooklyn to get the news.

  "But I thought he was in consultation with them.""Yes, yes, he is ... but de final confirmation204, you understand, must come from Mr. CharlesWintry himself in Brooklyn," said Hortense breathlessly. "What a day dis is! What a day! Help mewid liftin' dis typewriter now ... I need it on de table."Irie did as she was told, carrying the enormous old Remington to the kitchen and laying it downin front of Hortense. Hortense passed Irie a bundle of white paper covered in Ryan's tiny script.

  "Now you read dat to me, Irie Ambrosia, slowly now .. . an' I'll get it down in type."Irie read for half an hour or so, wincing205 at Ryan's horrible corkscrew prose, passing the whitingfluid when it was required, and gritting206 her teeth at the author's interruptions as every ten minuteshe popped back into the room to adjust his syntax or rephrase a paragraph.

  "Mr. Topps, did you get trew yet?""Not yet, Mrs. B." not yet. Very busy, Mr. Charles Wintry. I'm going to try again now."A sentence, Samad's sentence, was passing through Irie's tired brain. Sometimes I wonder why Ibother. And now that Ryan was out of the way, Irie saw her opportunity to ask it, though she framedit carefully.

  Hortense leant back in her chair and placed her hands on her lap. "I bin doin' dis a very longtime, Irie Ambrosia. I bin' waitin' ever since I was a pickney in long socks.""But that's no reason '

  "What d'you know fe reasons? Nuttin' at all. The Witness church is where my roots are. It bingood to me when nobody else has. It was de good ting my mudder gave me, an' I That going to letit go now we so close to de end.""But Gran, it's not.. . you won't ever .. .""Lemme tell you so meting I'm not like dem Witnesses jus' scared of dyin'. Jus' scared. Demwan' everybody to die excep' dem. Dat's not a reason to dedicate your life to Jesus Christ. I gat verydifferent aims. I still hope to be one of de Anointed evan if I am a woman. I want it all my life. Iwant to be dere wid de Lord making de laws and de decisions." Hortense sucked her teeth long andloud. "I gat so tired wid de church always tellin' me I'm a woman or I'm That heducated enough.

  Everybody always tryin' to heducate you; heducate you about dis, heducate you about dat .. . Dat'salways bin de problem wid de women in dis family. Somebody always tryin' to heducate themabout so meting pretendin' it all about learnin' when it all about a battle of de wills. But if I wereone of de hundred an' forty-four, no one gwan try to heducate me. Dat would be my job! I'd makemy own laws an' I wouldn't be wanting anybody else's opinions. My mudder was strong-willeddeep down, and I'm de same. Lord knows, your mudder was de same. And you de same.""Tell me about Ambrosia," said Irie, spotting a chink in Hor tense's armour207 that one mightsqueeze through. "Please."But Hortense remained solid. "You know enough already. De past is done wid. Nobody learnnuttin' from it. Top of page five please I tink dat's where we were."At that moment Ryan returned to the room, face redder than ever.

  "What, Mr. Topps? Is it? Do you know?""God help the heathen, Mrs. B." for the day is indeed at hand! It is as the Lord laid out clearlyin his book of Revelation. He never intended a third millennium208. Now I'll need that article typed up,and then another one that I'll dictate183 to you off the cuff66 you'll need to telephone all the Lambethmembers, and leaflet the-'

  "Oh, yes, Mr. Topps but jus' let me tyake it in jus' a minute It couldn't be any udder date, couldit, Mr. Topps? I tol' you I felt it in my bones.""I'm not sure as to how much your bones had to do wiv it, Mrs. B. Surely more credit is due tothe thorough scriptural study done by myself and my colleagues '

  "And God, presumably," said Irie, cutting him a sharp glare, going over to hold Hortense, whowas shaking with sobs209. Hortense kissed Irie on both cheeks and Irie smiled at the hot wetness.

  "Oh, Irie Ambrosia. I'm so glad you're here to share dis. I live dis century I came into dis worldin an cart-quake at de very beginning and I shall see the hevil and sinful pollution be hera sed in amighty rumbling46 cart-quake once more. Praise de Lord! It is as he promised after all. I knew I'dmake it. I got jus' seven years to wait. Ninety-two!" Hortense sucked her teeth contemptuously.

  "Cho! My grandmudder live to see one hundered-and-tree an de woman could skip rope till de dayshe keel over and drop col'. Me gwan make it. I make it dis far. My mudder suffer to get me herebut she knew de true church and she make heffort to push me out in de mos' difficult circumstancesso I could live to see that glory day.""Amen!""Oh, ha men Mr. Topps. Put on de complete suit of armour of God! Now, Irie Ambrosia,witness me as I say it: I'm gwan be dere. An' I'm gwan to be in Jamaica to see it. I'm going homethat year of our Lord. An' you can come dere too if you learn from me and listen. You wan comeJamaica in de year two thousand?"Irie let out a little scream and rushed to give her grandmother another hug.

  Hortense wiped her tears with her apron210. "Lord Jesus, I live dis century! Well and truly I livedis terrible century wid all its troubles and vexations. And tanks to you, Lord, I'm gwan a feel arumble at both ends."


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 slippers oiPzHV     
n. 拖鞋
参考例句:
  • a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
  • He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋,倒在床上。
2 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
3 den 5w9xk     
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室
参考例句:
  • There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
  • The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。
4 belly QyKzLi     
n.肚子,腹部;(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分,膛
参考例句:
  • The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
  • His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。
5 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
6 wig 1gRwR     
n.假发
参考例句:
  • The actress wore a black wig over her blond hair.那个女演员戴一顶黑色假发罩住自己的金黄色头发。
  • He disguised himself with a wig and false beard.他用假发和假胡须来乔装。
7 robust FXvx7     
adj.强壮的,强健的,粗野的,需要体力的,浓的
参考例句:
  • She is too tall and robust.她个子太高,身体太壮。
  • China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道,中国希望保持经济强势增长,以减少贫困和失业状况。
8 taut iUazb     
adj.拉紧的,绷紧的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • The bowstring is stretched taut.弓弦绷得很紧。
  • Scarlett's taut nerves almost cracked as a sudden noise sounded in the underbrush near them. 思嘉紧张的神经几乎一下绷裂了,因为她听见附近灌木丛中突然冒出的一个声音。
9 epidermis AZhzW     
n.表皮
参考例句:
  • The external layer of skin is called the epidermis.皮的外层叫表皮。
  • There is a neoplasm originating in his leg's epidermis.他的腿上有个生长在表皮上的肿瘤。
10 insistence A6qxB     
n.坚持;强调;坚决主张
参考例句:
  • They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
  • His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。
11 ace IzHzsp     
n.A牌;发球得分;佼佼者;adj.杰出的
参考例句:
  • A good negotiator always has more than one ace in the hole.谈判高手总有数张王牌在手。
  • He is an ace mechanic.He can repair any cars.他是一流的机械师,什么车都会修。
12 fore ri8xw     
adv.在前面;adj.先前的;在前部的;n.前部
参考例句:
  • Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
  • I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。
13 lyrics ko5zoz     
n.歌词
参考例句:
  • music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
  • The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。
14 bout Asbzz     
n.侵袭,发作;一次(阵,回);拳击等比赛
参考例句:
  • I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
  • That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。
15 majestic GAZxK     
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的
参考例句:
  • In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
  • He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。
16 feline nkdxi     
adj.猫科的
参考例句:
  • As a result,humans have learned to respect feline independence.结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。
  • The awakening was almost feline in its stealthiness.这种醒觉,简直和猫的脚步一样地轻悄。
17 secular GZmxM     
n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的
参考例句:
  • We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
  • Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。
18 par OK0xR     
n.标准,票面价值,平均数量;adj.票面的,平常的,标准的
参考例句:
  • Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
  • I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。
19 gaily lfPzC     
adv.欢乐地,高兴地
参考例句:
  • The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
  • She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。
20 tapestry 7qRy8     
n.挂毯,丰富多采的画面
参考例句:
  • How about this artistic tapestry and this cloisonne vase?这件艺术挂毯和这个景泰蓝花瓶怎么样?
  • The wall of my living room was hung with a tapestry.我的起居室的墙上挂着一块壁毯。
21 serene PD2zZ     
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的
参考例句:
  • He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
  • He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多,只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。
22 sardines sardines     
n. 沙丁鱼
参考例句:
  • The young of some kinds of herring are canned as sardines. 有些种类的鲱鱼幼鱼可制成罐头。
  • Sardines can be eaten fresh but are often preserved in tins. 沙丁鱼可以吃新鲜的,但常常是装听的。
23 texture kpmwQ     
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理
参考例句:
  • We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
  • Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。
24 hip 1dOxX     
n.臀部,髋;屋脊
参考例句:
  • The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
  • The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
25 hips f8c80f9a170ee6ab52ed1e87054f32d4     
abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯,耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 );[建筑学]屋脊;臀围(尺寸);臀部…的
参考例句:
  • She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
  • They wiggled their hips to the sound of pop music. 他们随着流行音乐的声音摇晃着臀部。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 aria geRyB     
n.独唱曲,咏叹调
参考例句:
  • This song takes off from a famous aria.这首歌仿效一首著名的咏叹调。
  • The opera was marred by an awkward aria.整部歌剧毁在咏叹调部分的不够熟练。
27 gritted 74cb239c0aa78b244d5279ebe4f72c2d     
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
参考例句:
  • He gritted his teeth and plunged into the cold weather. 他咬咬牙,冲向寒冷的天气。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The young policeman gritted his teeth and walked slowly towards the armed criminal. 年轻警官强忍住怒火,朝武装歹徒慢慢走过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 entirely 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。
29 triumphant JpQys     
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的
参考例句:
  • The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
  • There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。
30 clan Dq5zi     
n.氏族,部落,宗族,家族,宗派
参考例句:
  • She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
  • The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以,中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。
31 copper HZXyU     
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的
参考例句:
  • The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
  • Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
32 ambrosia Retyv     
n.神的食物;蜂食
参考例句:
  • Later Aphrodite herself brought ambrosia.后来阿芙洛狄特亲自带了仙肴。
  • People almost everywhere are buying it as if it were the biggest glass of ambrosia in the world for a nickel.几乎所有地方的人们都在买它,就好像它是世界上能用五分钱买到的最大瓶的美味。
33 wan np5yT     
(wide area network)广域网
参考例句:
  • The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。
34 perishable 9uKyk     
adj.(尤指食物)易腐的,易坏的
参考例句:
  • Many fresh foods are highly perishable.许多新鲜食物都极易腐败。
  • Fruits are perishable in transit.水果在运送时容易腐烂。
35 grimaced 5f3f78dc835e71266975d0c281dceae8     
v.扮鬼相,做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He grimaced at the bitter taste. 他一尝那苦味,做了个怪相。
  • She grimaced at the sight of all the work. 她一看到这么多的工作就皱起了眉头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 bin yR2yz     
n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件
参考例句:
  • He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
  • He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
37 scatter uDwzt     
vt.撒,驱散,散开;散布/播;vi.分散,消散
参考例句:
  • You pile everything up and scatter things around.你把东西乱堆乱放。
  • Small villages scatter at the foot of the mountain.村庄零零落落地散布在山脚下。
38 digits a2aacbd15b619a9b9e5581a6c33bd2b1     
n.数字( digit的名词复数 );手指,足趾
参考例句:
  • The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
39 catching cwVztY     
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。
40 veneer eLczw     
n.(墙上的)饰面,虚饰
参考例句:
  • For the first time her veneer of politeness began to crack.她温文尔雅的外表第一次露出破绽。
  • The panel had a veneer of gold and ivory.这木板上面镶饰了一层金和象牙。
41 continental Zazyk     
adj.大陆的,大陆性的,欧洲大陆的
参考例句:
  • A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
  • The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。
42 squinting e26a97f9ad01e6beee241ce6dd6633a2     
斜视( squint的现在分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看
参考例句:
  • "More company," he said, squinting in the sun. "那边来人了,"他在阳光中眨巴着眼睛说。
  • Squinting against the morning sun, Faulcon examined the boy carefully. 对着早晨的太阳斜起眼睛,富尔康仔细地打量着那个年轻人。
43 mirage LRqzB     
n.海市蜃楼,幻景
参考例句:
  • Perhaps we are all just chasing a mirage.也许我们都只是在追逐一个幻想。
  • Western liberalism was always a mirage.西方自由主义永远是一座海市蜃楼。
44 devouring c4424626bb8fc36704aee0e04e904dcf     
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光
参考例句:
  • The hungry boy was devouring his dinner. 那饥饿的孩子狼吞虎咽地吃饭。
  • He is devouring novel after novel. 他一味贪看小说。
45 crumbling Pyaxy     
adj.摇摇欲坠的
参考例句:
  • an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
  • The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。
46 rumbling 85a55a2bf439684a14a81139f0b36eb1     
n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词
参考例句:
  • The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
  • The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。
47 ward LhbwY     
n.守卫,监护,病房,行政区,由监护人或法院保护的人(尤指儿童);vt.守护,躲开
参考例句:
  • The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
  • During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时,我要点根火把,抵挡蚊虫。
48 posture q1gzk     
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势
参考例句:
  • The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
  • He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣,摆出一副打架的架势。
49 maroon kBvxb     
v.困住,使(人)处于孤独无助之境;n.逃亡黑奴;孤立的人;酱紫色,褐红色;adj.酱紫色的,褐红色的
参考例句:
  • Five couples were marooned in their caravans when the River Avon broke its banks.埃文河决堤的时候,有5对夫妇被困在了他们的房车里。
  • Robinson Crusoe has been marooned on a desert island for 26 years.鲁滨逊在荒岛上被困了26年。
50 undone JfJz6l     
a.未做完的,未完成的
参考例句:
  • He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。
51 askew rvczG     
adv.斜地;adj.歪斜的
参考例句:
  • His glasses had been knocked askew by the blow.他的眼镜一下子被打歪了。
  • Her hat was slightly askew.她的帽子戴得有点斜。
52 soothes 525545df1477f31c55d31f4c04ec6531     
v.安慰( soothe的第三人称单数 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
参考例句:
  • Fear grasps, love lets go. Fear rankles, love soothes. 恐惧使人痛心,爱使痛苦减轻。 来自互联网
  • His loe celebrates her victories and soothes her wounds. 他的爱庆祝她的胜利,也抚平她的创伤。 来自互联网
53 solitary 7FUyx     
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士
参考例句:
  • I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
  • The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
54 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
55 sniffed ccb6bd83c4e9592715e6230a90f76b72     
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说
参考例句:
  • When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣,吸了吸鼻子,擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
56 carnations 4fde4d136e97cb7bead4d352ae4578ed     
n.麝香石竹,康乃馨( carnation的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You should also include some carnations to emphasize your underlying meaning.\" 另外要配上石竹花来加重这涵意的力量。” 来自汉英文学 - 围城
  • Five men per ha. were required for rose production, 6 or 7 men for carnations. 种植玫瑰每公顷需5个男劳力,香石竹需6、7个男劳力。 来自辞典例句
57 meting eeeaa4c92e1112f32e8aa90d1c9b204b     
v.(对某人)施以,给予(处罚等)( mete的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The manager was strict and fair in meting out rewards and punishments. 经理赏罚严明。 来自互联网
  • Doris Crockford. Mr. Potter. I can't believe I'm meting you at last. 我叫桃瑞丝。韦斯莱。波特先生。我真不敢相信,总算见到您了。 来自互联网
58 interfering interfering     
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词
参考例句:
  • He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事!
  • I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预,让我自己拿主意。
59 civilized UwRzDg     
a.有教养的,文雅的
参考例句:
  • Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
  • rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为
60 improper b9txi     
adj.不适当的,不合适的,不正确的,不合礼仪的
参考例句:
  • Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
  • Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
61 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
62 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
63 spoke XryyC     
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。
64 translucent yniwY     
adj.半透明的;透明的
参考例句:
  • The building is roofed entirely with translucent corrugated plastic.这座建筑完全用半透明瓦楞塑料封顶。
  • A small difference between them will render the composite translucent.微小的差别,也会使复合材料变成半透明。
65 eyelids 86ece0ca18a95664f58bda5de252f4e7     
n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 );眼睛也不眨一下;不露声色;面不改色
参考例句:
  • She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了,眼睑开始往下垂。
  • Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
66 cuff 4YUzL     
n.袖口;手铐;护腕;vt.用手铐铐;上袖口
参考例句:
  • She hoped they wouldn't cuff her hands behind her back.她希望他们不要把她反铐起来。
  • Would you please draw together the snag in my cuff?请你把我袖口上的裂口缝上好吗?
67 consonants 6d7406e22bce454935f32e3837012573     
n.辅音,子音( consonant的名词复数 );辅音字母
参考例句:
  • Consonants are frequently assimilated to neighboring consonants. 辅音往往被其邻近的辅音同化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Vowels possess greater sonority than consonants. 元音比辅音响亮。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
68 imminent zc9z2     
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的
参考例句:
  • The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
  • The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。
69 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
70 beckoning fcbc3f0e8d09c5f29e4c5759847d03d6     
adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
  • He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
71 fully Gfuzd     
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。
72 crouching crouching     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
  • A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
73 scripture WZUx4     
n.经文,圣书,手稿;Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》,《圣经》中的一段
参考例句:
  • The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
  • They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。
74 prone 50bzu     
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的
参考例句:
  • Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
  • He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。
75 nostrils 23a65b62ec4d8a35d85125cdb1b4410e     
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
  • The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。
76 reverberated 3a97b3efd3d8e644bcdffd01038c6cdb     
回响,回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使反响,使回荡,使反射
参考例句:
  • Her voice reverberated around the hall. 她的声音在大厅里回荡。
  • The roar of guns reverberated in the valley. 炮声响彻山谷。
77 elongated 6a3aeff7c3bf903f4176b42850937718     
v.延长,加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Modigliani's women have strangely elongated faces. 莫迪里阿尼画中的妇女都长着奇长无比的脸。
  • A piece of rubber can be elongated by streching. 一块橡皮可以拉长。 来自《用法词典》
78 glazing efbb002113a7b05827a36cd681ab6eb5     
n.玻璃装配业;玻璃窗;上釉;上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 );上釉于,上光;(目光)变得呆滞无神
参考例句:
  • You should ensure against loss of heat by having double glazing. 你应装双层玻璃以免散热。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • You should ensure yourself against loss of heat by having double glazing. 你应该装双层玻璃防止热量散失。 来自《简明英汉词典》
79 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
80 creased b26d248c32bce741b8089934810d7e9f     
(使…)起折痕,弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 ); (皮肤)皱起,使起皱纹; 皱皱巴巴
参考例句:
  • You've creased my newspaper. 你把我的报纸弄皱了。
  • The bullet merely creased his shoulder. 子弹只不过擦破了他肩部的皮肤。
81 genre ygPxi     
n.(文学、艺术等的)类型,体裁,风格
参考例句:
  • My favorite music genre is blues.我最喜欢的音乐种类是布鲁斯音乐。
  • Superficially,this Shakespeare's work seems to fit into the same genre.从表面上看, 莎士比亚的这个剧本似乎属于同一类型。
82 freckled 1f563e624a978af5e5981f5e9d3a4687     
adj.雀斑;斑点;晒斑;(使)生雀斑v.雀斑,斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her face was freckled all over. 她的脸长满雀斑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Her freckled skin glowed with health again. 她长有雀斑的皮肤又泛出了健康的红光。 来自辞典例句
83 lobster w8Yzm     
n.龙虾,龙虾肉
参考例句:
  • The lobster is a shellfish.龙虾是水生贝壳动物。
  • I like lobster but it does not like me.我喜欢吃龙虾,但它不适宜于我的健康。
84 poised SlhzBU     
a.摆好姿势不动的
参考例句:
  • The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋,准备俯冲。
  • Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张,手悬在电话机上。
85 bellies 573b19215ed083b0e01ff1a54e4199b2     
n.肚子( belly的名词复数 );腹部;(物体的)圆形或凸起部份;腹部…形的
参考例句:
  • They crawled along on their bellies. 他们匍匐前进。
  • starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童
86 almighty dzhz1h     
adj.全能的,万能的;很大的,很强的
参考例句:
  • Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
  • It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。
87 envelop Momxd     
vt.包,封,遮盖;包围
参考例句:
  • All combine to form a layer of mist to envelop this region.织成一层烟雾又笼罩着这个地区。
  • The dust cloud will envelop the planet within weeks.产生的尘云将会笼罩整个星球长达几周。
88 joviality 00d80ae95f8022e5efb8faabf3370402     
n.快活
参考例句:
  • However, there is an air of joviality in the sugar camps. 然而炼糖营房里却充满着热气腾腾的欢乐气氛。 来自辞典例句
  • Immediately he noticed the joviality of Stane's manner. 他随即注意到史丹兴高采烈的神情。 来自辞典例句
89 vengeance wL6zs     
n.报复,报仇,复仇
参考例句:
  • He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
  • For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。
90 animation UMdyv     
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作
参考例句:
  • They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
  • The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。
91 shudder JEqy8     
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动
参考例句:
  • The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材,他浑身一阵战栗。
  • We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。
92 perked 6257cbe5d4a830c7288630659113146b     
(使)活跃( perk的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)增值; 使更有趣
参考例句:
  • The recent demand for houses has perked up the prices. 最近对住房的需求使房价上涨了。
  • You've perked up since this morning. 你今天上午精神就好多了。
93 Christians 28e6e30f94480962cc721493f76ca6c6     
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
  • His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
94 gatherings 400b026348cc2270e0046708acff2352     
聚集( gathering的名词复数 ); 收集; 采集; 搜集
参考例句:
  • His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
  • During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次,其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。
95 conceits 50b473c5317ed4d9da6788be9cdeb3a8     
高傲( conceit的名词复数 ); 自以为; 巧妙的词语; 别出心裁的比喻
参考例句:
  • He jotted down the conceits of his idle hours. 他记下了闲暇时想到的一些看法。
  • The most grotesque fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. 夜晚躺在床上的时候,各种离奇怪诞的幻想纷至沓来。
96 lascivious x92z9     
adj.淫荡的,好色的
参考例句:
  • I was there to protect her from the importunities of lascivious men.我在那里保护她,不受那些好色男子的纠缠不休。
  • In his old age Cato became lascivious and misconducted himself with a woman slave.到了晚年,卡托沉溺于女色,跟一个女奴私通。
97 physically iNix5     
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律
参考例句:
  • He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。
  • Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。
98 scowl HDNyX     
vi.(at)生气地皱眉,沉下脸,怒视;n.怒容
参考例句:
  • I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
  • The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色,清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。
99 consultation VZAyq     
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议
参考例句:
  • The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
  • The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
100 versus wi7wU     
prep.以…为对手,对;与…相比之下
参考例句:
  • The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
  • The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。
101 goodwill 4fuxm     
n.善意,亲善,信誉,声誉
参考例句:
  • His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
  • We paid £10,000 for the shop,and £2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店,两千英镑买下了它的信誉。
102 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
103 adorned 1e50de930eb057fcf0ac85ca485114c8     
[计]被修饰的
参考例句:
  • The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
  • And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。
104 strapped ec484d13545e19c0939d46e2d1eb24bc     
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》
105 flipped 5bef9da31993fe26a832c7d4b9630147     
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥
参考例句:
  • The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转,撞毁了。
  • The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。
106 scooped a4cb36a9a46ab2830b09e95772d85c96     
v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • They scooped the other newspapers by revealing the matter. 他们抢先报道了这件事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块,在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
107 defensive buszxy     
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的
参考例句:
  • Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题,使她警觉起来。
  • The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。
108 atone EeKyT     
v.赎罪,补偿
参考例句:
  • He promised to atone for his crime.他承诺要赎自己的罪。
  • Blood must atone for blood.血债要用血来还。
109 misused 8eaf65262a752e371adfb992201c1caf     
v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 );把…派作不正当的用途;虐待;滥用
参考例句:
  • He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
110 patois DLQx1     
n.方言;混合语
参考例句:
  • In France patois was spoken in rural,less developed regions.在法国,欠发达的农村地区说方言。
  • A substantial proportion of the population speak a French-based patois.人口中有一大部分说以法语为基础的混合语。
111 revving bfb383654012624060e6af7a2c5dfba0     
v.(使)加速( rev的现在分词 );(数量、活动等)激增;(使发动机)快速旋转;(使)活跃起来
参考例句:
  • The team are revving up for next week's game. 这个队伍对下周的比赛跃跃欲试。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Since the introduction of new techniques, the production has been revving up. 自从新技术的引进,产量一直都在增加。 来自互联网
112 growls 6ffc5e073aa0722568674220be53a9ea     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • The dog growls at me. 狗向我狂吠。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The loudest growls have echoed around emerging markets and commodities. 熊嚎之声响彻新兴的市场与商品。 来自互联网
113 biding 83fef494bb1c4bd2f64e5e274888d8c5     
v.等待,停留( bide的现在分词 );居住;(过去式用bided)等待;面临
参考例句:
  • He was biding his time. 他正在等待时机。 来自辞典例句
  • Applications:used in carbide alloy, diamond tools, biding admixture, high-temperature alloy, rechargeable cell. 用作硬质合金,磁性材料,金刚石工具,高温合金,可充电池等。 来自互联网
114 buck ESky8     
n.雄鹿,雄兔;v.马离地跳跃
参考例句:
  • The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
  • The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。
115 spouting 7d5ba6391a70f183d6f0e45b0bbebb98     
n.水落管系统v.(指液体)喷出( spout的现在分词 );滔滔不绝地讲;喋喋不休地说;喷水
参考例句:
  • He's always spouting off about the behaviour of young people today. 他总是没完没了地数落如今年轻人的行为。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Blood was spouting from the deep cut in his arm. 血从他胳膊上深深的伤口里涌出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
116 atheism vvVzU     
n.无神论,不信神
参考例句:
  • Atheism is the opinion that there is no God.无神论是认为不存在上帝的看法。
  • Atheism is a hot topic.无神论是个热门话题。
117 vegetarian 7KGzY     
n.素食者;adj.素食的
参考例句:
  • She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
  • I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。
118 vegetarians 92ca2254bb61eaa208608083177e4ed9     
n.吃素的人( vegetarian的名词复数 );素食者;素食主义者;食草动物
参考例句:
  • Vegetarians are no longer dismissed as cranks. 素食者不再被视为有怪癖的人。
  • Vegetarians believe that eating meat is bad karma. 素食者认为吃肉食是造恶业。
119 scurry kDkz1     
vi.急匆匆地走;使急赶;催促;n.快步急跑,疾走;仓皇奔跑声;骤雨,骤雪;短距离赛马
参考例句:
  • I jumped on the sofa after I saw a mouse scurry by.看到一只老鼠匆匆路过,我从沙发上跳了起来。
  • There was a great scurry for bargains.大家急忙着去抢购特价品。
120 crates crates     
n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱
参考例句:
  • We were using crates as seats. 我们用大木箱作为座位。
  • Thousands of crates compacted in a warehouse. 数以千计的板条箱堆放在仓库里。
121 cramming 72a5eb07f207b2ce280314cd162588b7     
n.塞满,填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 );填塞;塞满;(为考试而)死记硬背功课
参考例句:
  • Being hungry for the whole morning, I couldn't help cramming myself. 我饿了一上午,禁不住狼吞虎咽了起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She's cramming for her history exam. 她考历史之前临时抱佛脚。 来自《简明英汉词典》
122 decided lvqzZd     
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。
123 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
124 borough EdRyS     
n.享有自治权的市镇;(英)自治市镇
参考例句:
  • He was slated for borough president.他被提名做自治区主席。
  • That's what happened to Harry Barritt of London's Bromley borough.住在伦敦的布罗姆利自治市的哈里.巴里特就经历了此事。
125 tolls 688e46effdf049725c7b7ccff16b14f3     
(缓慢而有规律的)钟声( toll的名词复数 ); 通行费; 损耗; (战争、灾难等造成的)毁坏
参考例句:
  • A man collected tolls at the gateway. 一个人在大门口收通行费。
  • The long-distance call tolls amount to quite a sum. 长途电话费数目相当可观。
126 intrigued 7acc2a75074482e2b408c60187e27c73     
adj.好奇的,被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式);激起…的兴趣或好奇心;“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • You've really intrigued me—tell me more! 你说的真有意思—再给我讲一些吧!
  • He was intrigued by her story. 他被她的故事迷住了。
127 strictly GtNwe     
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地
参考例句:
  • His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
  • The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。
128 precipice NuNyW     
n.悬崖,危急的处境
参考例句:
  • The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.那间小屋有一半悬在峭壁边上。
  • A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.在这悬崖上稍一疏忽就会使人丧生。
129 dwarfs a9ddd2c1a88a74fc7bd6a9a0d16c2817     
n.侏儒,矮子(dwarf的复数形式)vt.(使)显得矮小(dwarf的第三人称单数形式)
参考例句:
  • Shakespeare dwarfs other dramatists. 莎士比亚使其他剧作家相形见绌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The new building dwarfs all the other buildings in the town. 新大楼使城里所有其他建筑物都显得矮小了。 来自辞典例句
130 ego 7jtzw     
n.自我,自己,自尊
参考例句:
  • He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
  • She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。
131 cosmos pn2yT     
n.宇宙;秩序,和谐
参考例句:
  • Our world is but a small part of the cosmos.我们的世界仅仅是宇宙的一小部分而已。
  • Is there any other intelligent life elsewhere in the cosmos?在宇宙的其他星球上还存在别的有智慧的生物吗?
132 testament yyEzf     
n.遗嘱;证明
参考例句:
  • This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
  • It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明,编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。
133 sublime xhVyW     
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的
参考例句:
  • We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
  • Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会,就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。
134 lurking 332fb85b4d0f64d0e0d1ef0d34ebcbe7     
潜在
参考例句:
  • Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的,想干什么?
  • There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
135 rebuke 5Akz0     
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise
参考例句:
  • He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
  • Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。
136 mandate sj9yz     
n.托管地;命令,指示
参考例句:
  • The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
  • The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。
137 concession LXryY     
n.让步,妥协;特许(权)
参考例句:
  • We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
  • That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
138 bellowing daf35d531c41de75017204c30dff5cac     
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的现在分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫
参考例句:
  • We could hear he was bellowing commands to his troops. 我们听见他正向他的兵士大声发布命令。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He disguised these feelings under an enormous bellowing and hurraying. 他用大声吼叫和喝采掩饰着这些感情。 来自辞典例句
139 relish wBkzs     
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味
参考例句:
  • I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
  • I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。
140 zealous 0MOzS     
adj.狂热的,热心的
参考例句:
  • She made zealous efforts to clean up the classroom.她非常热心地努力清扫教室。
  • She is a zealous supporter of our cause.她是我们事业的热心支持者。
141 repent 1CIyT     
v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔
参考例句:
  • He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
  • Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。
142 lode I8tzk     
n.矿脉
参考例句:
  • We discovered the rich lode bellied out.我们发现丰富的矿脉突然增大了。
  • A lode of gold was discovered。他们发现了一处黄金矿藏。
143 perversity D3kzJ     
n.任性;刚愎自用
参考例句:
  • She's marrying him out of sheer perversity.她嫁给他纯粹是任性。
  • The best of us have a spice of perversity in us.在我们最出色的人身上都有任性的一面。
144 proffered 30a424e11e8c2d520c7372bd6415ad07     
v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身,伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句
145 essentially nntxw     
adv.本质上,实质上,基本上
参考例句:
  • Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
  • She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。
146 exegesis v77yi     
n.注释,解释
参考例句:
  • An allegorical exegesis of scripture supported these views.一个寓言圣经注释支持这些观点。
  • Within this context,Fraser is capable of exegesis that goes beyond the obvious.在这一背景下,弗雷泽能够作些富有新意的诠释。
147 dire llUz9     
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的
参考例句:
  • There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
  • We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了,但是我们渡过了困难。
148 thaws 4f4632289b8d9affd88e5c264fdbc46c     
n.(足以解冻的)暖和天气( thaw的名词复数 );(敌对国家之间)关系缓和v.(气候)解冻( thaw的第三人称单数 );(态度、感情等)缓和;(冰、雪及冷冻食物)溶化;软化
参考例句:
  • The sun at noon thaws the ice on the road. 中午的阳光很快把路上的冰融化了。 来自辞典例句
  • It thaws in March here. 在此地化雪的季节是三月。 来自辞典例句
149 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
150 bunking b5a232c5d1c1e6be90eb9bb285b6f981     
v.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的现在分词 );空话,废话
参考例句:
  • A tacit friendship had developed between them since they had been bunking together. 他们俩自从睡在一个帐篷里以来,彼此之间已悄然结下了友谊。 来自辞典例句
  • Bunking the tube was easy on the outward journey. 外出旅游期间,睡在睡袋里是件很容易的事情。 来自互联网
151 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话
参考例句:
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
152 trek 9m8wi     
vi.作长途艰辛的旅行;n.长途艰苦的旅行
参考例句:
  • We often go pony-trek in the summer.夏季我们经常骑马旅行。
  • It took us the whole day to trek across the rocky terrain.我们花了一整天的时间艰难地穿过那片遍布岩石的地带。
153 tepid Ggkyl     
adj.微温的,温热的,不太热心的
参考例句:
  • She bent her mouth to the tap and drank the tepid water.她把嘴伸到水龙头底下去喝那微温的水。
  • Her feet firmly planted on the tepid rough brick of the floor.她一双脚稳固地立在微温而粗糙的砖地上。
154 maelstrom 38mzJ     
n.大乱动;大漩涡
参考例句:
  • Inside,she was a maelstrom of churning emotions.她心中的情感似波涛汹涌,起伏不定。
  • The anxious person has the spirit like a maelstrom.焦虑的人的精神世界就像一个大漩涡。
155 extremity tlgxq     
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度
参考例句:
  • I hope you will help them in their extremity.我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。
  • What shall we do in this extremity?在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢?
156 fleetingly 1e8e5924a703d294803ae899dba3651b     
adv.飞快地,疾驰地
参考例句:
  • The quarks and gluons indeed break out of confinement and behave collectively, if only fleetingly. 夸克与胶子确实打破牢笼而表现出集体行为,虽然这种状态转瞬即逝。 来自互联网
157 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
158 cocooned cdac0c6af8a5260ddcdbf56d7280422e     
v.茧,蚕茧( cocoon的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The doctors cocooned the patient in blankets. 医生们将病人紧包在毯子里。 来自辞典例句
  • I cocooned in my own kingdom. 我完全沉迷在我自己的王国中。 来自辞典例句
159 hoarded fe2d6b65d7be4a89a7f38b012b9a0b1b     
v.积蓄并储藏(某物)( hoard的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • It owned great properties and often hoarded huge treasures. 它拥有庞大的财产,同时往往窖藏巨额的财宝。 来自辞典例句
  • Sylvia among them, good-naturedly applaud so much long-hoarded treasure of useless knowing. 西尔维亚也在他们中间,为那些长期珍藏的无用知识,友好地、起劲地鼓掌。 来自互联网
160 rubble 8XjxP     
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。
161 maniacally maniacally     
参考例句:
  • He was maniacally obsessed with jealousy. 强烈的嫉妒心令他疯狂。 来自互联网
162 anatomy Cwgzh     
n.解剖学,解剖;功能,结构,组织
参考例句:
  • He found out a great deal about the anatomy of animals.在动物解剖学方面,他有过许多发现。
  • The hurricane's anatomy was powerful and complex.对飓风的剖析是一项庞大而复杂的工作。
163 inverse GR6zs     
adj.相反的,倒转的,反转的;n.相反之物;v.倒转
参考例句:
  • Evil is the inverse of good.恶是善的反面。
  • When the direct approach failed he tried the inverse.当直接方法失败时,他尝试相反的做法。
164 correlation Rogzg     
n.相互关系,相关,关连
参考例句:
  • The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
  • A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。
165 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
参考例句:
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
166 melancholy t7rz8     
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的
参考例句:
  • All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
  • He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
167 presumptuously 3781745ffc2c927acee7a2b43eb220ee     
adv.自以为是地,专横地,冒失地
参考例句:
  • He shall presumptuously contest an inch with me. 他敢和我分庭抗礼,真是胆大妄为。 来自辞典例句
  • And all the people shall hear, and fear, and presumptuously. 13众百姓都要听见害怕,不再擅敢行事。 来自互联网
168 fictional ckEx0     
adj.小说的,虚构的
参考例句:
  • The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
  • The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。
169 lasting IpCz02     
adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持
参考例句:
  • The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
  • We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。
170 retrieving 4eccedb9b112cd8927306f44cb2dd257     
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)
参考例句:
  • Ignoring all, he searches the ground carefully for any cigarette-end worth retrieving. 没管打锣的说了什么,他留神的在地上找,看有没有值得拾起来的烟头儿。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • Retrieving the nodules from these great depths is no easy task. 从这样的海底深渊中取回结核可不是容易的事情。 来自辞典例句
171 fabric 3hezG     
n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织
参考例句:
  • The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
  • I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
172 seep rDSzK     
v.渗出,渗漏;n.渗漏,小泉,水(油)坑
参考例句:
  • My anger began to seep away.我的怒火开始消下去了。
  • If meteoric water does not evaporate or run overland,it may seep directly into the ground.如果雨水不从陆地蒸发和流走的话,就可能直接渗入地下。
173 neolithic 9Gmx7     
adj.新石器时代的
参考例句:
  • Cattle were first domesticated in Neolithic times.新石器时代有人开始驯养牛。
  • The monument was Stone Age or Neolithic.该纪念碑是属于石器时代或新石器时代的。
174 pact ZKUxa     
n.合同,条约,公约,协定
参考例句:
  • The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
  • The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。
175 nosy wR0zK     
adj.鼻子大的,好管闲事的,爱追问的;n.大鼻者
参考例句:
  • Our nosy neighbours are always looking in through our windows.好管闲事的邻居总是从我们的窗口望进来。
  • My landlord is so nosy.He comes by twice a month to inspect my apartment.我的房东很烦人,他每个月都要到我公寓视察两次。
176 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
177 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
178 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
179 therapeutic sI8zL     
adj.治疗的,起治疗作用的;对身心健康有益的
参考例句:
  • Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
  • When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候,音乐有治疗效力。
180 recalcitrant 7SKzJ     
adj.倔强的
参考例句:
  • The University suspended the most recalcitrant demonstraters.这所大学把几个反抗性最强的示威者开除了。
  • Donkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant animals.驴被认为是最倔强的牲畜。
181 supervision hr6wv     
n.监督,管理
参考例句:
  • The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
  • The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。
182 dictated aa4dc65f69c81352fa034c36d66908ec     
v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 );口授;支配;摆布
参考例句:
  • He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
  • No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
183 dictate fvGxN     
v.口授;(使)听写;指令,指示,命令
参考例句:
  • It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
  • What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令?
184 tangled e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e     
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了,我梳不动。
  • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
185 unicorn Ak7wK     
n.(传说中的)独角兽
参考例句:
  • The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
  • I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。
186 intrude Lakzv     
vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰
参考例句:
  • I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
  • I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。
187 lighter 5pPzPR     
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级
参考例句:
  • The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色,色调明朗了一些。
  • The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。
188 scruffier bcba2040df816596e0c1c5b64e56063b     
adj.肮脏的,不整洁的( scruffy的比较级 )
参考例句:
189 vibration nLDza     
n.颤动,振动;摆动
参考例句:
  • There is so much vibration on a ship that one cannot write.船上的震动大得使人无法书写。
  • The vibration of the window woke me up.窗子的震动把我惊醒了。
190 perch 5u1yp     
n.栖木,高位,杆;v.栖息,就位,位于
参考例句:
  • The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
  • Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。
191 apparently tMmyQ     
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。
192 anarchist Ww4zk     
n.无政府主义者
参考例句:
  • You must be an anarchist at heart.你在心底肯定是个无政府主义者。
  • I did my best to comfort them and assure them I was not an anarchist.我尽量安抚他们并让它们明白我并不是一个无政府主义者。
193 niche XGjxH     
n.壁龛;合适的职务(环境、位置等)
参考例句:
  • Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
  • The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。
194 dedicated duHzy2     
adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的
参考例句:
  • He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
  • His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。
195 whim 2gywE     
n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想
参考例句:
  • I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
  • He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。
196 democrats 655beefefdcaf76097d489a3ff245f76     
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
  • The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
197 overhaul yKGxy     
v./n.大修,仔细检查
参考例句:
  • Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
  • It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知,铁路系统需要大检修。
198 bloody kWHza     
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染
参考例句:
  • He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
  • He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。
199 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
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》
200 brink OWazM     
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿
参考例句:
  • The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
  • The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。
201 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
202 advert eVLzj     
vi.注意,留意,言及;n.广告
参考例句:
  • The advert featured a dolphin swimming around a goldfish bowl.该广告的內容为一条在金鱼缸里游动的海豚。
  • Please advert to the contents below.I believe you won't be disappointed.敬请留意后面的内容。相信您一定不会失望的。
203 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
204 confirmation ZYMya     
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。
205 wincing 377203086ce3e7442c3f6574a3b9c0c7     
赶紧避开,畏缩( wince的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • She switched on the light, wincing at the sudden brightness. 她打开了灯,突如其来的强烈光线刺得她不敢睜眼。
  • "I will take anything," he said, relieved, and wincing under reproof. “我什么事都愿意做,"他说,松了一口气,缩着头等着挨骂。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
206 gritting 51dd4f54ec0b8d94ce6d9df0cead2d3a     
v.以沙砾覆盖(某物),撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 );咬紧牙关
参考例句:
  • Gritting my teeth, I did my best to stifle one or two remarks. 我咬紧牙关,硬是吞回了几句话。 来自辞典例句
  • It takes gritting your teeth. It takes discipline. 你得咬紧牙关,你得有严格的纪律。 来自辞典例句
207 armour gySzuh     
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队
参考例句:
  • His body was encased in shining armour.他全身披着明晃晃的甲胄。
  • Bulletproof cars sheathed in armour.防弹车护有装甲。
208 millennium x7DzO     
n.一千年,千禧年;太平盛世
参考例句:
  • The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
  • We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。
209 sobs d4349f86cad43cb1a5579b1ef269d0cb     
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
  • She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
210 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。


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