Farid eased the Land Cruiser up the driveway of a big house in Wazir Akbar Khan. He parked in the shadows of willow1 trees that spilled over the walls of the compound located on Street 15, Sarak-e-Mehmana, Street of the Guests. He killed the engine and we sat for a minute, listening to the tink-tink of the engine cooling off, neither one of us saying anything. Farid shifted on his seat and toyed with the keys still hanging from the ignition switch. I could tell he was readying himself to tell me something.
"I guess I'll wait in the car for you,?he said finally, his tone a little apologetic. He wouldn't look at me. "This is your Business now. I--?
I patted his arm. "You've done much more than I've paid you for. I don't expect you to go with me.?But I wished I didn't have to go in alone. Despite what I had learned about Baba, I wished he were standing3 alongside me now. Baba would have busted4 through the front doors and demanded to be taken to the man in charge, piss on the beard of anyone who stood in his way. But Baba was long dead, buried in the Afghan section of a little cemetery5 in Hayward. Just last month, Soraya and I had placed a bouquet6 of daisies and freesias beside his headstone. I was on my own.
I stepped out of the car and walked to the tall, wooden front gates of the house. I rang the bell but no buzz came--still no electricity--and I had to pound on the doors. A moment later, I heard terse7 voices from the other side and a pair of men toting Kalash nikovs answered the door.
I glanced at Farid sitting in the car and mouthed, I'll be back, not so sure at all that I would be.
The armed men frisked me head to toe, patted my legs, felt my crotch. One of them said something in Pashtu and they both chuckled8. We stepped through the front gates. The two guards escorted me across a well-manicured lawn, past a row of geraniums and stubby bushes lined along the wall. An old hand-pump water well stood at the far end of the yard. I remembered how Kaka Homayoun's house in Jalalabad had had a water well like that--the twins, Fazila and Karima, and I used to drop pebbles9 in it, listen for the plink.
We climbed a few steps and entered a large, sparsely10 decorated house. We crossed the foyer--a large Afghan flag draped one of the walls--and the men took me upstairs to a room with twin mint green sofas and a big-screen TV in the far corner. A prayer rug showing a slightly oblong Mecca was nailed to one of the walls. The older of the two men motioned toward the sofa with the barrel of his weapon. I sat down. They left the room.
I crossed my legs. Uncrossed them. Sat with my sweaty hands on my knees. Did that make me look nervous? I clasped them together, decided11 that was worse and just crossed my arms on my chest. Blood thudded in my temples. I felt utterly12 alone. Thoughts were flying around in my head, but I didn't want to think at all, because a sober part of me knew that what I had managed to get myself into was insanity13. I was thousands of miles from my wife, sitting in a room that felt like a holding cell, waiting for a man I had seen murder two people that same day. It was insanity. Worse yet, it was irresponsible. There was a very realistic chance that I was going to render Soraya a biwa, a widow, at the age of thirty-six. This isn't you, Amir, part of me said. You're gutless. It's how you were made. And that's not such a bad thing because your saving grace is that you've never lied to yourself about it. Not about that. Nothing wrong with cowardice14 as long as it comes with prudence15. But when a coward stops remembering who he is... God help him.
There was a Coffee table by the sofa. The base was X-shaped, walnut-sized brass16 balls studding the ring where the metallic17 legs crossed. I'd seen a table like that before. Where? And then it came to me: at the crowded tea shop in Peshawar, that night I'd gone for a walk. On the table sat a bowl of red grapes. I plucked one and tossed it in my mouth. I had to preoccupy18 myself with something, anything, to silence the voice in my head. The grape was sweet. I popped another one in, unaware19 that it would be the last bit of solid food I would eat for a long time.
The door opened and the two armed men returned, between them the tall Talib in white, still wearing his dark John Lennon glasses, looking like some broad-shouldered, NewAge mystic guru.
He took a seat across from me and lowered his hands on the armrests. For a long time, he said nothing. Just sat there, watching me, one hand drumming the upholstery, the other twirling turquoise20 blue prayer beads21. He wore a black vest over the white shirt now, and a gold watch. I saw a splotch of dried blood on his left sleeve. I found it morbidly22 fascinating that he hadn't changed clothes after the executions earlier that day.
Periodically, his free hand floated up and his thick fingers batted at something in the air. They made slow stroking motions, up and down, side to side, as if he were caressing23 an invisible pet. One of his sleeves retracted24 and I saw marks on his forearm--I'd seen those same tracks on Homeless people living in grimy alleys25 in San Francisco.
His skin was much paler than the other two men's, almost sallow, and a crop of tiny sweat beads gleamed on his forehead just below the edge of his black turban. His beard, chest-length like the others, was lighter26 in color too.
"Salaam.?
"You can do away with that now, you know,?he said.
"Pardon??
He turned his palm to one of the armed men and motioned. Rrrriiiip. Suddenly my cheeks were stinging and the guard was tossing my beard up and down in his hand, giggling28. The Talib grinned. "One of the better ones I've seen in a while. But it really is so much better this way, I think. Don't you??He twirled his fingers, snapped them, fist opening and closing. "So, _Inshallah_, you enjoyed the show today??
"Was that what it was??I said, rubbing my cheeks, hoping my voice didn't betray the explosion of terror I felt inside.
"Public justice is the greatest kind of show, my brother. Drama. Suspense29. And, best of all, education en masse.?He snapped his fingers. The younger of the two guards lit him a cigarette. The Talib laughed. Mumbled30 to himself. His hands were shaking and he almost dropped the cigarette. "But you want a real show, you should have been with me in Mazar. August 1998, that was.?
"I'm sorry??
"We left them out for the dogs, you know.?
I saw what he was getting at.
He stood up, paced around the sofa once, twice. Sat down again. He spoke31 rapidly. "Door to door we went, calling for the men and the boys. We'd shoot them right there in front of their families. Let them see. Let them remember who they were, where they belonged.?He was almost panting now. "Sometimes, we broke down their doors and went inside their Homes. And... I'd... I'd sweep the barrel of my machine gun around the room and fire and fire until the smoke blinded me.?He leaned toward me, like a man about to share a great secret. "You don't know the meaning of the word ‘liberating?until you've done that, stood in a roomful of targets, let the bullets fly, free of guilt32 and remorse33, knowing you are virtuous34, good, and decent. Knowing you're doing God's work. It's breathtaking.?He kissed the prayer beads, tilted35 his head. "You remember that, Javid??
"Yes, Agha sahib,?the younger of the guards replied. "How could I forget??
I had read about the Hazara massacre36 in Mazar-i-Sharif in the papers. It had happened just after the Taliban took over Mazar, one of the last cities to fall. I remembered Soraya handing me the article over breakfast, her face bloodless.
"Door-to-door. We only rested for food and prayer,?the Talib said. He said it fondly, like a man telling of a great party he'd attended. "We left the bodies in the streets, and if their families tried to sneak37 out to drag them back into their Homes, we'd shoot them too. We left them in the streets for days. We left them for the dogs. Dog meat for dogs.?He crushed his cigarette. Rubbed his eyes with tremulous hands. "You come from America??
"Yes.?
"How is that whore these days??
I had a sudden urge to urinate. I prayed it would pass. "I'm looking for a boy.?
"Isn't everyone??he said. The men with the Kalashnikovs laughed. Their teeth were stained green with naswar.
"I understand he is here, with you,?I said. "His name is Sohrab.?
"I'll ask you something: What are you doing with that whore? Why aren't you here, with your Muslim brothers, serving your country??
"I've been away a long time,?was all I could think of saying. My head felt so hot. I pressed my knees together, held my bladder.
The Talib turned to the two men standing by the door. "That's an answer??he asked them.
"Nay38, Agha sahib,?they said in unison39, smiling.
He turned his eyes to me. Shrugged40. "Not an answer, they say.?He took a drag of his cigarette. "There are those in my circle who believe that abandoning watan when it needs you the most is the same as treason. I could have you arrested for treason, have you shot for it even. Does that frighten you??
"I'm only here for the boy.?
"Does that frighten you??
"Yes.?
"It should,?he said. He leaned back in the sofa. Crushed the cigarette.
I thought about Soraya. It calmed me. I thought of her sickleshaped birthmark, the elegant curve of her neck, her luminous41 eyes. I thought of our wedding night, gazing at each other's reflection in the mirror under the green veil, and how her cheeks blushed when I whispered that I loved her. I remembered the two of us dancing to an old Afghan song, round and round, everyone watching and clapping, the world a blur42 of flowers, dresses, tuxedos43, and smiling faces.
The Talib was saying something.
"Pardon??
"I said would you like to see him? Would you like to see my boy??His upper lip curled up in a sneer44 when he said those last two words.
"Yes.?
The guard left the room. I heard the creak of a door swinging open. Heard the guard say something in Pashtu, in a hard voice. Then, footfalls, and the jingle45 of bells with each step. It reminded me of the Monkey Man Hassan and I used to chase down in Shar e-Nau. We used to pay him a rupia of our allowance for a dance. The bell around his monkey's neck had made that same jingling46 sound.
Then the door opened and the guard walked in. He carried a stereo--a boom box--on his shoulder. Behind him, a boy dressed in a loose, sapphire47 blue pirhan-tumban followed.
The resemblance was breathtaking. Disorienting. Rahim Khan's Polaroid hadn't done justice to it.
The boy had his father's round moon face, his pointy stub of a chin, his twisted, seashell ears, and the same slight frame. It was the Chinese doll face of my childhood, the face peering above fanned-out playing cards all those winter days, the face behind the mosquito net when we slept on the roof of my father's house in the summer. His head was shaved, his eyes darkened with mascara, and his cheeks glowed with an unnatural48 red. When he stopped in the middle of the room, the bells strapped49 around his anklets stopped jingling. His eyes fell on me. Lingered. Then he looked away. Looked down at his naked feet.
One of the guards pressed a button and Pashtu music filled the room. Tabla, harmonium, the whine50 of a dil-roba. I guessed music wasn't sinful as long as it played to Taliban ears. The three men began to clap.
"Wah wah! _Mashallah_!?they cheered.
Sohrab raised his arms and turned slowly. He stood on tiptoes, spun51 gracefully52, dipped to his knees, straightened, and spun again. His little hands swiveled at the wrists, his fingers snapped, and his head swung side to side like a pendulum53. His feet pounded the floor, the bells jingling in perfect harmony with the beat of the tabla. He kept his eyes closed.
"_Mashallah_!?they cheered. "Shahbas! Bravo!?The two guards whistled and laughed. The Talib in white was tilting54 his head back and forth55 with the music, his mouth half-open in a leer.
Sohrab danced in a circle, eyes closed, danced until the music stopped. The bells jingled56 one final time when he stomped57 his foot with the song's last note. He froze in midspin.
"Bia, bia, my boy,?the Talib said, calling Sohrab to him. Sohrab went to him, head down, stood between his thighs58. The Talib wrapped his arms around the boy. "How talented he is, nay, my Hazara boy!?he said. His hands slid down the child's back, then up, felt under his armpits. One of the guards elbowed the other and snickered. The Talib told them to leave us alone.
"Yes, Agha sahib,?they said as they exited.
The Talib spun the boy around so he faced me. He locked his arms around Sohrab's belly59, rested his chin on the boy's shoulder. Sohrab looked down at his feet, but kept stealing shy, furtive60 glances at me. The man's hand slid up and down the boy's belly. Up and down, slowly, gently.
"I've been wondering,?the Talib said, his bloodshot eyes peering at me over Sohrab's shoulder. "Whatever happened to old Babalu, anyway??
The question hit me like a hammer between the eyes. I felt the color drain from my face. My legs went cold. Numb61.
He laughed. "What did you think? That you'd put on a fake beard and I wouldn't recognize you? Here's something I'll bet you never knew about me: I never forget a face. Not ever.?He brushed his lips against Sohrab's ear, kept his eye on me. "I heard your father died. Tsk-tsk. I always did want to take him on. Looks like I'll have to settle for his weakling of a son.?Then he took off his sunglasses and locked his bloodshot blue eyes on mine.
I tried to take a breath and couldn't. I tried to blink and couldn't. The moment felt surreal--no, not surreal, absurd--it had knocked the breath out of me, brought the world around me to a standstill. My face was burning. What was the old saying about the bad penny? My past was like that, always turning up. His name rose from the deep and I didn't want to say it, as if uttering it might conjure62 him. But he was already here, in the flesh, sitting less than ten feet from me, after all these years. His name escaped my lips: "Assef.?
"Ainir jan.?
"What are you doing here??I said, knowing how utterly foolish the question sounded, yet unable to think of anything else to say.
"Me??Assef arched an eyebrow63 "I'm in my element. The question is what are you doing here??
"I already told you,?I said. My voice was trembling. I wished it wouldn't do that, wished my flesh wasn't shrinking against my bones.
"The boy??
"Yes.?
"Why??
"I'll pay you for him,?I said. "I can have money wired.?
"Money??Assef said. He tittered. "Have you ever heard of Rockingham? Western Australia, a slice of heaven. You should see it, miles and miles of beach. Green water, blue skies. My parents live there, in a beachfront villa64. There's a golf course behind the villa and a little lake. Father plays golf every day. Mother, she prefers tennis--Father says she has a wicked backhand. They own an Afghan restaurant and two jewelry65 stores; both Businesses are doing spectacularly.?He plucked a red grape. Put it, lovingly, in Sohrab's mouth. "So if I need money, I'll have them wire it to me.?He kissed the side of Sohrab's neck. The boy flinched66 a little, closed his eyes again. "Besides, I didn't fight the Shorawi for money. Didn't join the Taliban for money either. Do you want to know why I joined them??
My lips had gone dry. I licked them and found my tongue had dried too.
"Are you thirsty??Assef said, smirking67.
"I think you're thirsty.?
"I'm fine,?I said. The truth was, the room felt too hot suddenly--sweat was bursting from my pores, prickling my skin. And was this really happening? Was I really sitting across from Assef?
"As you wish,?he said. "Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, how I joined the Taliban. Well, as you may remember, I wasn't much of a religious type. But one day I had an epiphany. I had it in jail. Do you want to hear??
I said nothing.
"Good. I'll tell you,?he said. "I spent some time in jail, at Poleh-Charkhi, just after Babrak Karmal took over in 1980. I ended up there one night, when a group of Parc hami soldiers marched into our house and ordered my father and me at gun point to follow them. The bastards68 didn't give a reason, and they wouldn't answer my mother's questions. Not that it was a mys tery; everyone knew the communists had no class. They came from poor families with no name. The same dogs who weren't fit to lick my shoes before the Shorawi came were now ordering me at gunpoint, Parchami flag on their lapels, making their little point about the fall of the bourgeoisie and acting69 like they were the ones with class. It was happening all over: Round up the rich, throw them in jail, make an example for the comrades.
"Anyway, we were crammed70 in groups of six in these tiny cells each the size of a refrigerator. Every night the commandant, a haif-Hazara, half-Uzbek thing who smelled like a rotting donkey, would have one of the prisoners dragged out of the cell and he'd beat him until sweat poured from his fat face. Then he'd light a cigarette, crack his joints71, and leave. The next night, he'd pick someone else. One night, he picked me. It couldn't have come at a worse time. I'd been peeing blood for three days. Kidney stones. And if you've never had one, believe me when I say it's the worst imaginable pain. My mother used to get them too, and I remember she told me once she'd rather give birth than pass a kidney stone. Anyway, what could I do? They dragged me out and he started kick ing me. He had knee-high boots with steel toes that he wore every night for his little kicking game, and he used them on me. I was screaming and screaming and he kept kicking me and then, suddenly, he kicked me on the left kidney and the stone passed. Just like that! Oh, the relief!?Assef laughed. "And I yelled ‘Allah-u akbar?and he kicked me even harder and I started laughing. He got mad and hit me harder, and the harder he kicked me, the harder I laughed. They threw me back in the cell laughing. I kept laughing and laughing because suddenly I knew that had been a message from God: He was on my side. He wanted me to live for a reason.
"You know, I ran into that commandant on the battlefield a few years later--funny how God works. I found him in a trench72 just outside Meymanah, bleeding from a piece of shrapnel in his chest. He was still wearing those same boots. I asked him if he remembered me. He said no. I told him the same thing I just told you, that I never forget a face. Then I shot him in the balls. I've been on a mission since.?
"What mission is that??I heard myself say. "Stoning adulterers? Raping73 children? Flogging women for wearing high heels? Massacring Hazaras? All in the name of Islam??The words spilled suddenly and unexpectedly, came out before I could yank the leash74. I wished I could take them back. Swallow them. But they were out. I had crossed a line, and whatever little hope I had of getting out alive had vanished with those words.
A look of surprise passed across Assef's face, briefly75, and disappeared. "I see this may turn out to be enjoyable after all,?he said, snickering. "But there are things traitors76 like you don't understand.?
"Like what??
Assef's brow twitched77. "Like pride in your people, your customs, your language. Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion78 littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage.?
"That's what you were doing in Mazar, going door-to-door? Taking out the garbage??
"In the west, they have an expression for that,?I said. "They call it ethnic80 cleansing81.?
"Do they??Assef's face brightened. "Ethnic cleansing. I like it. I like the sound of it.?
"All I want is the boy.?
"Ethnic cleansing,?Assef murmured, tasting the words.
"I want the boy,?I said again. Sohrab's eyes flicked82 to me. They were slaughter83 sheep's eyes. They even had the mascara--I remembered how, on the day of Eid of qorban, the mullah in our backyard used to apply mascara to the eyes of the sheep and feed it a cube of sugar before slicing its throat. I thought I saw pleading in Sohrab's eyes.
"Tell me why,?Assef said. He pinched Sohrab's earlobe between his teeth. Let go. Sweat beads rolled down his brow.
"That's my Business.?
"What do you want to do with him??he said. Then a coy smile. "Or to him.?
"That's disgusting,?I said.
"How would you know? Have you tried it??
"I want to take him to a better place.?
"Tell me why.?
"That's my Business,?I said. I didn't know what had emboldened84 me to be so curt85, maybe the fact that I thought I was going to die anyway.
"I wonder,?Assef said. "I wonder why you've come all this way, Amir, come all this way for a Hazara? Why are you here? Why are you really here??
"I have my reasons,?I said.
"Very well then,?Assef said, sneering86. He shoved Sohrab in the back, pushed him right into the table. Sohrab's hips88 struck the table, knocking it upside down and spilling the grapes. He fell on them, face first, and stained his shirt purple with grape juice. The
table's legs, crossing through the ring of brass balls, were now pointing to the ceiling.
"Take him, then,?Assef said. I helped Sohrab to his feet, swat ted2 the bits of crushed grape that had stuck to his pants like bar nacles to a pier89.
"Go, take him,?Assef said, pointing to the door.
I took Sohrab's hand. It was small, the skin dry and calloused90. His fingers moved, laced themselves with mine. I saw Sohrab in that Polaroid again, the way his arm was wrapped around Hassan's leg, his head resting against his father's hip87. They'd both been smiling. The bells jingled as we crossed the room.
We made it as far as the door.
"Of course,?Assef said behind us, "I didn't say you could take him for free.?
I turned. "What do you want??
"You have to earn him.?
"What do you want??
"We have some unfinished Business, you and I,?Assef said. "You remember, don't you??
He needn't have worried. I would never forget the day after Daoud Khan overthrew91 the king. My entire adult life, whenever I heard Daoud Khan's name, what I saw was Hassan with his sling92 shot pointed93 at Assef's face, Hassan saying that they'd have to start calling him One-Eyed Assef. instead of Assef Goshkhor. I remember how envious94 I'd been of Hassan's bravery. Assef had backed down, promised that in the end he'd get us both. He'd kept that promise with Hassan. Now it was my turn.
"All right,?I said, not knowing what else there was to say. I wasn't about to beg; that would have only sweetened the moment for him.
Assef called the guards back into the room. "I want you to listen to me,?he said to them. "In a moment, I'm going to close the door. Then he and I are going to finish an old bit of Business. No matter what you hear, don't come in! Do you hear me? Don't come in.
The guards nodded. Looked from Assef to me. "Yes, Agha sahib.?
"When it's all done, only one of us will walk out of this room alive,?Assef said. "If it's him, then he's earned his freedom and you let him pass, do you understand??
The older guard shifted on his feet. "But Agha sahib--?
"If it's him, you let him pass!?Assef screamed. The two men flinched but nodded again. They turned to go. One of them reached for Sohrab.
"Let him stay,?Assef said. He grinned. "Let him watch. Lessons are good things for boys.?
The guards left. Assef put down his prayer beads. Reached in the breast pocket of his black vest. What he fished out of that pocket didn't surprise me one bit: stainless95-steel brass knuckles96.
HE HAS GEL IN HIS HAIR and a Clark Gable mustache above his thick lips. The gel has soaked through the green paper surgical97 cap, made a dark stain the shape of Africa. I remember that about him. That, and the gold Allah chain around his dark neck. He is peering down at me, speaking rapidly in a language I don't understand, Urdu, I think. My eyes keep going to his Adam's apple bob bing up and down, up and down, and I want to ask him how old he is anyway--he looks far too young, like an actor from some foreign soap opera--but all I can mutter is, I think I gave him a good fight. I think I gave him a good fight.
I DON'T KNOW if I gave Assef a good fight. I don't think I did. How could I have? That was the first time I'd fought anyone. I had never so much as thrown a punch in my entire life.
My memory of the fight with Assef is amazingly vivid in stretches: I remember Assef turning on the music before slipping on his brass knuckles. The prayer rug, the one with the oblong, woven Mecca, came loose from the wall at one point and landed on my head; the dust from it made me sneeze. I remember Assef shoving grapes in my face, his snarl98 all spit-shining teeth, his bloodshot eyes rolling. His turban fell at some point, let loose curls of shoulder-length blond hair.
And the end, of course. That, I still see with perfect clarity. I always will.
Mostly, I remember this: His brass knuckles flashing in the afternoon light; how cold they felt with the first few blows and how quickly they warmed with my blood. Getting thrown against the wall, a nail where a framed picture may have hung once jabbing at my back. Sohrab screaming. Tabla, harmonium, a dil-roba. Getting hurled99 against the wall. The knuckles shattering my jaw100. Choking on my own teeth, swallowing them, thinking about all the countless101 hours I'd spent flossing and brushing. Getting hurled against the wall. Lying on the floor, blood from my split upper lip staining the mauve carpet, pain ripping through my belly, and wondering when I'd be able to breathe again. The sound of my ribs103 snapping like the tree branches Hassan and I used to break to swordfight like Sinbad in those old movies. Sohrab screaming. The side of my face slamming against the corner of the television stand. That snapping sound again, this time just under my left eye. music. Sohrab screaming. Fingers grasping my hair, pulling my head back, the twinkle of stainless steel. Here they ?ome. That snapping sound yet again, now my nose. Biting down in pain, noticing how my teeth didn't align104 like they used to. Getting kicked. Sohrab screaming.
I don't know at what point I started laughing, but I did. It hurt to laugh, hurt my jaws105, my ribs, my throat. But I was laughing and laughing. And the harder I laughed, the harder he kicked me, punched me, scratched me.
"WHAT'S SO FUNNY??Assef kept roaring with each blow. His spittle landed in my eye. Sohrab screamed.
"WHAT'S SO FUNNY??Assef bellowed106. Another rib102 snapped, this time left lower. What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some hidden nook in a corner of my mind, I'd even been looking forward to this. I remembered the day on the hill I had pelted107 Hassan with pomegranates and tried to provoke him. He'd just stood there, doing nothing, red juice soaking through his shirt like blood. Then he'd taken the pomegranate from my hand, crushed it against his forehead. Are you satisfied now? he'd hissed108. Do you feel better? I hadn't been happy and I hadn't felt better, not at all. But I did now. My body was broken--just how badly I wouldn't find out until later--but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed.
Then the end. That, I'll take to my grave:
I was on the ground laughing, Assef straddling my chest, his face a mask of lunacy, framed by snarls109 of his hair swaying inches from my face. His free hand was locked around my throat. The other, the one with the brass knuckles, cocked above his shoulder. He raised his fist higher, raised it for another blow.
Then:"Bas."A thin voice.
We both looked.
"Please, no more.?
I remembered something the orphanage110 director had said when he'd opened the door to me and Farid. What had been his name? Zaman? He's inseparable from that thing, he had said. He tucks it in the waist of his pants everywhere he goes.
"No more.?
Twin trails of black mascara, mixed with tears, had rolled down his cheeks, smeared111 the rouge112. His lower lip trembled. Mucus seeped113 from his nose. "Bas,?he croaked114.
His hand was cocked above his shoulder, holding the cup of the slingshot at the end of the elastic115 band which was pulled all the way back. There was something in the cup, something shiny and yellow. I blinked the blood from my eyes and saw it was one of the brass balls from the ring in the table base. Sohrab had the slingshot pointed to Assef's face.
"No more, Agha. Please,?he said, his voice husky and trembling. "Stop hurting him.?
Assef's mouth moved wordlessly. He began to say something, stopped. "What do you think you're you doing??he finally said.
"Please stop,?Sohrab said, fresh tears pooling in his green eyes, mixing with mascara.
"Put it down, Hazara,?Assef hissed. "Put it down or what I'm doing to him will be a gentle ear twisting compared to what I'll do to you.?
The tears broke free. Sohrab shook his head. "Please, Agha,?he said. "Stop.?
"Put it down.?
"Don't hurt him anymore.?
"Put it down.?
"Please.?
"PUT IT DOWN!?
"PUT IT DOWN!?Assef let go of my throat. Lunged at Sohrab.
The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago. Blood oozed116 between his fingers. Blood and something else, something white and gel-like. That's called vitreous fluid, I thought with clarity. I've read that somewhere. Vitreous fluid.
Assef rolled on the carpet. Rolled side to side, shrieking117, his hand still cupped over the bloody118 socket119.
"Let's go!?Sohrab said. He took my hand. Helped me to my feet. Every inch of my battered120 body wailed121 with pain. Behind us, Assef kept shrieking.
"OUT! GET IT OUT!?he screamed.
Teetering, I opened the door. The guards?eyes widened when they saw me and I wondered what I looked like. My stomach hurt with each breath. One of the guards said something in Pashtu and then they blew past us, running into the room where Assef was still screaming. "OUT!?
"Bia,?Sohrab said, pulling my hand. "Let's go!?
I stumbled down the hallway, Sohrab's little hand in mine. I took a final look over my shoulder. The guards were huddled122 over Assef, doing something to his face. Then I understood: The brass ball was still stuck in his empty eye socket.
The whole world rocking up and down, swooping123 side to side, I hobbled down the steps, leaning on Sohrab. From above, Assef's screams went on and on, the cries of a wounded animal. We made it outside, into daylight, my arm around Sohrab's shoulder, and I saw Farid running toward us.
"Bismillah! Bismillah!?he said, eyes bulging124 at the sight of me.
He slung125 my arm around his shoulder and lifted me. Carried me to the truck, running. I think I screamed. I watched the way his sandals pounded the pavement, slapped his black, calloused heels. It hurt to breathe. Then I was looking up at the roof of the Land Cruiser, in the backseat, the upholstery beige and ripped, listen ing to the ding-ding-ding signaling an open door. Running foot steps around the truck. Farid and Sohrab exchanging quick words. The truck's doors slammed shut and the engine roared to life. The car jerked forward and I felt a tiny hand on my forehead. I heard voices on the street, some shouting, and saw trees blurring126 past in the window Sohrab was sobbing127. Farid was still repeating, "Bis millah! Bismillak!?
It was about then that I passed out.
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1
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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preoccupy
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| vt.使全神贯注，使入神 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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turquoise
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| n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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morbidly
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| adv.病态地 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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retracted
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| v.撤回或撤消( retract的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝执行或遵守；缩回；拉回 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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salaam
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| n.额手之礼，问安，敬礼；v.行额手礼 | |
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giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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tuxedos
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| n.餐服，无尾晚礼服( tuxedo的名词复数 ) | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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jingle
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| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
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jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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48
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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49
strapped
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| 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 | |
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50
whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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51
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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52
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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53
pendulum
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| n.摆，钟摆 | |
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54
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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jingled
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| 喝醉的 | |
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57
stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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59
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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60
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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61
numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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62
conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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63
eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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64
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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65
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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66
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
smirking
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| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
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68
bastards
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| 私生子( bastard的名词复数 )； 坏蛋； 讨厌的事物； 麻烦事 （认为别人走运或不幸时说）家伙 | |
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69
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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70
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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71
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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72
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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73
raping
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| v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的现在分词 )；强奸 | |
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74
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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75
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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76
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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77
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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78
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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79
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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80
ethnic
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| adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的 | |
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81
cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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82
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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83
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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84
emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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86
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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87
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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88
hips
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| 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 | |
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89
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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90
calloused
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| adj.粗糙的，粗硬的，起老茧的v.（使）硬结，（使）起茧( callous的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）冷酷无情 | |
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91
overthrew
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| overthrow的过去式 | |
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92
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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93
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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95
stainless
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| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
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96
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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98
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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99
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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100
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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101
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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102
rib
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| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
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103
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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104
align
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| vt.使成一线，结盟，调节；vi.成一线，结盟 | |
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105
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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106
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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107
pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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108
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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109
snarls
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| n.（动物的）龇牙低吼( snarl的名词复数 )；愤怒叫嚷（声）；咆哮（声）；疼痛叫声v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的第三人称单数 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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110
orphanage
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| n.孤儿院 | |
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111
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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112
rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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113
seeped
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| v.（液体）渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
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114
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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115
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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116
oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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117
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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118
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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119
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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120
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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121
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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122
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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123
swooping
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
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124
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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125
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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126
blurring
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| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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127
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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