ROBIN1 WASN'T HOME. That bothered me. It also made me feel relieved, and that ate at me further.
She'd left a message on the machine. "Alex, I'm still tied up with you-know-who. Now his publicist wants me to stick around for some photographs—showing him how to hold the guitar, finger chords accurately3. . . . Silly stuff, but they're paying by the hour. . . . After the photo session, which could be late, we may go out to dinner. A bunch of us— he's got an entourage. Maybe at Rue4 Faubourg, over on Hillhurst, you can try me there later. Or sooner, here at the studio—we've moved from the manse to Golden Horse Sound, here's the number. ... Be well, Alex."
I phoned the recording5 studio, got voice mail, left a message. Was thinking about Baxter and Sage2 when Robin called back.
"Hi," I said.
"Hi. Sorry for the long day." She sounded tired and distant and not the least bit sorry.
"Everything okay?"
"Sure, how about with you?"
"You're not still angry?"
"Why would I be angry?"
"I don't know, maybe I've been a little absent recently."
"Well," she said, "it's not like I'm not used to that."
"You are angry."
"No, of course not— Listen, Alex, I really can't talk right now, they're calling me—"
"Ah, stardom," I said.
"Please," she said. "We'll talk later—we need to get away, together. I don't mean dinner and an orgasm. Real time—time away—a vacation, like normal people take. Okay? That fit your schedule?"
"Sure."
"Are you? Because whatever you've been involved in—that girl—has taken you to another galaxy6."
"I always have time for you," I said.
Silence. "Look, I won't go to dinner with the gang. They make a big deal about it—Elvis and his hangers-on. Like summer camp, everyone does everything together. But I'm not part of it, I don't need to participate."
"No," I said. "Finish up, do what you need to do."
"And leave you all alone? I know you need solitude7, but I think I've been giving you too much—that's what I'm trying to get across. Both of us have let things slip."
"It's me," I said. "You've been fine."
"Fine," she said. "Damning with faint praise?"
"Come on, Robin—"
"Sorry, I guess I am . . . feeling a little displaced."
"Finish up and come home, and then we'll fake out being normal and plan a vacation. Name the place."
"Anywhere but here, Alex. There's nothing going on that a little mellowing8 out won't cure, right?"
"Nothing," I said. "Everything will work out."
I waited until well after Robin's phone call—until the sound of her voice, the tone, and the content had finally stopped resonating—before pulling the scrap9 of paper out of my wallet.
Nine-fifteen P.M. My office windows were black, and I'd been imagining a black ocean, small faces bobbing in the waves, sucked down, the circling of sharks, a mother's endless wail10.
Cheryl Duke answered on the fifth ring. "Oh. Hi."
"Hi."
"Wow. You called."
"You sound surprised," I said.
"Well . . . you never know."
"Oh," I said, "I don't think you get ignored too often."
"No," she said, merrily. "Not too often. So . . . ?"
"I was thinking maybe we could get together."
"Were you? Hmm. Well, what did you have in mind?"
"It's a little late for dinner, but I could handle that if you haven't eaten. Or maybe drinks?"
"I've eaten." Giggles11. "You've been thinking about food and drink, huh?"
"It's a start."
I've been thinking about your babies murdered. About finding some way to warn you.
"Got to start somewhere," she said. "Where and when were you thinking?"
"I'm open."
"Open-minded, too?"
"I like to think so."
"Bet you do. ... Hmm, I just got the kids down. .. . How about in half an hour?"
"Where?"
Another giggle12. "Just like that, huh? Johnny on the Spot Agreeable?"
"When I'm motivated."
"I'll bet," she said. "Well . . . how about no drinks, just some intelligent conversation?"
"Sure. That's fine."
"Just conversation. At least for now."
"Absolutely."
"Mr. Agreeable."
"I try," I said.
"Try and you'll succeed. . . . Um, I can't go too far—the kids."
"How about the same place—the Country Mart?"
"No," she said. "Too public. Meet me up the beach from where I am, down by the old Paradise Cove13 pier14. Down where the Sand Dollar used to be—where you got your kayak. It's quiet there, nice and private. Pretty, too. I go down there by myself, sometimes, just to look at the ocean."
"Okay," I said. "But there's a gate arm down by the old guard shack15."
"Park along the side of the road and walk the rest of the way down. That's what I do. You'll see my Expedition pulled to the side and know I'm there. If I'm not, it means something came up—one of the kids woke up, whatever. But I'll do my best."
"Great. Looking forward to it."
"Me too, Alex."
At night the drive was an easy glide16, and I pulled off PCH onto the Paradise Cove turnoff at 9:55. I navigated17 the speed bumps and drove slowly, searching for Cheryl's Expedition. No sign of the SUV as the gate arm came into view, and I pulled to the left, parked, sat for a while, tried to figure out how I'd transform what she thought was a date into the scariest conversation she'd ever had.
A date. I hoped I'd get back before Robin got home. If I didn't, I'd just say I'd been driving.
I remained in the Seville awhile longer, coming up with no easy script, wondering if Cheryl would actually show and, if not, would that be enough for me to drop the whole thing and leave town with Robin . . . be normal.
I got out of the car, descended18 toward the construction site on foot, using a tentative quarter moon as my compass. Reached bottom, dodged20 nails and planks21 and shingles22 and boards.
Chilly23 night, purplish black sky freckled24 by starlight, the water below inky, identically blemished25. Off to the south the remains26 of the Paradise Cove pier listed like a drunk, pilings angled dangerously toward the ocean. Someone had peeled back the chain link that blocked access, and for a moment I wondered if I was alone. But when I stopped I saw no movement other than the breeze-nudged boughs27 of sycamores, heard nothing but the tide.
I walked around aimlessly, no more insightful than when I'd arrived. A husky engine hum filtered down from the road. Then a car door slamming. Footsteps. Rapid footsteps.
Cheryl Duke's hourglass shape appeared seconds later, descending28 the slope smoothly29. Making herself easy to spot in a tight, pale cardigan, white T-shirt, and white jeans. Swinging her arms, purposeful but relaxed. Lithe30.
I said, "Over here," and headed toward her.
She looked at me, waved.
When I reached her she was smiling. The cardigan was pink cashmere, cropped above her firm waistline, straining at the chest. "I dressed so you could see me."
"Oh, I saw you all right."
She laughed, threw her arms around my neck, kissed me full on the lips. Her tongue pressed its way through my teeth, licked my palate, filled my throat, retreated. She threw back her head, laughing. Wiggling the tongue—huge and pointed31—curling the tip upward and tickling32 the bottom of her nose.
"See," she said, "size matters all kinds of ways." One hand cupped the back of my head as sharp little teeth nibbled33 at my chin, and I thought of her son biting down on my ear. A family of carnivores. My arms were at my sides, and she grabbed my hands and planted them on her rear. Her breasts asserted themselves against my chest, obstructive, unyielding. Her pelvis rotated against mine; then the palms of her hands replaced the breasts as she shoved me away.
"That's all you get, for now." Her hair was loose, full, bleached34 white by the moon, and she turned tossing it into a production.
"Shucks," I said, still feeling her tongue in my gullet.
"Aw," she said. "Poor baby." Another soft shove. "Why should I let you fuck me? We barely know each other."
"A guy can hope."
Laughing, she took my hand as she led me back toward the construction mess.
"Where're we off to?" I said.
She pointed to the remnants of the pier. "I love it up there—the way it just goes off into nowhere."
"Yeah."
As we neared the peeled-back fence, I said, "Is it safe?"
More laughter. "Who knows?" She pulled me onto the broken promenade36, let go of my hand, and began skipping along the warped37 boards. I felt the wood beneath my feet hum in response. My toe caught on a splintered shank, and I almost lost my balance. Cheryl was well ahead of me, dancing across planks separated enough for black water to shine through. I watched her pick up speed, break into a run toward the pier's shattered end, as if building momentum38 for a high dive.
She stopped short, inches from the edge, shoulders thrown back, hair wild, hands set on the arc of flesh that curved above the waistline of her jeans. I caught up just as she crossed her arms and pulled off her sweater and her T-shirt, flung both garments aside. The manufactured breasts bobbled like saddlebags as laughter shook her upper body, nipples big and erect39 and aimed skyward like the heat-seeking weapons they were.
She edged backward, so that the heels of her running shoes tipped over the pier's terminus. Vertigo40 clamped around my gut41 as she began bouncing lightly, and I backed away.
"Aw," she said, "c'mon. It's a great feeling."
"I'll take your word for it."
"Flying's not your thing?"
"Not tonight."
She bounced some more, spread her arms. "Probably not any night. What if not doing it means I don't fuck you?"
"Like I said before. Aw shucks."
Louder giggles, but shaky, tinged42 with hurt.
She began sidestepping along the edge. Breathing fast, she spoke43 again, her voice constricted44. "Pretty cool, huh? I could always balance."
"Impressive."
"I can swallow swords, too."
"Spent some time with the circus?"
"Something like that." She reached the far end, sidestepped her way back, stood on one foot, arched the other behind her, into space. I watched and didn't say a word and wondered how I'd ever get across the concept of danger. She began humming tunelessly. Closed her eyes. Walked several steps, blind.
Humming but not without fear. Starlit streams of sweat ran from her armpits and coursed the swell45 of her chest. She began gasping46 for breath but kept going.
Finally—without warning—she stepped away from the void and shouted "Yes!" at the sky. Massaged47 her breasts and shouted again. Then she sat down on the misshapen planks, drew her knees to her chin, lowered her head.
"You okay?" I said.
"I'm great— C'mere."
I stepped closer, and she pulled me down beside her. "You're a wimp48, but you're cute." Nuzzling my neck, she leaned her head on my shoulder. "We could do it right here. If I was into doing it." She grabbed my hair, tugged49 gently, then harder. "The picture in my mind is we're back there." Hooking a thumb at the edge. "You on bottom, me on top, with your head hanging over the side, and you're looking up at me, deep inside me, your balls knocking against my ass19, so into how I'm making you feel that you wouldn't care even if you did fall over—how does that sound?"
"I'm open to new experiences, but—"
"You're saying no?"
"I'm saying I'd rather live a few more years."
"Wimp," she said, airily. "You'd turn down something like that 'cause of a little danger?" Patting me on the head with smiling contempt, she stood, bent50 low, swung her breasts toward my mouth, then curved away.
"Too bad, little man. I need dedication," she said in a hard voice. "Had enough of wimps51 and losers—"
I got up on my feet. "Tony Duke's a wimp?"
Smiling, she came toward me. Reached out a hand and stroked my hair again. Polished nails spit back starlight. Touching52 the tip of my chin, she reared back and slapped me hard across the mouth. My head rocked, and my teeth buzzed as if I'd sucked current from a live wire.
"You don't know me, don't make like you do."
My lip throbbed53. When I touched it, my fingers came away wet.
"You ruined the mood," she said.
"By not hanging over the edge."
"Aw," she said. "You really are a wimp—your loss." She patted her crotch. "What I've got here could snap you like a turtle and drain you like a pump."
Practiced patter. Hooker talk.
Had she freelanced, just like Lauren? Between skating and dancing, or had it been her main gig before meeting Ben Dugger and Tony Duke?
She wiggled back into her shirt and sweater, spread her legs—not enticingly54, a combat stance—and shot me the finger. "He thinks he's so smart."
Putting me in third person. The grammar was more than symbolic55, and I knew more was wrong than my failure to meet her sexual demands.
An audience. Before I could put the threat in place, figure out what to do, a man emerged from the shadows at the other end of the pier. Approached us.
Cheryl turned her back and walked toward him. He was barely visible because, unlike her, he'd dressed for concealment57.
Black sweatsuit, black shoes. He and Cheryl met in the center of the pier. Everything rehearsed—I'd been the only one ad-libbing.
"He thinks he's smart," said Cheryl.
Kent Irving said nothing. His brassy hair had been tied back in a pony-tail, emphasizing the breadth of his round, ruddy face. Impassive face. Something silvery and reflective in his right hand.
Cheryl flashed teeth and tucked her white T-shirt tight.
"Baby," she said.
Irving's one-lipped mouth stayed shut.
"It's good you came when you did, baby," she told him. "He was ready to fuck me blind, would've raped58 me and tossed me over the edge."
She kissed his ear. Irving still didn't react. He stepped closer. I had nowhere to go but into eternity, but I stepped backward anyway. The automatic in his hand was level with my face.
"He thinks we're stupid, baby," said Cheryl. "Thinks he can just happen to be boating by, just happen to be sitting there doing his crossword59 puzzle like it's some big fucking coincidence and we're not gonna suspect anything. Asshole."
I said, "Suspicion's a two-way street. The police know I'm here."
She said, "Right." Irving remained silent and still. How far was the drop? How high was the tide? Would I hit water or slam into hard-packed sand, collapsing60 my spine61 like a twig62? If I could calculate the drop in the darkness, would rolling on my side help, allow me to escape with only crushed ribs63, internal injuries? I hadn't consulted a tide chart, had no reason to, terrific planning—
Kent Irving walked some more, and I stood my ground. The barrel of the gun was ten feet away. Chromium lips and a tiny black mouth that said, "Oh."
Cheryl stayed behind Irving, yammering, showing all those teeth, tossing her goddamned hair—
"Enough," Irving told her, in that thin, high voice.
She pouted64. "Sure, baby—you saved me, baby. He was an animal, would've rammed65 me without mercy, just used me and threw me away." She placed a hand on his meaty shoulder.
"Yeah," he said.
"Yeah, baby, so you saved me. You're gonna be happy you did."
"You really think it's happy days?" I said. "The police really do know I'm here. Meeting you, Cheryl. He can't afford that. You're expendable— just like Baxter and Sage—"
"Enough," Irving said, softly. Same word he'd used with Cheryl. The lack of inflection said it all.
No sweat, no strain. Eyes as animated66 as gravel67. Business as usual.
Maybe he'd hired someone to shoot Lauren and Michelle and Lance and Jane, but if he had, it had been out of convenience, not apprehension68. He could pull that trigger like brushing his teeth. Eat breakfast moments later without giving it a second thought.
I said, "You know I'm right, Kent. You can't chance her talking to the police. Sooner or later, she's got to go anyway. She's stupid and nuts and undependable. Actually thinks you'll leave Anita for her and the two of you will end up with all of Tony's money and live happily ever after, the Prince and Princess. You know better. She's no princess, you've had dozens like her. Just another stupid hooker with plastic tits—"
Cheryl charged toward me, but Irving blocked her with his free arm.
"Fuck you!" she shrieked69. "Fuck you in hell— Don't let him talk to me like that, baby. He can't dis me like that—don't fucking let him!"
Pushing against Irving's arm. He closed his hand on her wrist. The gun arm had never wavered. If he'd blinked I hadn't seen it. Giving him a polygraph would be academically interesting.
Cheryl said, "Give me the gun and let me do him— I can do it, you know I can. I'll do it right now, just like I did her, come on."
"Her," I said. "Lauren or Michelle or Jane or Shawna?"
The last name caused Irving's eyes to wander for the tiniest fragment of a second. Uncertainty70. Lack of familiarity.
"Bitch Lauren," said Cheryl, smugly. She spat71 on the pier. "Cunt Lauren. She thought she could be my friend. Thought we had raff art, that I was just like her—"
"She had a point," I said. "You both sold sex—"
"Fuck you."
"Quiet," said Irving. His hand was still clamped to her wrist. Something he did made her say, "Ouch."
Then: "Baby?"
"Hurts so good?" I said. "What a fun couple. So how'd you lure56 Lauren?"
"Art," said Cheryl, making it sound like a disease. "She thought she was so cool—we made a date to meet at the art museum and then—"
A twist of Irving's wrist shut her mouth. "Easy," he soothed72.
"He's the boss, got you to set up Lauren, then do her," I said. "With a woman she'd let down her guard—two girls and pretty pictures. She'd already told you her secret— Tell me, did you watch while he hog-tied her? Did you help him toss her in the trash?"
"It was great—"
Irving rotated his hand again, and she cried out.
I said, "You're toast, Cheryl. Maybe it won't happen tonight, but don't make any long-term investments. Even if you weren't stupid and unpredictable, you wouldn't figure into his plans, because your kids are a problem. Think about that gas leak— What's the next installment73, Kent? Tossing Baxter over the cliff? Then Sage happens to toddle74 over to the pool? Or maybe you'll just disappear them in the ocean."
Irving smiled. Cheryl never saw it, but his silence made her eyes go wide and scared.
"Maybe I will let you do him," he told her.
"Creative," I said. "Her prints get on the gun, then a bullet finds its way into her head—murder-suicide, lovers' quarrel out on the pier. You're an old hand at that kind of thing—took Lauren's gun out of her purse after Cheryl shot her and used it a week later on Jane Abbot. Setting the old man up. How'd you get Lauren alone for the kill, Cheryl?"
"Girl talk, asshole—"
"Shh," said Irving. "No more dialogue— Yeah, I will let you do him."
"Lots of bodies piling up," I said. "At least it's not one of those senseless crime sprees. You've got a definite goal in mind. Tony'11 be dead soon, and what he leaves behind is sure worth working for. You're doing Ben and Anita's dirty work, and maybe they'll even let you stick around to enjoy the windfall. But you never know—the rich can get funny with hired help."
Irving didn't move.
Cheryl said, "Baby?" very softly. "You do love them, right? Bax and Sage?"
"Sure," said Irving.
"He's capable of love like you're qualified75 to be a nuclear physicist," I said. "He'll love them as two cute little corpses76. No way will they make it to first grade. Baby. You sure are a great mom. Baby,"
Cheryl raised clenched77 fists. "Shut up! Gimme it, let me do him now!"
"Okay, c'mere," said Irving.
He removed his hand from her wrist, and as she stepped forward lowered his arm and circled her waist. Keeping the gun trained on me. Reaching around, he squeezed her breast. Pinched her nipple.
"Umm," she said.
He pinched her again.
"Ow, that was too hard!"
"Sorry," said Irving. Cradling her chin, he kissed the tip of her nose. Shoved her hard.
As she staggered backward, he moved fast. Staring at me as he swung the gun around. He shot her twice in the face, stepping back to avoid the blood spray. By the time she hit the boards, the gun was back on me.
She landed on her side.
"Thanks," he told me. "You gave me a good idea. Yeah, I had plans for her, but this is even better."
"Happy to oblige," I said. "But maybe she wasn't the only one with delusions80. Think about what I said: Will Anita and Ben really be happy sharing? Spoiled rich kids aren't big on gratitude81."
He shrugged82. Blood streamed from under Cheryl's head, oil black in the starlight, and he inched away from the welling pool.
"Doesn't matter, does it?" I said, not looking at the body. "You've got plans for them too. Really think you're going to walk away with everything."
He snorted, sighed. "Let's get this over with."
"I wasn't lying about the police," I said. "You're a prime suspect. They know about your garment biz days, meeting Lauren back when she worked the Mart. Must've been a shock when she showed up at the estate with Ben—good old Ben screwing up again, picking up another dumb blonde. He's got a thing for them, doesn't he? Uses his experiments to find them and to hit on them, but once he gets them, the poor schmuck doesn't know what to do with them. Cheryl, Lauren, Shawna Yeager— what happened to her? How did she get in the way?"
That same flicker83 of confusion in his dead eyes. Cheryl's blood kept spreading closer to his shoes, and he sidled away, again. Despite myself I looked at her. Life juice leaking from the mop of blond hair, dipping to a low spot between the boards, trickling84 through. They say sharks can smell a drop in millions of gallons. Was the shark Internet buzzing?
Irving raised the automatic.
"Another blonde," I said. "But Lauren wasn't dumb. Anything but. She was a double threat—knew you from the bad old days, the hooker-a-night days. Knew stuff you strongly preferred Anita didn't find out about. And on top of that, she tells you who she is—what she wants. Talk about insult and injury."
Irving sighed again. The sweats made him look pudgy. His ponytail made him look like nothing but Mr. Midlife Crisis, and as he aimed the gun at my face, a sick, sour thought flashed in my head: So this is how it happens, a, clown like this. Then: Sorry, Robin.
Then a voice behind Irving shouted, "Kent? What're you doing? What's going on?" and Irving blinked and turned as footfalls twanged the pier.
A man running toward us. Irving moving reflexively, the gun arm wavering, realizing his error and pivoting85 back toward me, but I'd already thrown myself at him and was grabbing for the automatic.
Managing only to jar his elbow.
He fired up in the air.
The new voice said, "Oh, my God!" and Irving slashed86 out at me and I chopped at him, keeping myself close, fighting for the weapon. A new set of hands grabbed for Irving. Irving, growling87 now, fired again.
The new voice said, "Oh!" and went down, but Irving had been thrown off balance, and I brought my knee up hard into his groin and, as he doubled over, stabbed at his eyes with my fingertips.
I made contact with something soft, and he screamed and stumbled and I shoved him, kept shoving him, down to the planks, got on top, straddled him, kept hitting him. It had been a while since I'd messed with karate88, and what I did to him was more blind rage than martial89 arts, chopping at his head and his neck over and over and over, using stiff fingers and frozen fists, bloodying90 my knuckles91, slashing92 and slamming until well after he'd stopped moving.
The gun had landed several feet from his arm. I picked it up, aimed it at Irving.
He didn't move. His face was pulp93.
A few feet away, Ben Dugger moaned. I went to see how he was doing.
收听单词发音 |
1
robin
|
|
| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sage
|
|
| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
accurately
|
|
| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
recording
|
|
| n.录音，记录 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
galaxy
|
|
| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mellowing
|
|
| 软化，醇化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
scrap
|
|
| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
giggles
|
|
| n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
giggle
|
|
| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
cove
|
|
| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
pier
|
|
| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
shack
|
|
| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
glide
|
|
| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
navigated
|
|
| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ass
|
|
| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
dodged
|
|
| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
shingles
|
|
| n.带状疱疹；（布满海边的）小圆石( shingle的名词复数 )；屋顶板；木瓦（板）；墙面板 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
chilly
|
|
| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
freckled
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
25
blemished
|
|
| v.有损…的完美，玷污( blemish的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
smoothly
|
|
| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
lithe
|
|
| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
tickling
|
|
| 反馈，回授，自旋挠痒法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
nibbled
|
|
| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
bleached
|
|
| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
eternity
|
|
| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
promenade
|
|
| n./v.散步 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
warped
|
|
| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
momentum
|
|
| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vertigo
|
|
| n.眩晕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
gut
|
|
| n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
tinged
|
|
| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
constricted
|
|
| adj.抑制的，约束的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
massaged
|
|
| 按摩，推拿( massage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
wimp
|
|
| n.无用的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
tugged
|
|
| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
wimps
|
|
| n.懦弱的人，无用的人( wimp的名词复数 )v.懦弱的人，无用的人( wimp的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
enticingly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
55
symbolic
|
|
| adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
lure
|
|
| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
concealment
|
|
| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
raped
|
|
| v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
crossword
|
|
| n.纵横字谜，纵横填字游戏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
collapsing
|
|
| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
twig
|
|
| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
ribs
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
pouted
|
|
| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
rammed
|
|
| v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
animated
|
|
| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
gravel
|
|
| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
soothed
|
|
| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
installment
|
|
| n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
toddle
|
|
| v.（如小孩）蹒跚学步 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
qualified
|
|
| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
corpses
|
|
| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
budge
|
|
| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
whined
|
|
| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
delusions
|
|
| n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
trickling
|
|
| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
pivoting
|
|
| n.绕轴旋转，绕公共法线旋转v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的现在分词 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
slashed
|
|
| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
growling
|
|
| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
karate
|
|
| n.空手道(日本的一种徒手武术) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
martial
|
|
| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
bloodying
|
|
| v.血污的( bloody的现在分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
knuckles
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
slashing
|
|
| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
pulp
|
|
| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |