SNOW FELL ON THE CITY OF ANGELS. Unprecedented1, the shepherd wind drove white flocks out of the dark meadows above the world, gently harried3 them between ficus trees and palms, along avenues that had never known a snowy Christmas.
Dazzled, Ethan gazed up into the fleecy night.
Abed in his room, he realized that the roof must have been lifted off the house by a prying4 wind. Snowdrifts would bury the furniture, ruin the carpet.
Soon he would have to rise, go along the hall to his parents’ room. Dad would know what to do about the missing roof.
First, however, Ethan wanted to enjoy this spectacle: Above him, the snowfall hung an infinite crystal chandelier, its beautiful swags of cut beads5 and beveled pendants in perpetual glittering movement.
His eyelashes were frosted.
Flakes6 delivered cold kisses to his face, melted on his cheeks.
When his vision fully7 focused, he discovered that in truth the December night was full of raindrops, to which his troubled eyes had imparted crystalline structures and mysterious hieroglyphic8 forms.
Once soft, his bed had been spellcast into blacktop.
[170] He felt no discomfort9, except that his feather pillow pressed like hard pavement against the back of his head.
The rain on his face fell as cold as snow, imparting an equal chill to his upturned left hand.
His right hand lay exposed, as well, but with it he could not feel the cold or the tap-and-trickle of the rain.
He couldn’t feel his legs, either. Couldn’t move them. Could not move anything other than his head and left hand.
If his roofless room filled with rain, and if he were unable to move, he might drown.
In the pool of dreamy speculation10 on which Ethan had been drifting, sudden terror darted11 sharklike through the depths beneath him, rising.
He closed his eyes to avoid seeing a bigger and more terrible truth than that the snowflakes were actually raindrops.
Voices approached. Dad and Mom must be coming to put the roof back where it belonged, to fluff his stone pillow into comfortable plumpness once more, and to set all wrongness right.
He surrendered himself to their loving care, and like a feather, he drifted down into darkness, toward the Land of Nod, not the Nod to which Cain had fled after killing13 Abel, but the Nod to which dreaming children journeyed to find adventure and from which they woke safely in the golden dawn.
Still descending14 through the darkness north of Nod, he heard the words “spinal injury.”
Opening his eyes a minute or ten minutes later, he discovered the night aswarm with pulsing-revolving red and yellow lights, and blue, as if he were in an open-air discotheque, and he knew that he would never dance again, or walk.
To the tuneless broken songs of police-radio crackle, flanked by paramedics, Ethan glided15 through the rain on a gurney toward an ambulance.
[171] On the white van, in red letters trimmed in gold, under the bold word AMBULANCE, glowed the smaller words OUR LADY OF ANGELS HOSPITAL.
Maybe they would give him a bed in Dunny’s old room.
That prospect16 filled him with a choking dread17.
He closed his eyes for what seemed a blink, heard men warning one another “careful” and “easy, easy,” and when he looked again, he had blinked himself into the ambulance.
He became aware that a needle already pierced his right arm, served by an IV tube and a dangling18 bag of plasma19.
For the first time, he heard his breathing—full of wheeze20 and rush and rattle—whereupon he knew that more than his legs had been crushed. He suspected that one or both of his lungs struggled against the confinement21 of a partially22 collapsed23 rib12 cage.
He wished for pain. Anything but this terrible lack of feeling.
The paramedic at Ethan’s side spoke24 urgently to his teammate, who stood in the rain, beyond the open doors: “We’re gonna need speed.”
“I’ll burn asphalt,” the rain-lashed medic promised, and he slammed shut the doors.
Along both side walls, near the ceiling, taut25 garlands of red tinsel sparkled. At the ends and in the middle of each garland, small silver bells, three per set, dangled26 brightly. Christmas decorations.
The bells in each group were strung concentrically on the same string. The top bell, also the largest, overhung the middle bell, which overhung the third—which was also the smallest—in the set.
When the door slammed, the tiny bells on each string jiggled against one another, producing a silvery ringing as faint as fairy music.
The paramedic fitted Ethan with an oxygen mask.
As cool as autumn, as sweet as springtime, a rich blend of air soothed27 his hot throat, but his wheezing28 did not in the least abate29.
[172] Having climbed behind the steering30 wheel in the front of the ambulance, the driver slammed his door, again causing the red tinsel to shimmer31 and the bells to ring.
“Bells,” Ethan said, but the oxygen mask muffled32 the word.
In the process of fitting the binaurals of a stethoscope to his ears, the paramedic paused. “What did you say?”
The sight of the stethoscope inspired in Ethan the realization33 that he could hear his heartbeat, and that what he heard was ragged34, uneven35, alarming.
Listening, he knew that he was hearing not just his heart, but also the knock-hoofed canter of Death’s horse approaching.
“Bells,” he repeated, as throughout his mind the doors to a thousand fears flew open.
The ambulance began to move, and as it rolled, the siren found its shrill36 voice.
Ethan couldn’t hear the bells above the banshee wail37, but he could see the nearest three trembling on their string. Trembling.
He raised his left hand toward the dangling cluster but couldn’t reach that far. His hand grasped at empty air.
This terrible intensity38 of fear brought with it a clouding confusion, and perhaps he was utterly39 delirious40; nevertheless, the bells seemed to be more than mere41 decorations, seemed mystical in their shiny smoothness, in their glimmering42 curves, the embodiment of hope, and he desperately43 needed to hold them.
Apparently44 the paramedic understood the urgency of Ethan’s need to have the bells, if not the reason for it. He plucked a small pair of scissors from a kit45, and swaying with the movement of the vehicle, he clipped the knot that secured the nearest cluster to the garland of tinsel.
Given the string of bells, Ethan clutched them in his left hand with a grip both tender and ferocious46.
He was exhausted47, but he dared not close his eyes again, for he feared that when he opened them, darkness would remain and never go away, that he would henceforth see nothing of this world.
[173] The paramedic picked up the stethoscope once more. He inserted the binaural tips in his ears.
With the fingers of his left hand, Ethan counted the bells on the string, from tiniest to largest, to tiniest again.
He realized that he held these ornaments48 as he’d held a rosary in the hushed hospital room during the last few nights of Hannah’s life: with equal measures of despair and hope, with an unexpected awe49 that sustained the heart and with a stoicism that armored it. His hope had been unrealized, his stoicism essential, when he had found it necessary to survive her loss.
Between thumb and forefinger50, he had tried to pinch mercy from the rosary beads. Now he smoothed the curvatures of bell, bell, and bell, seeking mercy less than understanding, seeking a revelation deaf to the ear but resonant51 in the heart.
Although Ethan did not close his eyes and bring the darkness down, seeping52 shadows encroached from the periphery53 of vision, like ink spreading through the fibers54 of a blotter.
Apparently the stethoscope captured rhythms that alarmed the paramedic. He loomed55 close, but his voice came from a distance, and though his face was a mask of calm professionalism, he spoke with an urgency that revealed the depth of his concern for his patient. “Ethan, don’t leave us here. Hang tight. Hold on, damn it.”
Cinched by a knot of darkness, Ethan’s vision narrowed as the cords pulled tighter, tighter.
He detected the astringent56 scent57 of rubbing alcohol. A coolness below the crook58 of his left arm preceded the sting of a needle.
Within him, the knocking hooves of one-horse Death gave way to the thunder of an apocalyptic59 herd2 in chaotic60 gallop61.
The ambulance still rocketed toward Our Lady of Angels, but the driver gave the siren a rest, evidently trusting to the swiveling beacons62 on the roof.
In the absence of the banshee shriek63, Ethan thought he heard bells again.
[174] These were not the worry-bead bells that in his hand he smoothed and smoothed, nor were they the strings64 of ornamental65 bells suspended from the red sparkling tinsel. These chimes arose at some distance, calling him with a silvery insistence66.
His vision irised to a dim spot of light, and then the mortal knot drew tighter still, blinding him completely. Accepting the inevitability67 of death and endless darkness, at last he closed his eyelids68.
He opened the door, then opened his eyes.
In a growl69 of wind and a jingle70 of overhead bells, he stepped out of Forever Roses into the cold teeth of the December night, and drew the door shut behind him.
In shock to find himself alive, in disbelief that he stood on legs unbroken, he waited in the entry alcove71, between the display windows, as a young couple in raincoats and hoods72 strolled by on the sidewalk, led by a golden retriever on a leash73.
The dog looked up at Ethan, its eyes as wise as they were liquid and dark.
“Good evening,” the couple said.
Unable to speak, Ethan nodded.
“Tink, let’s go,” the woman urged, and then repeated the command when the dog hesitated.
The soaked retriever pranced74 away, snout lifted to savor75 the chilly76 air, followed by its companions.
Ethan turned to peer at the florist77 who still stood behind the counter, past the glass coffins78 full of roses.
Rowena had been staring after him. Now she quickly looked down as though attending to a task.
On legs as shaky as his reason, Ethan retraced79 the route that he had taken to this place, under the sheltering awnings80 of shops and restaurants, toward the Expedition in the red zone.
Ahead, Tink twice glanced back, but didn’t stop.
Passing a restaurant bejeweled with candlelight and sparkling [175] tableware, breathing in the yeasty fragrance81 of freshly baked bread, Ethan thought, The staff of life.
At the end of the block, the dog looked back once more. Then the trio disappeared around the corner.
In the street, the traffic was lighter82 than usual at this hour, moving faster than the weather warranted.
Arriving at the red zone near the end of the block, Ethan stood under the last awning—and thought that he might stand there, well and safely back from the street, until dawn reclaimed83 the city from the night.
A long gap appeared in the approaching traffic.
With his trembling right hand, he fished his keys from a jacket pocket and thumbed the lock-release button on the fob. The Expedition chirruped at him, but he didn’t approach it.
Turning his attention toward the intersection84, Ethan saw the headlights of the PT Cruiser as the vehicle approached at far too high a speed on the cross street.
The Cruiser fishtailed in the intersection, and its wheels locked. In the spinout, the car rotated past the parked Expedition, mere inches from a collision.
Had Ethan stood there, he would have been battered85 between the vehicles, like a pinball between warring flippers.
Here came the crushing truck, the shrill blast of air brakes.
With a sharp stuttering bark of tires against wet blacktop, the Cruiser spun86 into the far lanes where it belonged.
Parting the rain where the Cruiser had just whipped through it, the truck shook and shuddered87 to a stop.
When the driver of the Cruiser regained88 control, he raced away, at a lower but still reckless speed.
The agitated89 trucker blew his horn. Then he continued on the route that he’d been following before the near miss, toward whatever destination unhindered fate had planned for him.
[176] In the wake of the truck, the gap in traffic had closed.
The signal light changed at the intersection. In two directions, traffic came to a halt, but in two others, it began to move again.
Drenching90 the night: the delicious aroma91 of baking bread.
Golden lamplight spending doubloons upon the pavement.
The rush and rustle92 of the rain.
Perhaps the signal light changed twice again or even three times before Ethan became aware of an aching in his left hand. The cramping93 pain had begun to spread into the muscles of his forearm.
Tangled94 through the fiercely clenched95 fingers of his fist was the string of three small silvery bells clipped from the ambulance tinsel and given to him by a compassionate96 paramedic.
收听单词发音 |
1
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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harried
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| v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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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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flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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8
hieroglyphic
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| n.象形文字 | |
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9
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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10
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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rib
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| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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plasma
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| n.血浆，细胞质，乳清 | |
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20
wheeze
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| n.喘息声，气喘声；v.喘息着说 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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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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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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27
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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28
wheezing
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
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29
abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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30
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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32
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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35
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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36
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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43
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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44
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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45
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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46
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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47
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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48
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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50
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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51
resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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52
seeping
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| v.（液体）渗( seep的现在分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
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53
periphery
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| n.(圆体的)外面；周围 | |
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54
fibers
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| 光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质 | |
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55
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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astringent
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| adj.止血的，收缩的，涩的；n.收缩剂，止血剂 | |
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57
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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58
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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apocalyptic
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| adj.预示灾祸的，启示的 | |
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chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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61
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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62
beacons
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| 灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台 | |
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63
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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64
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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65
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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66
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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67
inevitability
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| n.必然性 | |
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68
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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69
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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70
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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71
alcove
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| n.凹室 | |
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72
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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73
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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savor
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| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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florist
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| n.花商；种花者 | |
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coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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awnings
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| 篷帐布 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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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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reclaimed
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| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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intersection
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| n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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cramping
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| 图像压缩 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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