“Well,” his raven2 squawked. “Well.”
“I am, my lord,” Jon lied … loudly, as if that could make it true. “And you?”
Mormont frowned. “A dead man tried to kill me. How well could I be?” He scratched under hischin. His shaggy grey beard had been singed3 in the fire, and he’d hacked4 it off. The pale stubble of hisnew whiskers made him look old, disreputable, and grumpy. “You do not look well. How is yourhand?”
“Healing.” Jon flexed5 his bandaged fingers to show him. He had burned himself more badly thanhe knew throwing the flaming drapes, and his right hand was swathed in silk halfway6 to the elbow. Atthe time he’d felt nothing; the agony had come after. His cracked red skin oozed8 fluid, and fearsomeblood blisters9 rose between his fingers, big as roaches. “The maester says I’ll have scars, butotherwise the hand should be as good as it was before.”
“A scarred hand is nothing. On the Wall, you’ll be wearing gloves often as not.”
“As you say, my lord.” It was not the thought of scars that troubled Jon; it was the rest of it.
Maester Aemon had given him milk of the poppy, yet even so, the pain had been hideous10. At first ithad felt as if his hand were still aflame, burning day and night. Only plunging11 it into basins of snowand shaved ice gave any relief at all. Jon thanked the gods that no one but Ghost saw him writhing12 onhis bed, whimpering from the pain. And when at last he did sleep, he dreamt, and that was evenworse. In the dream, the corpse13 he fought had blue eyes, black hands, and his father’s face, but hedared not tell Mormont that.
“Dywen and Hake returned last night,” the Old Bear said. “They found no sign of your uncle, nomore than the others did.”
“I know.” Jon had dragged himself to the common hall to sup with his friends, and the failure ofthe rangers’ search had been all the men had been talking of.
“You know,” Mormont grumbled15. “How is it that everyone knows everything around here?” Hedid not seem to expect an answer. “It would seem there were only the two of … of those creatures,whatever they were, I will not call them men. And thank the gods for that. Any more and … well, thatdoesn’t bear thinking of. There will be more, though. I can feel it in these old bones of mine, andMaester Aemon agrees. The cold winds are rising. Summer is at an end, and a winter is coming suchas this world has never seen.”
Winter is coming. The Stark16 words had never sounded so grim or ominous17 to Jon as they did now.
“My lord,” he asked hesitantly, “it’s said there was a bird last night …”
“There was. What of it?”
“I had hoped for some word of my father.”
“Father,” taunted18 the old raven, bobbing its head as it walked across Mormont’s shoulders.
“Father.”
The Lord Commander reached up to pinch its beak19 shut, but the raven hopped20 up on his head,fluttered its wings, and flew across the chamber21 to light above a window. “Grief and noise,” Mormontgrumbled. “That’s all they’re good for, ravens22. Why I put up with that pestilential bird … if there wasnews of Lord Eddard, don’t you think I would have sent for you? Bastard23 or no, you’re still his blood.
The message concerned Ser Barristan Selmy. It seems he’s been removed from the Kingsguard. They gave his place to that black dog Clegane, and now Selmy’s wanted for treason. The fools sent somewatchmen to seize him, but he slew24 two of them and escaped.” Mormont snorted, leaving no doubt ofhis view of men who’d send gold cloaks against a knight25 as renowed as Barristan the Bold. “We havewhite shadows in the woods and unquiet dead stalking our halls, and a boy sits the Iron Throne,” hesaid in disgust.
fhis view of men who’d send gold cloaks against a knight as renowed as Barristan the Bold. “We havewhite shadows in the woods and unquiet dead stalking our halls, and a boy sits the Iron Throne,” hesaid in disgust.
The raven laughed shrilly26. “Boy, boy, boy, boy.”
Ser Barristan had been the Old Bear’s best hope, Jon remembered; if he had fallen, what chancewas there that Mormont’s letter would be heeded27? He curled his hand into a fist. Pain shot through hisburned fingers. “What of my sisters?”
“The message made no mention of Lord Eddard or the girls.” He gave an irritated shrug28. “Perhapsthey never got my letter. Aemon sent two copies, with his best birds, but who can say? More like,Pycelle did not deign29 to reply. It would not be the first time, nor the last. I fear we count for less thannothing in King’s Landing. They tell us what they want us to know, and that’s little enough.”
And you tell me what you want me to know, and that’s less, Jon thought resentfully. His brotherRobb had called the banners and ridden south to war, yet no word of that had been breathed tohim … save by Samwell Tarly, who’d read the letter to Maester Aemon and whispered its contents toJon that night in secret, all the time saying how he shouldn’t. Doubtless they thought his brother’s warwas none of his concern. It troubled him more than he could say. Robb was marching and he was not.
No matter how often Jon told himself that his place was here now, with his new brothers on the Wall,he still felt craven.
“Corn,” the raven was crying. “Corn, corn.”
“Oh, be quiet,” the Old Bear told it. “Snow, how soon does Maester Aemon say you’ll have use ofthat hand back?”
“Soon,” Jon replied.
“Good.” On the table between them, Lord Mormont laid a large sword in a black metal scabbardbanded with silver. “Here. You’ll be ready for this, then.”
The raven flapped down and landed on the table, strutting30 toward the sword, head cockedcuriously. Jon hesitated. He had no inkling what this meant. “My lord?”
“The fire melted the silver off the pommel and burnt the crossguard and grip. Well, dry leatherand old wood, what could you expect? The blade, now … you’d need a fire a hundred times as hot toharm the blade.” Mormont shoved the scabbard across the rough oak planks31. “I had the rest madeanew. Take it.”
“Take it,” echoed his raven, preening32. “Take it, take it.”
Awkwardly, Jon took the sword in hand. His left hand; his bandaged right was still too raw andclumsy. Carefully he pulled it from its scabbard and raised it level with his eyes.
The pommel was a hunk of pale stone weighted with lead to balance the long blade. It had beencarved into the likeness33 of a snarling34 wolf’s head, with chips of garnet set into the eyes. The grip wasvirgin leather, soft and black, as yet unstained by sweat or blood. The blade itself was a good half footlonger than those Jon was used to, tapered36 to thrust as well as slash37, with three fullers deeply incisedin the metal. Where Ice was a true two-handed greatsword, this was a hand-and-a-halfer, sometimesnamed a “bastard sword.” Yet the wolf sword actually seemed lighter38 than the blades he had wieldedbefore. When Jon turned it sideways, he could see the ripples41 in the dark steel where the metal hadbeen folded back on itself again and again. “This is Valyrian steel, my lord,” he said wonderingly. Hisfather had let him handle Ice often enough; he knew the look, the feel.
“It is,” the Old Bear told him. “It was my father’s sword, and his father’s before him. TheMormonts have carried it for five centuries. I wielded39 it in my day and passed it on to my son when Itook the black.”
He is giving me his son’s sword. Jon could scarcely believe it. The blade was exquisitely42 balanced.
The edges glimmered43 faintly as they kissed the light. “Your son—”
“My son brought dishonor to House Mormont, but at least he had the grace to leave the swordbehind when he fled. My sister returned it to my keeping, but the very sight of it reminded me ofJorah’s shame, so I put it aside and thought no more of it until we found it in the ashes of mybedchamber. The original pommel was a bear’s head, silver, yet so worn its features were all butindistinguishable. For you, I thought a white wolf more apt. One of our builders is a fair stonecarver.”
When Jon had been Bran’s age, he had dreamed of doing great deeds, as boys always did. The details of his feats44 changed with every dreaming, but quite often he imagined saving his father’slife. Afterward45 Lord Eddard would declare that Jon had proved himself a true Stark, and place Ice inhis hand. Even then he had known it was only a child’s folly46; no bastard could ever hope to wield40 afather’s sword. Even the memory shamed him. What kind of man stole his own brother’s birthright? Ihave no right to this, he thought, no more than to Ice. He twitched47 his burned fingers, feeling a throbof pain deep under the skin. “My lord, you honor me, but—”
r’slife. Afterward Lord Eddard would declare that Jon had proved himself a true Stark, and place Ice inhis hand. Even then he had known it was only a child’s folly; no bastard could ever hope to wield afather’s sword. Even the memory shamed him. What kind of man stole his own brother’s birthright? Ihave no right to this, he thought, no more than to Ice. He twitched his burned fingers, feeling a throbof pain deep under the skin. “My lord, you honor me, but—”
“Spare me your but’s, boy,” Lord Mormont interrupted. “I would not be sitting here were it notfor you and that beast of yours. You fought bravely … and more to the point, you thought quickly.
Fire! Yes, damn it. We ought to have known. We ought to have remembered. The Long Night hascome before. Oh, eight thousand years is a good while, to be sure … yet if the Night’s Watch does notremember, who will?”
“Who will,” chimed the talkative raven. “Who will.”
Truly, the gods had heard Jon’s prayer that night; the fire had caught in the dead man’s clothingand consumed him as if his flesh were candle wax and his bones old dry wood. Jon had only to closehis eyes to see the thing staggering across the solar, crashing against the furniture and flailing48 at theflames. It was the face that haunted him most; surrounded by a nimbus of fire, hair blazing like straw,the dead flesh melting away and sloughing49 off its skull50 to reveal the gleam of bone beneath.
Whatever demonic force moved Othor had been driven out by the flames; the twisted thing theyhad found in the ashes had been no more than cooked meat and charred51 bone. Yet in his nightmare hefaced it again … and this time the burning corpse wore Lord Eddard’s features. It was his father’sskin that burst and blackened, his father’s eyes that ran liquid down his cheeks like jellied tears. Jondid not understand why that should be or what it might mean, but it frightened him more than hecould say.
“A sword’s small payment for a life,” Mormont concluded. “Take it, I’ll hear no more of it, is thatunderstood?”
“Yes, my lord.” The soft leather gave beneath Jon’s fingers, as if the sword were molding itself tohis grip already. He knew he should be honored, and he was, and yet …He is not my father. The thought leapt unbidden to Jon’s mind. Lord Eddard Stark is my father. Iwill not forget him, no matter how many swords they give me. Yet he could scarcely tell LordMormont that it was another man’s sword he dreamt of …“I want no courtesies either,” Mormont said, “so thank me no thanks. Honor the steel with deeds,not words.”
Jon nodded. “Does it have a name, my lord?”
“It did, once. Longclaw, it was called.”
“Claw,” the raven cried. “Claw.”
“Longclaw is an apt name.” Jon tried a practice cut. He was clumsy and uncomfortable with hisleft hand, yet even so the steel seemed to flow through the air, as if it had a will of its own. “Wolveshave claws, as much as bears.”
The Old Bear seemed pleased by that. “I suppose they do. You’ll want to wear that over theshoulder, I imagine. It’s too long for the hip35, at least until you’ve put on a few inches. And you’llneed to work at your two-handed strikes as well. Ser Endrew can show you some moves, when yourburns have healed.”
“Ser Endrew?” Jon did not know the name.
“Ser Endrew Tarth, a good man. He’s on his way from the Shadow Tower to assume the duties ofmaster-at-arms. Ser Alliser Thorne left yestermorn for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.”
Jon lowered the sword. “Why?” he said, stupidly.
Mormont snorted. “Because I sent him, why do you think? He’s bringing the hand your Ghost toreoff the end of Jafer Flowers’s wrist. I have commanded him to take ship to King’s Landing and lay itbefore this boy king. That should get young Joffrey’s attention, I’d think … and Ser Alliser’s aknight, highborn, anointed, with old friends at court, altogether harder to ignore than a glorifiedcrow.”
“Crow.” Jon thought the raven sounded faintly indignant.
“As well,” the Lord Commander continued, ignoring the bird’s protest, “it puts a thousand leaguestwixt him and you without it seeming a rebuke52.” He jabbed a finger up at Jon’s face. “And don’t thinkthis means I approve of that nonsense in the common hall. Valor53 makes up for a fair amount of folly, but you’re not a boy anymore, however many years you’ve seen. That’s a man’s sword you havethere, and it will take a man to wield her. I’ll expect you to act the part, henceforth.”
ut you’re not a boy anymore, however many years you’ve seen. That’s a man’s sword you havethere, and it will take a man to wield her. I’ll expect you to act the part, henceforth.”
“Yes, my lord.” Jon slid the sword back into the silver-banded scabbard. If not the blade he wouldhave chosen, it was nonetheless a noble gift, and freeing him from Alliser Thorne’s malignance wasnobler still.
The Old Bear scratched at his chin. “I had forgotten how much a new beard itches,” he said. “Well,no help for that. Is that hand of yours healed enough to resume your duties?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Good. The night will be cold, I’ll want hot spice wine. Find me a flagon of red, not too sour, anddon’t skimp54 on the spices. And tell Hobb that if he sends me boiled mutton again I’m like to boil him.
That last haunch was grey. Even the bird wouldn’t touch it.” He stroked the raven’s head with histhumb, and the bird made a contented55 quorking sound. “Away with you. I’ve work to do.”
The guards smiled at him from their niches56 as he wound his way down the turret57 stair, carrying thesword in his good hand. “Sweet steel,” one man said. “You earned that, Snow,” another told him. Jonmade himself smile back at them, but his heart was not in it. He knew he should be pleased, yet he didnot feel it. His hand ached, and the taste of anger was in his mouth, though he could not have saidwho he was angry with or why.
A half dozen of his friends were lurking58 outside when he left the King’s Tower, where LordCommander Mormont now made his residence. They’d hung a target on the granary doors, so theycould seem to be honing their skills as archers59, but he knew lurkers when he saw them. No sooner didhe emerge than Pyp called out, “Well, come about, let’s have a look.”
“At what?” Jon said.
Toad60 sidled close. “Your rosy61 butt62 cheeks, what else?”
“The sword,” Grenn stated. “We want to see the sword.”
Jon raked them with an accusing look. “You knew.”
Pyp grinned. “We’re not all as dumb as Grenn.”
“You are so,” insisted Grenn. “You’re dumber.”
Halder gave an apologetic shrug. “I helped Pate63 carve the stone for the pommel,” the builder said,“and your friend Sam bought the garnets in Mole’s Town.”
“We knew even before that, though,” Grenn said. “Rudge has been helping64 Donal Noye in theforge. He was there when the Old Bear brought him the burnt blade.”
“The sword!” Matt insisted. The others took up the chant. “The sword, the sword, the sword.”
Jon unsheathed Longclaw and showed it to them, turning it this way and that so they could admireit. The bastard blade glittered in the pale sunlight, dark and deadly. “Valyrian steel,” he declaredsolemnly, trying to sound as pleased and proud as he ought to have felt.
“I heard of a man who had a razor made of Valyrian steel,” declared Toad. “He cut his head offtrying to shave.”
Pyp grinned. “The Night’s Watch is thousands of years old,” he said, “but I’ll wager65 Lord Snow’sthe first brother ever honored for burning down the Lord Commander’s Tower.”
The others laughed, and even Jon had to smile. The fire he’d started had not, in truth, burned downthat formidable stone tower, but it had done a fair job of gutting66 the interior of the top two floors,where the Old Bear had his chambers67. No one seemed to mind that very much, since it had alsodestroyed Othor’s murderous corpse.
The other wight, the one-handed thing that had once been a ranger14 named Jafer Flowers, had alsobeen destroyed, cut near to pieces by a dozen swords … but not before it had slain68 Ser Jaremy Rykkerand four other men. Ser Jaremy had finished the job of hacking69 its head off, yet had died all the samewhen the headless corpse pulled his own dagger70 from its sheath and buried it in his bowels71. Strengthand courage did not avail much against foemen who would not fall because they were already dead;even arms and armor offered small protection.
That grim thought soured Jon’s fragile mood. “I need to see Hobb about the Old Bear’s supper,” heannounced brusquely, sliding Longclaw back into its scabbard. His friends meant well, but they didnot understand. It was not their fault, truly; they had not had to face Othor, they had not seen the paleglow of those dead blue eyes, had not felt the cold of those dead black fingers. Nor did they know ofthe fighting in the riverlands. How could they hope to comprehend? He turned away from themabruptly and strode off, sullen72. Pyp called after him, but Jon paid him no mind.
They had moved him back to his old cell in tumbledown Hardin’s Tower after the fire, and it wasthere he returned. Ghost was curled up asleep beside the door, but he lifted his head at the sound ofJon’s boots. The direwolf’s red eyes were darker than garnets and wiser than men. Jon knelt,scratched his ear, and showed him the pommel of the sword. “Look. It’s you.”
fJon’s boots. The direwolf’s red eyes were darker than garnets and wiser than men. Jon knelt,scratched his ear, and showed him the pommel of the sword. “Look. It’s you.”
Ghost sniffed73 at his carved stone likeness and tried a lick. Jon smiled. “You’re the one deserves anhonor,” he told the wolf … and suddenly he found himself remembering how he’d found him, thatday in the late summer snow. They had been riding off with the other pups, but Jon had heard a noiseand turned back, and there he was, white fur almost invisible against the drifts. He was all alone, hethought, apart from the others in the litter. He was different, so they drove him out.
“Jon?” He looked up. Samwell Tarly stood rocking nervously74 on his heels. His cheeks were red,and he was wrapped in a heavy fur cloak that made him look ready for hibernation75.
“Sam.” Jon stood. “What is it? Do you want to see the sword?” If the others had known, no doubtSam did too.
The fat boy shook his head. “I was heir to my father’s blade once,” he said mournfully.
“Heartsbane. Lord Randyll let me hold it a few times, but it always scared me. It was Valyrian steel,beautiful but so sharp I was afraid I’d hurt one of my sisters. Dickon will have it now.” He wipedsweaty hands on his cloak. “I … ah … Maester Aemon wants to see you.”
It was not time for his bandages to be changed. Jon frowned suspiciously. “Why?” he demanded.
Sam looked miserable76. That was answer enough. “You told him, didn’t you?” Jon said angrily. “Youtold him that you told me.”
“I … he … Jon, I didn’t want to … he asked … I mean … I think he knew, he sees things no oneelse sees …”
“He’s blind,” Jon pointed77 out forcefully, disgusted. “I can find the way myself.” He left Samstanding there, openmouthed and quivering.
He found Maester Aemon up in the rookery, feeding the ravens. Clydas was with him, carrying abucket of chopped meat as they shuffled78 from cage to cage. “Sam said you wanted me?”
The maester nodded. “I did indeed. Clydas, give Jon the bucket. Perhaps he will be kind enough toassist me.” The hunched79, pink-eyed brother handed Jon the bucket and scurried80 down the ladder.
“Toss the meat into the cages,” Aemon instructed him. “The birds will do the rest.”
Jon shifted the bucket to his right hand and thrust his left down into the bloody81 bits. The ravensbegan to scream noisily and fly at the bars, beating at the metal with night-black wings. The meat hadbeen chopped into pieces no larger than a finger joint82. He filled his fist and tossed the raw red morselsinto the cage, and the squawking and squabbling grew hotter. Feathers flew as two of the larger birdsfought over a choice piece. Quickly Jon grabbed a second handful and threw it in after the first. “LordMormont’s raven likes fruit and corn.”
“He is a rare bird,” the maester said. “Most ravens will eat grain, but they prefer flesh. It makesthem strong, and I fear they relish84 the taste of blood. In that they are like men … and like men, not allravens are alike.”
Jon had nothing to say to that. He threw meat, wondering why he’d been summoned. No doubt theold man would tell him, in his own good time. Maester Aemon was not a man to be hurried.
“Doves and pigeons can also be trained to carry messages,” the maester went on, “though theraven is a stronger flyer, larger, bolder, far more clever, better able to defend itself againsthawks … yet ravens are black, and they eat the dead, so some godly men abhor85 them. Baelor theBlessed tried to replace all the ravens with doves, did you know?” The maester turned his white eyeson Jon, smiling. “The Night’s Watch prefers ravens.”
Jon’s fingers were in the bucket, blood up to the wrist. “Dywen says the wildlings call us crows,”
he said uncertainly.
“The crow is the raven’s poor cousin. They are both beggars in black, hated and misunderstood.”
Jon wished he understood what they were talking about, and why. What did he care about ravensand doves? If the old man had something to say to him, why couldn’t he just say it?
“Jon, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night’s Watch take no wives and father nochildren?” Maester Aemon asked.
Jon shrugged86. “No.” He scattered87 more meat. The fingers of his left hand were slimy with blood,and his right throbbed88 from the weight of the bucket.
“So they will not love,” the old man answered, “for love is the bane of honor, the death of duty.”
That did not sound right to Jon, yet he said nothing. The maester was a hundred years old, and ahigh officer of the Night’s Watch; it was not his place to contradict him.
The old man seemed to sense his doubts. “Tell me, Jon, if the day should ever come when your lordfather must needs choose between honor on the one hand and those he loves on the other, what wouldhe do?”
Jon hesitated. He wanted to say that Lord Eddard would never dishonor himself, not even for love,yet inside a small sly voice whispered, He fathered a bastard, where was the honor in that? And yourmother, what of his duty to her, he will not even say her name. “He would do whatever was right,” hesaid … ringingly, to make up for his hesitation89. “No matter what.”
“Then Lord Eddard is a man in ten thousand. Most of us are not so strong. What is honorcompared to a woman’s love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms … or thememory of a brother’s smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the godshave fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy.
“The men who formed the Night’s Watch knew that only their courage shielded the realm fromthe darkness to the north. They knew they must have no divided loyalties90 to weaken their resolve. Sothey vowed91 they would have no wives nor children.
“Yet brothers they had, and sisters. Mothers who gave them birth, fathers who gave them names.
They came from a hundred quarrelsome kingdoms, and they knew times may change, but men do not.
So they pledged as well that the Night’s Watch would take no part in the battles of the realms itguarded.
“They kept their pledge. When Aegon slew Black Harren and claimed his kingdom, Harren’sbrother was Lord Commander on the Wall, with ten thousand swords to hand. He did not march. Inthe days when the Seven Kingdoms were seven kingdoms, not a generation passed that three or fourof them were not at war. The Watch took no part. When the Andals crossed the narrow sea and sweptaway the kingdoms of the First Men, the sons of the fallen kings held true to their vows92 and remainedat their posts. So it has always been, for years beyond counting. Such is the price of honor.
“A craven can be as brave as any man, when there is nothing to fear. And we all do our duty,when there is no cost to it. How easy it seems then, to walk the path of honor. Yet soon or late inevery man’s life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose.”
Some of the ravens were still eating, long stringy bits of meat dangling93 from their beaks94. The restseemed to be watching him. Jon could feel the weight of all those tiny black eyes. “And this is myday … is that what you’re saying?”
Maester Aemon turned his head and looked at him with those dead white eyes. It was as if he wereseeing right into his heart. Jon felt naked and exposed. He took the bucket in both hands and flung therest of the slops through the bars. Strings95 of meat and blood flew everywhere, scattering96 the ravens.
They took to the air, shrieking97 wildly. The quicker birds snatched morsels83 on the wing and gulpedthem down greedily. Jon let the empty bucket clang to the floor.
The old man laid a withered98, spotted99 hand on his shoulder. “It hurts, boy,” he said softly. “Oh, yes.
Choosing … it has always hurt. And always will. I know.”
“You don’t know,” Jon said bitterly. “No one knows. Even if I am his bastard, he’s still myfather …”
Maester Aemon sighed. “Have you heard nothing I’ve told you, Jon? Do you think you are thefirst?” He shook his ancient head, a gesture weary beyond words. “Three times the gods saw fit to testmy vows. Once when I was a boy, once in the fullness of my manhood, and once when I had grownold. By then my strength was fled, my eyes grown dim, yet that last choice was as cruel as the first.
My ravens would bring the news from the south, words darker than their wings, the ruin of my House,the death of my kin7, disgrace and desolation. What could I have done, old, blind, frail100? I was helplessas a suckling babe, yet still it grieved me to sit forgotten as they cut down my brother’s poorgrandson, and his son, and even the little children …”
Jon was shocked to see the shine of tears in the old man’s eyes. “Who are you?” he asked quietly,almost in dread101.
A toothless smile quivered on the ancient lips. “Only a maester of the Citadel102, bound in service toCastle Black and the Night’s Watch. In my order, we put aside our house names when we take ourvows and don the collar.” The old man touched the maester’s chain that hung loosely around his thin,fleshless neck. “My father was Maekar, the First of his Name, and my brother Aegon reigned103 after him in my stead. My grandfather named me for Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, who was hisuncle, or his father, depending on which tale you believe. Aemon, he called me …”
“Aemon … Targaryen?” Jon could scarcely believe it.
“Once,” the old man said. “Once. So you see, Jon, I do know … and knowing, I will not tell youstay or go. You must make that choice yourself, and live with it all the rest of your days. As I have.”
His voice fell to a whisper. “As I have …”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
scowling
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
raven
|
|
| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
singed
|
|
| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
hacked
|
|
| 生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
flexed
|
|
| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
oozed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
blisters
|
|
| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
ranger
|
|
| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
taunted
|
|
| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
beak
|
|
| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
hopped
|
|
| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
ravens
|
|
| n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
bastard
|
|
| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
shrilly
|
|
| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
heeded
|
|
| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
deign
|
|
| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
strutting
|
|
| 加固，支撑物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
planks
|
|
| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
preening
|
|
| v.（鸟）用嘴整理（羽毛）( preen的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
likeness
|
|
| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
snarling
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
hip
|
|
| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
tapered
|
|
| adj. 锥形的，尖削的，楔形的，渐缩的，斜的 动词taper的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
slash
|
|
| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
wielded
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
wield
|
|
| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
ripples
|
|
| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
exquisitely
|
|
| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
glimmered
|
|
| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
feats
|
|
| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
flailing
|
|
| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
sloughing
|
|
| v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的现在分词 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
charred
|
|
| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
rebuke
|
|
| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
valor
|
|
| n.勇气，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
skimp
|
|
| v.节省花费，吝啬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
niches
|
|
| 壁龛( niche的名词复数 )； 合适的位置[工作等]； （产品的）商机； 生态位（一个生物所占据的生境的最小单位） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
turret
|
|
| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
archers
|
|
| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
toad
|
|
| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
pate
|
|
| n.头顶；光顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
gutting
|
|
| n.去内脏v.毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的现在分词 )；取出…的内脏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
67
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
hacking
|
|
| n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
bowels
|
|
| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
hibernation
|
|
| n.冬眠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
hunched
|
|
| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
scurried
|
|
| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
joint
|
|
| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
morsels
|
|
| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
abhor
|
|
| v.憎恶；痛恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
loyalties
|
|
| n.忠诚( loyalty的名词复数 )；忠心；忠于…感情；要忠于…的强烈感情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
vowed
|
|
| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
vows
|
|
| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
beaks
|
|
| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
strings
|
|
| n.弦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
scattering
|
|
| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
shrieking
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
citadel
|
|
| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |