O’Keefe regained2 cheerfulness.
“After all, Doc,” he said to me, “it’s a beautiful scrap3 we’re going to have. At the worst the worst is no more than the leprechaun warned about. I would have told the Taitha De about the banshee raid he promised me; but I was a bit taken off my feet at the time. The old girl an’ all the clan’ll be along, said the little green man, an’ I bet the Three will be damned glad of it, take it from me.”
Lakla, shining-eyed and half fearful too:
“I have other tidings that I am afraid will please you little, Larry — darlin’. The Silent Ones say that you must not go into battle yourself. You must stay here with me, and with Goodwin — for if — if — the Shining One does come, then must we be here to meet it. And you might not be, you know, Larry, if you fight,” she said, looking shyly up at him from under the long lashes4.
The O’Keefe’s jaw5 dropped.
“That’s about the hardest yet,” he answered slowly. “Still — I see their point; the lamb corralled for the altar has no right to stray out among the lions,” he added grimly. “Don’t worry, sweet,” he told her. “As long as I’ve sat in the game I’ll stick to the rules.”
Olaf took fierce joy in the coming fray6. “The Norns spin close to the end of this web,” he rumbled7. “Ja! And the threads of Lugur and the Heks woman are between their fingers for the breaking! Thor will be with me, and I have fashioned me a hammer in glory of Thor.” In his hand was an enormous mace8 of black metal, fully9 five feet long, crowned with a massive head.
I pass to the twelve hours’ closing.
At the end of the coria road where the giant fernland met the edge of the cavern10’s ruby11 floor, hundreds of the Akka were stationed in ambush12, armed with their spears tipped with the rotting death and their nail-studded, metal-headed clubs. These were to attack when the Murians debauched from the corials. We had little hope of doing more here than effect some attrition of Yolara’s hosts, for at this place the captains of the Shining One could wield13 the Keth and their other uncanny weapons freely. We had learned, too, that every forge and artisan had been put to work to make an armour14 Marakinoff had devised to withstand the natural battle equipment of the frog-people — and both Larry and I had a disquieting15 faith in the Russian’s ingenuity16.
At any rate the numbers against us would be lessened17.
Next, under the direction of the frog-king, levies18 commanded by subsidiary chieftains had completed rows of rough walls along the probable route of the Murians through the cavern. These afforded the Akka a fair protection behind which they could hurl19 their darts20 and spears — curiously21 enough they had never developed the bow as a weapon.
At the opening of the cavern a strong barricade22 stretched almost to the two ends of the crescent strand23; almost, I say, because there had not been time to build it entirely24 across the mouth.
And from edge to edge of the titanic25 bridge, from where it sprang outward at the shore of the Crimson26 Sea to a hundred feet away from the golden door of the abode27, barrier after barrier was piled.
Behind the wall defending the mouth of the cavern, waited other thousands of the Akka. At each end of the unfinished barricade they were mustered28 thickly, and at right and left of the crescent where their forest began, more legions were assembled to make way up to the ledge29 as opportunity offered.
Rank upon rank they manned the bridge barriers; they swarmed30 over the pinnacles31 and in the hollows of the island’s ragged32 outer lip; the domed34 castle was a hive of them, if I may mix my metaphors35 — and the rocks and gardens that surrounded the abode glittered with them.
“Now,” said the handmaiden, “there’s nothing else we can do — save wait.”
She led us out through her bower36 and up the little path that ran to the embrasure.
Through the quiet came a sound, a sighing, a half-mournful whispering that beat about us and fled away.
“They come!” cried Lakla, the light of battle in her eyes. Larry drew her to him, raised her in his arms, kissed her.
“A woman!” acclaimed37 the O’Keefe. “A real woman — and mine!”
With the cry of the Portal there was movement among the Akka, the glint of moving spears, flash of metal-tipped clubs, rattle38 of horny spurs, rumblings of battle-cries.
And we waited — waited it seemed interminably, gaze fastened upon the low wall across the cavern mouth. Suddenly I remembered the crystal through which I had peered when the hidden assassins had crept upon us. Mentioning it to Lakla, she gave a little cry of vexation, a command to her attendant; and not long that faithful if unusual lady had returned with a tray of the glasses. Raising mine, I saw the lines furthest away leap into sudden activity. Spurred warrior39 after warrior leaped upon the barricade and over it. Flashes of intense, green light, mingled40 with gleams like lightning strokes of concentrated moon rays, sprang from behind the wall — sprang and struck and burned upon the scales of the batrachians.
“They come!” whispered Lakla.
At the far ends of the crescent a terrific milling had begun. Here it was plain the Akka were holding. Faintly, for the distance was great, I could see fresh force upon force rush up and take the places of those who had fallen.
Over each of these ends, and along the whole line of the barricade a mist of dancing, diamonded atoms began to rise; sparking, coruscating41 points of diamond dust that darted42 and danced.
What had once been Lakla’s guardians43 — dancing now in the nothingness!
“God, but it’s hard to stay here like this!” groaned44 the O’Keefe; Olaf’s teeth were bared, the lips drawn45 back in such a fighting grin as his ancestors berserk on their raven46 ships must have borne; Rador was livid with rage; the handmaiden’s nostrils47 flaring48 wide, all her wrathful soul in her eyes.
Suddenly, while we looked, the rocky wall which the Akka had built at the cavern mouth — was not! It vanished, as though an unseen, unbelievably gigantic hand had with the lightning’s speed swept it away. And with it vanished, too, long lines of the great amphibians49 close behind it.
Then down upon the ledge, dropping into the Crimson Sea, sending up geysers of ruby spray, dashing on the bridge, crushing the frog-men, fell a shower of stone, mingled with distorted shapes and fragments whose scales still flashed meteoric50 as they hurled51 from above.
“That which makes things fall upward,” hissed52 Olaf. “That which I saw in the garden of Lugur!”
The fiendish agency of destruction which Marakinoff had revealed to Larry; the force that cut off gravitation and sent all things within its range racing53 outward into space!
And now over the debris54 upon the ledge, striking with long sword and daggers55, here and there a captain flashing the green ray, moving on in ordered squares, came the soldiers of the Shining One. Nearer and nearer the verge56 of the ledge they pushed Nak’s warriors57. Leaping upon the dwarfs58, smiting60 them with spear and club, with teeth and spur, the Akka fought like devils. Quivering under the ray, they leaped and dragged down and slew61.
Now there was but one long line of the frog-men at the very edge of the cliff.
And ever the clouds of dancing, diamonded atoms grew thicker over them all!
That last thin line of the Akka was going; yet they fought to the last, and none toppled over the lip without at least one of the armoured Murians in his arms.
My gaze dropped to the foot of the cliffs. Stretched along their length was a wide ribbon of beauty — a shimmering62 multitude of gleaming, pulsing, prismatic moons; glowing, glowing ever brighter, ever more wondrous63 — the gigantic Medusae globes feasting on dwarf59 and frog-man alike!
Across the waters, faintly, came a triumphant64 shouting from Lugur’s and Yolara’s men!
Was the ruddy light of the place lessening65, growing paler, changing to a faint rose? There was an exclamation66 from Larry; something like hope relaxed the drawn muscles of his face. He pointed67 to the aureate dome33 wherein sat the Three — and then I saw!
Out of it, through the long transverse slit68 through which the Silent Ones kept their watch on cavern, bridge, and abyss, a torrent69 of the opalescent70 light was pouring. It cascaded71 like a waterfall, and as it flowed it spread whirling out, in columns and eddies72, clouds and wisps of misty73, curdled74 coruscations. It hung like a veil over all the islands, filtering everywhere, driving back the crimson light as though possessed75 of impenetrable substance — and still it cast not the faintest shadowing upon our vision.
“Good God!” breathed Larry. “Look!”
The radiance was marching — MARCHING— down the colossal76 bridge. It moved swiftly, in some unthinkable way INTELLIGENTLY. It swathed the Akka, and closer, ever closer it swept toward the approach upon which Yolara’s men had now gained foothold.
From their ranks came flash after flash of the green ray — aimed at the abode! But as the light sped and struck the opalescence77 it was blotted78 out! The shimmering mists seemed to enfold, to dissipate it.
Lakla drew a deep breath.
“The Silent Ones forgive me for doubting them,” she whispered; and again hope blossomed on her face even as it did on Larry’s.
The frog-men were gaining. Clothed in the armour of that mist, they pressed back from the bridge-head the invaders79. There was another prodigious80 movement at the ends of the crescent, and racing up, pressing against the dwarfs, came other legions of Nak’s warriors. And re-enforcing those out on the prodigious arch, the frog-men stationed in the gardens below us poured back to the castle and out through the open Portal.
“They’re licked!” shouted Larry. “They’re —”
So quickly I could not follow the movement his automatic leaped to his hand — spoke81, once and again and again. Rador leaped to the head of the little path, sword in hand; Olaf, shouting and whirling his mace, followed. I strove to get my own gun quickly.
For up that path were running twoscore of Lugur’s men, while from below Lugur’s own voice roared.
“Quick! Slay82 not the handmaiden or her lover! Carry them down. Quick! But slay the others!”
The handmaiden raced toward Larry, stopped, whistled shrilly83 — again and again. Larry’s pistol was empty, but as the dwarfs rushed upon him I dropped two of them with mine. It jammed — I could not use it; I sprang to his side. Rador was down, struggling in a heap of Lugur’s men. Olaf, a Viking of old, was whirling his great hammer, and striking, striking through armour, flesh, and bone.
Larry was down, Lakla flew to him. But the Norseman, now streaming blood from a dozen wounds, caught a glimpse of her coming, turned, thrust out a mighty84 hand, sent her reeling back, and then with his hammer cracked the skulls85 of those trying to drag the O’Keefe down the path.
A cry from Lakla — the dwarfs had seized her, had lifted her despite her struggles, were carrying her away. One I dropped with the butt86 of my useless pistol, and then went down myself under the rush of another.
Through the clamour I heard a booming of the Akka, closer, closer; then through it the bellow87 of Lugur. I made a mighty effort, swung a hand up, and sunk my fingers in the throat of the soldier striving to kill me. Writhing88 over him, my fingers touched a poniard; I thrust it deep, staggered to my feet.
The O’Keefe, shielding Lakla, was battling with a long sword against a half dozen of the soldiers. I started toward him, was struck, and under the impact hurled to the ground. Dizzily I raised myself — and leaning upon my elbow, stared and moved no more. For the dwarfs lay dead, and Larry, holding Lakla tightly, was staring even as I, and ranged at the head of the path were the Akka, whose booming advance in obedience89 to the handmaiden’s call I had heard.
And at what we all stared was Olaf, crimson with his wounds, and Lugur, in blood-red armour, locked in each other’s grip, struggling, smiting, tearing, kicking, and swaying about the little space before the embrasure. I crawled over toward the O’Keefe. He raised his pistol, dropped it.
“Can’t hit him without hitting Olaf,” he whispered. Lakla signalled the frog-men; they advanced toward the two — but Olaf saw them, broke the red dwarf’s hold, sent Lugur reeling a dozen feet away.
“No!” shouted the Norseman, the ice of his pale-blue eyes glinting like frozen flames, blood streaming down his face and dripping from his hands. “No! Lugur is mine! None but me slays90 him! Ho, you Lugur —” and cursed him and Yolara and the Dweller91 hideously92 — I cannot set those curses down here.
They spurred Lugur. Mad now as the Norseman, the red dwarf sprang. Olaf struck a blow that would have killed an ordinary man, but Lugur only grunted93, swept in, and seized him about the waist; one mighty arm began to creep up toward Huldricksson’s throat.
“‘Ware, Olaf!” cried O’Keefe; but Olaf did not answer. He waited until the red dwarf’s hand was close to his shoulder; and then, with an incredibly rapid movement — once before had I seen something like it in a wrestling match between Papuans — he had twisted Lugur around; twisted him so that Olaf’s right arm lay across the tremendous breast, the left behind the neck, and Olaf’s left leg held the Voice’s armoured thighs94 viselike against his right knee while over that knee lay the small of the red dwarf’s back.
For a second or two the Norseman looked down upon his enemy, motionless in that paralyzing grip. And then — slowly — he began to break him!
Lakla gave a little cry; made a motion toward the two. But Larry drew her head down against his breast, hiding her eyes; then fastened his own upon the pair, white-faced, stern.
Slowly, ever so slowly, proceeded Olaf. Twice Lugur moaned. At the end he screamed — horribly. There was a cracking sound, as of a stout95 stick snapped.
Huldricksson stooped, silently. He picked up the limp body of the Voice, not yet dead, for the eyes rolled, the lips strove to speak; lifted it, walked to the parapet, swung it twice over his head, and cast it down to the red waters!
点击收听单词发音
1 recital | |
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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2 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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3 scrap | |
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
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4 lashes | |
n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 );鞭子;突然猛烈的一击;急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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5 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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6 fray | |
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗 | |
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7 rumbled | |
发出隆隆声,发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 轰鸣着缓慢行进; 发现…的真相; 看穿(阴谋) | |
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8 mace | |
n.狼牙棒,豆蔻干皮 | |
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9 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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10 cavern | |
n.洞穴,大山洞 | |
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11 ruby | |
n.红宝石,红宝石色 | |
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12 ambush | |
n.埋伏(地点);伏兵;v.埋伏;伏击 | |
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13 wield | |
vt.行使,运用,支配;挥,使用(武器等) | |
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14 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
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15 disquieting | |
adj.令人不安的,令人不平静的v.使不安,使忧虑,使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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16 ingenuity | |
n.别出心裁;善于发明创造 | |
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17 lessened | |
减少的,减弱的 | |
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18 levies | |
(部队)征兵( levy的名词复数 ); 募捐; 被征募的军队 | |
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19 hurl | |
vt.猛投,力掷,声叫骂 | |
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20 darts | |
n.掷飞镖游戏;飞镖( dart的名词复数 );急驰,飞奔v.投掷,投射( dart的第三人称单数 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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21 curiously | |
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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22 barricade | |
n.路障,栅栏,障碍;vt.设路障挡住 | |
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23 strand | |
vt.使(船)搁浅,使(某人)困于(某地) | |
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24 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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25 titanic | |
adj.巨人的,庞大的,强大的 | |
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26 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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27 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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28 mustered | |
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的过去式和过去分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 | |
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29 ledge | |
n.壁架,架状突出物;岩架,岩礁 | |
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30 swarmed | |
密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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31 pinnacles | |
顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 ); 顶点; 尖顶; 小尖塔 | |
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32 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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33 dome | |
n.圆屋顶,拱顶 | |
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34 domed | |
adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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35 metaphors | |
隐喻( metaphor的名词复数 ) | |
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36 bower | |
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽 | |
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37 acclaimed | |
adj.受人欢迎的 | |
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38 rattle | |
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓 | |
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39 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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40 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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41 coruscating | |
v.闪光,闪烁( coruscate的现在分词 ) | |
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42 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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43 guardians | |
监护人( guardian的名词复数 ); 保护者,维护者 | |
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44 groaned | |
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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45 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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46 raven | |
n.渡鸟,乌鸦;adj.乌亮的 | |
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47 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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48 flaring | |
a.火焰摇曳的,过份艳丽的 | |
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49 amphibians | |
两栖动物( amphibian的名词复数 ); 水陆两用车; 水旱两生植物; 水陆两用飞行器 | |
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50 meteoric | |
adj.流星的,转瞬即逝的,突然的 | |
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51 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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52 hissed | |
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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53 racing | |
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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54 debris | |
n.瓦砾堆,废墟,碎片 | |
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55 daggers | |
匕首,短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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56 verge | |
n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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57 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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58 dwarfs | |
n.侏儒,矮子(dwarf的复数形式)vt.(使)显得矮小(dwarf的第三人称单数形式) | |
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59 dwarf | |
n.矮子,侏儒,矮小的动植物;vt.使…矮小 | |
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60 smiting | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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61 slew | |
v.(使)旋转;n.大量,许多 | |
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62 shimmering | |
v.闪闪发光,发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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63 wondrous | |
adj.令人惊奇的,奇妙的;adv.惊人地;异乎寻常地;令人惊叹地 | |
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64 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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65 lessening | |
减轻,减少,变小 | |
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66 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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67 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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68 slit | |
n.狭长的切口;裂缝;vt.切开,撕裂 | |
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69 torrent | |
n.激流,洪流;爆发,(话语等的)连发 | |
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70 opalescent | |
adj.乳色的,乳白的 | |
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71 cascaded | |
级联的 | |
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72 eddies | |
(水、烟等的)漩涡,涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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73 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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74 curdled | |
v.(使)凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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76 colossal | |
adj.异常的,庞大的 | |
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77 opalescence | |
n.乳白光,蛋白色光;乳光 | |
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78 blotted | |
涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 ); (用吸墨纸)吸干 | |
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79 invaders | |
入侵者,侵略者,侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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80 prodigious | |
adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 | |
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81 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 | |
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82 slay | |
v.杀死,宰杀,杀戮 | |
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83 shrilly | |
尖声的; 光亮的,耀眼的 | |
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84 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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85 skulls | |
颅骨( skull的名词复数 ); 脑袋; 脑子; 脑瓜 | |
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86 butt | |
n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶 | |
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87 bellow | |
v.吼叫,怒吼;大声发出,大声喝道 | |
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88 writhing | |
(因极度痛苦而)扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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89 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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90 slays | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的第三人称单数 ) | |
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91 dweller | |
n.居住者,住客 | |
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92 hideously | |
adv.可怕地,非常讨厌地 | |
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93 grunted | |
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说 | |
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94 thighs | |
n.股,大腿( thigh的名词复数 );食用的鸡(等的)腿 | |
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