Chapter 14

Manella brushed the hair out of her eyes and smiled up at Raych. "I told you it wouldn't cost you any credits."
    Raych blinked and scratched at his bare shoulder. "But are you going to ask me for some now?"
    She shrugged¹ and smiled rather impishly. "Why should I?"
    "Why shouldn't you?"
    "Because I'm allowed to take my own pleasure sometimes."
    "With me?"
    "There's no one else here."
    There was a long pause and then Manella said soothingly², "Besides, you don't have that many credits anyway. How's the job?"
    Raych said, "Ain't much but better than nothing. Lots better. Did you tell that guy to get me one?"
    Manella shook her head slowly. "You mean Gleb Andorin? I didn't tell him to do anything. I just said he might be interested in you."
    "Is he going to be annoyed because you and I-"
    "Why should he? None of his business. And none of yours, either."
    "What's he do? I mean, what does he work at?"
    "I don't think he works at anything. He's rich. He's a relative of the old Mayors."
    "Of Wye?"
    "Right. He doesn't like the Imperial government. None of those old Mayor people do. He says Cleon should-"
    She stopped suddenly and said, "I'm talking too much. Don't you go repeating anything I say."
    "Me? I ain't heard you say nothing at all. And I ain't going to."
    "All right."
    "But what about Andorin? Is he high up in Joranumite business? Is tae an important guy there?"
    "I wouldn't know."
    "Don't he ever talk about that kind of stuff?"
    "Not to me."
    "Oh," said Raych, trying not to sound annoyed.
    Manella looked at him shrewdly. "Why are you so interested?"
    "I want to get in with them. I figure I'll get higher up that way. Better job. More credits. You know."
    "Maybe Andorin will help you. He likes you. I know that much."
    "Could you make him like me more?"
    "I can try. I don't know why he shouldn't. I like you. I like you more than I like him."
    "Thank you, Manella. I like you, too. -A lot." He ran his hand down the side of her body and wished ardently³ that he could concentrate more on her and less on his assignment.

1 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 soothingly   

adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地

参考例句：

• The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 ardently   

adv.热心地，热烈地

参考例句：

• The preacher is disserveing the very religion in which he ardently believe. 那传教士在损害他所热烈信奉的宗教。 来自辞典例句
• However ardently they love, however intimate their union, they are never one. 无论他们的相爱多么热烈，无论他们的关系多么亲密，他们决不可能合而为一。 来自辞典例句