Rossem is one of those marginal worlds usually neglected in Galactic history and scarcely ever obtruding1 itself upon the notice of men of the myriad2 happier planets.
In the latter days of the Galactic Empire, a few political prisoners had inhabited its wastes, while an observatory3 and a small Naval4 garrison5 served to keep it from complete desertion. Later, in the evil days of strife6, even before the time of Hari Seldon, the weaker sort of men, tired of the periodic decades of insecurity and danger; weary of sacked planets and a ghostly succession of ephemeral emperors making their way to the Purple for a few wicked, fruitless years ?these men fled the populated centers and sought shelter in the barren nooks of the Galaxy7.
Along the chilly8 wastes of Rossem, villages huddled9. Its sun was a small ruddy niggard that clutched its dribble10 of heat to itself, while snow beat thinly down for nine months of the year. The tough native grain lay dormant11 in the soil those snow-filled months, then grew and ripened12 in almost panic speed, when the sun's reluctant radiation brought the temperature to nearly fifty.
Small, goatlike animals cropped the grasslands13, kicking the thin snow aside with tiny, tri-hooved feet.
The men of Rossem had, thus, their bread and their milk ?and when they could spare an animal ?even their meat. The darkly ominous14 forests that gnarled their way over half of the equatorial region of the planet supplied a tough, fine-grained wood for housing. This wood, together with certain furs and minerals, was even worth exporting, and the ships of the Empire came at times and brought in exchange farm machinery15, atomic heaters, even televisor sets. The last was not really incongruous, for the long winter imposed a lonely hibernation16 upon the peasant.
Imperial history flowed past the peasants of Rossem. The trading ships might bring news in impatient spurts17; occasionally new fugitives18 would arrive ?at one time, a relatively19 large group arrived in a body and remained ?and these usually had news of the Galaxy.
It was then that the Rossemites learned of sweeping20 battles and decimated populations or of tyrannical emperors and rebellious21 viceroys. And they would sigh and shake their heads, and draw their fur collars closer about their bearded faces as they sat about the village square in the weak sun and philosophized on the evil of men.
Then after a while, no trading ships arrived at all, and life grew harder. Supplies of foreign, soft food, of tobacco, of machinery stopped. Vague word from scraps22 gathered on the televisor brought increasingly disturbing news. And finally it spread that Trantor had been sacked. The great capital world of all the Galaxy, the splendid, storied, unapproachable and incomparable home of the emperors had been despoiled23 and ruined and brought to utter destruction.
It was something inconceivable, and to many of the peasants of Rossem, scratching away at their fields, it might well seem that the end of the Galaxy was at hand.
And then one day not unlike other days a ship arrived again. The old men of each village nodded wisely and lifted their old eyelids24 to whisper that thus it had been in their father's time ?but it wasn't, quite.
This ship was not an Imperial ship. The glowing Spaceship-and-Sun of the Empire was missing from its prow25. It was a stubby affair made of scraps of older ships ?and the men within called themselves soldiers of Tazenda.
The peasants were confused. They had not heard of Tazenda, but they greeted the soldiers nevertheless in the traditional fashion of hospitality. The newcomers inquired closely as to the nature of the planet, the number of its inhabitants, the number of its cities ?a word mistaken by the peasants to mean "villages" to the confusion of all concerned ?its type of economy and so on.
Other ships came and proclamations were issued all over the world that Tazenda was now the ruling world, that tax-collecting stations would be established girdling the equator ?the inhabited region ?that percentages of grain and furs according to certain numerical formulae would be collected annually27.
The Rossemites had blinked solemnly, uncertain of the word "taxes." When collection time came, many had paid, or had stood by in confusion while the uniformed, other-wordlings loaded the harvested corn and the pelts28 on to the broad ground-cars.
Here and there indignant peasants banded together and brought out ancient hunting weapons ?but of this nothing ever came. Grumblingly29 they had disbanded when the men of Tazenda came and with dismay watched their hard struggle for existence become harder.
But a new equilibrium30 was reached. The Tazendian governor lived dourly31 in the village of Gentri, from which all Rossemites were barred. He and the officials under him were dim otherworld beings that rarely impinged on the Rossemite ken26. The tax-farmers, Rossemites in the employ of Tazenda, came periodically, but they were creatures of custom now ?and the peasant had learned how to hide his grain and drive his cattle into the forest, and refrain from having his hut appear too ostentatiously prosperous. Then with a dull, uncomprehending expression he would greet all sharp questioning as to his assets by merely pointing at what they could see.
Even that grew less, and taxes decreased, almost as If Tazenda wearied of extorting32 pennies from such a world.
Trading sprang up and perhaps Tazenda found that more profitable. The men of Rossem no longer received in exchange the polished creations of the Empire, but even Tazendian machines and Tazendian food was better than the native stuff. And there were clothes for the women of other than gray home-spun, which was a very important thing.
So once again, Galactic history glided33 past peacefully enough, and the peasants scrabbIed life out of the hard soil.
Narovi blew into his beard as he stepped out of his cottage.
The first snows were sifting34 across the hard ground and the sky was a dull, overcast35 pink. He squinted36 carefully upward and decided37 that no real storm was in sight. He could travel to Gentri without much trouble and get rid of his surplus grain in return for enough canned foods to last the winter.
He roared back through the door, which he opened a crack for the purpose: "Has the car been fed its fuel, yunker?"
A voice shouted from within, and then Narovi's oldest son, his short, red beard not yet completely outgrown38 its boyish sparseness39, joined him.
"The car," he said, sullenly40, "is fueled and rides well, but for the bad condition of the axles. For that I am of no blame. I have told you it needs expert repairs."
The old man stepped back and surveyed his son through lowering eyebrows41, then thrust his hairy chin outward: "And is the fault mine? Where and in what manner may I achieve expert repairs? Has the harvest then been anything but scanty42 for five years? Have my herds43 escaped the pest? Have the pelts climbed of themselves?
"Narovi!" The well-known voice from within stopped him in mid-word. He grumbled44, "Well, well ?and now your mother must insert herself into the affairs of a father and his son. Bring out the car, and see to it that the storage trailers are securely attached."
He pounded his gloved hands together, and looked upward again. The dimly-ruddy clouds were gathering45 and the gray sky that showed in the rifts46 bore no warmth. The sun was hidden.
He was at the point of looking away, when his dropping eyes caught and his finger almost automatically rose on high while his mouth fell open in a shout, in complete disregard of the cold air.
"Wife," he called vigorously, "Old woman ?come here."
An indignant head appeared at a window. The woman's eyes followed his finger, gaped47. With a cry, she dashed down the wooden stairs, snatching up an old wrap and a square of linen48 as she went. She emerged with the linen wrapped insecurely over her head and ears, and the wrap dangling49 from her shoulders.
She snuffled: "It is a ship from outer space."
And Narovi remarked impatiently: "And what else could it be? We have visitors, old woman, visitors!"
The ship was sinking slowly to a landing on the bare frozen field in the northern portions of Narovi's farm.
"But what shall we do?" gasped50 the woman. "Can we offer these people hospitality? Is the dirt floor of our hovel to be theirs and the pickings of last week's hoecake?"
"Shall they then go to our neighbors?" Narovi purpled past the crimson51 induced by the cold and his arms in their sleek52 fur covering lunged out and seized the woman's brawny53 shoulders.
"Wife of my soul," he purred, "you will take the two chairs from our room downstairs; you will see that a fat youngling is slaughtered54 and roasted with tubers; you will bake a fresh hoecake. I go now to greet these men of power from outer space ... and ... and? He paused, placed his great cap awry55, and scratched hesitantly. "Yes, I shall bring my jug56 of brewed57 grain as well. Hearty58 drink is pleasant."
The woman's mouth had flapped idly during this speech. Nothing came out. And when that stage passed, it was only a discordant59 screech60 that issued.
Narovi lifted a finger, "Old woman, what was it the village Elders said a se'nnight since? Eh? Stir your memory. The Elders went from farm to farm ?themselves! Imagine the importance of it! ?to ask us that should any ships from outer space land, they were to be informed immediately on the orders of the governor.
"And now shall I not seize the opportunity to win into the good graces of those in power? Regard that ship. Have you ever seen its like? These men from the outer worlds are rich, great. The governor himself sends such urgent messages concerning them that the Elders walk from farm to farm in the cooling weather. Perhaps the message is sent throughout all Rossem that these men are greatly desired by the Lords of Tazenda ?and it is on my farm that they are landing."
He fairly hopped61 for anxiety, "The proper hospitality now ?the mention of my name to the governor ?and what may not be ours?"
His wife was suddenly aware of the cold biting through her thin house-clothing. She leaped towards the door, shouting over her shoulders, "Leave then quickly."
But she was speaking to a man who was even then racing62 towards the segment of the horizon against which the ship sank.
Neither the cold of the world, nor its bleak63, empty spaces worried General Han Pritcher. Nor the poverty of their surroundings, nor the perspiring64 peasant himself.
What did bother him was the question of the wisdom of their tactics? He and Channis were alone here.
The ship, left in space, could take care of itself in ordinary circumstances, but still, he felt unsafe. It was Channis, of course, who was responsible for this move. He looked across at the young man and caught him winking65 cheerfully at the gap in the furred partition, in which a woman's peeping eyes and gaping66 mouth momentarily appeared.
Channis, at least, seemed completely at ease. That fact Pritcher savored67 with a vinegary satisfaction. His game had not much longer to proceed exactly as he wished it. Yet, meanwhile their wrist ultrawave sender-receivers were their only connection with the ship.
And then the peasant host smiled enormously and bobbed his head several times and said in a voice oily with respect, "Noble Lords, I crave68 leave to tell you that my eldest69 son ?a good, worthy70 lad whom my poverty prevents from educating as his wisdom deserves ?has informed me that the Elders will arrive soon. I trust your stay here has been as pleasant as my humble71 means ?for I am poverty-stricken, though a hard-working, honest, and humble farmer, as anyone here will tell you ?could afford."
"Elders?" said Channis, lightly. "The chief men of the region here?"
"So they are, Noble Lords, and honest, worthy men all of them, for our entire village is known throughout Rossem as a just and righteous spot ?though living is hard and the returns of the fields and forests meager72. Perhaps you will mention to the Elders, Noble Lords, of my respect and honor for travelers and it may happen that they will request a new motor wagon73 for our household as the old one can scarcely creep and upon the remnant of it depends our livelihood74."
He looked humbly75 eager and Han Pritcher nodded with thee properly aloof76 condescension77 required of the role of "Noble, Lords" bestowed78 upon them.
"A report of your hospitality shall reach the ears of your Elders."
Pritcher seized the next moments of isolation79 to speak to the apparently80 half-sleeping Channis.
"I am not particularly fond of this meeting of the Elders," he said. "Have you any thoughts on the subject?"
Channis seemed surprised. "No. What worries you?"
"It seems we have better things to do than to become conspicuous81 here.'
Channis spoke82 hastily, in a low monotoned voice: "It may be necessary to risk becoming conspicuous in our next moves. We won't find the type of men we want, Pritcher, by simply reaching out a hand into a dark bag and groping. Men who rule by tricks of the mind need not necessarily be men in obvious power. In the first place, the psychologists of the Second Foundation are probably a very small minority of the total population, just as on your own First Foundation, the technicians and scientists formed a minority. The ordinary inhabitants are probably just that ?very ordinary. The psychologists may even be well hidden, and the men in the apparently ruling position, may honestly think they are the true masters. Our solution to that problem may be found here on this frozen lump of a planet."
"I don't follow that aaaall."
"Why, see here, it's obvious enough. Tazenda is probably a huge world of millions or hundreds of millions. How could we identify the psychologists among them and be able to report truly to the Mule83 that we have located the Second Foundation? But here, on this tiny peasant world and subject planet, an the Tazendian rulers, our host informs us, are concentrated in their chief village of Gentri. There may be only a few hundred of them there, Pritcher, and among them must be one or more of the men of the Second Foundation. We will go there eventually, but let us see the Elders first ?it's a logical step on the way."
They drew apart easily, as their black-bearded host tumbled into the room again, obviously agitated84.
"Noble Lords, the Elders are arriving. I crave leave to beg you once more to mention a word, perhaps, on my behalf? He almost bent85 double in a paroxysm of fawning86.
"We shall certainly remember you," said Channis. "Are these your Elders?"
They apparently were. There were three.
One approached. He bowed with a dignified87 respect and said: "We are honored. Transportation has been provided, Respected sirs, and we hope for the pleasure of your company at our Meeting Hall."
THIRD INTERLUDE
The First Speaker gazed wistfully aaathe night sky. Wispy88 clouds scudded89 across the faint stargleams. Space looked actively90 hostile. It was cold and awful aaabest but now it contained that strange creature, the Mule, and the very content seemed to darken and thicken it into ominous threat.
The meeting was over. It had not been long. There had been the doubts and questionings inspired by the difficult mathematical problem of dealing91 with a mental mutant of uncertain makeup92. All the extreme permutations had had to be considered.
Were they even yet certain? Somewhere in this region of space ?within reaching distance as Galactic spaces go ?was the Mule. What would he do?
It was easy enough to handle his men. They reacted ?and were reacting ?according to plan.
But what of the Mule himself?
点击收听单词发音
1 obtruding | |
v.强行向前,强行,强迫( obtrude的现在分词 ) | |
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2 myriad | |
adj.无数的;n.无数,极大数量 | |
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3 observatory | |
n.天文台,气象台,瞭望台,观测台 | |
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4 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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5 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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6 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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7 galaxy | |
n.星系;银河系;一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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8 chilly | |
adj.凉快的,寒冷的 | |
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9 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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10 dribble | |
v.点滴留下,流口水;n.口水 | |
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11 dormant | |
adj.暂停活动的;休眠的;潜伏的 | |
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12 ripened | |
v.成熟,使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 grasslands | |
n.草原,牧场( grassland的名词复数 ) | |
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14 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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15 machinery | |
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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16 hibernation | |
n.冬眠 | |
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17 spurts | |
短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 ); 突然奋起 | |
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18 fugitives | |
n.亡命者,逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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19 relatively | |
adv.比较...地,相对地 | |
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20 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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21 rebellious | |
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的 | |
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22 scraps | |
油渣 | |
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23 despoiled | |
v.掠夺,抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24 eyelids | |
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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25 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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26 ken | |
n.视野,知识领域 | |
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27 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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28 pelts | |
n. 皮毛,投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛,(连续)投掷 vi. 猛击,大步走 | |
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29 grumblingly | |
喃喃报怨着,发牢骚着 | |
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30 equilibrium | |
n.平衡,均衡,相称,均势,平静 | |
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31 dourly | |
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32 extorting | |
v.敲诈( extort的现在分词 );曲解 | |
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33 glided | |
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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34 sifting | |
n.筛,过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 );筛滤;细查;详审 | |
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35 overcast | |
adj.阴天的,阴暗的,愁闷的;v.遮盖,(使)变暗,包边缝;n.覆盖,阴天 | |
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36 squinted | |
斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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37 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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38 outgrown | |
长[发展] 得超过(某物)的范围( outgrow的过去分词 ); 长[发展]得不能再要(某物); 长得比…快; 生长速度超过 | |
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39 sparseness | |
n.稀疏,稀少 | |
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40 sullenly | |
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地 | |
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41 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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42 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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43 herds | |
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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44 grumbled | |
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声 | |
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45 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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46 rifts | |
n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 );裂隙;分裂;不和 | |
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47 gaped | |
v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 );张开,张大 | |
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48 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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49 dangling | |
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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50 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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51 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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52 sleek | |
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢 | |
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53 brawny | |
adj.强壮的 | |
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54 slaughtered | |
v.屠杀,杀戮,屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55 awry | |
adj.扭曲的,错的 | |
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56 jug | |
n.(有柄,小口,可盛水等的)大壶,罐,盂 | |
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57 brewed | |
调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 ); 酝酿; 沏(茶); 煮(咖啡) | |
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58 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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59 discordant | |
adj.不调和的 | |
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60 screech | |
n./v.尖叫;(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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61 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 | |
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62 racing | |
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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63 bleak | |
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
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64 perspiring | |
v.出汗,流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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65 winking | |
n.瞬眼,目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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66 gaping | |
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大 | |
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67 savored | |
v.意味,带有…的性质( savor的过去式和过去分词 );给…加调味品;使有风味;品尝 | |
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68 crave | |
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
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69 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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70 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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71 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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72 meager | |
adj.缺乏的,不足的,瘦的 | |
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73 wagon | |
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车 | |
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74 livelihood | |
n.生计,谋生之道 | |
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75 humbly | |
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地 | |
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76 aloof | |
adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的 | |
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77 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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78 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79 isolation | |
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离 | |
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80 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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81 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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82 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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83 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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84 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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85 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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86 fawning | |
adj.乞怜的,奉承的v.(尤指狗等)跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的现在分词 );巴结;讨好 | |
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87 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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88 wispy | |
adj.模糊的;纤细的 | |
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89 scudded | |
v.(尤指船、舰或云彩)笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90 actively | |
adv.积极地,勤奋地 | |
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91 dealing | |
n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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92 makeup | |
n.组织;性格;化装品 | |
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