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Chapter 12
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A FEW MINUTES LATER Jill reported to Jubal’s study. Anne was there,seated and enveloped1 in the long white robe of her guild2; she glanced at Jill,said nothing. Jill found a chair and kept quiet, as Jubal was at his desk anddictating to Dorcas; he did not appear to notice Jill’s arrival and went ondictating:

  .-from under the sprawled3 body, soaking one corner of the rug and seepingout beyond it in a spreading dark red pool on the tiled hearth4, where it wasattracting the attention of two unemployed5 flies. Miss Simpson clutched at hermouth. .Dear me!’ she said in a distressed6 small voice, .Daddy’s favorite rug!

  . . . and Daddy, too, I do believe.’ End of chapter, Dorcas, and end of firstinstallment. Mail it off. Git.“Dorcas stood up and left, taking along her shorthand machine, and noddingand smiling to Jill as she did so. Jubal said, .Where’s Mike?“.In his room,“ answered Gillian, .dressing7. He’ll be along soon.“.’Dressing’?“ Jubal repeated peevishly8. .I didn’t say the party wasformal.“.But he has to get dressed.“.Why? It makes no never-mind to me whether you kids wear skin or fleecelinedovercoats-and it’s a warm day. Chase him in here.“.Please, Jubal. He’s got to learn how to behave. I’m trying so hard to trainhim.“.Hmmph! You’re trying to force on him your own narrow-minded, middleclass, Bible Belt morality. Don’t think I haven’t been watching.“.I have not! I haven’t concerned myself with his morals; I’ve simply beenteaching him necessary customs.“.Customs, morals-is there a difference? Woman, do you realize what you aredoing? Here, by the grace of God and an inside straight, we have apersonality untouched by the psychotic taboos9 of our tribe-.—and you want toturn him into a carbon copy of every fourth-rate conformist in this frightenedland! Why don’t you go whole hog11? Get him a brief case and make him carryit wherever he goes-make him feel shame if he doesn’t have it.“.I’m not doing anything of the sort! I’m just trying to keep him out of trouble.

  It’s for his own good.“Jubal snorted. .That’s the excuse they gave the tomcat just before hisoperation.“.Oh!“ Jill stopped and appeared to be counting ten. Then she said formallyand blealdy, .This is your house, Doctor Harshaw, and we are in your debt. Ifyou will excuse me, I will fetch Michael at once.“ She got up to leave.

  .Hold it, Jill.“.Sir?“.Sit back down-and for God’s sake quit trying to be as nasty as I am; youdon’t have my years of practice. Now let me get something straight: you arenot in my debt. You can’t be. Impossible-because I never do anything I don’twant to do. Nor does anyone, but in my case I am always aware of it. Soplease don’t invent a debt that does not exist, or before you know it you willbe trying to feel gratitude12-and that is the treacherous13 first step downward tocomplete moral degradation14. You grok that? Or don’t you?“Jill bit her lip, then grinned. .I’m not sure I know what .grok’ means.“.Nor do I. But I intend to go on taking lessons from Mike until I do. But I wasspeaking dead seriously. Gratitude is a euphemism15 for resentment16.

  Resentment from most people I do not mind-but from pretty little girls it isdistasteful to me.“.Why, Jubal, I don’t resent you-that’s silly.“.I hope you don’t... but you certainly will if you don’t root out of your mind thisdelusion that you are indebted to me. The Japanese have five different waysto say .thank you’-and every one of them translates literally18 as resentment, invarious degrees. Would that English had the same built-in honesty on thispoint! Instead, English is capable of defining sentiments that the humannervous system is quite incapable19 of experiencing. .Gratitude,’ for example.“.Jubal, you’re a cynical20 old man. I do feel grateful to you and I shall go onfeeling grateful.“.And you are a sentimental21 young girl. That makes us a perfectcomplementary pair. Hmm - let’s run over to Atlantic City for a weekend ofillicit debauchery, just us two.“.Why, Jubal!“.You see how deep your gratitude goes when I attempt to draw on it?“.Oh. I’m ready. How soon do we leave?“.Hmmmphtt We should have left forty years ago. Shut up. The second point Iwant to make is that you are right; the boy does indeed have to learn humancustoms. He must be taught to take off his shoes in a mosque22 and to wearhis hat in a synagogue and to cover his nakedness when taboo10 requires it, orour tribal23 shamans will burn him for deviationism24. But, child, by the myriaddeceptive aspects of Ahrilflafl, don’t brainwash him in the process. Make surehe is cynical about each part of it.“.Uh, I’m not sure how to go about that, Jubal. Well, Mike just doesn’t seem tohave any cynicism in him.“.So? Yes. Well, I’ll take a band in it. What’s keeping him? Shouldn’t he bedressed by now?“.I’ll go see.“.In a moment. Jill, I explained to you why I had not been anxious to accuseanyone of kidnapping Ben . . . and the reports I have had since Serve tosupport the probability that that was a tactically correct decision. If Ben isbeing unlawfully detained (to put it at its sweetest), at least we have notcrowded the opposition25 into getting rid of the evidence by getting rid o~ Ben.

  If he is alive he stands a chance of staying alive. But I took 0ther steps theIlrst night you were here. Do you know your Bible?“.Uh, not very well.“.It merits study, it contains very practical advice for most emergencies. .-every one that doeth evil hateth the light-. John something or other, Jesusspeaking to Nicodeus. I have been expecting at any moment an attempt toget Mike away from us, for it didn’t seem likely that you had managed tocover your tracks perfectly26. And if they do try? Well, this is a lonely place andwe haven’t any heavy artillery27. But there is one weapon that might balk28 them.

  Light. The glaring spotlight29 of publicity30. So I made some phone calls andarranged for any ruckus here to have publicity. Not just a little publicity thatthe administration might be able to hush31 up, but great gobs of publicityworldwide and all at once. The details do not matter-where and how thecameras are mounted and what line of sight linkages32 have been rigged, Imean. But if a fight breaks out here, it will be picked up by three networksand, at the same time, a number of hold for release messages will bedelivered to a wide spread of V.I.P.s, all of whom would like very much tocatch our Honorable Secretary General with his pants down.“Harshaw frowned. .The weakness in this defense33 is that I can’t maintain itindefinitely. Truthfully, when I set it up, my worry was to set up fast enough-Iexpected whatever popped’ to pop inside of twenty four hours. Now my worryis reversed and I think we are going to have to force some action quicklywhile I can still keep a spotlight on us.“.What sort of action, Jubal?“.I don’t know. I’ve been fretting34 about it the past three days, to the pointwhere I can’t enjoy my food. But you gave me a glitn1Uefl0~ of a newapproach when you told me that remarkable35 story about what happenedwhen they tried to grab you two in Ben’s apartment.“.I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Jubal. But I didn’t think anybody wouldbelieve me and I must say that it makes me feel good that you do believeme.“.I didn’t say I believed you.“.What? But you-.

  .I think you were telling the truth, Jill. But a dream IS a true experience of asort and so is a hypnotic delusion17. But what happens in this room during thenext half hour will be seen by a Fair Witness and by cameras which are“ heleaned forward and pressed a button. .rolling right now. I don’t think Annecan be hypnotized when she’s on duty and I’ll lay long odds36 that camerascan’t be. We should be able to find out what kind of truth we’re dealing37 withafterwhich we should be able to decide how to go about forcing the powersthat-be to drop the other shoe . . . and maybe figure a way that will help Benat the same time. Go get Mike.“Mike’s delay was not mysterious, merely worrisome to him. He had managedto tie his left shoestring38 to his right-then had stood up, tripped himself, fallenflat, and, in so doing, jerked the knots almost hopelessly tight. He had spentthe rest of the time analysing his predicament, concluding correctly why hehad failed, and slowly, slowly, slowly getting the snarl39 untied40 and the stringscorrectly tied, one bow to each shoe, unlinked. He had not been aware thathis dressing had taken long; he had simply been troubled that he had failedto repeat correctly something which Jill had already taught him. Heconfessed his failure abjectly41 to her even though he had repaired it by thetime she came to fetch him.

  She soothed42 and reassured43 him, combed his hair, and herded44 him in to seeJubal. Harshaw looked up. .Hi, son. Sit down.“.Hi, Jubal,“ Valentine Michael Smith answered gravely, sat down- waited. Jillhad to rid herself of the impression that Smith had bowed deeply, when infact he had not even nodded.

  Harshaw put aside a hush-mike and said, .Well, boy what have youlearned today?“Smith smiled happily, then answered-as always with a slight pause. .I havetoday learned to do a one-and-a-half gainer. That is a jumping, a dive, forentering our water by-.

  .I know, I saw you doing it. But you splashed. Keep your toes pointed45, yourknees straight, and your feet together.“Smith looked unhappy. .I rightly did not it do?“.You did it very rightly, for a first time. Watch how Dorcas does it. Hardly aripple in the water.“Smith considered this slowly. .The water groks Dorcas. It cherishes him.“.’Her.’ Dorcas is a .her,’ not a .him.’“.’Her,’ . Smith corrected. .Then my speaking was false? I have read inWebster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, ThirdEdition, published in Springfield, Massachusetts, that the masculine genderincludes the feminine gender46 in speaking. In Hagworth’s Law of Contracts,Fifth Edition, Chicago, Illinois, 1978, on page 1012, it says-.

  .Hold it,“ Harshaw said hastily. .The trouble is with the English language, notwith you. Masculine speech forms do include the feminine, when you arespeaking in general-but not when you are talking about a particular person.

  Dorcas is always .she’ or .her’-never .he’ or .him.’ Remember it.“.I will remember it.“.You had better remember it-~r you may provoke Dorcas into proving justhow female she is.“ Harshaw blinked thoughtfully. .Jill, is the lad sleepingwith you? Or with one of you?“She barely hesitated, then answered flatly, .SO far as I know, Mike doesn’tsleep.“.You evaded47 my question.“.Then perhaps you had better assume that I intended to evade48 it. However,he is not sleeping with me.“.Mmm .. damn it, my interest is scientific. However, we’ll pursue another lineof inquiry49. Mike, what else have you learned today?“.I have learned two ways to tie my shoes. One way is only good for lyingdown. The other way is good for walking. And I have learned conjugations. .Iam, thou art, he is, we are, you are, they are, I was, thou wast-.

  .Okay, that’s enough. What else?“Mike smiled delightedly. .To yesterday I am learning to drive the tractor,brightly, brightly, and with beauty.“.Eh?“ Jubal turned to Jill. .When did this happen?“.Yesterday afternoon while you were napping, Jubal. It’s all right- Duke wasvery careful not to let him get hurt.“.Umm ... well, obviously he did not get hurt. Mike, have you been reading?“.Yes, Jubal.“.What?“.I have read,“ Mike recited carefully, .three more volumes of theEncyclopedia, Maryb to Mushe, Mushr to Ozon, P to Planti. You have told menot to read too much of the Encyclopedia50 at one reading, so I then stopped. Ithen read the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by Master William Shakespeareof London. I then read the Memoirs51 of Jacques Casanova de Sein gait astranslated into English by Arthur Machen. I then read The Art of Cross-Exammat ion by Francis Weilman. I then tried to grok what I had read until Jill toldme that I must come to breakfast.“.And did you grok it?“Smith looked troubled. .Jubal, I do not know.“.Is anything bothering you, Mike?“.I do not grok all fullness of what I read. In the history written by MasterWilliam Shakespeare I found myself full of happiness at the death of Romeo.

  Then I read on and learned that he had discorporated too soon-or so Ithought I grokked. Why?“.He was a blithering young idiot.“.Beg pardon?“.I don’t know, Mike.“Smith considered this. Then he muttered something in Martian and added,.I am only an egg.“.Eh? You usually say that when you want to ask a favor, Mike. What is it thistime? Speak up.“Smith hesitated. Then he blurted53 out, .Jubal my brother, would please youask Romeo why he discorporated? I cannot ask him; I am only an egg. Butyou can-and then you could teach me the grokking of it.“For the next several minutes the conversation became very tangled54. Jubalsaw at once that Mike believed that Romeo of Montague had been a living,breathing person, and Jubal managed with no special shock to his ownconcepts to realize that Mike expected him to be able, somehow, to conjureup Romeo’s ghost and demand of him explanations for his conduct when inthe flesh.

  But to get over to Mike the idea that none of the Capulets and Montagueshad ever had any sort of corporate52 existence was another matter. Theconcept of fiction was nowhere in Mike’s experience; there was nothing onwhich it could rest, and Jubal’s attempts to explain the idea were soemotionally upsetting to Mike that Jill was afraid that he was about to roll upinto a ball and withdraw himself.

  But Mike himself saw how perilously55 close he was coming to that necessityand he had already learned that he must not resort to this refuge in thepresence of his friends, because (with the exception of his brother DoctorNelson) it always caused them emotional disturbance56. So he made a mightyeffort, slowed down his heart, calmed his emotions, and smiled. .I will waitingtill a grokking comes of itself.“.That’s better,“ agreed Jubal. .But hereafter, before you read anything, askme or ask Jill, or somebody, whether or not it is fiction. I don’t want you to getmixed up.“.I will ask, Jubal.“ Mike decided57 that, when he did grok this strange idea, thathe must report the fullness to the Old Ones . . . and suddenly found himselfwondering if the Old Ones knew about .fiction.“ The completely incredibleidea that there might be something which was as strange to the Old Ones asit was to himself was so much more revolutionary (indeed heretically so) thanthe sufficiently58 weird59 concept of fiction that he hastily put it aside to cool,saved it for future deep contemplation.

  .-but I didn’t,“ his brother Jubal was saying, .call you in here to discussliterary forms. Mike, you remember the day that Jill took you away from thehospital?“.’Hospital’?“ Mike repeated.

  .I’m not sure, Jubal,“ Jill interrupted, .that Mike ever knew that it was ahospital-at least I never told him it was one. Let me try it.“.Go ahead.“.Mike, you remember the place where you were, where you lived alone in aroom, before I dressed you and took you away.“.Yes, Jill.“.Then we went to another place and I undressed you and gave you abath.“Smith smiled in pleased recollection. .Yes. It was a great happiness.“.Then I dried you off-and then two men came.“Smith’s smile wiped away. He relived that critical cusp of decision and thehorror of his discovery that, somehow, he had chosen wrong action and hurthis water brother. He began to tremble and huddle60 into himself.

  Jill said loudly, .Mike! Stop it! Stop it at once! Don’t you dare go away!“Mike took control of his being and did what his water brother required of him.

  .Yes, Jill,“ he agreed.

  .Listen to me, Mike. I want you to think about that time-but you mustn’t getupset or go away. Just remember it. There were two men there. One of thempulled you Out into the living room.“.The room with the joyful61 grasses on the floor,“ he agreed.

  .That’s right. He pulled you Out into the room with the grass on the floor and Itried to stop him. He hit me. Then he was gone. Y~u remember?“.You are not angry?“.What? No, no, not at all. But I was frightened. One man disappeared, thenthe other one pointed a gun at me-and then he was gone, too. I was veryfrightened-but I was not angry.“.You are not angry with me now?“.Mike, dear-I have never been angry with you. But sometimes I have beenfrightened. I was frightened that time-but I am not afraid now. Jubal and Iwant to know what happened. Those two men were there, in that room withus. And then you did something . . . and they were gone. You did it twice.

  What was it you did? Can you tell us?“.Yes, I will tell you. The man-the big man-hit you ... and I was frightened, too.

  So I-. He croaked62 a phrase in Martian, then looked puzzled. .I do not knowwords.“Jubal said, .Mike, can you use a lot of words and explain it a little at atime?“.I will try, Jubal. Something is there, in front of me. It is a wrong thing and itmust not be there. It must go. So I reach out and-. He stopped again andlooked perplexed63. .It is such a simple thing, such an easy thing. Anyone cando it. Tying shoe laces is much more hard. But the words not are. I am verysorry. I will learn more words.“ He considered it. .Perhaps the words are inPlants to Raym, or Rayn to Sarr, or Sars to Sorc. I will read them tonight andtell you at breakfast.“.Maybe,“ Jubal admitted. .Just a minute, Mike.“ He got up from his desk,went to a corner and returned with a large carton which had lately containedtwelve fifths of brandy. .Can you make this go away?“.This is a wrong thing and it must not be here?“.Well, assume that it is.“.But-Jubal, I must know that it is a wrong thing. This is a box. I do not grokthat it exists wrongly.“.Mmm- I see. I think I see. Suppose I picked up this box and threw it at Jill’shead? Threw it hard, so that it would hurt her?“Smith said with gentle sadness, .Jubal, you would not do that to Jill.“.Uh ... damn it. I guess I wouldn’t. Jill, will you throw the box at me? Goodand hard-a scalp wound at least, if Mike can’t protect me.“.Jubal, I don’t like the idea much better than you do.“.Oh, come on! In the interest of science ... and Ben Caxton.“.But-. Jill jumped up suddenly, grabbed the box, threw it right at Jubal’s head.

  Jubal intended to stand and take it-but instinct and habit won out; he ducked.

  .Missed me,“ he said. .But where is it?“ He looked around. .Confound it, Iwasn’t watching. I meant to keep my eyes right on it.“ He looked at Smith.

  .Mike, is that the way-what’s the matter, boy?“The Man from Mars was trembling and looking unhappy. Jill hurried to himand put her arms around his shoulders. .There, there, it’s all right, dear! Youdid it beautifully-whatever it is. It never touched Jubal. It simply vanished.“.I guess it did,“ Jubal admitted, looking all around the room and chewing histhumb. .Anne, were you watching?“.Yes.“.What did you see?“.The box did not simply vanish. The process was not quite instantaneous butlasted some measurable fraction of a second. From where I am sitting itappeared to shrink very, very rapidly, as if it were disappearing into the fardistance. But it did not go outside the room, for I could see it right up to theinstant it disappeared.“.But where did it go?“.That is all I can report.“.Mmm ... we’ll run off the films later-but I’m convinced. Mike-.

  .Yes, Jubal?“.Where is that box now?“.The box is-. Smith paused. .Again I have not words. I am sorry.“.I’m not sorry, but I’m certainly confused. Look, son, can you reach in againand haul it out? Bring the box back here?“.Beg pardon?“.You made it go away; now make it come back.“.How can I do that? The box is nor.“Jubal looked very thoughtful. .If this method ever becomes popular, we’llhave to revise the rules concerning corpus delecti. .I’ve got a little list theynever will be missed.’ Jill, let’s find something else that will make a not-quitelethalweapon; this time I’m going to keep my eyes open. Mike, how close doyou have to be to do this trick?“.Beg pardon?“.What’s your range? If you had been standing64 out there in the hallway and Ihad been clear back by the window-oh, say thirty feet-could you havestopped that box from hitting me?“Smith appeared mildly surprised. .Yes.“.Hmm ... come over here by the window. Now look down there at theswimming poo1. Suppose that Jill and I had been over on the far side of thepool and you had been standing right where you are. Could you havestopped the box from here?“.Yes, Jubal.“.Well ... suppose Jill and I were clear down the road there at the gate, aquarter of a mile away. Suppose we were standing just this side of thosebushes that shield the gate, where you could see us clearly. Is that too far?“Smith hesitated a long time, then spoke65 slowly. .Jubal, it is not the distance.

  It is not the seeing. It is the knowing.“.Hmm ... let’s see if I grok it. Or grok part of it. It doesn’t matter how far orhow close a thing is. You don’t even have to see it happening. But if youknow that a bad thing is happening, you can reach out and stop it. Right?“Smith looked slightly troubled. .Almost it is right. But I am not long out of thenest. For knowing I must see. But an Old One does not need eyes to know.

  He knows. He groks. He acts. I am sorry.“.I don’t know what you are sorry about, son,“ Jubal said gruffly. .The HighMinister for Peace would have declared you Top Secret ten minutes ago.“.Beg pardon?“.Never mind. What you do is quite good enough in this vicinity.“ Jubalreturned to his desk, looked around thoughtfully and picked up a ponderousmetal ash tray. .Jill, don’t aim at my face this time; this thing has sharpcorners. Okay, Mike, you stand clear out in the hallway.“.Jubal ... my brother . . . please not!“.What’s the trouble, son? You did it beautifully a few minutes ago. I want onemore demonstration-and this time I won’t take my eyes off it.“.Jubal-.

  .Yes, Jill?“.I think I grok what is bothering Mike.“.Well, tell me then, for I don’t.“.We set up an experiment where I was about to hurt you by hitting you withthat box. But both of us are his water brothers-so it upset Mike that I eventried to hurt you. I think there is something very unMartian about such asituation. It puts Mike in a dilemma66. Divided loyalty67.“Harshaw frowned. .Maybe it should be investigated by the Committee onun-Martian Activities.“.I’m not joking, Jubal.“.Nor was I-for we may need such a committee all too soon. I won. der howMrs. O’Leary’s cow felt as she kicked the lantern? All right, Jill, you sit downand I’ll re-rig the experiment.“ Harshaw handed the ash tray to Mike. .Feelhow heavy it is, son, and see those sharp corners.“Smith examined it somewhat gingerly. Harshaw went on, .I’m going to throwit straight up in the air, clear to the ceiling-and let it hit me in the head as itcomes down.“Mike stared at him. .My brother ... you will now discorporate?“.Eh? No, no! It won’t kill me and I don’t want to die. But it will cut me and hurtme-unless you stop it. Here we go!“ Harshaw tossed it straight up withininches of the high ceiling, tracking it with his eyes like a soccer player waitingto pass the ball with his head. He concentrated on watching it, while one partof his mind was considering jerking his head aside at the last instant ratherthan take the nasty scalp wound the heavy, ugly thing was otherwise sure togive him-and another small piece of his mind reckoned cynically68 that hewould never miss this chattel69; he had never liked it-but it had been a gift.

  The ash tray topped its trajectory70, and stayed there.

  Harshaw looked at it, with a feeling that he was stuck in one frame of amotion picture. Presently he remembered to breathe and found that heneeded to, badly. Without taking his eyes off it he croaked, .Anne. What doyou see?“She answered in a flat voice, .That ash tray is five inches from the ceiling. Ido not see anything holding it up.“ Then she added in tones less certain,.Jubal, I think that’s what I’m seeing ... but if the cameras don’t show thesame thing, I’m going to turn in my robe and tear up my license71.“.Um. Jill?“.It floats. It just floats.“Jubal sighed, Went to his chair and sat down heavily, all without taking hiseyes off the unruly ash tray. .Mike,“ he said, .what went wrong? Why didn’t itdisappear like the box?“.But, Jubal,“ Mike said apologetically, .you said to stop it; you did not say tomake it go away. When I made the box go away, you wanted it to be again.

  Have I done wrongly?“.Oh. No, you have done exactly right. I keep forgetting that you always takethings literally.“ Harshaw recalled certain colloquial72 insults common in hisearly years-and reminded himself forcefully never, never to use any of suchto Michael Valentine Smith-for, if he told the boy to drop dead or to get lost,Harshaw now felt certain that the literal meaning of his words would at onceensue.

  .I am glad,“ Smith answered soberly. .I am sorry I could not make the box beagain. I am sorry twice that I wasted so much food. But I did not know how tohelp it. Then a necessity was. Or so I grokked.“.Eh? What food?“Jill said hastily, .He’s talking about those two men, Jubal. Berquist and thecop with him-if he was a cop. Johnson.“.Oh, yes.“ Harshaw reflected that he himself still retained unMartian notionsof food, subconsciously73 at least. .Mike, I wouldn’t worry about wasting that.food.’ They probably would have been tough and poor flavor. I doubt if ameat inspector74 would have passed them. In fact,“ he added, recalling theFederation convention about .long pig,“ .I am certain that they would havebeen condemned75 as unfit for food. So don’t worry about it. Besides, as yousay, it was a necessity. You grokked the fullness and acted rightly.“.I am much comforted,“ Mike answered with great relief in his voice. .Only anOld One can always be sure of right action at a cusp ... and I have muchlearning to learn and much growing to grow before I may join the Old Ones.

  Jubal? May I move it? I am tiring.“.You want to make it go away now? Go ahead.“.But now I cannot.“.Eh? Why not?“.Your head is no longer under it. I do not grok wrongness in its being,where it is.“.Oh. All right. Move it.“ Harshaw continued to watch it, expecting that it wouldfloat to the spot now over his head and thus regain76 a wrongness. Instead theash tray moved downward at a slow, steady speed, moved sideways until itwas close above his desk top, hovered77 for a moment, then slid to an emptyspot and came in to an almost noiseless landing.

  .Thank you, Jubal,“ said Smith.

  .Eh? Thank YOU, Son!“ Jubal picked up the ash tray, examined it curiously78.

  It was neither hot nor cold nor did it make his fingers tingle-it was as ugly,over-decorated, commonplace, and dirty as it had been five minutes earlier.

  .Yes, thank you. For the most amazing experience I’ve had since the day thehired girl took me up into the attic79.“ He looked up. .Anne, you trained atRhine.“.Yes.“.Have you seen levitation80 before?“She hesitated slightly. .I’ve seen what was called telekinesis with dice81 -butI’m no mathematician82 and I could not testify that what I saw was telekinesis.“.Hell’s bells, you wouldn’t testify that the sun had risen if the day wascloudy.“.How could I? Somebody might be supplying artificial light from above thecloud layer. One of my classmates could apparently83 levitate84 objects about themass of a paper clip-but he had to be just three drinks drunk and sometimeshe couldn’t do it at all. I was never able to examine the phenomenon closelyenough to be competent to testify about it partly because I usually had threedrinks in me by then, too.“.Then you’ve never seen anything like this?“.No.“.Mmm...I’m through with you professionally; I’m convinced. But if you want tostay and see what else happens, hang up your robe and drag up a chair.“.Thanks, I will-both. But, in view of the lecture you gave Jill about mosquesand synagogues, I’ll go to my room first. I wouldn’t want to cause a hiatus inthe indoctrination.“.Suit yourself. While you’re out, wake up Duke and tell him I want thecameras serviced again.“.Yes, Boss. Don’t let anything startling happen until I get back.“ Anneheaded for the door.

  .No promises. Mike, sit down here at my desk. You, too, Jill-gather .round.

  Now, Mike, can you pick up that ash tray? Show me.“.Yes, Jubal.“ Smith reached out and took it in his hand.

  .No, no!“.I did wrongly?“.No, it was my mistake. Mike, put it back down. I want to know if you can liftthat ash tray without touching85 it?“.Yes, Jubal.“.Well? Are you too tired?“.No, Jubal. I am not too tired.“.Then what’s the matter? Does it have to have a .wrongness’ about it?“.No, Jubal.“.Jubal,“ Jill interrupted, .you haven’t told him to do it-you’ve just asked himif he could.“.Oh.“ Jubal looked as sheepish as he was capable of looking, which was notmuch. .I should learn. Mike, will you please, without touching it with yourhands, lift that ash tray a foot above the desk?“.Yes, Jubal.“ The ash tray raised, floated steadily86 above the desk. .Will youmeasure, Jubal?“ Mike said anxiously. .If I did wrongly, I will move it up ordown.“.That’s just fine! Can you hold it there? If you get tired, tell me.“.I can. I will tell.“.Can you lift something else at the same time? Say this pencil? If youcan, then do it.“.Yes, Jubal,“ The pencil ranged itself neatly87 by the ash tray.

  By request, Mike added other small articles from the desk to the layer offloating objects. Anne returned, pulled up a chair and watched theperformance without speaking. Duke came in, carrying a step ladder, glancedat the group, then looked a second time, but said nothing and set the ladderin one corner. At last Mike said uncertainly, .I am not sure, Jubal. I-. Hestopped and seemed to search for a word. .I am idiot in these things.“.Don’t wear yourself out.“.I can think one more. I hope.“ A paper weight across the desk from Mikestirred, lifted-and all the dozen-odd floating objects fell down at once. Mikeseemed about to weep although no tears formed. .Jubal, I am sorry. I amutmostly sorry.“Harshaw patted his shoulder. .You should be proud, not sorry. Son, you don’tseem to realize it, but what you just did is-. Jubal searched for a comparison,rapidly discarded the many that sprang to his mind because he realized thatthey touched nothing in Mike’s experience. .What you did is much harderthan tying shoestrings88, much more wonderful to us than doing a one.and-ahalfgainer perfectly. You did it, uh, .brightly, brightly, and with beauty.’ Yougrok?“Mike looked surprised. .I am not sure, Jubal. I should not feel shame?“.You must not feel shame. You should feel proud.“.Yes, Jubal,“ he answered contentedly89. .I feel proud.“.Good. Mike, I cannot lift even one ash tray without touching it.“Smith looked startled. .You cannot?“.No. Can you teach me?“.Yes, Jubal. You-. Smith stopped speaking, looked embarrassed. .I againhave not words. I am sorry. But I will read and I will read and I will read, until Ifind the words. Then I will teach my brother.“.Don’t set your heart on it.“.Beg pardon?“.Mike, don’t be disappointed if you do not find the right words. You may notfind them in the English language.“Smith considered this quite a long time. .Then I will teach my brother thelanguage of my nest.“.Maybe. I would like to try-but you may have arrived about fifty yearstoo late.“.I have acted wrongly?“.Not at all. I’m proud of you. You might start by trying to teach Jill yourlanguage.“.It hurts my throat,“ put in Jill.

  .Try gargling with aspirin90.“ Jubal looked at her. .That’s a silly excuse, nursebutit occurs to me that this gives me an excuse to put you on the payroll91 . . .

  for I doubt if they will ever take you back at Bethesda. All right, you’re mystaff research assistant for Martian linguistics92 which includes such extraduties as may be necessary. Take that up with the girls. Anne, put her on thepayroll-and be sure it gets entered in the tax records.“.She’s been doing her share in the kitchen since the day after she got here.

  Shall I date it back?“Jubal shrugged93. .Don’t bother me with details.“.But, Jubal,“ Jill protested shrilly94, .I don’t think I can learn Martian!“.You can try, can’t you? That’s all Columbus did.“.But-.

  .What was that idle chatter95 you were giving me about .gratitude’? Do youtake the job? Or don’t you?“Jill bit her lip. .I’ll take it. Yes ... Boss.“Smith timidly reached out and touched her hand. .Jill ... I will teach.“Jill patted his. .Thanks, Mike.“ She looked at Harshaw. .And I’m going tolearn it just to spite you!“He grinned warmly at her. .That’s a motive96 I grok perfectly-you’ll learn it allright. Now back to business- Mike, what else can you do that we can’t do?

  Besides making things go away-when they have a .wrongness’-and liftingthings without touching them.“Smith looked puzzled. .I do not know.“.How could he know,“ protested Jill, .when he doesn’t really know what wecan and can’t do?“.Mmm .-. yes. Anne, change that job title to .staff research assistant forMartian linguistics, culture, and techniques.’ Jill, in learning their languageyou are bound to stumble Onto Martian things that are different, reallydifferent-and when you do, tell me. Everything and anything about a culturecan be inferred from the shape of its language-and you’re probably youngenough to learn to think like a Martian . . . which I misdoubt I am not. Andyou, Mike, if you notice anything which you can do but we don’t do, tell me.“.I will tell, Jubal. What things will be these?“.I don’t know. Things like you just did ... and being able to stay on the bottomof the pool much longer than we can. Hmm . . . Duke!“.Yes, Boss? I’ve got both hands full of flim. Don’t bother me.“.You can talk, can’t you? I noticed the pool is pretty murky97.“.Yeah. I’m going to add precipitant tonight and vacuum it in themorning.“.How’s the count?“.The count is okay, the water is safe enough to serve at the table. It justlooks messy.“.Let it stay murky for the time being. Test it as usual. I’ll let you know when Iwant it cleaned up.“.Hell, Boss, nobody likes to swim in a pool that looks like dishwater. I wouldhave tidied it up long before this if there hadn’t been so much hooraw aroundhere this week.“.Anybody too fussy98 to swim in it can stay dry. Quit jawing99 about it, Duke; I’llexplain later. Films ready?“.Five minutes.“.Good. Mike, do you know what a gun is?“.A gun,“ Smith answered carefully, .is a piece of ordnance100 for throwingprojectiles by the force of some explosive, as gunpowder101, consisting of atube or barrel closed at one end, where the-.

  .Okay, okay. Do you grok it?“.I am not sure.“.Have you ever seen a gun?“.I do not know.“.Why, certainly you have,“ Jill interrupted. .Mike, think back to that time wewere talking about, in the room with the grass on the floor-but don’t get upsetnow! The big man hit me, you remember.“.Yes.“.The other man pointed something at me. In his hand.“.Yes. He pointed a bad thing at you.“.That was a gun.“.I had thinked that the word for that bad thing might be .gun.’ The Webster’sNew International Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition,published in-.

  .That’s fine, son,“ Harshaw said hastily. .That was certainly a gun. Now listento me carefully. If someone points a gun at Jill again, what will you do?“Smith paused rather longer than usual. .You will not be angry if I wastefood?“.No, I would not be angry. Under those circumstances no one would be angryat you. But I am trying to find out something else. Could you make just thegun go away, without making the man who is pointing it go away?“Smith considered it. .Save the food?“.Uh, that isn’t quite what I mean. Could you cause the gun to go away withouthurting the man?“.Jubal, he would not hurt at all. I would make the gun go away, but the man Iwould just stop. He would feel no pain. He would simply be discorporate. Thefood he leaves after him would not damage at all.“Harshaw sighed. .Yes, I’m sure that’s the way it would be. But could youcause to go away just the gun? Not do anything else? Not .stop’ the man, notkill him, just let him go on living?“Smith considered it. .That would be much easier than doing both at once.

  But, Jubal, if I left him still corporate, he might still hurt Jill. Or so I grok it.“Harshaw stopped long enough to remind himself that this baby innocent wasneither babyish nor innocent-was in fact sophisticated in a culture which hewas beginning to realize, however dimly, was far in advance of humanculture in some very mysterious ways . . . and that these naive102 remarks camefrom a superman-or what would do in place of a .superman“ for the timebeing. Then he answered Smith, choosing his words most carefully as hehad in mind a dangerous experiment and did not want disaster to follow fromsemantic mishap103.

  .Mike ... if you reach a-.cusp’----where you must do something in order toprotect Jill, you do it.“.Yes, Jubal. I will.“.Don’t worry about wasting food. Don’t worry about anything else.

  Protect Jill.“.Always I will protect Jill.“.Good. But suppose a man pointed a gun at someone-or simply had it in hishand. Suppose you did not want or need to kill him . . , but you needed tomake the gun go away. Could you do it?“Mike paused only briefly104. .I think I grok it. A gun is a wrong thing. But it mightbe needful for the man to remain corporate.“ He thought. .I can do if.“.Good. Mike, I am going to show you a gun. A gun is a wrong thing.“.A gun is a very wrong thing. I will make it go away.“.Don’t make it go away as soon as you see it.“.Not?“.Not. I will lift the gun and start to point it at you. Like this. Before I can get itpointed at you, make it go away. But don’t stop me, don’t hurt me, don’t killme, don’t do anything to me. Just the gun. Don’t waste me as food, either.“.Oh, I never would,“ Mike said earnestly. .When you discorporate, my brotherJubal, I hope to be allowed to eat of you myself, praising and cherishing youwith every bite . . . until I grok you in fullness.“Harshaw controlled a seasick105 reflex he had not felt in decades and answeredgravely, .Thank you, Mike.“.It is I who must thank you, my brother-and if it should come to be that I amselected before you, I hope that you will find me worthy106 of grokking. Sharingme with Jill. You would share me with Jill? Please?“Harshaw glanced at Jill, saw that she had kept her face serene- reflected thatshe probably was a rock-steady scrub nurse. .I will share you with Jill,“ hesaid solemnly. .But, Mike, no one of us will be food today, nor any time soon.

  Right now I am going to show you this gun- and you wait until I say . . . andthen you be very careful, because I have, many things to do before I amready to discorporate.“.I will be careful, my brother.“.All right.“ Harshaw leaned over, grunting107 slightly, and opened a~ lowerdrawer of his desk. .Look in here, Mike. See the gun? I’m going to pick it up.

  But don’t do anything until I tell you to. Girls-get up and move away to theleft; I don’t want it pointed at you. Okay. Mike, not yet.“ Harshaw reached forthe gun, a very elderly police special, took it out of the drawer. .Get ready,Mike. Now!“-and Harshaw did his very best to get the weapon aimed at theMan from Mars.

  His hand was suddenly empty. No shock, no jar, no twisting-the gun wasgone and that was all.

  Jubal found that he was shaking, so he stopped it. .Perfect,“ he said to Mike.

  .You got it before I had it aimed at you. That’s utterly108 perfect.“.I am happy.“.So am I. Duke, did that get in the camera?“.Yup. I put in fresh film cartridges109. You didn’t say.“.Good.“ Harshaw sighed and found that he was very tired. .That’s all today,kids. Run along. Go swimming. You, too, Anne.“Anne said, .Boss? You’ll tell me what the films show?“.Want to stay and see them?“.Oh, no! I couldn’t, not the parts I Witnessed. But I would like to know-laterwhetheror not they show that I’ve slipped my clutches.“.All right.“


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 enveloped 8006411f03656275ea778a3c3978ff7a     
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
  • Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 guild 45qyy     
n.行会,同业公会,协会
参考例句:
  • He used to be a member of the Writers' Guild of America.他曾是美国作家协会的一员。
  • You had better incorporate the firm into your guild.你最好把这个公司并入你的行业协会。
3 sprawled 6cc8223777584147c0ae6b08b9304472     
v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词);蔓延;杂乱无序地拓展;四肢伸展坐着(或躺着)
参考例句:
  • He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
  • He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。
4 hearth n5by9     
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面
参考例句:
  • She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
  • She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。
5 unemployed lfIz5Q     
adj.失业的,没有工作的;未动用的,闲置的
参考例句:
  • There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
  • The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。
6 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句:
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
7 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
8 peevishly 6b75524be1c8328a98de7236bc5f100b     
adv.暴躁地
参考例句:
  • Paul looked through his green glasses peevishly when the other speaker brought down the house with applause. 当另一个演说者赢得了满座喝彩声时,保罗心里又嫉妒又气恼。
  • "I've been sick, I told you," he said, peevishly, almost resenting her excessive pity. “我生了一场病,我告诉过你了,"他没好气地说,对她的过分怜悯几乎产生了怨恨。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
9 taboos 6a690451c8c44df41d89927fdad5692d     
禁忌( taboo的名词复数 ); 忌讳; 戒律; 禁忌的事物(或行为)
参考例句:
  • She was unhorsed by fences, laws and alien taboos. 她被藩蓠、法律及外来的戒律赶下了马。
  • His mind was charged with taboos. 他头脑里忌讳很多。
10 taboo aqBwg     
n.禁忌,禁止接近,禁止使用;adj.禁忌的;v.禁忌,禁制,禁止
参考例句:
  • The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
  • Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里,婚前的性行为犯禁吗?
11 hog TrYzRg     
n.猪;馋嘴贪吃的人;vt.把…占为己有,独占
参考例句:
  • He is greedy like a hog.他像猪一样贪婪。
  • Drivers who hog the road leave no room for other cars.那些占着路面的驾驶员一点余地都不留给其他车辆。
12 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
13 treacherous eg7y5     
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的
参考例句:
  • The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
  • The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。
14 degradation QxKxL     
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变
参考例句:
  • There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
  • Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。
15 euphemism DPzzJ     
n.婉言,委婉的说法
参考例句:
  • Language reflects culture and euphemism is a mirror of culture.语言反映文化,而婉语则是各种文化的一面镜子。
  • Euphemism is a very common and complicated linguistic phenomenon.委婉语是一种十分常见而又非常复杂的语言现象。
16 resentment 4sgyv     
n.怨愤,忿恨
参考例句:
  • All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
  • She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。
17 delusion x9uyf     
n.谬见,欺骗,幻觉,迷惑
参考例句:
  • He is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.他患了妄想症,认为自己是拿破仑。
  • I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.我误认为他要娶我。
18 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实
参考例句:
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
19 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的
参考例句:
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
20 cynical Dnbz9     
adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的
参考例句:
  • The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大,他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
  • He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。
21 sentimental dDuzS     
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的
参考例句:
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
22 mosque U15y3     
n.清真寺
参考例句:
  • The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
  • Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前,清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。
23 tribal ifwzzw     
adj.部族的,种族的
参考例句:
  • He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
  • The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。
24 deviationism 00758d3739d69b3d5f07f25e91243c3d     
异端
参考例句:
25 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
26 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
27 artillery 5vmzA     
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队)
参考例句:
  • This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
  • The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。
28 balk RP2y1     
n.大方木料;v.妨碍;不愿前进或从事某事
参考例句:
  • We get strong indications that his agent would balk at that request.我们得到的强烈暗示是他的经纪人会回避那个要求。
  • He shored up the wall with a thick balk of wood.他用一根粗大的木头把墙撑住。
29 spotlight 6hBzmk     
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
参考例句:
  • This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
  • The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
30 publicity ASmxx     
n.众所周知,闻名;宣传,广告
参考例句:
  • The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
  • He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事,只当它是一种宣传手法。
31 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
参考例句:
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
32 linkages f6a08b944f7078520423ad9f699def40     
n.连接( linkage的名词复数 );结合;联系;联动装置
参考例句:
  • Only the thermosetting resins provide a strong cohesive forces; this is due to molecular cross linkages. 只有热固性树脂具有巨大的凝聚力,这是由于分子交错链所造成的。 来自辞典例句
  • The linkages between the stable units must be as near as possible of equal stability. 稳定链节之间的键必须有尽可能接近的稳定性。 来自辞典例句
33 defense AxbxB     
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
参考例句:
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
34 fretting fretting     
n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的
参考例句:
  • Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
  • The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。
35 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
36 odds n5czT     
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别
参考例句:
  • The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
  • Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗?
37 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
38 shoestring nizzcE     
n.小额资本;adj.小本经营的
参考例句:
  • In the early years,the business was run on a shoestring.早年,这家店铺曾是小本经营。
  • How can I take the best possible digital pictures on a shoestring budget?怎样用很小投资拍摄最好的数码照片?
39 snarl 8FAzv     
v.吼叫,怒骂,纠缠,混乱;n.混乱,缠结,咆哮
参考例句:
  • At the seaside we could hear the snarl of the waves.在海边我们可以听见波涛的咆哮。
  • The traffic was all in a snarl near the accident.事故发生处附近交通一片混乱。
40 untied d4a1dd1a28503840144e8098dbf9e40f     
松开,解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 ); 解除,使自由; 解决
参考例句:
  • Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来,我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
  • He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。
41 abjectly 9726b3f616b3ed4848f9898b842e303b     
凄惨地; 绝望地; 糟透地; 悲惨地
参考例句:
  • She shrugged her shoulders abjectly. 她无可奈何地耸了耸肩。
  • Xiao Li is abjectly obedient at home, as both his wife and daughter can "direct" him. 小李在家里可是个听话的顺民,妻子女儿都能“领导”他。
42 soothed 509169542d21da19b0b0bd232848b963     
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
参考例句:
  • The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
  • The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
43 reassured ff7466d942d18e727fb4d5473e62a235     
adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
44 herded a8990e20e0204b4b90e89c841c5d57bf     
群集,纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 ); 放牧; (使)向…移动
参考例句:
  • He herded up his goats. 他把山羊赶拢在一起。
  • They herded into the corner. 他们往角落里聚集。
45 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
46 gender slSyD     
n.(生理上的)性,(名词、代词等的)性
参考例句:
  • French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语,所有的名词都有性。
  • Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。
47 evaded 4b636015da21a66943b43217559e0131     
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出
参考例句:
  • For two weeks they evaded the press. 他们有两周一直避而不见记者。
  • The lion evaded the hunter. 那狮子躲开了猎人。
48 evade evade     
vt.逃避,回避;避开,躲避
参考例句:
  • He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。
  • You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人,你怎么能对这个问题不置可否?
49 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
50 encyclopedia ZpgxD     
n.百科全书
参考例句:
  • The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
  • Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书,他什么都懂。
51 memoirs f752e432fe1fefb99ab15f6983cd506c     
n.回忆录;回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数)
参考例句:
  • Her memoirs were ghostwritten. 她的回忆录是由别人代写的。
  • I watched a trailer for the screenplay of his memoirs. 我看过以他的回忆录改编成电影的预告片。 来自《简明英汉词典》
52 corporate 7olzl     
adj.共同的,全体的;公司的,企业的
参考例句:
  • This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
  • His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。
53 blurted fa8352b3313c0b88e537aab1fcd30988     
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止,她已脱口而出。
  • He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相,说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
54 tangled e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e     
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了,我梳不动。
  • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
55 perilously 215e5a0461b19248639b63df048e2328     
adv.充满危险地,危机四伏地
参考例句:
  • They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice. 他们离悬崖边很近,十分危险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • It'seemed to me that we had come perilously close to failure already. 对我来说,好像失败和我只有一步之遥,岌岌可危。 来自互联网
56 disturbance BsNxk     
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调
参考例句:
  • He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。
  • You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。
57 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
58 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
59 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
60 huddle s5UyT     
vi.挤作一团;蜷缩;vt.聚集;n.挤在一起的人
参考例句:
  • They like living in a huddle.他们喜欢杂居在一起。
  • The cold wind made the boy huddle inside his coat.寒风使这个男孩卷缩在他的外衣里。
61 joyful N3Fx0     
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的
参考例句:
  • She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
  • They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。
62 croaked 9a150c9af3075625e0cba4de8da8f6a9     
v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 );用粗的声音说
参考例句:
  • The crow croaked disaster. 乌鸦呱呱叫预报灾难。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • 'she has a fine head for it," croaked Jacques Three. “她有一个漂亮的脑袋跟着去呢,”雅克三号低沉地说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
63 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
64 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
65 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
66 dilemma Vlzzf     
n.困境,进退两难的局面
参考例句:
  • I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
  • He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。
67 loyalty gA9xu     
n.忠诚,忠心
参考例句:
  • She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
  • His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
68 cynically 3e178b26da70ce04aff3ac920973009f     
adv.爱嘲笑地,冷笑地
参考例句:
  • "Holding down the receiver,'said Daisy cynically. “挂上话筒在讲。”黛西冷嘲热讽地说。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
  • The Democrats sensibly (if cynically) set about closing the God gap. 民主党在明智(有些讽刺)的减少宗教引起的问题。 来自互联网
69 chattel jUYyN     
n.动产;奴隶
参考例句:
  • They were slaves,to be bought and sold as chattels.他们是奴隶,将被作为财产买卖。
  • A house is not a chattel.房子不是动产。
70 trajectory fJ1z1     
n.弹道,轨道
参考例句:
  • It is not difficult to sketch the subsequent trajectory.很容易描绘出它们最终的轨迹。
  • The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.抛物体所循的路径称为它的轨道。
71 license B9TzU     
n.执照,许可证,特许;v.许可,特许
参考例句:
  • The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
  • The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。
72 colloquial ibryG     
adj.口语的,会话的
参考例句:
  • It's hard to understand the colloquial idioms of a foreign language.外语里的口头习语很难懂。
  • They have little acquaintance with colloquial English. 他们对英语会话几乎一窍不通。
73 subconsciously WhIzFD     
ad.下意识地,潜意识地
参考例句:
  • In choosing a partner we are subconsciously assessing their evolutionary fitness to be a mother of children or father provider and protector. 在选择伴侣的时候,我们会在潜意识里衡量对方将来是否会是称职的母亲或者父亲,是否会是合格的一家之主。
  • Lao Yang thought as he subconsciously tightened his grasp on the rifle. 他下意识地攥紧枪把想。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
74 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员,监察员,视察员
参考例句:
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
75 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
76 regain YkYzPd     
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复
参考例句:
  • He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
  • The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。
77 hovered d194b7e43467f867f4b4380809ba6b19     
鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫
参考例句:
  • A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
  • A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。
78 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
79 attic Hv4zZ     
n.顶楼,屋顶室
参考例句:
  • Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
  • What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理?
80 levitation levitation     
n.升空,漂浮;浮起
参考例句:
  • We are particularly interested in phenomena such as telepathy and levitation. 我们对心灵感应及空中漂浮这样的现象特别有兴趣。 来自辞典例句
  • This paper presents a magnetic levitation system control using the gain-scheduling controller. 本文以增益程序控制器针对磁浮系统进行控制。 来自互联网
81 dice iuyzh8     
n.骰子;vt.把(食物)切成小方块,冒险
参考例句:
  • They were playing dice.他们在玩掷骰子游戏。
  • A dice is a cube.骰子是立方体。
82 mathematician aoPz2p     
n.数学家
参考例句:
  • The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
  • The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。
83 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
84 levitate w3MyD     
v.升在空中
参考例句:
  • I often dream that I can levitate.我经常梦想我能够飞起来在空中飘浮。
  • The guru claimed that he could levitate.这位宗教领袖声称他能够浮在空中。
85 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
86 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
87 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
88 shoestrings 1a111ccd6ad830a719b256bb0da5e37e     
n.以极少的钱( shoestring的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Laura loved him and he was ready to kiss her shoestrings. 劳拉爱他,他都乐于吻她的鞋带。 来自互联网
  • Result: The strong shoestrings were easily restored in the semi-solid medium with rich organic nitrogen source. 结果:在富含有机氮的半固体培养基上蜜环菌最易形成粗壮的菌索。 来自互联网
89 contentedly a0af12176ca79b27d4028fdbaf1b5f64     
adv.心满意足地
参考例句:
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。
  • "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.
90 aspirin 4yszpM     
n.阿司匹林
参考例句:
  • The aspirin seems to quiet the headache.阿司匹林似乎使头痛减轻了。
  • She went into a chemist's and bought some aspirin.她进了一家药店,买了些阿司匹林。
91 payroll YmQzUB     
n.工资表,在职人员名单,工薪总额
参考例句:
  • His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
  • I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。
92 linguistics f0Gxm     
n.语言学
参考例句:
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • Linguistics is a scientific study of the property of language.语言学是指对语言的性质所作的系统研究。
93 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
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》
94 shrilly a8e1b87de57fd858801df009e7a453fe     
尖声的; 光亮的,耀眼的
参考例句:
  • The librarian threw back his head and laughed shrilly. 图书管理员把头往后面一仰,尖着嗓子哈哈大笑。
  • He half rose in his seat, whistling shrilly between his teeth, waving his hand. 他从车座上半欠起身子,低声打了一个尖锐的唿哨,一面挥挥手。
95 chatter BUfyN     
vi./n.喋喋不休;短促尖叫;(牙齿)打战
参考例句:
  • Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
  • I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。
96 motive GFzxz     
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
参考例句:
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
97 murky J1GyJ     
adj.黑暗的,朦胧的;adv.阴暗地,混浊地;n.阴暗;昏暗
参考例句:
  • She threw it into the river's murky depths.她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处。
  • She had a decidedly murky past.她的历史背景令人捉摸不透。
98 fussy Ff5z3     
adj.为琐事担忧的,过分装饰的,爱挑剔的
参考例句:
  • He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
  • The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。
99 jawing 68b6b8bcfa058a33b918fd4d636a27e6     
n.用水灌注
参考例句:
  • I got tired of him jawing away all the time. 他老是唠唠叨叨讲个不停,使我感到厌烦。 来自辞典例句
  • For heaven's sake, what are you two jawing about? 老天爷,你们两个还在嘟囔些什么? 来自辞典例句
100 ordnance IJdxr     
n.大炮,军械
参考例句:
  • She worked in an ordnance factory during the war.战争期间她在一家兵工厂工作。
  • Shoes and clothing for the army were scarce,ordnance supplies and drugs were scarcer.军队很缺鞋和衣服,武器供应和药品就更少了。
101 gunpowder oerxm     
n.火药
参考例句:
  • Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶,火药传入欧洲。
  • This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。
102 naive yFVxO     
adj.幼稚的,轻信的;天真的
参考例句:
  • It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致,你未免太单纯了。
  • Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。
103 mishap AjSyg     
n.不幸的事,不幸;灾祸
参考例句:
  • I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.不好了,你儿子在操场上出了点小意外。
  • We reached home without mishap.我们平安地回到了家。
104 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
105 seasick seasick     
adj.晕船的
参考例句:
  • When I get seasick,I throw up my food.我一晕船就呕吐。
  • He got seasick during the voyage.在航行中他晕船。
106 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
107 grunting ae2709ef2cd9ee22f906b0a6a6886465     
咕哝的,呼噜的
参考例句:
  • He pulled harder on the rope, grunting with the effort. 他边用力边哼声,使出更大的力气拉绳子。
  • Pigs were grunting and squealing in the yard. 猪在院子里哼哼地叫个不停。
108 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地,绝对地
参考例句:
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
109 cartridges 17207f2193d1e05c4c15f2938c82898d     
子弹( cartridge的名词复数 ); (打印机的)墨盒; 录音带盒; (唱机的)唱头
参考例句:
  • computer consumables such as disks and printer cartridges 如磁盘、打印机墨盒之类的电脑耗材
  • My new video game player came with three game cartridges included. 我的新电子游戏机附有三盘游戏带。


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