"It is the final proof," he said, at last. "No more is needed to completely shatter the last remnant of my superstitious11 belief in the divinity of Issus. She is only a wicked old woman, wielding12 a mighty14 power for evil through machinations that have kept her own people and all Barsoom in religious ignorance for ages."
"She is still all-powerful here, however," I replied. "So it behooves15 us to leave at the first moment that appears at all propitious16."
"I hope that you may find a propitious moment," he said, with a laugh, "for it is certain that in all my life I have never seen one in which a prisoner of the First Born might escape."
"To-night will do as well as any," I replied.
"It will soon be night," said Xodar. "How may I aid in the adventure?"
"Can you swim?" I asked him.
"No slimy silian that haunts the depths of Korus is more at home in water than is Xodar," he replied.
"Good. The red one in all probability cannot swim," I said, "since there is scarce enough water in all their domains17 to float the tiniest craft. One of us therefore will have to support him through the sea to the craft we select. I had hoped that we might make the entire distance below the surface, but I fear that the red youth could not thus perform the trip. Even the bravest of the brave among them are terrorized at the mere thought of deep water, for it has been ages since their forebears saw a lake, a river or a sea."
"The red one is to accompany us?" asked Xodar.
"Yes."
"It is well. Three swords are better than two. Especially when the third is as mighty as this fellow's. I have seen him battle in the arena at the rites of Issus many times. Never, until I saw you fight, had I seen one who seemed unconquerable even in the face of great odds18. One might think you two master and pupil, or father and son. Come to recall his face there is a resemblance between you. It is very marked when you fight—there is the same grim smile, the same maddening contempt for your adversary19 apparent in every movement of your bodies and in every changing expression of your faces."
"Be that as it may, Xodar, he is a great fighter. I think that we will make a trio difficult to overcome, and if my friend Tars20 Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark, were but one of us we could fight our way from one end of Barsoom to the other even though the whole world were pitted against us."
"It will be," said Xodar, "when they find from whence you have come. That is but one of the superstitions22 which Issus has foisted23 upon a credulous1 humanity. She works through the Holy Therns who are as ignorant of her real self as are the Barsoomians of the outer world. Her decrees are borne to the therns written in blood upon a strange parchment. The poor deluded24 fools think that they are receiving the revelations of a goddess through some supernatural agency, since they find these messages upon their guarded altars to which none could have access without detection. I myself have borne these messages for Issus for many years. There is a long tunnel from the temple of Issus to the principal temple of Matai Shang. It was dug ages ago by the slaves of the First Born in such utter secrecy25 that no thern ever guessed its existence.
"The therns for their part have temples dotted about the entire civilized26 world. Here priests whom the people never see communicate the doctrine27 of the Mysterious River Iss, the Valley Dor, and the Lost Sea of Korus to persuade the poor deluded creatures to take the voluntary pilgrimage that swells28 the wealth of the Holy Therns and adds to the numbers of their slaves.
"Thus the therns are used as the principal means for collecting the wealth and labour that the First Born wrest29 from them as they need it. Occasionally the First Born themselves make raids upon the outer world. It is then that they capture many females of the royal houses of the red men, and take the newest in battleships and the trained artisans who build them, that they may copy what they cannot create.
"We are a non-productive race, priding ourselves upon our non-productiveness. It is criminal for a First Born to labour or invent. That is the work of the lower orders, who live merely that the First Born may enjoy long lives of luxury and idleness. With us fighting is all that counts; were it not for that there would be more of the First Born than all the creatures of Barsoom could support, for in so far as I know none of us ever dies a natural death. Our females would live for ever but for the fact that we tire of them and remove them to make place for others. Issus alone of all is protected against death. She has lived for countless30 ages."
"Would not the other Barsoomians live for ever but for the doctrine of the voluntary pilgrimage which drags them to the bosom31 of Iss at or before their thousandth year?" I asked him.
"I feel now that there is no doubt but that they are precisely32 the same species of creature as the First Born, and I hope that I shall live to fight for them in atonement of the sins I have committed against them through the ignorance born of generations of false teaching."
As he ceased speaking a weird33 call rang out across the waters of Omean. I had heard it at the same time the previous evening and knew that it marked the ending of the day, when the men of Omean spread their silks upon the deck of battleship and cruiser and fall into the dreamless sleep of Mars.
Our guard entered to inspect us for the last time before the new day broke upon the world above. His duty was soon performed and the heavy door of our prison closed behind him—we were alone for the night.
I gave him time to return to his quarters, as Xodar said he probably would do, then I sprang to the grated window and surveyed the nearby waters. At a little distance from the island, a quarter of a mile perhaps, lay a monster battleship, while between her and the shore were a number of smaller cruisers and one-man scouts34. Upon the battleship alone was there a watch. I could see him plainly in the upper works of the ship, and as I watched I saw him spread his sleeping silks upon the tiny platform in which he was stationed. Soon he threw himself at full length upon his couch. The discipline on Omean was lax indeed. But it is not to be wondered at since no enemy guessed the existence upon Barsoom of such a fleet, or even of the First Born, or the Sea of Omean. Why indeed should they maintain a watch?
Presently I dropped to the floor again and talked with Xodar, describing the various craft I had seen.
"There is one there," he said, "my personal property, built to carry five men, that is the swiftest of the swift. If we can board her we can at least make a memorable35 run for liberty," and then he went on to describe to me the equipment of the boat; her engines, and all that went to make her the flier that she was.
In his explanation I recognized a trick of gearing that Kantos Kan had taught me that time we sailed under false names in the navy of Zodanga beneath Sab Than, the Prince. And I knew then that the First Born had stolen it from the ships of Helium, for only they are thus geared. And I knew too that Xodar spoke36 the truth when he lauded37 the speed of his little craft, for nothing that cleaves38 the thin air of Mars can approximate the speed of the ships of Helium.
We decided39 to wait for an hour at least until all the stragglers had sought their silks. In the meantime I was to fetch the red youth to our cell so that we would be in readiness to make our rash break for freedom together.
I sprang to the top of our partition wall and pulled myself up on to it. There I found a flat surface about a foot in width and along this I walked until I came to the cell in which I saw the boy sitting upon his bench. He had been leaning back against the wall looking up at the glowing dome40 above Omean, and when he spied me balancing upon the partition wall above him his eyes opened wide in astonishment. Then a wide grin of appreciative41 understanding spread across his countenance42.
As I stooped to drop to the floor beside him he motioned me to wait, and coming close below me whispered: "Catch my hand; I can almost leap to the top of that wall myself. I have tried it many times, and each day I come a little closer. Some day I should have been able to make it."
I lay upon my belly43 across the wall and reached my hand far down toward him. With a little run from the centre of the cell he sprang up until I grasped his outstretched hand, and thus I pulled him to the wall's top beside me.
"You are the first jumper I ever saw among the red men of Barsoom," I said.
He smiled. "It is not strange. I will tell you why when we have more time."
Together we returned to the cell in which Xodar sat; descending44 to talk with him until the hour had passed.
There we made our plans for the immediate45 future, binding46 ourselves by a solemn oath to fight to the death for one another against whatsoever47 enemies should confront us, for we knew that even should we succeed in escaping the First Born we might still have a whole world against us—the power of religious superstition21 is mighty.
It was agreed that I should navigate48 the craft after we had reached her, and that if we made the outer world in safety we should attempt to reach Helium without a stop.
"Why Helium?" asked the red youth.
"I am a prince of Helium," I replied.
He gave me a peculiar49 look, but said nothing further on the subject. I wondered at the time what the significance of his expression might be, but in the press of other matters it soon left my mind, nor did I have occasion to think of it again until later.
"Come," I said at length, "now is as good a time as any. Let us go."
Another moment found me at the top of the partition wall again with the boy beside me. Unbuckling my harness I snapped it together with a single long strap50 which I lowered to the waiting Xodar below. He grasped the end and was soon sitting beside us.
"How simple," he laughed.
"The balance should be even simpler," I replied. Then I raised myself to the top of the outer wall of the prison, just so that I could peer over and locate the passing sentry51. For a matter of five minutes I waited and then he came in sight on his slow and snail-like beat about the structure.
I watched him until he had made the turn at the end of the building which carried him out of sight of the side of the prison that was to witness our dash for freedom. The moment his form disappeared I grasped Xodar and drew him to the top of the wall. Placing one end of my harness strap in his hands I lowered him quickly to the ground below. Then the boy grasped the strap and slid down to Xodar's side.
In accordance with our arrangement they did not wait for me, but walked slowly toward the water, a matter of a hundred yards, directly past the guard-house filled with sleeping soldiers.
They had taken scarce a dozen steps when I too dropped to the ground and followed them leisurely52 toward the shore. As I passed the guard-house the thought of all the good blades lying there gave me pause, for if ever men were to have need of swords it was my companions and I on the perilous53 trip upon which we were about to embark54.
I glanced toward Xodar and the youth and saw that they had slipped over the edge of the dock into the water. In accordance with our plan they were to remain there clinging to the metal rings which studded the concrete-like substance of the dock at the water's level, with only their mouths and noses above the surface of the sea, until I should join them.
The lure55 of the swords within the guard-house was strong upon me, and I hesitated a moment, half inclined to risk the attempt to take the few we needed. That he who hesitates is lost proved itself a true aphorism56 in this instance, for another moment saw me creeping stealthily toward the door of the guard-house.
Gently I pressed it open a crack; enough to discover a dozen blacks stretched upon their silks in profound slumber57. At the far side of the room a rack held the swords and firearms of the men. Warily58 I pushed the door a trifle wider to admit my body. A hinge gave out a resentful groan59. One of the men stirred, and my heart stood still. I cursed myself for a fool to have thus jeopardized60 our chances for escape; but there was nothing for it now but to see the adventure through.
With a spring as swift and as noiseless as a tiger's I lit beside the guardsman who had moved. My hands hovered61 about his throat awaiting the moment that his eyes should open. For what seemed an eternity62 to my overwrought nerves I remained poised63 thus. Then the fellow turned again upon his side and resumed the even respiration64 of deep slumber.
Carefully I picked my way between and over the soldiers until I had gained the rack at the far side of the room. Here I turned to survey the sleeping men. All were quiet. Their regular breathing rose and fell in a soothing65 rhythm that seemed to me the sweetest music I ever had heard.
Gingerly I drew a long-sword from the rack. The scraping of the scabbard against its holder66 as I withdrew it sounded like the filing of cast iron with a great rasp, and I looked to see the room immediately filled with alarmed and attacking guardsmen. But none stirred.
The second sword I withdrew noiselessly, but the third clanked in its scabbard with a frightful67 din13. I knew that it must awaken68 some of the men at least, and was on the point of forestalling69 their attack by a rapid charge for the doorway70, when again, to my intense surprise, not a black moved. Either they were wondrous71 heavy sleepers72 or else the noises that I made were really much less than they seemed to me.
I was about to leave the rack when my attention was attracted by the revolvers. I knew that I could not carry more than one away with me, for I was already too heavily laden73 to move quietly with any degree of safety or speed. As I took one of them from its pin my eye fell for the first time on an open window beside the rack. Ah, here was a splendid means of escape, for it let directly upon the dock, not twenty feet from the water's edge.
And as I congratulated myself, I heard the door opposite me open, and there looking me full in the face stood the officer of the guard. He evidently took in the situation at a glance and appreciated the gravity of it as quickly as I, for our revolvers came up simultaneously74 and the sounds of the two reports were as one as we touched the buttons on the grips that exploded the cartridges75.
I felt the wind of his bullet as it whizzed past my ear, and at the same instant I saw him crumple76 to the ground. Where I hit him I do not know, nor if I killed him, for scarce had he started to collapse77 when I was through the window at my rear. In another second the waters of Omean closed above my head, and the three of us were making for the little flier a hundred yards away.
Xodar was burdened with the boy, and I with the three long-swords. The revolver I had dropped, so that while we were both strong swimmers it seemed to me that we moved at a snail's pace through the water. I was swimming entirely78 beneath the surface, but Xodar was compelled to rise often to let the youth breathe, so it was a wonder that we were not discovered long before we were.
In fact we reached the boat's side and were all aboard before the watch upon the battleship, aroused by the shots, detected us. Then an alarm gun bellowed79 from a ship's bow, its deep boom reverberating80 in deafening81 tones beneath the rocky dome of Omean.
Instantly the sleeping thousands were awake. The decks of a thousand monster craft teemed82 with fighting-men, for an alarm on Omean was a thing of rare occurrence.
We cast away before the sound of the first gun had died, and another second saw us rising swiftly from the surface of the sea. I lay at full length along the deck with the levers and buttons of control before me. Xodar and the boy were stretched directly behind me, prone83 also that we might offer as little resistance to the air as possible.
"Rise high," whispered Xodar. "They dare not fire their heavy guns toward the dome—the fragments of the shells would drop back among their own craft. If we are high enough our keel plates will protect us from rifle fire."
I did as he bade. Below us we could see the men leaping into the water by hundreds, and striking out for the small cruisers and one-man fliers that lay moored84 about the big ships. The larger craft were getting under way, following us rapidly, but not rising from the water.
"A little to your right," cried Xodar, for there are no points of compass upon Omean where every direction is due north.
The pandemonium85 that had broken out below us was deafening. Rifles cracked, officers shouted orders, men yelled directions to one another from the water and from the decks of myriad86 boats, while through all ran the purr of countless propellers87 cutting water and air.
I had not dared pull my speed lever to the highest for fear of overrunning the mouth of the shaft88 that passed from Omean's dome to the world above, but even so we were hitting a clip that I doubt has ever been equalled on the windless sea.
The smaller fliers were commencing to rise toward us when Xodar shouted: "The shaft! The shaft! Dead ahead," and I saw the opening, black and yawning in the glowing dome of this underworld.
A ten-man cruiser was rising directly in front to cut off our escape. It was the only vessel89 that stood in our way, but at the rate that it was traveling it would come between us and the shaft in plenty of time to thwart90 our plans.
It was rising at an angle of about forty-five degrees dead ahead of us, with the evident intention of combing us with grappling hooks from above as it skimmed low over our deck.
There was but one forlorn hope for us, and I took it. It was useless to try to pass over her, for that would have allowed her to force us against the rocky dome above, and we were already too near that as it was. To have attempted to dive below her would have put us entirely at her mercy, and precisely where she wanted us. On either side a hundred other menacing craft were hastening toward us. The alternative was filled with risk—in fact it was all risk, with but a slender chance of success.
As we neared the cruiser I rose as though to pass above her, so that she would do just what she did do, rise at a steeper angle to force me still higher. Then as we were almost upon her I yelled to my companions to hold tight, and throwing the little vessel into her highest speed I deflected91 her bows at the same instant until we were running horizontally and at terrific velocity92 straight for the cruiser's keel.
Her commander may have seen my intentions then, but it was too late. Almost at the instant of impact I turned my bows upward, and then with a shattering jolt93 we were in collision. What I had hoped for happened. The cruiser, already tilted94 at a perilous angle, was carried completely over backward by the impact of my smaller vessel. Her crew fell twisting and screaming through the air to the water far below, while the cruiser, her propellers still madly churning, dived swiftly headforemost after them to the bottom of the Sea of Omean.
The collision crushed our steel bows, and notwithstanding every effort on our part came near to hurling95 us from the deck. As it was we landed in a wildly clutching heap at the very extremity96 of the flier, where Xodar and I succeeded in grasping the hand-rail, but the boy would have plunged97 overboard had I not fortunately grasped his ankle as he was already partially98 over.
Unguided, our vessel careened wildly in its mad flight, rising ever nearer the rocks above. It took but an instant, however, for me to regain99 the levers, and with the roof barely fifty feet above I turned her nose once more into the horizontal plane and headed her again for the black mouth of the shaft.
The collision had retarded100 our progress and now a hundred swift scouts were close upon us. Xodar had told me that ascending101 the shaft by virtue102 of our repulsive103 rays alone would give our enemies their best chance to overtake us, since our propellers would be idle and in rising we would be outclassed by many of our pursuers. The swifter craft are seldom equipped with large buoyancy tanks, since the added bulk of them tends to reduce a vessel's speed.
As many boats were now quite close to us it was inevitable104 that we would be quickly overhauled105 in the shaft, and captured or killed in short order.
To me there always seems a way to gain the opposite side of an obstacle. If one cannot pass over it, or below it, or around it, why then there is but a single alternative left, and that is to pass through it. I could not get around the fact that many of these other boats could rise faster than ours by the fact of their greater buoyancy, but I was none the less determined106 to reach the outer world far in advance of them or die a death of my own choosing in event of failure.
"Reverse?" screamed Xodar, behind me. "For the love of your first ancestor, reverse. We are at the shaft."
"Hold tight!" I screamed in reply. "Grasp the boy and hold tight—we are going straight up the shaft."
The words were scarce out of my mouth as we swept beneath the pitch-black opening. I threw the bow hard up, dragged the speed lever to its last notch107, and clutching a stanchion with one hand and the steering-wheel with the other hung on like grim death and consigned108 my soul to its author.
I heard a little exclamation109 of surprise from Xodar, followed by a grim laugh. The boy laughed too and said something which I could not catch for the whistling of the wind of our awful speed.
I looked above my head, hoping to catch the gleam of stars by which I could direct our course and hold the hurtling thing that bore us true to the centre of the shaft. To have touched the side at the speed we were making would doubtless have resulted in instant death for us all. But not a star showed above—only utter and impenetrable darkness.
Then I glanced below me, and there I saw a rapidly diminishing circle of light—the mouth of the opening above the phosphorescent radiance of Omean. By this I steered110, endeavouring to keep the circle of light below me ever perfect. At best it was but a slender cord that held us from destruction, and I think that I steered that night more by intuition and blind faith than by skill or reason.
We were not long in the shaft, and possibly the very fact of our enormous speed saved us, for evidently we started in the right direction and so quickly were we out again that we had no time to alter our course. Omean lies perhaps two miles below the surface crust of Mars. Our speed must have approximated two hundred miles an hour, for Martian fliers are swift, so that at most we were in the shaft not over forty seconds.
We must have been out of it for some seconds before I realised that we had accomplished111 the impossible. Black darkness enshrouded all about us. There were neither moons nor stars. Never before had I seen such a thing upon Mars, and for the moment I was nonplussed112. Then the explanation came to me. It was summer at the south pole. The ice cap was melting and those meteoric113 phenomena114, clouds, unknown upon the greater part of Barsoom, were shutting out the light of heaven from this portion of the planet.
Fortunate indeed it was for us, nor did it take me long to grasp the opportunity for escape which this happy condition offered us. Keeping the boat's nose at a stiff angle I raced her for the impenetrable curtain which Nature had hung above this dying world to shut us out from the sight of our pursuing enemies.
We plunged through the cold damp fog without diminishing our speed, and in a moment emerged into the glorious light of the two moons and the million stars. I dropped into a horizontal course and headed due north. Our enemies were a good half-hour behind us with no conception of our direction. We had performed the miraculous115 and come through a thousand dangers unscathed—we had escaped from the land of the First Born. No other prisoners in all the ages of Barsoom had done this thing, and now as I looked back upon it it did not seem to have been so difficult after all.
I said as much to Xodar, over my shoulder.
"It is very wonderful, nevertheless," he replied. "No one else could have accomplished it but John Carter."
At the sound of that name the boy jumped to his feet.
"John Carter!" he cried. "John Carter! Why, man, John Carter, Prince of Helium, has been dead for years. I am his son."
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1
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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behooves
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| n.利益，好处( behoof的名词复数 )v.适宜( behoove的第三人称单数 ) | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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foisted
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| 强迫接受，把…强加于( foist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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spoke
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| 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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lauded
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| v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
cleaves
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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40
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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41
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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42
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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44
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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45
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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47
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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48
navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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49
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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50
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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51
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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52
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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53
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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54
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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55
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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56
aphorism
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| n.格言，警语 | |
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57
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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58
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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59
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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jeopardized
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| 危及，损害( jeopardize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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62
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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68
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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forestalling
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的现在分词 ) | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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wondrous
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| 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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72
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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crumple
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| v.把...弄皱，满是皱痕，压碎，崩溃 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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78
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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reverberating
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的现在分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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81
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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82
teemed
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| v.充满( teem的过去式和过去分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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83
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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84
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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85
pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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86
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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87
propellers
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器( propeller的名词复数 ) | |
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88
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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89
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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90
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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91
deflected
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| 偏离的 | |
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92
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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93
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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94
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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95
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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96
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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98
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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99
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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100
retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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101
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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102
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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103
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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104
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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105
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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106
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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107
notch
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| n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级 | |
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108
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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109
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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110
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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111
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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112
nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
meteoric
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| adj.流星的，转瞬即逝的，突然的 | |
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114
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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115
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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