Chapter 3

Lieutenant¹ Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. She put some distance between herself and Davis. It wasn’t that hard.  She did triathlons for fun. He worked behind a desk, though God knows, he certainly looked good for an accountant.  ‘C’mon, c’mon. Keep up with me, Davis. Don’t fall back,’she called over her shoulder.
Her boyfriend for the past year didn’t answer. Well, that settled any future debate about who was in better shape, who was the real athlete. Of course, Martha had known that all along.  The sounds of the next growl² and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. They were catching³ up to her.  But what was catching up to her?
‘Martha! There’s something behind me. Oh God! Run! Run, MarthaV Davis shouted. ‘Get the hell out of here!’ Adrenaline charged through her. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons⁴. She leaned her weight forward, the way all good runners do.
She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn’t see Davis anymore. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious.  Martha rationalized that she had to get help. The police. Somebody.
Her boyfriend’s screams were ringing in her ears and she was
running in total panic, unaware⁵ of where she was going. She
stumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill,  crashing into the base of a small tree, but at least it stopped her fall.  In a daze⁶, she managed to pull herself up. Jesus, she was pretty sure she’d broken her right arm. Cradling it with the left, she ran forward in a clumsy stumble.
She reached one of the paved auxiliary⁷ roads that twisted through the park. Davis’s screams had stopped. What had happened to him?  She had to get help.
She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. For God’s sake, this is San Francisco!  ‘Please stop, please stop. Hey! Hey! Hey!’ She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.’Stop! I need help!’ The white van sped straight for her, but then, thank God, it skidded⁸ to a stop. Two men jumped out and ran to her. They would help. The van said ‘Red Cross’ on its hood⁹.
‘Help me. Please,’Martha said.’My boyfriend is hurt.’ Things went from bad to worse. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Before Martha realized what was happening, she went down hard. Her chin struck the pavement, bouncing like a wet ball. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.  She looked up, tried to focus her eyes, and wished she hadn’t.  Blazing red eyes stared down at her. A mouth was open wide. Two mouths. She had never seen such teeth in her life. They were like sharpened knives. The incisors were huge.
She felt the teeth bite into her cheek, then her neck. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.  She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers, but it did no good. They were incredibly strong. Both of them were growling¹⁰.  ‘Ecstasy,’ one of them whispered against Martha’s ear. ‘Isn’t it exquisite¹¹? You’re so lucky. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. You and Davis.’

1 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

2 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 pistons   

活塞( piston的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some pistons have seating rings of metal or leather. 有些活塞上有金属或皮革的密封环。
• A pump uses valves and pistons. 泵使用阀和活塞。

5 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

6 daze   

v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏

参考例句：

• The blow on the head dazed him for a moment.他头上受了一击后就昏眩了片刻。
• I like dazing to sit in the cafe by myself on Sunday.星期日爱独坐人少的咖啡室发呆。

7 auxiliary   

adj.辅助的，备用的

参考例句：

• I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
• The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。

8 skidded   

v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区

参考例句：

• The car skidded and hit a lamp post. 那辆汽车打滑撞上了路灯杆。
• The car skidded and overturned. 汽车打滑翻倒了。

9 hood   

n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖

参考例句：

• She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
• The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

10 growling   

n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼

参考例句：

• We heard thunder growling in the distance. 我们听见远处有隆隆雷声。
• The lay about the deck growling together in talk. 他们在甲板上到处游荡，聚集在一起发牢骚。

11 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。