Howl did not go out that day, nor for the next few days. Sophie sat quietly in the chair by the hearth1, keeping out of his way and thinking. She saw that, much as Howl deserved it, she had been taking out her feelings on the castle when she was really angry with the Witch of the Waste. And she was a little upset at the thought that she was here on false pretenses4. Howl might think Calcifer liked her, but Sophie knew Calcifer had simply seized on a chance to make a bargain with her. Sophie rather thought she had let Calcifer down.
This state of mind did not last. Sophie discovered a pile of Michael’s clothes that needed mending. She fetched out thimble, scissors, and thread from her sewing pocket and set to work. By that evening she was cheerful enough to join in Calcifer’s silly little song about saucepans.
“Happy in your work?” Howl said sarcastically5.
“I need more to do,” Sophie said.
“My old suit needs mending, if you have to feel busy,” said Howl.
This seemed to mean that Howl was no longer annoyed. Sophie was relieved. She had been almost frightened that morning.
It was clear Howl had not yet caught the girl he was after. Sophie listened to Michael asking rather obvious questions about it, and Howl slithering neatly6 out of answering any of them. “He is a slitherer-outer,” Sophie murmured to a pair of Michael’s socks. “Can’t face his own wickedness.” She watched Howl being restlessly busy in order to hide his discontent. That was something Sophie understood rather well.
At the bench Howl worked a good deal harder and faster than Michael, putting spells together in an expert but slapdash way. From the look on Michael’s face, most of the spells were both unusual and hard to do. But Howl would leave a spell midway and dash up to his bedroom to look after something hidden-and no doubt sinister-going on up there, and then shortly race out into the yard to tinker with a large spell out there. Sophie opened the door a crack and was rather amazed to see the elegant wizard kneeling in the mud with his long sleeves tied behind his neck to keep them out of the way while he carefully heaved a tangle7 of greasy8 metal into a special framework of some kind.
That spell was for the King. Another overdressed and scented9 messenger arrived with a letter and a long, long speech in which he wondered if Howl could possibly spare time, no doubt invaluably10 employed in other ways, to bend his powerful and ingenious mind to a small problem experienced by His Royal Majesty-to whit11, how an army might get its heavy wagons12 through a marsh13 and rough ground. Howl was wonderfully polite and long-winded in reply. He said no. But the messenger spoke14 for a further half-hour, at then end of which he and Howl bowed to one another and Howl agreed to do the spell.
“This is a bit ominous,” Howl said to Michael when the messenger had gone. “What did Suliman have to get himself lost in the Waste for? The King seems to think I’ll do instead.”
“He wasn’t as inventive as you, by all accounts,” Michael said.
“I’m too patient and polite,” Howl said gloomily. “I should have overcharged him even more.”
Howl was equally patient and polite with customers from Porthaven, but, as Michael anxiously pointed15 out, the trouble was that Howl did not charge these people enough. This was after Howl had listened for an hour to the reasons why a seaman’s wife could not pay him a penny yet, and then promised a sea captain a wind spell for almost nothing. Howl eluded16 Michael’s arguments by giving him a magic lesson.
Sophie sewed buttons on Michael’s shirts and listened to Howl going through a spell with Michael. “I know I’m slapdash,” he was saying, “but there’s no need for you to copy me. Always read it right through, carefully, first. The shape of it should tell you a lot, whether it’s self-fulfilling, or self-discovering, or simple incantation, or mixed action and speech. When you’ve decided17 that, go through again and decide which bits mean what they say and which bits are put as a puzzle. You’re getting on to more powerful kinds now. You’ll find every spell of power has at least one deliberate mistake or mystery in it to prevent accidents. You have to spot those. Now take this spell…”
Listening to Michael’s halting replies to Howl’s questions, and watching Howl scribble18 remarks on the paper with a strange, everlasting19 quill20 pen, Sophie realized that she could learn a lot too. It dawned on her that if Martha could discover the spell to swap21 herself and Lettie about at Mrs.Fairfax’s, then she ought to be able to do the same here. With a bit of luck, there might be no need to rely on Calcifer.
When Howl was satisfied that Michael had forgotten all about how much or how little he charged people in Porthaven, he took him out into the yard to help with the King’s spell. Sophie creaked to her feet and hobbled to the bench. The spell was clear enough, but Howl’s scrawled22 remarks defeated her. “I’ve never seen such writing!” she grumbled23 to the human skull24. “Does he use a pen or a poker25?” She sorted eagerly through every scrap26 of paper on the bench and examined the powders and liquids in the crooked27 jars. “Yes, let’s admit it,” she told the skull. “I snoop. And I have my proper reward. I can find out how to cure fowl28 pest and abate29 whooping30 cough, raise a wind and remove hairs from the face. If Martha had found this lot, she’d still be at Mrs. Fairfax’s.”
Howl, it seemed to Sophie, went and examined all the things she had moved when he came in from the yard. But that seemed to be only restlessness. He seemed not to know what to do with himself after that. Sophie heard him roving up and down during the night. He was only an hour in the bathroom the next morning. He seemed not to be able to contain himself while Michael put on his best plum velvet31 suit, ready to go to the Palace in Kingsbury, and the two of them wrapped the bulky spell up in golden paper. The spell must have been surprisingly light for its size. Michael could carry it on his own easily, with both is arms wrapped round it. Howl turned the knob over the door red-down for him and sent him out into the street among the painted houses.
“They’re expecting it,” Howl said. “You should only have to wait most of the morning. Tell them a child could work it. Show them. And when you come back, I’ll have a spell of power for you to get to work on. So long.”
He shut the door and roved around the room again. “My feet itch3,” he said suddenly. “I’m going for a walk on the hills. Tell Michael the spell I promised him is on the bench. And here’s for you to keep busy with.”
Sophie found a gray-and-scarlet32 suit, as fancy as the blue-and-silver one, dropped into her lap from nowhere. Howl meanwhile picked up his guitar from its corner, turned the doorknob green-down, and stepped out among the scudding33 heather above Market Chipping.
“His feet itch!” grumbled Calcifer. There was a fog down in Porthaven., Calcifer was low among his logs, moving uneasily this way and that to avoid drips in the chimney. “How does he think I feel, stuck in a damp grate like this?”
“Then you’ll have to give me hint at least about how to break you contract,” Sophie said, shaking out he gray-and-scarlet suit. “Goodness, you’re a fine suit, even if you a bit worn! Built to pull in the girls, aren’t you?”
“I have given you hint!” Calcifer fizzed.
“Then you’ll have to give it to me again. I didn’t catch it,” Sophie said as she laid the suit down and hobbled to the door.
“If I give you a hint and tell you it’s a hint, it will be information, and I’m not allowed to give that,” Calcifer said. “Where are you going?”
“To do something I didn’t dare do until they were both out,” Sophie said. She twisted the square knob over the door until the black blob pointed downward. Then she opened the door.
There was nothing outside. It was neither black, nor gray, nor white. It was not think, or transparent34. It did not move. It had no smell and no feel. When Sophie put a very cautious finger out into it, it was neither hot nor cold. It felt of nothing. It seemed utterly35 and completely nothing.
“What is this?” she asked Calcifer.
Calcifer was as interested as Sophie. His blue face was leaning right out of the grate to see the door. He had forgotten the fog. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “I only maintain it. All I know is that it’s on the side of the castle that no one can walk around. It feels quite far away.”
“It feels beyond the moon!” said Sophie. She shut the door and turned the knob green-downward. She hesitated a minute and then started to hobble to the stairs.
“He’s locked it,” said Calcifer. “He told me to tell you if you tried to snoop again.”
“Oh,” said Sophie. “What has he got up there?”
“I’ve no idea,” said Calcifer. “I don’t know anything about upstairs. If you only knew how frustrating36 it is! I can’t even really see outside the castle. Only enough to see what direction I’m going in.”
Sophie, feeling equally frustrated37, sat down and began mending the gray-and-scarlet suit. Michael came in quite soon after that.
“The King saw me at once,” he said. “He-” He looked round the room. His eyes went to the empty corner where the guitar usually stood. “Oh, no!” he said. “Not the lady friend again! I thought she’d fallen in love with him and it was all over days ago. What’s keeping her?”
Calcifer fizzed wickedly. “You got the signs wrong. Heartless Howl is finding this lady rather tough. He decided to leave her alone for a few days to see if that would help. That’s all.”
“Bother!” said Michael. “That’s bound to mean trouble. And here I was hoping Howl was almost sensible again!”
Sophie banged the suit down on her knees. “Really!” she said. “How can you both talk like that about such utter wickedness! At least, I suppose I can’t blame Calcifer, since he’s an evil demon38. But you, Michael-!”
“I don’t think I’m evil,” Calcifer protested.
“But I’m not calm about it, if that’s what you think!” Michael said. “If you knew the trouble we’ve had because Howl will keep falling in love like this! We’ve had lawsuits39, and suitors with swords, and mothers with rolling pins, and fathers and uncles with cudgels. And aunts. Aunts are terrible. They go for you with hatpins. But the worst is when the girl herself finds out where Howl lives and turns up at the door, crying and miserable40. Howl goes out through the back door and Calcifer and I have to deal with them all.”
“I hate the unhappy ones,” Calcifer said. “They drip on me. I’d rather have them angry.”
“Now let’s get this straight,” Sophie said, clenching41 her fists knobbily in red satin. “What does Howl do to these poor females? I was told he ate their hearts and took their souls away.”
Michael laughed uncomfortably. “Then you must come from Market Chipping. Howl sent me down there to blacken his name when we first set up the castle. I-er-I said that sort of thing. It’s what aunts usually say. It’s only true in a manner of speaking.”
“Howl’s very fickle,” said Calcifer. “He’s only interested until the girl falls in love with him. Then he can’t be bothered with her.”
“But he can’t rest until he’s made her love him,” Michael said eagerly. “You can’t get any sense out of him until he has. I always look forward to the time when the girl falls for him. Things get better then.”
“Until they track him down,” said Calcifer.
“You’d think he’d have the sense to give them a false name,” Sophie said scornfully. The scorn was to hide the fact that she was feeling somewhat foolish.
“Oh, he always does,” Michael said. “He loves giving false names and posing as things. He does it even when he’s not courting girls. Haven’t you noticed that he’s Sorcerer Jenkin in Porthaven, and Wizard Pendragon in Kingsbury, as well as Horrible Howl in the castle?”
Sophie had not noticed, which made her feel more foolish still. And feeling foolish made her angry. “Well, I think it’s still wicked, going round making poor girls unhappy,” she said. “It’s heartless and pointless.”
“He’s made that way,” said Calcifer.
Michael pulled a three-legged stool up to the fire and sat on it while Sophie sewed, telling her of Howl’s conquests and some of the trouble that had happened afterward42. Sophie muttered at the fine suit. She still felt very foolish. “So you ate hearts, did you, suit? Why do aunts put things so oddly when they talk about their nieces? Probably fancied you themselves, my good suit. How would you feel with a raging aunt after you, eh?” As Michael told her the story of the particular aunt he had in mind, it occurred to Sophie that it was probably just as well the rumors43 of Howl had come to Market Chipping in those words. She could imagine a strong-minded girl like Lettie otherwise getting very interested in Howl and ending up very unhappy.
Michael had just suggested lunch and Calcifer as usual had groaned44 when Howl flung open the door and came in, more discontented than ever.
“Something to eat?” said Sophie.
“No,” said Howl. “Hot water in the bathroom, Calcifer.” He stood moodily45 in the bathroom door a moment. “Sophie, have you tidied this shelf of spells in here by any chance?”
Sophie felt more foolish than ever. Nothing would have possessed46 her to admit she had gone through all those packets and jars looking for pieces of girl. “I haven’t touched a thing,” she replied virtuously47 as she went to get the frying pan.
“I hope you didn’t,” Michael said uneasily as the bathroom door slammed shut.
Rinsings and gushings came from the bathroom while Sophie fried lunch. “He’s using a lot of hot water,” Calcifer said from under the pan. “I think he’s tinting48 his hair. I hope you left the hair spells alone. For a plain man with mud-colored hair, he’s terribly vain about his looks.”
“Oh, shut up!” snapped Sophie. “I put everything back just where I found it!” She was so cross that she emptied the pan of eggs and bacon over Calcifer.
Calcifer, of course, ate them with enormous enthusiasm and much flaring49 and gobbling. Sophie fried more over the spitting flames. She and Michael ate them. They were clearing away, and Calcifer was running his blue tongue round his purple lips, when the bathroom door crashed open and Howl shot out, wailing50 with despair.
“Look at this!” he shouted. “Look at it! What has that one-woman force of chaos51 done to these spells?”
Sophie and Michael whirled round and looked at Howl. His hair was wet, but, apart from that, neither of them could see that it looked any different.
“If you mean me-” Sophie began.
“I do mean you! Look!” Howl shrieked52. He sat down with a thump53 on the three-legged stool and jabbed at his wet head with his finger. “Look. Survey. Inspect. My hair is ruined! I look like a pan of bacon and eggs!”
Michael and Sophie bent54 nervously55 over Howl’s head. It seemed the usual flaxen color right to the roots. The only difference might have been a slight, very slight, trace of red. Sophie found that agreeable. It reminded her a little of the color her own hair should have been.
“I think it’s very nice,” she said.
“Nice!” screamed Howl. “You would! You did it on purpose. You couldn’t rest until you made me miserable too. Look at it! It’s ginger56! I shall have to hide until it’s grown out!” He spread his arms out passionately57. “Despair!” he yelled. “Anguish! Horror!”
The room turned dim. Huge, cloudy, human-looking shapes bellied58 up in all four corners and advanced on Sophie and Michael, howling as they came. The howls began as moaning horror, and went up to despairing brays59, and then up again to screams of pain and terror. Sophie pressed her hands to her ears, but the screams pressed through her hands, louder and louder still, more horrible every second. Calcifer shrank hurriedly down in the grate and flickered60 his way under his lowest log. Michael grabbed Sophie by her elbow and dragged her to the door. He spun61 the knob to blue-down, kicked the door open, and got them both out into the street in Porthaven as fast as he could.
The noise was almost as horrible out there. Doors were opening all down the road and people were running out with their hands over their ears.
“Ought we to leave him alone in that state?” Sophie quavered.
“Yes,” said Michael. “If he thinks it’s your fault, then definitely.”
They hurried through the town, pursued by throbbing62 screams. Quite a crowd came with them. In spite of the fact that the fog had now become a seeping63 sea drizzle64, everyone made for the harbor or the sands, where the noise seemed easier to bear. The fray65 vastness of the sea soaked it up a little. Everyone stood in damp huddles66, looking out at t he misty67 white horizon and the dripping ropes on the moored68 ships while the noise became a gigantic, heartbroken sobbing69. Sophie reflected that she was seeing the sea close for the first time in her life. It was pity that she was not enjoying it more.
The sobs70 died away to vast, miserable sighs and then to silence. People began cautiously to go back into the town. Some of them came timidly up to Sophie.
“Is something wrong with the poor Sorcerer, Mrs. Witch?”
“He’s a little unhappy today,” Michael said. “Come on. I think we can risk going back now.”
As they went along the quayside, several sailors called out anxiously from the moored ships, wanting to know it the noise meant storms or bad luck.
“Not at all,” Sophie called back. “It’s all over now.”
But it was not. They came back to the wizard’s house, which was an ordinary crooked little building from the outside that Sophie would not have recognized if Michael had not been with her. Michael opened the shabby little door rather cautiously. Inside, Howl was still sitting in the stool. He sat in an attitude of utter despair. And he was covered all over in thick green slime.
There were horrendous71, dramatic, violent quantities of green slime-oodles of it. It covered Howl completely. It draped his head and shoulders in sticky dollops, heaping on his knees and hands, trickling72 in glops down his legs, and dripping off the stool in sticky strands73. It was in oozing74 ponds and crawling pools over most of the floor. Long fingers of it had crept into the heart. It smelled vile75.
“Save me!” Calcifer cried in a hoarse76 whisper. He was down to two desperately77 flickering78 small flames. “This stuff is going to put me out!”
Sophie held up her skirt and marched as near Howl as she could get-which was not very near. “Stop it!” she said. “Stop it at once! You are behaving just like a baby!”
Howl did not move or answer. His face stared from behind the slime, white and tragic79 and wide-eyed.
“What shall we do? Is he dead?” Michael asked, jittering80 beside the door.
Michael was a nice boy, Sophie thought, but a bit helpless in a crisis. “No, of course he isn’t,” she said. “And if it wasn’t for Calcifer, he could behave like a jellied eel2 all day for all I care! Open the bathroom door.”
While Michael was working his way between pools of slime to the bathroom, Sophie threw her apron81 into the hearth to stop more of the stuff getting near Calcifer and snatched up the shovel82. She scooped83 up loads of ash and dumped them in the biggest pools of slime. It hissed84 violently. The room filled with steam and smelled worse than ever. Sophie furled up her sleeves, bent her back to get a good purchase on the Wizard’s slimy knees, and pushed Howl, stool and all, toward the bathroom. Her feet slipped and skidded85 in the slime, but of course the ooziness helped the stool to move too. Michael came and pulled at Howl’s slime-draped sleeves. Together, they trundled him into the bathroom. There, since Howl still refused to move, they shunted him into the shower stall.
“Hot water, Calcifer!” Sophie panted grimly. “Very hot.”
It took an hour to wash the slime off Howl. It took Michael another hour to persuade Howl to get off the stool and into dry clothes. Luckily, the gray-and-scarlet suit Sophie had just mended had been draped over the back of the chair, out of the way of the slime. The blue-and-silver suit was ruined. Sophie told Michael to put it in the bath to soak. Meanwhile, mumbling86 and grumbling87, she fetched more hot water. She turned the doorknob green-down and swept all the slime out onto the moors88. The castle left a trail like a snail89 in the heather, but it was an easy way to get rid of the slime. There were some advantages to living in a moving castle, Sophie thought as she washed the floor. She wondered if Howl’s noises had been coming from the castle to. In which case, she pitied the folk of Market Chipping.
By this time Sophie was tired and cross. She knew the green slime was Howl’s revenge on her, and she was not at all prepared to be sympathetic when Michael finally led Howl forth90 from the bathroom, clothed in gray and scarlet, and sat him tenderly in the chair by the hearth.
“That was plain stupid!” Calcifer sputtered91. “Were you trying to get rid of the best part of your magic, or something?”
Howl took no notice. He just sat, looking tragic and shivering.
“I can’t get him to speak!” Michael whispered miserably92.
“It’s just a tantrum,” Sophie said. Martha and Lettie were good at having tantrums. She knew how to deal with those. On the other hand, it is quite a risk to spank93 a wizard for getting hysterical94 about his hair. Anyway, Sophie’s experience told her that tantrums are seldom about the thing they appear to be about. She made Calcifer move over so that she could balance a pan of milk on the logs. When it was warm, she thrust a mugful into Howl’s hands. “Drink it,” she said. “Now, what’s all this fuss about? Is it this young lady you keep going to see?”
Howl sipped95 the milk dolefully. “Yes,” he said. “I left her alone to see if that would make her remember me fondly, and it hasn’t. She wasn’t sure, even when I last saw her. Now she tells me there’s another fellow.”
He sounded so miserable that Sophie felt quite sorry for him. Now his hair was dry. She noticed guiltily, it really was almost pink.
“She’s the most beautiful girl there ever was in these parts,” Howl went on mournfully. “I love her so dearly, but she scorns my deep devotion and gets sorry for another fellow. How can she have another fellow after all this attention I’ve given her? They usually get rid of the other fellows as soon as I come along.”
Sophie’s sympathy shrank quite sharply. It occurred to her that if Howl could cover himself with green slime so easily, then he could just as easily turn his hair the proper color. “Then why don’t you feed the girl a love potion and get it over with?”
“Oh, no,” said Howl. “That’s not playing the game. That would spoil all the fun.”
Sophie’s sympathy shrank again. A game, was it? “Don’t you ever give a thought for the poor girl?” she snapped.
Howl finished the milk and gazed into the mug with a sentimental96 smile. “I think of her all the time,” he said. “Lovely, lovely Lettie Hatter.”
Sophie’s sympathy went for good, with a sharp bang. A good deal of anxiety took its place. Oh, Martha! she thought. You have been busy! So it wasn’t anyone in Cesari’s you were talking about!
第6章游戏规则
豪尔那天没有外出，接下来几天也没有。苏菲静静坐在炉旁的椅子，避开他，思考着。
她现在想明白了，虽然豪尔是罪有应得，但她生气的对象其实是女巫。这些天以来，她把对女巫的怒气全发泄在城堡上，她对自己以欺骗的手法待在这里，也觉得有些良心不安。豪尔或许认为卡西法喜欢她，但是苏菲知道，卡西法不过是抓住机会跟她谈一笔交易而已。苏菲觉得自己辜负了卡西法的期待。
但是这样的情绪并未维持很久。苏菲发现一堆麦可需要修补的衣服，她由她的缝纫袋里拿出针、剪刀和线，开始缝缝补补。到那天傍晚，她的情绪已经恢复到可以加入卡西法那条关于炖锅的歌了。
“工作很开心？”豪尔语带讽刺地问。
“我需要再多一点工作。”苏菲说。
“如果你非得有事忙，我的旧套装需要修补。”豪尔说。
这似乎意味着豪尔不再生她的气了，苏菲终于放心，她那天早上几乎被吓到了。
豪尔显然还没抓到他锁定的女孩，苏菲听到麦可问他一些很明显的相关问题，但是豪尔总是很滑溜地避免回答。“真是个泥鳅大王！”苏菲对一双麦可的袜子喃喃地说：“不能面对自己的邪恶。”她看着豪尔心神不宁地忙着，试着掩饰他的不满。这样的情绪，苏菲倒是颇能了解。
在工作台那儿，豪尔做的比麦可努力，而且快速。以一种专业但又十分随便的态度，将咒语组合在一起。由麦可的表情看来，大部分的咒语不仅不寻常，而且很难。但是豪尔常做到一半就跑掉，冲上楼，到房里去找东西（当然一定是邪恶的东西），不一会儿，又冲到院子里去把弄一个大的咒语。苏菲将门打开一点缝隙偷瞧，很惊讶地看到这个外表优雅的巫师居然跪在泥地，长袖绑在脖子后头以免妨碍工作。他小心地举起一堆纠缠在一起的金属，将它们变成某种东西的骨架。
那个咒语是为国王做的。一位打扮过度、身上洒满香水的传讯者，带着国王的信和长长的说辞到来。他说豪尔必然有许多其他重要顾客的工作要做，但不知是否能拨出时间，将他能力强大、善于发明的脑力，稍稍用在国王所遭逢的一个小问题上？也就是说呢，国王陛下想知道，如何能让沉重的货车经过沼泽区和崎岖不平的路面。豪尔的回答同样非常彬彬有礼，又臭又长。他拒绝了，但是信差又讲了半个钟头。最后，他和豪尔互相行礼，豪尔同意弄那个咒语。
“事情有点不太妙，”信差走后，豪尔跟麦可说：“苏利曼干吗要跑到荒地失踪不见？现在国王似乎认定我可以接续他的工作。”
“苏利曼绝对不如你有创造力。”麦可说。
“我呢，是太有耐心又太客气了！”豪尔沮丧地说：“我应该跟他狠狠敲一笔的！”
其实豪尔对避难港的客人也同样耐心而客气，但是麦可焦虑地指出，问题在于豪尔对这些人的收费实在太低。麦可这些牢骚是在豪尔耐心花上一个小时倾听一个渔夫太太解释说，为何她还不能付他一分钱；随后又几乎免费地为某个船长弄风咒语后忍不住说的。豪尔逃避麦可唠叨的方法是给他上魔法课。
苏菲边在麦可的衬衫上面缝扣子，边听豪尔跟麦可从头讲解一个咒语。“我知道我这样讲似乎有些草率，”豪尔说：“但是你真的无需抄袭无。记住，永远都要先小心地读一遍。它的形状应该会透露许多讯息：看它是会自我完成、自我发现，或者本身就是个简单魔法，还是需要混合行动和语言？等你决定后，回头再读一遍，然后决定哪个部分说的是真的，哪个部分只是故意放在那里困惑人的。你现在已逐渐接触到比较高阶的魔法，你会发现每个有力的魔法都至少有一个故意植入的错误或迷题，以避免以外发生，你必须将它找出来。现在，就拿这个咒语来说……”
听着麦可对豪尔提出的问题犹豫地回答，看着豪尔以一支样式奇特、永远不用添加墨汁的鹅毛笔在纸上潦草地写下短评，苏菲发现她也能从中学到许多。她突然想到，若玛莎可以在菲菲克丝太太那里找到将自己和乐蒂变为对方的咒语，她也应该能在这里办到。运气好的话，也许根本不需要卡西法。
当豪尔确定麦可终于忘记他跟避难港的人的收费问题时，他带他到后院去帮忙弄国王要的咒语。苏菲站起来，蹒跚地走到工作台。咒语写得倒是很清楚，但她完全败给豪尔那一笔草字。“没看过字是这样写的！”她对骷髅头抱怨：“他是用笔还是用火钳写字？”她热切地翻阅工作台上所有的纸片，检视那些放在形状扭曲瓶里的粉末和液体。“是的，我承认，”她跟骷髅头说：“我在探人隐私，也略有收获。我找到了治疗鸡瘟及百日咳的方法，还有唤来一阵风，以及除去脸毛的方法。如果玛莎找到的是这些，她现在一定还待在菲菲克丝太太那里。”
豪尔近来后，似乎检查了所有被苏菲动过的东西，但动机几乎肇因与他静不下心。在那之后，他似乎不知道该做什么才好，苏菲听到他夜里上上下下地徘徊。第二天早晨，他只在浴室里待一个钟头。当麦可穿上他最好的紫蓝色丝绒服，准备前往位于金斯别利城的王宫时，豪尔一副迫不及待的样子。他们两人合力将体积大的符咒用金纸包起来，依它的体积看来，那符咒显然非常的轻，麦可一个人就可以轻易拿起来。麦可两手合抱着包裹，豪尔为他开门，将门把转到红色向下，送他到房子皆粉刷得光鲜亮丽的街道上。
“他们等着要货，”豪尔交代说：“你应该只需要等一个早上，告诉他们连小孩都可以操作，弄给他们看。等你回来的时候，我会留一个有力的咒语让你去忙。再见。”
他关上门，然后又开始在房里来来回回走动。“我的脚会痒，”他突然说：“我要去山岗那儿走一走。告诉麦可，要给他的咒语放在工作台上。还有这个，你这样才不会无聊。”
他不知从哪里弄来一件和那件蓝银色套装一样时髦的灰色及大红色的套装，丢到苏菲膝上。豪尔由墙角拿起吉他，将门转到绿色向下，一脚踏在马克奇平上空飞掠的石楠。
“他脚痒，亏他说得出口！”卡西法咕哝着。避难港有雾，卡西法在木头里蹲得低低的，不安地晃来晃去，躲避由烟囱滴下来的水滴。“他以为我是什么感觉？困在这样湿漉漉的炉架里！”
“那你至少要给我一个怎样帮你破除契约的暗示吧！”苏菲说着，一边将豪尔那件灰红色的衣服抖开来。“我的天，你真是件漂亮的衣服，虽然有点破旧了。你是被制造来吸引女孩子的，对不对？”
“我给过你暗示的！”卡西法嘶声说。
“那你得再给我一遍，因为我完全没印象。”
“如果我给你暗示，又告诉你那是暗示，那就叫做提供消息，这是不被允许的。”卡西法说：“咦，你要去哪里？”
“去做一件只有他们两人都不在时，我才敢做的事。”苏菲说着，把门把转到黑色朝下，然后打开门。
门外是一片虚无，不是黑的、灰的，甚或白色，不厚也不透明，不动、没有味道，也不予人任何感觉。苏菲小心地对着门外伸出一根指头，外面不冷也不热，只能说——毫无感觉，真的是全然的虚无。
“这是什么？”她问卡西法。
卡西法跟苏菲一样充满好奇。它望了雾气，蓝脸长长地伸出炉架来窥看门外。“我不知道，”它悄声地是说：“我只负责持家。我只知道在没人走得过去的城堡那一面，感觉是在很遥远的地方。”
“似乎比月亮还远。”苏菲说。她将门关上，门把转到绿色朝下，犹豫片刻，开始对着楼梯蹒跚地走过去。
“他锁起来了，”卡西法说：“他交代说如果你又想窥探时，就这样告诉你。”
“噢，”苏菲问道：“上头有什么？”
“我一无所知。”卡西法说：“我对楼上是一无所知。你知道这有多令人沮丧吗？我甚至无法真正地看到城堡外面。我看到的部分只够让我判断该走的方向。”
苏菲觉得同样沮丧，她坐下来修补那件灰红色的衣服。买可很快就回来了。
“国王马上就接见我了。”他说：“他……”他停下来环目四望，眼睛看到那个原来放吉他的空荡墙角。“噢，天哪！”他大叫：“怎么有是那个女朋友！我以为她已经爱上他，事情好几天前已经完全成为过去式了。她怎么要花这么久？”
卡西法邪恶地嘶嘶作响：“是你错读讯息了！无心豪尔发现这位小姐特别难缠。他是故意吊她胃口，离开几天，看那样会不会有帮助，如此而已。”
“算了！”麦可说：“反正那意味着麻烦就对了。我还在那里希望他又回复理智了呢！”
苏菲将衣服重重放下。“真是的！”她责怪道：“你们两人怎么能这样子谈论那么邪恶的事？卡西法是个恶魔，所以，我想我是不能怪它。但是麦可，你……”
“我不认为我是邪恶的。”麦可抗议道。
“如果你以为我对这一切都无动于衷，那你就错了。”他说：“你知道豪尔这样不断地谈恋爱给我们带来多少麻烦吗？我们被告过，被对方的追求者拿刀追杀过，还有拿着面杆的妈妈，手持棍棒的父亲和叔伯舅舅。对，还有阿姨。阿姨最最可怕，她们拿着帽针追杀。但是最糟糕的是，当那女孩发现豪尔的住处，找上门来哭哭啼啼，豪尔又后门溜走，却留下我跟卡西法在这里收拾残局的时候。”
“我讨厌那些不快乐的女孩，”卡西法说：“她们对着我滴水。我宁可她们生气。”
“等等，让我们把话说清楚，”苏菲枯瘦的手紧抓着膝上的红衣服，说：“豪尔到底把那些可怜的女孩怎么了？我听人说，他吃掉她们的心脏，然后收走他们的灵魂。”
麦可很不自在地笑了笑。“那你一定是由马克奇平来的。我们刚把城堡安顿好时，他要我去那里破坏他的名声。我、呃，就说了那一类的话。那是阿姨们常用来警告女孩子的话。而且，就某种意义来说，也没有错……”
“豪尔的感情非常善变，”卡西法说：“对方一爱上他，他的感情就结束了，再也不想跟对方有任何瓜葛。”
“但在对方尚未爱上他之前，他又无法定下心来。”麦可急切地说：“他会变的无可理喻。我总会祈祷那女孩子赶快爱上他，这样事情才能回复正常。”
“那是在她们找到他之前。”卡西法说。
“要是他够聪明的话，他应该只给他们假名。”苏菲语带轻蔑地说。那轻蔑是为了隐藏她真正的感觉——她觉得自己有点愚蠢。
“有啊，每次都是用假名啊！”麦可说：“他喜欢使用假名，也爱伪装，即使不是在追女孩子时也一样。你有没有注意到？他在避难港叫做建肯魔法师，金斯别利叫围龙巫师，还有在城堡里叫做可怕的豪尔。”
苏菲一直都没发现，这让她跟觉得自己愚不可及，而这种感觉又令她生气。“总之，我还是觉得四处让可怜的女孩们不快乐，是很邪恶的一件事。”她说：“这样很没良心，而且毫无意义。”
“他就是这样啦！”卡西法说。
麦可拉一把三脚凳到炉前，坐在上头。苏菲边缝纫，他一边告诉她豪尔的爱情故事，以及一些事后发生的麻烦事。苏菲对着那件好衣服喃喃自语：“所以你吃人家的心了，对不对？当阿姨的提到甥女时怎么会用那么奇怪的字眼？好衣服，搞不好她们其实是想把你穿上身？有个愤怒的阿姨追着你跑是什么滋味？”当麦可跟她提起某个特定的阿姨的故事时。苏菲突然想到，豪尔的名声在马克奇平那样被传播，其实没什么不好。她可以想象，像乐蒂那样个性倔强的女孩，万一爱上了豪尔，结果变的很不快乐时会是如何。
麦可才建议说吃中饭，卡西法也一如平常地呻吟抱怨时，豪尔突然开门走了进来，比以往更不快乐。
“要吃点什么吗？”苏菲问他。
“不要。”豪尔说：“卡西法，浴室里给我些热水。”他闷闷不乐地在浴室门口站了一会儿。“苏菲，你是不是研究过我架上的咒语？”
苏菲觉得自己越加愚蠢。她打死也不向承认，她曾在那些瓶子和小包里翻找女孩的身体器官。“我什么也没碰。”她边起身去拿煎锅边凛然地回答。
“我希望你真的没有。”麦可看着关上的浴室门，不按地说。
苏菲在煎煮中餐时，浴室里传来不间断的水声。“他用了许多热水，”卡西法在煎锅下说：“我想他在染发，希望你没有动到他的发咒语。这个长相平凡，发色又跟泥巴一样的人，对外表虚荣的要命。”
“噢，闭嘴！”苏菲斥道：“我东西全部有放回原处的。”因为太生气了，她把锅里的蛋和熏肉全倒在卡西法身上，卡西法当然是狼吞虎咽地把它们吃掉。苏菲在劈啪的火焰上又煎了一锅。她跟麦可就吃这一锅。
吃完，正收拾着，卡西法则以蓝色的火舌添着紫色的嘴唇，浴室的门突然砰一声打开，豪尔冲出来，绝望地大叫：“看看这个！”他叫道：“看看这个！这个活动型混乱制造机到底对我的咒语干了什么好事？”
苏菲和麦可迅速转过身来看着豪尔。他头发湿湿的，但是，除了这一点之外，他们两人都看不出他的头发有何不同。
“如果你是指我的话……”苏菲开口。
“就是你！看！”豪尔尖叫。他在三脚凳上用力坐下，手指指着他的头发：“看！你们仔细看看！我的头发毁了！看起来像一锅蛋和熏肉！”
麦可和苏菲紧张地弯身看他的头发。但是看来似乎跟平常一样，一直到发根都是淡黄色的，唯一的差别或许在于有那么一点点、一点点的红色。苏菲觉得那看起来还蛮不错的，令她想起自己年轻时的发色。
“我觉得这个很不错啊。”她说。
“什么！”豪尔尖叫：“你竟然这么认为！你是故意弄的！你不把我弄到悲惨至极不肯罢休！看好，这是赤黄色的！我得等到头发都长出来才敢出去见人！”他伸出双手激动地叫道：“太令人绝望了！真是恐怖！”
房间突然暗了下来，巨大、云状的人形由四个角落涌出，对着麦可和苏菲逼进，口中嚎叫着。嚎叫变成呻吟，然后变成绝望的嘶吼，再变成痛苦与恐怖的尖叫。苏菲以两手掩住耳朵，但是尖叫声穿透双手，越来越响，且一分钟比一分钟恐怖。卡西法迅速退缩到炉架里，在最低的木头处微微闪着火花。麦可抓住苏菲的手肘，将她拖到门边。他将门把转到蓝色朝下，踢开门，以最快的速度逃到避难港的街上。
街上所听到的声音几乎跟城堡里一样恐怖，整条路上的门都打开，人们捂着耳朵跑出来。
“让他那样一个人待在家里没关系吗？”苏菲颤抖着声音问。
“是的，”麦可说：“如果他认为那是你的错，你最好还是这样。”
他们匆匆穿过避难港镇，可怕的尖叫声在后头紧追不舍，一大群人跟着他们跑。虽然雾已经转为会淋湿人的毛毛雨，大家还是往港口或沙滩跑，在那儿，这刺耳的声音似乎比较能够忍受，广大的海洋似乎能将一部分的噪音吸收掉。当噪音变成一个巨大、令人心碎的呜咽时，大家都湿漉漉地挤在一起，看着被雾笼罩的白色地平线，以及停泊在港口的船只上滴水的绳索。苏菲想到，这是她这辈子这么近地看海，但是很遗憾，她一点都没有快乐的心情。
哭泣声渐渐小时，换成长长的、悲哀的叹息，然后，一切归于沉没。人们开始谨慎地往回走，回镇里去。其中几位怯生生地走过来问苏菲：“女巫太太，可怜的魔法师出了什么事吗？”
“他今天有些不快乐，”麦可说：“走吧，我想我们可以冒险回家了。”
他们沿着码头的石岸边走着，好几位水手从泊船上担心地叫唤，想知道噪音是否意味着有暴风雨或是坏运气。
“没有的事，”苏菲大声回答：“都过去了。”
但是事情还没过去。他们回到巫师家，由外表看来，这是一栋很普通的、歪歪的小建筑。如果麦可没跟她在一起，她绝对认不出来。麦可非常小心地打开那扇小小的、外表寒酸的门，看见豪尔仍坐在凳子上。他以一种全然绝望的姿态坐着，全身盖满厚厚的绿色黏液。
可怕的、惊人的、数量多的不得了的绿色黏液！它将豪尔整个覆盖住，从头和肩膀成块状的垂下来，在膝上及手上堆积，然后顺着腿流下，再滴下凳子，在地板上形成缓缓流动的水塘以及会爬动的水池，几乎覆盖了整个地板。它长长的手指已伸入壁炉，发出难闻的味道。
卡西法哑着声音微弱地喊道：“救我！”它只剩两小撮绝望的、闪动着的小火苗。“这东西快将我扑灭了。”
苏菲拉起裙子，对着豪尔走去。她想尽量走近些，却没办法。“停！”她叫道：“马上就停！你的举止像个婴儿！”
豪尔没有动也没有回答。他的脸在黏液后面瞪着，苍白、悲哀的眼睛睁得大大的。
“我们该怎么办？他死了吗？”麦可在门边发着抖问。
麦可是个好孩子，苏菲想着，但是在面临危机时却有点怯懦。“没有，当然没有。”她回道：“要不是为了卡西法，他要整天当全身满是黏液的鳗鱼，也不干我的事！把浴室门打开。”
当麦可在一坨坨黏液中努力要往浴室走时，苏菲将围裙丢进壁炉，以阻止更多的黏液流近卡西法。她拿起铲子，铲起一堆堆的灰烬，将它们抛在最大的黏液水塘上。它发出激烈的嘶嘶声，房里充满蒸汽，味道比原先还不堪。苏菲卷起袖子，弯下腰，抓住豪尔黏滑的膝盖，然后将豪尔连凳子一起推向浴室。她的脚在黏液上滑来滑去，但是那些缓缓流动的黏液也有助于凳子的推动，他们只好把他推到淋浴间里。
“卡西法，热水！”苏菲紧绷着脸喘息，叫道：“要非常热的。”
他们花了一小时才把他身上的黏液洗掉。麦可又花了一小时才劝动他离开凳子，换上干燥的衣服，幸好，苏菲刚修补好的那件灰红色套装挂在椅背上，没沾上黏液。蓝银色那件则毁了，苏菲要麦可将它泡在浴缸里。同时，一边发牢骚，嘴里念念有词，一边拿来更多的热水。她将门把绿色朝下，把所有的黏液一股脑全扫到长满石楠的荒野上。黏液留下一道轨迹，仿佛蜗牛在石楠上爬过一样，但这大概是去除黏液最容易的方法了。住在会移动的城堡里就有这样的好处，苏菲边洗地板边想到，豪尔的噪音是否也会经由城堡传出去？那样的话，她可要同情马克奇平镇的镇民了。
到这个时候，苏菲已经又累又气了，她知道绿色黏液是豪尔对她的报复。当麦可终于带着豪尔走出浴室时，她毫无表示同情的意愿。豪尔穿着灰红色的衣服，麦可领着他，温柔地让他在壁炉边的椅子坐下。
“那实在有够笨的！”卡西法劈啪开骂：“你是想把你最好的魔法全使出来还是怎样？”
豪尔充耳不闻，只是坐着，看起来很悲哀，而且还发着抖。
麦可难过地说：“我没办法要他开口说话。”
“那不过是在闹孩子气！”苏菲说。玛莎和乐蒂都很精于此道，她知道该如何处理。但话又说回来，打一个因为头发颜色不如意而歇斯底里的巫师的屁股，似乎太冒险了。经验告诉她，闹脾气的原因常不是表面所见的那样。她要卡西法稍微移开，好让她把一锅牛奶在木头上摆稳。牛奶温热后，她塞一杯在豪尔手里，说：“喝吧！现在，告诉我这一切都是为了什么？跟那位你一直去拜访的小姐有关吗？”
豪尔可怜兮兮地嗫饮着牛奶。“是的，”他说：“我故意离开她几天，看她会不会想我，结果没有，上次见到她时，她已经说她不确定了，这次却告诉我还有另外一个人。”
他听起来非常痛苦，苏菲觉得蛮同情他的。现在他的头发干了，她很歉疚地注意到，那几乎是粉红色的。
“她是我在这些地方里所见过最美丽的女子，”豪尔悲伤地往下说：“我非常爱她。但是她对我的深情嗤之以鼻，反而同情另一个家伙。在我对她这么好之后，她怎能接受别人呢？通常我一出现，她们就会把另一个人甩了的。”
苏菲的同情心一下子大大缩水。她突然想到，如果豪尔能那么轻易地将自己盖满绿色黏液，他应该也很容易就能将自己的头发变回他想要的颜色。“那你干吗不调制一种爱情药，喂她吃下，然后把事情解决掉。”她问道。
“噢，那不行，”豪尔说：“那就违反游戏规则了，那会破坏一切乐趣。”
苏菲的同情心进一步缩水。游戏？“你难道从没为那可怜的女孩设想过？”她斥责道。
豪尔喝完牛奶，带着多情的微笑凝视着杯子。“我整天想她，”他说：“可爱的、可爱的乐蒂.海特。”
苏菲的同情心就这么再见了，代之而起的是许多焦虑。“噢，玛莎！”她想着：“你说你一直忙着！原来你说的不是在希赛利工作的人啊！”
收听单词发音 |
1
hearth
|
|
| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
eel
|
|
| n.鳗鲡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
itch
|
|
| n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pretenses
|
|
| n.借口（pretense的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
sarcastically
|
|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
greasy
|
|
| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
scented
|
|
| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
invaluably
|
|
| adv.无法评价，非常贵重 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
11
whit
|
|
| n.一点，丝毫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
wagons
|
|
| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
marsh
|
|
| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
eluded
|
|
| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scribble
|
|
| v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
quill
|
|
| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
swap
|
|
| n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
scrawled
|
|
| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
poker
|
|
| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
scrap
|
|
| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
crooked
|
|
| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fowl
|
|
| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
abate
|
|
| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
whooping
|
|
| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
scudding
|
|
| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
transparent
|
|
| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
frustrating
|
|
| adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
frustrated
|
|
| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
lawsuits
|
|
| n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
clenching
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
rumors
|
|
| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
moodily
|
|
| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
virtuously
|
|
| 合乎道德地，善良地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
tinting
|
|
| 着色，染色（的阶段或过程） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
flaring
|
|
| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
wailing
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
chaos
|
|
| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
thump
|
|
| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
ginger
|
|
| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
bellied
|
|
| adj.有腹的，大肚子的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
brays
|
|
| n.驴叫声，似驴叫的声音( bray的名词复数 )；（喇叭的）嘟嘟声v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的第三人称单数 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
flickered
|
|
| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
throbbing
|
|
| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
seeping
|
|
| v.（液体）渗( seep的现在分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
drizzle
|
|
| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
fray
|
|
| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
huddles
|
|
| （尤指杂乱地）挤在一起的人（或物品、建筑）( huddle的名词复数 )； （美式足球）队员靠拢（磋商战术） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
sobs
|
|
| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
horrendous
|
|
| adj.可怕的，令人惊惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
trickling
|
|
| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
strands
|
|
| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
oozing
|
|
| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
vile
|
|
| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
flickering
|
|
| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
jittering
|
|
| v.紧张不安，战战兢兢( jitter的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
shovel
|
|
| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
scooped
|
|
| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
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： |
|
|
|
|
86
mumbling
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
grumbling
|
|
| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
moors
|
|
| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
snail
|
|
| n.蜗牛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
sputtered
|
|
| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
miserably
|
|
| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
spank
|
|
| v.打，拍打(在屁股上) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
hysterical
|
|
| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
sipped
|
|
| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |