Twenty-four

Twenty-four
Baghdad was transformed. Police lined the streets—police drafted in fromoutside, the International Police. American and Russian Police stood sideby side with impassive faces.
Rumours¹ were spreading the whole time—neither of the Great Ones wascoming! Twice the Russian plane, duly escorted, landed—and proved tocontain only a young Russian pilot!
But at last the news went round that all was well. The President of theUnited States and the Russian Dictator were here, in Baghdad. They werein the Regent’s Palace.
At last the historic Conference had begun.
In a small anteroom certain events were taking place which might wellalter the course of history. Like most momentous² happenings, the pro-ceedings were not at all dramatic.
Doctor Alan Breck of the Harwell Atomic Institute contributed his quotaof information in a small precise voice.
Certain specimens³ had been left with him for analysis by the late SirRupert Crofton Lee. They had been acquired in the course of one of SirRupert’s journeys through China and Turkestan through Kurdistan toIraq. Dr. Breck’s evidence then became severely⁴ technical. Metallic⁵ ores…high uranium content… Source of deposit not known exactly, since SirRupert’s notes and diaries had been destroyed during the war by enemyaction.
Then Mr. Dakin took up the tale. In a gentle tired voice he told the sagaof Henry Carmichael, of his belief in certain rumours and wild tales ofvast installations and underground laboratories functioning in a remotevalley beyond the bounds of civilization. Of his search—and of the successof his search. Of how that great traveller, Sir Rupert Crofton Lee, the manwho had believed Carmichael because of his own knowledge of those re-gions, had agreed to come to Baghdad, and of how he had died. And ofhow Carmichael had met his own death at the hands of Sir Rupert’s imper-sonator.
“Sir Rupert is dead, and Henry Carmichael is dead. But there is a thirdwitness who is alive and who is here today. I will call upon Miss AnnaScheele to give us her testimony⁶.”
Anna Scheele, as calm and composed as if she were in Mr. Morganthal’soffice, gave lists of names and figures. From the depths of that remarkablefinancial brain of hers, she outlined the vast financial network that haddrained money from circulation, and poured it into the financing of activ-ities that should tend to split the civilized⁷ world into two opposing fac-tions. It was no mere⁸ assertion. She produced facts and figures to supporther contention⁹. To those who listened she carried a conviction that wasnot as yet fully¹⁰ accorded to Carmichael’s wild tale.
Dakin spoke¹¹ again:
“Henry Carmichael is dead,” he said. “But he brought back with himfrom that hazardous¹² journey tangible¹³ and definite proofs. He did not dareto keep those proofs on him—his enemies were too close on his track. Buthe was a man of many friends. By the hands of two of those friends, hesent the proofs to the safekeeping of another friend—a man whom all Iraqreveres and respects. He has courteously¹⁴ consented to come here today. Irefer to Sheikh Hussein el Ziyara of Kerbela.”
Sheikh Hussein el Ziyara was renowned¹⁵, as Dakin had said, throughoutthe Moslem¹⁷ world, both as a Holy Man and a poet of renown¹⁶. He was con-sidered by many to be a Saint. He stood up now, an imposing¹⁸ figure withhis deep brown hennaed beard. His grey jacket edged with gold braid wascovered by a flowing brown cloak of gossamer¹⁹ fineness. Round his headhe wore a green cloth headdress which was bound with many strands²⁰ ofheavy gold agal and which gave him a patriarchal appearance. He spokein a deep sonorous²¹ voice.
“Henry Carmichael was my friend,” he said. “I knew him as a boy andhe studied with me the verses of our great poets. Two men came to Ker-bela, men who travel the country with a picture show. They are simplemen, but good followers²² of the Prophet. They brought me a packet whichthey said they had been told to deliver into my hands from my friend theEnglishman Carmichael. I was to keep this in secrecy²³ and security and todeliver it only to Carmichael himself, or to a messenger who would repeatcertain words. If in truth you are the messenger, speak, my son.”
Dakin said, “Sayyid, the Arabic poet Mutanabbi, ‘the Pretender to proph-ecy,’ who lived just one thousand years ago, wrote an Ode to Prince Sayfu’l-Dawla at Aleppo in which those words occur: Zid hashshi bashshi tafad-dal adni surra sili.”?
With a smile Sheikh Hussein el Ziyara held out a packet to Dakin.
“I say as Prince Sayfu ’l-Dawla said: ‘You shall have your desire…’”
“Gentlemen,” said Dakin. “These are the microfilms brought back byHenry Carmichael in proof of his story….”
One more witness spoke—a tragic²⁴ broken figure: an old man with a finedomed head who had once been universally admired and respected.
He spoke with a tragic dignity.
“Gentlemen,” he said. “I shall shortly be arraigned²⁵ as a common swind-ler. But there are somethings that even I cannot countenance²⁶. There is aband of men, mostly young men, so evil in their hearts and aims that thetruth would hardly be believed.”
He lifted up his head and roared out:
“Antichrist! I say this thing must be stopped! We have got to have peace—peace to lick our wounds and make a new world—and to do that wemust to try to understand each other. I started a racket to make money—but, by God, I’ve ended in believing in what I preach—though I don’t ad-vocate the methods I’ve used. For God’s sake, gentlemen, let’s start againand try to pull together….”
There was a moment’s silence, and then a thin official voice, with thebloodless impersonality²⁷ of bureaucracy said:
“These facts will be put forthwith before the President of the UnitedStates of America and the Premier²⁸ of the union of Soviet²⁹ Socialist³⁰ Repub-lics….”

1 rumours   

n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传

参考例句：

• The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
• Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

2 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。

3 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 metallic   

adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的

参考例句：

• A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
• He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。

6 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

7 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

8 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

9 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

11 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：

• 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。

12 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

13 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

14 courteously   

adv.有礼貌地，亲切地

参考例句：

• He courteously opened the door for me.他谦恭有礼地为我开门。
• Presently he rose courteously and released her.过了一会，他就很客气地站起来，让她走开。

15 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

16 renown   

n.声誉，名望

参考例句：

• His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。
• She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

17 Moslem   

n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的

参考例句：

• Moslem women used to veil their faces before going into public.信回教的妇女出门之前往往用面纱把脸遮起来。
• If possible every Moslem must make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in his life.如有可能，每个回教徒一生中必须去麦加朝觐一次。

18 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

19 gossamer   

n.薄纱，游丝

参考例句：

• The prince helped the princess,who was still in her delightful gossamer gown.王子搀扶着仍穿著那套美丽薄纱晚礼服的公主。
• Gossamer is floating in calm air.空中飘浮着游丝。

20 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：

• Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 sonorous   

adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇

参考例句：

• The sonorous voice of the speaker echoed round the room.那位演讲人洪亮的声音在室内回荡。
• He has a deep sonorous voice.他的声音深沉而洪亮。

22 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

23 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

24 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

25 arraigned   

v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责

参考例句：

• He was arraigned for murder. 他因谋杀罪而被提讯。
• She was arraigned for high treason. 她被控叛国罪。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

26 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

27 impersonality   

n.无人情味

参考例句：

• He searched for a topic which would warm her office impersonality into friendliness. 他想找一个话题，使她一本正经的态度变得友好一点。
• The method features speediness, exactness, impersonality, and non-invasion to the sample. 该法具有快速、准确、客观和不损坏样品等特点。

28 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

29 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

30 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。