Seventeen（1）

Seventeen
I
Leblanc shrugged¹ his shoulders.
“They have left Africa, it is certain.”
“Not certain.”
“The probabilities point that way.” The Frenchman shook his head.
“After all, we know, do we not, for where they are bound?”
“If they are bound for where we think, why start the journey fromAfrica? Anywhere in Europe would be simpler.”
“That is true. But there is the other side of it. No one would expect themto assemble and start from here.”
“I still think there’s more to it than that.” Jessop was gently insistent².
“Besides, only a small plane could have used that airfield³. It would have tocome down and refuel before crossing the Mediterranean⁴. And wherethey refuelled some trace should have been left.”
“Mon cher, we have instituted the most searching inquiries⁵ — every-where there has been—”
“The men with the Geiger counters must get results in the end. Thenumber of planes to be examined is limited. Just a trace of radioactivityand we shall know that is the plane we are looking for—”
“If your agent has been able to use the spray. Alas⁶! always so many ‘if’s’.
.?.?.”
“We shall get there,” said Jessop obstinately⁷. “I wonder—”
“Yes?”
“We have assumed they are going North—towards the Mediterranean.
Suppose instead, they flew South.”
“Doubled back on their tracks? But where, then, could they be flying to?
There are the Mountains of the High Atlas⁸ — and after that the desertsands.”

1 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 insistent   

adj.迫切的，坚持的

参考例句：

• There was an insistent knock on my door.我听到一阵急促的敲门声。
• He is most insistent on this point.他在这点上很坚持。

3 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

4 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

5 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

7 obstinately   

ad.固执地，顽固地

参考例句：

• He obstinately asserted that he had done the right thing. 他硬说他做得对。
• Unemployment figures are remaining obstinately high. 失业数字仍然顽固地居高不下。

8 atlas   

n.地图册，图表集

参考例句：

• He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
• The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图，其中包括3幅英国地图。