ne end of the great barn was piled high with new hay and over the pile hung the four-taloned Jackson fork suspended from its pulley. The hay came down like a mountain slope to the other end of the barn, and there was a level place as yet unfilled with the new crop. At the sides the feeding racks were visible, and between the slats the heads of horses could be seen.
It was Sunday afternoon. The resting horses nibbled1 the remaining wisps of hay, and they stamped their feet and they bit the wood of the mangers and rattled2 the halter chains. The afternoon sun sliced in through the cracks of the barn walls and lay in bright lines on the hay. There was the buzz of flies in the air, the lazy afternoon humming.
From outside came the clang of horseshoes on the playing peg3 and the shouts of men, playing, encouraging, jeering4. But in the barn it was quiet and humming and lazy and warm.
Only Lennie was in the barn, and Lennie sat in the hay beside a packing case under a manger in the end of the barn that had not been filled with hay. Lennie sat in the hay and looked at a little dead puppy that lay in front of him. Lennie looked at it for a long time, and then he put out his huge hand and stroked it, stroked it clear from one end to the other.
And Lennie said softly to the puppy, “Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice. I didn’t bounce you hard.” He bent5 the pup’s head up and looked in its face, and he said to it, “Now maybe George ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits, if he fin’s out you got killed.”
He scooped6 a little hollow and laid the puppy in it and covered it over with hay, out of sight; but he continued to stare at the mound7 he had made. He said, “This ain’t no bad thing like I got to go hide in the brush. Oh! no. This ain’t. I’ll tell George I foun’ it dead.”
He unburied the puppy and inspected it, and he stroked it from ears to tail. He went on sorrowfully, “But he’ll know. George always knows. He’ll say, ‘You done it. Don’t try to put nothing over on me.’ An’ he’ll say, ‘Now jus’ for that you don’t get to tend no rabbits!’”
Suddenly his anger arose. “God damn you,” he cried. “Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice.” He picked up the pup and hurled8 it from him. He turned his back on it. He sat bent over his knees and he whispered, “Now I won’t get to tend the rabbits. Now he won’t let me.” He rocked himself back and forth9 in his sorrow.
From outside came the clang of horseshoes on the iron stake, and then a little chorus of cries. Lennie got up and brought the puppy back and laid it on the hay and sat down. He stroked the pup again. “You wasn’t big enough,” he said. “They tol’ me and tol’ me you wasn’t. I di’n’t know you’d get killed so easy.” He worked his fingers on the pup’s limp ear. “Maybe George won’t care,” he said. “This here God damn little son-of-a-bitch wasn’t nothing to George.”
Curley’s wife came around the end of the last stall. She came very quietly, so that Lennie didn’t see her. She wore her bright cotton dress and the mules10 with the red ostrich11 feathers. Her face was made-up and the little sausage curls were all in place. She was quite near to him before Lennie looked up and saw her.
In a panic he shoveled12 hay over the puppy with his fingers. He looked sullenly13 up at her.
She said, “What you got there, sonny boy?”
Lennie glared at her. “George says I ain’t to have nothing to do with you—talk to you or nothing.”
She laughed. “George giving you orders about everything?”
Lennie looked down at the hay. “Says I can’t tend no rabbits if I talk to you or anything.”
She said quietly, “He’s scared Curley’ll get mad. Well, Curley got his arm in a sling- an’ if Curley gets tough, you can break his other han’. You didn’t put nothing over on me about gettin’ it caught in no machine.”
But Lennie was not to be drawn14. “No, sir. I ain’t gonna talk to you or nothing.”
She knelt in the hay beside him. “Listen,” she said. “All the guys got a horseshoe tenement15 goin’ on. It’s on’y about four o’clock. None of them guys is goin’ to leave that tenement. Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.”
Lennie said, “Well, I ain’t supposed to talk to you or nothing.”
“I get lonely,” she said. “You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?”
Lennie said, “Well, I ain’t supposed to. George’s scared I’ll get in trouble.”
She changed the subject. “What you got covered up there?”
Then all of Lennie’s woe16 came back on him. “Jus’ my pup,” he said sadly. “Jus’ my little pup.” And he swept the hay from on top of it.
“Why, he’s dead,” she cried.
“He was so little,” said Lennie. “I was jus’ playin’ with him . . . . an’ he made like he’s gonna bite me . . . . an’ I made like I was gonna smack17 him . . . . an’ . . . . an’ I done it. An’ then he was dead.”
She consoled him. “Don’t you worry none. He was jus’ a mutt. You can get another one easy. The whole country is fulla mutts.”
“It ain’t that so much,” Lennie explained miserably18. “George ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits now.
“Why don’t he?”
“Well, he said if I done any more bad things he ain’t gonna let me tend the rabbits.”
She moved closer to him and she spoke19 soothingly20. “Don’t you worry about talkin’ to me. Listen to the guys yell out there. They got four dollars bet in that tenement. None of them ain’t gonna leave till it’s over.”
“If George sees me talkin’ to you he’ll give me hell,” Lennie said cautiously. “He tol’ me so.”
Her face grew angry. “Wha’s the matter with me?” she cried. “Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? You’re a nice guy. I don’t know why I can’t talk to you. I ain’t doin’ no harm to you.”
“Well, George says you’ll get us in a mess.”
“Aw, nuts!” she said. “What kinda harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself.” She said darkly, “Maybe I will yet.” And then her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away. “I lived right in Salinas,” she said. “Come there when I was a kid. Well, a show come through, an’ I met one of the actors. He says I could go with that show. But my ol’ lady wouldn’t let me. She says because I was on’y fifteen. But the guy says I coulda. If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet.”
Lennie stroked the pup back and forth. “We gonna have a little place—an’ rabbits,” he explained.
She went on with her story quickly, before she could be interrupted. “’Nother time I met a guy, an’ he was in pitchers22. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.” She looked closely at Lennie to see whether she was impressing him. “I never got that letter,” she said. “I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ where they stole your letters, I ast her if she stole it, too, an’ she says no. So I married Curley. Met him out to the Riverside Dance Palace that same night.” She demanded, “You listenin’?”
“Me? Sure.”
“Well, I ain’t told this to nobody before. Maybe I oughten to. I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.” And because she had confided23 in him, she moved closer to Lennie and sat beside him. “Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes—all them nice clothes like they wear. An’ I coulda sat in them big hotels, an’ had pitchers took of me. When they had them previews I coulda went to them, an’ spoke in the radio, an’ it wouldn’ta cost me a cent because I was in the pitcher21. An’ all them nice clothes like they wear. Because this guy says I was a natural.” She looked up at Lennie, and she made a small grand gesture with her arm and hand to show that she could act. The fingers trailed after her leading wrist, and her little finger stuck out grandly from the rest.
Lennie sighed deeply. From outside came the clang of a horseshoe on metal, and then a chorus of cheers. “Somebody made a ringer,” said Curley’s wife.
Now the light was lifting as the sun went down, and the sun streaks24 climbed up the wall and fell over the feeding racks and over the heads of the horses.
Lennie said, “Maybe if I took this pup out and throwed him away George wouldn’t never know. An’ then I could tend the rabbits without no trouble.”
Curley’s wife said angrily, “Don’t you think of nothing but rabbits?”
“We gonna have a little place,” Lennie explained patiently. “We gonna have a house an’ a garden and a place for alfalfa, an’ that alfalfa is for the rabbits, an’ I take a sack and get it all fulla alfalfa and then I take it to the rabbits.”
She asked, “What makes you so nuts about rabbits?”
Lennie had to think carefully before he could come to a conclusion. He moved cautiously close to her, until he was right against her. “I like to pet nice things. Once at a fair I seen some of them long-hair rabbits. An’ they was nice, you bet. Sometimes I’ve even pet mice, but not when I couldn’t get nothing better.”
Curley’s wife moved away from him a little. “I think you’re nuts,” she said.
“No I ain’t,” Lennie explained earnestly. “George says I ain’t. I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof’ things.”
She was a little bit reassured25. “Well, who don’t?” she said. “Ever’body likes that. I like to feel silk an’ velvet27. Do you like to feel velvet?”
Lennie chuckled28 with pleasure. “You bet, by God,” he cried happily. “An’ I had some, too. A lady give me some, an’ that lady was—my own Aunt Clara. She give it right to me—‘bout this big a piece. I wisht I had that velvet right now.” A frown came over his face. “I lost it,” he said. “I ain’t seen it for a long time.”
Curley’s wife laughed at him. “You’re nuts,” she said. “But you’re a kinda nice fella. Jus’ like a big baby. But a person can see kinda what you mean. When I’m doin’ my hair sometimes I jus’ set an’ stroke it ‘cause it’s so soft.” To show how she did it, she ran her fingers over the top of her head. “Some people got kinda coarse hair,” she said complacently29. “Take Curley. His hair is jus’ like wire. But mine is soft and fine. ‘Course I brush it a lot. That makes it fine. Here—feel right here.” She took Lennie’s hand and put it on her head. “Feel right aroun’ there an’ see how soft it is.”
Lennie’s big fingers fell to stroking her hair.
“Don’t you muss it up,” she said.
Lennie said, “Oh! That’s nice,” and he stroked harder. “Oh, that’s nice.”
“Look out, now, you’ll muss it.” And then she cried angrily, “You stop it now, you’ll mess it all up.” She jerked her head sideways, and Lennie’s fingers closed on her hair and hung on. “Let go,” she cried. “You let go!”
Lennie was in a panic. His face was contorted. She screamed then, and Lennie’s other hand closed over her mouth and nose. “Please don’t,” he begged. “Oh! Please don’t do that. George’ll be mad.”
She struggled violently under his hands. Her feet battered30 on the hay and she writhed31 to be free; and from under Lennie’s hand came a muffled32 screaming. Lennie began to cry with fright. “Oh! Please don’t do none of that,” he begged. “George gonna say I done a bad thing. He ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits.” He moved his hand a little and her hoarse33 cry came out. Then Lennie grew angry. “Now don’t,” he said. “I don’t want you to yell. You gonna get me in trouble jus’ like George says you will. Now don’t you do that.” And she continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror. He shook her then, and he was angry with her. “Don’t you go yellin’,” he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped34 like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.
He looked down at her, and carefully he removed his hand from over her mouth, and she lay still. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, “but George’ll be mad if you yell.” When she didn’t answer nor move he bent closely over her. He lifted her arm and let it drop. For a moment he seemed bewildered. And then he whispered in fright, “I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing.”
He pawed up the hay until it partly covered her.
From outside the barn came a cry of men and the double clang of shoes on metal. For the first time Lennie became conscious of the outside. He crouched35 down in the hay and listened. “I done a real bad thing,” he said. “I shouldn’t of did that. George’ll be mad. An’ . . . . he said . . . . an’ hide in the brush till he come. He’s gonna be mad. In the brush till he come. Tha’s what he said.” Lennie went back and looked at the dead girl. The puppy lay close to her. Lennie picked it up. “I’ll throw him away,” he said. “It’s bad enough like it is.” He put the pup under his coat, and he crept to the barn wall and peered out between the cracks, toward the horseshoe game. And then he crept around the end of the last manger and disappeared.
The sun streaks were high on the wall by now, and the light was growing soft in the barn. Curley’s wife lay on her back, and she was half covered with hay.
It was very quiet in the barn, and the quiet of the afternoon was on the ranch36. Even the clang of the pitched shoes, even the voices of the men in the game, seemed to grow more quiet. The air in the barn was dusky in advance of the outside day. A pigeon flew in through the open hay door and circled and flew out again. Around the last stall came a shepherd bitch, lean and long, with heavy, hanging dugs. Halfway37 to the packing box where the puppies were she caught the dead scent38 of Curley’s wife, and the hair arose along her spine39. She whimpered and cringed to the packing box, and jumped in among the puppies.
Curley’s wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged40 cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted.
As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered41 and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.
Then gradually time awakened42 again and moved sluggishly43 on. The horses stamped on the other side of the feeding racks and the halterchains clinked. Outside, the men’s voices became louder and clearer.
From around the end of the last stall old Candy’s voice came. “Lennie,” he called. “Oh, Lennie! You in here? I been figuring some more. Tell you what we can do, Lennie.” Old Candy appeared around the end of the last stall. “Oh, Lennie!” he called again; and then he stopped, and his body stiffened44. He rubbed his smooth wrist on his white stubble whiskers. “I di’n’t know you was here,” he said to Curley’s wife.
When she didn’t answer, he stepped nearer. “You oughten to sleep out here,” he said disapprovingly46; and then he was beside her and—“Oh, Jesus Christ!” He looked about helplessly, and he rubbed his beard. And then he jumped up and went quickly out of the barn.
But the barn was alive now. The horses stamped and snorted, and they chewed the straw of their bedding and they clashed the chains of their halters. In a moment Candy came back, and George was with him.
George said, “What was it you wanted to see me about?”
Candy pointed47 at Curley’s wife. George stared. “What’s the matter with her?” he asked. He stepped closer, and then he echoed Candy’s words. “Oh, Jesus Christ!” He was down on his knees beside her. He put his hand over her heart. And finally, when he stood up, slowly and stiffly, his face was as hard and tight as wood, and his eyes were hard.
Candy said, “What done it?”
George looked coldly at him. “Ain’t you got any idear?” he asked. And Candy was silent. “I should of knew,” George said hopelessly. “I guess maybe way back in my head I did.”
Candy asked, “What we gonna do now, George? What we gonna do now?”
George was a long time in answering. “Guess . . . . we gotta tell the . . . . guys. I guess we gotta get ‘im an’ lock ‘im up. We can’t let ‘im get away. Why, the poor bastard48’d starve.” And he tried to reassure26 himself. “Maybe they’ll lock ‘im up an’ be nice to ‘im.”
But Candy said excitedly, “We oughta let ‘im get away. You don’t know that Curley. Curley gon’ta wanta get ‘im lynched. Curley’ll get ‘im killed.”
George watched Candy’s lips. “Yeah,” he said at last, “that’s right, Curley will. An’ the other guys will.” And he looked back at Curley’s wife.
Now Candy spoke his greatest fear. “You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?”
Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew.
George said softly, “—I think I knowed from the very first. I think I know’d we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.”
“Then—it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily.
George didn’t answer his question. George said, “I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks49 an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house. Or I’ll set in some poolroom till ever’body goes home. An’ then I’ll come back an’ work another month an’ I’ll have fifty bucks more.”
Candy said, “He’s such a nice fella. I didn’ think he’d do nothing like this.”
George still stared at Curley’s wife. “Lennie never done it in meanness,” he said. “All the time he done bad things, but he never done one of ‘em mean.” He straightened up and looked back at Candy. “Now listen. We gotta tell the guys. They got to bring him in, I guess. They ain’t no way out. Maybe they won’t hurt ‘im.” He said sharply, “I ain’t gonna let ‘em hurt Lennie. Now you listen. The guys might think I was in on it. I’m gonna go in the bunk50 house. Then in a minute you come out and tell the guys about her, and I’ll come along and make like I never seen her. Will you do that? So the guys won’t think I was in on it?”
Candy said, “Sure, George. Sure I’ll do that.”
“O.K. Give me a couple minutes then, and you come runnin’ out an’ tell like you jus’ found her. I’m going now.” George turned and went quickly out of the barn.
Old Candy watched him go. He looked helplessly back at Curley’s wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. “You God damn tramp”, he said viciously. “You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart51.” He sniveled, and his voice shook. “I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys.” He paused, and then went on in a singsong. And he repeated the old words: “If they was a circus or a baseball game . . . . we would of went to her . . . . jus’ said ‘ta hell with work,’ an’ went to her. Never ast nobody’s say so. An’ they’d of been a pig and chickens . . . . an’ in the winter . . . . the little fat stove . . . . an’ the rain comin’ . . . . an’ us jes’ settin’ there.” His eyes blinded with tears and he turned and went weakly out of the barn, and he rubbed his bristly whiskers with his wrist stump52.
Outside the noise of the game stopped. There was a rise of voices in question, a drum of running feet and the men burst into the barn. Slim and Carlson and young Whit45 and Curley, and Crooks53 keeping back out of attention range. Candy came after them, and last of all came George. George had put on his blue denim54 coat and buttoned it, and his black hat was pulled down low over his eyes. The men raced around the last stall. Their eyes found Curley’s wife in the gloom, they stopped and stood still and looked.
Then Slim went quietly over to her, and he felt her wrist. One lean finger touched her cheek, and then his hand went under her slightly twisted neck and his fingers explored her neck. When he stood up the men crowded near and the spell was broken.
Curley came suddenly to life. “I know who done it,” he cried. “That big son-of-a-bitch done it. I know he done it. Why—ever’body else was out there playin’ horseshoes.” He worked himself into a fury. “I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts55. Come on, you guys.” He ran furiously out of the barn. Carlson said, “I’ll get my Luger,” and he ran out too.
Slim turned quietly to George. “I guess Lennie done it, all right,” he said. “Her neck’s bust56. Lennie coulda did that.”
George didn’t answer, but he nodded slowly. His hat was so far down on his forehead that his eyes were covered.
Slim went on, “Maybe like that time in Weed you was tellin’ about.”
Again George nodded.
Slim sighed. “Well, I guess we got to get him. Where you think he might of went?”
It seemed to take George some time to free his words. “He—would of went south,” he said. “We come from north so he would of went south.”
“I guess we gotta get ‘im,” Slim repeated.
George stepped close. “Couldn’ we maybe bring him in an’ they’ll lock him up? He’s nuts, Slim. He never done this to be mean.”
Slim nodded. “We might,” he said. “If we could keep Curley in, we might. But Curley’s gonna want to shoot ‘im. Curley’s still mad about his hand. An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap57 him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good, George.”
“I know,” said George, “I know.”
Carlson came running in. “The bastard’s stole my Luger,” he shouted. “It ain’t in my bag.” Curley followed him, and Curley carried a shotgun in his good hand. Curley was cold now.
“All right, you guys,” he said. “The nigger’s got a shotgun. You take it, Carlson. When you see ‘um, don’t give ‘im no chance. Shoot for his guts. That’ll double ‘im over.”
Whit said excitedly, “I ain’t got a gun.”
Curley said, “You go in Soledad an’ get a cop. Get Al Wilts58, he’s deputy sheriff. Le’s go now.” He turned suspiciously on George. “You’re comin’ with us, fella.”
“Yeah,” said George. “I’ll come. But listen, Curley. The poor bastard’s nuts. Don’t shoot ‘im. He di’n’t know what he was doin’.”
“Don’t shoot ‘im?” Curley cried. “He got Carlson’s Luger. ‘Course we’ll shoot ‘im.”
George said weakly, “Maybe Carlson lost his gun.”
“I seen it this morning,” said Carlson. “No, it’s been took.”
Slim stood looking down at Curley’s wife. He said, “Curley—maybe you better stay here with your wife.”
Curley’s face reddened. “I’m goin’,” he said. “I’m gonna shoot the guts outa that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand. I’m gonna get ‘im.”
Slim turned to Candy. “You stay here with her then, Candy. The rest of us better get goin’.”
They moved away. George stopped a moment beside Candy and they both looked down at the dead girl until Curley called, “You George! You stick with us so we don’t think you had nothin’ to do with this.”
George moved slowly after them, and his feet dragged heavily.
And when they were gone, Candy squatted59 down in the hay and watched the face of Curley’s wife. “Poor bastard,” he said softly.
The sound of the men grew fainter. The barn was darkening gradually and, in their stalls, the horses shifted their feet and rattled the halter chains. Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm.
第 五 章
新的麦秆在宽阔的畜舍的一端堆得高高的，一个四叉抓草器在麦秆堆上吊着，悬在它的吊车上面。麦秆象山坡似的倾斜向畜舍另一端，那儿有着一块还不曾被新收获物堆满的平地。可以在畜舍的四边看见喂草的木槽，打一条条栏栅间望去，可以看出马匹的头来。
星期日下午。憩息的马在嚼着吃剩的一小捆一小捆干麦秆，咬啮着木槽，嗒嗒地顿着它们的蹄。并且把缰链当啷当啷地摇响着。透过畜舍的空隙，下午的阳光一薄片一薄片地投射进来，铺上一道道的光线在干草上面。一群群的苍蝇在空中嗡营着，空气中呈现出一种午后怠惰的扰攘。
外边传来马蹄铁碰的插梢上的当啷声，和人们各式各样地呼喊：怂恿的，好玩的，或是嘲弄的。但畜舍里却只是一片安静，嗡营，温暖和闲旷。
畜舍里只有李奈一个人，他坐在没有给麦秆堆满的那一端的一只马槽底下，一副驮箱旁边的干草上。李奈坐在草堆里，瞧着他面前一条小小的在他面前躺着的死了的狗儿。他瞧了好一会，然后伸出他那双硕大的手去抚摩它，他干净利落地一遍又一遍轻轻地从头到尾抚摩着。
李奈柔声地对狗儿说：“干吗你要死掉呢？你又不是小得象老鼠那样。我又没有发狠地捏你。”他把小狗的头扭过来，盯着它的脸，对它说：“要是他发觉你是被我弄死的，也许佐治现在不给兔子给我管了吧。”
他在草堆上挖了个小窟窿，把小狗放了进去，然后用干草把它盖没，看不见了；但他还是发愣地朝着那个自己作成的小堆。他说：“我非得躲到丛树林去不可的坏事还不是这个吧，哦，不！这不是的。我会对佐治说，它死了我才发现的。”
他把狗儿挖了出来，细看着它，轻轻地把它从耳根一直到尾巴摸了一遍。他的声音里满是忧虑：“可是他会知道的，平常佐治总是知道的。他会说：‘别想瞒得过我，你干的好事。’他还会说呢：‘你再也别想管那些兔子了！就为的这件事。’”
突然他发起火来。“他妈的，你这鬼家伙，”他叫起来道。“干吗你一定要死呢？你又不是小得象一只老鼠那样。”他把小狗抓起来，将它猛地掷了开去，并且将身子拧过来背对着它。他弯着腰坐在那儿，沮丧地说：“这回兔子肯定不得我管了，这回他不许我管了。”在忧愁之中他来回摇晃着身体。
外面传来马蹄铁掷在铁桩上发出的丁当响声，跟着是一阵异口同声的叫嚷。李奈站了起来，把小狗重又放回到干草上，这才坐了下去。他又轻轻地在小狗身上抚摩起来。“你还是不够大的，”他说。“他们跟我说了又说，你还不够大。你会这么容易就死掉我真不明白。”他将一排手指伸出来搁在狗儿一只软绵绵的耳朵上。“佐治也许不会计较吧，”他说。“佐治不会把它当作一回什么事吧，这么一只鸟狗崽。”
打畜舍最后头的栏架那边走过来顾利老婆。她十分宁静地走过来，因而李奈没瞧见她。她身上穿的是一件耀眼的棉布衫，脚上是缀有红驼鸟毛的拖鞋。她的脸化了妆，一小束一小束的腊肠一般的鬈发，十分舒齐地吊在那儿。她静静地走近李奈身边，李奈这才抬起头来看见她。
慌乱中，他用手抓起一把麦秆来把小狗盖住。他心情沮丧地望着她。
“你在这儿干什么，小伙子？”她说。
李奈朝她瞪了一眼。“佐治说我不得跟你搞什么的———不管是跟你讲话还是什么别的。”
她笑了起来。“样样事情佐治都给你下命令的吗？”
李奈垂头瞧着干草。“他说我要是跟你讲话或干别的，就不会给兔子给我管了。”
她泰然自若地说：“他那是怕顾利发火罢了。哈，顾利一只胳膊在绷带上挂着———他要是敢发恶呢，你就把他另一只手臂也扭断好啦。你瞒不过我的，说什么机器给他碰着了。”
但这诱惑没有被李奈接收。“不啊，太太。我不能跟你讲话什么的。”
她靠近他在草堆上跪了下来。“嘘，”她说。“都在赌着一场马蹄铁赛呢他们那些人。这会儿约摸只是四点钟的样子。谁也不会离场的他们这些家伙。干吗我不能和你谈谈呢？我得不着同谁谈过心。我真要闷死了。”
“呃，我不想跟你谈话或干别样什么的。”李奈说。
“我真寂寞，”她说。“你可以和别人讲话，可是我呢，除了顾利，我就不能同谁讲话了。否则他就会发火。你是为了什么不爱跟别人讲话的？”
“呃，我不打算讲。佐治怕我会弄出麻烦来。”李奈说。
她把话题换过一个。“你这儿盖着的是什么东西？”
于是李奈所有的灾难都重回到他身上来了。“只是我的狗儿。”他悲戚地说。“只是我的小狗儿。”干草被他从顶上掀了开去。
她叫嚷起来：“哎呀，是死的呢。”
“它这么小，”李奈说。“我不过是同它逗着玩儿……它做出象是要咬我的样子……我就装作要捏它一下……我就真的这么干了。它就死掉了哪。”
她安慰他道：“你用不着忧心。它不过是只狗儿罢了。你很容易就可以找一只回来。狗儿这乡村里到处都有的是哩。”
“不单只是这个，”李奈伤心地解释说。“这一回佐治可要不给兔子给我看管了。”
“为什么他不让？”
“唔，他说要是再有什么坏事给我干出来，他就会不给兔子给我管了。”
她把身体移得跟他靠得更近一点，用轻柔的语调说道：“跟我讲话你别担心。他们那些家伙这会儿正在外边叫着喊着哩，你听。他们这一场要赌四块钱的。不到完场谁也不会肯走开的。”
“佐治准会让我吃不消，要是佐治瞧见我跟你讲话。”李奈谨慎地说。“他这样给我讲过了的。”
渐渐地她的脸庞变得生气了起来。“我着的是什么鬼？”她嚷了起来。“我就没有权利同一个人讲话吗？到底我被他们看成个什么？你是个好人。为什么我不能同你讲话我真不明白。我又不会加害于你。”
“唔，佐治说你会害我们搞出祸来的。”
“哇，真见鬼！”她说。“哪一桩我害了你？我是怎么生活着的好像他们没有一个人想到过。我告诉你吧，这样的生活我过不惯。我也能够自己做点事的。”她看上去似乎黯然神伤似地说下去：“没准将来我还能。”跟着，在一种倾诉的热情中她的话翻滚了出来，就象是他的听客会被人夺了去，因此她必须赶紧抢着说似的。“我就住在夏连那斯，”她说。“我还是个小孩子的时候就到了那儿。啊，一个歌舞班子路过啦，我遇到一个演员。他说我可以跟那个歌舞班走。但我母亲不许我去。说是我还只有十五岁哪。但那人说我去得的。我就不会过着现在这种鬼日子，要是我去了，你可以相信。”
李奈轻轻地来回抚摩着狗儿。“我们就要有一小块地了———还有兔子。”他把心事倾吐了出来。
她不让别人把她的话插断，赶紧继续把她的身世讲下去。“另一次我碰到一个人，他是片场里的。我跟他一道到临江舞厅去。他说我是个天才。说他要介绍我去拍片子。待他回到好莱坞，他立刻就会写信叫我去。”她紧紧地盯着李奈瞧，看她可把他打动了没有。“信我一直没有收到，”她说。“我常疑心它是给我母亲偷去了。哧，这样一个地方我就再也不要呆下去了，我做不得一点儿事情，得不着一点儿地位，他们还偷你的信。我也问过她，是不是她把它偷了去的，她说不。这么一来我就跟顾利结了婚。他我也是那一天晚上在临江舞厅里认识的。”她诘问道：“你在听着的吧？”
“我？当然。”
“啊，这个我一向没对谁讲过，也许这个我不该讲。我不喜欢顾利。他不是个好人。”因为她已经信赖他了，她把身体移得靠李奈更近，坐在他旁边。“该是有进电影的了，有漂亮的衣服穿的了———全都是漂亮衣服呀，象她们和他们穿的一样。我可以在大酒店里坐着，就有拍片场来要。遇着他们有预演呢，我就参加去，用不着花我一个铜板，在无线电里讲话，因为我是拍片场的呀。而且，我全都有了，象她们和他们穿的漂亮衣服。因为这人说我是个天生的人才呀。”她抬起眼来瞧李奈，并且用手和胳膊作了个有点堂皇的手势，显示她会表演。随着手腕的移动一排手指也摆动起来，那小指从其它几个手指中煞有介事地翘了开来。
李奈深沉地叹了一声气。外边传来一块马蹄铁碰在金属上发出的丁当声，跟着是一阵喝采。“有人圈中了，”顾利老婆说。
现在太阳正在往下沉下去，光线渐渐升高了，一缕缕阳光爬上了墙壁，照在马匹头上，饲草架上。
李奈说：“也许这狗儿我把它拿到外面去丢掉，佐治就会不知道了。那么我就能管兔子，不会有什么乱子了。”
顾利老婆恼怒地说：“你只是惦着兔子，什么也不放在心上？”
“我们就要有一小块地了，”李奈耐心地对她解释说。“我们就要有一个果园，一间屋，还有一小块用来种紫花苜蓿的地，那紫花苜蓿是给兔子种的呀，我会带一条布袋，每一回都用苜蓿把布袋塞得满满的，然后把它拿回来喂兔子。”
她问道：“什么东西把你弄得这么死心眼儿地记挂着兔子？”
在得到答案之前，李奈仔细地想了又想。他小心翼翼地向她靠近，直到他恰好偎着了她的身体。“我喜欢玩漂亮的东西。有一回，我看见过好些毛茸茸的兔子在会景上。它们可真漂亮呀，你知道。我连老鼠也玩过的，可是一有了什么好点儿的东西到手，我就不玩它了。”
顾利老婆将身体移离了他一点点，说：“我看你是个傻瓜。”
“不，我不是，”李奈恳切地分辩道。“佐治说我不是呀。我喜欢用手指摸着漂亮的软绉绉的东西玩儿。”
她的心略为安下来。“啊，谁不呢？”她说。“这是随便谁都爱的。我爱摸天鹅绒和丝绸。天鹅绒，你爱不爱摸？”
李奈高兴得格格地笑出声来了。“天啊，那还用说，”他快活地叫道。“我还曾有过一点子呢。一位太太给过一点子给我，这位太太就是———我的卡莉拉姑母。她真的把它给了我啦———大约这么大的一块。我很想那么一块天鹅绒我现在能有。”他的脸上掠过一层悒郁的阴影。“它给我丢掉了，”他说。“我很久没有看见它了。”
顾利老婆讪笑他。“你是个傻瓜，”她说。“可却是个死鬼好人。就象个大娃儿，但你的意思别人会明白的。当我理着我的头发呢，因为它是那么柔软，我时常就在那儿坐着，用手轻轻地抚弄它。”为了表明她是怎么抚弄的，她把一排手指伸出来往头顶上掠了一下。“有的人的头发硬得要命，”她自鸣得意地说。“就说顾利吧。他的头发跟铁丝似的。我的可是又细又软呀。当然喽，我刷得勤。那会使它变得细腻起来的。这儿———就触一下这儿看。”她捉住李奈的手将它放到她头上。“就在这地方摸一下，看它是多么软绵绵的。”
李奈开始用粗大的手指拨弄她的头发了。
她说：“你可别把它弄乱了。”
李奈说：“啊啊，真妙哇，”他拨得的力气更重了一些。“啊啊，真妙哇。”
“留心，瞧，它就要给你弄乱了。”接着她生气了，叫道：“你快把手停下来，你会把它全都弄乱了的。”她把头歪向一边，可李奈的五指却把她的头发抓住了不放。“放手，”她喊起来。“你放手。”
李奈慌张失措了起来。他的脸歪着。那女人又尖声叫喊起来，李奈用另一只手去把她的鼻子和嘴巴掩住。“请别这样，”他求情说。“啊啊，请别这么样。佐治会生气的哩。”
那女人在他双手底下拚命挣扎。她的脚在干草堆上乱踢乱蹦，她还不住地打滚旋想将身体挣脱来；而一声被掩住了的号叫从李奈的手底下透了出来。李奈开始恐慌地叫了起来。“啊，请千万别这样吧，”他恳求道。“佐治会说我干了一桩坏事。他会不给兔子给我管的。”他把手略为移开一点，于是她沙哑的呼号声就冲口而出。这使李奈变得愠怒了。“别再嚷，”他说。“我不要你叫嚷呀。瞧，你就要害我把祸事搞出来了，佐治说的一点没错。哼，你可别再喊。”她继续挣扎，她的一双眼睛满是恐怖地乱瞪着。李奈真的恼火她了，接着他便摇撼她。“你别再喊呀，”他说，边摇撼着她；于是她的身体就象一条鱼一般仆倒了下来。这之后她直挺挺地一动也不动，她的颈骨已经给李奈摇断了。
他垂头瞧着她，小心地把原先盖在她嘴上的手移开去，而她却一动不动地躺着。“我不想伤害你的，”他说。“可是佐治准会冒火，你要是喊起来的话”她既不动弹，也不回答，于是他弯下身来靠近着去瞧她。他把她的一条手臂抬起，又放了下来。他象是被吓昏了似的。好半天之后，他感到害怕了，低声地说：“我干了一桩坏事了。我又干了一桩坏事了。”
他用笨大的手去抓干草，直到将她的身体半埋住了。
一阵人群的叫声，和马蹄铁碰在金属上头发出的双重的丁当声从畜舍外边传了过来。李奈第一次意识到外边了。他在干草堆上蹲了下来，细细地听着。“我干了一桩真正的坏事，”他说。“我不该把它干出来的。佐治准会发火。哦……他说过，躺在丛树林里，等他到来。他准会生气的。等他来，在丛树林里，他这么说过的呢。”李奈又走回来瞧了瞧那已经死去的女子。狗儿躺的和她靠得非常近。李奈拾起小狗。“我还是扔掉它吧，”他说。“这些已经够糟的了。”他把小狗塞进怀里，用上衫把它裹起来，轻步走到畜舍的墙边，从壁缝里朝外面玩马蹄铁赛的地方张望了一下。然后，轻步走到最尽头一个马槽的末端的附近，然后他的踪影就消失了。
现在太阳的光束是高照在墙上了，畜舍里面的光亮渐渐地暗了下来。顾利老婆仰面躺在那儿，被干麦秆半埋着。
畜舍里显得十分静谧，而整个农场都笼罩在这下午的静谧之中。连参加赛局的人们的声音，连掷蹄铁发出的当响，似乎都在渐渐沉寂下去。畜舍里的空间已经先于外边的白昼阴暗了下来。从敞开着的麦秆门里飞进来一只鸽子，绕了个圈子后它又飞了出去。打最末端的畜栏走过来一匹牧羊母犬，长而瘦，垂着两排沉重的乳头。还没等它走到狗儿们睡的那驮箱，顾利老婆的死人的气味就给它嗅到了，立即它脊梁上的毛就耸了起来。呜咽了几声，那只母狗就瑟缩地走到驮箱前面，跳进一窠狗儿中间去了。
顾利老婆半覆盖着黄澄澄的干草躺在那儿。所有机谋、卑贱、抑郁，和炽烈的情欲，全都消失了从她脸上。她显得非常地秀美而又自然，她的脸孔姣好而少艾。现在，那染红的口唇和搽胭脂的双颊，使得她看上去似乎是栩栩如生，十分轻舒地熟睡着。腊肠一般的鬈发束，在她枕着的干草堆上散开着，而她的两片口唇则微微地张了开来。
象有时遇到的那样，竟是生了根，一刻的时间持续、徘徊得那么久，远远超过了一刻。四周万籁俱寂，运动和声响都停止了下来，显得是那么地久，远远超过了一刻。
接着渐渐地时间又苏醒了过来，而且懒慵慵地溜过去，溜过去。饲草架对面那一边马匹顿着蹄子，缰链丁当丁当地响起来。外面，人们的声音变得愈更清晰，愈更响亮了。
老甘德的声音打尽头一个畜栏附近传了过来。“李奈，”他叫唤道。“啊，李奈！你在这儿么？又有好些给我算出来了。告诉你我们干得起来些什么吧，李奈。”老甘德出现在了尽头那畜栏附近。“啊，李奈！”他又呼唤起来；然后突然他停了下来，他的身体局促起来。他将他那截光溜溜的腕举起，揉着薙短了的白胡子。“我不知道你在这儿。”他对顾利老婆说。
看她并不答话，他走近前去。“你不该浪出到这儿来睡觉，”他带着责备的语气说；然后走到了她身边，“啊呀，主耶稣！”他一面揉着他的胡子一面手足无措地四下里望了望。接着，他跳了起来，飞似地从畜舍里走出去了。
但现在畜舍里却是生气勃勃了。那些马匹喷鼻，顿蹄，碰响着它们勒缰上的铁链，嚼着它们的垫草。不一会，甘德回来了，佐治在他后面跟着。
“你引我看什么呢？”佐治说。
甘德指着顾利老婆。佐治定睛一看，“她怎么啦？”他问，他走近过去，然后把甘德的语言重复了一遍：“啊呀，主耶稣！”他在她身边跪下，伸手去摸她的心窝。终于，他缓缓地僵硬地立起身来，脸象木头似的又实又硬，眼睛也凝固了。
“这是怎么搞的呢？”甘德说。
佐治冷冷地瞧着他。“你半点也没想出来吗？”他问。甘德没作声。“我该知道的，”佐治绝望地说了。“大概是我脑子里担心的事情发生了我猜。”
“那我们怎么办呢，佐治。现在我们怎么办呢？”甘德问道。
佐治慢吞吞地回答：“看来……我们得把这告诉……他们那些人去。我们得逮住他，把他关起来我看。我们不能让他跑掉。唉，会给饿坏的呢这可怜的杂种。”然后他又试着安慰自己。“也许他给他们关起来后，他们会好好待他的。”
但甘德激动地说了：“我们应该让他跑掉。顾利那家伙你不知道。顾利准会拿他上私刑的。顾利会把他杀死的。”佐治紧紧地盯着甘德的口唇。“对，”终于他说了出来。“那是真的，顾利准会那样做。别的人也准会这样。”他回过头来瞧了瞧顾利老婆。
现在甘德把他最大的畏惧说出来了。“那小块地你和我还到得手吧，还成不成呢，佐治？你和我还能够去什么地方过个好日子的吧，还成不成呢，佐治？还成不成呢我们？”
佐治还没有回答，甘德把头俯下来，瞧着地上的干草。他明白了。
佐治柔声地说：“———我想很早我就知道了的。我想我们永远也干不成，这我一早就知道了。他一向那么死心眼爱听我讲它，我才以为我们也许会干得成罢了。”
甘德懊丧地问：“那么———全都完了？”
对他的问题，佐治没有作答。佐治说：“我总可以做我的月工，把我的五十块钱拿到手，在哪一间死鬼猫屋里呆上一整夜。要不，我可以在哪一间赌馆里头坐着，守到人们都散回家去了。然后，我就回来，做第二个月的月工，就又有五十块钱可以到手了。”
甘德说：“我想不到他会干出这样的事情来。他是这么好的一个人。”
佐治仍然盯着顾利老婆。“这桩事李奈决不是存心下流干出来的，”他说。“什么时候他都干坏事，但从没有一桩是下流的。”他直起身子，把头回过来瞧着甘德。“喂，你听着。我们总得告诉他们那些角儿去。没有别的办法，他们准要逮住他。也许他们不会伤害他。”他正色地说道：“我是不会让他们伤害李奈的。喂，你听着吧。人们会疑心我在这上头也有一份。我得回到工棚去。一分钟后你就去外边把她的事告诉他们，这我才装作毫不知情的样子走过来看。你肯这么做吗？这样一来可以叫人们不疑心我？”
甘德说：“肯定，佐治。我肯定照你说的这么做。”
“嗯。给我两分钟时间，然后你象是刚发现的，到处去把这桩事说开。现在我走了。”说罢佐治转过身来，便匆匆地走出去了。
瞧得他去远了，老甘德回过头来无可如何地打量着顾利老婆，而渐渐地，他的愤怒和忧虑，转化了言词了。“你这他妈的骚货，”他刻毒地咒骂道。“你干出来了，还不是吗？我猜你心里是高兴的吧。谁都料到会有事情给你搞出来的。你太不良。现在你更是丝毫好处也没有了，你这烂婊子！”他呜咽了起来，他的声音颤抖着。“本来我可以帮他们两个洗碟子，锄菜园的草的。”停了一下后，他用一种唱歌似的调子继续讲下去，讲那惯熟了的老话道：“要是有一场棒球赛或是马戏呢……我们就赶去看……只要说一声‘别干活啦’，就可以去了。决用不着等谁答应才去得。而且准有好些鸡，一只猪……而且在冬天……小小的铁炉子……天下起雨来……我们就呆在那儿。”泪水把他的眼睛蒙住了，他将身子转过来，用他那半截光秃的手腕去捋他那粗硬的胡须，无力地走出畜舍。
外边赛赌的嚷嚷声停息下来了。一阵议论的鼎沸的声音和急走的脚步声开腾起来，跟着，人们冲进畜舍。那是施琳，贾尔纯，顾利和年青的魏特，还有和跟在后面同显眼的行列隔得远远的库鲁克斯。甘德跟在众人后面，也进来了，最后到来的一个是佐治。佐治身上穿着他的蓝斜纹布上衫，衣服上了钮扣都扣得好好的，头上的黑帽子拉得低低的，把他的眼睛都盖过了。人群从尽头一个畜栏附近走过来。昏暗中他们的眼睛发现了顾利老婆，于是他们停了下来，静静地站在那儿，瞧着。
施琳不动声色地走近过去，把她的脉搏掂了一下。用他的一只瘦长的手指按了按她的腮颊，之后，他伸手去摸她那略为歪曲了的脖子，并用手指仔细地察勘了一下。人群拥了上来，当他站起来的时候，而这一场疑惑也就给打破了。
顾利蓦地醒了过来。“我知道是谁干的，”他叫了起来。“是那个狗杂种大个子干的呀。是他干的我知道。哼———别的人都在外边玩马蹄铁赛哪。”他使自己进入了一种狂怒的状态。“我要逮住他。我去把我的鸟枪找过来。我要亲手把这狗养的大个子收拾掉。我要朝他的肠脏射进去。走吧，大伙们。”他气势汹汹地走出了畜舍。贾尔纯说：“我要去拿我的鲁格，”说着也走出去了。
施琳默然地把脸转过来对着佐治。“我猜这准是李奈干的，不会有错，”他说。“她的颈骨给扭断了。李奈干得出来的。”
佐治没有回答，但他徐徐地点了点头。他额头上的帽子拉得那么低，以至他的眼睛全都给帽子盖住了。
施琳接着说：“也许跟你说过的在韦地那一次一样的吧。”
佐治再次点了点头。
施琳叹息了一声。“唉，我看我们总得把他逮住的了。他能走到哪儿去呢你想？”
佐治似乎很因此踌躇了一回，然后才想妥了讲道：“他———会是往南边的吧，我们从北边来的，所以他会是往南边走吧。”
“我看我们总得把他逮住，”施琳把刚才的话重复了一遍。
佐治走近过来。“要是我们捉得他回来，能不能叫他们只是关禁他起来？他是个笨东西呀，施琳。这事他决不是存心下流干出来的。”
施琳点头。“我们能，”他说。“要是顾利能被我们控制得住，我们就能做到。可顾利却是要一枪把他射死的呀。顾利那只手他一直还念念不忘呢，这也肯定会叫他发火的。他们说不定又会把他关起来，用皮带把它勒紧了放进一个木笼里头。那就糟了，佐治。”
“我懂，”佐治说。“我懂得了。”
贾尔纯跑着进来了。“那杂种把我的鲁格枪偷走了啦，”他高声嚷道。“我那袋子里头枪没有了。”顾利跟在他后头，他那只没受伤的手里拿着一杆鸟枪。现在顾利显得冷静了。
“好啦，大伙们，”他说。“黑鬼有支鸟枪。贾尔纯，你去把它拿来吧。你们见到他，千万不要让他跑掉。要射进他的肠子里去。非拦腰把他打断不干休。”
“我没有枪。”魏特兴奋地说。
顾利说：“你上梭利戴德找个警官来。奥尔?韦尔特斯是代理警长，你把他找来好，我们走吧。”他疑心重重地转过脸来对着佐治。“你也同我们一道走，老兄。”
“是，”佐治说。“我去。可是顾利，你听着呀。这可怜的杂种是个没脑瓜的人。别开枪吧。自己干了什么事他并不明白呢。”
“不开枪？”顾利叫了起来。“我们准定要射了他。贾尔纯的鲁格还被他拿了呢。”
佐治虚弱地说了：“贾尔纯的手枪也许是他自己丢的呢。”
“今天早上我还看见它，”贾尔纯说。“不，它是给人偷走的。”
施琳站在那儿，垂头瞧着顾利的老婆。他说：“顾利———也许你还是留在这儿陪你老婆的好。”
顾利的脸涨得通红。“我要去，”他说。“哪怕我只剩了一只手，我也要亲手给那狗养的大个子一枪，把他的肠子都射出来，我要找他去。”
施琳将脸转向甘德。“那么甘德，你留在这儿看她吧。他们其余的人还是都去的好。”
他们迈步离开了。佐治在甘德身边停了一会，他们两个垂头瞧着那个死去的女人，直至顾利叫道：“你，佐治！你要跟紧我们，好叫我们不疑心这件事你同有干系。”
佐治拖着沉重的步子慢腾腾地跟在他们后面走了。
甘德等他们走了后在干草上面蹲了下来，定睛瞧着顾利老婆的脸孔。“可怜的杂种，”他轻声细气地说出了一句话来。
渐渐地人声去得远了。慢慢地畜舍暗了下来，马匹在它们的栏子里调换着脚，摔响着缰链。老甘德在麦秆上躺下来，将手臂覆在了自己的眼睛上面。
收听单词发音 |
1
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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scooped
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| 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） | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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shoveled
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| vt.铲，铲出（shovel的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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tenement
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| n.公寓；房屋 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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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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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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pitchers
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| 大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 ) | |
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23
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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24
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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25
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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30
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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33
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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34
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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35
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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38
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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39
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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40
rouged
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| 胭脂，口红( rouge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
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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42
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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43
sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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44
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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45
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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46
disapprovingly
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| adv.不以为然地，不赞成地，非难地 | |
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47
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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48
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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49
bucks
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| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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50
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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51
tart
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| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 | |
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52
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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53
crooks
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| n.骗子( crook的名词复数 )；罪犯；弯曲部分；（牧羊人或主教用的）弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
denim
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| n.斜纹棉布；斜纹棉布裤，牛仔裤 | |
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55
guts
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| v.狼吞虎咽，贪婪地吃，飞碟游戏（比赛双方每组5人，相距15码，互相掷接飞碟）；毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的第三人称单数 )；取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 )；内脏；消化道的下段；肠 | |
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56
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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57
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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58
wilts
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| （使）凋谢，枯萎( wilt的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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