The Valley of the Masters
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chapter 2

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 It was still dark when they filled their pouches1 to capacity and slipped from the house.
"What will we do now?" Theta asked.
Henry looked down. "I don't know. I had something planned, but...."
"What was it?"
"I was going to climb up the mountain, past the top defrost towers and the force fence, to the top of the ridge2."
She stared at him, her eyes round. "Why, that's the edge of the world! You might fall off!"
"Not if I'm careful."
Only a few in the valley could boast of going beyond the top row of defrosters, fewer yet of even going within looking distance of the force fence. Beyond it, tradition said, lived great beasts that could eat a man with one bite. While the ridges3 that bounded the valley on three sides, to the east, west and north, were the edges of the world, from which one dropped off into bottomless space.
To the south, where forest enclosed the mouth of the valley, tradition was vague, but the edge must be off there somewhere.
It had taken Henry all summer to build up his determination. But now, up was the only direction it was safe to go.
"If you're not afraid, I'm not either," Theta said. "Let's go."
Carrying the basket with its remaining supply of fruit between them, they started up the slope. It was only a short distance to the top defrosters. These only went into action at blossom time for the apples and other highland4 fruits.
From there to the force fence was a steep climb through rocks and brush. Their pace grew slower as they approached the fence. Their eyes scanned the rocks and scant5 brush for signs of the great beasts, but they saw none. Higher yet, about a quarter of a mile, was the top of the ridge. The edge of the earth.
Theta pressed against him. "I'm scared," she murmured.
Henry's face became set. "We said we were going," he said curtly6. "You can stay if you wish." He selected rocks for both hands.
The force fence only gave them a strong

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1 pouches 952990a5cdea03f7970c486d570c7d8e     
n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋
参考例句：
  • Pouches are a peculiarity of marsupials. 腹袋是有袋动物的特色。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Under my eyes the pouches were heavy. 我眼睛下的眼袋很深。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 ridge KDvyh     
n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭
参考例句：
  • We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
  • The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。
3 ridges 9198b24606843d31204907681f48436b     
n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊
参考例句：
  • The path winds along mountain ridges. 峰回路转。
  • Perhaps that was the deepest truth in Ridges's nature. 在里奇斯的思想上，这大概可以算是天经地义第一条了。
4 highland sdpxR     
n.(pl.)高地，山地
参考例句：
  • The highland game is part of Scotland's cultural heritage.苏格兰高地游戏是苏格兰文化遗产的一部分。
  • The highland forests where few hunters venture have long been the bear's sanctuary.这片只有少数猎人涉险的高山森林，一直都是黑熊的避难所。
5 scant 2Dwzx     
adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略
参考例句：
  • Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
  • Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。
6 curtly 4vMzJh     
adv.简短地
参考例句：
  • He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 tingling LgTzGu     
v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
8 onward 2ImxI     
adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先
参考例句：
  • The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
  • He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。
9 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇，惊讶
参考例句：
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
10 limbo Z06xz     
n.地狱的边缘；监狱
参考例句：
  • His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
  • I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。
11 groves eb036e9192d7e49b8aa52d7b1729f605     
树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields. 朝阳宁静地照耀着已经发黄的树丛和还是一片绿色的田地。
  • The trees grew more and more in groves and dotted with old yews. 那里的树木越来越多地长成了一簇簇的小丛林，还点缀着几棵老紫杉树。
12 grove v5wyy     
n.林子，小树林，园林
参考例句：
  • On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
  • The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。
13 orchards d6be15c5dabd9dea7702c7b892c9330e     
（通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • They turned the hills into orchards and plains into granaries. 他们把山坡变成了果园，把平地变成了粮仓。
  • Some of the new planted apple orchards have also begun to bear. 有些新开的苹果园也开始结苹果了。
14 foliage QgnzK     
n.叶子，树叶，簇叶
参考例句：
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage.小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
  • Dark foliage clothes the hills.浓密的树叶覆盖着群山。
15 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞
参考例句：
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒，恼怒，生气
参考例句：
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
17 unfamiliar uk6w4     
adj.陌生的，不熟悉的
参考例句：
  • I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
  • The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。
18 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
19 emaciated Wt3zuK     
adj.衰弱的，消瘦的
参考例句：
  • A long time illness made him sallow and emaciated.长期患病使他面黄肌瘦。
  • In the light of a single candle,she can see his emaciated face.借着烛光，她能看到他的被憔悴的面孔。
20 bin yR2yz     
n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件
参考例句：
  • He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
  • He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
21 everlasting Insx7     
adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的
参考例句：
  • These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
  • He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。
22 motes 59ede84d433fdd291d419b00863cfab5     
n.尘埃( mote的名词复数 )；斑点
参考例句：
  • In those warm beams the motes kept dancing up and down. 只见温暖的光芒里面，微细的灰尘在上下飞扬。 来自辞典例句
  • So I decided to take lots of grammar motes in every class. 因此我决定每堂课多做些语法笔记。 来自互联网
23 protruding e7480908ef1e5355b3418870e3d0812f     
v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸
参考例句：
  • He hung his coat on a nail protruding from the wall. 他把上衣挂在凸出墙面的一根钉子上。
  • There is a protruding shelf over a fireplace. 壁炉上方有个突出的架子。 来自辞典例句
24 skulls d44073bc27628272fdd5bac11adb1ab5     
颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜
参考例句：
  • One of the women's skulls found exceeds in capacity that of the average man of today. 现已发现的女性颅骨中，其中有一个的脑容量超过了今天的普通男子。
  • We could make a whole plain white with skulls in the moonlight! 我们便能令月光下的平原变白，遍布白色的骷髅！
25 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
26 chilly pOfzl     
adj.凉快的，寒冷的
参考例句：
  • I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
  • I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。
27 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。
28 bins f61657e8b1aa35d4af30522a25c4df3a     
n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句
  • Would you be pleased at the prospect of its being on sale in dump bins? 对于它将被陈列在倾销箱中抛售这件事，你能欣然接受吗？ 来自辞典例句

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