Gold
Alone, she bargains with the gold man.
First they pretend to offer what the other won’t accept.
She offers the debt paid at sundown, in gold, if he’ll let them go off and collect it.
He offers a cloak made from Sam’s skin.
She offers double the debt paid tomorrow morning.
He offers Sam’s limbs broken into pretty shapes.
She offers a game of cards, right then and there, for triple the debt.
He offers Sam’s lying tongue cut out and served to her.
She offers her
loyalty1. Her smarts. Her clean hands.
He offers Sam’s hands chopped and worn as a necklace.
She offers him the services of a prospector’s daughter, a knowledge of these hills that she was born to.
He offers her two graves dug so deep in these hills that no one will find them.
They sit in silence, then. A known silence, as if of old friends
swapping2 a story they’ve each heard before. She examines her hands, her feet, her skin, as if seeing them for the first time. Always ask why,she remembers someone telling her. Always know what part of you they want.
The gold man accepts her offer immediately. As if he knew the bargain she would strike before she did. Elske might say he saw her value.
—
And for a small price, a nothing price atop the existing debt, Lucy buys the right to lie.
She meets Sam alone in the shadow of the ship. In a few minutes it’ll be noon. In a few minutes the ship will sail.
She tells Sam she’s reached an agreement. She’ll work for the gold man. A secretary, of sorts, doing sums and writing histories. A year or two, three at most, and she’ll pay off the debt. After that she’ll take the next ship over.
Sam’s chin goes up, the stubbornness in Sam—
There is only one way.
Lucy leans back through the years and hits Sam across the face.
Gulls3 screech4 and rise in the hard, clear air. The shadows of their wings darken Sam’s cheeks. Sam’s eyes. When the gulls pass, the mark
remains5. Lucy learned from the best. How to
pivot
点击
收听单词发音
1
loyalty
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n.忠诚,忠心 |
参考例句: |
- She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
- His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
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2
swapping
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交换,交换技术 |
参考例句: |
- The slow swapping and buying of horses went on. 马匹的买卖和交换就是这样慢慢地进行着。
- He was quite keen on swapping books with friends. 他非常热衷于和朋友们交换书籍。
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3
gulls
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n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- A flock of sea gulls are hovering over the deck. 一群海鸥在甲板上空飞翔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The gulls which haunted the outlying rocks in a prodigious number. 数不清的海鸥在遥远的岩石上栖息。 来自辞典例句
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4
screech
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n./v.尖叫;(发出)刺耳的声音 |
参考例句: |
- He heard a screech of brakes and then fell down. 他听到汽车刹车发出的尖锐的声音,然后就摔倒了。
- The screech of jet planes violated the peace of the afternoon. 喷射机的尖啸声侵犯了下午的平静。
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5
remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 |
参考例句: |
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
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6
pivot
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v.在枢轴上转动;装枢轴,枢轴;adj.枢轴的 |
参考例句: |
- She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴,表现出万物的女性面貌。
- If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧,手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。
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7
silt
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n.淤泥,淤沙,粉砂层,泥沙层;vt.使淤塞;vi.被淤塞 |
参考例句: |
- The lake was almost solid with silt and vegetation.湖里几乎快被淤泥和植物填满了。
- During the annual floods the river deposits its silt on the fields.每年河水泛滥时都会在田野上沉积一层淤泥。
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8
afterward
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adv.后来;以后 |
参考例句: |
- Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
- Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
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9
tugs
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n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 );猛拖;拖船v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The raucous sirens of the tugs came in from the river. 河上传来拖轮发出的沙哑的汽笛声。 来自辞典例句
- As I near the North Tower, the wind tugs at my role. 当我接近北塔的时候,风牵动着我的平衡杆。 来自辞典例句
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10
crooked
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adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 |
参考例句: |
- He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指,示意我们到他那儿去。
- You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。
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11
fabric
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n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织 |
参考例句: |
- The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
- I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
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12
slit
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n.狭长的切口;裂缝;vt.切开,撕裂 |
参考例句: |
- The coat has been slit in two places.这件外衣有两处裂开了。
- He began to slit open each envelope.他开始裁开每个信封。
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13
illegible
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adj.难以辨认的,字迹模糊的 |
参考例句: |
- It is impossible to deliver this letter because the address is illegible.由于地址字迹不清,致使信件无法投递。
- Can you see what this note says—his writing is almost illegible!你能看出这个便条上写些什么吗?他的笔迹几乎无法辨认。
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14
remarkably
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ad.不同寻常地,相当地 |
参考例句: |
- I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
- He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
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15
blur
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n.模糊不清的事物;vt.使模糊,使看不清楚 |
参考例句: |
- The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
- If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了,图像就会变得模糊不清。
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16
accede
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v.应允,同意 |
参考例句: |
- They are ready to accede to our request for further information.我们要是还需要资料,他们乐于随时提供。
- In a word,he will not accede to your proposal in the meeting.总而言之,他不会在会中赞成你的提议。
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17
wail
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vt./vi.大声哀号,恸哭;呼啸,尖啸 |
参考例句: |
- Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里,一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
- One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。
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18
erasing
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v.擦掉( erase的现在分词 );抹去;清除 |
参考例句: |
- He was like a sponge, erasing the past, soaking up the future. 他象一块海绵,挤出过去,吸进未来。 来自辞典例句
- Suddenly, fear overtook longing, erasing memories. 突然,恐惧淹没了渴望,泯灭了回忆。 来自辞典例句
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19
marvels
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n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 );令人惊奇的事物(或事例);不平凡的成果;成就v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春,病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
- Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句
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20
spun
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v.纺,杜撰,急转身 |
参考例句: |
- His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
- Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
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21
mumbles
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含糊的话或声音,咕哝( mumble的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- He always mumbles when he's embarrassed. 他感到难为情时说话就含糊不清了。
- When the old lady speaks she often mumbles her words. 这位老妇人说起话来常常含糊不清。
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22
babbling
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n.胡说,婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 );作潺潺声(如流水);含糊不清地说话;泄漏秘密 |
参考例句: |
- I could hear the sound of a babbling brook. 我听得见小溪潺潺的流水声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Infamy was babbling around her in the public market-place. 在公共市场上,她周围泛滥着对她丑行的种种议论。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
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23
bruises
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n.瘀伤,伤痕,擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来,摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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24
razed
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v.彻底摧毁,将…夷为平地( raze的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The village was razed to the ground . 这座村庄被夷为平地。
- Many villages were razed to the ground. 许多村子被夷为平地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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25
grit
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n.沙粒,决心,勇气;v.下定决心,咬紧牙关 |
参考例句: |
- The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
- I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。
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26
spike
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n.长钉,钉鞋;v.以大钉钉牢,使...失效 |
参考例句: |
- The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
- They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。
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27
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 |
参考例句: |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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28
buffalo
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n.(北美)野牛;(亚洲)水牛 |
参考例句: |
- Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
- The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。
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29
flicker
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vi./n.闪烁,摇曳,闪现 |
参考例句: |
- There was a flicker of lights coming from the abandoned house.这所废弃的房屋中有灯光闪烁。
- At first,the flame may be a small flicker,barely shining.开始时,光辉可能是微弱地忽隐忽现,几乎并不灿烂。
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30
mirage
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n.海市蜃楼,幻景 |
参考例句: |
- Perhaps we are all just chasing a mirage.也许我们都只是在追逐一个幻想。
- Western liberalism was always a mirage.西方自由主义永远是一座海市蜃楼。
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31
itch
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n.痒,渴望,疥癣;vi.发痒,渴望 |
参考例句: |
- Shylock has an itch for money.夏洛克渴望发财。
- He had an itch on his back.他背部发痒。
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32
smeared
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弄脏; 玷污; 涂抹; 擦上 |
参考例句: |
- The children had smeared mud on the walls. 那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。
- A few words were smeared. 有写字被涂模糊了。
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33
grasslands
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n.草原,牧场( grassland的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来,种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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34
numb
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adj.麻木的,失去感觉的;v.使麻木 |
参考例句: |
- His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
- Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵,催着疲惫的马继续往前走。
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35
winding
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n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 |
参考例句: |
- A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
- The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
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36
behold
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v.看,注视,看到 |
参考例句: |
- The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
- The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。
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37
immortal
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adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 |
参考例句: |
- The wild cocoa tree is effectively immortal.野生可可树实际上是不会死的。
- The heroes of the people are immortal!人民英雄永垂不朽!
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38
bleaches
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使(颜色)变淡,变白,漂白( bleach的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Oxidation of soils by bleaches can break down large molecules into smaller segments with polar sites. 关于漂白对污垢的氧化作用,使其大分子裂解为带极性基因的短链段。
- Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches and gasoline and other flammable liquids. 清除溢出的药品,漂白剂、汽油和其他易燃易爆液体。
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39
shimmer
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v./n.发微光,发闪光;微光 |
参考例句: |
- The room was dark,but there was a shimmer of moonlight at the window.屋子里很黑,但靠近窗户的地方有点微光。
- Nor is there anything more virginal than the shimmer of young foliage.没有什么比新叶的微光更纯洁无瑕了。
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40
countless
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adj.无数的,多得不计其数的 |
参考例句: |
- In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
- I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。
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41
generosity
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n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 |
参考例句: |
- We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
- We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。
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42
veins
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n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 |
参考例句: |
- The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的,感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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43
gouged
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v.凿( gouge的过去式和过去分词 );乱要价;(在…中)抠出…;挖出… |
参考例句: |
- The lion's claws had gouged a wound in the horse's side. 狮爪在马身一侧抓了一道深口。
- The lovers gouged out their names on the tree. 情人们把他们的名字刻在树上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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44
blisters
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n.水疱( blister的名词复数 );水肿;气泡 |
参考例句: |
- My new shoes have made blisters on my heels. 我的新鞋把我的脚跟磨起泡了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- His new shoes raised blisters on his feet. 他的新鞋把他的脚磨起了水疱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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45
parched
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adj.焦干的;极渴的;v.(使)焦干 |
参考例句: |
- Hot winds parched the crops.热风使庄稼干透了。
- The land in this region is rather dry and parched.这片土地十分干燥。
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