It was time.
    Silas felt strong as he stepped from the black Audi， the nighttime breeze rustling¹ his loose- fitting robe. The winds of change are in the air. He knew the task before him would require more finesse² than force， and he left his handgun in the car. The thirteen-round Heckler Koch USP 40 had been provided by the Teacher.
    A weapon of death has no place in a house of God.
    The plaza³ before the great church was deserted⁴ at this hour， the only visible souls on the far side of Place Saint-Sulpice a couple of teenage hookers showing their wares⁵ to the late night tourist traffic. Their nubile⁶ bodies sent a familiar longing⁷ to Silas's loins. His thigh⁸ flexed⁹ instinctively， causing the barbed cilice belt to cut painfully into his flesh.
    The lust¹⁰ evaporated instantly. For ten years now， Silas had faithfully denied himself all sexual indulgence， even self-administered. It was The Way. He knew he had sacrificed much to follow Opus Dei， but he had received much more in return. A vow¹¹ of celibacy¹² and the relinquishment¹³

点击收听单词发音  

1 rustling
n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的
参考例句：
the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声 the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

2 finesse
n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕
参考例句：
It was a disappointing performance which lacked finesse.那场演出缺乏技巧，令人失望。 Lillian Hellman's plays are marked by insight and finesse.莉莲.赫尔曼的巨作以富有洞察力和写作技巧著称。

3 plaza
n.广场，市场
参考例句：
They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。 The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

4 deserted
adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的
参考例句：
The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。 The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

5 wares
n. 货物, 商品
参考例句：
They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。 The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。

6 nubile
adj.结婚期的
参考例句：
Rich old men often like to be surrounded by nubile young women.一些上了年纪的富翁总喜欢被到了适婚年龄的年轻女人围绕。 What is this current television obsession with older men and nubile young women?现在的电视节目为什么这么喜欢描写老男人和妙龄性感女郎的故事呢？

7 longing
n.（for）渴望
参考例句：
Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。 His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

8 thigh
n.大腿；股骨
参考例句：
He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了，疼得很。 The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。

9 flexed
adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌
参考例句：
He stretched and flexed his knees to relax himself. 他伸屈膝关节使自己放松一下。 来自辞典例句 He flexed his long stringy muscles manfully. 他孔武有力地弯起膀子，显露出细长条的肌肉。 来自辞典例句

10 lust
n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望
参考例句：
He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。 Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念，就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。

11 vow
n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓
参考例句：
My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。 I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

12 celibacy
n.独身(主义)
参考例句：
People in some religious orders take a vow of celibacy. 有些宗教修会的人发誓不结婚。 The concept of celibacy carries connotations of asceticism and religious fervor. 修道者的独身观念含有禁欲与宗教热情之意。

13 relinquishment
n.放弃；撤回；停止
参考例句：
One kind of love is called relinquishment. 有一种爱叫做放手。 Our curriculum trains for the relinquishment of judgment as the necessary condition of salvation. 我们的课程则训练我们把放弃判断作为得救的必需条件。

14 redeemed
adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。 He redeemed his watch from the pawnbroker's. 他从当铺赎回手表。

15 eternity
n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷
参考例句：
The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。 Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

16 ordained
v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定
参考例句：
He was ordained in 1984. 他在一九八四年被任命为牧师。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He was ordained priest. 他被任命为牧师。 来自辞典例句