Bourget Airfield's night shift air traffic controller had been dozing¹ before a blank radar² screenwhen the captain of the Judicial³ Police practically broke down his door.

　　"Teabing's jet," Bezu Fache blared, marching into the small tower, "where did it go?"The controller's initial response was a babbling⁴, lame⁵ attempt to protect the privacy of their Britishclient—one of the airfield's most respected customers. It failed miserably⁶.

　　"Okay," Fache said, "I am placing you under arrest for permitting a private plane to take offwithout registering a flight plan." Fache motioned to another officer, who approached withhandcuffs, and the traffic controller felt a surge of terror. He thought of the newspaper articlesdebating whether the nation's police captain was a hero or a menace. That question had just beenanswered.

　　"Wait!" the controller heard himself whimper at the sight of the handcuffs. "I can tell you thismuch. Sir Leigh Teabing makes frequent trips to London for medical treatments. He has a hangarat Biggin Hill Executive Airport in Kent. On the outskirts⁸ of London."Fache waved off the man with the cuffs⁷. "Is Biggin Hill his destination tonight?""I don't know," the controller said honestly. "The plane left on its usual tack⁹, and his last radarcontact suggested the United Kingdom. Biggin Hill is an extremely likely guess.""Did he have others onboard?""I swear, sir, there is no way for me to know that. Our clients can drive directly to their hangars,and load as they please. Who is onboard is the responsibility of the customs officials at thereceiving airport."Fache checked his watch and gazed out at the

点击收听单词发音  

1 dozing
v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡
参考例句：
The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。 He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。

2 radar
n.雷达，无线电探测器
参考例句：
They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。 Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

3 judicial
adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的
参考例句：
He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。 Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

4 babbling
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

5 lame
adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的
参考例句：
The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。 I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

6 miserably
adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地
参考例句：
The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。 It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨，天气又冷又湿，令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 cuffs
n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口 The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。

8 outskirts
n.郊外，郊区
参考例句：
Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。 They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

9 tack
n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝
参考例句：
He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。 We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。

10 scattering
n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散
参考例句：
The child felle into a rage and began scattering its toys about. 这孩子突发狂怒，把玩具扔得满地都是。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The farmers are scattering seed. 农夫们在播种。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 fumbled
（笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下
参考例句：
She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。 He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他（瞎）摸着衣兜找票。