I PUSHED MY WAY UP to where he'd been standing¹ seconds ago. Gone! I scanned the room. "I lost him," I spat² into the walkie-talkie. "He must've ducked into the crowd. Son of a bitch!" For no good reason, I was mad at myself.

I didn't see Charles Danko anywhere. All the men were wearing tuxedos³, looking the same. And all those people were exposed to danger, maybe even death.

I badged my way through a barricade⁴ and ran down a long corridor that led to the closed-off section of the museum. Still no sign of Danko. I ran back to the main ballroom⁵ and bumped into Molinari.

"He's here. I know he is, Joe. This is his moment."

Molinari nodded and radioed that no one, under any cir-cumstance, was to leave the building. I was thinking that if any kind of device went off in there, with all those people, it would be a total disaster. I'd die, too. And Molinari. It would be worse than the Rincon Center.

Where are you, Danko?

Then I caught a glimpse of him again. I thought so any-way. I pointed⁶ toward a tall balding man. He was circling away from us, ducking in and out of the crowd. "That's him!"

"Danko!" I yelled, pulling my Glock from its shoulder holster. "Danko! Stop!"

The crowd parted enough for me to see him remove a hand from his jacket pocket. He caught my eyes again - and then he smiled at me. What the hell did he have?

"Police!" Molinari shouted. "Everybody down!"

Charles Danko's fingers were wrapped around something. I couldn't tell if it was a gun, or maybe a detonator.

Then I saw it - a plastic canister in his hand. What the hell was it? He raised his arm and I charged. There was no other choice.

Seconds later I crashed into Charles Danko, grabbing at his arm, hoping the canister would break free. I latched⁷ on to his hand, desperately

点击收听单词发音  

1 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 spat
n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声
参考例句：
Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。 There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

3 tuxedos
n.餐服，无尾晚礼服( tuxedo的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Our services include design and tailoring for wedding gowns, tuxedos and party dressesfrom and American brands. 们的服务范围包括高级婚纱设计定制，高级礼服、派对装设计定制，及欧美一线品牌成衣的驳样定制。 来自互联网 Most tuxedos are black, but some people like to wear white ones called 'morning suits'. 大多数男士无尾晚礼服是黑色的，不过有些人喜欢穿那种被称为“晨服”的白色装。 来自互联网

4 barricade
n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住
参考例句：
The soldiers make a barricade across the road.士兵在路上设路障。 It is difficult to break through a steel barricade.冲破钢铁障碍很难。

5 ballroom
n.舞厅
参考例句：
The boss of the ballroom excused them the fee.舞厅老板给他们免费。 I go ballroom dancing twice a week.我一个星期跳两次交际舞。

6 pointed
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。

7 latched
v.理解( latch的过去式和过去分词 )；纠缠；用碰锁锁上（门等）；附着（在某物上）
参考例句：
The government have latched onto environmental issues to win votes. 政府已开始大谈环境问题以争取选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He latched onto us and we couldn't get rid of him. 他缠着我们，甩也甩不掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 desperately
adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
参考例句：
He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。 He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

9 pry
vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起)
参考例句：
He's always ready to pry into other people's business.他总爱探听别人的事。 We use an iron bar to pry open the box.我们用铁棍撬开箱子。

10 budge
v.移动一点儿；改变立场
参考例句：
We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。 She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。

11 grunt
v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝
参考例句：
He lifted the heavy suitcase with a grunt.他咕噜着把沉重的提箱拎了起来。 I ask him what he think,but he just grunt.我问他在想什麽，他只哼了一声。

12 wrestle
vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付
参考例句：
He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。 We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。

13 leverage
n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量
参考例句：
We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。 He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

14 hatred
n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨
参考例句：
He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。 The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

15 bastard
n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子
参考例句：
He was never concerned about being born a bastard.他从不介意自己是私生子。 There was supposed to be no way to get at the bastard.据说没有办法买通那个混蛋。

16 gasped
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要
参考例句：
She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。 People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 horrified
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句：
The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。 We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。