英语听力：劫机.Skyjack! Chapter 9

　　Chapter NineHelen Sandburg stood up to welcome the American and British ambassadors². The two men were very different. The American ambassador¹ was a short round man with a loud voice, which Helen disliked very much. He often wore open neck shirts, and he had a very hairy³ chest⁴. She disliked that, too. The British ambassador, a tall thin Scotsman from Edinburgh, was always quiet, polite and well dressed. But she did not always believe what he said. Once a year ago, he had lied to her, and she could never forget that. But most of all, she disliked them because they were both military⁵ men. And their counties⁶ were much bigger than hers. They wanted military bases for their soldiers in her country, and she did not want them.

　　“So gentleman, what can I do for you?”

　　The American spoke⁷ first, “Well, man! An American passenger is dead.”

　　“Yes, I know. I am very sorry about that. I hope no more will die.”

　　“I hope so, too, man. There are twenty-eight U.S. passengers on that plane, and my government wants to keep them alive.”

　　“There are a hundred and seven passengers on that plane, ambassador. And my government wants them all alive.” Helen answered quietly.

　　But the ambassador did not listen. “So the U.S. government is going to help you, man. We have fifty U.S. Marines of the U.S. embassy⁸. And they can be here one hour from now. And then they’ll just take that __ plane apart.”

　　The Scotsman smiled, “Excuse me, ambassador. Perhaps one hour from now will be too late. One man is already dead. But, perhaps you do know this plan, Prime⁹ Minister. But this week six S.A.S soldiers are visiting the British embassy. They are waiting outside my car now. These men know a lot about hijackers, much more than the U.S. Marines, or probably own soldiers’ plane, Prime Minister. They know exactly what to do. So…”

　　“Now, just a moment!” the American interrupted¹⁰, “the U.S. Marines…”

　　“Gentlemen!” Helen’s clear hard voice stopped them, “There is no time to argue. Firstly¹¹, I didn’t know about the S.A.S soldiers in the British embassy, and I am very surprised about it, very surprised indeed, ambassador! Secondly¹², I do not think it is a good idea to attack the plane with a hundred and seven passengers in it, and take it apart, as you say. I want these people to live, not die! So I thank you for your ideas. But this small country is ours, not yours. We will manage this problem in our own way with our own people! Thank you very much! Now you must excuse me, I am very busy!”

　　At the door, the Scotsman turned back. “Prime Minister, I know you want to save lives.” he said, “I understand that, but these hijackers must not go free. My government does not want that! No government in the world wants that!”

　　“I know that, ambassador.” Helen answered quietly, “I know that very well.”

　　As they went out, the phone rang. Michael picked it up. Helen sat down at the table and watched him. His face was very serious. He wrote it on a piece of paper, and then put the phone down. For a moment, he did not look at her.

　　“What is it, Michael? Tell me!”

　　“It was a radio message from the plane, Prime Minister.”

　　“Well, what did they say? Didn’t they want to talk to me?”

　　“No, Prime Minister! Just a message!”

　　It says, “We love our brothers! We hope the Prime Minister loves her husband! He is on the plane just behind the door.”

　　For a long moment, she stared at Michael. She did not speak. The picture of the American passenger appeared in her mind. She saw him jumping out of the door, and the girl shooting¹³ him, shooting him for ten, maybe for fifteen long seconds.

　　“I’m sorry, Prime Minister.” said Michael softly¹⁴.

　　“What? Yes, so am I. I thought perhaps… perhaps the hijackers did not know Carl was my husband. But now they do know.”

　　She ran her hand through her hair, and then looked at her watch. But her hand was shaking so much that she could not tell the time. The phone rang again. Michael picked it up,“Colonel¹⁵ Court was outside, Prime Minister.” he watched her waiting for an answer, “I’ll tell him to wait, shall I?”

　　She put her hands ___ on the table, and stood up. “Yes, yes, Michael. Tell him to wait two minutes, that’s all.” She walked to the window and stared out at the plane. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass. And for two minutes, she did not move. Then she turned around, and smiled at Michael. “Let’s just hope Colonel Court’s plan is a good one, shall we? Show him in!”

　　本文本由Bryan1984网友听写，非常感谢他的分享。如有错误，欢迎指出。

1 ambassador   

n.大使，特使，（派驻国际组织的）代表

参考例句：

• He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

2 ambassadors   

大使( ambassador的名词复数 )； （派驻联合国等国际组织的）代表； 特使； [比喻]使者

参考例句：

• Kennedy, greatly admiring, rated him very high among his ambassadors. 肯尼迪十分赏识他，在所有大使中对他评价很高。
• Many countries were represented by their ambassadors at the Independence Day celebrations. 庆祝美国独立纪念日时，许多国家都派其大使代表参加。

3 hairy   

adj.多毛的，毛状的，长毛的

参考例句：

• The bear's chest is hairy.那只熊的胸部毛茸茸的。
• I can see a hairy monster.我能看见一个多毛妖怪。

4 chest   

n.胸，大箱子，金库，资金，一箱，密封室，衣橱

参考例句：

• The bear's chest is hairy.那只熊的胸部毛茸茸的。
• Mother has a pain in her chest.母亲胸口疼.。

5 military   

n.军队；adj.军事的，军人的，好战的

参考例句：

• The area has been declared a closed military zone.这个地区已宣布为军事禁区。
• The king was just the tool of the military government.国王只是军政府的一个傀儡。

6 counties   

郡，县( county的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The deposits spread for 100 kilometers across four counties. 这些矿藏绵延一百公里，跨越四个县。
• The Jinggang Mountains stand where the boundaries of four counties meet. 井冈山位于四县之交。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

9 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

10 interrupted   

adj. 中断的 动词interrupt的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He could not conceal his annoyance at being interrupted. 他因受扰而难掩怒色。
• She was interrupted by the entrance of an attendant. 服务员进来，打断了她的话。

11 firstly   

adv.第一；首先

参考例句：

• Firstly,you must be loyal to your homeland.首先，你必须忠于你的祖国。
• Firstly,let us deal with the most important issue.首先让我们来处理最紧要的问题。

12 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

13 shooting   

n.射击，发射；猎场，狩猎场

参考例句：

• The soldiers began shooting away at the enemy positions.战士们开始朝敌人的阵地不断地射击。
• I was in the act of shooting him when I suddenly recognized him.我正要向他开枪时，突然认出了他。

14 softly   

adv.柔和地，静静地，温柔地

参考例句：

• He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻，她听不见。
• She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。

15 colonel   

n.(英国陆军、美国陆空军及海军陆战队)上校

参考例句：

• It's a pity we didn't mend our fences with the colonel.可惜我们还没有和上校先生调整好关系。
• An army major ranks between a captain and a colonel.陆军少校的军阶在上尉与中校之间。