2-85

 

85.

In Namibia, crossing the northern desert in search of desert rhinos¹, I met an amiable² doctor whowas tracking desert lions. They were heavily persecuted³ in that part of Namibia, because theyoften encroached on farmland. The doctor was darting⁴ some, to study their health and movements.

He took our number, told us he’d call if he found one.

That night we made camp by a dry stream. Everyone else was in tents, in trucks, but I unrolledmy mat by the fire and covered myself with a thin blanket.

Everyone on my team thought I was joking. This area is full of lions, boss.

I told them I’d be fine. Done it a million times.

Around midnight the radio buzzed. The doctor. He was four kilometers away and he’d justdarted two lions.

We jumped into the Land Cruiser, raced down the track. Namibian soldiers assigned to us bythe government insisted on coming as well. As did local police in the area. Despite the pitch-dark,we found the doctor easily. He was standing⁵ beside two enormous lions. Both were lying on theirbellies, heads resting heavily on their giant paws. He aimed his torch. We could see the lions’

chests rising and falling. Quiet breathing.

I knelt beside the female, touched her skin, looked at her half-closed amber⁶ eyes. I can’texplain it, and I can’t defend it…but I felt that I knew her.

As I stood, one of the Namibian soldiers brushed past me, crouched⁷ beside the other lion. Abig male. The soldier held up his AK-47, asked one of his buddies⁸ to get a photo. As if he’d madea kill.

I was about to say something, but Billy the Rock beat me to it. He told the Namibian soldier toget the fuck away from the lions.

Sullen⁹, the soldier slunk away.

I turned now to say something to the doctor. There was a flash. I turned again, to see where ithad come from, which soldier had shot his phone camera, and heard the men gasp¹⁰.

I looked back: The lioness was standing before me. Resurrected.

She stumbled forward.

It’s OK, the doctor said. It’s OK.

She fell again, right at my feet.

Goodnight, sweet princess.

I looked left, right. No one was near me. The soldiers had all raced back to their trucks. Theone with the AK-47 was rolling up the window. Even Billy the Rock had taken a half-step back.

The doctor said, Sorry about that.

Don’t be.

We returned to camp. Everyone climbed into their tents, their trucks, except me.

I returned to my mat by the fire.

You’re joking, they all said. What about the lions? We just saw proof that there are lions outhere, boss.

Pff. Trust me. That lioness isn’t going to hurt anybody.

In fact she’s probably watching over us.

 

1 rhinos   

n.犀牛（rhino的复数形式）

参考例句：

• There are many reports of people taming and even training Indian rhinos. 有许多关于人们驯养甚至训练印度犀牛的记载。 来自辞典例句
• The rhinos had fed during the night in the rice fields of these villagers. 犀牛夜里在这些村民的庄稼地里也已吃饱了。 来自辞典例句

2 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

3 persecuted   

（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人

参考例句：

• Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。
• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

4 darting   

v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• Swallows were darting through the clouds. 燕子穿云急飞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Swallows were darting through the air. 燕子在空中掠过。 来自辞典例句

5 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。

6 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

7 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

8 buddies   

n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人

参考例句：

• We became great buddies. 我们成了非常好的朋友。 来自辞典例句
• The two of them have become great buddies. 他们俩成了要好的朋友。 来自辞典例句

9 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

10 gasp   

n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说

参考例句：

• She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
• The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。