365个英语简短小故事-139. Body in a Barrel (2)

Russell closed the tailgate of the pickup¹ and they drove to the dock. It was a cold day, and it was raining. They transferred the barrel into the back of Russell’s 25-foot fishing boat. The boat was named “Staci,” although it had first been named "Kathy," and then “Beverly,” after Russell’s first two wives. Russell steered² the boat into the gulf³. An hour later, after some slipping and grunting⁴ and lifting, they managed to dump the barrel overboard. George told Russell that it had become a “three case” job. Russell chuckled⁵ and said no problem.

Russell stopped at a supermarket on the way home, and they put three cases of cold Bud into the bed of the pickup. Russell opened a case and pulled out two cans, and they drank them on the way back to the house in the warmth of the cab.

George called Staci a few days later, because he wanted to borrow some money from her. Russell said that Staci was gone.

“What do you mean, ‘gone’”? George asked. Russell said that Staci had left him for another man, and she had moved out of the city. George thought that was very odd; but because Russell was a policeman, George believed him. He asked Russell if he could borrow $300 so that he could spend the weekend in Las Vegas. Russell said no problem.

Before leaving, George called his mom to tell her about Staci. When he returned from Vegas, George saw his sister’s face on the local TV news. Under her picture was the word “Missing.” The TV reporter said that Kathy, Russell’s first wife, had been accidentally shot to death while turkey hunting with Russell six years ago. Beverly, Russell’s second wife, had accidentally drowned in her bathtub three years ago. George, now suspicious, put down his beer. He called the police. The officer asked if she could put him on hold for a second. George said no problem.

 

1 pickup   

n.拾起，获得

参考例句：

• I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。

2 steered   

v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
• The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

4 grunting   

咕哝的，呼噜的

参考例句：

• He pulled harder on the rope, grunting with the effort. 他边用力边哼声，使出更大的力气拉绳子。
• Pigs were grunting and squealing in the yard. 猪在院子里哼哼地叫个不停。

5 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。