【时间旅行者的妻子】58

 She is always experimenting, always attempting the  coup d’eclat. “Who do you like now?” she asks without looking up. 　“You mean at twenty? Or at thirty-six?” 　“Both.” 　I try to remember being twenty. It’s just a blur¹ of women, breasts, legs, skin, hair. All their stories have jumbled² together, and their faces no longer attach themselves to names. I was busy but miserable³ at twenty. “Twenty was nothing special. Nobody springs to mind.” 　“And thirty-six?” 　I scrutinize⁴ Clare. Is twelve too young? I’m sure twelve is really too young. Better to fantasize about beautiful, unattainable, safe Paul McCartney than to have to contend with Henry the Time Traveling Geezer. Why is she asking this anyway? 　“Henry?” 　“Yeah?” 　“Are you married?” 　“Yes,” I admit reluctantly. 　“To who?” 　“A very beautiful, patient, talented, smart woman.” 　Her faces falls. “Oh.” She picks up one of my white bishops⁵, which she captured two moves ago, and spins it on the ground like a top. “Well, that’s nice.” She seems kind of put out by this news. 　“What’s wrong?” 　“Nothing.” Clare moves her queen from Q2 to KN5. “Check.” 　I move my knight⁶ to protect my king. 　“Am I married?” Clare inquires. 　I meet her eyes. “You’re pushing your luck today.” 　“Why not? You never tell me anything anyway. Come on, Henry, tell me if I’m gonna be an old maid.” 　“You’re a nun,” I tease her. 　Clare shudders⁷. “Boy, I hope not.” She takes one of my pawns⁹ with her rook. “How did you meet your wife?” 　“Sorry. Top secret information.” I take her rook with my queen. 　Clare makes a face. “Ouch. Were you time traveling? When you met her?” 　“ I was minding my own business.” 　Clare sighs. She takes another pawn⁸ with her other rook. I’m starting to run low on pawns. 

1 blur   

n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚

参考例句：

• The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
• If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了，图像就会变得模糊不清。

2 jumbled   

adj.混乱的；杂乱的

参考例句：

• Books, shoes and clothes were jumbled together on the floor. 书、鞋子和衣服胡乱堆放在地板上。
• The details of the accident were all jumbled together in his mind. 他把事故细节记得颠三倒四。

3 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

4 scrutinize   

n.详细检查，细读

参考例句：

• Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
• She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前，端详他们的面容。

5 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

6 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

7 shudders   

n.颤动，打颤，战栗( shudder的名词复数 )v.战栗( shudder的第三人称单数 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动

参考例句：

• It gives me the shudders. （（口语））它使我战栗。 来自辞典例句
• The ghastly sight gave him the shudders. 那恐怖的景象使他感到恐惧。 来自辞典例句

8 pawn   

n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押

参考例句：

• He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
• It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。

9 pawns   

n.（国际象棋中的）兵( pawn的名词复数 )；卒；被人利用的人；小卒v.典当，抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• The hostages are being used as political pawns. 人质正被用作政治卒子。
• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。 来自《简明英汉词典》