1 The New Guy
读故事 STORY
William C. Reilly always thought that he was a big shot! When Marcus Trubody came in for a bite to eat, however, everyone felt that it was like a breath of fresh air.
William pretended it was no big deal, but then he saw things that were a bit of a shock. First, a couple of kids who usually ran when they saw him, walked right past him. Then, when he was waiting in a blind alley for townsfolk to greet him, no one appeared. William just stood there in the dark, where no beam of light could enter. Finally, when the local clock watcher failed to tell the time as William walked by, William knew that he had to fight this break with tradition.
Five minutes later, William burst into the café like a blast of wind. Marcus didn’t even flinch. Instead he picked up the bundle of papers and prepared to leave.
“I sense a cloud of frustration,” he said to the town clerk. “I need a change of pace. I heard there was a big sale next door. I’ll be over there if anyone needs me.”
“There won’t be anyone needing you any more,” William said.
That was when a sudden column of water flew on to William. He fell to the ground,
knocking down a cluster of grapes. Stunned, he looked up to see Marcus Trubody over him.
“I got a bunch more where that comes from!” Marcus said. “I don’t take kindly to threats. But I’m building a crew of roughnecks to work with me. You’re welcome to join.”
Still surprised and wet, William realized that he was a babe in arms compared to Marcus Trubody. He stood up, extended his hand and said, “Welcome to town. Let’s hear
about that offer!”
参考译文TRANSLATION
◎ 新来的家伙
威廉· C. 赖利总认为他是个大人物！然而当马库斯· 特鲁博迪进来吃一点儿东
西时，大家都感觉是一种新鲜的刺激。
威廉假装没有什么大事，可后来他却发现了一些有点儿让人吃惊的事情。首先，
几个从前一看见他就跑的孩子这次就从他身边走了过去。然后，当他在一条死胡同
等着市民跟他打招呼时，却没有一个人出现。威廉就那么一直在黑暗中站着，那里
一束光也进不来。最后，当地那个老是看钟等待下班的工人说不出威廉走过时的时
间，这时威廉才明白他必须与这种背离传统的事情做斗争。
五分钟后，威廉像一阵风似地跑进了咖啡馆。马库斯甚至都没有退缩，相反他
拿起一包文件准备离开。
“我感觉很失望，”他对这位城市职员说道。“我需要改变一下节奏。我听说隔
壁正在大减价。如果有人需要我，我这就过去。”
“不会再有人需要你啦！” 威廉说。
就在这时，突然有束水柱飞到了威廉身上。他倒在地上，打掉了一串葡萄。震
惊之余，他抬头看见马库斯· 特鲁博迪在他上面。
“刚才出来的那种东西我还有一串呢！”马库斯说。“我不喜欢被人威胁。我正
在发展一帮流氓跟我一起干，欢迎你加入。”
惊魂未定、浑身是水的威廉意识到和马库斯· 特鲁博迪相比，他不过是个涉世
未深的人。他站起来，伸出手说道：“欢迎来到城里，现在让我们来听听那个提议！”
记短语PHRASES
a babe in arms (=a babe in the woods) 天真幼稚的人，涉世未深的人，没有经验的人
a beam of (light) 一束（光）
a big deal 至关重要的大事，了不得的事情；要人，名人
a big shot 大人物
a bit (of) 有点，些许
a big sale 大减价
a bite to eat 一口食物，少量食物
a blast of (wind) 一阵（风）
a blind alley 死胡同；绝境，绝路，僵局
a break with (the tradition) 对（传统）的背离
a breath of fresh air 使人耳目一新的人，带来新鲜感的东西；新鲜的刺激
a bunch of 一束，一串，一群
a bundle of 一包
a change of pace 节奏的改变
a clock watcher 老是看钟等下班（或等下课）的工人（或学生）
a cloud of 一大群；一大片
a cluster of 一串，一束；一群，一组
a column of water 一束水柱
a couple of 一对，一双；几个
a crew of 一组（或一班、一队）工作人员
……
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