"But of course I wasn't sure, it was just a hunch. I usually get a feeling about the prey thatI'm hunting, a sixth sense, if you will. I listened to your message when I got to your mother'shouse, but of course I couldn't be sure where you'd called from. It was very useful to have yournumber, but you could have been in Antarctica for all I knew, and the game wouldn't workunless you were close by.
不过，当然，我没法确定，这只是一种直觉。我通常能从我所狩猎的猎物身上得到感觉，这是一种第六感，如果你愿意这样称呼的话。能拿到你的门牌号对我来说很有用，但就我所知，你也可能在南极洲。如果你不在附近的话，这个游戏就没有意义了。
"Then your boyfriend got on a plane to Phoenix. Victoria was monitoring them for me,naturally; in a game with this many players, I couldn't be working alone. And so they told mewhat I'd hoped, that you were here after all. I was prepared; I'd already been through yourcharming home movies. And then it was simply a matter of the bluff.
然后，你的男朋友坐上了飞往凤凰城的航班。很自然地，维多利亚把这件事告诉了我。在这场游戏里有这么多的玩家，我不可能是孤军奋战。所以，这些讯息告诉了我我所希望的事情，你终究是在这里。我做好了准备。我看完了你那些迷人的家庭录像。然后，只剩下虚张声势的问题。
"Very easy, you know, not really up to my standards. So, you see, I'm hoping you're wrongabout your boyfriend. Edward, isn't it?"
你知道，这一切来得太容易了，完全没有达到我的标准。所以，你看，我很希望你对你男朋友的判断是错误的。他叫爱德华，对吧?”
I didn't answer. The bravado was wearing off. I sensed that he was coming to the end of hisgloat. It wasn't meant for me anyway. There was no glory in beating me, a weak human.
我没有回答。那种虚张声势的作用正在逐渐消失。我感觉到，他即将结束他贪婪的注视。无论如何，那不是冲着我来的。击败我，这个脆弱的人类，不能给他任何荣耀。
"Would you mind, very much, if I left a little letter of my own for your Edward?"
“你是否会，很介意，如果我用自己的方式留一封短信给你的爱德华?”
He took a step back and touched a palm-sized digital video camera balanced carefully on top ofthe stereo. A small red light indicated that it was already running. He adjusted it a few times,widened the frame. I stared at him in horror.
他后退一步，拿起一部原本被小心地放在立体声音响上的巴掌大小的数码摄像机。一点小小的红光显示着它一直开着。他调整了几下，把镜框调大。我震惊地看着他。
hunch
直觉
I have a hunch that it will snow soon.
我有快要下雪的预感。
My hunch is that PR is merely a counterweight to the media's strong, commercially drivenappetite for bad news.
我的感觉是，公关只是一个平衡块，平衡媒体由商业利益驱动的对负面新闻的贪欲。
close by
附近
naturally
自然
bravado
虚张声势
His bravado cost him the job.
他的这种张狂气势令他丢了工作机会。
Their behaviour was just sheer bravado.
他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
wearing off
磨损;逐渐消逝
药效渐消
The plating is beginning to wear off in places.镀层有的地方已经磨掉了。
I am afraid the gilt of the ring will wear off before long.恐怕戒指的镀金层不久就会磨掉。
top of the stereo
在立体声音响上的
stared at
瞪着
They stared at the strange sight in silent wonder.他们惊讶地默默凝视那奇景。
He stared at me with a cruel glitter in his eyes.他眼露凶光地瞪着我。
He stared at the words in complete puzzlement.他注视着那些语句,茫然不解。