英语阅读-科幻A-Sound-of-Thunder

Thisweek,wewillbereadingtwosciencefictiontextsbyRayBradbury,“ASoundofThunder”and“AllSummerinaDay.”Thisisagenrethatwehavenotreadyetthissemester.Sciencefictionstoriesusuallyhappeninthefuture,involvefuturistictechnology,oroccurinouterspaceorotherplanets.Sciencefictionmainlydealswiththeimpactofscienceandtechnologyontheworld.Thesestoriesareusuallywarningsagainsthavingtoomuchfaithinscience.

RayBradbury(1920-2012)wasanAmericanwriterwhoismostknowforhisscience-fictionstories.Heisconsideredoneofthebest,ifnotthebest,sciencefictionwritersofalltime.ThefollowingisoneofBradbury’smostfamousshortstories.Inthisstory,itistheyear2055andamandecidestotravelbackintimetokillaTyrannosaurusRex,whichisthebiggest,mostdangerousdinosaur.

Herearesomequestionstothinkaboutafterreading“ASoundofThunder:”

Pleasesummarizethestoryinoneortwosentences.

WhatisBradburytryingtosaythroughthisstory?Whydoyouthinkhewrotethisstory?

Doyouthinkalloflifeandtimearereallyconnected?Doyoubelieveyourlifewillaffectsomeonelivingonehundredyearsinthefuture?How?

Whatdoyouthinkthetitle“ASoundofThunder”means?Wheredoyouseethewords“asoundofthunder”inthetext?

Foreshadowingiswhenanauthorhintsataneventthathappenslateronthestory,tryingtopreparetheaudiencefortheeventandtocreatesuspenseintheaudience.Wheredoyouseeforeshadowinginthisstory?

ASoundofThunderbyRayBradbury

Thesignonthewallseemedtoquaverunderafilmofslidingwarmwater.Eckelsfelthiseyelidsblinkoverhisstare,andthesignburnedinthismomentarydarkness:

TIMESAFARI,INC.

SAFARISTOANYYEARINTHEPAST.

YOUNAMETHEANIMAL.

WETAKEYOUTHERE.

YOUSHOOTIT.

WarmphlegmgatheredinEckels'throat;heswallowedandpusheditdown.Themusclesaroundhismouthformedasmileasheputhishandslowlyoutupontheair,andinthathandwavedacheckfortenthousanddollarstothemanbehindthedesk.

"DoesthissafariguaranteeIcomebackalive?"

"Weguaranteenothing,"saidtheofficial,"exceptthedinosaurs."Heturned."ThisisMr.Travis,yourSafariGuideinthePast.He'lltellyouwhatandwheretoshoot.Ifhesaysnoshooting,noshooting.Ifyoudisobeyinstructions,there'sastiffpenaltyofanothertenthousanddollars,pluspossiblegovernmentaction,onyourreturn."

EckelsglancedacrossthevastofficeattheMachine,amassandtangleofhummingwiresandsteelboxes,anaurorathatflickerednoworange,nowsilver,nowblue.Herememberedthewordingintheadvertisementstotheletter.Outofcharsandashes,outofdustandcoals,likegoldensalamanders,theoldyears,thegreenyears,mightleap;rosessweetentheair,whitehairturnblack,wrinklesvanish;everythingflybacktoseed,fleedeath,rushdowntotheirbeginnings.

"Unbelievable."Eckelsbreathed,thelightoftheMachineonhisthinface."ArealTimeMachine."Heshookhishead."Makesyouthink,Iftheelectionhadgonebadlyyesterday,Imightbeherenowrunningawayfromtheresults.ThankGodKeithwon.He'llmakeafinePresidentoftheUnitedStates."

"Yes,"saidthemanbehindthedesk."We'relucky.IfDeutscherhadgottenin,we'dhavetheworstkindofdictatorship.There'sanantieverythingmanforyou,amilitarist,anti-Christ,anti-human,anti-intellectual.Peoplecalledusup,youknow,jokingbutnotjoking.SaidifDeutscherbecamePresidenttheywantedtogolivein1492.Ofcourseit'snotourbusinesstoconductEscapes,buttoformSafaris.Anyway,Keith'sPresidentnow.Allyougottoworryaboutis-"

"Shootingmydinosaur,"Eckelsfinisheditforhim.

"ATyrannosaurusRex.TheTyrantLizard,themostincrediblemonsterinhistory.Signthisrelease.Anythinghappenstoyou,we'renotresponsible.Thosedinosaursarehungry."

Eckelsflushedangrily."Tryingtoscareme!"

"Frankly,yes.Wedon'twantanyonegoingwho'llpanicatthefirstshot.SixSafarileaderswerekilledlastyear,andadozenhunters.We'reheretogiveyoutheseverestthrillarealhuntereveraskedfor.TravelingyoubacksixtymillionyearstobagthebiggestgameinallofTime.Yourpersonalcheck'sstillthere.Tearitup."Mr.Eckelslookedatthecheck.Hisfingerstwitched.

"Goodluck,"saidthemanbehindthedesk."Mr.Travis,he'sallyours."

Theymovedsilentlyacrosstheroom,takingtheirgunswiththem,towardtheMachine,towardthesilvermetalandtheroaringlight.

Firstadayandthenanightandthenadayandthenanight,thenitwasday-night-day-night.Aweek,amonth,ayear,adecade!A.D.2055.A.D.2019.1999!1957!Gone!TheMachineroared.

Theyputontheiroxygenhelmetsandtestedtheintercoms.

Eckelsswayedonthepaddedseat,hisfacepale,hisjawstiff.Hefeltthetremblinginhisarmsandhelookeddownandfoundhishandstightonthenewrifle.TherewerefourothermenintheMachine.Travis,theSafariLeader,hisassistant,Lesperance,andtwootherhunters,BillingsandKramer.Theysatlookingateachother,andtheyearsblazedaroundthem.

"Canthesegunsgetadinosaurcold?"Eckelsfelthismouthsaying.

"Ifyouhitthemright,"saidTravisonthehelmetradio."Somedinosaurshavetwobrains,oneinthehead,anotherfardownthespinalcolumn.Westayawayfromthose.That'sstretchingluck.Putyourfirsttwoshotsintotheeyes,ifyoucan,blindthem,andgobackintothebrain."

TheMachinehowled.Timeflewpast.Sunsfledandtenmillionmoonsfledafterthem."Think,"saidEckels."Everyhunterthateverlivedwouldenvyustoday."TheMachineslowed;itsscreamfelltoamurmur.TheMachinestopped.Thesunstoppedinthesky.

ThefogthathadenvelopedtheMachineblewawayandtheywereinanoldtime,averyoldtimeindeed,threehuntersandtwoSafariHeadswiththeirbluemetalgunsacrosstheirknees.

"Christisn'tbornyet,"saidTravis,"MosesAprophetintheChristianBiblewhoclimbedamountaintotalktoGod

hasnotgonetothemountainstotalkwithGod.ThePyramidsAncienttombsinEgyptfashionedintotheshapeofpyramids.Theyareconsideredgreatwonders.

arestillintheearth,waitingtobecutoutandputup.Rememberthat.Alexander,Caesar,Napoleon,Hitler-noneofthemexists."Themannodded.

"That"-Mr.Travispointed-"isthejungleofsixtymilliontwothousandandfifty-fiveyearsbeforePresidentKeith."

Heindicatedametalpaththatstruckoffintogreenwilderness,overstreamingswamp,amonggiantfernsandpalms.

"Andthat,"hesaid,"isthePath,laidbyTimeSafariCompanyforyouruse.Itfloatssixinchesabovetheearth.Doesn'ttouchsomuchasonegrassblade,flower,ortree.It'sananti-gravitymetal.Itspurposeistokeepyoufromtouchingthisworldofthepastinanyway.StayonthePath.Don'tgooffit.Irepeat.Don'tgooff.Foranyreason!Ifyoufalloff,there'sapenalty.Anddon'tshootanyanimalwedon'tokay."

"Why?"askedEckels.

Theysatintheancientwilderness.Farbirds'criesblewonawind,andthesmelloftarandanoldsaltsea,moistgrasses,andflowersthecolorofblood.

"Wedon'twanttochangetheFuture.Notknowingit,wemightkillanimportantanimal,asmallbird,aroach,aflowereven,thusdestroyinganimportantlinkinagrowingspecies."

"Thatdoesn’tmakesense,"saidEckels.

"Allright,"Traviscontinued,"sayweaccidentallykillonemousehere.Thatmeansallthefuturefamiliesofthisoneparticularmousearedestroyed,right?"

"Right"

"Andallthefamiliesofthefamiliesofthefamiliesofthatonemouse!Withastampofyourfoot,youannihilatefirstone,thenadozen,thenathousand,amillion,abillionpossiblemice!"

"Sothey'redead,"saidEckels."Sowhat?"

"Sowhat?"Travissnortedquietly."Well,whataboutthefoxesthat'llneedthosemicetosurvive?Forwantoftenmice,afoxdies.Forwantoftenfoxesalionstarves.Forwantofalion,allmannerofinsects,vultures,infinitebillionsoflifeformsarethrownintochaosanddestruction.Eventuallyitallboilsdowntothis:fifty-ninemillionyearslater,acavemanOneofthefirsthumanbeingsonearth

,oneofadozenontheentireworld,goeshuntingwildboarortigerforfood.Butyou,friend,havesteppedonallthetigersinthatregionbysteppingononesinglemouse.Sothecavemanstarves.Andthecaveman,pleasenote,isnotjustanyman,no!Heisanentirefuturenation.Fromhimwouldhavesprungtensons.Fromthem,onehundredsons,andthusancivilization.Destroythisoneman,andyoudestroyarace,apeople,anentirehistoryoflife.ItiscomparabletoslayingsomeofAdamThefirsthumanbeingaccordingtotheChristianBible.Allhisgrandchildrenwerethefathersandmothersofdifferentcivilizations.

'sgrandchildren.Withthedeathofthatonecaveman,abillionothersyetunbornarethrottledinthewomb.PerhapsRomeneverrises.PerhapsEuropeisforeveradarkforest,andonlyAsiawaxeshealthyandteeming.SteponamouseandyoucrushthePyramids.Steponamouseandyouleaveyourprint,likeaGrandCanyon,acrossEternity.QueenElizabethmightneverbeborn,WashingtonmightnotcrosstheDelawarePresidentGeorgeWashingtonattackedtheBritishtroopsintheAmericanRevolutionaryWarbycrossingtheDelawareRiverandsurprisingtheBritishtroops.ThiswasabattlethathelpedAmericawinthewar.

,theremightneverbeaUnitedStatesatall.Sobecareful.StayonthePath.Neverstepoff!"

"Isee,"saidEckels."ThenIcan’teventouchthegrass?"

"Correct.Crushingcertainplantscouldaddupinfinitely.Alittleerrorherewouldmultiplyinsixtymillionyears.Ofcoursemaybeourtheoryiswrong.MaybeTimecan'tbechangedbyus.Ormaybeitcanbechangedonlyinlittlesubtleways.Adeadmouseheremakesaninsectimbalancethere,apopulationdisproportionlater,abadharvestfurtheron,adepression,massstarvation,andfinally,achangeinsocialtemperamentinfar-flungcountries.Somethingmuchmoresubtle,likethat.Whoknows?Whoreallycansayheknows?Wedon'tknow.We'reguessing.ButuntilwedoknowforcertainwhetherourmessingaroundinTimecanmakeabigroaroralittlerustleinhistory,we'rebeingcareful.ThisMachine,thisPath,yourclothingandbodies,weresterilizedbeforethejourney.Weweartheseoxygenhelmetssowecan'tintroduceourbacteriaintoanancientatmosphere."

"Howdoweknowwhichanimalstoshoot?"

"They'remarkedwithredpaint,"saidTravis."Today,beforeourjourney,wesentLesperanceherebackwiththeMachine.Hecametothisparticulareraandfollowedcertainanimals."

"Studyingthem?"

"Right,"saidLesperance."Itrackthemthroughtheirentireexistence.WhenIfindonethat'sgoingtodie,whenatreefallsonhim,oronethatdrownsinatarpit,Inotetheexacthour,minute,andsecond.Ishootapaintbombathim.Itleavesaredpatchonhisside.Wecan'tmissit.ThenIcorrelateourarrivalinthePastsothatwemeettheMonsternotmorethantwominutesbeforehewouldhavediedanyway.Thisway,wekillonlyanimalswithnofuture,thatarenevergoingtomateagain.Youseehowcarefulweare?"

"ButifyoucomebackthismorninginTime,"saidEckelseagerly,youmust'vebumpedintous,ourSafari!Howdiditturnout?Wasitsuccessful?Didallofusgetthrough-alive?"

TravisandLesperancegaveeachotheralook.

"Timedoesn'tpermitthatsortofthing.Whensuchthingshappen,Timestepsaside.YoufelttheMachinejumpjustbeforewestopped?ThatwasuspassingourselvesonthewaybacktotheFuture.Wesawnothing.There'snowayoftellingifthisexpeditionwasasuccess,ifwegotourmonster,orwhetherallofus-meaningyou,Mr.Eckels-gotoutalive."

Eckelssmiledpalely.

"Cutthat,"saidTravissharply."Everyoneonhisfeet!"

TheywerereadytoleavetheMachine.

Thejunglewasmassive,anditwastheentireworldforeverandforever.Soundslikemusicandsoundslikeflappingtentsfilledthesky,andthosewerethesoundsofpterodactylsAflyingdinosaur

soaringabovethemwithcavernousgraywings,giganticbatsofdeliriumandnightfever.

Eckels,balancedonthenarrowPath,aimedhisrifleplayfully.

"Stopthat!"saidTravis."Don'tevenaimforfun,blastyou!Ifyourgunsshouldgooff--"

Eckelsflushed."Where'sourTyrannosaurus?"

Lesperancecheckedhiswristwatch."Upahead,We'llintersecthistrailinsixtyseconds.Lookfortheredpaint!Don'tshoottillwegivetheword.StayonthePath.StayonthePath!"

Theymovedforwardinthewindofmorning.

"Strange,"murmuredEckels."Upahead,sixtymillionyears,ElectionDayover.KeithmadePresident.Everyonecelebrating.Andhereweare,amillionyearslost,andtheydon'texist.Thethingsweworriedaboutformonths,alifetime,notevenbornorthoughtofyet."

"SafetycatchesApartofagunthatkeepsthegunfromfiringoffaccidentally.Whenthepartisremoved,thegunisabletobefired.

off,everyone!"orderedTravis."You,firstshot,Eckels.Second,Billings,Third,Kramer."

"I'vehuntedtiger,wildboar,buffalo,elephant,butnow,thisisit,"saidEckels."I'mshakinglikeakid."

"Ah,"saidTravis.

Everyonestopped.

Travisraisedhishand."Ahead,"hewhispered."Inthemist.Thereheis.There'sHisRoyalMajestynow."

Thejunglewaswideandfulloftwitterings,rustlings,murmurs,andsighs.

Suddenlyitallceased,asifsomeonehadshutadoor.

Silence.

Asoundofthunder.

Outofthemist,onehundredyardsaway,cameTyrannosaurusRex.

"It,"whisperedEckels."It......

"Sh!"

Itcameongreatoiled,resilient,stridinglegs.Ittoweredthirtyfeetabovehalfofthetrees,agreatevilgod,foldingitsdelicateclawsclosetoitsoilyreptilianchest.EachlowerlegwasapistonApartofanengine.Herethewordisusedtoshowhowpowerfulthedinosaur’slegsare,comparingitslegstothepowerandstrengthofanengine.

,athousandpoundsofwhitebone,sunkinthickropesofmuscle,sheathedoverinagleamofpebbledskinlikethemailArmor

ofaterriblewarrior.Eachthighwasatonofmeat,ivory,andsteelmesh.Andfromthegreatbreathingcageoftheupperbodythosetwodelicatearmsdangledoutfront,armswithhandswhichmightpickupandexaminemenliketoys,whilethesnakeneckcoiled.Andtheheaditself,atonofsculpturedstone.Itsmouthgaped,exposingafenceofteeth-likedaggers.Itseyesrolled,emptyofallexpressionsavehunger.Itcloseditsmouthinadeathgrin.Itran,itspelvicbonescrushingasidetreesandbushes,itstalonedfeetclawingdampearth,leavingprintssixinchesdeepwhereveritsettleditsweight.

Itranwithaglidingballetstep,fartoopoisedandbalancedforitstentons.Itmovedintoasunlitareawarily,itsbeautifullyreptilianhandsfeelingtheair.

"Why,why,"Eckelstwitchedhismouth."Itcouldreachupandgrabthemoon."

"Sh!"Travisjerkedangrily."Hehasn'tseenusyet."

"Itcan'tbekilled,"Eckelspronouncedthisverdictquietly,asiftherecouldbenoargument.Hehadweighedtheevidenceandthiswashisconsideredopinion.TherifleinhishandsseemedacapgunToygun

."Wewerefoolstocome.Thisisimpossible."

"Shutup!"hissedTravis.

"Nightmare."

"Turnaround,"commandedTravis."WalkquietlytotheMachine.We'llreturntoyouhalfyourfee."

"Ididn'trealizeitwouldbethisbig,"saidEckels."Imiscalculated,that'sall.AndnowIwantout."

"Itseesus!"

"There'stheredpaintonitschest!"

TheTyrantLizardraiseditself.Itsarmoredfleshglitteredlikeathousandgreencoins.Thecoins,crustedwithslime,steamed.Intheslime,tinyinsectswriggled,sothattheentirebodyseemedtotwitchandundulate,evenwhilethemonsteritselfdidnotmove.Itexhaled.Thestinkofrawfleshblewdownthewilderness.

"Getmeoutofhere,"saidEckels."Itwasneverlikethisbefore.IwasalwayssureI'dcomethroughalive.Ihadgoodguides,goodsafaris,andsafety.Thistime,Ifiguredwrong.I'vemetmymatchandadmitit.Thisistoomuchformetogetholdof."

"Don'trun,"saidLesperance."Turnaround.HideintheMachine."

"Yes."Eckelsseemedtobenumb.Helookedathisfeetasiftryingtomakethemmove.Hegaveagruntofhelplessness.

"Eckels!"

Hetookafewsteps,blinking,shuffling.

"Notthatway!"

TheMonster,atthefirstmotion,lungedforwardwithaterriblescream.Itcoveredonehundredyardsinsixseconds.Theriflesjerkedupandblazedfire.Awindstormfromthebeast'smouthengulfedtheminthestenchofslimeandoldblood.TheMonsterroared,teethglitteringwithsun.

Theriflescrackedagain.Theirsoundwaslostinshriekandlizardthunder.Thegreatlevelofthereptile'stailswungup,lashedsideways.Treesexplodedincloudsofleafandbranch.TheMonstertwitcheditsjeweler'shandsdowntofondleatthemen,totwisttheminhalf,tocrushthemlikeberries,tocramthemintoitsteethanditsscreamingthroat.Itsstonyeyesleveledwiththemen.Theysawthemselvesmirrored.Theyfiredatthemetalliceyelidsandtheblazingblackiris.

Likeastoneidol,likeamountainavalanche,Tyrannosaurusfell.

Thundering,itclutchedtrees,pulledthemwithit.ItwrenchedandtorethemetalPath.Themenflungthemselvesbackandaway.Thebodyhit,tentonsofcoldfleshandstone.Thegunsfired.TheMonsterlasheditsarmoredtail,twitcheditssnakejaws,andlaystill.Afountofbloodspurtedfromitsthroat.Somewhereinside,asacoffluidsburst.Sickeninggushesdrenchedthehunters.Theystood,redandglistening.

Thethunderfaded.

Thejunglewassilent.Aftertheavalanche,agreenpeace.Afterthenightmare,morning.

BillingsandKramersatonthepathwayandthrewup.TravisandLesperancestoodwithsmokingrifles,cursingsteadily.IntheTimeMachine,onhisface,Eckelslayshivering.HehadfoundhiswaybacktothePath,climbedintotheMachine.

TheMonsterlay,ahillofsolidflesh.Within,youcouldhearthesighsandmurmursasthefurthestchambersofitdied,theorgansmalfunctioning,everythingshuttingoff,closingupforever.ItwaslikestandingbyawreckedlocomotiveorasteamshovelAmachineusedinconstructionthatispoweredbysteam.

atquittingtime,allvalvesbeingreleasedorleveredtight.Bonescracked;thetonnageWeight

ofitsownflesh,offbalance,deadweight,snappedthedelicateforearmscaughtunderneath.Themeatsettled,quivering.

Anothercrackingsound.Overhead,agigantictreebranchbrokefromitsheavymooring,fell.Itcrasheduponthedeadbeastwithfinality.

"There."Lesperancecheckedhiswatch."Rightontime.That'sthegianttreethatwasscheduledtofallandkillthisanimaloriginally."Heglancedatthetwohunters."Youwantthetrophypicture?"

"What?"

"Wecan'ttakeatrophybacktotheFuture.Thebodyhastostayrightherewhereitwouldhavediedoriginally,sotheinsects,birds,andbacteriacangetatit,astheywereintendedto.Everythinginbalance.Thebodystays.Butwecantakeapictureofyoustandingnearit."

Thetwomentriedtothink,butgaveup,shakingtheirheads.

TheyletthemselvesbeledalongthemetalPath.TheysankwearilyintotheMachinecushions.TheygazedbackattheruinedMonster,thestagnatingmound,wherealreadystrangereptilianbirdsandgoldeninsectswerebusyatthesteamingarmor.AsoundontheflooroftheTimeMachinestiffenedthem.Eckelssatthere,shivering.

"I'msorry,"hesaidatlast.

"Getup!"criedTravis.

Eckelsgotup.

"GooutonthatPathalone,"saidTravis.Hehadhisriflepointed,"You'renotcomingbackintheMachine.We'releavingyouhere!"

LesperanceseizedTravis'sarm."Wait-"

"Stayoutofthis!"Travisshookhishandaway."Thisfoolnearlykilledus.Butitisn'tthatsomuch,no.It'shisshoes!Lookatthem!HeranoffthePath.Thatruinsus!We'llforfeitthousandsofdollarsofinsurance!WeguaranteenooneleavesthePath.Heleftit.Oh,thefool!I'llhavetoreporttothegovernment.Theymightrevokeourlicensetotravel.Whoknowswhathe'sdonetoTime,toHistory!"

"Takeiteasy,allhedidwaskickupsomedirt."

"Howdoweknow?"criedTravis."Wedon'tknowanything!It'sallamystery!Getoutofhere,Eckels!"

Eckelsfumbledhisshirt."I'llpayanything.Ahundredthousanddollars!"

TravisglaredatEckels'checkbookandspat."Gooutthere.TheMonster'snexttothePath.Stickyourarmsuptoyourelbowsinhismouth.Thenyoucancomebackwithus."

"That'sunreasonable!"

"TheMonster'sdead,youidiot.Thebullets!Thebulletscan'tbeleftbehind.Theydon'tbelonginthePast;theymightchangeanything.Here'smyknife.Digthemout!"

Thejunglewasaliveagain,fulloftheoldtremoringsandbirdcries.Eckelsturnedslowlytoregardtheprimevalgarbagedump,thathillofnightmaresandterrorThisistalkingaboutthefallendinosaur.

.Afteralongtime,likeasleepwalkerheshuffledoutalongthePath.

Hereturned,shuddering,fiveminuteslater,hisarmssoakedandredtotheelbows.Heheldouthishands.Eachheldanumberofsteelbullets.Thenhefell.Helaywherehefell,notmoving.

"Youdidn'thavetomakehimdothat,"saidLesperance.

"Didn'tI?It'stooearlytotell."Travisnudgedthestillbody."He'lllive.Nexttimehewon'tgohuntinggamelikethis.Okay."HejerkedhisthumbwearilyatLesperance."Switchon.Let'sgohome."

1492.1776.1812.

Theycleanedtheirhandsandfaces.Theychangedtheircakingshirtsandpants.Eckelswasupandaroundagain,notspeaking.Travisglaredathimforafulltenminutes.

"Don'tlookatme,"criedEckels."Ihaven'tdoneanything."

"Whocantell?"

"JustranoffthePath,that'sall,alittlemudonmyshoes-whatdoyouwantmetodo-getdownandpray?"

"Wemightneedit.I'mwarningyou,Eckels,Imightkillyouyet.I'vegotmygunready."

"I'minnocent.I'vedonenothing!"

1999.2000.2055.

TheMachinestopped.

"Getout,"saidTravis.

Theroomwasthereastheyhadleftit.Butnotthesameastheyhadleftit.Thesamemansatbehindthesamedesk.Butthesamemandidnotquitesitbehindthesamedesk.Travislookedaroundswiftly."Everythingokayhere?"hesnapped.

"Fine.Welcomehome!"

Travisdidnotrelax.Heseemedtobelookingthroughtheonehighwindow.

"Okay,Eckels,getout.Do