Lesson 30

             Text A

        The Bloody Thumb
    I met the old man at a cafe. I was a stranger in the town.
    "Did you hear the radio news yesterday?" he asked me.
    "I didn't," I said."Was there anything exciting?"
    "Exciting, no! It was important to me-and very, very sad.pack of hungry dogs killed and ate my best friend. "
    "Oh dear ! " I cried. "I am sorry. How did it happen?"

    "He was working in his olive grove on the hilisides. The pack attacked him there. we'll never know all the facts , of curse. When he didn't return, I went to the grove and-"
    "You found the body?" I asked.
    The old fellow drank half his coffee. "The body?" he repeated."No, no. .I said they were hungry dogs, didn't I? The g bones were lying here and there in the grove. But I found this-" He pushed open a matchbox which he was holding in his

    The box contained a man's thumb. It was lying on some hite, bloody material. There was a cut-an old cut-on the mmb nail.
    "See that cut," the man said. "I recognised it. This is my fiend's right thumb. The dogs ate the rest of him! "
    The old man began to cry then. He finished his coffee quick. ly and left the cafe. I drank mine and called the waiter.

    "I'll pay the gentleman's bill," I said. "Please don't trou. ble him with it. His poor friend-how awful! You've heard the news?"
    The waiter laughed . "Yes. There's a hole in the bottom of the matchbox. He puts his own thumb through the hole. The 'blood' is red ink, I believe. Is the story worth a cup of coffee, sir?"

　
 
　
          Text B       

                The Party

    Claire Walton is working at home on a Sunday afternoor. The phone rings. It is an old friend. ClAiRE:   Hello.
MICK:   Hello, Claire. This is Mick.
CLAIRE:   Mick! Nice to hear from you again. How are you? 
MtcK:   Fine, thanks. And you? 
CLAIRE:   Oh , not so bad. I've been very busy , but I'm going
   away on holiday soon.
MICK:   Good. Listen. I'm phoning because I want to invite you to a party. At our new
   house. And. . .
CLAIRE:   New house? Really?
MIcK:   Yes. We've moved. That's why we're giving the pa ty. Can you come?
CLAIRE:   Well, that depends. When is it? 
MIcK:   This Saturday evening. 
CLAIRE:   Well. . . I'm going away on Sunday morning. Very ear ly. Will the party go on
   very late?
MICK:   Until two in the morning. But you don't have to si that long.Well? What about it?
CLAIRE:   All right. I'll come. But I'd like to bring a present Something for your new house. 
   What would you like? 
MICK:   Nothing. I mean, don't bring anything. It isn't necesary. 
CLAIRE:   But I'd still like...
MICK:   Just bring yourself! I'm looking forward to seeing
   you again. It's been a long time !
CLAIRE:   Yes, it has. I'm looking forward to seeing you. too. and your new house. Uh. . .
   when does the party start?
MlcK:   Come any time after eight. All right? .
CLAIRE:   Yes. Oh. by the W.. 
MICK:   Bye! See you on Saturday evening.
CLAIRE:   Wait a moment , Mick. You haven't. . . Mick? Are you still there? You haven't
   given me your new address. Hello? Mick? Hello?

[1] [2] 下一页