5 危急時刻(doc)
5. At the Critical Monment Sunrise was still an hour away when Deborah arose to get her four children off to school. It was the week before Christmas, and presents were piling up beneath their sparkling tree. 　　Watching her 15-year-old daughter Razeena step into Boston’s empty city streets, Deborah felt uneasy--though she didn’t know why. Now Razeena was thinking about Christmas and admiring the holiday lights at the nearby senior citizens’ apartment complex1. It’s so pretty, she thought, stopping in front. I’ll just take a peek2 through the front door... But as Razeena peered3 through the door, her heart lurched4. The lobby5 was filled with smoke, and she could hear the crackle6 of flames. 　　The building is on fire! She looked around wildly for help, but not a soul7 was in sight. Someone has to save these people, Razeena panicked8. 　　She quickly tried the door, but it was locked, so she started to pound on it. “ Help!” she cried, and an elderly man nudged9 open the door. 　　“ Fire!” Razeena yelled, running into the hallway and pounding on every door she saw, “ Everybody get out!” The building had two floors, and soon Razeena was charging up10 the stairs. Her heart was hammering11 and her throat felt tight, but still she pushed herself. Hurry, hurry! She urged herself. You have to help them! 　　Upstairs, the thick smoke was hanging just a few feet above the floor. People could die if they breathe in that smoke! She thought, terror rising inside her. Instinctively, she dropped to her belly to crawl. She saw pairs of slippered feet--but no one was moving. They can’t see where to go! She realized. “ Down here!” she yelled. “ Follow me!” 　　Holding a sleeve over her mouth, she scrambled12 to her feet and led the elderly residents down the stairs. The support beams of the ceiling were ablaze13, and burning tiles14 fell to the floor. What if the ceiling caves in15? Razeena thought desperately. We don’t have much time. 　　So she pounded up and down16 the stairs, weaving through the smoke and heat to fetch more people. “ Take my arm,” she told the frantic residents. Her eyes burned and flames were hissing17 louder. But I can’t stop, she thought. I won’t! 　　One man stumbled18 out in boxer shorts19. It’s so cold outside
5 危急時刻(doc)