ordeal n. 苦难经历,折磨,煎熬 orient vt.1.使适应,使熟悉 2.(to,toward)使朝向,以……为方向(目标) n. [the O_]东方,亚洲(尤指远东),东半球 oriental a. 东方的,东方人的,东方文化的 orientation n.1.方向,目标,方位 2.熟悉情况,适应,情况介绍 originate vi. (in,from,with)起源于,来自,产生 vt. 创造,创始,开创 ornament n.1.装饰品,点缀品 2.装饰,点缀 vt. 装饰,点缀,美化 orphan n. 孤儿 vt. 使成为孤儿 orthodox a.1.传统的 2.正统的,正宗的 oust vt.1.驱逐 2.罢黜,罢免,把……撤职(以取而代之) outbreak n. (战争、情感、火山等的)爆发,(疾病、虫害等的)突然发生 outfit n.1.(用于某种场合的)全套服装 2.(协同工作的)一组人 3.全套装备,全套工具 outing n. 远足,郊游,短途旅行,外出参观(或看戏等) outlaw n. 歹徒,亡命之徒 vt. 宣布……为不合法 outrage n.1.义愤,愤慨 2.暴行,骇人听闻的事件 vt. 激起……的义愤,激怒 outright ad.1.坦率地,直率地,无保留地 2.完全地,彻底地 3.立即,当场 a.1.清楚的,无疑的,明白无误的 2.完全的,彻底的 outskrits[pl.] n. 外围地区,郊区,郊外 overdue a.1.过期的,到期末付的 2.早该有的,迟到的,延误的 overflow vi.1.满得外溢,外流,泛滥 2.(with)充满,洋溢 vt.淹没,从……中溢出,多得使无法容纳 n.1.容纳不下的物(或人) 2.溢出,满出 3.溢流口,溢流管 overhear vt.无意中听到,偷听到 overlap v.1.(与……)部分重叠 2.(与……)部分相同 n.重叠,重叠的部分
An Outlaw Outing The outing was long overdue. We had been hiding on the outskirts of town as outlaws for far too long. When we overheard that there was an outbreak of some sickness in town that had originated in the orient we knew it was time to come out of hiding and see what was going on. They were calling it the "Oriental Sickness" but we didn t care.
The first person we met as we wandered into town was a boy who told us outright that he had just become an orphan. He had nowhere else to go and he wanted to join our outfit. Our leader was outraged that such a small boy had recognized us so easily, but we kept walking into town.
Once there we saw that the ordeal must have been great. All ornaments on the buildings for the coming orthodox holiday season had been torn down, several were burnt from fire, and bodies were lying on the street. When we went to get water the bucket was overflowing with blood. We didn t dare drink anything.
Quickly losing our orientation as outlaws on the run we were surprised when a mass of people rushed up to us. Their voices were overlapping as they cried for us to take them away. When we replied that we couldn t do anything the crowd turned ugly and ousted us from town.
As we rode away none of us could speak. Sometimes natural events overwhelm you, as your own mistakes never can.