2019/03/14 星期四 晴
英文版
Mar 14:
Then she turned her thoughts to the saltpans. She had no idea what they looked like, and perhaps for this reason, she imagined them as somehow mysterious, even totemic, as they struggled along in search of them.
Of course, she hoped that getting to the saltpans would change her life. All her life, whenever the family's finances were tight, Lan Lan's dad would drive his camel to the saltpans. They represented hope.
But what were they really like? She began to be anxious. If they did not live up to expectations when eventually, after so much hardship, they finally arrived, she would be heartbroken.
She had had many hopes at different stages of her life. They floated in the air like so many soap bubbles, iridescent but evanescent.
They burst and, with them. her illusions were shattered too, leaving her feeling desolate and empty.
She hoped the saltpans would not be like this. She felt so exhausted, she could not put up with any more of these torments。(page 234-235)
~An except from Selected Stories by Xuemo
Author: Xuemo, translated by Nicky Harman.
中文版
想一阵灵官，莹儿又开始想盐池。她当然想不出盐池的模样。也正因为想不出，才有了那份神秘。
在无休无止的磨难和寻觅中，盐池已成为图腾。她当然希望这盐池之行，能改变她的命运，至少能改变她的生活。
记得以前每到家境局促时，老顺就会吆驼进盐池。他总能带来些希望。但真的盐池是啥样儿呢？
越往前走，她就越有了担心。
她想，要是经了这么多苦后，找到的盐池令她大失所望的话，她会伤心的。她的生活里，有过一个个盼头。在不同的年龄阶段，盼头也不同。
但终于，盼头都成了空中的肥皂泡，浮游时倒也五光十色，一旦破灭，总会留下难耐的失落和空虚。她不希望盐池也这样。她觉得心已很疲惫了，再也禁不起折腾了。(摘自《白虎关》344页)
讲解笔记
Golden lines:
She had had many hopes at different stages of her life. They floated in the air like so many soap bubbles, iridescent but evanescent.
Words:
saltpan /ˈsɔːltˌpæn/N a shallow basin, usually in a desert region, containing salt, gypsum, etc, that was deposited from an evaporated salt lake 盐场; 通常出现于沙漠之中，由盐湖蒸发而生
mysterious /mɪ'stɪərɪəs/ADJ Someone or something that is mysterious is strange and is not known about or understood. 神秘的; 难以理解的 例：He died in mysterious circumstances.他死得蹊跷.
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totem /ˈtəʊtəm/N-COUNT In some societies, a family's totem is the particular animal, plant, or natural object which they regard as a special symbol and which they believe has spiritual significance. 图腾
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totemic [təu'temik] adj.relating to totemism totemic object
live up to PHRASAL VERB If someone or something lives up to what they were expected to be, they are as good as they were expected to be. 达到 例：Sales have not lived up to expectations this year.销售额今年还没有达到预期目标。
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* live up to the expectations 不辜负期待live up to their expectations 不让别人失望Live up to your expectations 不辜负您的期望 ;
float /fləʊt/ V-I Something that floats in or through the air hangs in it or moves slowly and gently through it. (在空中) 飘浮 例：The white cloud of smoke floated away.那团白色的烟雾飘走了。
bubble /ˈbʌbəl/ N-COUNT A bubble is a hollow ball of soapy liquid that is floating in the air or standing on a surface. 肥皂泡 例：With soap and water, bubbles and boats, children love bathtime.因为有肥皂、水、肥皂泡和小船，孩子们都喜欢洗澡。
iridescent /ɪrɪdɛsənt/ADJ Something that is iridescent has many bright colours that seem to keep changing. 彩虹色的 例：...iridescent bubbles....彩虹色的泡沫。
evanescent /ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt/ ADJ Something that is evanescent gradually disappears from sight or memory. 逐渐消失的; 逐渐忘却的 例：...the evanescent scents of summer herbs....夏季香草逐渐消散的味道。
burst /bɜːst/ V-T/V-I If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out. 使爆裂; 爆裂 例：The driver lost control when a tire burst.一只轮胎爆裂时司机失去了控制。
scatter /ˈskætə/ V-T If you scatter things over an area, you throw or drop them so that they spread all over the area. 撒 例：She tore the rose apart and scattered the petals over the grave.她掰开玫瑰花，把花瓣撒在坟墓上。
desolate /ˈdesələt/
ADJ If someone is desolate, they feel very sad, alone, and without hope. 感到凄凉的
例：
He was desolate without her.
没有她，他感到很凄凉。