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1、Lesson1FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamilleJosephRBlank1 JohnKoshak,Jr.,knewthatHurricaneCamillewouldbebad.RadioandtelevisionwarningshadsoundedthroughoutthatSunday,lastAugust17,asCamillelashednorthwestwardacrosstheGulfofMexico.ItwascertaintopummelGulfport,Miss.,wheretheKosherslived.AlongthecoastsofLouisia
2、na,MississippiandAlabama,nearly150,000peoplefledinlandtosafer8round.But,likethousandsofothersinthecoastalCommunitiesJohnwasreluctanttoabandonhishomeunlessthefamilyhiswife,Janis,andtheirsevenchildren,abed3to11wasclearlyendangered.2 Tryingtoreasonoutthebestcourseofaction,hetalkedwithhisfatherandmother
3、;whohadmovedintotheten-roomhousewiththeKoshaksamonthearlierfromCalifornia.HealsoconsultedCharlesHill,alongtimefriend,whohaddrivenfromLasVegasforavisit.3 John,37whosebusinesswasrightthereinhishome(hedesignedanddevelopededucationaltoysandsupplies,andallofMagnaProductscorrespondence,engineeringdrawings
4、andartworkwerethereonthefirstfloor)wasfamiliarwiththepowerofahurricane.Fouryearsearlier;HurricaneBetsyhaddemolishedundefinedhisformerhomeafewmileswestofGulfport(Koshakhadmovedhisfamilytoamotelforthenight).Butthathousehadstoodonlyafewfeetabovesealevel.Wereelevated2afeet,hetoldhisfather,andwereagood25
5、0yardsfromthesea.Theplacehasbeenheresince1915,andnohurricanehaseverbotheredit.WeIIprobablybeassafehereasanyplaceelse.4 TheelderKoshak,agruffwarmheartedexpertmachinistof67,agreed.Wecanbattendownandrideitout,hesaid.Ifweseesignsofdanger,wecangetoutbeforedark.5 Themenmethodicallypreparedforthehurricane.
6、Sincewatermainsmightbedamaged,theyfilledbathtubsandpails.Apowerfailurewaslikely,sotheycheckedoutbatteriesfortheportableradioandflashlights,andfuelforthelantern.Johnsfathermovedasmallgeneratorintothedownstairshallway,wiredseverallightbulbstoitandpreparedaconnectiontotherefrigerator.6 Rainfellsteadily
7、thatafternoon;graycloudsscuddedinfromtheGulfontherisingwind.Thefamilyhadanearlysupper.Aneighbor,whosehusbandwasinVietnam,askedifsheandhertwochildrencouldsitoutthestormwiththeKoshaks.Anotherneighborcamebyonhiswayin-landwouldtheKoshaksmindtakingcareofhisdog?7 Itgrewdarkbeforeseveno,clock.Windandrainno
8、wwhippedthehouse.Johnsenthisoldestsonanddaughterupstairstobringdownmattressesandpillowsfortheyoungerchildren.Hewantedtokeepthegrouptogetherononefloor.Stayawayfromthewindows,hewarned,concernedaboutglassflyingfromstorm-shatteredpanes.AsthewindmountedtoaroanthehousebeganIeaking-therainseeminglydrivenri
9、ghtthroughthewalls.Withmops,towels,potsandbucketstheKoshaksbeganastruggleagainsttherapidlyspreadingwater.At8:30,powerfailed,andPopKoshakturnedonthegenerator.8 Theroarofthehurricanenowwasoverwhelming.Thehouseshook,andtheceilinginthelivingroomwasfallingpiecebypiece.TheFrenchdoorsinanupstairsroomblewin
10、withanexplosivesound,andthegroupheardgun-likereportsasotherupstairswindowsdisintegrated.Waterroseabovetheirankles.9 Thenthefrontdoorstartedtobreakawayfromitsframe.JohnandCharlieputtheirshouldersagainstit,butablastofwaterhitthehouse,flingingopenthedoorandshovingthemdownthehall.Thegeneratorwasdoused,a
11、ndthelightswentout.CharlielickedhislipsandshoutedtoJohn.Ithinkwe,reinrealtrouble.Thatwatertastedsalty.Theseahadreachedthehouse,andthewaterwasrisingbytheminute!10 Everybodyoutthebackdoortotheoars!Johnyelled.We,IIpassthechildrenalongbetweenus.Countthem!Nine!11 Thechildrenwentfromadulttoadultlikebucket
12、sinafirebrigade.Butthecarswouldntstart;theelectricalsystemshadbeenkilledbywater.ThewindwastooStrongandthewatertoodeeptofleeonfoot.Backtothehouse!johnyelled,Countthechildren!Countnine!12 Astheyscrambledback,johnordered,Every-bodyonthestairs!Frightened,breathlessandwet,thegroupsettledonthestairs,which
13、wereprotectedbytwointeriorwalls.Thechildrenputtheoat,Spooky,andaboxwithherfourkittensonthelanding.Shepeerednervouslyatherlitter.Theneighborsdogcurledupandwenttosleep.13 Thewindsoundedliketheroarofatrainpassingafewyardsaway.Thehouseshudderedandshiftedonitsfoundations.Waterincheditswayupthestepsasfirs
14、t-flooroutsidewallscollapsed.Noonespoke.Everyoneknewtherewasnoescape;theywouldliveordieinthehouse.14 CharlieHillhadmoreorlesstakenresponsibilityfortheneighborandhertwochildren.Themotherwasonthevergeofpanic.Sheclutchedhisarmandkeptrepeating,Icantswim,Icantswim.15 Youwonthaveto,hetoldher;withoutwardca
15、lm.Itsboundtoendsoon.16 GrandmotherKoshakreachedanarmaroundherhusbandsshoulderandputhermouthclosetohisear.Pop,shesaid,hIloveyou.Heturnedhisheadandanswered,Iloveyou-andhisvoicelackeditsusualgruffness.17 Johnwatchedthewaterlapatthesteps,andfeltacrushingguilt.HehadunderestimatedtheferocityofCamille.Heh
16、adassumedthatwhathadneverhappenedcouldnothappen.Heheldhisheadbetweenhishands,andsilentlyprayed:Getusthroughthismess,willYou?18 Amomentlater,thehurricane,inonemightyswipe,liftedtheentireroofoffthehouseandskimmedit40feetthroughtheair.Thebottomstepsofthestaircasebrokeapart.Onewallbegancrumblingonthemar
17、oonedgroup.19 Dr.RobertH.Simpson,directoroftheNationalHurricaneCenterinMiami,Fla.,gradedHurricaneCamilleasthegreatestrecordedstormevertohitapopulatedareaintheWesternHemisphere.initsconcentratedbreadthofsome70milesitshotoutwindsofnearly200andraisedtidesashighas30feet.AlongtheGulfCoastitdevastatedever
18、ythinginitsswath:19,467homesand709smallbusinessesweredemolishedorseverelydamaged.itseizeda600,000-gallonGulfportoiltankanddumpedit3-milesaway.Ittorethreelargecargoshipsfromtheirmooringsandbeachedthem.Telephonepolesand20-inch-thickpinescrackedlikegunsasthewindssnappedthem.20 TothewestofGulfport,theto
19、wnofPassChristianwasvirtuallywipedout.SeveralvacationersattheluxuriousRichelieuApartmentsthereheldahurricanepartytowatchthestormfromtheirspectacularvantagepointRichelieuApartmentsweresmashedapartasifbyagiganticfist,and26peopleperished.21 SecondsaftertheroofblewofftheKoshakhouse,johnyelled,Upthestair
20、sintoourbedroom!Countthekids.Thechildrenhuddledintheslashingrainwithinthecircleofadults.GrandmotherKoshakimplored,Children,letssing!Thechildrenweretoofrightenedtorespond.Shecarriedonaloneforafewbars;thenhervoicetrailedaway.22 Debrisflewastheliving-roomfireplaceanditschimneycollapsed.Withtwowallsinth
21、eirbedroomsanctuarybeginningtodisintegrate,Johnordered,Intothetelevisionroom!Thiswastheroomfarthestfromthedirectionofthestorm.23 Foraninstant,Johnputhisarmaroundhiswife.Janisunderstood.Shiveringfromthewindandrainandfear;clutchingtwochildrentoher;shethought,DearLord,givemethestrengthtoendurewhatIhave
22、to.Shefeltangeragainstthehurricane.Wewontletitwin.24 PopKoshakragedsilently,frustratedatnotbeingabletodoanythingtofightCamille.Withoutreason,hedraggedacedarchestandadoublemattressfromabed-roomintotheTVroom.Atthatmoment,thewindtoreoutonewallandextinguishedthelantern.Asecondwallmoved,wavered,CharlieHi
23、lltriedtosupportit,butittoppledonhim,injuringhisback.Thehouse,shudderingandrocking,hadmoved25feetfromitsfoundations.Theworldseemedtobebreakingapart.25 Letsgetthatmattressup!Johnshoutedtohisfather.Makeitalean-toagainstthewind.Getthekidsunderit.Wecanpropitupwithourheadsandshoulders!26Thelargerchildren
24、Sprawledonthefloor,withthesmalleronesinalayerontopofthem,andtheadultsbentoverallnine.Thefloortilted.Theboxcontainingthelitterofkittensslidoffashelfandvanishedinthewind.Spookyflewoffthetopofaslidingbookcaseandalsodisappeared.Thedogcoweredwitheyesclosed.Athirdwallgaveway.Waterlappedacrosstheslantingfl
25、oor.Johngrabbedadoorwhichwasstillhingedtooneclosetwall.Ifthefloorgoes,heyelledathisfather;letsgetthekidsonthis.27 Inthatmoment,thewindslightlydiminished,andthewaterstoppedrising.Thenthewaterbeganreceding.ThemainthrustofCamillehadpassed.TheKoshaksandtheirfriendshadsurvived.28 Withthedawn,Gulfportpeop
26、lestartedcomingbacktotheirhomes.Theysawhumanbodiesmorethan130men,womenandchildrendiedalongtheMississippicoast-andpartsofthebeachandhighwaywerestrewnwithdeaddogs,cats,cattle.Stripsofclothingfestoonedthestandingtrees,andblowndownpowerlinesCoiledlikeblackSpaghettiovertheroads.29 Noneofthereturneesmoved
27、quicklyorspokeloudly;theystoodshocked,tryingtoabsorbtheshatteringscenesbeforetheireyes.wWhatdowedottheyasked.Wheredowego?30 Bythistime,organizationswithintheareaand,ineffect,theentirepopulationoftheUnitedStateshadcometotheaidofthedevastatedcoast.Beforedawn,theMississippiNationalGuardandcivil-defense
28、unitsweremovingintohandletraffic,guardproperty,setupcommunicationscenters,helpclearthedebrisandtakethehomelessbytruckandbustorefugeecenters.By10a.m.,theSalvationArmyscanteentrucksandRedCrossvolunteersandstaffersweregoingwhereverpossibletodistributehotdrinks,food,clothingandbedding.31 Fromhundredsoft
29、ownsandcitiesacrossthecountrycameseveralmilliondollarsindonations;householdandmedicalsuppliesstreamedinbyplane,train,truckandcar.Thefederalgovernmentshipped4,400,000poundsoffood,movedinmobilehomes,setupportableclassrooms,openedofficestoprovidelow-interest,long-termbusinessloans.32 Camille,meanwhile,
30、hadrakeditswaynorthwardacrossMississippi,droppingmorethan28inchesofrainintoWestVirginiaandsouthernVirginia,causingrampagingfloods,hugemountainslidesand111additionaldeathsbeforebreakingupovertheAtlanticOcean.33 1.ikemanyotherGulfportfamilies,theKoshaksquicklybeganreorganizingtheirlives,Johndividedhis
31、familyinthehomesoftwofriends.Theneighborwithhertwochildrenwenttoarefugeecenter.CharlieHillfoundaroomforrent.ByTuesday,Charliesbackhadimproved,andhepitchedinwithSeabeesintheworstvolunteerworkofallsearchingforbodies.Threedaysafterthestorm,hedecidednottoreturntoLasVegas,buttoremaininGulfportandhelprebu
32、ildthecommunity.34 Neartheendofthefirstweek,afriendofferedtheKoshakshisapartment,andthefamilywasreunited.Thechildrenappearedtosuffernopsychologicaldamagefromtheirexperience;theywerestillawedbytheincomprehensiblepowerofthehurricane,butenjoyeddescribingwhattheyhadseenandheardonthatfrightfulnight,Janis
33、hadjustonedelayedreaction.Afewnightsafterthehurricane,sheawokesuddenlyat2a.m.Shequietlygotupandwentoutside.Lookingupattheskyand,withoutknowingshewasgoingtodoit,shebegantocrysoftly.35 Meanwhile,John,PopandCharliewerepickingthroughthewreckageofthehome.Itcouldhavebeendepressing,butitwasnt:eachsalvagedi
34、temrepresentedalittlevictoryoverthewrathofthestorm.Thedogandcatsuddenlyappearedatthescene,aliveandhungry.36 Butthebluesdidoccasionallyafflictalltheadults.Once,inalowmood,Johnsaidtohisparents,Iwantedyouheresothatwewouldallbetogether;soyoucouldenjoythechildren,andlookwhathappened.37 Hisfather,whohadma
35、deuphismindtostartaweldingshopwhenlivingwasnormalagain,said,Letsnotcryaboutwhatsgone.WeIIjuststartallover.,38 Youregreat,Johnsaid.Andthistownhasalotofgreatpeopleinit.Itsgoingtobebetterherethaniteverwasbefore.39 1.ater;GrandmotherKoshakreflected:Welostpracticallyallourpossessions,butthefamilycamethro
36、ughit.WhenIthinkofthat,Irealizewelostnothingimportant.(fromRhetoricandLiteraturebyRJosephCanavan)NOTES1. Josephp.Blank:ThewriterpublishednFacetoFaceWithHurricaneCamHleHintheReadersDigest,March1970.2. HurricaneCamille:IntheUnitedStateshurricanesarenamedalphabeticallyandgiventhenamesofpeopleHkeHurrica
37、neCamille,HurricaneBetsy,andsoon;whereasinChinaTyphoonsaregivenserialnumbersHkeTyphoonNo.1,TyphoonNo.2andsoon.3. TheSalvationArmy:AProtestantreligiousbodydevotedtotheconversionofandsocialworkamongthepoor,andcharacterizedbyuseofmilitarytitles,uniforms,etc.Itwasfoundedin1878bynGeneraInBoothinLondon;no
38、wWOrIdWideinoperation.4. RedCross:aninternationalorganization(infullInternationalRedCross),foundedin1864WithheadquartersandbranchesinallcountriessignatorytotheGenevaConvention,forthereliefofsufferingintimeofwarordisaster仅供个人用于学习、研究；不得用于商业用途。Forpersonaluseonlyinstudyandresearch;notforcommercialuse.NurfurdenpersonlichenfurStudien,Forschung,zukommerziellenZweckenverwendetwerden.PourIetudeetIarechercheuniquementadesfinspersonnelles;pasadesfinsCommerciales.oiboKDfleM,oopbeMcoib3y)cflairo6yMHMA,HCeneAoBaH丘MHeAeMl*HblMC11O-11b3OBaTbC51BKOMMePqeCKnXLe151X.以下无正文
