上外版大学英语写作精选第三册(7)

    The man and boy then start to pile up a barricade， using furniture， the generator， books， any movable object they can get their hands on.

    OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER

    The mob marches down the street carrying a large heavy log that is perhaps fifteen feet long. Their own shouts mix with the sound of the intermittent siren and with the voice of the announcer on the Conelrad station.

    ANNOUNCER'S voice： We've been asked to once again remind the population that they are to remain calm， stay off the streets. This is urgent. Please remain off the streets. Everything possible is being done in the way of protection. But the military and important civil defense vehicles must have the streets clear. So you're once again reminded to remain off the streets. Remain off the streets！

    The minute the mob gathers before the STOCKTON house， they smash into it， carrying the giant log. They move down the cellar steps. As the log smashes into the shelter door， the siren goes up louder and more piercing and it is at this moment that we see both WEISS and HARLOW join the men on the heavy log to lend their support to it.

    INSIDE THE SHELTER

    STOCKTON and Paul lean against it as it starts to give under the weight， under the pressure. The air is filled with angry shouts， the intermittent siren， the cries of women and children.

    INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER

    And it all reaches one vast pitch just as the door is forced open. PAUL and STOCKTON are pushed back into the shelter and just at this moment the light go on in the basement. The siren also reaches its top and then suddenly goes off and there is absolute dead silence for a long moment. Then from the portable radio in the corner comes

    ANNOUNCER'S voice： This is Conelrad. This is Conelrad. Remain turned for an important message. Remain tuned for an important message. （a pause） The President of the United States has just announced that the previously unidentified objects have now been definitely identified as being satellites. Repeat. There are no enemy missiles approaching. Repeat， there are no enemy missiles approaching. The objects have been identified as satellites. They are harmless and we are in no danger. Repeat. We are in no danger. The state of emergency has officially been called off. We are in no danger. Repeat. There is no enemy attack. There is no enemy attack.

    MRS.WEISS： （her eyes closed and crying softly） Thank God. Oh， thank God.

    WEISS： （in a whisper， his face bruised and blood clotted） Amen to that.

    HENDERSON： Hey， Marty …… Marty ……I went crazy. You understand that， don't you？ I just went crazy. I didn't mean all the things I said. （he wets his lips， his voice shaking） We were all of us …… we were so scared ……so confuse. （he holds out his hands in a gesture） Well， it's no wonder really， is it？ I mean…… well， you can understand why we blew our tops a little  ——

    There's a murmur of voices， a few half-hearted nods， but they're all still in a state of shock.

    HARLOWE： I don't think Marty's going to hold it against you. （then turning to STOCKTON） I just hope Bill won't hold this —— （he points to the wreckage around him） against us. We'll pay for the damage， Bill. We'll take up a collection right away.

    As STOCKTON walks past them across the cellar and up toward the stairs， all eyes are on him and there's an absolute dead silence.

    WEISS： （his voice shaky and nervous） We could …… we could have a block party or something tomorrow night. A big celebration. I think we deserve one now.

    He looks around smiling at the others， a nervous smiles born of a carry-over of fear and the realization that something has taken hold of all of them now. Something deadening in its effect and disquieting beyond words.