At the Auction of an Atlas在地图集拍卖会上

　　读故事

　　"Everyone, please find your assorted seats.” The attendant said. “The auction of historic astronomy tools which will be hosted by our austere colleague and former astronaut, Dr. Williams, is about to begin.”

　　As many people in attendance found their seats in the large auditorium, Michelle experienced a moment of auditory overload. She had only recently come out of the asylum and wasn't used to all this noise. This was the first time she was testing the limits of her ability to assimilate with normal people since they had found out about the atrocity that had happened in her grandfather's attic.

　　But she was authorised to be here and her doctors had given her full assurance that she should be able to cope. She just wanted to buy that historic atlas that had once been owned by the famous astronomer, Copernicus. Professional auditors had confirmed its value and now it was here to be auctioned off. She somehow still couldn't believe that this authentic copy had been found,but she would do her best to outbid the others.

　　As her uncle sitting next to her went through a minor asthma attack, Michelle saw the man who had performed the audit. He was standing next to Dr. Williams, the astronaut. The presence of Dr. Williams hardly augmented the uniqueness of this auction, but it was nice that he had come.

　　Finally, as Dr. Williams stood up in front to begin the auction, the room became quiet as everyone looked to see the atlas and begin the bidding.

　　记单词

　　assimilate vt.1.吸收，消化2.使同化vi.1.被吸收，被消化2.被同化

　　assorted a.各种各样的，混杂的，什锦的

　　assurance n.1.把握，信心2.保证，表示保证(或鼓励、安慰)的话3.(人寿)保险

　　asthma n.气喘，哮喘

　　astronaut n.宇航员

　　astronomy n.天文学

　　asylum n.1.庇护，政治避难2.精神病院

　　atlas n.地图集

　　atrocity n.残暴，暴行

　　attendance n.1.出席人数2.出席，参加，出席次数3.护理，照料

　　attendant n.服务人员，侍者，随从a.伴随的，随之而产生的

　　attic n.阁楼

　　auction n./vt.拍卖

　　audit vt.审计，检查(账目)

　　auditor n.审计员，稽核员

　　auditorium n.1.观众席，听众席2.礼堂，会堂

　　auditory a.听觉的，听觉器官的

　　augment vt.扩大，增加，提高

　　austere a.1.朴素的，无装饰的2.严峻的，一丝不苟的3.十分简朴的，苦行的

　　authentic a.1.真的，真正的

　　2.可靠的，可信的

　　“请大家找到各自的座位”，服务人员说，“由我们的十分简朴的同事及前宇航员威廉博士主持的历史性天文学用具拍卖会马上就要开始了。

　　随着大礼堂里许多出席者找到他们的座位，米歇尔经历了一阵听觉过载。她最近刚从精神病院出来，对这样嘈杂的声音还不太习惯。自从他们发现了在她祖父的阁楼里发生的暴行以来，这是她次测试自己与正常人同化的能力极限。

　　她来这里是得到许可了的，她的医生向她做出保证，说她能应付。她只想买那本曾经属于天文学家哥白尼的具有历史意义的地图集。专业稽核员已经证实了它的价值，现在正准备在这里拍卖。不知为什么她还是不能相信真正的原件被找到了，不过她会尽力给出比别人高的价格。

　　坐在她旁边的叔叔经历一阵轻微的哮喘之后，米歇尔看到了那个稽核员。他就站在宇航员威廉博士身边。威廉博士的到来几乎没有给这次拍卖会增加什么独特性，但他来了总是件好事。

　　，威廉博士在前面起立宣布拍卖会开始，这时整个屋子开始安静下来，每个人都想看到地图集并准备开始竞价。