The weather was glorious and the rural French landscape was idyllic as I cycled along the banks of the River Meuse. The light had a sort of special haze to it that seemed to intensify and magnify distances, but what really stood out was the all-encompassing silence. A car hadn't gone by in nearly half-an-hour; there wasn't even the dull drone of traffic from a distant road. All that could be heard was birdsong, the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the occasional chime of a village church bell... and a strange squeaking noise.
我沿着默兹河岸(River Meuse)骑车,阳光灿烂,法国乡村风景如田园诗般美丽。光线中弥漫着一种特别的轻雾,使距离影影绰绰变得遥远,但是真正非同一般的是天地间难以打破的宁静。半个小时没有一辆汽车驶过,也听不到远处公路上交通的嗡嗡声。能听到的只有鸟鸣、牛羊的低吼和时而的教堂钟声……还有一种奇怪的吱吱声。
Mercifully, the noise disappeared following a liberal application of oil to the bike gears and everything else that looked as though it might be a moving part. I was doubly glad – at first I wasn't sure if it was being made by the bike or by my knees.
谢天谢地,我在自行车齿轮和其它运动部位加足了油之后,吱吱声消失了。我特别高兴,因为起先我实在吃不准声音是哪里发出来的,是自行车还是我的膝关节?