Lesson 46 The Raft Trip 木筏之旅

　　Words:

　　confidential adj. 秘密的，机密的

　　configuration n. 轮廓，【化】构型

　　confine vt. 限制

　　confinement n. 限制，禁闭

　　confining adj. 狭窄的

　　confirm vt. 证实，使。。。更坚定

　　confirmation n. 确认，证实

　　confiscate v. 没收，充公

　　conflict n. 争论，冲突，斗争

　　confluence n. 汇集

　　conform vi. 遵守，顺从；符合

　　conformity n. 遵照；顺从；一致，符合

　　confront vt. （使）面对，正规

　　confuse vt. 搞乱，使糊涂

　　confusion n. 混乱，混淆

　　congenial adj. （因性情、志趣等相近）彼此合得来的；惬意的

　　congenital adj. 先天的，天生的

　　congested adj. 堵塞的；拥挤的

　　congestion n. 拥挤，拥塞

　　congratulation n. 祝贺，道喜

　　“It’s my first rafting trip,” I said. “But that’s confidential information, okay?” The river guide nodded in agreement. Although the raft was a bit confining, it was a very congenial atmosphere. Everyone was also very careful to conform to the rules and procedures so that nobody would get hurt. There’s no room for confusion or conflict when you’re in the dangerous rapids. Conformity is important to safety.

　　It wasn’t long before we were facing the most dangerous part of the river, the confluence. This is the area where two rivers flow into one. Our guide started organizing our four rafts into a single-file configuration. Then, with his horn, he sent a confirmation signal to the other guides. Two beeps echoed from each raft confirming that they were ready to run through the confluence.

　　We approached the confluence at the perfect speed. Suddenly, we noticed another group of rafts coming from the opposite river. They entered the confluence at the same time, creating congestion and several collisions between our rafts. The stock of this near disaster aggravated my congenital heart condition.

Our licensed guide was very upset because this was not supposed to be a congested river. He soon discovered that the other rafting group was not licensed to be on the river that day. He confronted their leader and threatened to have the authorities confiscate their equipment. The leader apologized and claimed he was confused by the dates. He promised to confine his group to the left side of the river for the rest of the day. Our guide told him that such confinement would not be necessary but that he should keep a safe distance from our rafts.

　　The trip ended safely and we all received congratulations for a job well done.

“这是我第一次做木筏，”我说道。“不过这是个秘密，可别说哦。”河道向导点点头答应了、虽说木筏有点窄，但气氛宜人。大家非常小心地遵从种种规则和程序，以免有人受伤。在危险的湍流上绝不可有丝毫的混乱或是冲突。服从对安全很重要。

　　很快，我们来到河上最危险的一段——汇流处，这是两条河交汇的地方。我们的向导开始组织大家将四条木筏合并组成单列纵队的队形结构。然后，他吹了一声号角，向其他向导发出确认信号。两条木筏各传来一声嘟的信号，确定他们已一切就绪，准备冲过汇流处。

　　我们以恰到好处的速度来到汇流处。突然，我们注意到从对面那条河上漂过来一组木筏。与我们同时，他们也来到汇流处，造成河道拥堵，两边的木筏还发生了好几次碰撞。这几近灾难的突发事件加重了我的先天性心脏衰弱。

　　我们的持照向导相当恼火，因为河道不该出现拥堵现象。他很快发现另一队木筏那天是不允许在河上走了。他劈头盖脸就威胁那边的带头人，要让当局没收他们的器材。那位带头人表示道歉并声称他弄混了日期。他保证接下来他的木筏会限制在河道左边活动。我们的向导告诉他，这种限制就不必了，只要他能同我们的木筏保持一段安全距离就行。

　　这次旅行安全结束，我们因为干得出色而备受祝贺。