Lesson 46 The Raft Trip 木筏之旅
Words:
confidential adj. 秘密的，機密的
configuration n. 輪廓，【化】構型
confine vt. 限制
confinement n. 限制，禁閉
confining adj. 狹窄的
confirm vt. 證實，使。。。更堅定
confirmation n. 確認，證實
confiscate v. 沒收，充公
conflict n. 爭論，沖突，斗爭
confluence n. 匯集
conform vi. 遵守，順從；符合
conformity n. 遵照；順從；一致，符合
confront vt. （使）面對，正規
confuse vt. 搞亂，使糊涂
confusion n. 混亂，混淆
congenial adj. （因性情、志趣等相近）彼此合得來的；愜意的
congenital adj. 先天的，天生的
congested adj. 堵塞的；擁擠的
congestion n. 擁擠，擁塞
congratulation n. 祝賀，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.
“這是我第一次做木筏，”我說道。“不過這是個秘密，可別說哦。”河道向導點點頭答應了、雖說木筏有點窄，但氣氛宜人。大家非常小心地遵從種種規則和程序，以免有人受傷。在危險的湍流上絕不可有絲毫的混亂或是沖突。服從對安全很重要。
很快，我們來到河上最危險的一段——匯流處，這是兩條河交匯的地方。我們的向導開始組織大家將四條木筏合并組成單列縱隊的隊形結構。然后，他吹了一聲號角，向其他向導發出確認信號。兩條木筏各傳來一聲嘟的信號，確定他們已一切就緒，準備沖過匯流處。
我們以恰到好處的速度來到匯流處。突然，我們注意到從對面那條河上漂過來一組木筏。與我們同時，他們也來到匯流處，造成河道擁堵，兩邊的木筏還發生了好幾次碰撞。這幾近災難的突發事件加重了我的先天性心臟衰弱。
我們的持照向導相當惱火，因為河道不該出現擁堵現象。他很快發現另一隊木筏那天是不允許在河上走了。他劈頭蓋臉就威脅那邊的帶頭人，要讓當局沒收他們的器材。那位帶頭人表示道歉并聲稱他弄混了日期。他保證接下來他的木筏會限制在河道左邊活動。我們的向導告訴他，這種限制就不必了，只要他能同我們的木筏保持一段安全距離就行。
這次旅行安全結束，我們因為干得出色而備受祝賀。
