Tiếng Anh 10 - Chaper 12: Fight to the death

Nội dung text: Tiếng Anh 10 - Chaper 12: Fight to the death

1. LES MISERABLES More soldiers moved into position at the end of the street, behind the cannon, By VICTOR HUGO and started to build a low wall with pieces of broken stone. At the same time, the leader of the gun crew adjusted the aim of the cannon. Chaper 12 ‘Heads down!’ Enjolras shouted. Fight to the Death The next cannonball exploded against the wall at one end of the barricade, During the night, the thirty-seven remaining rebels strengthened the main killing two men and wounding three. barricade and made more bullets. The ground floor of the wine shop became a ‘We mustn’t let that happen again,’ Enjolras said. He aimed his gun over the hospital for the wounded, and the bodies of the dead were taken to an alley near barricade at the leader of the gun crew, and fired. the smaller of the two barricades. Four of the dead people were National Guards, The gunner — a fair-haired, handsome young man — spun round twice with and their uniforms were removed. his head thrown back, and fell sideways across the cannon. Blood poured from After a long discussion with his friends, Enjolras decided that the married men the middle of his back. (there were five of them) had to leave. A tear rolled down Enjolras’s cheek, ‘It’s your duty not to die,’ he told them. ‘You must return to your families.’ ‘It’s sad,’ he murmured to Marius, who was standing next to him, ‘He looked a ‘How can we leave?’ they protested. ‘We’re surrounded. The soldiers will brave young man.’ shoot us as soon as they see us.’ ♦ ♦ ♦ ‘You can wear these.’ Enjolras pointed to the National Guard uniforms that had The battle continued for some time; the cannon destroyed the upper windows been taken off the dead soldiers. of the wine shop, and did some damage to the barricade, but the rebels did not ‘But there are only four,’ Marius observed. withdraw. They fired back at the soldiers, killing many men. In the pauses ‘Then one of us must stay and fight,’ one of the married men replied. between shooting, the rebels could hear the sound of fighting in other parts of A long argument followed, during which each of the married men tried to Paris. persuade the others to go. Finally, someone shouted to Marius, ‘You decide They were filled with hope that help would come soon, but the hope did not which one must stay.’ last long. Within half an hour the sound of gunfire in other places had stopped, Marius went pale at the thought of having to choose which man had to die. He and the rebels knew that they were alone. When a second cannon was moved stared down at the four uniforms but, as he did so, a fifth uniform fell as ifby into position next to the first, they knew that the end was near. magic at his feet. Both cannons fired together, accompanied by gunfire from soldiers at the end Looking round, Marius recognized Cosette’s father. Jean Valjean, who had of the street and on the rooftops. As other guns began firing at the smaller arrived unnoticed at the barricade, had been listening to the argument and had barricade, the rebels fought back bravely, but they were running out of bullets. quickly understood the situation. There were only twenty-six men left, and the main attack on the barricade was ‘Now you can all leave,’ he said. going to take place very soon. Some men, including Marius, stayed on the main The sky grew lighter, but not a door or window was open in the street. The barricade, while the others built a low stone wall around the door of the wine barricade was stronger than it had been for the first assault, and the rebels were shop. Enjolras, inside the wine shop, turned to Javert, who was still tied to the at their positions, guns loaded and ready for action. They did not have long to post. wait. ‘I haven’t forgotten you,’ he said, putting a loaded gun on the table. ‘The last Sounds of chains and of heavy wheels moving along the stone streets could be man to leave this place will blow your brains out.’ heard, and then soldiers came into view at the end of the street, pulling a large At this point, JeanValjean spoke to Enjolras. cannon. The rebels fired their guns but, when the smoke had cleared, they saw ‘You’re the leader, aren’t you? Can I ask you for a favour?’ the soldiers, unharmed, steadily aiming the cannon at the barricade. Moments ‘You saved a man’s life by giving him your uniform. You deserve some later, an officer shouted a command and the cannon roared into action. The reward. What do you want?’ cannonball crashed into the bottom of the barricade with a loud explosion, but ‘Let me kill this man.’ did little damage. The rebels clapped and cheered. ‘That’s fair,’ Enjolras decided, when nobody objected.‘You can have your spy’ AUDIO BOOK VICTOR HUGO - LES MISERABLES – CHAPTER 12
2. At the same moment there was the sound of a drum, followed by a loud roar. ‘They’ve taken me prisoner,’ he thought, moments before losing ‘They’re coming!’ cried Marius from the top of the barricade. consciousness.‘Now I shall be shot.’ The rebels rushed to their positions, leaving Valjean alone with Javert inside The soldiers, meanwhile, attacked the wine shop. Before long, they broke the wine shop.Valjean untied the rope around Javert’s feet and, taking him by down the door and rushed inside. Enjolras and the few surviving rebels fought the belt of his coat, led him outside. Only Marius, looking over his shoulder, saw bravely, but the soldiers were too strong. Soon, all the rebels were dead, them cross the stronghold towards the smaller barricade. Valjean, his gun in one including Enjolras, who was the last to die. Sword in hand, surrounded by hand, pulled Javert behind him over the barricade and into a narrow alley, where soldiers, he refused to surrender. He died in a rain of bullets with a strangely the corner of a house hid them from view. A terrible heap of dead bodies lay not victorious smile on his lips. far away, among them the blood-stained body of a young girl in man’s clothes — Eponine. Javert glanced at the dead body and murmured, ‘I think I know that girl.’ Then, returning his attention to Valjean, he said calmly,‘I think you know me, Chapter 13 too. Take your revenge.’ Valjean, however, took a knife from his pocket and cut the ropes that tied Javert’s wrists. ‘You’re free to go,’ he said. When Javert stared at him, speechless with surprise, Valjean went on, ‘I don’t suppose I’ll leave here alive. But if I do, I’m staying at Number 7, rue de I’Homme-Arme. Now go.’ Javert buttoned his coat, straightened his shoulders and, with a puzzled look on his face, began to walk off in the direction of the market. He had only gone a few steps, however, when he turned and looked at Valjean.‘I find this embarrassing,’ he said.‘I’d rather you killed me.’ ‘Go away,’ Valjean replied. Javert walked away slowly and Valjean, waiting for him to turn a corner, fired his gun into the air and returned to the stronghold. ‘It’s done,’ he said. ♦ ♦ ♦ There was a roar of gunfire and the soldiers attacked, rushing towards the rue de I’Homme-Arme barricade. Many fell, but many more reached the barricade. The first assault was beaten back by the brave rebels, but the soldiers attacked again and again. Soon, the ground below the barricade was piled with dead and wounded men as the rebels and soldiers fought hand to hand. The rebels fought long and hard to defend the stronghold, but finally they had to withdraw to the low wall outside the wine shop. They stood with their backs to the door, shooting up at the soldiers who were climbing down towards them from the barricade. One by one the remaining rebels escaped into the wine shop, until only Enjolras and Marius were left outside. As the two friends moved back towards the door, fighting off the soldiers, a bullet hit Marius in the shoulder. His eyes closed and, in great pain, he felt a hand grab him as he fell. AUDIO BOOK VICTOR HUGO - LES MISERABLES – CHAPTER 12