A longish stretch of time passed in silence. Even the insects and birds seemed to have disappeared, gone to dark places to sleep the dry, still afternoon away in silence.

• 他们沉默很长时间。即使是昆虫和鸟儿好象也消失了影踪，在这个干燥的宁静的下午，躲到黑暗的地方静悄悄地睡觉去了。