In contrast, seeing no sign of Chinese gunboats in the East River, and reckoning that the worst that could happen was my missing the 2008 Olympics, the bluster reinforced my determination.

• 相较之下，看来在东河的中国炮艇毫无动静，最坏的打算应该是会让我在2008奥林匹克运动会吃闭门羹，但电话里的咆哮声却让我的理念更为坚定。