2013高中英语阅读素材：Manatee meeting 邂逅海牛.docVIP

Manatee meeting 邂逅海牛 我想我大概永远也搞不清在那个早晨到底发生了什么。我情愿相信是那些海牛和我一起参加了一个新生命的庆祝仪式，而我则是它们邀请的客人。随着时间的流逝，这也成了我珍藏的记忆。在那次意外的邂逅中，我感受到在这个巨大的星球上，生命之间的一种极致的和谐。这份记忆慢慢变成了忧伤时唱给自己的一首歌，快乐时跳起的一段舞蹈。Walking alone on a remote beach in southwest Florida, I was startled to hear splashes and a deep sigh coming from the water just offshore.As I squinted in the direction of the sounds, the rounded gray back of a sea creature rose amid a red froth, rolled turbulently at the surface, then sank back into the Gulf. Moments later a broad nose emerged and exhaled in a great snuffling breath. It was a manatee, and by the looks of the reddish-colored water and the way it was thrashing, it was in trouble.I had often watched manatees in these warm coastal waters, but Id never seen one act like this before. Usually just their big nostrils appeared for a gulp of air as they foraged on sea grasses or swam slowly to greener underwater pastures. But I also knew how common it was for these lumbering giants to be gashed by boat propellers or entangled in crab traps.I wanted to help, but what could I do? There was no one else on the beach, and the nearest phone to call the Marine Patrol was miles away.Tossing my beach bag onto the sand, I began wading toward the animal, who continued to writhe as if in distress. I was still only waist deep when I came close enough to make out the bristly whiskers on the manatees muzzle as it thrust up out of the sea. Then, to my surprise, a second muzzle, much smaller, poked up beside it.I pushed on through the shoal water, but now the manatees were also moving toward me. Before I knew what was happening, I was in chest-deep water encircled by not one or two, but at least three blimplike bodies. I felt elated and slightly dizzy like the kid who is it in a schoolyard game.A bulbous snout emerged next to me. In the translucent water, I could clearly see the rest of the huge mammal, and there, nestled close behind her, a smaller version of her massive body.Then, with