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The weather was glorious and the rural French landscape was idyllic as I cycled along the banks of the River Meuse. The light had a sort of special haze to it that seemed to intensify and magnify distances, but what really stood out was the all-encompassing silence. A car hadnt gone by in nearly half-an-hour; there wasnt even the dull drone of traffic from a distant road. All that could be heard was birdsong, the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the occasional chime of a village church bell... and a strange squeaking noise. 我沿着默兹河岸(River Meuse)骑车，阳光灿烂，法国乡村风景如田园诗般美丽。光线中弥漫着一种特别的轻雾，使距离影影绰绰变得遥远，但是真正非同一般的是天地间难以打破的宁静。半个小时没有一辆汽车驶过，也听不到远处公路上交通的嗡嗡声。能听到的只有鸟鸣、牛羊的低吼和时而的教堂钟声还有一种奇怪的吱吱声。 Mercifully, the noise disappeared following a liberal application of oil to the bike gears and everything else that looked as though it might be a moving part. I was doubly gladat first I wasnt sure if it was being made by the bike or by my knees. 谢天谢地，我在自行车齿轮和其它运动部位加足了油之后，吱吱声消失了。我特别高兴，因为起先我实在吃不准声音是哪里发出来的，是自行车还是我的膝关节? | 
