賴利貓在唐寧街首度成功滅鼠
◎張沛元
Westminster is not its usual hive of activity over the summer weeks -- but one resident has not been kicking his heels.
威斯敏特市（譯註：英國首相官邸唐寧街10號所在地）在夏季週的活動並不如往常繁忙─但某位住戶也沒閒著。
While his boss sunned himself in Spain and Cornwall, Larry the Downing Street cat has been earning his keep.
當牠的老闆在西班牙與康瓦爾曬太陽時，唐寧街的英國第一貓「賴利」終於證明自己並未尸位素餐。
The five-year-old-feline, who was brought in last year to help curb a mouse problem at Number 10, has finally recorded a kill.
這隻5歲大、去年被帶來以協助遏止（唐寧街）10號鼠輩橫行問題的貓咪，終於首度大開殺戒。
"I can confirm that the cat did kill a mouse this morning," a Downing Street spokesman said.
「我能證實，那隻貓今天早上真的殺了一隻老鼠，」唐寧街的一名發言人如是說。
Larry joined the staff at Number 10 in 2011 after a rat scuttled across the doorstep to the famous building during a live TV broadcast.
在一隻老鼠於電視實況轉播時匆匆越過這棟知名建築（英國首相官邸）的門階後，賴利在2011年11月10日成為唐寧街10號的一份子。
His apparently lackadaisical approach to his mousing duties to date had led to speculation that his days serving the PM could be numbered.
截至目前為止，牠對捕鼠重任提不起勁的模樣，引發牠為首相服務的日子已進入倒數階段的疑慮。
But his new found success may be enough to secure the former Battersea Dogs and Cats Home resident a reprieve.
但牠這項新成就也許足以確保這隻曾待過「貝特西犬貓保護之家」的第一貓，可暫時保住飯碗。
新聞辭典
kick one’s heels：慣用語，漫無目的或毫無益處地等待或打發時間。例句：She kicked her heels for hours at the door of her ex-boyfriend’s apartment.（她在前男友的公寓門前傻等數小時。）
earn one’s keep：慣用語，指做某些事換取食宿，或做好分內工作以證明自己值得被僱用。例句：He hardly earns his keep around and should be fired.（他連分內的工作都做不好，應該叫他回家吃自己。）
to date：慣用語，迄今。
資料來源：自由時報電子報
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