The King of the City

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The King of the City is here in full — 539 sentences across 108 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Keith Laumer • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The King of the City

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

I had to work fast now.

I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

I was in luck.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter II Reading 1/107

The King of the City

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The King of the City is here in full — 539 sentences across 108 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/107 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

I had to work fast now.

/aɪ hæd tuː wɜːrk fæst naʊ/

Line 2

I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

/aɪ stept ˈɪntuː ðə dɑːrk kɑːr riːtʃt ʌp ənd slɪd ˈoʊ.pən ðə ˈækses ˈpænəl ɪn ðə tɑːp ðen dʒʌmpt kɑːt ðə edʒ ənd pʊld ˌmaɪˈself ʌp/

Line 3

The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

/ðə ɡler ˈpænəlz ˌɪnˈsaɪd ðə ʃæft ʃoʊd miː ðə ˈpoʊniː ˈpaʊər pæk ɑːn tɑːp ʌv ðə kɑːr juːzd baɪ rɪˈpermen ənd ˌɪnˈspektərz wen ðə meɪn ˈpaʊər wɑːz ɔːf/

Line 4

I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

Line 5

I was in luck.

/aɪ wɑːz ɪn lʌk/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

access noun US /ˈækses/

the right to enter

From this reading “I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.”

inspectors noun US /ˌɪnˈspektərz/

plural of “inspector” — a high ranking police officer

From this reading “The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.”

panel noun US /ˈpænəl/

sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading “I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.”

panels noun US /ˈpænəlz/

plural of “panel” — sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading “The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.”

print noun US /prɪnt/

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading “I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.”

repairmen noun US /rɪˈpermen/

plural of “repairman” — a skilled worker whose job is to repair things

From this reading “The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.”

shaft noun US /ʃæft/

a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer

From this reading “The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.”

slid verb US /slɪd/

inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading “I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

on top preposition + noun

In this reading “The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.”

fine print adjective + noun

the part of a contract that contains reservations and qualifications that are often printed in small type

In this reading “I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.”

on the panel preposition + article + noun counted as “on … panel”

In this reading “I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.”

into the dark preposition + article + noun counted as “into … dark”

In this reading “I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.”

reached up verb + adjective counted as “reach up”

In this reading “I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.”

All words in this reading · 52

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

accessnounUS /ˈækses/

the right to enter

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading I had to work fast now.

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

glarenounUS /ɡler/

a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading I had to work fast now.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I had to work fast now.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

inspectorsnounUS /ˌɪnˈspektərz/

plural of “inspector” — a high ranking police officer

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

jumpedverbUS /dʒʌmpt/

past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

litadjectiveUS /lɪt/

provided with artificial light

From this reading I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

lucknounUS /lʌk/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading I was in luck.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading I had to work fast now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

packverbUS /pæk/

arrange in a container

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

panelnounUS /ˈpænəl/

sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

panelsnounUS /ˈpænəlz/

plural of “panel” — sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

per-match

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

printnounUS /prɪnt/

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

pulledverbUS /pʊld/

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading I lit a per-match to read the fine print on the panel.

repairmennounUS /rɪˈpermen/

plural of “repairman” — a skilled worker whose job is to repair things

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

shaftnounUS /ʃæft/

a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

slidverbUS /slɪd/

inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

steppedverbUS /stept/

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading I had to work fast now.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading I stepped into the dark car, reached up and slid open the access panel in the top, then jumped, caught the edge and pulled myself up.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The glare panels inside the shaft showed me the pony power pack on top of the car, used by repairmen and inspectors when the main power was off.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading I had to work fast now.

Chapter 2 of The King of the City by Keith Laumer holds 539 sentences, grouped into 108 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of The King of the City contain?

Chapter 2 holds 539 sentences of The King of the City, unabridged, divided into 108 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The King of the City by Keith Laumer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 539 sentences, grouped into 108 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of The King of the City?

Work through the 108 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 108 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The King of the City

Common questions about reading The King of the City by Keith Laumer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The King of the City?

Yes. All 1085 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51781 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The King of the City is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51781, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The King of the City take to read?

About 90 minutes of reading across 217 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The King of the City

Words and structures a reader meets early in The King of the City, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Taxi-driver: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King of the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Delivering: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King of the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Commuter: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King of the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Traps: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King of the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter II

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Vocabulary met early in The King of the City