9 March!

9 MARCH! "From the future?" said Jack. He and Annie looked at each other. "How could that be? That's amazing," Annie said to the emperor. "Unbelievable," said Jack. "I do not understand," said the emperor. "Is this a sign from the gods? A gift from Mars? Perhaps it means that the legion should confront the enemy on the frozen Danube—take them by surprise—and stop their invasion." "Sounds like a good plan to me," said Jack. "It does," said Annie. The emperor looked at them with wonder.

3月9日!“来自未来？”杰克说。 他和安妮面面相觑。 “这怎么可能？”“太神奇了，”安妮对皇帝说。 “难以置信。”杰克说。 “我不明白，”皇帝说。 “这是诸神的旨意吗？” 来自火星的礼物？也许这意味着军团应该在冰冻的多瑙河上与敌人对峙——出其不意——阻止他们的入侵。” “听起来是个不错的计划，”杰克说。 “是的，”安妮说。皇帝惊奇地看着他们。

"I do not know what to say to you," he said. "I would like to talk further. About your country. Your tribe. Perhaps you can stay awhile with the legion. I feel you may have much to teach me." "I'm afraid we can't. We have a family back home," said Annie. "We really need to be home by moonrise," said Jack. "Ah," said the emperor. "I understand. But I am sorry to hear that. The moon rises early in winter." The centurion Junius entered the tent. "My Lord Aurelius, the warriors are waiting. Shall I cancel the parade?" "Of course not," said the emperor. "My honored guests, Jack and Annie, will march with you." We will? Oh, no! thought Jack. "Wait here," the emperor said to Jack and Annie. He stepped outside to talk with Junius.

他说：“我不知道对你说什么才好。” “我想进一步谈谈。 关于你的国家。你的部落。 也许你可以和军团待一段时间。 我觉得你可以教我很多东西。” “恐怕不行。我们在家乡有家人，”安妮说。 “我们真的需要在月出之前到家。”杰克说。 “啊！”皇帝说。“我明白了。 但我很遗憾听到这个消息。 冬天月亮升得很早。” 百夫长朱尼厄斯走进帐篷。 奥勒留大人，战士们在等着。 我要取消游行吗？”“当然不是，”皇帝说。 “我的贵宾，杰克和安妮，将和你们一起游行。” 我们会吗?哦,不!杰克想。 “在这里等着，”皇帝对杰克和安妮说。 他走出去和朱尼厄斯说话。

"I hope he doesn't want us to carry shields and weapons," Jack said to Annie. "Or wear armor," said Annie. "No way!" said Jack. "We need an excuse!" The emperor returned. "Go with Junius," he said to Jack and Annie. "He will show you what to do." "Oh—" said Jack. Before he could think of an excuse, Junius beckoned for him and Annie to follow. The centurion led them out of the tent. They silently walked with him back to the parade line. Jack's heart raced. We can't march, he thought. We're too small! We're not strong enough! At the field, the legion was still standing in formation, waiting for the order to march. Junius walked over to the standard-bearer and flag-bearer. He turned to Jack and Annie. "The emperor has ordered that the two of

“我希望他不要我们带盾牌和武器，”杰克对安妮说。 “或者穿上盔甲，”安妮说。 “不可能！”杰克说。“我们需要一个借口！”皇帝回来了。 “和朱尼厄斯一起去。”他对杰克和安妮说。 “他会告诉你该怎么做。” “哦——”杰克说。他还没来得及找个借口，朱尼厄斯就示意他和安妮跟着去。 百夫长领他们出了帐棚。 他们默默地跟着他走回检阅队伍。 杰克的心跳加速。我们不能行军了，他想。 我们太小了！我们不够强大！在战场上，军团仍然站成队形，等待行军的命令。 朱尼厄斯走向旗手和旗手。 他转向杰克和安妮。 “皇上已经下令，两个人

you shall carry the eagle standard and the flag. Which one of you wishes to carry the standard?" he said. Oh, man, thought Jack. He knew this was the highest honor a Roman warrior could have. "You should carry it," he said to Annie. "No, you," she said. "You deserve it more," said Jack. He looked at the centurion. "Annie's very brave, and she never loses hope." The standard-bearer handed the eagle standard to Annie. "Wow, thanks," said Annie. She held the pole high and smiled. The gold eagle's wings shone in the cold sunlight. The flag-bearer handed Jack the flagpole. Jack raised it beside the eagle standard. The red flag with the ram flapped in the winter wind.

你将携带鹰旗和国旗。 你们谁愿意举旗？”他说。 哦，天哪，杰克想。他知道这是罗马战士能得到的最高荣誉。 “你应该拿着它，”他对安妮说。 “不，是你，”她说。“你应该得到更多，”杰克说。 他看了看百夫长。 “安妮很勇敢，她从不失去希望。” 旗手把鹰旗递给安妮。 “哇，谢谢，”安妮说。 她高高举起杆子，笑了。 金鹰的翅膀在寒冷的阳光下闪闪发光。 旗手把旗杆递给杰克。 杰克把它举到鹰旗旁边。 有公羊图案的红旗在冬风中飘动。

Trumpets sounded. "You are to lead the legion once around the field," Junius said to Jack and Annie. "All the soldiers will follow you. March!" Jack and Annie marched around the field with all of Legion Gemina XIV following them. Annie carried the eagle standard. Jack carried the red flag with the ram. They were followed by trumpet players who were followed by centurions who were followed by thousands and thousands of Roman warriors.

号角响起。“你们要带领军团绕战场一圈。”朱尼厄斯对杰克和安妮说。 “所有的士兵都会跟着你。 3月!”杰克和安妮绕着场地走了一圈，双子座十四军团的所有成员都跟在他们后面。 安妮举着鹰旗。 杰克举着红旗和公羊。 他们后面跟着小号手后面跟着百夫长后面跟着成千上万的罗马战士。

Jack and Annie returned to the emperor. They gave the standard and the flag to Junius. "Well done," said Emperor Aurelius. "I know you must leave us now. I will ride with you as far as the riverbank." The emperor gestured to a warrior standing beside a beautiful white horse. The horse had a red blanket draped over its back. The warrior led the horse to Jack and Annie and helped them climb on. Jack took the reins. Emperor Aurelius mounted his black horse. As both horses started toward the gate, Jack gripped the reins and Annie held on to Jack. The white horse carried them down the main road past the armory, past the rows of barracks, and out through the front gate of the Roman legion camp.

杰克和安妮回到皇帝身边。 他们把军旗和国旗交给了朱尼厄斯。 “干得好，”奥勒留皇帝说。 “我知道你现在必须离开我们了。 我陪你骑马到河边。” 皇帝向站在一匹漂亮白马旁边的一个武士做了个手势。 那匹马的背上披着一条红毯子。 战士把马牵到杰克和安妮面前，帮助他们骑上马。 杰克接过缰绳。奥勒留皇帝骑上他的黑马。 两匹马开始向大门跑去，杰克抓住缰绳，安妮抓住杰克。 白马载着他们穿过军械库，穿过一排排的兵营，穿过罗马军团营地的大门。