Ch4-Rats!

CHAPTER FOUR Bats! Jack found Annie standing behind a column in a lantern-lit courtyard. The courtyard was quiet and empty. "Everyone in Venice must be at Carnival," said Jack. "I just hope the ruler is home."

第四章蝙蝠！杰克发现安妮站在一个灯火通明的院子里的一根柱子后面。 院子里静悄悄的，空无一人。 “威尼斯的每个人一定都在参加狂欢节，”杰克说。 “我只希望统治者在家。”

"Yeah, we'll ask him if he knows the Grand Lady of the Lagoon," said Annie. "And we'll tell him he has to help us save her from a terrible disaster." Jack looked at his map of the palace. Several rooms were labeled Ruler's Living Chambers. "I guess that's where he lives," said Jack. "We have to go up some stairs called the Giants' Stairs to get there."

“是的，我们会问他是否认识泻湖大夫人，”安妮说。 “我们会告诉他，他必须帮我们把她从一场可怕的灾难中拯救出来。” 杰克看了看他的宫殿地图。 有几个房间被贴上了“统治者的起居室”的标签。 “我猜他就住在那里。”杰克说。 “我们得爬一段叫做巨人阶梯的楼梯才能到那里。”

"The Giants' Stairs?" said Annie. "Yeah," said Jack. "Listen to this." These stairs are called the Giants' Stairs because they are guarded by two large statues of gods from Roman mythology: Mars, the god of war, and Neptune, the god of the sea.

“巨人的楼梯？”安妮说。 “是的，”杰克说。“听听这个。” 这些阶梯被称为巨人阶梯，因为它们被两个来自罗马神话的神的巨大雕像所守卫：战神马尔斯和海神海王星。

"Cool," said Annie. "Let's go." Jack and Annie hurried down the passageway that ran along the courtyard until they came to a wide staircase. On either side of the stairs were giant marble statues of strong-looking men. "Mars and Neptune," said Jack. "This is it. Come on." Jack and Annie quickly climbed the Giants' Stairs. At the top, Jack looked at the map again. "Now we turn right and head for the Golden Staircase," he said. Keeping an eye out for more guards, they crept down a hall until they came to a fancy staircase under a gold ceiling.

“酷，”安妮说。“我们走吧。” 杰克和安妮匆匆穿过院子里的通道，来到一个宽阔的楼梯前。 楼梯的两边是巨大的大理石雕像，都是看起来很强壮的男人。 “火星和海王星，”杰克说。 “就是这样。来吧。”杰克和安妮迅速爬上了巨人楼梯。 到了山顶，杰克又看了看地图。 “现在我们向右转，朝金色楼梯走去。”他说。 他们留意着是否有更多的警卫，蹑手蹑脚地穿过一个大厅，来到一个金色天花板下的华丽楼梯前。

"There it is," said Jack. "Let's climb up." He and Annie hurried up the Golden Staircase. When they got to the top, they froze. Another guard was slouched against the wall by the stairs. His eyes were closed, and he was snoring softly. Jack motioned to Annie, and they tiptoed past the sleeping guard to the entrance of the ruler's living chambers. Jack glanced at the map. "This is it," he whispered. The door was open. Jack and Annie peeked inside. "Knock, knock?" Annie said in a soft voice. No one answered.

“在那儿，”杰克说。“我们爬上去吧。” 他和安妮匆匆走上金色楼梯。 当他们到达山顶时，他们僵住了。 另一个卫兵没精打采地靠在楼梯边的墙上。 他闭着眼睛，轻轻地打着鼾。 杰克向安妮示意，他们蹑手蹑脚地走过熟睡的卫兵，来到统治者起居室的入口。 杰克瞥了一眼地图。“就是这里。”他低声说。 门开着。杰克和安妮往里面偷看。 “咚,咚?”安妮轻声说。 没有人回答。

They stepped through the doorway. A fire blazed on the hearth. Overhead many candles burned brightly. The dancing flames cast shadows on a marble floor and a carved gold ceiling. "I have a feeling the ruler's not here," said Annie. "Maybe we should leave." Jack looked at their book. "Wait, the next room is the Map Room," he said. "Let's just take a look." "Okay, but we'd better hurry," said Annie. Jack led the way into the Map Room. Colorful maps hung on the walls. In the middle of the floor were two huge globes. Jack sighed. "I love this room," he said.

他们跨进了门口。 炉火在壁炉里熊熊燃烧。 头顶上许多蜡烛明亮地燃烧着。 舞动的火焰在大理石地板和金色雕花天花板上投下阴影。 “我感觉尺子不在这里，”安妮说。 “也许我们应该离开。”杰克看了看他们的书。 “等等，下一个房间是地图室。”他说。 “让我们看看。”“好吧，但我们最好快点，”安妮说。 杰克带路走进地图室。 墙上挂着五颜六色的地图。 地板中央有两个巨大的地球仪。 杰克叹了口气。“我喜欢这个房间，”他说。