Ch9-Flowers of Edo

CHAPTER NINE Flowers of Edo "We did it!" said Annie. "We made our own magic!" "Yeah, we got the Cloud Dragon to put out the fire," breathed Jack. He felt dazed. "Do you think we're near Basho's house?"

第九章江户之花“我们成功了！”安妮说。 “我们创造了自己的魔法！”“是啊，我们让云龙来灭火了。”杰克轻声说。 他感到头晕。“你觉得我们离芭蕉家近吗？”

"I think so," said Annie. "We asked the Cloud Dragon to take us there, so I bet she did. Come on, let's find Basho." Jack and Annie stood up and started walking along the edge of the river. They walked barefoot through the mud, under dripping trees. "Hey, there's the clearing," said Annie. Jack and Annie headed toward the clearing beyond the trees and tall grass. "Oh, no!" cried Annie. "Look!" In the clearing, rain was falling on the charred ruins of Basho's house. The

“我想是的，”安妮说。“是我们让云龙带我们去的，我敢打赌是她带我们去的。 走吧，我们去找芭蕉。” 杰克和安妮站起来，开始沿着河边走。 他们赤着脚在淌着水的树下走过泥泞。 “嘿，那边有块空地，”安妮说。 杰克和安妮朝树林和高草那边的空地走去。 “哦，不！”安妮叫道。“看!”在空地上，雨水落在芭蕉家烧焦的废墟上。 的

shingled roof and the bamboo walls of the little hut had burned and collapsed. "Where's Basho?" said Jack, scared. "There!" said Annie. The famous poet sat on a log next to his banana tree in the gray rain. His clothes were blackened. His face was covered with soot. He clutched his writing box. "Basho!" yelled Annie. Basho looked up. A smile crossed his dirty, weathered face. "I looked for you by the river, but didn't see you!" he said. "I am glad you are safe."

小茅屋的木瓦屋顶和竹墙已经烧毁并倒塌。 “巴朔在哪儿？”杰克害怕地问。 “那里！”安妮说。在灰蒙蒙的雨中，这位著名的诗人坐在香蕉树旁边的一根圆木上。 他的衣服变黑了。 他的脸上满是煤灰。 他紧握着他的文具盒。 “芭蕉！”安妮喊道。芭蕉抬起头来。 他那肮脏、饱经风霜的脸上掠过一丝微笑。 “我在河边找你，但是没有看到你！”他说。 “我很高兴你平安无事。”

"We're glad you're safe, too," said Jack. "But your castle! Your castle burned down," said Annie. "Yes. It burned before the miracle of the rain," said Basho, sighing. Jack and Annie sat on the log next to him. Through the smoky drizzle, they all stared at the rubble. Trees and plants dripped with rain. A pigeon cooed. For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Annie broke the silence. "I'm glad you still have your banana tree," she said. "I like the sound of the rain falling on the leaves."

“我们也很高兴你平安无事。”杰克说。 “可是你的城堡！”你的城堡被烧毁了，”安妮说。 “是的。它在雨的奇迹之前燃烧。”芭蕉叹了口气说。 杰克和安妮坐在他旁边的圆木上。 在烟雾弥漫的细雨中，他们都盯着废墟。 树木和植物滴着雨。 一只鸽子咕咕叫。很长一段时间，没有人说话。 然后安妮打破了沉默。 “我很高兴你的香蕉树还在，”她说。 “我喜欢雨水落在树叶上的声音。”

Basho looked up, but didn't say anything. "Yeah, and I like the sound of the river," said Jack. "It's louder now since the rain came." Basho tilted his head as if listening to the rain on the leaves of the banana plant and to the steady rushing sounds of the river. His face softened. "Yes, I like those things, too," he said. He held up his wooden box. "And I still have my poems." "Don't worry, Basho," said Annie. "Everything can be built again."

芭蕉抬起头，什么也没说。 “是的，我喜欢河水的声音，”杰克说。 “下雨后声音更大了。” 芭蕉歪着头，仿佛在倾听雨水打在香蕉叶子上的声音和河水不断奔流的声音。 他的脸色柔和了。“是的，我也喜欢这些东西，”他说。 他举起他的木盒。 “我还留着我的诗。” “别担心，芭蕉，”安妮说。 “一切都可以重建。”

"And your castle will be even more beautiful than before," said Jack. Basho smiled. "I suppose that is why the ancients called our fires 'the flowers of Edo,'" he said. "What do you mean?" asked Jack. "After something is destroyed by fire, a good new thing often takes its place," said Basho. "Just as after the bleakest winter, beautiful flowers return with the spring." "I'm sure you'll make many beautiful flowers," said Annie. "Thank you," said Basho. "I am sorry, though, that you and Jack will not have

“你的城堡会比以前更漂亮，”杰克说。 芭蕉笑了。“我想这就是为什么古人把我们的火称为‘江户之花’，”他说。 “你什么意思？”杰克问。 芭蕉说：“一件东西被火烧毁后，一个好的新东西往往会取而代之。” “就像在最凄凉的冬天之后，美丽的花朵会随着春天而回归。” “我相信你会做出许多美丽的花，”安妮说。 “谢谢你。”芭蕉说。“不过，我很遗憾，你和杰克不能