35_The Banquet

Wow, ” Brody said as he stepped into the banquet room with Markos and Hermes. “ There are a lot of people here. It’s like one of my football team’s parties! ” The banquet room was large and full of people and gods. Men and boys were lounging on the sofas that lined the walls, talking and laughing and drinking from goblets. Servants bustled around, carrying trays of food and drink. Candles flickered inside clay lamps. Brody spotted Zeus right away. The king of the gods was at the far end of the room, one hand on Heracles’ shoulder.

“哇，”布罗迪说，他和马科斯、赫耳墨斯走进宴会厅。 “这里有很多人。这就像我们足球队的派对！” 宽敞的宴会厅挤满了人和神。大家都懒洋洋地躺在排好的沙发上，举着酒杯谈笑风生。 仆人们忙得团团转，端着盛着食物和饮料的托盘。粘土灯里闪烁着蜡烛。 布罗迪立刻发现了宙斯，众神之王在房间的另一端，一只手放在赫拉克勒斯的肩膀上。

Iphicles stood behind them. Zeus was talking to several other gods, including Hades and Poseidon. Brody soon saw more familiar faces. Apollo was helping himself to food from a servant’s platter. Nearby, Athena was chatting with a pot-bellied god who had a bald head and a white beard. “ Hey, look, there’s a donkey here! ” Brody said, pointing to an animal standing next to the god. “ Yes, ” Markos said. “ Silenus rarely travels without his donkey. ” “ But I heard that many of the other gods also decided to bring their lucky creatures to this symposium. “

伊菲克勒斯站在他们身后，宙斯正在与其他几位神交谈，包括哈迪斯和波塞冬。 布罗迪很快看到了更多熟悉的面孔。阿波罗正在从仆人的盘子里取食物。 在旁边，雅典娜正在和一个光头白胡子的大腹便便的神聊天。 “嘿，看，这里有一头驴！”布罗迪指着站在神旁边的一只动物说。 “是的，”马库斯说。“西勒诺斯很少在没有驴的情况下旅行。 ”而且我听说许多其他神也决定把他们的幸运物带到这个研讨会上。”

He nodded toward Artemis, who was surrounded by several lean, amber-eyed hunting dogs as she talked with Hephaestus and Demeter. ” Symposium?” Brody blinked. “ What’s that? I thought this was supposed to be a banquet. I hope they’re going to serve more food! ” “ A symposium is a type of banquet, ” Markos said, grinning at him. “ Don’t worry, Brody, the food will be plentiful. ” As if to prove Markos’ point, a servant hurried up and offered them roasted meat and vegetables. Brody helped himself to a piece of the meat.

他向阿尔忒弥斯点了点头，她与赫菲斯托斯和得墨忒耳交谈时，身边围着几只瘦瘦的、琥珀色眼睛的猎狗。 “研讨会？”布罗迪眨了眨眼睛。“那是什么？我以为这应该是一场宴会。我希望他们会提供更多的食物！” “研讨会是一种宴会，”马库斯笑着说。“别担心，布罗迪，食物会很充足的。” 似乎是为了证明马科斯的观点，一个仆人急忙上前，给他们烤肉和蔬菜。 布罗迪吃了一块肉。

He’d barely taken a bite when Hermes grabbed his arm and dragged him across the room. “ Nike, the goddess of victory, just arrived, ” Hermes said eagerly. “ I don’t think she’s seen you yet, has she, my boy?” “ Uh, I don’t know. ” Brody glanced back to make sure that Markos was keeping up with them. “ Nike, my friend! ” Hermes said when they reached a tall, broad-shouldered goddess with wings sprouting out of her back. “ I wish to introduce my champion, the finest mortal athlete in Greece! ” “ Greetings, Hermes. ” Nike looked Brody up and down.

他刚咬一口，赫耳墨斯就抓住他的胳膊，拖着他穿过房间。 “胜利女神刚刚到来。“我想她还没见过你，是吗，我的孩子？” “呃，我不知道。”布罗迪回头看了一眼，以确保马科斯跟得上他们。 当他们走向一位高大、宽肩、背上长着翅膀的女神时，赫耳墨斯说“胜利女神，我的朋友！”。 “我想介绍我的冠军，希腊最好的凡人运动员！” “你好，赫尔墨斯。”胜利女神上下打量着布罗迪。

“ I’ve heard that your champion is very talented. ” She smirked. “ Perhaps if Demeter’s latest plot is successful, your champion might even win an event or two at the Games. ” “ Brody will win every event at the Games, ” Hermes bragged. Then he blinked. “ Wait—what plot are you talking about?” Nike looked around, and then leaned closer. “ I’ve heard that Demeter plans to cause the grass beneath Heracles’ feet to become as sticky as honey when he runs, ” she whispered loudly. Brody looked at Markos to see if he had heard this news too.

“我听说你的冠军很有天赋。”她笑了。 “也许如果得墨忒耳的最新计划没问题，你的冠军甚至可能在奥运会上赢得一两场比赛。” “布罗迪将赢得奥运会上的每一项比赛，”赫尔姆斯吹嘘道。然后他眨了眨眼睛。“等等，你在说什么计划？” 胜利女神环顾四周，然后靠得更近。 “我听说得墨忒耳打算让赫拉克勒斯脚下的草在他奔跑时变得像蜂蜜一样粘。”她大声的耳语。 布罗迪看着马库斯，看看他是否也听到了这个消息。

But Brody quickly forgot about Heracles when Aphrodite walked into the room, followed by her champion. “ I see Aphrodite! ” Brody exclaimed. Hermes heard him and glanced toward the goddess of love. “ Stay away from her, boy, ” Hermes said sternly. “ She’s been seen plotting with Hera. You don’t want to get involved in that kind of trouble. ” Brody waited until Hermes turned away again to talk to Nike. Then Brody flashed a look at Markos. Brody and his friends had known about the goddesses’ plotting days ago!

但当阿佛洛狄忒走进房间时，布罗迪很快就忘记了赫拉克勒斯，她的勇士也跟着走进了房间。 “我看见阿佛洛狄忒了！”布罗迪喊道。 赫耳墨斯听到了他的话，向爱神瞥了一眼。“离她远点，孩子，”赫耳墨斯严厉地说。 “有人看到她与赫拉密谋。你不想卷入那种麻烦。” 布罗迪一直等到赫尔墨斯再次转身离开，才与胜利女神交谈。 然后布罗迪瞥了马科斯一眼，布罗迪和他的朋友几天前就知道了女神们的阴谋！