48_Escape

Julia stood with Markos near the exit to the stadium. She gasped along with everyone else when Hera tossed the pomegranates onto the track. “ Uh-oh, ” she murmured. Then she saw Brody running to help guide Heracles around the rolling fruits, and she let out a sigh of relief. “ I guess that’s one prank we didn’t hear about, ” she said to Markos. He looked relieved too. “ Hera is more secretive than most of the gods, ” he said. “ It’s lucky for Heracles that Brody thought quickly. ”

茱莉亚和马库斯站在体育场出口附近。当赫拉把石榴扔到跑道上时，她和其他人一起叹气。 “哦，”她喃喃地说。 然后，她看到布罗迪跑去围着滚动的水果转帮助赫拉克勒斯，她松了一口气。 “我想这是一个我们没有听说的阴谋，”她对马库斯说。 他看起来也松了一口气。他说：“赫拉比大多数神都更神秘。”他说道。 “布罗迪反应很快，这对赫拉克勒斯来说是幸运的。”

“ It sure is, ” Julia agreed. “ Lucky for us too. ” Before today the idea of Brody’s thinking quickly would have made her laugh. But not anymore. She had learned that Brody wasn’t dumb at all. She glanced back at the track, checking to see if it was time for her to put the plan in motion. Thanks to Brody, Heracles was off again, running slowly but steadily in his armor. The other athletes were just about to reach the pomegranates—it was time for Julia to go. “ Thanks again for all your help, ” Julia said to Markos. “ I’ll miss you when we go home. I knowBrody will miss you too. ”

“当然，”茱莉亚同意。“我们也很幸运。” 在今天之前，布罗迪快速思考的想法会让她大笑，但现在不会了。 她知道布罗迪一点也不傻。 她回头瞥了一眼赛道，看看是不是该她实施计划了。 多亏了布罗迪，赫拉克勒斯又出发了，他穿着盔甲缓慢而稳定地奔跑着。 其他运动员都快要到达石榴了，茱莉亚该走了。 “再次感谢你的帮助。“茱莉亚对马库斯说到。“回家后我会想你的，我想布罗迪也会想你。”

She was glad Markos had told her about Hermes’ oath of protection. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about Markos or his family after she and Brody left ancient Greece. Hermes had sworn to protect them, and Athena would make sure he kept that promise. Markos looked a little embarrassed. “ I’ll miss both of you as well, ” he said shyly. “ I never expected to become friends with a girl. ” He shrugged. “ Then again, you’re not like most girls, Julia. ” Julia decided to take that as a compliment. “ Thanks, ” she said with a smile. “ I’d better get moving now. ”

她很高兴马库斯告诉她赫尔墨斯的保护誓言。 现在，在她和布罗迪离开古希腊后，她不必担心马库斯或他的家人。 赫耳墨斯发誓要保护他们，雅典娜会确保他信守诺言。 马科斯看起来有点尴尬。“我也会想念你们俩的，”他害羞地说。 “我从没想过会和一个女孩成为朋友。”他耸耸肩。“再说一遍，你不像大多数女孩，茱莉亚。” 朱莉娅决定把这当作一种恭维。“谢谢，”她笑着说。“我最好现在就行动。”

Markos nodded. “ I’ll distract Hermes if needed. But I’m guessing it won’t be necessary. “ ” Everyone will be focused on Heracles as soon as he wins this final event. ” Julia smiled again, certain that Markos was right. “ Good luck, Markos, ” she whispered. “ Same to you, ” Markos whispered back. “ Good- bye, Julia. ” Julia tightened her hold on a cloth bundle as she hurried outside the stadium. Not far away Iphicles was waiting for her in a chariot. The chariot was pulled by a pair of horses—just as they’d planned.

马库斯点了点头。“如果需要的话，我会分散赫尔墨斯的注意力。但我想这没必要。” “一旦赫拉克勒斯赢得这场最终比赛，每个人都会关注他。” 朱莉娅再次微笑，确信马库斯是对的。“祝你好运，马库斯，”她低声说道。 “你也一样，”马库斯小声回答。“再见，茱莉亚。” 茱莉亚匆匆走出体育场，紧紧抓住一个布包。不远处，伊菲克勒斯坐在马车里等着她。 正如他们计划的那样，马车由一对马拉着。

Iphicles waved her over. “ Ready?” he asked. “ The hoplitodromos is a very short race, and it’s probably nearly over. I suppose my brother is about to triumph yet again?” ” Yes, but no thanks to Hera, ” Julia said. “ She played a nasty prank, which slowed everything down. Just give me a second to change clothes, Iphicles, and I’ll be ready. ” She pulled her jeans out of the bundle she was carrying and slipped them on under her chiton. Iphicles turned away politely as Julia finished changing.

伊菲克勒斯向她挥手致意。“准备好了吗？”他问。 “武装赛跑是一场很短的比赛，它可能快结束了。我想我的兄弟又要凯旋了吧？” “是的，但不感谢赫拉，”茱莉亚说。 “她做了一个下流的恶作剧，使一切都变慢了。给我一秒钟换衣服，伊菲克勒斯，我就准备好了。” 她把牛仔裤从随身携带的包裹里拿出来，放在便衣下。 茱莉亚换完衣服时，伊菲克勒斯礼貌地转过身去。

Then she jumped aboard the chariot. “ Let’s get in the stadium and finish this, Iphicles. I’m ready to go home! ” Iphicles nodded and flicked the reins, and the horses trotted into the stadium. Julia looked toward the finish line. Heracles was still on the track, running as fast as he could in the heavy armor. Brody had picked up his armor, and was running again, many strides behind Heracles. Julia still felt nervous, but so far everything was going according to her plan. All they had to do was wait for Brody to finish the race.

然后她跳上了战车。“让我们进入体育场，结束这一切，伊菲克勒斯。我准备回家了！” 伊菲克勒斯点点头，拨动缰绳，马匹小跑着进入体育场，茱莉亚朝终点看去。 赫拉克勒斯仍然在跑道上，穿着厚重的盔甲，以最快的速度奔跑。 布罗迪拿起盔甲，又跑了起来，远远落后于赫拉克勒斯。 朱莉娅仍然感到紧张，但到目前为止一切都按照她的计划进行。 他们所要做的就是等待布罗迪完成比赛。