09-PROFESSOR ALRAT SPITFUR

PROFESSOR ALRAT SPITFUR In the airport, I read Grandfather William's instructions again. I had to interview Professor ALRAT SPITFUR. He had invented a new way to create energy. I wondered what it could be. I loved hearing about scientific discoveries. Then I could write about them in my paper. I was getting into a taxi when my cell phone rang. "Hello! This is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton," I answered. Grandfather's voice blew out my eardrum. "ROTTEN RATS' TEETH!" he shrieked. "Did you not hear one word I said, Grandson?! Am I talking just to hear my own voice?

在机场，我又读了一遍威廉爷爷的说明。 我得去采访艾拉特·斯皮弗教授。 他发明了一种创造能量的新方法。 我想知道那是什么。 我喜欢听科学发现。 然后我就可以把它们写在论文里了。 我正要上出租车，这时我的手机响了。 “你好!我是斯蒂尔顿，杰罗尼莫·斯蒂尔顿。” 祖父的声音震聋了我的耳膜。 “烂老鼠的牙齿!”他尖叫道。 “你没听到我说的一个字吗，孙子?”我说话只是为了听到自己的声音吗?

Doesn't anyone listen anymore? If a tree fell in a forest and no one was around, would it make a sound?" I stared at the phone. I had no idea what my grandfather was babbling about. "You're on a budget!" he squeaked at last. "Forget the taxi, Grandson! Hire a camel! And don't forget to ask for a discount!" I haggled with a camel driver. Then I climbed in between the camel's humps. One thing you should know about riding a camel, it's just like being on a boat. I was soon seasick. Yes, I, Geronimo Stilton, got seasick on dry land! Oh, what a day!

难道没有人再听了吗? 如果森林里有一棵树倒了，周围没有人，它会发出声音吗?”我盯着电话。 我不知道祖父在胡言乱语些什么。 “你在省钱!”他终于尖声说。 “别管出租车了，孙子!”租一头骆驼吧!别忘了要求打折!”我和一个赶骆驼的讨价还价。 然后我爬进了骆驼的两个驼峰之间。 有一件事你应该知道，骑骆驼就像在船上一样。 我很快就晕船了。是的，我，杰罗尼莫·斯蒂尔顿，在陆地上晕船了!哦，多糟糕的一天啊!

I reached the laboratory an hour later. By that time, I looked like a tired lump of moldy green cheese. The lab was a CONCRETE building sitting in the middle of the desert. I lurched up the steps and rang the doorbell. And that's when it hit me. The most horrible SMELL you could ever imagine. I held my breath. It was unbearable. By the time the door opened, I was turning blue. A funny-looking rodent with red fur and thick glasses peered out at me. He wore a white lab coat and had a clothespin on his nose.

一小时后我到了实验室。 到那时，我看起来就像一块发霉的绿色奶酪。 实验室是一座坐落在沙漠中央的混凝土建筑。 我蹒跚地走上台阶，按响了门铃。 就在那时，我突然意识到。 你能想象到的最难闻的气味。 我屏住了呼吸。这是难以忍受的。 当门打开的时候，我脸色发青。 一只长着红毛、戴着厚眼镜、长相滑稽的啮齿动物盯着我。 他穿着一件白色的实验大褂，鼻子上挂着一个衣夹。

"Hey there! I'm PROFESSOR ALRAT SPITFUR," he squeaked warmly. He had to keep gasping for air because of the clothespin. "You must be Geronimo Stilton. I received a phone call from your grandfather William Shortpaws, also known as Cheap Mouse Willy. He must be some mouse!" "Yes, I am Geronimo Stilton. And you're right, my grandfather is some mouse," I gasped. "Some kind of crazy, wacko, infuriating mouse," I added under my breath. The professor pulled a clothespin out of his pocket. "You might want to wear this," he advised. "Now, come along. I'll show you around the LABORATORY." I realized the STENCH was getting stronger and stronger. I quickly stuck the clothespin on my nose.

“嘿!我是艾拉·斯皮弗教授。”他热情地尖声说。 由于衣夹的缘故，他不得不不停地喘气。 “你一定是杰罗尼莫·斯蒂尔顿。 我接到了你祖父威廉·短爪的电话，也被称为廉价老鼠威利。 他一定是只老鼠!”“是的，我是杰罗尼莫·斯蒂尔顿。 你说得对，我爷爷是只老鼠。”我喘着气说。 “某种疯狂、古怪、令人恼火的老鼠。”我压低声音补充道。 教授从口袋里掏出一个衣夹。 “你可能想戴上这个，”他建议道。 “现在，走吧。我带你参观一下实验室。” 我意识到臭味越来越浓了。 我迅速把衣夹夹在鼻子上。

Professor Spitfur led me into a stable. It was where they bred hundreds of camels. You wouldn't believe the stink! Professor Spitfur began to explain about his incredible discovery. "You do know about the formula for SUPERSONIC, SUPERSENSITIVE, superduper magnetic force, don't you?" he asked. As he spoke, I had to keep hopping back and forth. It turns out the professor wore dentures. Every time he opened his mouth, streams of ratspit shot out at me! I know I needed a shower after my flight, but this was ridiculous! Oh, what a day!

斯皮弗教授把我带进了马厩。 他们在那里饲养了数百头骆驼。 你不会相信那股臭味!斯皮弗教授开始解释他那令人难以置信的发现。 “你知道超音速、超灵敏、超磁力的公式吧?”他问。 他说话的时候，我不得不不停地跳来跳去。 原来教授戴着假牙。 每次他一张嘴，就有一股股鼠粪朝我喷出来!我知道我坐完飞机后需要洗个澡，但这太荒谬了!哦，多糟糕的一天啊!