15 READY OR KNOT

CHAPTER 15 READY OR KNOT Hold still!" said Alexander. "It's no use," said Rip. "There are too many knots!" More balloon goons were pouring into the room. Alexander had to think fast. He jumped straight up, came back down, and then bounced higher. He came down a second time and a third, until he shot up above the tallest goons. They wobbled in place, their eyes fixed on the leaping boy. Alexander bounced higher yet. From way up there, the goons looked small harmless, even. "Heads up!" shouted Rip. Alexander saw the green OUR DUST balloon from the corner of his eye. It twirled something on the end of a string and let it fly.

第十五章准备好还是打结别动！”亚历山大说。 “没用的，”瑞普说。“结太多了！”更多的气球打手涌进了房间。 亚历山大必须快速思考。 他直接跳起来，又跳下来，然后又跳得更高。 他第二次、第三次降落，直到飞到最高的打手上方。 他们摇摇晃晃地站在原地，眼睛盯着那个跳跃的男孩。 亚历山大反弹得更高。 从高处看，这些打手看起来很小，甚至是无害的。 “小心！”瑞普喊道。亚历山大从眼角看到了绿色的“我们的尘埃”气球。 它旋转着绳子末端的什么东西，让它飞起来。

WHAP! Alexander was hit by his old shoe, and began to fall. He hugged his knees and cannonballed into the crowd. He slammed down onto the green balloon goon. That goon exploded, releasing a blast of air that knocked the rest of the goons to the floor. "That," said Rip, "was amazing." Alexander shakily stood up. "We can take 'em. One at a time, they're not very strong." "Uh-oh..." said Rip. "Look!"

重击!亚历山大被他的旧鞋砸中，开始跌倒。 他抱着膝盖，像炮弹一样冲向人群。 他猛地撞到绿色的气球上。 那个打手爆炸了，释放出一股空气，把其他打手都打倒在地。 “那，”瑞普说，“太神奇了。” 亚历山大颤抖地站了起来。 “我们可以对付他们。一次对付一个，他们不是很强大。” “哦哦……”瑞普说。“看!”

The floored balloon goons were crawling toward one another like inchworms. They began twisting their bodies together and had soon braided themselves into one gigantic balloon snake. The massive snake reared its head high, casting a shadow on the boys.

地面上的气球打手们像尺蠖一样互相爬来爬去。 他们开始把身体扭在一起，很快就编织成了一条巨大的气球蛇。 那条巨蛇昂起头，在男孩们身上投下了阴影。