4 FULL STEAM AHEAD

CHAPTER 4 FULL STEAM AHEAD Alexander saw a rain cloud in the thirteenth floor hallway. Actually, it wasn't a rain cloud. It was steam. Principal Vanderpants was chugging down the hallway, lugging her strange white bucket. Alexander followed her. She stopped in front of the UPSTAIRS BASEMENT. Her bucket sloshed, and something flew out, landing on the carpet.

四全速前进亚历山大在十三楼的走廊上看见一片雨云。 实际上，那不是雨云。 那是蒸汽。范德培斯校长拖着她那奇怪的白色水桶，在走廊上嘎吱嘎吱地走着。 亚历山大跟着她。她在楼上的地下室前停了下来。 她的水桶晃动了一下，有什么东西飞了出来，落在地毯上。

Spaghetti?! thought Alexander. Ms. Vanderpants unlocked the stone door and slowly opened it. She hauled in her bucket and pulled the door shut behind her. Alexander picked up the wet noodle. Why is she bringing spaghetti in there? he wondered. SCRITCH-SCRITCH! Alexander heard more loud scraping noises from inside, and then quick footsteps. TUP-TUP-TUP! She's coming! thought Alexander. He tossed the noodle aside and ran to her office. He pretended to study his spelling words.

意大利面条?认为亚历山大。 范德帕斯打开石门，慢慢打开。 她拖进水桶，随手把门关上。 亚历山大拿起湿面条。 她为什么要带意大利面进来？ 他想知道。SCRITCH-SCRITCH !亚历山大听到里面传来更大的刮擦声，然后是急促的脚步声。 TUP-TUP-TUP !她来了!认为亚历山大。 他把面条扔到一边，跑向她的办公室。 他假装在学习拼写单词。

A moment later, Ms. Vanderpants came in. She placed her empty bucket in the corner, wiped her brow, and picked up a rolled-up poster. "All right, Alexander," she said. "It's time I let you in on a secret." She handed the poster to Alexander. He sat up in his seat. Is this going to tell me what's inside the UPSTAIRS BASEMENT? he wondered. Or is it her master plan for destroying the S.S.M.P. once and for all? Alexander's hands were shaking as he unrolled the poster.

过了一会儿，范德帕斯女士走了进来。 她把空水桶放在角落里，擦了擦额头，拿起一张卷起来的海报。 “好吧，亚历山大，”她说。 “是时候告诉你一个秘密了。” 她把海报递给亚历山大。 他从座位上坐了起来。这能告诉我楼上地下室里有什么吗？ 他想知道。或者这是她摧毁社会党的大计划 一劳永逸？亚历山大展开海报时，他的手在颤抖。

It wasn't a master plan. It was a picture of a grinning steam shovel. "Stanley?" said Alexander. "Yes," said Ms. Vanderpants. "So you're already familiar with Stanley the Steam Shovel?" "Yeah," said Alexander. "I liked the cartoons when I was little. And my dad keeps buying me the books." "Excellent," said Ms. Vanderpants. "Because the author, Morty C. Mingus, is coming to Stermont Elementary for our 100th Day party. And tomorrow, you're going to help me get ready." Alexander looked at Stanley's dopey grin. Then he rolled his eyes, rolled up the poster, and got back to work.

这不是一个总体规划。那是一张蒸汽铲咧嘴笑的照片。 “斯坦利？”亚历山大说。 “是的，”范德帕斯说。 “这么说你已经很熟悉蒸汽铲斯坦利了？”“是的，”亚历山大说。 “我小时候喜欢看动画片。 我爸爸一直给我买书。” “太好了，”范德帕斯说。 因为作者Morty C。 明格斯要来斯特蒙特小学参加我们的百日派对。 明天，你要帮我准备好。” 亚历山大看着斯坦利傻笑的样子。 然后他翻了个白眼，卷起海报，继续工作。