6 IN THE DARK

CHAPTER 6 IN THE DARK Good morning, early bird!" sang a chirpy voice. Alexander's teacher popped out of a hatch in the classroom wall. Alexander sighed. "Hi, Mr. Plunkett." "You're just in time to help," Mr. Plunkett said. He wheeled out an old machine that looked like a cross between a telescope and a toaster. "You'll be running the projector today."

第六章在黑暗中早上好，早起的鸟儿！”一个欢快的声音唱道。 亚历山大的老师从教室墙上的一个舱口跳出来。 亚历山大叹了口气。“你好，普伦基特先生。” “你来得正是时候，”普伦基特说。 他推出一台旧机器，看起来像是望远镜和烤面包机的混合体。 “今天放映机由你来操作。”

Alexander fussed with the projector while the rest of the class arrived. Rip gave Alexander a slap on the back as he walked by. Alexander noticed Rip's shadow was Rip-shaped. Then Nikki showed up. At least, she looked like Nikki. But she seemed like a totally different girl. She took long steps. She held her head high. And then, she smiled. It was a mile-wide, eyes-closed, stretch-your-cheeks kind of smile. "Salamander!" Nikki stepped in front of the projector's beam. Alexander squinted as light reflected off the silver wires on her teeth. "I love love love my new braces!" she said. "Your dad's the best!"

当其他同学到达时，亚历山大摆弄着投影仪。 里普在亚历山大走过的时候拍拍他的背。 亚历山大注意到瑞普的影子是瑞普形的。 然后妮基出现了。至少她长得像妮基。 但她看起来完全变了一个人。 她走了很长一段路。她昂着头。 然后，她笑了。那是一英里宽，闭着眼睛，张开脸颊的微笑。 “蝾螈!”妮基走到放映机的光束前。 亚历山大眯起眼睛，看到她牙齿上的银丝反射出的光。 “我爱死我的新牙套了！”她说。 “你爸爸是最棒的！”

Her teeth seemed less pointy with the braces. How could I have thought she was a monster? thought Alexander. Then he gasped. Although Nikki stood directly in the light, she had no shadow!

戴上牙套后，她的牙齿似乎没那么尖了。 我怎么会认为她是个怪物呢？ 认为亚历山大。然后他倒吸了一口气。 虽然妮基直接站在光里，但她没有影子！

FLICK! Out went the lights. "Okay, class," Mr. Plunkett said. "What's special about tomorrow?" "It's Gopher Day!" shouted everyone except Alexander. Gopher Day? Alexander wondered. "Yes, Gopher Day!" said Mr. Plunkett. "So instead of a boring old science lesson, we're going to watch a filmstrip today!" Everyone cheered. Except Alexander, again. "Mr. Bopp, start the film!"

电影!灯灭了。 “好了，同学们，”普伦基特说。 “明天有什么特别的吗？”“今天是地鼠日！”除了亚历山大，每个人都喊道。 金花鼠的一天?亚历山大很好奇。 “是的，地鼠日！”普伦基特先生说。 “所以我们今天不看无聊的老科学课，而是看短片！”每个人都欢呼起来。 除了亚历山大。“先生。 波普，开始看电影吧！”

EVERY YEAR AT NOON ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING EVERYONE IN STERMONT GOES TO DERWOOD PARK... TO SEE THE STAR OF GOPHER DAY: STERMONT STELLA!

每年春天的第一天中午，斯特蒙特的每个人都去德伍德公园…… 去看地鼠之星：斯特蒙特·斯特拉！

Suddenly, a dark blur washed across the screen. "Boooo!" the class shouted. Alexander fiddled with some knobs, but the smudge wouldn't budge. "Aw, nuts show's over, folks!" said Mr. Plunkett, switching the lights back on. "Remember: Bring your families to Gopher Day!" "And also," said Mr. Plunkett, waving a large envelope, "your pictures are ready." He handed out the photos.

突然，一个黑影掠过屏幕。 “嘘！”全班同学喊道。 亚历山大拨弄了一些旋钮，但污迹纹丝不动。 “啊，坚果表演结束了，伙计们！”普伦基特先生说着，又把灯打开了。 “记住：带上你的家人来参加地鼠日！”“还有，”普伦基特先生挥舞着一个大信封说，“你的照片准备好了。” 他分发照片。