8. Darlene to the Rescue

Chapter 8 Darlene to the Rescue "Hypo could live anywhere, even California," Nate said. "But he might be staying in Green Lawn for a while," Lucy said. "Last night he told us he grew up here." "Wait, he said he used to work at the Shangri-la Hotel," Brian said. "So maybe he's staying there!"

“海波可以住在任何地方，甚至加州，”内特说。 “但他可能会在绿草坪待上一段时间。”露茜说。 “昨晚他告诉我们他在这里长大。” “等等，他说他以前在香格里拉酒店工作，”布莱恩说。 “所以他可能住在那里！”

"Excellent, Bri," Bradley said. "Let's go!" He woke up Pal and snapped on his leash. The four kids hurried downstairs and through the kitchen. No one was around. Bradley heard laughter coming from the living room. They fast-walked through the high school playing fields, toward Main Street. Pal barked at the swans as they passed the pond. Five minutes later they entered the lobby of the hotel. Mr. Linkletter was standing behind the counter. He smiled when he saw the kids, but shook his head at Pal. "No doggies allowed," he said. "Not even my old pal Pal." "Hi, Mr. Linkletter. We came to see Mr. Hypo," Bradley said. Mr. Linkletter raised his eyebrows. "Is he expecting you?" he asked. "No, but it's really important," Nate said. "It's a matter of life and death!" "Indeed!" Mr. Linkletter said. A smile crossed his lips, then flew away like a scared hummingbird. "I'll call his room."

“太好了，布莱，”布拉德利说。 “我们走吧!”他叫醒了帕尔，猛拉他的皮带。 四个孩子匆匆下楼，穿过厨房。 周围没有人。布拉德利听到客厅里传来笑声。 他们快步穿过高中的操场，朝主街走去。 当天鹅经过池塘时，帕尔朝它们吠叫。 五分钟后，他们走进旅馆的大厅。 林克莱特先生站在柜台后面。 当他看到孩子们时，他笑了，但对帕尔摇了摇头。 “狗狗不得入内，”他说。 “连我的老朋友都没有。” “你好，Linkletter先生。我们是来见海波先生的，”布拉德利说。 林克莱特先生扬起了眉毛。 “他在等你吗？”他问。 “不，但这真的很重要，”内特说。 “这是生死攸关的事！”“的确!”林克莱特说。 他嘴角掠过一丝微笑，然后像受惊的蜂鸟一样飞走了。 “我给他的房间打个电话。”

Mr. Linkletter picked up the hotel phone. He tapped a number. "Mr. Grabowski, there are four children down here to see you," he said. "And a dog. They said it's a matter of life and death.… Yes, of course." Mr. Linkletter hung up the phone. "Mr. Grabowski will see you," he said. "Room 207, second floor. Pal will have to stay here with me." "Hypo's real name is Grabowski?" Nate said. "It is indeed," Mr. Linkletter said. He walked around the counter and took Pal's leash from Bradley.

林克莱特先生拿起酒店的电话。 他敲了一个号码。“格拉博夫斯基先生，下面有四个孩子要见你，”他说。 “还有一只狗。他们说这是生死攸关的事……是的，当然。” 林克莱特先生挂了电话。 “格拉博夫斯基先生要见你，”他说。 “二楼207室。伙计得留在这里陪我。” “海波的真名是格拉博夫斯基？”内特说。 “确实如此，”林克莱特说。 他绕过柜台，从布拉德利手中接过帕尔的皮带。

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Linkletter," Bradley said. The four kids found the elevator and got off on the second floor. They followed the signs to room 207. The long hallway was quiet. "This place is creepy," Brian whispered. "What if he hypnotizes us and makes us zombies or something?" "Dude, hypnosis only works if you want it to," Nate said. "Do you want to be a zombie?" "Let me think about it," Brian said. Bradley knocked on the door. It was opened by a total stranger. The man standing there was short and bald. He wore a baggy sweatshirt. "Is Mr. Grabowski here?" Bradley asked. "I am he!" the man said. "Better known as Hypo, the world's greatest hypnotist." Bradley recognized Hypo's voice. "Come in, come in," the man said. The four kids walked in. They were in a living room with nice furniture and a big TV. Bradley saw Hypo's fake mustache on a table. Some doors led to other rooms. "Please have a seat," Hypo said.

“非常感谢，林克莱特先生，”布拉德利说。 四个孩子找到了电梯，在二楼下了电梯。 他们跟着指示牌来到207房间。 长长的走廊很安静。 “这地方令人毛骨悚然，”布莱恩低声说。 “如果他催眠我们，把我们变成僵尸什么的呢？”“伙计，催眠只有在你想要的时候才会起作用，”内特说。 “你想变成僵尸吗？”“让我想想，”布莱恩说。 布拉德利敲了敲门。 是一个完全陌生的人打开的。 站在那里的那个人又矮又秃。 他穿着一件宽松的运动衫。 “格拉博夫斯基先生在吗？”布拉德利问。 “我就是他！”那人说。“更广为人知的名字是Hypo，世界上最伟大的催眠师。” 布拉德利听出了海波的声音。 “请进，请进，”那人说。 四个孩子走了进来。他们在一个有漂亮家具和大电视的客厅里。 布拉德利在桌子上看到了海波的假胡子。 有些门通向其他房间。 “请坐，”海波说。

The kids lined up on the sofa. Just then a big white duck waddled into the room. The duck's toenails were pink. Bradley nearly swallowed his tongue. Brian ran over to the duck. "Mom?" he said. "Is that you?" Lucy just stared at the duck. "Hi, Mrs. Pinto," Nate said. Hypo laughed. "This isn't your mother," he said to Bradley and Brian.

孩子们在沙发上排成一排。 就在这时，一只白色的大鸭子摇摇摆摆地走进了房间。 鸭子的脚趾甲是粉红色的。 布拉德利差点把舌头吞了下去。 布莱恩跑向鸭子。 “妈妈？”他说。“是你吗？”露西只是盯着那只鸭子。 “你好，平托太太，”内特说。 海波笑了。“这不是你们的妈妈，”他对布拉德利和布莱恩说。

"This is Darlene, the world's smartest duck." "I don't get it," Bradley said. "Last night, you hypnotized our mom. She became a duck. This duck. That's why we're here, Mr. Grab—"

“这是达琳，世界上最聪明的鸭子” “我不明白，”布拉德利说。 “昨晚，你催眠了我们的妈妈。 她变成了一只鸭子。这鸭子。 这就是我们来这里的原因，格拉布先生——”