18 River Rat

River Rat written by Diana Freeman illustrated by Samer Hatam

河鼠，作者戴安娜·弗里曼，插画萨默·哈塔姆

Brothers and twins, Jay and Raj, enjoyed building different and unusual things together. Yesterday the brothers had built a raft using the tools and wood they had found around their home. Today they thought of a way they could make the raft even better they would add a mast to it. Working together, they carefully carried the mast over to the raft and attached it. "Next, we need to pick something to use for a sail," said Raj. "I know, how about a sheet?" asked Jay. The twins thought that was a great plan and so they went to check if it was okay with their parents before using a sheet that did not belong to them. The brothers named the raft River Rat.

杰和拉杰是一对双胞胎兄弟，他们喜欢一起建造不同寻常的东西。 昨天，兄弟俩用在家里找到的工具和木头搭了一个木筏。 今天，他们想到了一个办法，可以把木筏做得更好，他们在上面加了一根桅杆。 他们齐心协力，小心翼翼地把桅杆搬到木筏上并固定好。 “接下来，我们需要选一些东西来做船帆，”拉杰说。 “我知道了，一张床单怎么样?”杰伊问。 这对双胞胎认为这是一个伟大的计划，所以在使用不属于他们的床单之前，他们去看看父母是否同意。 兄弟俩把木筏命名为“河鼠”。

When the River Rat raft was ready, the twins decided it was time to sail it down the river and under the bridge. The boys talked to their parents and told them their plan and how they would stay safe. Once they had their life jackets on, the twins pushed River Rat into the river behind their house. The water had branches floating in it and wasn't very clear.

当河鼠木筏准备好后，双胞胎决定是时候让它顺流而下，从桥下穿过了。 男孩们和他们的父母交谈，告诉他们自己的计划以及如何保证安全。 一旦他们穿上救生衣，双胞胎就把河鼠推到他们房子后面的河里。 水里漂浮着树枝，不是很清澈。

For a while, the boys paddled happily, going further down the river. All of a sudden, the wind blew in a different direction, making the sail swing around and push hard against Jay. Splash! He fell off the raft and into the water! Jay came up gasping. He'd lost his paddle and it floated quickly down the river, further away from him. Luckily, he was safe because he had his life jacket on.

有一会儿，孩子们高兴地划着桨，继续往下游游。 突然，风吹向了一个不同的方向，使帆旋转起来，用力地推着杰伊。 飞溅!他从木筏上掉到水里去了!杰伊喘着气走了上来。 他的桨丢了，桨迅速地顺河而下，离他越来越远了。 幸运的是，他很安全，因为他穿着救生衣。

Raj had a plan. He quickly lay down on the raft, moving really carefully, so that it didn't tip over. Raj reached out to Jay. Lying in the water, Jay let the river carry him along until he got close to the raft. He was able to reach Raj's hand and by working together, slowly and carefully, they got Jay safely back onto the raft. Jay felt very cold and wet but at least he was safe!

拉杰有个计划他迅速躺在木筏上，小心翼翼地移动，以免木筏翻倒。 拉杰联系了杰杰伊躺在水里，让河水把他冲走，直到他靠近木筏。 他够到了拉杰的手，他们一起慢慢地小心翼翼地把杰安全地拉回到木筏上。 杰伊感到又冷又湿，但至少他是安全的!

Now they only had one paddle, but the wind blew in the right direction and was able to carry them down the river. Raj used the paddle to move them away from the land and into the middle of the river. With the wind helping them along, the River Rat was going really fast. Both Raj and Jay were having fun. "There's the bridge!" yelled Jay.

现在他们只有一个桨，但风吹的方向正确，能够把他们带到河的下游。 拉杰用桨把他们从陆地上移到河中央。 在风的帮助下，河鼠走得很快。 拉杰和杰都玩得很开心 “桥在那儿!”杰伊喊道。