Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 A large map of Israel lay spread out across the Gomezes' kitchen table. The entire family, along with Michael's best friends, Justin and Sadie, stared at two acorns and a tiny little Monopoly iron that rested on the map. You might have thought the group was playing a board game. But this was no game! Dr. Gomez and Michael were planning a rescue mission. "The acorns are the squirrels?" Jane, Michael's little sister asked, holding the family cat, Mr. Nemesis, on her lap. "Yes," Michael said impatiently. With that confirmation, Mr. Nemesis reached a paw out and thwacked the acorns, sending them flying. "Bad cat!" Michael hollered. "Why is there an iron?" Jane wondered. "The iron represents the man in the suit and sunglasses. It was the only other game piece I could find," Michael said, picking the acorns up from the floor. Justin nodded. "Nobody ever wants to be the iron." "Yeah, what's with the iron?" Sadie added. "I'm always the hat." "I like the race car," said Justin.

一张很大的以色列地图摊开在戈麦斯家的餐桌上。 全家人，还有迈克尔最好的朋友贾斯汀和赛迪，都盯着地图上的两颗橡子和一块小小的大富翁铁。 你可能以为这群人在玩棋盘游戏。 但这不是游戏！戈麦斯医生和迈克尔在计划营救任务。 “橡子就是松鼠？”简，迈克尔的小妹妹，抱着家里的猫，克星先生，在她的腿上问道。 “是的，”迈克尔不耐烦地说。 确认了这一点后，“宿敌”伸出一只爪子，猛击橡子，把它们打飞了。 “坏猫!”迈克尔大声喊道。 “为什么会有熨斗？”简想知道。 “熨斗代表着西装革履、戴着墨镜的男人。 这是我唯一能找到的另一个游戏部件，”迈克尔说着，从地板上捡起橡子。 贾斯汀点点头。“没人想当铁。” “是啊，那熨斗是怎么回事？”莎蒂补充道。 “我总是戴着帽子。”“我喜欢赛车，”贾斯汀说。

"C'mon guys, we need to concentrate!" Michael barked. "Dad, where do you think he's taking them?" "They will most likely fly into Tel Aviv," Dr. Gomez said. "It's one of Israel's three international airports and the biggest. It's where we flew in and out of this summer." Dr. Gomez moved the acorns and the iron on the map, over the Mediterranean Sea to Tel Aviv. "From there, my best guess is that they will head straight to Jerusalem by car— about an hour's drive." He scooted the trio of tiny objects over to Jerusalem. "Or less if you use the race car," Justin whispered to Sadie, earning a glare from Michael. "Not back to the Dead Sea?" Mrs. Gomez wondered. "I don't think so," Dr. Gomez said. "The man in the suit and sunglasses is working for a collector. Merle and Pearl wouldn't be of much value to a collector at the Dead Sea."

“来吧，伙计们，我们需要集中精神！”迈克尔吠叫。 “爸爸，你觉得他要带他们去哪里？”“他们很可能会飞到特拉维夫。” 戈麦斯说。“这是以色列三大国际机场之一，也是最大的机场。 这是我们今年夏天进出的地方。” 戈麦斯博士在地图上移动橡子和铁，越过地中海来到特拉维夫。 “从那里，我猜测他们将直接乘车前往耶路撒冷——大约一个小时的车程。” 他把这三个小东西飞快地送到耶路撒冷。 “如果你开赛车的话，会更少。”贾斯汀小声对赛迪说，迈克尔瞪了他一眼。 “不回死海吗？”戈麦斯太太纳闷。 “我不这么认为，”戈麦斯博士说。 “那个西装革履、戴着墨镜的男人为一位收藏家工作。 对于死海的收藏家来说，莫尔和珠儿不会有多大价值。”

"Well, that's good, at least," Mrs. Gomez said. Merle and Pearl had said more than once that they had no desire to return to the Dead Sea area. It was way too dry and salty for squirrels there. "If we can find out who the collector is, we can most likely find Merle and Pearl." Dr. Gomez frowned at the map. "But what if we can't find them, Dad?" Michael said. "I'm scared I'll never get to see Merle and Pearl again." He sighed. "I wish we had some kind of a clue where they're

“嗯，至少这很好，”戈麦斯夫人说。 梅尔和珀尔不止一次地说过，他们不想回到死海地区。 那里对松鼠来说太干太咸了。 “如果我们能找出收藏家是谁，我们就很有可能找到梅尔和珀尔。” 戈麦斯博士对着地图皱起了眉头。 “但是如果我们找不到他们怎么办，爸爸？”迈克尔说。 “我怕再也见不到莫尔和珀尔了。” 他叹了口气。“我希望我们能知道他们在哪里

headed."

领导。”