Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 In another airport, nearly half a world away, Merle and Pearl glided through the terminal in a rolling pet carrier. "This is so humiliating," Merle complained as passing travelers peeked in at them through the mesh with puzzled expressions.

在几乎半个地球之外的另一个机场，梅尔和珀尔坐着一辆滚动的宠物车滑过航站楼。 “这太丢脸了，”梅尔抱怨道，路过的旅客带着困惑的表情透过网眼窥视着他们。

"As bad as George Washingsquirrel?" Pearl smiled, recalling the time Michael had brought the squirrels to school dressed in outfits borrowed from George and Martha Washington dolls. "No. Not as bad as that. But at least those clothes fit." Merle called up to Ruben, "You mind telling us where you're taking us?" "As a matter of fact, I do mind. But you will find out soon enough," Ruben replied, pulling them onto an escalator. As they descended toward the baggage claim, the squirrels spotted a sign reading "Welcome to Haifa" in both English and Hebrew. "Haifa? Where's Haifa?" Merle whispered to Pearl.

“跟乔治·华盛顿松鼠一样坏？”珠儿笑了，回忆起有一次迈克尔把松鼠带到学校，松鼠们穿着从乔治和玛莎·华盛顿的玩偶那里借来的衣服。 “没有。没那么糟。但至少这些衣服很合身。” 莫尔对鲁本喊道：“你介意告诉我们你要带我们去哪里吗？”“事实上，我很介意。 但你很快就会知道的，”鲁本回答道，把他们拉上了自动扶梯。 当它们下到行李提取处时，松鼠们发现了一个用英语和希伯来语写着“欢迎来到海法”的牌子。 “海法呢?海法在哪里?”莫尔低声对珠儿说。

"I have no idea," she answered. In fact, in Merle and Pearl's day, early in the first century, a city called Haifa did not yet exist. It was given that name much later. "I hope it's not near the Dead Sea," Merle said. "If I'm afraid of anything, it's going back there." "You and me both." Pearl shuddered as they rolled up to the rental car counter. "Maybe one of those will tell us where we are." Merle pointed to a rack of maps sitting next to them. As Ruben spoke with the rental car agent, Merle tried to unzip the carrier enough to reach out a paw and grab a map. With the squirrels on the inside and the zipper handle on the outside, however, it was no use. "I can't get it open," Merle groaned. Just then, a little girl approached the counter with her mother. She was just a little bit taller than Merle and Pearl's luggage prison, but close enough to hear a whisper. "Pssst!" Merle called out quietly. "Down here." The girl looked down at the squirrels and giggled. "Could you please hand me one of those maps?" Merle pointed to the map rack. The girl's gaze followed. With her free hand she obediently grabbed a map and held it out for the squirrels. Merle pointed to the luggage zipper. Understanding perfectly, the girl let go of her mom's hand, unzipped the luggage, and slipped Merle the map before her mother could react.

“我不知道，”她回答。 事实上，在莫尔和珀尔的时代，也就是公元一世纪早期，一个叫海法的城市还不存在。 很久以后才有了这个名字。 “我希望它不在死海附近，”梅尔说。 “如果我害怕什么，那就是回到那里。” “你和我都是。”他们走到租车柜台前，珠儿打了个寒颤。 “也许其中一个会告诉我们我们在哪里。” 莫尔指了指他们旁边的一架子地图。 就在鲁本和租车代理谈话的时候，梅尔试图拉开行李架的拉链，伸出一只爪子，抓起一张地图。 然而，由于松鼠在里面，拉链把手在外面，这就没有用了。 “我打不开。”莫尔呻吟道。 就在这时，一个小女孩和她的妈妈走向柜台。 她只比莫尔和珀尔的行李监狱高一点，但近得足以听到窃窃私语。 “嘿,”莫尔轻声叫道。 “在这里。”小女孩低头看着松鼠，咯咯地笑了起来。 “你能给我一张地图吗？”莫尔指着地图架。 女孩的目光也跟着转了过来。她用空着的那只手顺从地抓起一张地图，递给松鼠们看。 莫尔指着行李的拉链。 小女孩心知肚明，她松开妈妈的手，拉开行李拉链，在妈妈反应过来之前把地图塞给梅尔。

"What are you doing?" the girl's mom demanded. "Talking to the silly squirrels," the girl responded. "Sweetie, you can't touch people's luggage. I am so sorry," the mom apologized to Ruben. "Grmph," Ruben grunted grumpily at the mom and the girl as he reached down and re-zipped the luggage. Thankfully, he didn't notice the map. As they rolled away toward their rental car, Merle and Pearl gave the helpful little girl a thankful wave.

“你在干什么？”女孩的妈妈问道。 “和愚蠢的松鼠说话。”女孩回答。 “亲爱的，你不能碰别人的行李。 妈妈向鲁本道歉。 “奶奶，”鲁本对妈妈和女孩暴躁地哼了一声，然后伸手重新拉上了行李的拉链。 谢天谢地，他没有注意到地图。 当他们向租来的车走去时，莫尔和珀尔向这个乐于助人的小女孩感激地挥了挥手。