1 Exploring

The Enchanted Castle

魔法城堡

Chapter 1 Exploring "This is the most boring summer ever," said Gerald, looking at Cathy and Jimmy's glum faces. Their parents were abroad and they had been left to stay with Marie, an old friend of their mother's.

“这是最无聊的夏天了，”杰拉尔德看着凯茜和吉米愁眉苦脸的样子说。 他们的父母都在国外，他们被留在母亲的老朋友玛丽家里。

"We need an adventure," he said. "You can't just have an adventure," said Jimmy, who liked to disagree with everyone. "But you can look for one," Gerald replied firmly. "Let's go exploring. I'll ask Marie if we can." "Like that?" asked Cathy. Gerald glanced in the mirror. His hair was sticking up and he had a blob of strawberry jam on his chin. "Perhaps I'll clean up first."

“我们需要一次冒险，”他说。 “你不能只是冒险，”吉米说，他喜欢不同意每个人的意见。 “不过你可以去找一个，"杰拉尔德坚定地回答。 “我们去探险吧。我去问问玛丽我们能不能去。” “像那样吗？”凯茜问。杰拉尔德朝镜子里瞥了一眼。 他的头发竖起来，下巴上沾着一团草莓酱。 “也许我该先打扫一下。”

Minutes later, he went to the sitting room. "I've been thinking," he began. "Wouldn't it be easier for you if we went out during the day?" Marie smiled. "You mean you want to explore," she said. "Of course. Why not take a picnic?"

几分钟后，他来到客厅。 “我一直在想，”他开始说。 “我们白天出去不是更方便吗？”玛丽笑了。 “你是说你想去探索，”她说。 “当然。为什么不去野餐呢？”

Everyone felt more cheerful as they left the house. It was certainly a good day for exploring. The street lay bathed in sunshine and dust sparkled in the road like diamonds. "My friend told me there was an enchanted castle near here," said Gerald, as they strode along the hot, dusty road.

当他们离开房子时，每个人都感到更愉快了。 这的确是探险的好天气。 街道沐浴在阳光下，路上的灰尘像钻石一样闪闪发光。 “我的朋友告诉我，这附近有一座施了魔法的城堡，"杰拉尔德说，这时他们正沿着又热又满是灰尘的大路大步走着。

"Enchanted?" mocked Jimmy. "What an idiot. But a castle might be fun," he added. "Where is it?" Gerald shrugged. "No idea." He stopped as they reached a fork in the road. "Let's try this one," Cathy said, taking the right-hand fork.

“中了魔法？”吉米嘲笑道。 “真是个白痴。但城堡可能很有趣，”他补充道。 “它在哪儿？”杰拉尔德耸耸肩。 “不知道。”他们走到一个岔路口时，他停了下来。 “我们试试这个，”凯茜说，拿起右边的叉子。