9 The Finalists

CHAPTER 9

第九章

The Finalists "Finalists!" called the Head Spire. "Today you must climb the stone staircase to the top of the volcano. The clue to completing the last test awaits you there." The large crowd murmured with concern. Climbing the steep path was dangerous. Clara and Gilbert started up the stairs. Every few steps the volcano rumbled and shook. The two contestants had to lean into the mountainside to keep from falling.

“决赛选手！”尖塔头喊道。 “今天你必须爬上石阶到达火山的顶端。 完成最后一项测试的线索在那里等着你。” 一大群人关切地低声议论。 爬那条陡峭的小路很危险。 克拉拉和吉尔伯特开始上楼。 每走几步，火山就轰隆隆地震动。 两名选手不得不俯身在山坡上以免摔倒。

"Should we be climbing an active volcano?" asked Gilbert uncertainly. The mountain rumbled again, and Gilbert tumbled into Clara. They held on to each other until the rumbling stopped. "No," Clara said. "Climbing an active volcano isn't brave —it's crazy!" Gilbert laughed nervously. "You're right," he agreed. "It's totally crazy." This time they both laughed, and their laughter bonded them together. "Maybe it would be wiser to turn back," Gilbert suggested.

“我们应该爬一座活火山吗？”吉尔伯特不确定地问。 山又隆隆作响了，吉尔伯特撞到了克拉拉身上。 他们紧紧抓住对方，直到隆隆声停止。 “不，”克拉拉说。“爬活火山不是勇敢，是疯狂！”吉尔伯特紧张地笑了。 “你说得对，”他同意道。 “这太疯狂了。”这次他们俩都笑了，他们的笑声把他们联系在了一起。 吉尔伯特建议道：“也许回头会更明智。”

The mountain shook violently again as Clara and Gilbert grabbed hold of the rocky wall. "Or... what if we stuck together and helped each other to the top instead?" Clara suggested. Gilbert admired Clara's courage and nodded slowly. "You're right." So they both came up with a plan. First they spaced themselves apart on the stairs so they wouldn't knock each other over. Then they crouched low and used their hands to steady themselves against the side of the unstable mountain.

克拉拉和吉尔伯特抓住岩壁时，山又剧烈地摇晃起来。 “还是……如果我们团结一致，互相帮助，达到顶峰呢？”克拉拉。 吉尔伯特钦佩克拉拉的勇气，慢慢地点了点头。 “你说得对。”所以他们想出了一个计划。 首先，他们在楼梯上分开，这样就不会把对方撞倒。 然后他们蹲下身子，用手稳住不稳定的山崖。

Slowly they crept upward. A fiery-hot wind blew down from above. "We made it!" Gilbert said as they climbed onto a wide rim that circled the top of the smoky volcano. On the ground before them lay different weapons: A sword, a bow, arrows, potions, a spear, and the dragon scale from the challenge the day before.

他们慢慢地往上爬。一阵炙热的风从上面吹下来。 “我们成功了！”吉尔伯特说，他们爬上了环绕烟雾缭绕的火山顶部的宽阔边缘。 他们面前的地上放着不同的武器：一把剑、一把弓、一支箭、一瓶药水、一支长矛，以及前一天挑战时用的龙鳞。

Gilbert swallowed hard. "What are we supposed to do with these weapons?" But before Clara could answer, Mount Fireburst erupted. Clara and Gilbert covered their heads. But instead of lava, an enormous yellow dragon burst forth from the volcano. The beast flapped its great golden wings and then landed in front of the children. Gilbert picked up a sword from the ground and stood in front of Clara. The dragon raised its enormous wings and stalked toward them. "Grab a weapon!" Gilbert cried as the dragon forced them toward the edge of the volcano.

吉尔伯特使劲咽了口气。“我们该拿这些武器怎么办？”克拉拉还没来得及回答，火焰火山就爆发了。 克拉拉和吉尔伯特捂着头。 但从火山中喷出的不是熔岩，而是一条巨大的黄龙。 那野兽拍打着它巨大的金色翅膀，然后降落在孩子们面前。 吉尔伯特从地上捡起一把剑，站在克拉拉面前。 龙抬起巨大的翅膀，向他们走来。 “拿起武器！”当巨龙把他们逼向火山边缘时，吉尔伯特喊道。