49 Chapter 49

Chapter 49 "Now then, Charles," said Mr. Lemoncello, "would you like to utilize any of your remaining lifelines? Perhaps an Extreme Challenge? An Ask an Expert?" "Yes, sir," said Charles. "And may I just say, it's kind of you to come in here and ask me that question." "Well, it's cloudy with a chance of meatballs and I had nothing better to do." "Pardon?"

“好了，查尔斯，”莱蒙塞罗先生说，“你愿意动用你剩下的救生索吗? 也许是极限挑战? 问专家?”“是的，先生，”查尔斯说。 “我想说，你能来问我这个问题真是太好了。” “嗯，阴天有可能下肉丸子，我没有更好的事情可做。” “原谅?”

"Nothing. Just a brief flight of fancy, my mind sailing off past the phantom tollbooth. So, which lifeline would you like to use?" "My Ask an Expert, sir." "Fine. See Mrs. Tobin at the main desk. I must go to my office to monitor Kyle's Extreme Challenge." "What's he doing?" "Trying to beat you. Tootles!" Mr. Lemoncello raised his beret by its stem, turned on his heel, and headed for one of the bookcases on the far side of the rotunda. Charles watched him tilt back the head on a bust and press a red button in the middle of what would have been the man's neck. A door-sized section of the bookcase swung open. Mr. Lemoncello stepped into the darkness. The bookcase swung shut. Charles hurried to the librarian's desk at the center of the Rotunda Reading Room. "Mrs. Tobin?" He clapped his hands. "Mrs. Tobin? Chop-chop. I'm in a bit of a rush. The doors upstairs will be open in thirteen minutes. Mrs. Tobin?"

“没什么。只是一阵短暂的幻想，我的思绪掠过了幽灵般的收费站。 那么，你想用哪条生命线呢?”“我去请教专家，先生。” “很好。到总台去见托宾夫人。 我得去办公室监控凯尔的极限挑战。” “他在干什么?”“我想打败你。 则!”莱蒙切罗拿起贝雷帽的帽檐，转身向圆形大厅远侧的一个书架走去。 查尔斯看着他把一个半身像的头向后倾斜，按下了一个红色的按钮，按钮就在那个人的脖子中间。 书柜的一个门大小的部分打开了。 莱蒙塞罗走进黑暗中。 书柜猛地关上了。查尔斯急忙走到圆形大厅阅览室中央的图书管理员桌前。 “托宾太太?”他拍了拍手。 “托宾太太?快点。我有点赶时间。 楼上的门将在13分钟后打开。 托宾太太?”

The holographic librarian finally appeared. "Good morning, CHARLES. How may I help you?" "I need to use my Ask an Expert." "Very well. Whom do you wish to consult with?" "Someone who knows his way around a library." "If that is all you require, CHARLES, perhaps I can be of assistance." "I need to talk to my uncle Jimmy." "Your uncle Jimmy? Could you please be more specific?" "Yes. Of course. James F. Willoughby the third." "The James F. Willoughby the third?" "Yes, ma'am." "The head librarian of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is your uncle?" "That's right. If my mother's brother, Uncle Jimmy, the top librarian in all of America, can't help me find the one book I'm looking for, nobody can!"

全息图书管理员终于出现了。 “早上好，查尔斯。我能为您做些什么?”“我需要使用我的专家咨询。” “很好。您想请教谁呢?”“一个熟悉图书馆的人。” “如果你只需要这些，查尔斯，也许我能帮上忙。” “我要和吉米叔叔谈谈。” “你的吉米叔叔?”你能说得更具体一点吗?”“是的。 当然可以。詹姆斯·f·威洛比三世。” “詹姆斯·f·威洛比三世?”“是的,女士。” “华盛顿特区国会图书馆的馆长是你叔叔吗?”“这是正确的。 如果我妈妈的哥哥，吉米叔叔，全美国最优秀的图书管理员，都不能帮我找到我正在找的那本书，那就没人能帮我了!”