Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 Nate's mind swirled. He was afraid he might vomit. It wasn't Storch's moans of pain that sickened him. It was knowing what would happen to Theo. Storch would sell him for sure. Eliza would lose him forever, just like she'd lost her husband, Gregory.

第四章内特的脑子一阵乱转。 他怕自己会呕吐。 让斯托奇恶心的不是他痛苦的呻吟。 而是知道西奥会怎么样。 斯托奇肯定会把他卖了。 伊莉莎会永远失去他，就像她失去丈夫格雷戈里一样。

Nate rushed over to Theo, who was trying to hide behind the cherry tree. Nate lifted Theo up and hugged him close. Eliza was on the porch now, bending down to help Storch. Eliza looked up. She spotted Nate and Theo. Her eyes locked with Nate's. And in that split second Nate could see she understood exactly what had happened. Nate had to get Theo out of here! "Don't worry!" Nate whispered to Theo. "I won't let anything happen to you." But Nate's words seemed to scatter in the wind. Of course he couldn't just run off with Theo. Theo wasn't just any little boy. He was a slave. To Storch, Theo wasn't a person. He was valuable property. Storch wouldn't just let him go. He'd hire slave catchers. He'd offer a fat reward. He'd never stop looking. There was nothing Nate could to do help Theo. Unless…

内特冲向西奥，西奥正试图躲在樱桃树后面。 内特把西奥抱起来，紧紧地拥抱了他。 伊丽莎现在在门廊上，弯下腰去帮助斯托奇。 伊丽莎抬起头来。她看到了内特和西奥。 她的眼睛紧盯着内特的眼睛。 就在那一刹那，内特看出她完全明白发生了什么。 内特必须带西奥离开这里!“别担心!”内特低声对西奥说。 “我不会让你出事的。” 但内特的话似乎被风吹散了。 他当然不能带着西奥跑了。 西奥不是一个普通的小男孩。 他是个奴隶。对斯托奇来说，西奥不是一个人。 他是宝贵的财产。斯托奇不会放过他的。 他会雇佣奴隶捕手。他会提供丰厚的报酬。 他永远不会停止寻找。内特对西奥无能为力。 除非…

An idea flickered in Nate's mind like a little flame. Storch hadn't seen Theo throw the stick, had he? His back had been turned. What if Nate could trick Storch into thinking someone else had thrown the stick? Then Theo would be safe. Nate put Theo down. "Run behind the barn," Nate whispered. "Never tell anyone what happened with that stick." "You come, too." Theo said, clinging to Nate's arm. "Soon," Nate said, struggling to keep his voice steady. He hated lying to Theo. But he had no choice. Theo turned and dashed away. Nate stood up. With clenched fists and shaking legs, Nate made his way to where Storch was now sitting up. Eliza was pressing a rag to his bleeding head.

一个想法像火焰一样在内特的脑海里闪过。 斯托奇没看见西奥扔棍子，对吧? 他转过身去。如果内特能骗斯托奇以为是别人扔的棍子呢? 这样西奥就安全了。内特放下西奥。 “跑到谷仓后面去，”内特低声说。 “永远不要告诉任何人那根棍子是怎么回事。” “你也来吧。”西奥说，紧紧抓住内特的胳膊。 “很快。”内特说，努力让自己的声音保持稳定。 他讨厌对西奥撒谎。但他别无选择。 西奥转身飞奔而去。 内特站了起来。内特攥紧拳头，双腿颤抖着，朝斯托奇坐着的地方走去。 伊丽莎把一块破布按在他流血的头上。

"I'm sorry, sir," he said. "It was an accident. The stick slipped from my hand." "Nate," Eliza whispered. Storch struggled to his feet, glaring at Nate with fury. If Storch's eyes had been cannons, they would have blasted Nate into the sky. He lunged forward. Smack! He slapped Nate across the face. Nate staggered back. His face felt like he had been scalded with boiling water. Tears sprang into Nate's eyes — tears of relief. That slap meant that Storch believed him. That Theo was safe, at least for now. But Nate was not. Storch lunged forward and grabbed Nate by the throat. His hands were like iron claws. With his bulging eyes and blood-smeared face, Storch looked like a sea monster from Nate's worst nightmares.

“对不起，先生，”他说。 “这是个意外。棍子从我手里滑了出去。” “内特，”伊丽莎低声说。斯托奇挣扎着站了起来，愤怒地瞪着内特。 如果斯托奇的眼睛是大炮，他们会把内特炸上天。 他向前扑去。打!他扇了内特一耳光。 内特踉跄着退了回去。他的脸好像被沸水烫过一样。 内特的眼中涌出了泪水——宽慰的泪水。 那一巴掌说明斯托奇相信了他。 西奥很安全，至少目前是这样。 但内特不是。斯托奇冲上前去，一把抓住内特的喉咙。 他的手像铁爪。 斯托奇眼睛鼓鼓的，满脸是血，看起来就像内特噩梦中的海怪。

Nate struggled but couldn't break free from the choking grip. Eliza screamed, but the voice inside Nate's mind screamed louder. He's going to kill me! With his last ounce of strength, Nate whipped his arm up and bashed his fist into the side of Storch's head. Storch lost his grip and fell back. Nate took one last look at Eliza. "Go," she mouthed. Nate turned and ran.

内特挣扎着，但无法挣脱窒息的紧握。 伊丽莎尖叫起来，但内特脑子里的声音更响了。 他会杀了我的!内特用尽最后一点力气，猛地举起手臂，一拳打在斯托奇的一侧脑袋上。 斯托奇抓不住，向后倒了下去。 内特最后看了伊莱莎一眼。 “去吧，”她用嘴说。内特转身就跑。