Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18 THREE DAYS LATER JUNE 9, 1944 CASTLE LE ROC 3:00 P.M. Paul and Maman were alone in the radio room, listening to the news on the radio. "This is the BBC, London, reporting from the Allied invasion of France. Our landings have been

第十八章三天后1944年6月9日洛克城堡下午三点 保罗和妈妈单独在广播室里，听着收音机里的新闻。 这里是BBC伦敦报道，盟军入侵法国。 我们的着陆已经

successful and more troops and supplies are on the way. Fighting continues, but Allied forces continue to take control…" In the distance they could hear the sounds of Allied planes, and bombs falling farther to the south. But for now they felt safe in the castle. Victor was asleep. He was feeling stronger, but it was still a struggle for him to stand for more than a few minutes at a time. Of course Ellie was watching over him, sitting at the edge of the mattress. Pierre and Mrs. Bernard had gone home. So now it was just Maman and Paul, alone. Like it used to be. Except not exactly. Now they had no secrets between them. They listened to the radio a while longer. But then Maman turned the radio off. "I think we need a little quiet," she said. Paul agreed. The silence helped soothe his head, which still ached from when he got hit on the night of the invasion.

成功了，更多的部队和物资正在路上。 战斗仍在继续，但盟军仍在继续控制……”他们可以听到远处盟军飞机的声音，还有炸弹落在更远的南方。 但现在他们在城堡里感到安全。 维克多睡着了。他觉得自己更强壮了，但对他来说，每次站立超过几分钟仍然是一场斗争。 当然，埃莉坐在床垫边上看着他。 皮埃尔和伯纳德太太已经回家了。 所以现在就只有妈妈和保罗了。 就像以前一样。但事实并非如此。 现在他们之间没有秘密了。 他们又听了一会儿收音机。 但是妈妈关掉了收音机。 “我想我们需要一点安静，”她说。 保罗同意了。这片寂静抚慰了他的头，因为在入侵的那个晚上他被打了，现在还在疼。

He got up and looked out the window. He wasn't looking for paratroopers anymore. Now he was looking for Mr. Leon. His teacher had never returned from the cliffs that night. Nobody knew what had happened. Maman came up behind him. They both stood there a moment, looking out into the gray afternoon. "Help me get some water," she said, waving for Paul to follow her outside. They kept buckets placed outside the walls to catch rainwater to drink and wash with. The afternoon was chilly, raining on and off. But it felt good to be out in the fresh air. He and Maman each picked up a wooden bucket. Suddenly they heard running footsteps. Paul turned and saw three Nazi soldiers heading toward them. In front was Stroop. Paul and Maman froze, but then Maman put down her bucket. She stood up very straight, and

他站起来向窗外望去。 他不再寻找伞兵了。 现在他在找里昂先生。 那天晚上，他的老师再也没有从悬崖上回来。 没人知道发生了什么事。 妈妈从他身后走过来。他们俩在那儿站了一会儿，望着外面灰蒙蒙的下午。 “帮我拿点水，”她说，挥手让保罗跟着她出去。 他们在墙外放置水桶，以便收集雨水饮用和洗涤。 下午很冷，断断续续下着雨。 但出去呼吸新鲜空气的感觉真好。 他和妈妈各自拿起一个木桶。 突然他们听到奔跑的脚步声。 保罗转过身，看见三个纳粹士兵朝他们走来。 走在前面的是斯特鲁普。保罗和妈妈僵住了，但是妈妈放下了她的桶。 她站得很直，而且

managed to hide the fear that must have been gripping her by the throat. "Search the castle," Stroop ordered the men, who strode through the castle door. He walked over and stood very close to Maman. His eyes flicked across her face. "Where is he?" he asked in an icy voice. "I'm sorry, sir," Maman said calmly. "Who are you looking for?" Mr. Leon, of course. "You know who," Stroop answered. "The resistance leader who somehow rose from the dead." Paul's mind was swirling. How did Stroop find them? How did he know Mr. Leon hadn't died in the river that day? Maman stepped back. "I have no idea who you are speaking of." Without a blink, Stroop gave Maman a vicious smack across the face. And there it was, that cruel smile.

她成功地掩饰住了一定是掐住了她喉咙的恐惧。 “搜查城堡，”斯特鲁普命令士兵们大步走进城堡大门。 他走过去，站得离妈妈很近。 他的目光掠过她的脸。 “他在哪儿？”他用冷冰冰的声音问道。 “对不起，先生，”妈妈平静地说。 “你在找谁？”当然是莱昂先生了。 “你知道是谁，”斯特鲁普回答。 “那个死而复生的反抗军领袖” 保罗的心在打转。斯特鲁普是怎么找到他们的？ 他怎么知道里昂先生那天没有死在河里？ 妈妈往后退了一步。“我不知道你在说谁。” 斯特鲁普一眨眼就狠狠地打了妈妈一记耳光。 就在那儿，那残酷的微笑。

Paul gripped his bucket. And with all the strength he could muster, he lifted it up, and slammed it against Stroop's head. The Nazi fell to the ground, dripping wet and bleeding. Paul and Maman took off around the side of the castle. Stroop shouted after them, and bullets flew through the air. Paul looked around, searching for a hedgerow to hide in, a secret path that would lead them to safety. But he didn't know the land on this side of the castle very well. It was Maman who gripped his hand and led him around a corner, then through a doorway. They heard gunshots echoing from inside the castle, and Paul's knees went weak as he thought of Victor. But he and Maman kept running. They rushed up a narrow stone staircase, higher and higher, higher and higher, their boots echoing on the stones. They ran until they could go no higher. They had reached the castle tower.

保罗紧紧抓住他的水桶。他使出全身的力气，把它举了起来，狠狠地砸在斯特鲁普的头上。 纳粹倒在地上，浑身湿淋淋，血流不止。 保罗和妈妈绕着城堡的一边逃走了。 斯特鲁普在他们身后大喊，子弹在空中飞舞。 保罗环顾四周，寻找可以藏身的树篱，寻找能让他们安全的秘密通道。 但他对城堡这一边的土地不太熟悉。 是妈妈抓住他的手，领他拐了个弯，然后穿过了一扇门。 他们听到枪声在城堡里回响，保罗想起了维克多，他的膝盖都软了。 但他和妈妈一直在跑。 他们冲上一段狭窄的石梯，越爬越高，越来越高，他们的靴子在石头上发出回响。 他们一直跑到再也跑不动了。 他们来到了城堡的塔楼。

It was small and dark. Paul and Maman huddled together. Seconds later Stroop appeared, panting. He stared at them, gripping his gun. His face was smeared with blood. But again, there was that smile, jagged like a crack in a frozen puddle. "Why are you doing this?" Maman said, stepping in front of Paul. "The Allies are here. The war will soon be over. Haven't you caused enough misery? Enough suffering? When will you stop?" Maman's voice was clear and strong. For a split second, Paul thought he might have glimpsed the tiniest flicker of doubt on Stroop's face. But then Stroop lifted his gun. Maman grabbed hold of Paul. And at that same moment, a great winged creature swooped into the tower. With a piercing shriek it attacked the Nazi. "What is this?" Stroop screamed. "Help me! Help me!"

它又小又黑。保罗和妈妈挤在一起。 几秒钟后，斯特鲁普气喘吁吁地出现了。 他盯着他们，手里握着枪。 他的脸上沾满了血。 但我又看到了那个微笑，就像结冰的水坑上的裂缝。 “你为什么要这么做？”妈妈说着，走到保罗面前。 “盟军来了。战争很快就要结束了。 你造成的痛苦还不够多吗？ 足够的苦难吗?你什么时候才能停止？”妈妈的声音清晰而有力。 有那么一瞬间，保罗觉得他可能在斯特鲁普的脸上瞥见了一丝怀疑。 但随后斯特鲁普举起了枪。 妈妈抓住保罗。 与此同时，一个巨大的长着翅膀的生物飞进了塔楼。 它发出一声刺耳的尖叫，攻击纳粹分子。 “这是什么？”斯特鲁尖叫。 “帮我!救救我!”