Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 Barry's heart pounded. That dog was crazy. What if he came after Barry? Cruz barked some more. Barry had to get out of here! But then there was a noise — a whimpering howl. It rose above the wind, and it was the saddest sound Barry had ever heard. Sadder than Cleo's sobbing. Sadder than the song Dad had played at Gramps's funeral. Sadder than Barry's own sobs.

巴里的心怦怦直跳。 那只狗疯了。如果他是冲着巴里来的呢? 克鲁兹又叫了几声。巴里必须离开这里!但这时传来了一种声音——一种呜咽的嚎叫。 它在风中升起，这是巴里听过的最悲伤的声音。 比克莱奥的哭泣更悲伤。 比爸爸在爷爷葬礼上演奏的那首歌还要悲伤。 比巴里自己的哭泣还要悲伤。

That didn't sound like a killer dog. It sounded like a dog that was terrified. Cruz howled again. Begging. Pleading. Help me, please, he seemed to be saying. Help me, please. Barry knew what he had to do. He hoisted himself up, climbed through the window, and eased himself down on the other side. It was very dark, but Barry could see shadowy shapes around him: a couch floating in the corner, a smashed lamp, and a big cabinet lying facedown in the water. Cruz barked brightly, like he could tell help was on the way. "Cruz!" Barry shouted. The dog barked again. "I'm coming!" Barry called. Barry waded carefully. His shoes were still floating around in his living room at home; his socks had been ripped off in his ride through the flood. Already his feet were sliced up, and he knew there had to be glass and nails everywhere. Cruz was whimpering loudly now. "Don't worry!" Barry called.

听起来不像杀人狗。 听起来像是一只受惊的狗。 克鲁兹又嚎叫起来。乞讨。 恳求。请帮帮我，他似乎在说。 请帮帮我。巴里知道他该怎么做。 他爬了起来，爬出窗户，从另一边慢慢下来。 房间里很黑，但巴里能看到周围的影子:角落里漂浮着一张沙发，一盏破碎的灯，一个大柜子面朝下躺在水里。 克鲁兹欢快地吠了一声，好像他知道救援马上就要来了。 “克鲁斯!”巴里喊道。狗又叫了起来。 “我来了!”巴里。 巴里小心翼翼地涉水。他的鞋子还飘在家里的客厅里;他的袜子在骑马穿过洪水时被扯掉了。 他的脚已经被切开了，他知道到处都是玻璃和钉子。 克鲁兹大声地呜咽着。 “别担心!”巴里。

Cruz barked like he understood. Barry made it to the stairway, which rose out of the water. The house was tilted to the side and rocked gently in the waves. Barry had to hold on tightly to the banister. Cruz was waiting for him in the doorway of Abe's room. His leash was attached to Abe's bed, which Cruz had managed to drag across the room. He was straining so hard to get free that he was practically strangling himself. Barry paused for a second, thinking of all the scary stories Abe had told him about Cruz. But then he closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He walked up, reached for Cruz's collar, and unhooked it from the leash. Cruz leaped up, and for a split second Barry thought he'd made a terrible mistake. But then Cruz licked Barry's chin. He licked Barry's hands and pushed his head against Barry's leg. Then he sat down and looked up into Barry's eyes. He gave four little barks. Thank you! he seemed to cheer. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Barry bent down next to Cruz and patted him on the head.

克鲁兹叫了起来，好像他明白了。 巴里成功爬上了出水的楼梯。 房子向一边倾斜，在波浪中轻轻摇晃。 巴里不得不紧紧抓住栏杆。 克鲁兹在亚伯的房间门口等他。 他的皮带系在亚伯的床上，克鲁兹成功地把床拖过了房间。 他拼命想挣脱，几乎要勒死自己了。 巴里停顿了一下，想起了亚伯告诉他的关于克鲁兹的可怕故事。 但随后他闭上眼睛，使劲咽了口气。 他走上前，伸手去拿克鲁兹的项圈，把它从皮带上解开。 克鲁兹跳了起来，有那么一瞬间，巴里以为自己犯了一个严重的错误。 但接着克鲁兹舔了舔巴里的下巴。 他舔了舔巴里的手，把头靠在巴里的腿上。 然后他坐下来，抬头看着巴里的眼睛。 他叫了四声。 谢谢你！他似乎在欢呼。 谢谢你！谢谢你！谢谢你！巴里在克鲁兹旁边弯下腰，拍了拍他的头。

"You're welcome," he said. Cruz gave Barry one last kiss on the nose and then looked at him expectantly. What now? he seemed to ask. What should we do? And that was when it hit Barry: He wasn't alone anymore. He and Cruz were together.

“不用谢，”他说。 克鲁兹在巴里的鼻子上吻了最后一下，然后期待地看着他。 现在该做什么?他似乎在问。 我们该怎么办?就在这时，巴里意识到:他不再孤单了。 他和克鲁兹在一起。