Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-three The zombies are on us! Quint's robes are shredded! Teeth sink into June's shoulder pads! A dripping mouth on Quint's wrist. Hands tearing open my big white puffy pants. This is it. At last, it's happened—we have been overrun by the undead. But then— The air turns hot. A blast of energy fills the lobby. There's a hollow sound—I don't quite hear it, but I feel it in my eardrums, and suddenly— The zombies are flung backward on their heels! It's like they're being yanked by invisible strings!

第二十三章僵尸来了！昆特的袍子碎了！牙齿咬进了琼的垫肩！昆特手腕上滴着口水。 双手撕开我的白色肥大裤子。 就是这里。终于发生了——我们被亡灵占领了。 然后，空气变热了。 一股能量充满了大厅。 有一种空洞的声音——我听不太清楚，但我能感觉到它在我的耳膜里，突然——僵尸们被甩了回去！就像被看不见的绳子拉着！

What's happening? Something good? I look at my friends. June nods—she's OK. Quint, too—he's all right. I check myself—no zombie bites! Some damaged gear—but that's it! "Hey," I say. "Winter action suits to the rescue! THEY SAVED US!" Another blast of energy, and I hear zombies being thrown against the far walls. I peek over the side, and see—

发生什么事情了?东西好吗? 我看着我的朋友们。琼点点头——她没事。 昆特也是，他很好。 我检查了一下——没有僵尸咬伤！一些损坏的装备——但仅此而已！“嘿，”我说。 “冬季行动套装来拯救！”他们救了我们！”又一次能量爆炸，我听到僵尸被扔到远处的墙上。 我从侧面偷看了一眼，看到了——

What is this awful body you have put me in my bad. Gotta go bye. Warg told us Ghazt could control the zombies— and man oh man, she wasn't kidding. The zombies continue to move backward. It's like watching a movie of zombies swarming, but played in rewind. I can almost hear the reverse vrap-vroot-vwoop noise. Soon, the undead humans form a perfect circle around the perimeter of the lobby. It's five zombies

这是什么可怕的身体，你把我放在我的坏。 我得走了。Warg告诉我们Ghazt可以控制僵尸——天哪，她不是在开玩笑。 僵尸继续向后退。 这就像在看一部僵尸成群结队的电影，只不过是倒带播放。 我几乎能听到相反的vrap-vroot-vwoop的声音。 很快，不死人类在大厅周围形成了一个完美的圆圈。 是五个僵尸

deep, like a school dance, gathered around the action. Ghazt takes another step, his front paw hitting the wet lobby floor. And that's when I see it. The eyeball, right there in the middle of the lobby. "Quint, June—I'm going for the eyeball. It's Dirk's only chance." I spring up, leaning over the counter, eager. Evie notices me. And she looks down and sees the eyeball, at her feet. "You want this, huh?" she shouts. Then she leans down and picks it up. "You can have it—if you protect me!" My eyes narrow. I feel June's hand on my shoulder. I look at Dirk. The straw in his lap. His eyes are foggy. He's cold and shivering and I just want to help him. I hoist myself over the counter. I try to do it in a cool, smooth way—like an action hero sliding

深深的，像一场学校的舞蹈，聚集在一起的动作。 Ghazt又走了一步，他的前爪落在潮湿的大厅地板上。 这就是我看到它的时候。那个眼球，就在大厅中央。 “昆特，琼——我要打你的眼球。 这是德克唯一的机会。”我跳了起来，俯身在柜台上，渴望着。 伊薇注意到我了。她往下看，看到了眼球，在她的脚上。 “你想要这个吗？”她喊道。 然后她俯下身把它捡起来。 “你可以拥有它——只要你保护我！”我眯起眼睛。 我感觉到琼的手搭在我肩上。 我看着德克。稻草在他的腿上。 他的眼睛模糊不清。他又冷又发抖，我只是想帮他。 我爬过柜台。 我试着用一种冷静、流畅的方式来做，就像动作英雄在滑行一样

across the hood of a car—but instead I bang my knee, trip, and stumble. Water splashes against the Louisville Slicer. I'm not sure, but I think I hear the blade and water sizzle... "Evie," I say. "Throw me the eyeball or I'm not taking another step toward you." Evie thinks. Hesitates. Then does. I don't catch it. Quint does. And in a flash, Dirk has his lips back on the straw, sucking out that remaining gooey eyeball goodness. I stride across the squishy carpeting. I feel Ghazt watching me as I step in front of Evie. The chorus of the moaning zombies is in full surround sound. Ghazt's strange, animal eyes narrow. Taking me in. Getting to know me. And I do the same.

穿过汽车引擎盖，但我却撞到了膝盖，被绊倒了。 水溅在路易斯维尔切片机上。 我不确定，但我想我听到了刀锋和水的嘶嘶声…… “伊薇，”我说。“把眼球扔给我，否则我不会再朝你靠近一步了。” 艾维的想法。犹豫了一下。然后做。 我没听懂。五胞胎。 刹那间，德克的嘴唇又回到了吸管上，吮吸着剩下的黏糊糊的眼球精华。 我大步走过湿软的地毯。 当我走到Evie面前时，我感到Ghazt在看着我。 呻吟僵尸的合唱是全环绕立体声。 Ghazt奇怪的、动物般的眼睛眯着。 带我进去。开始了解我。 我也这样做。

MOVE. BOY, YOU ARE NOT MY ENEMY. You're My muscles are tense. My knees are shaking. I'm sure Ghazt sees my fear—but still—I won't let this monster have the human. "I can't," I say. The monster's rat-like tail coils and sways. Ghazt steps closer. "SHE IS YOUR FOE."

移动。孩子，你不是我的敌人。 你是我的肌肉很紧张。 我的膝盖在发抖。我相信Ghazt看到了我的恐惧——但我仍然不会让这个怪物吃掉人类。 “我不能，”我说。这只怪物像老鼠一样的尾巴盘旋摇摆着。 Ghazt走近了。“她是你的敌人。”