Chapter 10

chapter ten My mayoral campaign is off to a strong start—we get our first supporter not fifteen minutes later while walking down one of the mall's many hallways in search of election supplies. "You have my vote, Dirk's friend," says a low, unfamiliar voice. I pause and look around. Who on the Mallusk knows Dirk? The voice is coming from a mall kiosk: "Every Little Thing We Sell Is MAGIK."

第十章我的市长竞选有了一个良好的开端——不到十五分钟后，我们在购物中心众多的走廊之一寻找选举用品时，得到了第一位支持者。 “我投你一票，德克的朋友，”一个低沉而陌生的声音说。 我停下来环顾四周。马勒斯克号上有谁认识德克？ 声音从商场的一个售货亭传来：“我们卖的每件小东西都是魔法。”

Hey, it's yoursel yoursel. These are my buddies. June Quint and Jack. Guys, you're still help me out a bit-after I beat her in a game of HORSE, I WILL HAVE MY REMATCH. The two unlikely friends catch up while I remember what Dirk told us about Yursl: weird conjurer type, helped him out in a pinch. Here in her mall kiosk, she's surrounded by a cloud of glowing mist, and her skin glows a faint neon purple. It would all be very mystical if she weren't spinning a basketball on her fingertips and arguing with Dirk about best and worst Dunk Contest champions. Also, the mist is not magical at all. I only figure that out after Yursl begins coughing, curses the fog machine at her feet, and shuts it off with a swift kick. "I have so many questions..." Quint says, eyeing the kiosk with awe.

嘿，是你自己。 这些是我的朋友。琼·昆特和杰克。 伙计们，你们还是帮了我一点忙——我在一场赛马比赛中打败她之后，我还会再来一场。 这两个不太可能的朋友在我想起德克告诉我们的关于尤尔斯的事：奇怪的魔术师类型，在紧要关头帮助了他。 在她的购物亭里，她被一团发光的雾包围着，她的皮肤发出微弱的霓虹紫色。 如果不是她用指尖旋转着篮球，和德克争论最佳和最差扣篮大赛冠军，这一切都会变得非常神秘。 而且，雾一点也不神奇。 直到尤尔丝开始咳嗽，诅咒她脚边的雾机，然后一脚把它踢掉，我才明白这一点。 “我有很多问题……” 昆特说，敬畏地看着售货亭。

"Hey dudes," June says. "I'm going to check out that paper goods store. We're going to need a lot of paper goods for our campaign." "Sure," I agree. "Wait, why?" "Jack." June raises her eyebrows at me. "Trust the expert." "I'll help," Dirk offers. "I'll do whatever it takes. I have a lot riding on you winning," he adds. "Y'know?" I nod, picturing Drooler in his cage. "I know." Dirk gives a wave. "Yursl, I'll see you around?" "Not if I see you first," she says. Then, after a moment, she adds, "Which I will. Of course. 'Cause, y'know. Conjurer powers." With Dirk gone, Quint can ask this strange witch-type lady all his questions. Which, because it's Quint, are a lot of questions.

“嘿，伙计们，”琼说。“我要去那家纸制品店看看。 我们的竞选活动需要很多纸制品。” “当然，”我同意。“等等,为什么?”“杰克”。 琼对我扬起眉毛。 “相信专家。”“我会帮忙的，”德克说。 “我会不惜一切代价。 我非常希望你能赢，”他补充道。 “你知道?”我点点头，想象着流口水在笼子里的样子。 “我知道。”德克挥了挥手。 “小姐，回头见吧？”“除非我先见到你，”她说。 过了一会儿，她又说：“我会的。 当然可以。因为,你知道的。 魔术师的权力。”德克走了，昆特可以向这位奇怪的女巫式的女士问他所有的问题。 因为是昆特，所以有很多问题。

Excuse me, your What is all this? It may have previously been an ordinary magic and gag kiosk, but now Glowing crystals, throbbing blobs. It's anything but ordinary. IDEAL IN CONJURE OBJECTS AND ITEMS. Look finger drops. "Do you think..." Quint seems suddenly bashful. "Could I maybe learn how to use some of these conjurer objects? Would you possibly... teach me?" But I can't wait for Yursl to answer, because I'm realizing I maybe made a giganto mistake. "Uh, hey, guys? Er... ma'am?" I say, lifting my hands, which I have just stuck inside one of those little finger traps. "Uh, there's something wrong with this finger—OW! It's, like, alive and—yep, it is currently

打扰一下，你这是什么？ 它以前可能是一个普通的魔术和恶作剧亭，但现在是发光的晶体，跳动的斑点。 这一点也不普通。 理想的召唤对象和项目。 看手指滴。“你认为……” 昆特突然显得很害羞。 “我能学学怎么使用这些魔法物品吗？” 你能不能……教我吗?”但我等不及你的回答了，因为我意识到我可能犯了一个巨大的错误。 “嘿，伙计们？”呃…女士?”我说着举起我的手，我的手刚刚卡在一个小指头夹里。 “呃，这只手指有点不对劲——噢！”它好像还活着，是的，现在还活着

gnawing on my pointer fingers. Could you remove this now, please, please?" Yursl just stares at Quint, totally ignoring my finger- devouring dilemma. "Your stick... It reminds me of a conjurer's cane. May I hold it?" Quint happily hands it over. "Conjurer's cane..." he says softly, and I can tell he likes the sound of that— way more than "staff" or "stick." "Yes, very reminiscent..." Yursl says, turning it over in her hands. "The shape, of course. But more than that... its intention." "Um... 'intention'?" Quint asks. "Well, when I began building it, I had extensive plans... but then we got started on this road trip, and I haven't had much time to work on it."

啃着我的食指。 你能把这个拿掉吗，求你了，求你了？”你只是盯着昆特，完全无视我的手指吞食困境。 “你的坚持……这让我想起了魔术师的手杖。 我可以拿一下吗？”昆特高兴地交出了它。 “魔术师的手杖……”他轻声说，我能看出来他喜欢这个声音——比“手杖”或“棍子”更喜欢这个声音。 “是的，很让人想起……” 尤瑟兰说着，在手里翻来覆去地看。 “当然是形状。但更重要的是…… 它的意图。”“嗯……“意图”?”五度音问道。 “嗯，当我开始建造它的时候，我有广泛的计划…… 但后来我们开始了这次公路旅行，我没有太多时间来做这件事。”

I MEAN, ITS PURPOSE. OK we get it. You're very wowed by Quint Stick-Cane and its INTENTION and purpose. Now please GET THESE FINGER EATERS OFF MY FINGERS. "Oh... Oh!" Quint says, finally noticing that I'm in real danger. "Right. Um, Ms. Yursl? Would you mind helping out my friend?" "Let me put that question back to you," Yursl responds. "Since you're interested in conjurer objects, what would you use to free your friend's hands from the grasp of the Schloop?" "Hmm..." Quint taps his chin as he looks around the kiosk, his eyes sliding across bubbling cauldrons, oddly shaped bottles, and glowing keys. "There are just so

我是说，它的目的。好的，我们明白了。 你对Quint Stick-Cane及其意图和目的感到非常惊讶。 现在请把这些吃手指的东西从我的手指上拿开。 “哦…噢!”昆特说，他终于意识到我处于真正的危险之中。 “正确。嗯，尤尔斯女士？你能帮帮我的朋友吗？”“让我把这个问题再问你，”尤尔斯回答说。 “既然你对魔法物品感兴趣，你会用什么把你朋友的手从施卢普手里解救出来？”“嗯……” 昆特拍了拍下巴，环视了一下售货亭，他的目光掠过冒着气泡的坩埚、形状奇怪的瓶子和发光的钥匙。 “就是这样