Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 It was a cold and miserable morning- the kind where the damp air chills you to the bone- as the gang congregated at Euston Station ready for their journey to Scotland. The cats had been able to get away for the week, as their human mamma and papa had just had a baby, so were a bit distracted. While the cats were still very much doted on, the new arrival was in Silver's words a little 'grabby'. So, in many ways the week away couldn't have come at a better time.

这是一个寒冷而悲惨的早晨——潮湿的空气使人感到刺骨——一伙人聚集在尤斯顿车站，准备去苏格兰。 这两只猫可以离开一周，因为它们的人类妈妈和爸爸刚刚生了孩子，所以它们有点分心。 虽然猫咪们仍然很受宠爱，但用西尔弗的话说，新来的猫有点“贪吃”。 所以，从很多方面来说，这一周的到来是再好不过的了。

The gang had packed light with just small knapsacks, apart from Catface, of course. The stylish cat-rat was dressed in a green tweed blazer and a blue-and-green- tartan kilt, with a sporran, long socks and brogues, all topped off with a traditional Balmoral bonnet. And he had a huge trunk in tow. 'I have to admit, I am quite looking forward to this: the bracing clean air in our lungs, a spot of fishing on the loch, cosy peat fires in the evening. I might even call in on my cousin. I think I'll have to write to old Fluffypaws and thank him!' Catface said with a chuckle. 'Catface mate, where do you think we're going?' Socks asked, looking baffled. 'What exactly do you think Glenview is?' 'And what is that?' Silver pointed to the small pouch hanging from Catface's hips. 'That, my young Italian friend, is a sporran- sort of

除了猫脸，这伙人只带了几个小背包。 这位时尚的“猫鼠”穿着一件绿色粗花呢外套和蓝绿格子短裙，配上一件运动衫、长袜和粗革皮鞋，头戴一顶传统的巴尔莫勒尔帽子。 他拖着一个大箱子。 “我不得不承认，我很期待这一天的到来：呼吸清新的空气，在湖上钓鱼，晚上享受舒适的泥炭篝火。” 我甚至可能会去拜访我的堂兄。 我想我得写信给老绒毛鹦鹉，谢谢他！”猫脸咯咯地笑着说。 “猫脸大副，你以为我们要去哪儿？”索克斯困惑地问道。 “你认为格伦维尤到底是什么？”“那是什么？”西尔弗指着挂在猫脸屁股上的小袋子。 “那，我年轻的意大利朋友，是一种sporran——某种意义上的

like a pocket for a kilt. I am dressed in my old family tartan; my mother's side of the family is Scottish. And I'm well aware of where we are going: a charming place called Glenview... which I assume is some kind of animal finishing school? I attended one in Switzerland many years ago, so I imagine we'll be learning deportment, etiquette and so on. Should be a breeze. Socks put his paw to his head and let out a groan. 'Catface, IT'S A CORRECTIONAL CAMP RUN BY THE MILITARY. Loads of my mates from Battersea have been sent up there- it's got a terrible reputation. This week is going to be brutal!' 'Well, we'll see about that! I say, my dear man, can you help me with my luggage and direct me to the restaurant car?' Catface called over to a stern-looking bulldog dressed in regimental khakis and a peaked cap worn low over his eyes, who was studying a clipboard and was obviously in a position of authority.

就像苏格兰短裙的口袋。我穿着家里的旧格子呢衣服；我母亲那边是苏格兰人。 我很清楚我们要去哪里：一个叫格伦维尤的迷人地方…… 我猜是某种动物精修学校吧？ 很多年前我在瑞士上过一所学校，所以我想我们会学习仪态、礼仪等等。 应该是轻而易举的事。袜子把爪子放在头上，发出一声呻吟。 “猫脸，那是一个由军方管理的惩教营。” 我从巴特西来的很多朋友都被送到那里去了——那里名声很差。 这周将是残酷的！“好吧，我们走着瞧吧！”我说，亲爱的，你能帮我拿一下行李，告诉我到餐车那儿去吗？”猫脸朝一只表情严肃的牛头犬喊了一声，这只狗穿着军服卡其裤，顶着一顶低垂的尖顶帽子，正仔细研究着写字板，显然是身身士位。

He slowly looked Catface up and down and smiled, then said in a heavy Scottish accent, 'WHY, OF COURSE, YOUR MAJESTY, FOLLOW ME. OOH, ALLOW ME TO TAKE YOUR CASE, IT LOOKS AWFULLY HEAVY.' Catface followed on behind. 'See,' he beamed at his friends. 'A little bit of politeness goes a long wa—' He was interrupted by the bulldog grabbing the lapel of his blazer and hauling him towards the train. 'Name?' he barked. 'Err, FatCace, I mean, Rattinoff... the Thirty-third... Alexandre,' he spluttered. The bulldog looked down at his list and ticked off Catface's name. 'You three boys are the jokers who sank the Right Honourable Sir Fluffypaws' boat. Got ourselves some troublemakers, have we?' 'I wouldn't quite say that. It was a rather terrible accide—'

他慢慢地上下打量猫脸，笑了笑，然后用浓重的苏格兰口音说：“当然，陛下，请跟我来。” 哦，让我帮你拿箱子吧，它看起来太重了。”猫脸跟在后面。 “瞧，”他对朋友们笑着说。 “一点点礼貌会有很长的作用——”他被斗牛犬打断了，那只斗牛犬抓住了他西装的翻领，把他拖向了火车。 的名字吗?他吼道。“呃，FatCace，我是说，Rattinoff…… Thirty-third……亚历山大，”他急促地说。 斗牛犬低头看着他的名单，在猫脸的名字上打勾。 “你们三个孩子就是弄沉了毛爪先生的船的小丑。 给自己找了些麻烦制造者，是吧？”“我可不这么说。 那是一场相当可怕的事故——”

'Silence!' the bulldog screamed at Catface. 'You speak only when you are spoken to!' 'Strictly speaking, you were speaking to us... Oh never mind,' Catface muttered under his breath. 'My name is Sergeant Major Gordon. For this next miserable week of your lives you will address me as Sergeant. I am here to somehow turn this train of unruly, useless GOOD-FOR-NOTHINGS into something approximating a lean, disciplined outfit, capable of taking orders. I'm going to be taking personal interest in making sure you three pass with flying colours and return to London as obedient, dutiful animals. Make no mistake, this will be the TOUGHEST WEEK of your lives. Now, get on board and, in answer to your question, the dining car is at the back of the train. They serve porridge, porridge and more porridge, which is all you'll be eating this whole long, painful week. That's how an army wins a

“安静!”斗牛犬对猫脸尖叫道。 “你只有在别人跟你说话的时候才说话！”“严格地说，你是在对我们说话……” “哦，没关系。”猫脸低声嘟囔着。 “我是戈登军士长。 在你们接下来悲惨的一周你们要称呼我为中士。 我来这里是想把这群不守规矩、没用、一无是处的人变成一支精干、有纪律、能接受命令的队伍。 我将亲自负责确保你们三个顺利通过考试然后作为听话的动物回到伦敦。 毫无疑问，这将是你们一生中最艰难的一周。 现在上车吧，回答你的问题，餐车在火车后面。 他们提供粥，粥和更多的粥，这是你整个漫长而痛苦的一周所要吃的。 这就是军队取胜的方式