11 A Plan for Escape

CHAPTER 11 A Plan for Escape Over the next month, our travels took us many places. By the middle of February, the Nautilus rose to the surface of the Mediterranean. Upon hearing of our location, Ned took me aside for a talk. "What I have to tell you is very simple," he said. "I want to leave the Nautilus." I did not wish to keep my friends from being

第十一章逃跑计划在接下来的一个月里，我们游历了许多地方。 二月中旬，诺第留斯号浮出地中海水面。 尼德-兰知道了我们的位置，就把我拉到一边，跟我谈话。 “我要告诉你的很简单，”他说。 “我想离开诺第留斯号。” 我不想阻止我的朋友们

free, but I was not ready to leave the ship. I was learning too much from my journey and from the great Captain Nemo. Each day I got closer to finishing my studies. And would I ever again have a chance like this to observe the wonders of the world? No, certainly not! "Ned, my friend," I said. "Answer me truthfully. Are you tired of being on board? Are you sorry that you ever met Captain Nemo?" It took Ned a few minutes before he could answer. "Well," he began, "I don't hate it that I was on this journey under the seas. I will have been glad I made it. But now that we have been here awhile, I want to be finished." "It will come to an end, Ned." "Where and when?" "I don't know," I said. "Perhaps in six months?" "And where shall we be in six months?" "Perhaps China? You know the Nautilus is a fast traveler."

自由了，但我还没准备好离开这艘船。 我从这次旅行和伟大的尼摩船长那里学到了很多东西。 每天我都离完成学业更近了一步。 我还会有这样的机会去观察世界的奇观吗？ 不，当然不是！“尼德-兰，我的朋友。” “如实回答我。你厌倦了船上的生活吗？ 您后悔遇到尼摩船长吗？”奈德过了几分钟才回答。 “好吧，”他开始说，“我并不讨厌这次海底旅行。 我会很高兴我做到了。 不过，既然我们已经在这儿待了一段时间，我就想结束了。” “尼德，一切都会结束的。” “何时何地？”“我不知道，”我说。 “也许六个月后？”“六个月后我们会在哪里呢？”“也许中国吗? 您知道诺第留斯号走得很快。”

Ned seemed to think about this for a moment. "Sir," he said, his face deep in thought, "if Captain Nemo gave you your freedom today, would you take it?" "I don't know," I answered. "And," he continued, "what if the question was for today only. What if he would never ask it again?" "Ned, my friend, I cannot answer that now. I do know, however, that one thing is clear: Captain Nemo captured us. He brought us along with the idea that we will be here as long as he is. If we were to make a plan to leave, it would have to be an escape plan. He could not find out." "I agree," Ned said, sounding hopeful. "If, or when, we leave, we must make it during our first try. If we fail, we will never find another time. Captain Nemo will see to that. The captain will never forgive us either." "So if the time comes when we think we may

奈德似乎想了一会儿。 “先生，”他沉思着说，“如果尼摩船长今天给您自由，您愿意接受吗？”“我不知道，”我回答。 “而且，”他接着说，“如果这个问题只针对今天呢？ 要是他再也不问了怎么办？”“尼德-兰，我的朋友，我现在不能回答这个问题。 不过，有一点我知道得很清楚：尼摩船长把我们捉住了。 他让我们相信，只要他在这里，我们就会在这里。 如果我们要制定一个离开的计划，那就必须是一个逃跑计划。 他找不出来。”“我同意。”奈德满怀希望地说。 “如果我们离开，或者什么时候离开，我们必须在第一次尝试中成功。 如果我们失败了，就再也找不到时间了。 尼摩船长会注意的。 船长也永远不会原谅我们的。” “所以，如果时机到来，我们认为我们可以

have a good chance to run, we should take it? No matter if it is two days from now or two months from now?" Ned asked. "Yes. Now Ned, will you please tell me what a 'good chance to run' is?" I waited for my companion's answer. "It will be on a dark night. The Nautilus should be only a short distance from the coast of Europe." "And are we to save ourselves by swimming to this coast?" I asked, fearing the answer. "Yes," Ned said. "If we are close enough to the bank and if the ship is floating at that time. But if the land is far away and the boat is under the water…" "Then what?" I asked. "In that case," Ned answered, "I would have to take over the ship. I know how it works. I could get to the controls, draw the bolts, and come to the surface of the water without the captain even knowing our plan."

有好机会逃跑，我们应该抓住吗？ 不管是两天以后还是两个月以后？”Ned问道。 “是的。尼德-兰，现在请您告诉我，‘逃跑的好机会’是什么？”我等着同伴的回答。 “那将是一个漆黑的夜晚。 诺第留斯号离欧洲海岸不远了。” “我们能游到这海岸来救自己吗？”我问，害怕听到答案。 “是的。”奈德说。“如果我们离岸边足够近，如果船当时漂浮在水面上。 但如果陆地离得很远，船在水里……”“那又怎样？”我问。 “那样的话，”尼德-兰回答，“我就得接管这艘船了。 我知道这是怎么回事。我可以走到控制装置跟前，拉下螺杆，浮出水面，船长甚至不知道我们的计划。”

I listened carefully to his idea. "Watch for the chance to run, my friend, but remember. One mistake will ruin us." "I will not forget, sir," Ned answered. "And now, Ned, would you like to know what I think of your project?" "Certainly, Mr. Aronnax." "I think this chance will never come for us." "Why not?" "Because Captain Nemo knows we haven't given up our hope for freedom. He will be watching us, especially when we are so close to the European coast." "We shall see," said Ned, shaking his head. "Ned," I added, "let us stop here. Do not say another word on the subject. When the right day comes, let us know. We will follow you. I trust you entirely." Thus ended our conversation.

我仔细听了他的意见。 “注意寻找逃跑的机会，我的朋友，但是记住。 一个错误就会毁了我们。” “我不会忘记，先生。”尼德-兰回答。 “尼德-兰，现在您想知道我对您的计划有什么看法吗？”“当然可以，阿龙纳斯先生。” “我认为这个机会永远不会出现在我们身上。” “为什么不?”“因为尼摩船长知道，我们并没有放弃自由的希望。 他会监视我们的，尤其是当我们离欧洲海岸这么近的时候。” “等着瞧吧。”奈德摇着头说。 “尼德-兰，”我又说，“我们到此为止吧。 不要再说这个话题了。 当合适的日子到来时，让我们知道。 我们会跟着你。我完全信任你。” 我们的谈话就这样结束了。