16 Foggy Head

16. FOGGY HEAD The Blackhole sailed into Dullshire Sound just after dawn, cutting through a light sea mist with the sun as it streamed across the waves. Jim and Matilda were watching the sunrise from the poop deck. Below them, Grandpa scanned the horizon while Jim's mom steered the ship. Up ahead, a small boat was coming out of Dull-on-Sea harbor and heading their way. A uniformed man on deck was scrutinizing the

16. 黎明刚过，“黑洞”号就驶进了杜尔郡湾，太阳穿过海浪，划破了淡淡的海雾。 吉姆和玛蒂尔达正在船尾甲板上看日出。 在他们下面，爷爷扫视着地平线，吉姆的妈妈在掌舵。 在前方，一艘小船正从海边的杜尔港驶来，向他们驶来。 甲板上一个穿制服的人正在仔细检查

Blackhole through a pair of binoculars. Jim and Matilda waved from the poop deck, but he didn't wave back. "Hello! Dull-on-Sea customs to the pirate ship! Anything to declare? Over," came a voice on the radio. "Um.... Only ninety-one retired pirates," Jim's dad replied into his handset. "And an equal number of parrots. Oh, and a lot of bananas."

通过双筒望远镜观察黑洞。 吉姆和玛蒂尔达在船尾甲板上挥手，但他没有回敬。 “你好!海盗船的海关！有什么要申报的吗？ “完毕。”无线电里传来一个声音。 “嗯……只有91个退休的海盗。”吉姆的爸爸对着手机回答。 “还有同样数量的鹦鹉。 哦，还有很多香蕉。”

"I'm sorry, the line's a bit fuzzy. I thought you said 'retired pirates,'" the voice replied with a chuckle. "Over." "Um, yes. That's what I said. But don't ye worry, they're mostly good citizens and they've got barrels full o' gold!" "I think we may have to come aboard. Please hold your position!" said the voice. "Tell 'em we're headin' to Foggy Head," said Jim's mom. "Hello, Cap'n Customs! We're bound for Foggy Head Retirement Home, and these old sea dogs are all booked in. Ye can chat to the matron if ye like." Jim's dad crossed his fingers— things never went well when the customs men came

“对不起，电话线路有点模糊。 我以为你说的是‘退役海盗’，”那个声音咯咯地笑着回答。 “结束了。”“嗯,是的。我就是这么说的。 不过别担心，他们大多是好公民，而且他们有装满金子的桶！”“我想我们可能得上船了。 请站好！”那声音说。 “告诉他们我们要去雾头。”吉姆的妈妈说。 “你好，海关船长！”我们要去雾头养老院，这些老海狗都订满了。 如果你愿意的话，你可以和护士长聊天。” 吉姆的爸爸祈祷，因为海关人员来了，事情就不顺利

aboard. They weren't too keen on skulls and treasure and cannons and stuff. "Carry on to Foggy Head.... Um, over," came a slightly confused voice from the customs boat. The sitting room at Foggy Head Retirement Home was full to the brim. Ninety-three old pirates sat on leather armchairs, snacking and watching a puppet show, with their parrots dozing on their shoulders. "The puppet-show man always comes on a Tuesday," said the matron. "I've been turning him away of late, as we only had two residents. There aren't too many old

搭乘。他们对头骨、宝藏、大炮之类的东西不太感兴趣。 “继续去雾头.... 嗯，结束了。”海关船上传来一个有点困惑的声音。 雾头养老院的客厅里坐满了人。 九十三名老海盗坐在皮扶手椅上，一边吃着零食，一边看木偶戏，他们的鹦鹉在他们的肩膀上打盹。 “木偶表演的人总是在星期二来，”护士长说。 “最近我一直拒绝他，因为我们只有两个住客。 没有太多的老人

pirates nowadays, and the puppets always got Blood-Blister Bob a bit excited. Before you'd know it, he'd have his cutlass out, which would then set off Grumpy Gordon. Hopefully they'll calm down a bit with a few more friends. We have crochet club on Wednesdays, dancing on Thursdays, and exercise on Friday afternoons, before they get their rum."

这些木偶总是让血水泡鲍勃有点兴奋。 你还没反应过来，他就把弯刀拿出来了，然后惹怒了臭脾气戈登。 希望他们能和更多的朋友一起冷静下来。 我们星期三有钩针社，星期四跳舞，星期五下午在他们喝朗姆酒之前锻炼身体。”

Jim's mom smiled and shook the matron's hand. "I'm sure they'll all be very happy here." "You know, we were on the verge of closing," the matron continued. "But now we'll be open for years and years with all that lovely gold! Thank you so much!" The matron walked them to the front door and hurried back to her new residents.

吉姆的妈妈笑着和护士长握了握手。 “我相信他们在这里都会很开心的。” “你知道，我们马上就要打烊了，”护士长接着说。 “但现在我们可以用这些可爱的金子开很多年了！”非常感谢！”护士长把他们送到前门，然后匆匆回到她的新住户那里。