6 Payment

6. PAYMENT Captain Horatio Rattus marched into the council offices with a swagger, head held high. He rested his pipe over one shoulder while a flea-bitten rat sat on the other. "I'm here to see Mayor Carrot," he declared, and walked straight past the receptionist and up a grand staircase to the mayor's office. Harvey Carrot had his back to the door and was lounging in a sturdy leather chair admiring the

6. 霍雷肖·拉图斯上尉昂首阔步地走进议会办公室。 他把烟斗搭在一边肩膀上，另一边肩膀上坐着一只被跳蚤咬过的老鼠。 “我是来见胡萝卜市长的，”他说，然后径直走过接待员，走上一段宏伟的楼梯，来到市长办公室。 哈维·胡萝卜背对着门，懒洋洋地坐在一张结实的皮椅上，欣赏着

view of Dull-on-Sea. The Pirate Piper let himself in, marched to the mayor's desk, and tapped on its green leather surface with his pipe. Mayor Carrot turned around slowly and, disgruntled, leaned on his elbows with his fists clenched firmly together. "Well, look who we have here!" he said. "Would you like to walk back outside and knock? Or should I call security and—" "My job is done!" the Pirate Piper interrupted. "That will be ten thousand dollars, Mr. Mayor. Ye'll pay me in gold, silver, or twenty-dollar bills, whichever ye'll be findin' easiest." "Well, here's the thing," said Harvey

杜尔海的景色。海盗吹笛手走了进来，大步走到市长的办公桌前，用烟斗敲了敲绿色的皮革台面。 胡萝卜市长慢慢地转过身来，不满地用胳膊肘撑着身子，两只拳头紧紧攥在一起。 “嗯，看看谁来了！”他说。 “你想走出去敲门吗？” 或者我应该叫保安来——”“我的任务完成了！”海盗吹笛人打断了他的话。 “那是一万美元，市长先生。 你可以用金币、银币或二十元的钞票付给我，看你觉得哪一种更容易。” “嗯，事情是这样的，”哈维说

Carrot. "When I'm not playing mayor, I'm a bit of a businessman, and I don't think you've earned ten thousand dollars. I'm happy to write you a check for one." "One what?" scowled Captain Rattus. "And I won't be acceptin' yer checks."

胡萝卜。“当我不扮演市长的时候，我有点像个商人，我不认为你赚了一万美元。 我很乐意给你写一张支票。” “一个什么？”拉特斯船长皱着眉头。 “我不会接受你的支票。”

"One thousand dollars," replied the mayor. "I think that's a fair price. What do you say? If you want it in cash, you'll have to wait until tomorrow." "I named me price, you squab," said Rattus firmly. "And I think ye'll be findin' that was TEN thousand dollars. I took yer scurvy rats, and now I want me gold!" "Ah, but we had no contract, no handshake. People were emotional," said the mayor. "Now that I've had time to reflect, I think the price was too high. It was only a few rats, after all. Our rat catcher, Norbert Grimes, would've sorted it all out eventually. One thousand dollars. You can take it or leave it."

“一千美元，”市长回答。 “我认为这是一个公平的价格。 你说呢？如果你想要现金，你得等到明天。” “我给我起的名字是price，你这个乳鸽，”Rattus坚定地说。 “我想你会发现那不是一万美元。 我拿走了你的坏血病老鼠，现在我要我的金子！”“啊，但是我们没有合同，没有握手。 人们情绪激动，”市长说。 “现在我有时间反思，我认为这个价格太高了。 毕竟只有几只老鼠。 捕鼠人诺伯特·格莱姆斯最终会解决的。 一千美元。你可以接受它，也可以放弃它。”

"Refuse to pay! I dare ye..." growled the Pirate Piper. "Oh, OK," said the mayor, chuckling and rubbing his enormous hairy hands together. "I refuse." The Pirate Piper turned on his heels and left, muttering. Mayor Carrot was rather pleased with himself. He spun around in his chair to get back to enjoying the view— but was greeted by a huge black flea-bitten rat, squatting on the window ledge and giving him an evil stare.

“拒付！”我敢说……” 海盗吹笛手咆哮道。“哦，好吧，”市长说，一边咯咯地笑着，一边搓着两只毛茸茸的大手。 “我拒绝。”海盗吹笛手咕哝着转身离开了。 胡萝卜市长对自己相当满意。 他在椅子上转了个圈，想继续欣赏风景——但一只被跳蚤咬过的大黑老鼠迎了过来，蹲在窗台上恶狠狠地盯着他。