5 Chariot race

Chapter 5 Chariot race As the chariots rumbled into the stadium, Rosa noticed one that hadn't joined the line. It had no driver, just a woman in a long, tunic dress and a cloak, who was holding the reins. She glanced around impatiently, as if she was searching for someone. A second woman stood nearby.

当战车隆隆地开进体育场时，罗莎注意到一辆没有加入队伍。 它没有司机，只有一个穿着长束腰连衣裙、披着斗篷的女人握着缰绳。 她不耐烦地环顾四周，好像在找什么人。 另一个女人站在旁边。

As they neared the pair, Rosa heard the woman holding the reins say, "Where is he, Irene? We've come all this way. What else can I do?"

当他们走近这对夫妇时，罗莎听到牵着缰绳的女人说：“他在哪里，艾琳？” 我们一路走来。我还能做什么呢？”

"Nothing, Alkistis," Irene said soothingly. "You can't drive the chariot yourself. Without your driver, your chariot's out of the race. We won't be able to enter this year." "I wish I could drive it," said Alkistis. "They're my horses, it's my chariot, and I'm a good driver. It's only because I'm a woman that I'm not allowed. It's so unfair."

“没什么，阿尔基斯蒂斯，”艾琳安慰说。 “你自己不能开车。 没有你的司机，你的战车就出局了。 我们今年进不去了。” “我希望我能驾驶它，”阿尔基斯蒂斯说。 “它们是我的马，这是我的战车，我是个好车夫。 只是因为我是女人，所以我不被允许。 这太不公平了。”

"Maybe things will be different one day," Irene said. An idea flashed through Rosa. She grabbed Kingsley's elbow. "We could drive her chariot," she said. "Everyone thinks I'm a boy. That way we'll keep DeLay in our sights and help Alkistis." "You're joking," Kingsley said. "We've never done anything like that in our lives!" "Well, I used to drive my aunt's pony cart," said Rosa. "It can't be that different. Can it?" "It's an Olympic race!" Kingsley exclaimed, but Rosa pulled him over to Alkistis, who was turning the chariot around. "Stop!" Rosa cried.

“也许有一天情况会有所不同，”艾琳说。 罗莎脑子里闪过一个念头。 她抓住金斯莱的胳膊肘。 “我们可以开她的战车，”她说。 “每个人都认为我是个男孩。 这样我们就能盯住迪莱，帮助阿基斯蒂斯。” “你在开玩笑吧。”金斯利说。 “我们这辈子从没做过这样的事！”“嗯，我以前是开姑妈的小马车的，”罗莎说。 “不可能有什么不同。 可以吗?”“这是奥林匹克比赛！”金斯利惊叫道，但罗莎把他拉到正在调头的阿尔基斯蒂斯跟前。 “住手!”罗莎哭了。

The women stared. "Can I help you, young man?" said Alkistis. "I want to help you," said Rosa. "My friend and I will race your chariot. If you'll let us." Both women's eyes widened in surprise. "You're very young and very brave," said Irene, "But—" "Please let us," Kingsley interrupted. Alkistis grinned. "Why not?" She handed Rosa the reins. Kingsley jumped into the chariot and pulled Rosa in after him. "Whatever you do, don't let your hat blow off and show your long hair!" he whispered. "OK. Let's do this!" Rosa clicked her tongue and shook the reins. She felt the same mix of focus and excitement she

女人们瞪大了眼睛。“我能帮你吗，年轻人？”阿尔基斯提斯说。 “我想帮助你，”罗莎说。 “我和我的朋友将和你的战车比赛。 如果你允许的话。”两个女人都惊讶地睁大了眼睛。 “你很年轻，也很勇敢，”艾琳说，“但是——”“让我们来吧，”金斯利打断了他的话。 Alkistis咧嘴一笑。“为什么不?”她把缰绳递给罗莎。 金斯利跳上马车，把罗莎拉了进去。 “不管你做什么，别让你的帽子被风吹掉，露出你的长发！”他低声说。 “好吧。我们开始吧！”罗莎咂了咂舌头，抖了抖缰绳。 她像往常一样，既专注又兴奋

had before a big soccer match. "Good luck!" called Alkistis and Irene, as the chariot rumbled away. Rosa tweaked the reins, guiding their two horses to follow the other chariots into the hippodrome. It was much bigger than the stadium they had already seen, and it was packed with noisy, excited spectators. At the far end was a post that the drivers had to go around before coming back down the other side of the oval track. An official waved their chariot forward to the starting line and Kingsley climbed in.

在一场大型足球比赛之前。 “祝你好运！”当马车隆隆驶离时，阿尔基斯提斯和艾琳喊道。 罗莎拧了拧缰绳，引导他们的两匹马跟随其他战车进入竞技场。 它比他们之前看过的体育馆要大得多，里面挤满了喧闹、兴奋的观众。 在远端有一根柱子，车手们必须绕过去，然后才能从椭圆形赛道的另一边回来。 一位官员挥手示意他们的战车向前开到起跑线，金斯利爬上了车。