52 THE FLOCK

CHAPTER 52 THE FLOCK Brightbill slowly waddled into the Nest. He had a confused look on his face. "Mama? The other goslings said that we have to leave the island soon, and we won't return for months and months. Is that true?" "That is true," said Roz. "You know that geese migrate south for the winter." "Will you migrate with us?" said Brightbill. "I cannot fly or swim, so I will spend the winter here on the island." "Can I stay with you?" "I do not think that is a good idea. I think you should migrate with the flock." "How long will the migration take?" said Brightbill. "Where will we fly? When will we come home?"

第五十二章羊群明亮的比尔慢慢地摇摇摆摆地走进鸟巢。 他脸上露出困惑的表情。 “妈妈?其他的小鹅说我们必须很快离开这个岛，而且我们几个月都不会回来。 这是真的吗？”“这倒是真的，”罗兹说。 “你知道鹅冬天会向南迁徙。” “你愿意和我们一起迁移吗？”布莱特比尔说。 “我不会飞，也不会游泳，所以我要在这个岛上过冬。” “我能和你住在一起吗？”“我不认为这是个好主意。 我认为你应该和羊群一起迁徙。” 布莱特比尔说：“迁徙需要多长时间？” “我们要飞到哪里去？”我们什么时候回家？”

"I do not know," said Roz. "Let us go ask the others." And so the robot and the gosling walked around the pond, to where Loudwing and her friends were chatting. "Hello, everyone," said Roz. "Brightbill has some questions about the flock's upcoming winter migration." "And we'd be happy to answer them!" said Loudwing. "What would you like to know, little one?" "How long will the migration take?" said Brightbill. "Where will we fly? When will we come home?" "It'll take us a couple of weeks to fly south," said Loudwing, "depending on the weather." "We'll join other flocks at a beautiful lake in the middle of a great, sprawling field," said another goose. "And we'll come back to the island after four or

“我不知道，”罗兹说。 “我们去问问其他人吧。” 于是机器人和小鹅绕着池塘走了一圈，来到了响翼和她的朋友们聊天的地方。 “大家好，”罗兹说。 “Brightbill对即将到来的冬季迁徙有一些疑问。” “我们很乐意回答这些问题！” “你想知道什么，小家伙？”布莱特比尔说：“迁徙需要多长时间？” “我们要飞到哪里去？”我们什么时候回家？”“我们要花两个星期才能飞到南方，”响亮翼说，“要看天气了。” 另一只鹅说：“我们将和其他鹅群一起去一个美丽的湖，那里有一片广阔的田野。” “我们四点钟左右再回到岛上

five months," said someone else, "depending on the weather." As they walked back to the Nest, Brightbill said to his mother, "Lately I've been feeling this strong urge to fly. Not just around the pond or the island, but to go on a long flight. A journey." "Those are your instincts," said the robot. "All animals have instincts. They help you survive." "Do you have instincts?" said the gosling. "I do have instincts. They help me survive also." "My instincts are definitely telling me to fly south for the winter," said Brightbill. "I just wish you could join us. I'm going to worry about you while I'm away." "Do not worry. I will be fine," said Roz. "How bad could winter be?"

“五个月，”另一个人说，“要看天气。” 当他们走回鸟巢时，布莱特比尔对他的妈妈说：“最近我总有一种强烈的想飞的冲动。 不只是绕着池塘或岛屿，而是要进行一次长途飞行。 一段旅程。”“那是你的本能，”机器人说。 “所有的动物都有本能。 它们帮助你生存。”“你有直觉吗？”小鹅说。 “我确实有直觉。它们也帮助我生存。” 布莱特比尔说：“我的直觉绝对告诉我要飞往南方过冬。” “我只希望你能加入我们。 我不在的时候，我会担心你的。” “别担心。我会没事的。”罗兹说。 “冬天能有多糟？”