58 THE CONVERSATIONS

CHAPTER 58 THE CONVERSATIONS Thanks to Roz's truce, life inside the Nest was mostly harmonious. But when the animals went outside, it was business as usual. Sometimes a lodger wouldn't return. Sometimes a lodger would return in the belly of another lodger. As you can imagine, that made for some awkward moments. So when everyone was gathered around the fire, they tried to keep things pleasant by having conversations like these. "I wonder what Brightbill is doing right now." Chitchat lay on her back and looked at the ceiling as she spoke. "And where he is and who he's with and if he ever thinks about us back here on the island." "I am sure he thinks about us," said Roz. "I think

由于罗兹的休战，巢里的生活基本上是和谐的。 但当动物们走到外面时，一切照常。 有时房客不回来。 有时一个房客会在另一个房客的肚子里回来。 你可以想象，这造成了一些尴尬的时刻。 所以，当大家聚在火堆旁时，他们试图通过这样的谈话来保持气氛愉快。 “我想知道布莱特比尔现在在做什么。” 她仰面躺着，边说边看着天花板。 “还有他在哪儿，和谁在一起，他有没有想过我们回到岛上。” “我肯定他在想我们，”罗兹说。 “我认为

about him all the time." "I like to imagine that the geese had a fun flight to the wintering grounds and now Brightbill is floating on a lovely lake eating yummy food and making wonderful new friends but hopefully they're not too wonderful because I'd like to stay his best friend if possible." "That is a nice thought," said Roz. "But I worry that the flock might have gotten caught in this icy weather. I do not think they would handle it well." "Don't worry I'm sure they're fine," said Chitchat. "Brightbill is such a great flier that I just know he'll keep the flock out of trouble." "He is a great flier," said Roz. "But I still worry." "Life is short." Digdown the old groundhog was giving another one of her fireside speeches. "I'll be lucky if I see the spring. I don't want your pity. I've had a good run. But I'll tell you what: If I could do it all over again, I'd spend more time helping others. All I've ever done is dig tunnels. Some of them were real beauties too, but they're all hidden underground, where they're no good to anyone but me. And they weren't even good to me this winter! Now, the

一直在想他。”“我喜欢想象这些鹅飞到越冬地玩得很开心，现在Brightbill漂浮在一个可爱的湖上，吃着美味的食物，结交了很棒的新朋友，但希望他们不要太好，因为如果可能的话，我想和他做最好的朋友。” “这个想法不错，”罗兹说。 “但我担心鸟群可能会被这种冰冷的天气困住。 我认为他们处理不好。” “别担心，我肯定他们很好，”闲聊说。 “布莱特比尔是个很棒的飞行员，我知道他会让鸟群远离麻烦的。” “他是一个伟大的飞行员，”罗兹说。 “但我还是担心。”“人生苦短。” 老土拨鼠Digdown又在做她的炉边演讲。 “如果我能看到春天就很幸运了。 我不需要你的怜悯。我跑得很好。 但是我要告诉你：如果我能重新来过，我会花更多的时间帮助别人。 我只会挖地道。 有些也很漂亮，但都藏在地下，除了我，谁也看不见。 今年冬天他们甚至对我都不好！现在,

beavers, they have it all figured out. They built that beautiful dam, which created a lovely pond that made all our lives better. That must feel mighty good!" "The beavers made our lives better in another way," said Fink. "They taught Roz how to build." "Ain't that the truth!" said Digdown. "Roz, you must have saved half the island with your lodges! And to think we used to call you a monster. I'll repay my debt to you if it's the last thing I do." "Your friendship is payment enough," said Roz. "Oh, please, your sweetness is gonna make me sick. There must be something we can do!" "Your friendship really is enough. Friends help each other. And I will need all the help I can get. My mind is strong, but my body will not last forever. I want to survive as long as possible. And to do that I will need the help of my friends." The animals listened quietly to Roz and thought of their own struggles to survive. Life in the wilderness was hard for everyone; there was no escaping that fact. But the robot had made their lives a little easier. And if ever they could, the animals would return the favor.

海狸，它们都有自己的想法。 他们建造了那个美丽的水坝，形成了一个可爱的池塘，让我们的生活变得更好。 那感觉一定很棒！”“海狸以另一种方式让我们的生活变得更好，”芬克说。 “他们教罗兹如何建造。” “这不是真的吗？”迪唐说。 “罗兹，你的小屋一定拯救了半个岛！”想想我们以前叫你怪物。 即使这是我做的最后一件事，我也要偿还我欠你的债。” “你的友谊就是足够的报酬，”罗兹说。 "拜托，你的甜蜜会让我恶心的。 我们一定能做点什么！”“你的友谊真的足够了。 朋友互相帮助。我需要所有我能得到的帮助。 我的思想很强大，但我的身体不会永远持久。 我想活得越久越好。 要做到这一点，我需要朋友们的帮助。” 动物们静静地听着罗兹的话，想着自己为生存而奋斗。 野外生活对每个人来说都很艰难；这是无法逃避的事实。 但机器人让他们的生活变得轻松了一点。 如果有机会，动物们会回报你的。

"I have seen ninety-three winters, far more than any of you." Crag the turtle spoke slowly, but everyone always listened to his words. "And I can tell you that the winters have gotten colder, and the summers have gotten hotter, and the storms have gotten fiercer." "I heard that the ocean has gotten higher," said Chitchat, "but I don't see how that could be true I mean where would all that extra water come from?" "You are right—the ocean is higher," said Crag. "My grandfather used to say that, long ago, this island was not an island at all. It was a mountain surrounded by flatlands. And then the ground shook, and the oceans grew, and the land slowly flooded until the mountain became this island. Animals from far and wide were forced to come here to escape the floodwaters. In those early days, there were too many animals living in too small a place. The island did not have enough food to feed them all. But between fighting and disease and famine, a balance was finally reached. And we have kept the balance ever since." Chitchat's eyes grew wide with concern. "If the ocean keeps rising the island will be swallowed up by the waves and I don't even know how to swim!" "If the waves ever do swallow this island, it will

“我经历过九十三个冬天，比你们任何人都多。” 乌龟克雷格说得很慢，但每个人都听他的话。 “我可以告诉你，冬天变得更冷了，夏天变得更热了，风暴变得更猛烈了。” “我听说海平面越来越高了，”闲聊说，“但我不明白这怎么可能是真的。我的意思是，这些额外的水是从哪里来的呢？”“你说得对，海水更高了，”克雷格说。 “我祖父过去常说，很久以前，这个岛根本就不是一个岛。 那是一座被平原环绕的山。 然后地面震动，海水膨胀，陆地慢慢被淹没，直到这座山变成了这个岛。 来自四面八方的动物被迫来到这里躲避洪水。 在那些早期，有太多的动物生活在一个太小的地方。 岛上没有足够的食物来养活他们所有人。 但在战争、疾病和饥荒之间，最终达到了平衡。 从那以后，我们一直保持着平衡。” 闲聊的眼睛因担心而睁得大大的。 “如果海平面继续上涨，这个岛就会被海浪吞没，我甚至不会游泳！”“如果海浪真的吞没了这个岛，它会的

not happen for a very long time," said Crag. "By then we will all be long dead, even me." "Everything has a purpose." It was Swooper's turn to lecture the lodgers. "The sun is meant to give light. Plants are meant to grow. We owls are meant to hunt." "We mice are meant to hide." "We raccoons are meant to scavenge." "Roz, what are you meant to do?" "I do not believe I have a purpose." "Ha! I respectfully disagree," said Swooper. "Clearly, you are meant to build." "I think Roz is meant to grow gardens." "Roz is definitely meant to care for Brightbill." "Perhaps I am simply meant to help others."

在很长一段时间内不会发生，”克雷格说。 “到那时，我们都早死了，包括我。” “万物皆有目的。” 轮到斯伍普教训房客们了。 “太阳是用来发光的。 植物是用来生长的。我们猫头鹰就是用来打猎的。” “我们老鼠就是要躲起来的。” “我们浣熊生来就是食腐动物。” “罗兹，你打算怎么办？”“我不相信我有什么目标。” “哈!我不同意，”斯伍珀说。 “很明显，你注定要建造。” “我认为罗兹注定要种植花园。” “罗兹肯定是要照顾布莱特比尔的。” “也许我只是想帮助别人。”