25 THE SUMMER

CHAPTER 25 THE SUMMER Spring melted into summer, and the wolves were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps Roz had scared off the pack for good. Or perhaps the heat was keeping them away. You see, it was the hottest time of year on the farm. The sun was scorching, the fields were baking, the pond was drying up, and foul odors were floating all throughout the dairy. During dry spells, the farm's powerful sprayers were activated. Water shot out in long, misty arcs, and the land turned deeper shades of green. When the hayfields were lush and ready to be harvested, Roz fired up the Mower and the Baler. The giant machines rolled out of the shed and down the long driveway. Shortly afterward, they rolled back in, leaving bales of hay strewn across the stubbly fields. The cows and the humans spent hot days indoors. Only when the sun set and the air began to cool would they venture outside. The herd strolled out to

第二十五章夏天春天变成了夏天，狼已经无影无踪了。 也许罗兹把狼群永远吓跑了。 也可能是高温让它们远离了它们。 你看，那是农场一年中最热的时候。 太阳炙烤着，田地被烤焦了，池塘干涸了，牛奶场到处都飘着难闻的气味。 在干旱期间，农场的强力喷雾器被激活。 水喷出长长的、雾蒙蒙的弧线，大地变成了更深的绿色。 当草堆茂盛，准备收割时，罗兹启动了割草机和打包机。 巨大的机器驶出车棚，沿着长长的车道行驶。 没过多久，他们又回来了，留下一捆捆的干草散落在长满胡茬的田野上。 牛和人在室内度过炎热的日子。 只有当太阳落山，空气开始变凉的时候，他们才会冒险到外面去。 象群溜达出去

graze under the stars, the children ran out to chase fireflies, and sometimes even Mr. Shareef stepped out to stretch his stiff legs. Trees swished in the evening breeze. Heat lightning flickered on the horizon. Cicadas sang their summer songs. When Roz wasn't farming, she was searching for a way to escape. Everything hinged on the children. The robot needed their help, but she just couldn't bring herself to tell them the truth. It was still too risky. Mr. Shareef asked the children not to distract Roz from her work, but they did it anyway. They'd sneak out of the house and order the robot to play with them. Together, they told stories, rode bicycles, lay in the grass watching fluffy clouds drift by. Summer was tornado season. On occasion, thick clouds would start funneling downward, reaching for the ground. So far, the funnel clouds had all receded back into the sky before doing any damage. But it was only a matter of time before a tornado touched down.

在星空下吃草时，孩子们跑出去追萤火虫，有时连沙里夫也会出来舒展一下僵硬的腿。 树木在晚风中沙沙作响。 热闪电在地平线上闪烁。 蝉唱着它们的夏日之歌。 罗兹不种地的时候，她就在想办法逃跑。 一切都取决于孩子们。 机器人需要他们的帮助，但她就是无法让自己告诉他们真相。 这样做还是太冒险了。谢里夫先生要求孩子们不要让罗兹分心，但他们还是照做了。 他们会偷偷溜出房子，命令机器人和他们一起玩。 他们一起讲故事，骑自行车，躺在草地上看蓬松的云飘过。 夏天是龙卷风的季节。 有时，厚厚的云层会开始向下聚集，到达地面。 到目前为止，漏斗云在造成任何破坏之前都已经退回了天空。 但龙卷风来袭只是时间问题。