54 THE MOUNTAINS

CHAPTER 54 THE MOUNTAINS The flat plains of farm country gradually rolled into hills and valleys. There were fewer crop fields and more forests. The hills grew taller, the valleys sank deeper, the farms disappeared entirely. Our friends had reached the mountains. Brightbill floated on the wind as Roz climbed the slopes. They passed craggy rock formations and rushing waterfalls and meadows lush with flowers. The robot could have hiked on and on, never slowing or stopping, but the goose needed to rest. As the stars came out each evening, they found a safe location to settle down. Frost was common in the higher regions, and Roz took the lighter from her tool belt and built small campfires to keep her son warm. They sat around the crackling flames, reminiscing about life on the island, until Brightbill drifted off to sleep. As the sun came up each morning, they'd clear away all traces of their campsite and set off again,

第五十四章山脉农村平坦的平原逐渐延伸成丘陵和山谷。 农田少了，森林多了。 山越来越高，山谷越来越深，农场完全消失了。 我们的朋友已经到了山上。 当罗兹爬上山坡时，亮比尔在风中漂浮。 他们经过了陡峭的岩层、湍急的瀑布和开满鲜花的草地。 机器人可以一直向前走，永远不会减速或停下来，但鹅需要休息。 每天晚上星星出来的时候，他们就会找到一个安全的地方安顿下来。 霜冻在高海拔地区很常见，罗兹从她的工具带里拿出打火机，生起了小篝火，让儿子暖和。 他们围坐在噼啪作响的火堆旁，回忆着岛上的生活，直到布莱特比尔渐渐睡着了。 每天早晨，当太阳升起时，他们会清除营地的所有痕迹，然后再次出发，

deeper into the mountains. Eagles perched on jagged cliffs. Fish splashed through gurgling streams. Chipmunks bickered in the thick undergrowth. It felt good to be back in wilderness. But this place wasn't home. So the travelers kept a brisk pace. The robot adjusted her camouflage to match her surroundings. In the forest, she wore leaves and tree bark. In the meadows, she wore grass and wildflowers. In the rocky terrain, she wore dirt and weeds. Even way out there in the wilderness, she wanted to go unseen. What Roz didn't realize was that she was already being watched.

深入深山。 鹰栖息在参差不齐的悬崖上。 鱼在潺潺的溪水中溅起水花。 花栗鼠在茂密的灌木丛中斗嘴。 回到荒野的感觉真好。 但这里不是家。 所以旅行者们保持着轻快的步伐。 机器人调整了自己的伪装以适应周围环境。 在森林里，她穿着树叶和树皮。 在草地上，她穿着青草和野花。 在岩石地形上，她穿着泥土和杂草。 即使在遥远的荒野里，她也想隐身。 罗兹没有意识到的是，她已经被监视了。