4 THE NERVOUS ANIMALS

CHAPTER 4 THE NERVOUS ANIMALS Each day, before sunrise, creatures came out from their homes and headed to the Great Meadow, in the center of the island. That was the site of the Dawn Truce, where everyone could safely get together and chat about the latest island news. Ordinarily, the Dawn Truce was a cheerful occasion, but on this day they had very serious matters to discuss. Gale fluttered onto a rock and screeched, "The poison tide is coming! The poison tide is coming!" Mr. Beaver grunted, "Pull yourself together, Gale! You'll cause a panic!" Fink barked, "Why should I care what happens in the ocean? I live on dry land!" Swooper hooted, "Because the land and the water and the air are all connected!" Other animals began calling out. "We'll be fine, this island has everything we need!" "I don't even like the ocean!" "But what about our friends on the coast?" The animals grew louder and wilder until they were

第四章神经紧张的动物每天日出之前，动物们都从家里出来，向岛中央的大草地走去。 那是黎明休战的地点，每个人都可以安全地聚在一起，谈论最新的岛屿新闻。 通常，黎明休战是一个愉快的时刻，但在这一天，他们有非常严肃的事情要讨论。 盖尔拍着翅膀飞到一块岩石上，尖叫道：“毒潮来了！毒潮来了！”比弗先生咕哝着说：“振作起来，盖尔！你会引起恐慌的！”芬克咆哮道：“我为什么要关心海洋里发生了什么？ 我住在陆地上！”斯乌普吼道：“因为陆地、水和空气都是相连的！”其他动物开始叫唤。 “我们会没事的，这个岛上有我们需要的一切！”“我连大海都不喜欢！”“但是我们在海岸上的朋友怎么办呢？”动物们越来越大声，越来越狂野，直到他们

silenced by the robot's booming voice. "The seal might be right," said Roz. "There might be a poison tide spreading through the ocean. But I do not think it will reach our shores. I think we are safe—" Roz was cut off by Nettle and Thorn, the bears who were sister and brother. "You think we're safe?" growled Nettle. "I want to know we're safe!" snarled Thorn. "I understand your concern," said Roz. "But of the creatures here, only the migratory birds and I have ever left the island, and we know that the ocean is truly enormous. It seems highly unlikely that the poison tide could spread through the whole ocean and find its way to us. The poison tide does not worry me, and it should not worry you either."

被机器人轰隆的声音打断了。 “海豹可能是对的，”罗兹说。 “可能会有一股毒潮在海洋中蔓延。 但我不认为它会到达我们的海岸。 我想我们安全了——”罗丝被荨麻和荆棘打断了，这是一对兄妹熊。 “你认为我们安全了吗？”荨麻咆哮道。 “我想知道我们是否安全！”索恩咆哮道。 “我理解你的担忧，”罗兹说。 “但在这里的生物中，只有候鸟和我离开过这个岛，我们知道海洋真的很大。 毒潮蔓延到整个海洋并找到我们的路似乎是极不可能的。 我不担心毒潮，你也不应该担心。”