44 THE POLAR BEAR

CHAPTER 44 THE POLAR BEAR Roz backed away as the polar bear stalked toward her. "Do not waste your energy hunting me!" hollered the robot. "I am not made of meat!" The polar bear sniffed the air with his sensitive nose. He smelled the ocean. He smelled the lingering scent of walruses. He smelled his own musky odor. But he didn't smell anything he could eat. The bear slumped onto the beach and gazed at the sky. The sun was setting, and the stars were beginning to come out. "I'm hungry," growled the bear. "I'm always hungry. I can't remember the last time I tasted meat. I'm lucky to find eggs. Mostly I eat grass. That's no way for a bear to live! And then there's the poison tide. It hasn't spread here yet, but the fear of it has spread everywhere. The birds and the fish and the seals are leaving. The walruses will be next. Polar bears have always hunted here. But it might be time for me to move on." "The poison tide is destroying the island where I live," said the robot. "I have come here to speak with

第四十四章北极熊北极熊向她走来时，罗兹后退了几步。 “不要浪费你的精力来找我！”机器人喊道。 “我不是肉做的！”北极熊用灵敏的鼻子嗅着空气。 他闻到了大海的味道。他闻到了挥之不去的海象气味。 他闻到了自己身上的麝香味。 但他没有闻到任何能吃的东西。 熊瘫倒在沙滩上，凝视着天空。 太阳落山了，星星开始出来了。 “我饿了，”熊咆哮道。 “我总是很饿。我都不记得上次吃肉是什么时候了。 我很幸运能找到鸡蛋。我主要吃草。 熊是不可能活下去的！然后是毒潮。 它还没有在这里蔓延，但对它的恐惧已经蔓延到各处。 鸟、鱼和海豹都在离开。 下一个就是海象。 北极熊一直在这里捕猎。 但也许我该向前看了。” “毒潮正在摧毁我居住的岛屿，”机器人说。 "我来这里是想和

the Ancient Shark. I was told she will know what to do. Have you heard of her?" The polar bear snorted. "We've all heard of the Ancient Shark. Everybody says she's the oldest, wisest, most powerful creature in the north. But if she's so powerful, why hasn't she stopped the poison tide already?" "That is a good question," said Roz. "When I find her, I will ask her." The polar bear pointed high up to a bright star. "They say the Ancient Shark lives at the bottom of the ocean, beneath that star. The other stars slowly move through the night sky, but that one stays still. It's called the guiding star because you can use it to find your way. Go toward the guiding star until it's right above you. Then you'll be in the home waters of the Ancient Shark." "Thank you for your help," said Roz. "I will do everything in my power to stop the poison tide. With luck, the birds and the fish and the seals will soon return." The polar bear licked his lips and dreamed of eating meat, as the robot marched into the waves.

远古鲨鱼。我听说她知道该怎么做。 你听说过她吗？”北极熊哼了一声。 “我们都听说过古代鲨鱼。 大家都说她是北境最古老，最聪明，最强大的生物。 但如果她那么强大，为什么她还没有阻止毒潮呢？”“这是个好问题，”罗兹说。 “等我找到她，我会问她的。” 北极熊指着天上一颗明亮的星星。 “他们说古鲨鱼生活在海底，在那颗星的下面。 其他的星星慢慢地在夜空中移动，但那颗星星却静止不动。 它被称为指路之星，因为你可以用它来找到你的路。 朝着指引的星星走，直到它在你的正上方。 然后你就到了古鲨鱼的故乡了。” “谢谢你的帮助，”罗兹说。 “我将尽我所能阻止毒潮。 幸运的话，鸟、鱼和海豹很快就会回来。” 北极熊舔了舔嘴唇，梦想着吃肉，而机器人则冲进了海浪中。