8. Into the Darkness

8 INTO THE DARKNESS As soon as the bell rang for recess, Sam went looking for Mr. Nekobi. He spotted him outside the janitor's closet. Sam watched Mr. Nekobi open the closet door. Mr. Nekobi looked both ways down the hall, like he was afraid he was being watched. Then, very slowly, the old man reached into the dark closet. He grabbed hold of a dim, swinging light bulb. Mr. Nekobi tugged twice on the light bulb.

进入黑暗下课铃声一响，山姆就去找尼科比先生。 他在看门人的衣橱外发现了他。 山姆看着奈科比先生打开壁橱的门。 奈科比先生朝大厅的两边看了看，好像他害怕有人在监视他。 然后，老人慢慢地把手伸进黑暗的壁橱里。 他抓住一个昏暗的、晃动着的灯泡。 内科比先生拉了两次灯泡。

BRUMMMMMMM! There was a low rumbling noise as the rear wall of the closet began to move. A secret door! Sam thought. Mr. Nekobi stepped through. Sam swallowed. Sweat was pouring off his brow. He needed to know the truth about Eerie Elementary. This was his chance. Sam darted across the hall. He closed the closet door behind him. Then he leapt through the secret doorway.

BRUMMMMMMM !壁橱的后壁开始移动，发出低沉的隆隆声。 暗门！山姆想。 内科比走了进来。 山姆吞下。汗水从他的额头上淌下来。 他需要知道诡异小学的真相。 这是他的机会。萨姆飞快地穿过大厅。 他关上了身后壁橱的门。 然后他跳过了秘密的门。

Sam found himself in a large room with punching bags, pieces of old lockers, and school chairs with three legs. The room was dark. It smelled wet. "Sam Graves," Mr. Nekobi said. "I've been waiting for—" Sam cut him off. "What happened last night? And how is everything back to normal today? I know I didn't imagine all that stuff!" Mr. Nekobi said, "You imagined nothing. Place your hand against the wall, Sam, and focus." Sam frowned. "You're nuts."

山姆发现自己在一个大房间里，里面有沙袋、旧储物柜的碎片和三条腿的学校椅子。 房间里很黑。它闻起来很湿。 “山姆·格雷夫斯，”内科比说。 “我一直在等——”萨姆打断了他的话。 “昨晚发生了什么事？” 今天一切都恢复正常了吗？ 我知道这一切都不是我想象出来的！”内科比说，“你什么都没想。 把你的手靠在墙上，山姆，集中注意力。” 山姆皱起了眉头。“你疯了。”

"Do you want to know the truth or not?" Mr. Nekobi said. Sam sighed, then placed his palm against the cool brick wall. The room grew quiet. Then, he heard it: the soft sound of air blowing. And he felt it: The wall was gently swaying. It was the school. The school was breathing.

“你到底想不想知道真相？”内科比说。 山姆叹了口气，然后把手掌贴在冰冷的砖墙上。 房间里静了下来。然后，他听到了轻柔的空气吹动的声音。 他感觉到了：墙在轻轻摇晃。 是学校打来的。整个学校都在呼吸。

Sam backed away from the wall." Wh-what's happening?" he stuttered. Mr. Nekobi walked toward Sam. As his face passed through the shadows, he looked almost inhuman. "Eerie Elementary is... alive," Mr. Nekobi said. Sam shook his head. "That can't be. That's impossible!" Mr. Nekobi continued, "This school is a living, breathing thing. It is a beast. A monster. And there is only one person who can keep its students safe." "Who?" Sam asked softly. Mr. Nekobi stooped down until he was face-to-face with Sam. "You, Sam Graves— the hall monitor."

山姆从墙边退了回去。” 怎么回事？”他结结巴巴地说。 内科比先生走向山姆。 当他的脸穿过阴影时，他看起来几乎没有人性。 “《怪诞小学》……还活着，”内科比说。 山姆摇了摇头。“不可能。 这是不可能的!”内科比继续说道，“这所学校是有生命的，会呼吸的。 它是一头野兽。一个怪物。只有一个人能保证学生的安全。” “谁?”萨姆轻声问。奈柯比先生弯下腰，与山姆面对面。 “你，萨姆·格雷夫斯——大厅的班长。”