7. Sam's Big Choice

SAM'S BIG CHOICE 7 Over the next few days, Sam and his friends read Strange Science Experiments to Dazzle and Amaze from cover to cover. They searched every inch of every page. They hunted for hidden messages or secret notes. But there was nothing. They saw nothing that would explain why Orson Eerie would want this book all to himself.

在接下来的几天里，萨姆和他的朋友们从头到尾读了《从奇怪的科学实验到令人眼花缭乱和惊奇》。 他们翻遍了每一页。 他们寻找隐藏的信息或秘密笔记。 但是什么也没有。他们看不出任何能解释奥森·怪诞为什么要独吞这本书的东西。

"Coming guys!" Sam shouted. It was Friday morning and Antonio and Lucy were outside Sam's house. They were waiting for him so they could all walk to school together. "Happy Friday, buddy!" Antonio said. Sam stopped in his tracks. "Oh no! I totally forgot! It's Friday!" Sam exclaimed. "Today is the day we have to tell Ms. Grinker what projects we're doing!"

“未来的家伙!”萨姆喊道。 那是星期五的早晨，安东尼奥和露西在萨姆的房子外面。 他们在等他，这样他们就可以一起步行去学校了。 “星期五快乐，伙计！”安东尼奥说。 萨姆停住了脚步。 “哦,不!我完全忘了！今天是星期五!”萨姆喊道。 “今天是我们必须告诉她的日子。 格林克，我们在做什么项目啊！”

Lucy and Antonio looked at each other. "Um," Lucy said. "But the only science book we borrowed from the library is Strange Science Experiments to Dazzle and Amaze..." "We'll have to choose our projects from that book," Antonio said. I'm not sure this is the best idea, thought Sam. But it was the only choice. Sam knew Ms. Grinker would ask for their choices as soon as class began. He hung his head and trudged back inside. Moments later, he returned with the book. The friends took a seat on the front steps and Antonio carefully turned the book's crinkly pages.

露西和安东尼奥面面相觑。 “嗯，”露茜说。“但是我们从图书馆借的唯一一本科学书是《奇怪的科学实验让人眼花缭乱》……” “我们必须从那本书中选择我们的项目，”安东尼奥说。 我不确定这是不是最好的主意，山姆想。 但这是唯一的选择。 萨姆知道格林克老师一开始就会问他们的选择。 他低下头，艰难地走回屋里。 不一会儿，他拿着书回来了。 朋友们在屋前的台阶上坐了下来，安东尼奥小心翼翼地翻着这本皱巴巴的书。

"I'll do this one!" Antonio said, pointing to "Weather Wonders: Hot and Cold." He turned the pages. Lucy's eyes lit up when she saw a project titled "Making Invisible Ink with Lemon Juice." "I'm doing that!" Lucy said. Antonio groaned. "Aw, man! Invisible ink! That's awesome spy stuff!" Lucy laughed. "It's mine now!" "Well, Sam," Antonio said. "What project will you pick?" He passed the book to Sam.

“我来做这个！”安东尼奥指着《天气奇迹：冷热》说。 他翻了翻书。当露西看到一个名为“用柠檬汁制作隐形墨水”的项目时，她的眼睛亮了起来。 “我正在这么做！”露西说。 安东尼奥呻吟着。“啊,男人!隐形墨水!这是了不起的间谍手段！”露西笑了。 “现在是我的了！”“嗯，山姆，”安东尼奥说。 “你会选择什么项目？”他把书递给山姆。

Sam didn't respond. He was focused on the ancient, yellowed pages. I can't believe I'm reading the same book that Orson Eerie read, Sam thought. My fingers are turning the same pages that Orson's fingers turned, over one hundred years ago. Sam hated holding the book. It felt like Orson Eerie was reading over his shoulder. The feeling made Sam's skin crawl. A single experiment caught Sam's eye. It was circled in faded pen and there was a star next to it: "This is the project I messed up in class last week," Sam said.

山姆没有回应。他的注意力集中在古老的泛黄的书页上。 我真不敢相信我正在读奥森·怪诞读过的那本书，山姆想。 我的手指正在翻看奥森一百多年前翻过的书页。 萨姆讨厌拿着书。 感觉就像奥森·怪诞在他身后看书。 这种感觉使萨姆起了鸡皮疙瘩。 一个实验引起了萨姆的注意。 它被褪色的钢笔圈了起来，旁边有一颗星星：“这是我上周在课堂上搞砸的项目，”萨姆说。

Lucy pointed to the star. "It looks like it was Orson's favorite." Sam wondered what would happen if he performed Orson Eerie's favorite project at Eerie Elementary. It didn't sound like the note on the first page of the book had been written by a crazy mad scientist. Maybe Orson Eerie hadn't always been evil? Maybe Orson Eerie would be happy to see someone using his favorite book? Sam clapped the book shut. "I'll do it. I'll do the 'Baking Soda Volcano.'" With that, Sam placed the book back inside his house. He wouldn't bring the book to Eerie Elementary. He couldn't risk the school stealing it back.

露西指着那颗星。“看起来这是奥森的最爱。” 山姆想知道如果他在怪诞小学表演奥森·怪诞最喜欢的项目会发生什么。 听起来，这本书第一页上的注释不像是一个疯狂的科学家写的。 也许奥森·怪诞并非一直都是邪恶的？ 也许奥森·怪诞会很高兴看到有人用他最喜欢的书？ 萨姆啪的一声把书合上。 “我来做。我要做“小苏打火山”。’”说完，山姆把书放回屋里。 他不肯把书带到怪诞小学。 他不能冒险让学校把它偷回来。