11. Close Call!

CLOSE CALL! 11 The next day, Sam, Lucy, and Antonio arrived at school early. Mr. Eerie was waiting with the machine. It was hidden beneath a tattered orange-and-green quilt. Working together, they lifted the machine up the steps and into the school. The wheels squeaked as they pushed it down the hall. "Phew," Lucy said. "I'm glad we got this thing inside before anyone else arrived."

千钧一发!第二天，萨姆、露西和安东尼奥很早就到了学校。 怪异先生拿着答录机等着。 它藏在一条破旧的橙绿相间的被子下面。 他们一起把机器抬上台阶，进了学校。 当他们把它推下大厅时，轮子发出吱吱的声音。 “呸。”露茜说。“我很高兴我们在其他人到来之前就把这个东西弄进去了。”

"Yeah," Antonio agreed. "Imagine trying to explain what's underneath this quilt!" But just as Antonio said that, he stepped on a corner of the quilt. WHOOSH! The quilt was yanked off the machine. At that exact moment, Principal Winik stepped from his office. Oh no! Sam thought. Of course the principal is here early. Our timing couldn't be any worse! It took Principal Winik about two seconds to notice the machine and about another two seconds for his face to scrunch up. "What exactly is going on here?"

“是的，”安东尼奥同意了。“想象一下，要解释这被子下面是什么！”但就在安东尼奥说这话的时候，他踩到了被子的一角。 嗖!被子被从机器上拽了下来。 就在这时，温尼克校长从办公室走了出来。 噢,不!山姆想。校长当然来早了。 我们的时机真是糟透了！温尼克校长花了大约两秒钟才注意到这台机器，又过了大约两秒钟，他的脸皱了起来。 “这到底是怎么回事？”

Mr. Eerie appeared speechless. Sam had no clue what to say, either. But then "They're assisting me!" a voice said. Sam spun around. Relief flooded through him. It was Mr. Nekobi. "Mr. Winik, this is a heavy-duty cleaning machine," Mr. Nekobi explained. "I asked the hall monitors to help me bring it into school early— and Mr. Eerie is helping. I'll be using it to scrub the paint-stained floors in the art room." Principal Winik's face lit up. "Just in time for parent-teacher visits! Carry on." Mr. Nekobi helped Jasper Eerie, Antonio, Lucy, and Sam push the machine toward the art room.

怪诞先生似乎说不出话来。 萨姆也不知道该说什么。 但接着，一个声音说：“他们在帮助我！” 萨姆转过身来。他如释重负。 是Nekobi先生。“温尼克先生，这是一台重型清洗机，”内科比解释说。 “我请大厅的监督员帮我早点把它带到学校——怪异先生正在帮忙。 我要用它来擦洗美术室的油漆地板。” 温尼克校长的脸亮了起来。 “正好赶上家长和老师的拜访！”继续。” Nekobi先生帮助Jasper Eerie、Antonio、Lucy和Sam把机器推向美术室。

"I better figure out a way to clean those floors now," Mr. Nekobi whispered to Sam with a chuckle. Sam laughed, but only for a moment. "Mr. Nekobi!" Sam exclaimed. "I have to tell you everything we've learned! Mr. Eerie is related to Orson Eerie, and this machine—" Mr. Nekobi interrupted Sam. "No need," he said. "I will always be here to cover for you and to tell you what I know. But my days of fighting the school are over."

“我现在最好想个办法把地板擦干净，”内科比轻声笑着对山姆说。 山姆笑了，但只笑了一会儿。 “Nekobi先生!”萨姆喊道。 “我必须把我们学到的一切都告诉你！”怪诞先生是奥森·怪诞的亲戚，而这台机器——”内科比先生打断了山姆的话。 “没必要，”他说。“我会一直在这里掩护你，告诉你我所知道的。 但我和学校斗争的日子已经结束了。”

Sam nodded. "I understand." Mr. Nekobi turned away, leaving them to their mission. Soon they had pushed the machine into the art room. They hid it behind paint cans and boxes of erasers. "Okay," Sam said, "Let's meet here right after the final bell." Jasper ran a shaky hand through his hair. Antonio slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Mr. Eerie! We're used to these sorts of adventures!"

山姆点点头。“我明白了。” 内科比先生转过身去，让他们继续执行任务。 很快他们就把机器推到了美术室。 他们把它藏在油漆罐和橡皮盒后面。 “好吧，”萨姆说，“下课后我们在这里见。” 贾斯帕用颤抖的手捋了捋头发。 安东尼奥拍了拍他的肩膀。 “别担心，怪异先生！”我们已经习惯了这种冒险！”

Sam looked at the machine one last time before Jasper covered it with the quilt. I hope this works. He turned to his friends and saw confident grins on their faces. For the first time, they felt hopeful about really beating Eerie Elementary. Sam didn't want to disappoint them. That's why he didn't mention the feeling in the pit of his stomach. And that's why he didn't mention the feeling that everything was going to go horribly wrong...

在贾斯帕用被子盖上机器之前，萨姆最后一次看了它一眼。 我希望这能奏效。他转向朋友们，看到他们脸上露出自信的笑容。 他们第一次对打败怪诞小学充满了希望。 山姆不想让他们失望。 这就是为什么他没有提到他内心深处的感觉。 这就是为什么他没有提到那种觉得一切都要糟透了的感觉……