16. Closer Than Ever

CLOSER THAN EVER 16 The art room door flew open. Principal Winik burst inside, followed by Mr. Nekobi. "What was that noise?" Principal Winik asked. He eyed the paint dripping from the walls and the machine parts scattered across the floor. "What happened here?"

比以前更近了美术室的门突然开了。 温尼克校长冲了进来，后面跟着内科比先生。 “那是什么声音？”温尼克校长问。 他看着墙上滴下的油漆和散落在地板上的机器零件。 “这里发生了什么事？”

Sam didn't know what to say. Thankfully, Mr. Nekobi did. "The floor-cleaning machine was very old. We will get this mess cleaned up. Don't worry." "Fine," Principal Winik said. Sam flashed a relieved smile at Lucy and Antonio. What would we do without Mr. Nekobi? Sam thought. Principal Winik turned to Jasper Eerie. Jasper's face was colorless. "You don't look well," Principal Winik said. "I can't have you missing school, too! Let's go see the school nurse."

萨姆不知道该说什么。 谢天谢地，Nekobi先生做到了。 “扫地机很旧了。 我们会把这烂摊子收拾干净的。 别担心。”“很好，”温尼克校长说。 萨姆对露西和安东尼奥露出如释重负的微笑。 没有奈科比先生我们该怎么办？ 山姆想。温尼克校长转向贾斯珀·怪诞。 贾斯帕的脸毫无血色。 “你看起来气色不好，”温尼克校长说。 “我不能让你也缺课！”我们去看看学校的护士吧。”

Principal Winik hurried into the hall. At the doorway, Jasper stopped. He turned to Sam, Lucy, and Antonio. "I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint your principal— and you," Jasper said. "I won't be back tomorrow. I won't be back here ever again..."

温尼克校长匆匆走进大厅。 在门口，贾斯帕停了下来。 他转向山姆、露西和安东尼奥。 “我怕我会让你的校长和你失望。”贾斯帕说。 “我明天不回来了。 我再也不会回来了……”

"But you have to help us!" Sam exclaimed. "I will try," Jasper replied. "I will keep studying my great-great-grandfather's papers. And you are welcome to explore my house anytime. Who knows what secrets it holds... But I can't return here. You three are far braver than I am." Antonio grinned. "Aww, shucks. Us?" he said with a laugh. Lucy laughed, too. "You're the one who has to sleep in that creepy house, Mr. Eerie. You're plenty brave." He nodded gently and gave Sam one final look.

“但是你必须帮助我们！”萨姆喊道。 “我试试，”贾斯帕回答。 “我将继续研究我曾曾祖父的论文。 随时欢迎你来我家参观。 谁知道里面藏着什么秘密…… 但我不能回到这里。你们三个比我勇敢多了。” 安东尼奥咧嘴一笑。“哇哇哇,呸!。 我们？”他笑着说。 露茜也笑了。“你才是那个不得不睡在那间令人毛骨悚然的房子里的人，怪异先生。 你很勇敢。”他轻轻地点了点头，最后看了山姆一眼。

Then he was gone. "Now let's get this room cleaned up," Mr. Nekobi said, handing out mops. "Tomorrow is another day." "But we were so close..." Sam said. Antonio slapped Sam on the back. "And that's a good thing!"

然后他就走了。“现在让我们把这个房间打扫一下，”内科比一边说，一边分发拖把。 “明天又是新的一天。” “可是我们那么接近……”山姆说。 安东尼奥拍了拍萨姆的背。 “这是一件好事！”