Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR "Today, we are starting a new topic," said Ms Rivers, the strict Geography and Culture teacher. "Open your notebooks and put the heading Myths and Legends." Freya scribbled the words but her mind wasn't really on the lesson. All morning, Matilda had been shooting conspiratorial grins at her. Freya's stomach turned over anxiously. She hoped the others wouldn't notice and ask what was going on. Had she made a big mistake confiding in Matilda? She was great fun but she wasn't the most reliable or secretive person ever. I wish I hadn't told her, thought Freya, as she neatly underlined the title. "So, who can tell me any myths or legends

“今天，我们要开始一个新的话题，”严格的地理文化老师里弗斯女士说。 “打开你们的笔记本，写上‘神话与传说’这个标题。” 弗雷娅潦草地写着这些字，但她的注意力并没有真正集中在课堂上。 整个上午，玛蒂尔达都在对她露出阴谋的笑容。 弗雷娅的胃不安地翻腾起来。 她希望其他人不会注意到，不会问她发生了什么事。 她向玛蒂尔达吐露心事是不是犯了个大错误？ 她很有趣，但她不是最可靠或最神秘的人。 “我真希望我没有告诉她，”弗雷娅一边想，一边在标题下面划了线。 “那么，谁能告诉我任何神话或传说呢

that we have here on Unicorn Island?" said Ms Rivers. Isla from Ruby dorm put up her hand. "What about the Frozen Lagoon? That's a myth, isn't it? A bottomless lagoon that's always covered with ice, that's supposed to be on the east coast of Unicorn Island but no one's ever found it." Valentina, also from Ruby dorm, snorted. "You're as dumb as a flapdoodle, Isla. Everyone knows that's just a made-up story." "Which is precisely why Isla's suggestion is a very good example of a myth, Valentina," said Ms Rivers sharply. "A myth is a story. It may once have had a grain of truth, but it has been exaggerated and changed over the years. Well done, Isla." As Ms Rivers turned away, Valentina pulled a face at Isla. "Flapdoodle!" she hissed. Isla quickly looked down at her desk. Valentina was one of the meanest girls at the school and Freya felt sorry for Isla, Molly and Ana who shared Ruby dorm with her. Valentina was in her second year at the academy because

我们在独角兽岛上有什么？”里弗斯女士说。 鲁比宿舍的艾拉举起了手。 “冰湖怎么样？” 这是个神话，不是吗？一个永远被冰覆盖的无底泻湖，应该在独角兽岛的东海岸，但从来没有人发现过它。” 同样来自露比宿舍的瓦伦蒂娜哼了一声。 “艾拉，你笨得像只小鸭子。 每个人都知道那只是一个虚构的故事。” “这正是为什么艾拉的建议是一个很好的神话例子，瓦伦蒂娜，”里弗斯女士尖锐地说。 “神话是一个故事。它可能曾经有一点道理，但随着时间的推移，它被夸大了，也发生了变化。 干得好，艾拉。”里弗斯转过身去，瓦伦蒂娜对艾拉做了个鬼脸。 “噗噗！”她嘶嘶地说。艾拉赶紧低头看了看她的桌子。 瓦伦蒂娜是学校里最刻薄的女孩之一，弗雷娅为和她一起住在鲁比宿舍的艾拉、莫莉和安娜感到难过。 瓦伦蒂娜在警校读二年级，因为

she and her unicorn, Golden Briar, hadn't bonded in the first year. Being a second year seemed to make Valentina bossier and snappier each day. Miki put up his hand. "I know a myth, Miss," he said. "Yes, Miki?" Freya saw Miki's eyes twinkle mischievously. "If you don't graduate from Unicorn Academy at

她和她的独角兽，金荆棘，在第一年并没有亲近。 二年级的生活似乎让瓦伦蒂娜一天比一天专横、活泼。 美琪举起了手。“我知道一个神话，小姐，”他说。 “是的,杨爱瑾?”弗雷娅看见米基调皮地眨着眼睛。 如果你不能从独角兽学院毕业

the end of your second year, you turn into a red-bellied slug with four eyes and a pointed nose, so Valentina had better watch out, hadn't she?" He grinned. Valentina returned his grin with a death glare. Ms Rivers sighed. "No, Miki, you know you don't. Now, has anyone got anything sensible to contribute?" Himmat put up his hand. "There's a myth about a ghost that haunts the towers of the academy. It's supposed to be a teacher who once died here. She walks around the corridors and climbs the towers at night." "Is that true?" said Violet. Himmat nodded. "My brother thought he saw her when he was here." "Himmat, that's not quite the kind of myth I was thinking about," said Ms Rivers. "Have any of you heard about the Silver Unicorn? It's a mysterious unicorn who appears occasionally, always first thing in the morning, and anyone who sees it is blessed with good luck." Freya made notes as Ms Rivers continued to

第二学年结束时，你就变成了一只红肚子的鼻涕虫，长着四只眼睛和一个尖鼻子，所以瓦伦蒂娜最好小心点，是不是？”他咧嘴一笑。 瓦伦蒂娜瞪了他一眼。 里弗斯女士叹了口气。“不，美琪，你知道你不知道。 现在，有谁有什么明智的建议吗？”Himmat举起手来。 “有一个传说，说有个鬼魂在学院的塔楼上出没。 应该是一位曾经死在这里的老师。 她在走廊里走来走去，晚上爬上塔楼。” “是真的吗？”维奥莱特问。 Himmat点点头。“我哥哥以为他在这里的时候看到她了。” “Himmat，这不是我想的那种神话，”里弗斯说。 “你们有人听说过银色独角兽吗？” 它是一只神秘的独角兽，偶尔出现，总是在早晨的第一件事，任何人看到它都会有好运。” 弗雷娅做着笔记，里弗斯女士继续做着笔记

tell them some of the myths of the land. It was really interesting, and she was surprised when break time came. They all headed to the dining room for cookies and hot chocolate. "Maybe the noises we heard yesterday from above our dorm were made by the ghost who haunts the school," said Rosa as they left the classroom. "But ghosts aren't real," Ariana argued. "Well, something made that noise," Rosa told her. "There could be another explanation," said Matilda, sending Freya a look. Freya tensed. Surely Matilda wasn't going to give the game away? "So… Um, when are we going to tell the other dorms about the party?" she said quickly. To her relief, her change of subject worked. "We'll tell them now– at break," said Rosa. "Most people will be in the hall so we can pass the message round. Come on!" Matilda grabbed Freya's arm and dropped back as Rosa hurried on with Ariana and Violet.

告诉他们一些这片土地的神话。 这真的很有趣，当课间休息的时候，她很惊讶。 他们都去餐厅吃饼干和热巧克力。 “也许我们昨天从宿舍楼上听到的声音是学校里闹鬼的鬼魂发出的，”他们离开教室时罗莎说。 “但是鬼魂不是真的。”阿利安娜争辩道。 “嗯，有什么东西发出那种声音，”罗莎告诉她。 “可能还有别的解释，”玛蒂尔达说，看了弗雷娅一眼。 弗雷娅拉紧。玛蒂尔达肯定不会泄露秘密吧？ “那么……嗯，我们什么时候把聚会的事告诉其他宿舍？” 令她宽慰的是，她改变了话题。 “我们现在就告诉他们——休息的时候，”罗莎说。 “大多数人都会在大厅里，这样我们就可以传话了。 来吧!”玛蒂尔达抓住弗雷娅的胳膊，退了回去，罗莎带着阿利安娜和维奥莱特匆匆走了。

"Can we see the secret room now?" she whispered. "Now? But we've got cross-country with Ms Tulip after break." "That's half an hour away. We can have a look and get to the stables in time if we go now." Freya sighed. "OK. Let's go. But remember you're not to tell anyone." "I won't," said Matilda. They peeled away from the others and headed for the spiral staircase. "In here," said Freya, opening the cupboard. Matilda raised her eyebrows. "But this is just a cupboard." "No, it's not. Watch!" Freya went to the wall and pulled the lever. There was a familiar creak. She pressed her back to the wall and felt it start to move. Matilda squealed as the wall revolved and Freya vanished from sight. Freya hastily pulled the lever again and returned to the cupboard. "So?" she said, her eyes shining. "Oh. My. Wow!" gasped Matilda, her eyes as

“我们现在能看看密室吗？”她小声说。 “现在?但是休息后我们要和郁金香老师一起越野。” “那有半个小时的路程。 如果我们现在就去，我们可以看一看，及时赶到马厩。” 弗雷娅叹了口气。“好吧。我们走吧。 但是记住，你不能告诉任何人。” “我不会的，”玛蒂尔达说。他们离开其他人，朝螺旋形楼梯走去。 “在这里。”弗雷娅说着，打开了碗柜。 玛蒂尔达扬起眉毛。 “但这只是一个橱柜。” “不，不是。看!”弗雷娅走到墙边，拉了拉杆。 有一种熟悉的嘎吱声。 她把背贴在墙上，感觉墙开始动了起来。 玛蒂尔达尖叫着，墙在旋转，弗雷娅从视线中消失了。 弗雷娅又急忙拉了拉操纵杆，回到了碗柜旁。 “那又怎样？”她说，眼睛闪闪发光。 “哦。我的。哇！”玛蒂尔达喘着气说，她的眼睛像