Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR The following morning, the first lesson was geography with Ms Rivers. "Today we are going to learn about tornadoes," she told the class. "Mr Longnose is an expert on weather conditions and has offered to show us an experiment. He's waiting for us outside." They followed Ms Rivers out to the stable yard. Zara nudged Aisha. "An expert on weather conditions," she muttered darkly. "Do you think that includes using weather to wreck the island? I wonder what he knows about hailstorms!" Aisha had to admit that it seemed suspicious. As the class gathered around him, Mr Longnose clapped his hands together pompously. "Today we shall look at tornadoes and the effects of combining magic and science. As I hope you know by now, some magic reactions and some scientific ones are reversible, but not when the magic and science are combined." Aisha started to think about her piece of music as Mr Longnose droned on. She was pleased with the additions she'd made the night before and couldn't wait to play it to Silver. Zara nudged her and she realised everyone was following Mr Longnose to a nearby water trough. "Firstly, I'm going to demonstrate how we can create a mini tornado in this bottle using science." He picked up a large glass jar with a screw-top lid from beside the trough. It was filled with water. "Watch carefully, please." Mr Longnose unscrewed the lid and added a

第二天早上，第一节课是里弗斯老师的地理课。 “今天我们要学习龙卷风，”她告诉同学们。 “朗鼻先生是天气方面的专家，他愿意给我们做一个实验。 他在外面等我们。” 他们跟着里弗斯太太来到马厩的院子里。 Zara推了推艾莎。“天气方面的专家。”她阴沉地嘟囔着。 “你认为这包括利用天气破坏岛屿吗？” 我想知道他对冰雹了解多少！”艾莎不得不承认这很可疑。 全班同学都围了过来，朗鼻nose先生神气十足地拍拍手。 今天我们来看看龙卷风以及魔法和科学结合的效果。 我希望你现在知道，一些魔法反应和一些科学反应是可逆的，但当魔法和科学结合在一起时就不可逆了。” 随着长鼻子先生的嗡嗡声，艾莎开始思考她的音乐。 她对前一天晚上添加的内容很满意，迫不及待地想把它播放给西尔弗听。 扎拉推了她一下，她意识到大家都跟着朗鼻鼻子先生去了附近的一个水槽。 “首先，我将展示如何利用科学技术在这个瓶子里制造一个迷你龙卷风。” 他从食槽旁拿起一个带螺旋盖的大玻璃瓶。 里面装满了水。“请仔细看。” 朗鼻先生拧开盖子，加了一个

few drops of green liquid. "What's that, sir? Is it a magic potion?" asked Spike from Topaz dorm. "No," said Mr Longnose in his usual clipped tones. "It's a simple detergent and the sparkly powder I'm adding now is purple glitter to help you see the tornado." He screwed the lid on to the jar tightly and, turning it upside down, he spun it in a circular motion then held it still. "Observe, a mini tornado in a jar." He brought it closer so they could all see. "Look, Aisha," said Zara, nudging her. Aisha stared at the tiny glittering tornado whirling in the water, momentarily distracted from her music. "That's so cool!" Mr Longnose looked pleased at the response. "Spinning the jar as I did created a water vortex that looks like a mini tornado. Science is a wonderful thing, and when scientific knowledge is combined with magic, the possibilities are endless!" His eyes lost their usual sharp, disapproving expression and his face lit up. "What do you mean, sir?" asked Johan, Spike's friend.

几滴绿色的液体。 “那是什么，先生？”是魔药吗？”黄玉宿舍的斯派克问。 “没有。”朗鼻子先生用他一贯的尖细语调说。 “这是一种简单的清洁剂，我现在加入的闪闪发光的粉末是紫色的，可以帮助你看到龙卷风。” 他把瓶盖拧得紧紧的，把它倒过来，转了个圈，然后拿着不动。 “看，罐子里有个迷你龙卷风。” 他把它拿近一点，这样他们都能看到。 “你看，艾莎，”扎拉说，用胳膊肘捅了捅她。 艾莎盯着在水中旋转的闪闪发光的小龙卷风，暂时从她的音乐中分心了。 “太酷了！”Longnose先生对这个回答显得很高兴。 “像我这样旋转罐子，形成了一个看起来像迷你龙卷风的水漩涡。 科学是一件奇妙的事情，当科学知识与魔法相结合时，可能性是无限的！”他的眼睛不再像往常那样尖利、不赞成的表情，他的脸亮了起来。 “你是什么意思，先生？”斯派克的朋友约翰问。

"We can use science to amplify magic, or magic to amplify science, making the effects bigger and stronger!" Mr Longnose said enthusiastically. "When I was a researcher, I worked alongside the brilliant Count Lysander Thornberry." "Not him again," muttered Phoebe. Mr Longnose was always going on about the count, a scientist and inventor who lived as a recluse. "The rain machine he made was a major breakthrough in using science to amplify magic," Mr Longnose went on. "The count took rain seeds– magic seeds from the ocean that can make it rain– and created a machine that not only amplified the effect of the seeds so that more rain fell, but that also allowed the count to direct the rainfall wherever he wanted. It was astonishing." He sighed. "The count could have achieved so much if he hadn't decided to closet himself away in his castle, refusing to share his work any further." He shook his head disapprovingly. "A brilliant but flawed man." Zara put up her hand. "Sir, are you going to combine magic and science today?" "I am," Mr Longnose said. "Phoebe, please will you fetch Shimmer from his stable?" Looking surprised, Phoebe went to get her unicorn. Mr Longnose beckoned to him. "I need your help, Shimmer. Will you please use your magic when I ask?" Shimmer nodded and blew his long pink and blue forelock out of his eyes. "Everyone, observe the mini tornado." Mr Longnose spun the jar again then held it up for everyone to see. The water tornado twirled gently. "Now, Shimmer, please use your energy magic to make the tornado spin faster. Just a small amount will do." Shimmer stamped his hoof. A small ball of energy shot into the air and hit the jar. The bottled tornado immediately grew bigger and spun faster. "See!" cried Mr Longnose, as the jar vibrated in his hands. "Keep back!" he ordered. He put the jar down and backed away. "Again, please, Shimmer!" he called as the jar rattled. Shimmer stamped his hoof. A larger ball of energy hit the jar. A sharp crack rent the air and the jar's lid flew across the yard. Everyone gasped as a glittering funnel of whirling water shot upwards, drawing in water from the nearby trough and growing to two metres, before suddenly bursting into a cloud of sparkling raindrops that soaked

“我们可以用科学来放大魔法，或者用魔法来放大科学，让效果更大、更强！”朗鼻先生热情地说。 “当我还是研究员的时候，我和杰出的拉桑德·索恩伯里伯爵一起工作。” “又不是他。”菲比喃喃地说。 朗鼻大夫总是滔滔不绝地讲伯爵，他是一位科学家和发明家，过着隐居的生活。 “他制造的降雨机是利用科学放大魔法的重大突破，”朗诺瑟先生继续说道。 “伯爵从海洋中提取了雨水种子——一种可以下雨的神奇种子——并制造了一台机器，它不仅放大了种子的作用，使降雨更多，而且还使伯爵能够随心所欲地指挥降雨。 这太令人吃惊了。”他叹了口气。 “如果伯爵没有决定把自己关在城堡里，拒绝进一步分享他的工作，他本可以取得这么大的成就。” 他不以为然地摇了摇头。 “一个聪明但有缺陷的人。” 扎拉举起了手。“先生，您今天要把魔法和科学结合起来吗？”“是的。”朗鼻先生说。 “菲比，请你把微光从马厩里叫出来好吗？”菲比看起来很惊讶，她去找她的独角兽。 朗鼻大夫向他招手。 “我需要你的帮助，微光。 当我问你的时候，请你使用你的魔法好吗？”微光点了点头，把他那长长的粉蓝色额发从眼睛里吹了出来。 “大家注意观察这个迷你龙卷风。” 长鼻子先生又旋转了一下罐子，然后举起来让大家看。 水龙卷风轻轻地旋转着。 “现在，微光，请用你的能量魔法让龙卷风旋转得更快。 只要一点点就可以了。” 微光跺着他的蹄子。一个能量小球射向空中，击中了罐子。 瓶装龙卷风立即变得更大，旋转得更快。 “看！”长鼻子先生叫道，瓶子在他手里震动着。 “退后！”他命令道。他放下罐子，退了回去。 “再来一次，微光！”他叫道，这时罐子嘎嘎作响。 微光跺着他的蹄子。一个更大的能量球击中了罐子。 空中啪的一声巨响，罐子的盖子飞到了院子的另一边。 每个人都倒吸了一口气，因为一个闪闪发光的水柱从附近的水槽里吸了水，上升到两米高，然后突然爆裂成一团闪闪发光的雨滴，浸透了水

them all. "Behold the power of magic and science!" Mr Longnose bowed and held out his hand, motioning for Shimmer to bow too. The class whooped and cheered. Mr Longnose beamed, looking nothing like his usual stuffy self. "Putting science and magic together is amazing, sir!" said Spike. "I want to have a go!" said Phoebe.

他们所有人。“看看魔法和科学的力量吧！”长鼻子先生鞠了一躬，伸出手，示意微光也鞠一躬。 全班欢呼雀跃。 长鼻子先生笑了，看上去一点也不像平时那个古板的样子。 “把科学和魔法结合在一起真是太神奇了，先生！”斯派克说。 “我想试一试！”菲比说。

Mr Longnose's eyes gleamed. "There is practically no limit to the amazing things that can be done when a unicorn who has Shimmer's extraordinary power combines his magic with science." Even strict Ms Rivers looked impressed. "That was a fascinating demonstration, thank you very much, Mr Longnose," she said warmly. "Now, inside, everyone and I'll give you some homework!" When Ms Rivers dismissed them for break, Aisha didn't go with the others to get something to eat. Instead she hurried straight back to the stables to see Silver. "I made some changes to my music last night. Can I play it to you?" Aisha was already pulling her flute from its case. She blew softly into it, closing her eyes as the music took her over. When she'd finished, she smiled to herself. "What do you think?" Silver rubbed his head on her arm. "It's brilliant." "Really?" Aisha's chest swelled with pride. "You're not just saying that? Which bit did you like best?" "All of it. It's perfect," said Silver. "But…?" prompted Aisha, sensing there was more. Silver let out a long breath. "I can't stop thinking about what Moonbeam said about me vanishing. It scared me. You said we could talk about it today, but you haven't mentioned it." Aisha tried to hide her disappointment– she'd thought Silver was going to say something more about her music. "I really wouldn't worry about it. Moonbeam's visions are hard to interpret. I'm sure you're not actually going to disappear." "But what if I do?" said Silver doubtfully. "What if I'm kidnapped or something?" "Aisha!" The rest of Amethyst dorm called her. Aisha went to the stable door. "I'm here. What's up?" she said, seeing their excited faces as they came piling down the aisle to the Amethyst dorm stables. "Ms Nettles just made an announcement," said Zara. "Because of graduation being early, lessons have been cancelled so people can practise their displays. Then tomorrow there's a picnic ride to the ruined tower."

朗鼻先生的眼睛闪闪发光。 “当一只拥有微光非凡力量的独角兽将他的魔法与科学结合起来时，几乎没有什么神奇的事情可以完成。” 即使是严厉的里弗斯女士也对此印象深刻。 “演示得真精彩，非常感谢你，长鼻子先生。”她热情地说。 “现在，大家进去吧，我和大家给你们布置作业！”当里弗斯女士让他们休息时，艾莎没有和其他人一起去吃东西。 相反，她径直跑回马厩去看西尔弗。 “我昨晚对我的音乐做了一些改动。 我可以弹给你听吗？”艾莎已经把笛子从箱子里拿出来了。 她轻轻地吹了口气，闭上眼睛，让音乐笼罩着她。 说完，她暗自笑了。 “你觉得怎么样？”西尔弗用头在她的胳膊上摩擦。 “这是杰出的。”“真的吗?”艾莎的胸膛因骄傲而鼓了起来。 “你不是随便说说的吧？” 你最喜欢哪一点？”“全都是。 这太完美了，”西尔弗说。 “可是……？”艾莎觉察到还有话要说，便追问道。 西尔弗长长地呼了一口气。 “我一直在想月光说的关于我消失的事。 吓到我了。你说我们今天可以谈谈，但是你没有提。” 艾莎试图掩饰她的失望——她原以为西尔弗会对她的音乐多说些什么。 “我真的不会为此担心。 月光的幻象很难解释。 我相信你不会真的消失。” “可是，如果我这样做了呢？”西尔弗疑惑地说。 “如果我被绑架了怎么办？”“阿以莎!”紫水晶宿舍的其他人都给她打电话了。 艾莎走到马厩门口。 “我在这里。怎么了？”她说，看到学生们激动的表情，他们正沿着通道涌向紫水晶宿舍的马厩。 “荨麻女士刚刚宣布了一件事，”扎拉说。 “由于提前毕业，课程被取消了，所以人们可以练习他们的表演。 然后明天我们要去毁坏的塔楼野餐。”

"Or students can spend time with their unicorns, trying to bond and find their magic," put in Lily. "I know," said Phoebe suddenly. "Ms Rosemary said she's got some new mane crayons that we can use to decorate our unicorns for the display. They're like hair dye only better because they wash out. Let's ask if we can practise with them. It'll be fun and it'll give you and Silver some time together to try and find his magic." "Oooh, yes," said Silver, tossing his mane. "I'd like that." "Sounds good to me!" said Zara. "OK," sighed Aisha. She could tell from Silver's hopeful look that he liked the idea of having a pamper session and going on the picnic ride the following day. "I'll go and ask Ms Rosemary where the crayons are," said Phoebe. Five minutes later, she came back with a big box full of hair crayons and glittery hoof polish in different colours. "You just rub the crayons on the mane or tail, Ms Rosemary said, and then after half an hour they set. They'll wash out with hot water. It sounds simple enough! I'm going to turn Shimmer's mane and tail gold!"

“或者学生们可以花时间和他们的独角兽在一起，试着建立联系，发现他们的魔力，”莉莉插话说。 “我知道。”菲比突然说。 罗斯玛丽女士说她有一些新的鬃毛蜡笔，我们可以用它们来装饰我们的独角兽。 它们就像染发剂，因为它们可以洗掉。 我们问问能不能和他们一起练习。 这会很有趣，也会给你和小银一些时间，一起去发现他的魔法。” “哦，是的。”西尔弗说着，甩了甩鬃毛。 “我很乐意。”“听起来不错！”扎拉说。 “好吧，”阿伊莎叹了口气。从西尔弗充满希望的表情中，她可以看出他喜欢这个主意，让自己好好享受一下，第二天再骑马去野餐。 “我去问问罗斯玛丽老师蜡笔在哪里，”菲比说。 五分钟后，她回来了，手里拿着一大盒蜡笔和各种颜色的亮蹄油。 罗斯玛丽女士说：“你只需要用蜡笔在鬃毛或尾巴上摩擦，半小时后它们就定型了。” 它们将用热水洗干净。 这听起来很简单！我要把微光的鬃毛和尾巴变成金色！”